Summary: "AnBu Owl, your mission as stated annihilate the uprising Hyuuga clan, leave none alive. Any left alive aside from afore mentioned Hyuuga heiress, will be seen as disloyalty and you will be immediately dispatched as a Nuke Nin. Do not disappoint us.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own naruto
Chapter Nine
Take the Blame
"Here will be your teams." Sasuke watched, inwardly hoping he wouldn't become stuck with a team that would slow him down. Even a team was already slow enough, how was he supposed to catch up to Itachi at the level he was going?
"Team Seven, Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke." Sasuke nearly slammed his head onto the table out of frustration, Kami help him. A fan girl and a dead last, it was official. Itachi would be forever be out of reach. Sasuke thought dejectedly.
"Team eight, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino and Hyuuga Hinata." Iruka called out, Hinata bit her lip, she didn't know those two at all!
"Team ten, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Chouji." Iruka stated, Hinata watched as the genin went into their assigned teams. Sasuke sent her a long suffering look before being dragged over to the front of the room to 'bond' with his new team.
A small beetle walked over her hand and Hinata watched it fascinated by the tiny little thing, it walked over her fingers and spread its little wings and landed on a nearby boy who was standing next to her.
"Aburame Shino, you are Hyuuga Hinata correct?" Hinata nodded, his lower face was covered by his jacket. Shades covered his eyes and his brown hair puffed out, contrasting well with his pale skin.
"I-It's nice to meet you." Hinata told him, being polite. Itachi had told her no matter how strong you were, a friend in your team was more valuable than any form of riches and pride.
"Likewise Hinata-san, we should find Kiba-san. Which should not be too hard, why? Because he should have a small dog because he is an Inuzuka." Shino clarified, Hinata nodded and allowed him to help her from her seat.
"S-Shino-san, d-do you w-work with insects?" Hinata asked, Shino gave a brief nod.
"Hai, though the proper term would be Kikaichu. Why, because they eat chakra and are an Aburame's vital weapon." Shino answered her question politely and Hinata knew he would be a good friend.
"Yo!" Hinata jumped as a boy with red fang like tattoos jumped in front of them, white, brown eared puppy hanging onto his head.
"Judging by your eyes and his bugs you two must be my new team right?" Kiba stated boyishly, Hinata nodded shyly and the puppy yipped cutely wagging his tail.
"Oh right this is Akamaru, I guess we should go eat right?" Kiba asked, Hinata nodded and they all walked outside to a small tree. When walking past Hinata heard Sakura say something.
"It was because he was badly brought up!" Hinata watched quietly.
"You mean because he never had any parents?" Sasuke asked.
" He doesn't have to answer to anyone, ever, it's made him completely selfish! If I did the kinds of things he gets away with my parents would ground me for life!" Hinata bit her lip harshly, Shino watched silently while Kiba was uncharacteristically quiet wondering why they were watching this from a distance.
"Don't you envy him being alone, not having parents nag you all the time? Kids without families always grow up selfish." Sasuke grit his teeth, thinking of Hinata.
She wasn't selfish, she was too selfless for her own good! Almost as selfless as Itachi-nii!
"You, you don't know anything about what you're talking about." Sasuke grit out, he had seen Hinata grow up lonely even with his Okaa-san and Otou-san there. Even Nii-san couldn't cheer her up sometimes, why? Because she had lost her family in a single blow!
"They grow up lonely, they desire attention no one would give them. Don't you dare envy him for being alone, you make me sick." Sasuke couldn't even begin to imagine the pain behind that, and he wasn't going to let anyone badmouth Hinata even if it was indirect.
"Let's go." Shino stated breaking Hinata and Kiba from their trance, Hinata nodded and grabbed her lunch box, Okaa-san had packed rice and some miso soup while Itachi had snuck her a cinnamon roll.
Kiba was eating some teriyaki chicken while Shino had packed rice and tomato soup. It was all very simple, and Hinata couldn't help but think back onto Sakura's words. Was she being selfish by staying with the Uchiha family? Was she selfish by calling Mikoto Okaa-san and Fugaku Otou-san?
Was she selfish for living when her family had died?
"Hinata, whatever you're thinking of Sakura's words. Forget them, Sakura is intelligent book wise, but is sorely lacking in family matters such as your own." Shino commented, Kiba looked up his blackish brown eyes slit like a dog's.
"It's true, she just wants Sasuke's attention. She doesn't now what she's talking about the pink haired brat. She was spoiled too I bet." Kiba snorted handing Akamaru some of his chicken.
"A-arigato, um…d-do you two w-want some of my c-cinnamon roll?" Hinata asked holding the still warm treat in hand from her paper plate, Shino and Kiba gave her smiles.
"That is very kind of you Hinata."
"I'd love some!" Kiba whooped as Hinata divided the treat as evenly as she could.
That was when a plume of smoke appeared, emerging from said plume of smoke was a woman with long curly black hair and ruby red eyes.
"Is this team eight?" She asked, Hinata nodded.
"A-are you our new sensei?" Hinata asked, the woman nodded.
"Kurenai-sensei at your service, now introductions please?" She asked kindly.
"Oh, okay. Inuzuka Kiba, from the Inuzuka clan. I work best with Akamaru and love treats of any kind. I hate stuck up people or people who talk as if they know something when They don't." Kiba finished the last part with a growl.
"Aburame Shino, from the Aburame clan. I work with Kikaichu insects and have a fondness for those who respect me. I will respect them back, I dislike those who forget my name. I also would prefer if people spoke of things they actually knew." Shino was quiet but seemed even quieter just now.
"H-Hyuuga Hinata, um…I live with the U-Uchiha clan and train with Itachi and Sasuke. I l-like baking sweet things and painting. I don't really want to dislike anything…or anyone." Hinata answered as best as she could, Kurenai nodded.
"I am Yuhi Kurenai, and I am a genjutsu/illusion master so to speak. I like sweets and occasionally training as well. I prefer not to deal with people who break through my illusions." Kurenai said with a smile, everyone smiled back at her and she nodded.
"You three seem to get along, okay answer this question for me. When you are forced to choose between saving a comrade and completing the mission what do you do?" Kurenai asked, Hinata looked at Shino and Kiba.
"Save your comrade." They said in unison.
"Why is your comrade more important than the mission?" Kurenai asked them all curiously.
"A mission failed is a mission failed, leaving behind a comrade however. Is unforgivable and I would not bring myself to do it. Why, because I value a comrade's life over anything written on a slip of paper." Shino replied a low hum coming from inside his jacket.
"Agreed, as an Inuzuka that would be like abandoning my pack. I refuse to abandon anyone no matter what!" Kiba stated.
"…I….I value and treasure life….b-because you d-do not know when i-it will be taken away." Hinata answered.
"You pass." Kurenai replied, Hinata froze what did they pass?
Author's note: Sorry for the wait!