A/N: Looking at my reviews and things it makes me sad thinking that no one likes it, so just so you remember please review! If you hate it let me know why, if you love it tell me why so please review.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter: 3
Hinata had a hard time falling asleep that night, small traces of her nightmare caused by Itachi soon came back in full force. Neji sleeping right next store seemed to scare her more then reassure her, and Naruto was also there. After three hours of tossing and turning she decided that sleep was no longer an option she lifted her weary body out of bed and forced her heavy limbs to lead her to the bathroom. Her hand searched the wall for the light and flicked it on, surprised by her unnaturally pale face. Cold hands ran over her closed eyes when she opened them she made her way to the sink and ran her hands under the warm water. She splashed her face a few times and she picked up the clean white towel and wiped her face. When she held it at arms leg crimson stained it's cotton fibers and she gasped dropping it onto the counter and closing her eyes. Slowly she counted to ten and when she opened her eyes she saw her sparkling white towel lying on the counter.
"I'm going crazy!" she said before walking back into her room, grabbing the jacket that Kankurou had given her and jumped out her window.
Gaara was suffering another sleepless night, which wasn't unusual, however they had been getting more and more distressing since Hinata left. He couldn't even sit in his spot on the roof anymore he grew restless to quickly. Yuki meowed from her small cradle in his arms as he leapt from building to building trying to tire himself out.
"It's okay Yuki," he said as he continued for Suna border.
When he got there he stopped and looked towards Konoha. Every night was the same, he would come to the edge of Suna and contemplate going to Konoha and getting Hinata and bringing her back. And although he had thought about it he had never really took it this seriously. He stepped foreword and before he knew it he was heading toward Konoha. The sand was kicked up in his wake as he continued to run across the desert, but as the border of fire country came closer and closer he slowly came to a stop.
'What am I doing?" he asked himself as he stood, the harsh winds blowing the sand through his red hair. 'She probably wont want to come back anyway, Naruto's there.'
Gaara had known about the Hyuuga's crush on the obnoxious blonde even before she came to Suna. He turned back around preparing to head back to his office and wait the night out in solitude. A soft meow from his arms made him look down into the big innocent eyes of the white kitten.
"It's alright Yuki," he said, deciding to walk slowly back to his village. "Everything will be ok."
He glanced up and saw the oasis, sitting in the soft glow of the moonlight and decided he would stay there. Picking up the pace slightly he reached the oasis within an hour. However when he got there he had nothing to do the cat jumped out of his arms and ran around playing with plants and leaves. No dangerous animals lurked in the small grove of trees so Gaara decided he would leave her be. Instead he walked to the sand where the land met the small lake and waterfall. The sound calmed him but still not enough, after sitting for a few minutes he decided to get to the edge of the water. He ran his fingers in to the lukewarm water and decided he would go in. Gaara was never taught to swim and he never learned himself, but the water was shallow enough near the edges. Without changing he went straight into the water. His feet hit the soft soggy bottom, and he stumbled a bit, he grabbed the cool damp earth and was luckily able to keep his balance. Slowly he sank lower and lower into the warm water and when it reached his neck he stopped and tried to relax. His mind wandered to a different place and a different time.
'You are thinking of her again.' Shukaku grumbled.
"Am not," Gaara insisted, closing his eyes.
'Are you forgetting that I am in your head that every thought is mine to see?' Shukaku asked.
"So what if I am, not like it's any of your business." Gaara said, his eyes remaining closed.
'Why don't you just go and claim her, it would make things a lot less hard.' Shukaku said.
"Claim her as what?" Gaara asked.
'Your mate, or wife like you humans call them.' Shukaku replied annoyed.
"I don't like Hinata like that," Gaara said sounding resolute. "She's a good friend."
'You may have convinced yourself that but not me,' Shukaku said. 'I know you love her and are simply to afraid of rejection.'
This time Gaara remained silent and instead floated in the warm water.
Hinata slowly walked through the forest, her body weary and feet sore but still unable to fall asleep. She found a lake and sat at the edge dipping her toes into the icy black water. She shivered but continued to lower her pale legs into the water. However it seemed to unsettle her, she kicked her legs back and forth creating a small current and with every passing minute it her legs moved faster and faster.
