Konoha thinks Suna is planning a war between their villages. Hinata is sent to find out, but is captured and locked in Gaara's chambers for interrogation.
(requested by annadax)
The ANBU operative was dragged into his office by two of his guards. It was a female, her long ponytail hanging down between her shoulder blades. Still, he could not determine to which village she was allied. She wore a rat mask, but no weapons, to his intrigue. This meant she relied heavily on ninjutsu.
Gaara rose from behind his desk. "Leave us," he said.
The guards released the woman and exited the office, closing the door behind them. They would remain stationed outside the door. As if somehow knowing this, the woman hesitated only for a fraction of a second, before body-flickering to the window on the opposite side of the room. She hopped nimbly onto the sill, and just as she dove, a ring of sand caught her around the waist. It carried her back inside as she struggled in protest. She knew she had no chance against the Kazekage. At least she was smart.
Gaara lowered the unidentified nin in front of him. "Who are you?" he questioned.
But the nin ignored him, still trying to work her way through the sand. Gaara allowed his technique to catch her arms, and jerk them down to her sides where they were bound with the sand around her waist. Perhaps there would be no further distractions.
He reached out and lifted her rat mask, surprised to meet stubborn white eyes. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he hid it away just as quickly. "Hyuuga," he said, scrutinizing her. "What are you doing in my village without authorization?"
"K-Konoha suspected you were preparing for war," she said, despite that she was breathless. "And I have found confirmation. Your military is p-planning something!"
Gaara said nothing as he watched her, but he wore the slightest hint of a frown that had seen many before her to their deaths.
"You're going to attack Konoha," she accused.
"That isn't your concern."
"This is my mission."
"And you failed it," said Gaara. "You have been captured."
He watched her bite the inside of her cheek, regret and frustration filling those pale eyes.
"If I allow you to live, you will not report your findings to the Hokage," said Gaara.
Sand began to trickle down from her waist, as though she was releasing her. "Kaiten!" said Hinata, spinning, and causing the sand to disperse. But it only went as far as her chakra pushed it. When her technique ended, the sand snapped around her again, but this time more tightly. Hinata grunted in pain, blood coming up her throat and trickling from the mouth. The sand tightened more every time she tried to move.
"I am a Konoha shinobi," she managed, her eyes tearing from pain. "I would never betray my village."
Despite her courageous demeanor, Gaara saw the subtle tremble of her shoulders. He pulled a loose strand of hair out of her face.
"Then you are staying here for the time being."
