Disclaimer: No, like seriously? okay! PakiNoor does not own Kishimoto Sama's AWE-wait for it-SOME creation. If she did, she WOULD save it from Disney and its lame brain new management. Walter, Rob? You are sorely missed. That being said, she would also like to point out that she does not own My Chemical Romance or any other band or Glee but that this and a few of the upcoming chapters are partly inspired by them and the latest episode of Glee club that I just saw online, so yeah. I'm hoping my idols (all of them) wont mind me incorporating that here. Lastly, The Last Guardian Challenge is the brain child of one General Electric. The plot and the OCs for this particular FanFic however, I DO own. Deal with it.
These Bonds We Keep
Chapter Four: Just Because
Hinata couldnt wrap her mind around it. How hard was it to understand why she was explaining to a group of ANBU members that imitating a bat near the Hokage tower was a good form of exercise. And that no, she had not been aware of the recently activated traps on all buildings near the Hokage tower. Yes, she knew her own curfew was two hours ago. No, she did not want to go home just yet. Why? Because she needed to train. Because she needed the practice. Because she did. Because. Just because.
She was red in the face (though whether that was because of the blood rushing to her head or acute embarresment or because she was desperatly trying to string complete sentences together without stuttering, Kakashi could not figure out) . Regardless, he would make her talk. It had been a boring night and this was the perfect way to liven things up. Sadistic? Maybe. But he was bored and he needed amusement, if only for a little longer.
If she had not been focusing on speaking clearly, she would've groaned. He was gonna make her say it. Infront of his team too!
How on earth did this happen again?
"Because I'm weak!" She shouted at him.
Rin blinked. Hinata, screaming? The kid really must be tired. She nudged the silver haired ANBU infront of her. Give it up. Let her go.
Kakashi sighed. And hed been having fun too. Flipping himself over to mimic the girls position, he shifted his hands through the seals to deactivate the traps. He was nots urprised when the girl dropped with an "Eep!" when he completed the final seal. She'd been reported missing two hours ago, and it'd been sometime before they had found her. Added to that, Iruka's report of her draining herself in the test today...
Releasing the chakra from his own feet, he dropped and caught her before she hit the ground.
Hinata blinked up at him.
"Ka- nii san. Let me go. Please."
Kakshi blinked. She sounded...tired...defeated.
"I'll go home. Just... not yet."
A soft sound signalled Rin's descent.
"Hinata chan." The girl's voice was soft and unmuffled. She musthave removed her mask. Kakashi removed his own ANBU mask as the eleven year old looked at the older girl. Rin's eyes were warm and forgiving, but Hinata knew she would not be let go that easily. Not yet.
"What was the result of the test today?"
Kakashi blinked. Wasnt it obvious?
"...We failed."
"All of you?"
"Me and Sakura and Sasuke. Katana was not allowed to give the test. Hokage sama forbade Iruka sama."
The ANBU exchanged glances. Forbade? That was news.
Hinata sniffed.
"I th-think hes going to make her drop out of the academy. Sasuke was supposed to wa-lk her to Academy. He said she wouldnt come out of her room. He he said he heard Hokage Sama arguing with Kushi-shina Baa chan ab-ab-about ke-eping her in academy. "
Hinata was barely in control of herself now. "He said, he sai-said he'd give us a chance. All of us. Wh-Why...?"
Rin sighed. Learning of her friend's fate and then failing her Genin exam. No wonder she hadnt gone home. Poor kid.
A quick exchange of jabs betwwen her and Kakshi ensued before he sighed in defeat.
Rin turned to the sniffing heiress infront them and considered.
"One hour."
Hinata started.
"One hour then you go home. Ok? I'll tell your dad."
Head still bowed, the Hyuga nodded. The ANBU slipped their masks back on and turned to resume their patrol. On impulse, Kakashi turned back before joining his partner.
"Dont get caught in anymore of the traps, do you hear? The closer you get to Hokage tower, the louder the alarms are. Dont want to wake up the whole village now."
The girl nodded. "Hai, ni san." He sighed and ruffled her hair. Yeah, yeah...so he was a softie. So what?
"Theres always next time kiddo. It's ok."
The girl nodded after a few seconds and he kicked off. Two buildings away his team watched his approach. A female ANBU with a red dog mask cocked her head to a side before turning to her teammates.
"He sure seems happy for someone who just made a little girl cry, eh Murasaki?"
Rin grinned under her almost identical purple mask.
"And if you think she was crying cousin, you are less worthy of your title than Baa chan says you are."
Kakashi reached them just in time to catch the kunai sent his partner's way by his indignant subordinate.
"Aiming at your leader? Mutiny does not become you, Aka Yasha."
The female in question snorted as she caught the kunai.
"Leave the nick naming to Tiger why dont you Kuro? Or the Kyubi brat. Theirs are better."
The man in the black dog mask shook his head at the mention of his ward and the team fell silent as they contemplated the new information they'd recieved.
"I can understand them attempting and failing, but to remove his daughter from the academy? And she'd been begging for a chance to redeem herself. Why? Why now?" The last team member voiced their confusion. Kakashi sighed.
"Who knows Chairo? They had a week to redeem themselves. Who knows how Hokage Sama's mind works? Why he does what he does?"
Aka laughed as they kicked off, resuming their rounds. "Aah, this mysterious trait must've been imparted to the student as well."
Kakashi was too well trained to let her see the effect of her comment, but he had heard her. Of that she was sure. Chairo rolled his eyes. Stupid Aka, why did she have to play with their team leaders already testy tempers? The woman carried on undaunted.
"Mah, I guess we'll never know why Kuro Sempai did those seals so slowly and carefully."
One second.
Two seconds.
Sigh and sigh.
Murasaki turned her head ever so slightly.
"What'll it take?"
Aka grinned under her mask. Bingo.
"Oh lets see...It's eight o'clock, where could we go? Chairo?"
Chairo shook his head before joining in.
"Ichirakus open. And the new bar." Murasaki and Kuro turned and stared. "What?"
Aka barked out a laugh. "Didnt know you had it in you toothpick!"
"Its a senbon!"
...
Hinata looked up. The team was long gone but she had to make sure. Ninja infiltration lesson No. 2: after encountering an enemy larger than you, wait till it has passed you by completly. Ensure its departure before continuing your mission. Safe shinobi meant successfull shinobi. Unlike peoples beliefs, Hinata did pay attention in class. As someone had once told her: brains and brawn make a shinobi. Add crocodile tears and acting skills and a kunoichi is born. Not that Kakashi Ni had fallen for it. She wasnt sure if he was going to report her...but atleast now she had what they had been after. Katana's early morning escapades had alerted them to the multiple traps laid around the Hokage tower, and they had needed the key. Sakura and Sasuke were supposedly under Itachi's eye. And Katana was supposed to be moping in her room. So that left...
Hinata shook herself mentally. No time for dilly dallying. She needed tofocus . She went through the seals and pressed a finger each to the three beads on the chain round her neck. Come on . She willed as her chakra pushed in. Hurry.
A minute passed.
Two minutes.
Three.
"Haha, you got it!"
"Ofcourse she did."
"Hn."
She opened her eyes to find her friends grinning at her. Well, Sakura and Katana were grinning. Sasuke was doing the strange smirking thing he always did.
Hinata grinned as elation coursed through her. She'd done it!
"Hai." She murmured as she went through the seals Kakashi had done before. She smiled at Katana's soft whoop of delight before beckoning to them. "Come," she said, "We only have a little over an hour left. We need t-to hurry."
Sasuke glanced at her.
"Your stuttering again."
She blushed.
"Its ok." At his raised eyebrows she giggled. "I'm excited!"
There was a pause and then Sasuke did grin. A real grin, small as it was. Hinata didnt mind. She hadnt seen him grin in years. As they kicked off she remembered something.
"How did you get out?"
Sakura giggled.
"We told them Katana needed a walk."
Up ahead, the red head turned around. Blue flashed from under the red bangs as a her grin lit up her face.
"What am I, Pakkun?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes as Sakura snapped at the other girl to hush before turning to the girl running on his right.
"You're not crying are you?"
"N-no," Hinata's voice cracked as she lifted her eyes to his, tear tracks fresh on her face. He blinked. She laughed as her friends exchanged glances. "No, its just," she smiled "We're back. We're back!"
They understood. Cryptic as it was, they understood what she was trying to say. Katana grinned like she hadnt grinned in four long years.
"Hell yeah Dattebane! Now lets go get that scroll!"
Sasuke sighed, "Sakura?"
Thud
"Ow!"
"Urusai! Katana no Baka!"
Hinata laughed.
Yes. Yes they were back.
And Kami be her witness, she was going to ensure that they stayed that way.
XXxxxXxxxxXX
And there we have it! Chappie no. Four.
Somethings Id like to clear up before you kill me:
The ANBU members, their identities and names: Kuro, Murasaki, Aka and Chairo are Japanese for Black, Purple, Red and brown respectively. Yasha means Demon. As for the identities of Aka and Chairo, lol, who do you think they are?
I'd really like to know!
Secondl, I apologize for how short this is. But my finals are in like, two weeks. So bear with it for like a little while longer k? Please?
Rate and Review please!
Arigato!
