A/N: Yeah so I'm trying to get as many chapters as I can done. So here's another one for you!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter: 31
The golden sun sank lower and lower over the horizon. The white-eyed teen stared mesmerized at the golden disk. Her eyes were drawn to the center of Konoha before flicking back to the horizon. She had been here for over an hour waiting for the Kazekage but he still had not come.
"Maybe his meeting is running a little late." Hinata offered herself.
But as the sun sunk lower and lower her doubt grew and grew. When the sun was gone and the cold air of night swept over her Hinata couldn't help the tears that were brought to her eyes. Her body was wracked with chills as the moon slowly rose and her hopes fell and fell. Suddenly she heard shoes scraping up the path to the top of the monument. A flash of red and her eyes were glued to the path. Slowly someone appeared on the path and Hinata gasped.
"Gaara-kun?" Hinata gasped.
---Page break---
Temari nervously looked toward Shikamaru as they continued their walk. The slightly taller young man didn't seem to be at all nervous. The blonde gulped loudly finally drawing the young mans attention.
"Is there something wrong Temari?" Shikamaru asked.
The blonde quickly shook her head and silence fell over them once more. She looked at him again but this time she was caught.
"Now I know something's wrong, you're quiet and you keep staring at me." Shikamaru said.
"Nothings wrong." Temari insisted.
"Don't lie to me." Shikamaru sighed. "I know when you're lying."
"I'm not lying!" She continued to say.
"Alright fine," Shikamaru said looking as if he was going to leave.
"Wait!" Temari cried stopping hi?" Shikamaru asked.
"No!" Temari cried. "Lets just walk,, please!"
Shikamaru smiled and nodded before they continued to walk. Their arms swung at their side's hands accidentally hitting the others.
"Sorry," Temari said as there hands fell together.
However instead of letting her hand drop back to her side Shikamaru held it and continued to walk as if nothing was happening. Temari's heart raced but she remained calm on the outside.
---Page break---
Hinata looked up with tears in her eyes her hopes skyrocketed but sunk as she saw an unfamiliar red headed girl walk up the path people talking loudly behind her. Their eyes met but Hinata quickly looked away and she could no longer contain her tears and they flowed freely down her face.
"Hey guys!" the red headed girl called behind her.
"What Kasu-chan?" one called up.
"You should probably head back! Collect supplies and meet me at the training grounds!" the red head shouted back.
With that the footsteps faded and Hinata thought she was left alone again. Her legs crumpled beneath her, the tears falling freely from her eyes.
"Hey what's wrong?" a kind voice asked.
Hinata's head shot up and she made eye contact with the red headed girl for the first time. Her hair was straight and fell around her narrow face, down past her shoulders but not as long as Hinata's. Two deep blue eyes stared intensely at her white ones and she couldn't help but notice a tiny scar underneath the girls left eye. The Hyuuga felt ashamed of her tears and looked away as her hand-tried futilely to make them disappear. Instead of abandoning her, the red head took a seat next to her and waited for a few minutes before speaking again.
"My name is Kasumi Hikoroshi, who are you?" Kasumi asked.
Hinata simply stared at her hands clasped in her lap and avoided the other girls eyes.
"Are you taking the Jounin exams?" Kasumi asked begging for conversation.
Hinata only nodded, the red head sighed, grabbing Hinata's attention for a few minutes.
"Look, I know that you usually want to keep emotional moments to yourself but," the other girl tried one last time. "It will help if you talk about it."
The Hyuuga stared at the girl for a few moments before bursting into tears again. Kasumi wrapped her arm around Hinata's shoulders and let the girl sob. Through her tears Hinata was able to retell the tale of what had happened, and the Kasumi sat and listened.
"Wow what a jerk!" Kasumi said angrily.
"D-don't be so h-hard on him," Hinata sniffed.
"And why not!" Kasumi insisted. "He stood you up!"
"Yes, demo, he might just have been nicer because Temari was my friend," Hinata said quietly.
"No! There is no way that's excusable!" Kasumi said standing up.
Hinata also got to her feet and laid her hand on Kasumi's arm.
"There is no need for that! I know when I'm not wanted." Hinata said.
"Well I say good riddance then!" Kasumi cried. "You deserve someone better!"
Hinata looked at the girl, her face slightly red, but still she was mesmerized by the other girl's conviction.
"Oh Hinata-san!" Kasumi said, her eyes suddenly shining. "Maybe you'll marry a prince!"
The Hyuuga couldn't contain her giggles and they erupted from her, feeling unfamiliar to her since her constant tears.
"Hey, are you laughing at me?" Kasumi pouted. "I was serious."
"You're funny, Kasumi-san!" Hinata said sadly.
"No! Can't you just see it?" Kasumi said, grabbing both of Hinata's hands and sweeping her into a clumsy waltz.
They both could no longer hold in their laughter and their voices bounced of the rock formation they were on. Finally they both fell away from each other in order to contain they're laughter.
"Feeling better Hinata-san?" Kasumi asked.
"Hai," Hinata gasped.
"Well it seems that the Jounin exams will only be in a few more hours." Kasumi said looking out onto the quiet village below.
"Hai." Hinata said returning to her more solemn demeanor.
"Would you like to walk with me to the training grounds?" Kasumi asked, grinning sheepishly.
Hinata giggled and nodded before sprinting down the path, Kasumi following soon after.
---Page Break---
Gaara walked around Konoha, the Hokage's pink haired student his guide. However his aqua eyes searched for something else that was proving much harder to find then expected.
