She stood and watched the scene unfold eyes glimmering and a heavy heart she knew what was occurring. Two legends of the hidden leaf were to find solace in each others arms.
Both apprentices of the famed sannin had found each other in the battlefield. The war reached its end with the demise of Madara and Obito Uchiha.
Side by side with Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto had placed the final blow in the form of a rasen shuriken and the stare off that occurred between the previous team mates ended in a quiet exchange and the last Uchiha leaving to unknown destinations.
The kages were in horrendous states and all over the standing were gathering the wounded. The scene was chaotic but even in this situation she had managed to spot him, the distinct blonde hair the calling card of her one and only love.
She watched as relief took over his facial expression on spotting the pink haired kunoichi. She was tending to the hokage and he had dropped to his knees by her side, the kunoichi turned and with both hands on his face drew him to her lips.
Eyebrows knotted she understood she had to feel joy for if he did not love her he would find the happiness of love with another. She watched no longer as her mind filled with guilt, she had a duty to her clan and the people of this war to provide aide instead of dwelling on heart ache.
Eyes of white turned, veins raised around them, she searched for a starting point and set off toward nin who were struggling to assist a comrade.
6 months later.
Wandering through the streets of konoha she found pride growing in her chest. The village had neared the end of reconstruction and its inhabitants proved as resilient as the young that ran through the streets with laughter. She was to report to the hokage who had made a full recovery 3 months prior.
She had trained with renewed diligence and had undertaken new extremes under her fathers tutelage.
She had begun to understand the facial expressions he had been exhibiting since the battle with Pein but this had only grown more obvious since the war had passed.
He was no longer disappointed in her, not to the extent of pride but at a place of curiosity. News of her jutsus had made it to his ears and while they had not been of a Hyuuga standard they had come to repute within konohas nin community.
Adding weight to her skills were bouts against Neji who no longer had doubts of his cousins abilities and had found himself sorely tested against her and smirked in acknowledgement. This plus the ever present comrades of team eight and long sessions alone had allowed her to effectively bury herself in training and missions.
Sighing to herself she admitted it was to aide her avoidance of the number one knucklehead ninja of Konoha.
Averting her attention she set her mind to the possible mission at hand and the likely hood of team eight members being put together.
She looked up as she realized she had reached the tower and set her expression to determination, like every mission she was determined to make up for her genin days by ensuring success each time her skills were called on.
Reaching the door she knocked and waited for a response, she heard voices from those inside and then her beckoning.
Entering she looked straight to the Hokage who smiled warmly and welcomed her "Hinata thank you for arriving so quickly the team I require is now assembled and I have some preliminary details to go over before you leave".
In the pause Hinata took in her surroundings, without a turn of her head she felt the hairs of her neck rise.
Of the nin present, a total of 7 including herself, she found two notable heads of hair that made her heckle. Without needing to look directly at them Hinata realized that Naruto and Sakura would be present on this mission.
To keep a level head she focused on the others selected for the task and with an inner smile realized both of her teammates from team eight were in a corner of the office. The final members adorned the window area with one lazily slouched against the sill and the other lounged on the sill itself.
The lazy genius Shikamaru and famed copy ninja Kakashi Hatake concluded the team. Without batting an eyelid she collected her thoughts and refocused on Tsunade who had gathered her scrolls to her.
Naruto was stunned when she entered, he didn't know what to think but feeling Sakura tense beside him made him consciously relax his body.
He began thinking to himself, he didn't know how to approach her, he didn't even know what to say, but he knew his chest tightened every time he had thought of her which had been often enough since Peins attack.
He had been unable to remember her stand against Pein clearly and only after the chaos of the war had faded did it all came flooding back to him. She said she loved him, she always had and he was at a loss of what to do.
When he and Sakura became united after the war he had felt excitement and joy and only during a night of reflection did the memory of her words come back to him. He had thought she was weird, strange and admittedly never had a reason to look at her as anything besides a comrade one of the now infamous rookie 9.
She was strong, a fact that no one could deny now, her efforts in the war had cemented that and her acts against Pein were still whispered through-out Konohas ranks.
It was also known that she had loved him and he had been the only one that didn't know. The forehead slap he gave himself as he had queried to Shikamaru about it had made that chest tightening all the more prominent.
While she stood there he strove to avoid looking at her as Sakura crept back into his mind. The pink haired kunoichi had been everything he craved back at the academy and his daily slap to the face in the days of team 7 and when she choose to be by his side as his partner he had thought kami had given his greatest blessing.
Beautiful, strong and intelligent he had always admired what he thought was the greatest kunoichi of Konoha, hokage not included of course, and while this hadn't changed he felt guilt crawl in his belly when he thought of Hinata Hyuuga.
Keeping his eyes from the dark haired kunoichi was taxing but after a glance at Sakura beside him he was reassured and focused on his kage for the mission details.
He had known what was happening and he knew because it was he himself that made the agreement with Sasuke on the battlefield that this would come to pass.
