A/N: ok just to clear everything up, the events in the last chapter happened from dusk and all through the evening, so right now it will be the morning after Gaara got kidnapped.
Disclaimer: I don't own, I am not making any money from this story, even though Lord knows I need it!
Chapter: 41
Hinata groaned as the sun shone through the window, all too soon for her liking. Taking a pillow she covered her face and wished for the sun to go back down. Suddenly loud music filled her ears and Hinata abruptly sat up to inspect her surroundings. That's when she realized she was no longer in the Hyuuga compound and that this was Natsu's apartment. Her heart ached slightly, missing her old room.
"HINATA!" Natsu shouted as she entered the room, only then noticing the cringing girl. "Oh I'm sorry!" Natsu quickly apologized. "I thought you were still asleep."
"It's okay," Hinata answered. "As a Hyuuga I was taught to rise with the sun so I've been up for a little while."
"Yeah but it's the weekend," Natsu said.
"And?" Hinata asked confused.
"Sleeping in is something you do on weekends." Natsu said.
"Oh!" Hinata said suddenly excited. "I get it!"
"Yeah! Yeah!" Natsu said. "I've slept in until one before!" She stated proudly. "What about you?"
"The latest I've slept in," Hinata said thinking for a minute. "Was until 7:30!" Hinata giggled as if she had done something bad.
Natsu looked at her for a minute as if she was an alien before hopping closer (A/N: Remember she only has one leg) and sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Hinataaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" she whined. "This isn't the Hyuuga manor! You can sleep in however late you would like."
Hinata smiled warmly at her friend before her eyes caught the numbers in red on the digital clock on the nightstand next to the bed.
"Then why do I need to be up at 8:00?" Hinata asked, slyly.
"Well today I thought we could bond like sisters!" Natsu said tackling Hinata in a hug.
"That's great Natsu-chan," Hinata said. "Demo what would we be doing?"
"What every NORMAL girl has been brought up to do…" Natsu began. "SHOP!!"
"Demo I don't have any money," Hinata said.
"I wouldn't be so sure!" Natsu said. "Come with me!"
The Jounin grabbed Hinata's hand and dragged her out of the room to the front of the apartment where numerous bags of luggage sat.
"Neji brought it over this morning." Natsu answered her unasked question.
"Really?" Hinata choked out holding back some tears.
"Yup," Natsu said. "And he told me to give this to you personally."
The older girl held out an envelope and the ex Hyuuga heiress took it with slight hesitation, slowly opening it as not to wreck anything that could be inside. The first thing she pulled out was a note.
Dear Hinata
I want to thank you immensely for relinquishing your title of heir to the Hyuuga clan to someone as unworthy as me. Even after all I put you through you still think of me and try to make things better for everyone but yourself. I promise I will lead the Hyuuga clan just how you would want it to be run. That means treating cruelty with kindness and no more cursed seals. In this envelope is all the money I have ever made as a ninja up until this point. I want you to take it and buy something nice for yourself think of it as a treat on me. I love you dear cousin and I hope we can still remain close family even with your departure from the Hyuuga clan.
Love,
Neji
P.S If you don't buy anything for yourself I will pick the most extravagant and expensive thing in the whole village and buy it for you instead.
Hinata laughed at the letter before bursting into regretful tears. Natsu wrapped an arm around her shoulders and let her cry. After a few minutes when no more crying was heard Hinata spoke.
"Natsu-chan?" Hinata asked a bit shaky.
"Hai Hinata-chan?" answered Natsu soothingly.
"Can we go shopping now?" Hinata practically whimpered.
"Of course Hinata-chan!" Natsu cried. "Let me get my purse!!"
Hinata nodded and stood waiting at the door. Natsu hobbled into the kitchen returning moments later with her purse and crutches. Hinata opened the door and they both left the apartment.
--Page break--
"What about this?" Natsu asked holding out a kimono to Hinata.
"No," Hinata said. "Its way to flashy."
"Flashy?" Natsu cried. "It's one solid color!"
She waved the kimono in Hinata's face to prove it.
"Yes but it's just so very...not me," Hinata said taking it from Natsu's hands and putting it back onto the rack.
"You're such a stick in the mud Hinata-chan." Natsu grumbled.
Hinata turned and smiled at her friend about to say something when she was stopped by a young Chunin who spoke to her.
"Hinata Hyuuga?" the young boy asked.
"Hai." Hinata answered a little stony.
"Tsunade-sama wants you to go to her office for a new mission," he said.
"Ok, arigotou Konahamaru-san," she said bowing to the thirds grandson.
Konahamaru smiled before also bowing and running back to where Udon and Moegi waited patiently for him.
"The Hokage always knows how to ruin our fun!!" Natsu pouted.
"It's okay Natsu-chan; I'll go and then meet you for lunch." Hinata said.
"You promise?" Natsu asked.
"I promise," Hinata answered placing a hand over her heart.
"You swear?" Natsu asked again.
"I swear," Hinata said a little exasperated.
"Are you sure?" Natsu asked this time trying to annoy her friend.
"If you keep me here any longer I don't know if I'll even be done by lunch!" Hinata replied.
"Then get moving!" Natsu said, pushing Hinata forward.
Hinata sighed and began to run away only then realizing they never set up a specific location for lunch.
--Page Break--
Temari paced outside the hospital room door waiting to hear the news about Kankurou. Chiyo had been in there for over an hour and there was still no result. Finally the door opened and Temari almost fainted. Chiyo walked out followed by the rest of the medic ninja's. Slowly all of them disappeared and temari and Chiyo were in the corridor alone, an awkward silence over them.
"Well!?" Temari almost screamed.
"Gomen, Temari-san." Chiyo began making Temari's heart sink. "But I can't save him."
Temari's bottom lip quivered but she was able to swallow her tears as Chiyo was about to speak again.
"However there is still hope for him." Chiyo said.
"What do I have to do?" Temari asked steadily.
"I only know of one person who might be able to cure him," Chiyo began.
"And who is it!?" Temari asked impatiently.
"Tsunade." Chiyo said.
--Page Break--
Hinata made it to the Hokage's office faster then she had expected. She softly knocked and waited for the Hokage's voice. However instead of hearing the strong but female voice of Tsunade she heard the bright cheery male voice of her former crush.
"Come in!"He called.
Slowly Hinata opened the door and was met by a bright smile from the blonde.
"Hi Hinata-chan!" Naruto cried.
"Hello Naruto-kun," Hinata said smiling and taking a seat in the chair opposite him.
"How have you been?" he asked diplomatically.
"Good, you?" Hinata asked, trying to ignore the awkwardness between them.
"Fantastic," Naruto beamed, the discomfort not affecting him at all. "Why are you here Hinata-chan?"
"The Hokage needed to see me," Hinata said.
"Oh I'll get her for you; she shouldn't have you wait if she's the one that called you."
"Well that's okay Naruto-kun you don't have to..." Hinata began but was cut off as Naruto scooted his chair out and walked to the door.
"There goes Hinata-chan always worried about others, it's no bother don't worry about it!" he tried to reassure her.
With that he pulled open the door and called down the hall loudly.
"Oba-chan! Hinata-Chan's here to see you!" Naruto cried.
"Naruto! I'm coming I'm coming!"Tsunade's voice echoed loudly through the hall outside her office.
Not a moment later Tsunade appeared in her office.
"I told you to stop calling me that Naruto!" Tsunade growled at the blonde.
Hinata cleared her throat loudly to try and diffuse the fight that was sure to occur between the Hokage and her apprentice.
"Oh there you are Hinata-chan!" Tsunade said as if Hinata had just gotten there. "I weren't expecting you so soon!"
"Well what do you need Tsunade-sama?" Hinata tried to urge the Hokage.
"I have a mission for you!" the Hokage said, rushing to her desk and shuffling through a few papers. "Here you go!"
She handed Hinata a folder, and the Hyuuga immediately opened it. Immediately four pictures fell onto her lap. Picking them up she carefully studied each one.
"Demo, these are pictures of the sound team," Hinata said.
"Yes that's your new mission!" Tsunade said excitedly.
"Oba-chan!" Naruto cried. "That's a dirty trick!"
"Shut up Naruto unless you want to do ALL of the paper work for the month." Tsunade warned.
Naruto glared at the Hokage and crossed his arms as he listened to the rest of the debriefing.
"Yes Hinata-chan I want you to watch over them and see if they are up to no good." Tsunade said.
"Alright," Hinata sighed.
"Take an extra peek at Sasuke for me if you will, he seems a bit...unstable." Tsunade said, eyeing the Hyuuga closely.
"Of course," Hinata said standing and bowing. "Where are they staying?"
"Sasuke made arrangements and now they are all staying in the Uchiha compound." Tsunade answered.
Hinata gulped loudly but nodded leaving the office. Finally Tsunade could no longer ignore the glare coming from the blonde boy next to her.
"What is it Naruto!" Tsunade sighed exasperated.
"That's not right," he said seriously. "Trying to force her and Sasuke together like that will only cause problems."
"Oh come now Naruto!" Tsunade said. "A little push in the right direction never hurt anyone."
Naruto stood and walked to the door; placing his hand on the knob he turned to say one last thing.
"Only this isn't a push in the right direction, it's a push in the direction YOU want it to go in." With that he left.
--Page break--
"Get out." The Uchiha's cold voice sent shivers down the pink haired girl's spine.
"Sasuke-kun, Onegai..." Sakura pleaded on her knees.
"I said get out." Sasuke turned back towards the girl.
"Tell me anything you want me to do and I'll do it!" Sakura begged. "I just feel so useless.'
"Well then go find your worth somewhere else." Sasuke snapped.
Karin who was watching through a crack in the door chuckled evilly.
"Demo, when we were teammates I was able to help a lot." Sakura said.
"I have found someone else who is of much more value then you." Sasuke concluded. "Now get out!"
Sakura burst into tears, running out the door and almost knocking over Karin.
"Karin," Sasuke said suddenly from behind her.
"H-hai Sasuke?" Karin stuttered out afraid to make him angry.
"No need to be nervous," Sasuke soothed. "I want to talk to you in private."
"Really!?" Karin said scratching her cheek as a sudden itch made itself known.
"Yes come in." he opened the door and Karin walked in bashfully, scratching her cheek again.
When she got in the room she was thrown against the wall, Sasuke's arms pinning her there. His face got ever closer when suddenly her cheek itched again. She scratched it roughly wondering why she was so itchy.
"Karin?" Sasuke said softly.
"Yes Sasuke?" Karin asked, scratching her cheek continually.
"Karin." Sasuke breathed again.
"Sasuke?" Karin said, suddenly a little wary of the man in front of her.
Suddenly the itching stopped and was replaced by a sharp pain in her cheek instead.
"KARIN!" Suigetsu cried poking Karin hard with the opposite end of the feather he had been using to tickle her.
Slowly the girl opened her eyes, glasses askew she began to fix them, trying to hold down her anger.
"What did you need Suigetsu?" Karin asked as calmly as she could while holding her glasses in one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other.
"Well you were muttering Sasuke over and over again, so in order to shut you up I poked you until you woke up," Suigetsu admitted showing her the feather he had been using.
Karin's eyes darkened and her glasses snapped in her tightly clenched hand.
"I suggest you run now." Jugo said watching from his seat near the window.
"Suigetsu you BASTARD!!"
--Page Break--
"Hey Hinata-chan wait!" Naruto called after the white eyed girl.
"Yes Naruto-kun?" Hinata answered turning to face him.
"I just wanted to tell you..." he began. "The reason why Tsunade gave you that mission was because..."
"She wants me to get closer to Sasuke so we will get married and create a whole new super powerful clan." Hinata finished for him.
"But how did you...?" Naruto tried to ask.
"Natsu told me five seconds after I went to her apartment." Hinata smiled. "And she also told me what you said."
Naruto's face went blank for a minute not remembering if what he said was good or bad.
"And I really appreciate it," Hinata reassured him. "I'm glad at least one person thinks I should be able to choose someone for myself."
Naruto blushed slightly and was about to say something when a Jounin from Suna sprinted towards them.
"What's going on?" Hinata asked anxiously when she saw his head band.
"Letter…for the Hokage…from…Temari-san." The Jounin panted.
"Arigotou for making it here." Naruto said. "Demo I'll take it to the Hokage."
The Jounin relinquished the letter gratefully before resting. Hinata watched as Naruto ran towards the Hokage tower.
"What's the letter about?" Hinata asked.
"Gaara-sama," the Jounin panted.
"What about him?" Hinata asked frowning.
"He was kidnapped by the Akatsuki."
--Page Break--
"Alright," Tsunade said looking over the three people in her office. "You will be the team I will dispatch to Suna."
"Just…us?" Sakura asked, looking at Kakashi then Naruto.
"Yes," Tsunade said. "I have full faith in you."
Suddenly the door burst open and Hinata rushed in.
"Tsunade-sama!" Hinata panted. "I beg you; let me go on this mission."
"I'm sorry Hinata but you're already on a mission." Tsunade said.
"Begging your pardon Hokage-sama!" Hinata ground out. "But I don't care about that mission!"
"Hinata-san I have already assigned this mission to other capable ninja's, besides it will take too long to brief you and pack." Tsunade said smug.
"I'm done packing." Hinata said, throwing her already packed onto the Hokage's desk.
"Just let her come oba-chan," Naruto interrupted. "We could always use an extra teammate."
"Onegai Tsunade-sama." Hinata begged.
And slowly the two teens yelled at Tsunade about Hinata going on the mission and finally the Hokage snapped.
"UZIMAKI NARUTO IF YOU CARRY ON ANY LONGER WITH THIS I WILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE NO LONGER HOKAGE IN TRAINING." That immediately silenced the blonde. "And Hinata Hyuuga." She said slightly calmer. "I have made my decision, and that is final, if you speak one more word I will put you under anbu surveillance."
The Hyuuga's head fell as she slowly left the office her packed bag in hand. However as soon as she was far enough from the Hokage tower not to be seen she sprinted towards the Uchiha compound an idea quickly coming into her head.
--Page Break--
"Eww," Suigetsu groaned poking at the dinner Karin had made with distaste.
"Just shut up and eat it!" Karin snapped.
"Yes we don't need anything else broken before Sasuke-san comes in." Jugo stated.
"Where is his royal majesty king hard ass anyway?" Suigetsu asked.
"That's supreme hard ass to you." Sasuke scoffed walking toward the table. (A/N: Gasp! Sasuke has a sense of humor!)
Suigetsu was about to open his mouth again when a frantic knocking was heard at the door. Sasuke sighed and was about to go and answer the door but Karin spoke first.
"I'll get it! Just sit Sasuke." With that she walked towards the door.
"I better go to just in case it's someone hot that Karin wants to kill." Suigetsu got up just in time as the door was pulled open.
"What are you doing here?" Karin scowled at the Hyuuga who stood on the door step.
Without a word Hinata pushed past the other girl and wondered into the house.
"THAT WAS RUDE!" Karin shouted while Suigetsu laughed at her.
"Sasuke?" Hinata called.
"In the kitchen." The avenger replied curious as to why the Hyuuga would visit him.
Hinata walked in the kitchen and made sure Sasuke was facing her before she told him her request.
"I want you to tell me all you know about the Akatsuki." Hinata said.
"Why?" Sasuke asked.
"Just give me the information!" Hinata insisted.
"Not unless you tell me why." Sasuke said.
"Gaara was kidnapped and I plan on saving him." Hinata said stern.
A moment of silence passed.
"Alright then."
--Page Break--
When the clock on her nightstand in Natsu's apartment read 11:30 Hinata got up and jumped out the window before taking off towards the main gate. When she got there she quickly checked her surroundings but suddenly noticed four unfamiliar presences. Turning she saw team sound approaching her.
"You're not going with me." Hinata stated when they were in ear shot.
"Last time I checked you weren't the boss of us." Sasuke answered for them.
Hinata stared at the young man hard and he stared back and silence fell over the group.
"Just don't slow me down." Hinata warned and they all sprinted out of the village.
A/N: Yay I was on vacation and I had fun so this is a chapter in celebration of me being home! Thanks for all the fabulous reviews and continue to give them!