"Kazekage-sama?" Sakura asked, trying to catch the young mans attention.
"Hmm?" the red head asked, his gaze focused somewhere else.
"Are you hungry?" Sakura asked, wishing for more then a few words.
The Kazekage simply nodded this time and the pinkette sighed in defeat. Gaara was to distracted to notice the three girls coming their way. A small eep was heard as a girl ran into Gaara. The red head glanced down and saw the top of a smaller girls head. She backed up and looked up at the Kazekage cheeks a flame in embarrassment and her green eyes wide as a deer in the headlights. Her sandy brown hair hanging down her back in a loose ponytail.
"Gomen," her soft voice filled Gaara's head, reminding him of another soft-spoken girl.
"Rikku!" another girl called from the group that just walked past them.
"Hai!" the girl answered quickly and nervously.
Another bow to Gaara and she was gone along with the other two girls. Sakura tsked in a motherly fashion before continuing to lead the young man in the direction of food. Gaara still kept his eyes peeled for the white-eyed girl he was searching for. Finally his face lit up when he caught sight of the indigo haired Hyuuga walking with another red head. Passing Sakura without so much as a glance the teen b lined it towards the two girls.
"Hello Hyuuga-san," the Kazekage said, a flicker of emotion running across his face.
Hinata and Kasumi's smiles faded as they caught sight of the leader of the sand.
Clearing her throat Hinata prepared to speak.
"Hello Kazekage," she said stoic and blank.
Gaara couldn't help nor stop the shock that flitted over his face but was able to recompose his solemn mask.
"C'mon Hinata-chan," Kasumi quickly made an excuse. "Come meet the rest of my team."
The two girls drifted away and Gaara felt insatiable anger rise within.
"Lets continue, shall we?" Sakura asked holding the door open to a restaurant.
Gaara only growled as he was drawn away from Hinata.
---Page Break---
Everyone had gathered at the center of Konoha, eagerly waiting for the Jounin exams to begin. Shikamaru and Temari made it at the same time as the rest of the rookie nine team.
"Hey Shikamaru!" Naruto called waving, standing next to Natsu and Shino.
The brown eyes boy released Temari's hand and made his way over to his other teammates.
"Hey, where's Sakura and Hinata?" he asked, scanning the crowed for the two girls.
"Being the apprentice of the Hokage she has to wait and then she'll come," Natsu explained. "Demo I don't know where Hinata-chan is."
"If she doesn't hurry we're never going to make it!" Naruto whined.
"Don't worry," Shino interjected. "She'll be here."
Just as the words came out of the Aburame's mouth the indigo haired girl appeared next to them a little out of breath but no more worse for wear.
"Gomen, I'm late!" Hinata breathed.
"It's okay Hinata-chan," Natsu reassured. "As long as you made it on time."
Just then the whole crowed was silenced as the Kages walked onto the large platform in the middle of the crowed. After the Kages another line of people followed them onto the stage, following Tsunade was of course Sakura and Shizune but there was also someone following behind Gaara. Hinata strained her eyes, preserving her chakra by not activating the Byakugan, and caught a semi clear glance of his pupil. Giving up she activated her Byakugan and gasped when she saw the face clearly.
"Matsuri-chan!" Hinata gasped, her Byakugan fading.
Her teammates all gave her curious looks before their attention was drawn back to the stage as the Hokage began to speak.
"Welcome to our humble village!" she greeted warmly. "Are you all ready to begin the Jounin exams?"
The Hokage received thunderous applause and some cheers from this and even though she wanted to bask in the admiration but she was brought back to reality by the Raikage who cleared his throat.
"Right! So as with all tests there are a few rules." Tsunade announced receiving groans this time. "Rule number one! There will be no cheating at all, because if I find out that you cheated I will kill you. Second rule there will be no FIGHTING, if it can be avoided, if you want to kill each other wait until the second round. Rule three, obey your Jounin instructors they're there for a reason. Fourth and final rule, make it to the mist village in the time allotted, because if you don't I don't know what will happen to you."
Whispers rushed through the crowed like wind but quickly died and silence fell over the once eager crowed. The Kazekage then stepped up; his cool eyes ran over the crowed before he opened his mouth to speak.
"You have two and a half days to make it to the hidden mist, anyone who arrives there even a minute late will be disqualified." Gaara stated. "Everyone, Onegai make your way to the gates."
Everyone pushed and shoved past each other before they soon made it to the gate where they awaited instruction. The wide gates were pulled open and the teams lined up in the front. Hinata stood behind Naruto and wiggled a bit, feeling claustrophobic.
"Begin!" the Raikages voice boomed.
All the teams rocketed off into the forest except for Natsu's. The female Jounin held her arms out wide to prevent her team from racing ahead.
"Natsu-san!" they cried.
"Why aren't you letting us go?" Naruto asked.
"This is a race! Remember!?" Shikamaru cried aggravated.
"Yes I remember." Natsu said letting her arms drop to her sides.
"Then why haven't we started yet Natsu-san?" Sakura asked. "If it was to wait for me I would have caught up!"
"No, it wasn't because of you." Natsu said.
"Then why Natsu-san?" Hinata asked.
"That," the girl replied pointing outside the gate.
The teens approached the gate and peered out side and gasped. Everyone who ran out first was now caught in a trap, some hanging from trees others in pits but all of them screaming for help.
"See?" Natsu asked. "Patience is definitely a virtue."
And with that their team headed out to begin the Jounin exam.
A/N: YAY second chapter of this week! Plenty more where that came from, I'm on break now!