With a sigh Tsunade continued "The seven of you have been called on to collect our darling Uchiha heir" with a raised brow she went on "The collection will take place on the border of the now extinct Sound village, to conclude any questions some may have this has been previously determined and agreed upon so you will not be travelling to battle Sasuke himself but ensure his safe arrival here in Konoha. It has been concluded that all Kages will be gathered for a hearing upon his arrival and yes they are all aware and will be leaving consensually from their own villages. To reiterate each of you are to guarantee the Uchiha gets here alive and well, him being willing means half the battle is over, the half you will have to contend with are the enemies he has made while he has been running lose and know now, he will not be alone. In his journeys he has made acquaintance with two individuals, who ive been informed will be staying with him here. That said I believe you all have preparations to make before you leave in an hour, dismissed". A quick nod from her team 8 comrades had told her what was to happen "Same place, 30 mins and then onto the gates together and with a determined face all nin present disappeared in a poof of smoke.
She had packed the last of her supplies and was walking to the training grounds to meet in the ritual beginnings of every mission.
Her thoughts had been plagued by Naruto and being stuck with him on a mission for an undetermined period, the Uchiha and his companions and the outcome of the next few weeks.
She cleared the tree line and found Shino, Kiba and Akumaru waiting for her with Kiba yelling out a greeting and Akumarus tail waiving while he barked loudly, she couldn't help but smile.
"So" Kiba began "Retrieve the Uchiha and bring him home, I hate to admit guys but I think this is gona be one of the more exciting missions we've had in a while, me an Akumaru are busting to get goin" Akumaru barked loudly in aggreance.
"I agree Kiba" Shino said "It's satisfying being included this time".
Hinata, Kiba and Akumaru sweat dropped in disbelief at their comrade who seemed to be sulking over a mission that took place years ago.
Shino continued "We are able to combine our efforts once more as team 8 and I too am looking forward to this venture" looking at Hinata he continued " Though I have to ask Hinata, will you be ok?".
She inhaled deeply and reassuring herself and her confidence was with her "With you three by my side Shino and the nin we have for the mission I can only answer yes to that".
Adjusting his glasses with one finger he said "It's exactly because of those comrades that I ask" smiling Hinata responded " I knew what you meant Shino and I meant what I said, this is a mission we cannot afford to fail and I for one will not allow it to happen".
Both Shino and Kiba smiled knowing that she was true to her word and they more than any other knew who she was and what she was, Hinata Hyuuga, the most determined and dependable kunoichi in the hidden leaf ranks.
"Sasuke the bird has arrived back with a sealed note, looks like the leaf got our message" Sasuke surveyed the surroundings, sharingan swirling before turning to his orange haired companion and taking the scroll from him.
Suigetsu looked on from his spot perched on a rock with drink in hand, smirking he adds "ne Sasuke are we sure we want to do this I mean Karin is supposed to be in Konoha and if you want that kind of company I would suggest a leech instead hehee".
Sasuke frowned at the mention of the red headed female and his mind ran with every crime he had committed and it threatened to swallow him though he gave no outward sign of it.
Jugo placed a hand on his shoulder and when Sasuke looked to him he received a nod, the unspoken reassurance was all he needed before looking to Suigetsu with a smirk.
"I know what I have to do Suigetsu but are you both sure you want to waltz into the dragons den, even I can't guarantee what will happen to you two when we get to Konoha".
Standing Suigetsu approached Sasuke with a smirk of his own and took a sip before speaking "and miss the opportunity to watch you get your ass beaten down by every Kage like hell" with a wink at Sasuke he was telling him that after so long of keeping his company he wasnt going to stop now.
Sasuke simply raised a corner of his lips before turning to the note that was unfurled before him. He wanted to laugh at Tsunades bluntness as she described him being a "little punk" and suggesting he think hard about wanting to return as he is going to be "dealt with" and while she was eager to "beat him to a pulp" for the troubles he brought about but she could not guarantee the treatment of the other Kage.
Sighing at the scroll he wound it back up and lookED to the forest laid out before him. He had known answering for his crimes would cost him and as yet he hadn't dwelt on what that cost would be but he recalled his brother and they're battle against the snake sage Kabuto.
After all he had learnt and what has come to pass he had decided in himself to stand as his brother did, Itachi took full responsibility for his actions whether good or bad and so in order to cleanse Itachi's name, his clans name and his own he would follow his brothers lead and do the same.
There was only one outcome he wanted, one thing he would give his life for and that was the name of Itachi Uchiha being carved onto the onxy stone with those who died in action and this would be done by making sure the world knew his brothers sacrifice. Konoha and the rest of the nin world would know the sacrifice his brother had made and what it had cost both of them.
This was the only thing he wanted from the situation he had decided and whether this venture cost him his life or not he would make sure he had the facts made public for all to see, Konohas dirtiest secret would be known to all.