The water used to soothe her, make her comfortable to the point where she could stay in it for hours but right now he seemed to do the exact opposite. She sighed in frustration, pulled her legs out of the water and began to pace. The banks were soft and sandy and soon Hinata found herself slowing down. She got onto her knees and let her fingertips run through the grainy substance. With a sigh she fell over onto her back and closed her eyes. The sand beneath her cradled her to sleep.
"Hinata-sama!" a frantic voice said trying to arouse her from sleep.
Slowly the Hyuuga heiress opened her eyes to see a frantic servant above her shaking her awake.
"Oh my goodness! Are you okay Hinata-sama!?" they cried as Hinata sat up. "Did someone attack you!? Were you raped!?"
"What!" Hinata cried now fully awake. "No nothing happened to me, I just took a walk last night and fell asleep here."
"Oh thank goodness!" the maid said before ushering Hinata up. "Lord Hiashi will be so happy that you are okay!"
Before Hinata could register what was happening she was being ushered home by the maid. The door slammed open and Hinata was all but shoved into the house. She stumbled and crashed into her cousin.
"Oh there you are Hinata-sama, we all thought you might have gone back to Suna," Neji teased.
Hinata blushed but was pulled away from her cousin by her younger sister.
"Hinata-nee you need to see otou-san, here drink this it should calm you!" she said shoving a small cup of tea into Hinata's hands but not breaking stride.
The older girl did as she was told and downed the tea as fast as possible while preparing her excuses for her father. In no time at all she was facing her father's door and her sister was no longer grasping her hand taking a deep breath she raised her hand ready to knock when her father's voice stopped her.
"Enter."
Hinata did as she was told and entered the dark study, preparing what she would say to her father.
"I was worried," he began.
"Gomen," she answered him.
"Why did you leave so late last night without telling anyone?" he asked, being more understanding than ever before.
"I couldn't sleep so I thought I would take a walk and I didn't want to wake you with something so trivial." Hinata said, bowing her head slightly.
Hiashi nodded before reaching into a drawer in his desk. He pulled out a scroll and held it out to Hinata.
"This came for you this morning, it's a summons from Hokage-sama," her father said as she unrolled it and began reading. "What does it say?"
"I need to go there and learn about my newest mission," Hinata said reading from the scroll.
"So soon?" Hiashi asked a hint of worry in his voice.
"I guess so," Hinata said equally puzzled. "I'll go see her now and then report back to you."
Hiashi nodded as his eldest child disappeared out the door.
Gaara walked back into his village with Yuki tucked safely in his arms. His close dripped on the ground catching stares and anxious glances from bystanders. Whispers spread immediately all on speculation of what happened to the Kazekage. After what seemed like forever he got to the Kazekage tower and pulled open the door making everyone in the frantic office stop and turn. The first brave enough to approach the young man was Kankurou.
"Hey where were you?" Kankurou asked. "There was a meeting this morning that you were supposed to attend, but I had to do it for you!"
"What was it about?" Gaara simply asked, not bothering to apologize to his older brother.
"As usual no respect or gratitude," Kankurou sighed. "It was about the Jounin exams, you've been chosen as one of the kages to hold a scroll."
"Fantastic," Gaara said sarcastically. "Who's participating this year?"
"I don't know," Kankurou shrugged, following his brother into his office. "I wasn't aloud to read it, special Kazekage business."
Gaara sighed and entered his office; he plopped down in his chair and looked at the papers on his desk until one caught his eye.
"Is this the list?" he asked looking at the page.
"Yeah, I think," Kankurou, said. "You can still refuse being a judge."
Gaara's eyes ran down the list quickly and stopped on one name. A smile broke onto his usual stoic face and he looked up at his brother.
"No," Gaara started. "I'll do it."
Hinata raced to the Hokage tower, her mind mulling over the many possibilities of what her newest mission would be.
"Hey Hinata-chan!" a loud cheery voice called surprising the young Hyuuga.
Her foot slipped from the roof and she fell towards the ground, but instead of falling she was caught.
"Are you okay Hinata-chan?" the voice asked, overly concerned.
"I'm fine, thank you Naruto-kun," she said sweetly, getting back onto her own feet. "You just surprised me."
"Oh," Naruto said a little abashed. "Where are you headed?" he asked as they resumed jumping on the rooftops.
"The Hokage tower," Hinata answered not breaking stride with Naruto.
"Really me to! Something about a new mission right?" Naruto asked, receiving a nod in return. "Cool we might be on the same team!"
Hinata giggled at the blonde's excitement, as they reached the Hokage tower. He held open the door as Hinata walked in muttering a thank you. They were silent as they walked down the hall, a thought hit Hinata and she groaned.
"Are you okay Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked worried.
"Yes but I just remembered something I forgot," she said as they stopped in front of the Hokage's door.
"What did you forget?" Naruto asked beginning to open the door.
"To tell Tsunade-sama about my mission," she said weakly as the door opened all the way.
"HINATA HYUUGA WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU YESTERDAY!" the Hokage screamed, making the girl flinch.
"Gomen!" she cried. "I was visiting my family and it kind of slipped my mind!"
"I'll show you a slip of the mind!" Tsunade said cracking her knuckles threateningly.
"Tsunade-sama please!" Shizune cried, trying to sedate her superior. "I'll buy you Sake!"
"Really?" Tsunade brightened. "Well okay then, Hinata get in here, and where is Naruto! He's almost as bad as Kakashi when it comes to be on time."
"I am not oba-chan!" Naruto cried, entering after Hinata.
"Oh there you are!" Tsunade seemed surprised. "And do not call me Oba-chan!"
"Shino-kun, you're here to? Shikamaru-san, Sakura-san?" Hinata asked curios.
"It seems as if we'll all be on the same mission," Sakura said, forcing a smile.
"Yes that's absolutely right," Tsunade said. "This mission is special and you have a month to prepare for it."
"Oh no," Shikamaru groaned. "This is what I think it is!"
"That's right!" Tsunade said grinning.
"What is it Shikamaru-san?" Hinata asked.
"The Jounin exams." Shikamaru concluded.
"I want to lead Hinata's team!" Anko argued.
"No way! You'll spill all about the bet!" Genma countered slamming his hand on the
table they were sitting at.
"Whoa! You two need to calm down!" Ayame said balancing the glasses and plates.
"I'll lead their team!" Natsu said, food particles flying out of her over stuffed mouth.
The other three Jounin stared at her, disgust evident on their faces, before totally disregarding her and going back to arguing.
"I say I do it!" Anko cried.
"I say I do it!" Genma piped in.
"No I'll do it!" Ayame shouted joining in the shouting match.
"What are you guys arguing about?" Neji Hyuuga asked as he approached the table.
"Who's going to lead your cousins team!" all four said at once.
"Well that answers quite obvious," he said, looking at them as if they were two. "I will."
Another shouting match erupted between the five Jounin's.
"Why don't we do eeney meeny minny moe?" Natsu suggested.
"No that's stupid!" they all cried before going back to their argument.
"Hey!" Ayame tried to call over the roar. "Hey! HEY!" Ayame screamed.
Everyone was silent as they stared at the younger girl. She took a deep breath and pulled out five kunai.
"Here's the deal, I will take this," Ayame said holding up a roll of medical tape and tape all of them except one. Who ever picks the one without the tape gets to lead Hinata's team.
Everyone nodded and Ayame shuffled the kunai around and then held them out in both her hands. Quickly everyone grabbed one and then they all waited for the moment of truth. Genma opened is hand first and revealed a taped Kunai. Anko's eyes glowed in pride, but dulled immediately as the white tape became visible. Neji dropped his on the table showing white tape on his also. Ayame smiled triumphantly and opened her hand only to look at it disbelievingly as a white tipped kunai appeared from her hand.
"Looks like I win!" Natsu said, spinning the untapped kunai.
A/N: I wrote another story and I need a title for it, so if you would like to help and read a brief summary of it please let me know so I can get it to you! Review!