A/N: Hey guys sorry it took so long to update but here it is and I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything….
Chapter 30:
Gaara slid his kage robes on, slightly fighting with the thin white fabric. They remained tangled around his waist and arms as his frustration grew. A knock at his door sent him over the edge and his anger bubbled to the surface. He stormed to the door not even noticing that the robes had righted themselves, and he wrenched the door open with such a force that it slammed against the opposite wall. He was surprised to see two exhausted grey eyes search him.
"Temari?" Gaara asked, to stunned for words.
"Yeah, are you going to let me in?" she asked as her brother took a step back.
"How was your journey?" Gaara continued, going over to his full body mirror trying to adjust his Kazekage hat.
"Good," Temari answered bemused. "Hinata misses you." She added just to gage his reaction.
"Really?" he asked stoic as ever.
"No," Temari pouted not missing the slight disbelief in his voice.
"That's what I thought." Gaara said trying to balance his hat.
"And why is that?" Temari asked quirking an eyebrow.
"Because Hinata would never be that forward, especially with the male species." Gaara said trying to readjust his hat again.
"I didn't know you were that smart," Temari teased. "There was a letter she wanted me to give you but I kind of lost it on the way here."
"You what?" Gaara asked trying to remain calm as his hat fell of his head.
"I lost it, but no worries right?" Temari said walking towards her baby brother. "She'll be taking the Jounin exam and she'll be able to talk to you in person."
"You really are troublesome," Gaara said giving up on his hat.
"I missed you to." Temari said fondly taking the hat and securing Gaara's it on his head.
----Page Break---
Hinata stood wringing her hands anxious as she waited for her team to gather at the gates. She looked anxiously in the direction of the horizon, then back over her shoulder as if expecting to see her teammates coming.
"You're an hour early," a cool voice observed.
Hinata's head snapped up and she was face to face with a young man no older then her.
"H-hai!" she stuttered disliking the young mans intense stare.
There was something familiar about him that Hinata couldn't put her finger on but it wasn't a good thing.
"Hey what are you doing?" a loud obnoxious voice called over to them.
"Nothing," the young man in front of her insisted.
"Well then we should go," the other piped in again. "Sensei will kill us if we're late for the meeting
"You're a Hyuuga," the boy in front of her said instead of paying his ally any sort of attention.
"Hai," she said meekly not being able to look away.
"Hyuuga Hinata?" he asked, his voice getting higher in curiosity.
"Hai," Hinata said slowly, being more and more frightened.
"Come on let's go!!!!" his companion shouted pulling his teammate away.
As the Hyuuga faded from his sight he pulled a letter from his pocket and reread the name at the bottom. Hyuuga Hinata. He folded the letter and pocketed it again.
----Page Break---
Hinata watched them leave and shuddered. Slowly she began to pace gathering speed every time she turned.
"Wow you walk fast!" a high-pitched voice said making Hinata freeze.
She looked up and came face to face with Natsu, she sighed in relief and continued to pace.
"Nervous?" Natsu asked.
"Hai," Hinata said not breaking her pace.
"You should be, the Jounin exams are sssccccaaarrrryyyy!" Natsu said.
"I'm not nervous about that," Hinata blurted.
"Ooooooh! Hinata-chan has a secret!" Natsu said poking the Hyuuga in the side.
"Onegai don't poke me Natsu-san." Hinata said backing away from the hyperactive Jounin.
"Why?" Natsu said poking her and hearing a little gasp.
"B-because!" Hinata said moving away again.
"You're ticklish aren't you Hinata-chan?" Natsu asked, grinning like a fox.
"Onegai, don't Natsu-san!" Hinata said.
The Jounin paid no mind and tickled her continually while Hinata laughed. The battle raged for a long time and Hinata was about to give up when in her futile attempt to escape made her bump into someone who rescued her.
"What are you doing to poor Hinata, Natsu-chan?" Naruto asked shielding Hinata from the Jounin's waiting fingers.
"Just tickling her," Natsu said.
"Really?" Naruto asked. "You're ticklish Hinata-chan?" he turned and faced the white eyed girl.
"H-hai." Hinata sighed trying to regain control over her laughter.
Naruto looked at Natsu and they both nodded to each other before advancing toward Hinata.
"Stop screwing around!" Shikamaru said, grabbing Hinata and pushing her towards Shino before confronting the two other ninja. "This is serious!"
"Arigotou Shino-kun," Hinata said looking up at her teammate who only nodded.
"Boy am I proud to see my future Jounin's up and ready so early!" Tsunade said, Shizune and Sakura following after their superior.
"Now that my teams already here…" Natsu paused and gaped.
They all looked around and gaped as a huge crowed of ninja ran for the gate.
"Take cover!" Natsu yelled as she jumped for the trees.
They all followed before the entrance was swarming with Participants with the Jounin exam. Tsunade strode over to the gate purposefully, stopping in front of it and raising up her full height.
"Welcome to Konoha all participants and special guests! Please file in politely and orderly. Feel free to roam about our lovely village. Thank you, and good luck!" Tsunade belted out the premeditated speech so everyone could hear.
She then nodded at the crowd, and walked away, heaving a sigh of relief. Shizune followed soon after, making faster strides to catch up. After the two were no longer in site, the crowd began to cram inside. As the group continued to watch, Hinata's eyes widened as she saw the one person she didn't think she was ever going to see again. The Fifth Kazekage slowly and calmly walked at the back of the crowd, escorted by his siblings and a select number of Sand Jounin.
"What Hinata-chan?" Natsu asked the shocked Hyuuga.
"Huh-oh…nothing…." Hinata answered turning a small shade of red. "I'll be right back." She said before leaping from the tree straight into the crowed.
She pushed through the crowed, her mouth moving mechanically as she apologized and tried to excuse herself in the same soft fashion that was no longer uncommon with the white eyed Kunoichi.
"Where's Hinata-san going?" Sakura asked.
Natsu grinned before jumping next to the pinkette and pointed the blue tipped hat of the Kazekage and giggled. Sakura stood there in shock for a few minutes before leaping into the crowed herself. The group sat and watched the new scene unfolding in front of them. The usually shy claustrophobic Kunoichi jumping into the crowed to greet her friends from the sand village, and what about Sakura? Hinata clasped her hands in excitement as the crowd started to grow smaller and smaller, until only very few people were left. As the remaining portions of the crowd entered the gate, the small group of Sand Nin emerged, and Temari gasped excitedly and ran over to Hinata, greeting her.
"Konichiwa Temari-chan!" Hinata cried melting into the older girls proffered hug. "How are you?"
"Hello Hinata-chan! I am fine, and you?" Temari answered, exuberant to see her friend.
"Great!" Hinata answered, her eyes catching sight of the bright-headed Kazekage.
Hinata chatted with her for a few more seconds before making her way to Gaara. The Jounin's were able to recognize her and let her speak with their leader.
"Konichiwa Kazekage-sama, and how are you?" She greeted as she bowed.
Gaara stared at her for a minute, never breaking eye contact. They both knew that the other would have to have a formal greeting, so without wasting another moment Gaara stood straight.
"Konichiwa Hyuuga-san," he said nodding to her. "I am doing well, as I hope you are as well?"
"Hai," Hinata nodded.
The Hyuuga's mouth opened once more, her eyes giving her away to her next statement. But before even another breath could pass her lips she was cut off by Sakura's sugary sweet voice.
"Konichiwa Kazekage-sama," the girl said, bowing just as Hinata had.
Gaara looked at her for a moment in confusion before recognizing her and greeting her.
Hinata's mind raced as she thought of what to say as another silence fell around them.
"So why are you here Kazekage-sama?" Hinata questioned.
Gaara cleared his throat, "I am one of the judges for the Jounin exams."
"Really?" Hinata asked excitedly, but quickly reprimanding herself for the sudden outburst.
The redhead nodded, before his attention was drawn back to the medical Kunoichi.
"If you could please excuse us," Sakura said addressing everyone. "The Kazekage and I have some private business to talk about, Tsunade-sama's orders."
Everyone nodded except for Hinata who looked as if she had been slapped in the face. Kankurou quickly came to her rescue by draping an arm across her shoulders. The white eyed girl looked up at him and smiled, as her other teammates dropped from the branches.
"Hey Shikamaru," Temari said walking up to the laziest one in the group.
"Uh oh," Shikamaru said grinning.
"I'm hungry, would you mind taking me to lunch?" Temari asked.
Shikamaru leaned over Temari making the blondes breath catch and he quickly placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.
"Of course." And with that the couple was gone.
"Well that's no fun!" Natsu said, huffing. "I wanted you guys to warm up before tonight!"
"Tonight?" Naruto asked.
"Yup that's when the exams start!" Natsu said.
"Then why tell us to wake up so damn early!" Naruto whined.
"Because!" Natsu said. "The first test in the Jounin exam is the race!"
"Race?" they all asked.
"Yeah, from here to water country!" Natsu said.
---Page break---
The Fifth Hokage, followed by her assistant, entered the Hokage tower, as she rubbed her temples.
"This is going to be even worse. More paperwork…" Tsunade trailed off as she thought about the exams coming up.
Shizune rolled her eyes. More paperwork meant more work for her. She watched as the Hokage sighed in annoyance. The Hokage entered her office where the other Kages all waited except for one.
"Looks like we'll be waiting on that young man again!" the Raikage complained.
"Oh deal with it you crotchety old fart!" Tsunade cried. "Now shut up and have a drink!" she said shoving a sake cup at him.
---Page Break---
"Who was that girl earlier, Akihiko?" the boy asked his companion.
"Hyuuga Hinata," Akihiko answered.
"You mean the girl who wrote that letter you refuse to show me?" the other boy asked.
"Hai," Akihiko answered.
"Awww come on! Just show me the stupid secret letter!" the boy cried.
"Now now Ryota, it wouldn't be secret if I did that now would it?" the Akihiko asked smugly.
Ryota cried aloud before storming away from his sly teammate. When Akihiko was sure he was gone he pulled out the Hyuuga's letter and opened it.
Dear Gaara-kun,
It has only been a few weeks and I already miss the dry sands of Suna. You have no idea how I long to go back. Imagine it.
Everyday I would wake up and be able to see my best friends Kankurou and Temari. Train with Matsuri and explore your culture even more.
I have also missed you. I have grown to care deeply for you. You are a great friend and I was hoping that we might be able to arrange a deal with Hokage-sama. Maybe I can go to Suna for a few months then return home. However if this will inconvenience you in anyway you do not have to agree. If you could please meet up with me on the day the Jounin exams begin at the Hokage monument at dusk I will know that I do not bother you too much and you're willing to let me stay with you a little longer. However if you do not come I understand and will trouble you no longer.
Your Friend,
Hinata Hyuuga
A/N: uh oh! Gaara doesn't have the letter so he wont be able to meet her! What's going to happen between them now!? REVIEW! Please, ideas and constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated.