Chapter: 42
Natsu has always been known as a tough girl. As an exceptional academy student she graduated early along with her best friend Ayame She passed the Chunin exams the first time around and immediately began training to become a Jounin. On her last mission before the Jounin exams her and her teammates were on their way home after a successful escorting mission and they were attacked. Natsu watched as two of her teammates were killed in cold blood and how she was tortured until finally rescued by Anbu. All through the ordeal she could recall with great clarity that her eyes had always been dry. However like all good superheroes she had her weakness. Weddings, no matter how hard she tried she could not stop herself from crying. This wedding was no different. The bride looked stunning in her white wedding kimono, a crown of white gold sitting atop her head. The groom wore a crimson kimono contrasting sharply with his bride but coming together beautifully. White petals from the flowers on the surrounding trees fell gracefully around the couple as if it was a picture from a movie. After the ceremony itself there was a reception tons of food and dancing. However Natsu sat at a table drying her eyes while laughing as the bride attempted to teach the groom how to dance.
"Having fun Natsu-san?" Neji Hyuuga asked taking a seat next to the slightly older girl.
"Hai hai!" Natsu insisted turning her attention to the young man next to her. "What about you Neji-san?"
"Of course," he said, watching the bride with a large smile on his face. "But alas I find myself without a dance partner."
"Well I am sorry to disappoint you," Natsu said looking at him warily. "But I won't be of much help to you." she said referring to her missing leg.
"I don't know, you might not need two legs to dance." Neji said standing and pulling Natsu up with him.
Making sure he was supporting her weight Neji danced slowly with Natsu actually succeeding. But soon after the slow song there was a slightly faster one and the dance from before would not suffice. They stood o0n the dance floor for a few seconds before Neji seemed to come up with an idea. Still supporting the majority of her weight he began to dance a little faster with her making her hobble and tip a little. Soon she realized all the other dancers had stopped except for the bride and groom and her and Neji. They were watching her make a fool out of herself and she felt embarrassed.
"Why are your cheeks so red Natsu-san?" Neji asked.
"People are watching me." Natsu said.
"Then let them watch." Neji said.
"It's embarrassing Neji." Natsu said quietly.
"Why?" he asked, as the song was coming to a close.
"Because I can't dance right." Natsu answered her head falling.
Neji released her and stared at her for a minute, not knowing how to cheer up his fellow Jounin. Natsu ignored the Hyuuga prince's piercing gaze. Suddenly the room around her started to erupt into loud hysterics. Quickly Natsu's head snapped up and she found the Hyuuga genius doing the chicken dance in a circle around her. A hand flew to her own mouth to stifle the giggles trying to force their way out. There was clapping coming from the other side of the room; it was the groom as the bride joined in on the silly dance. Everyone laughed harder, including Natsu.
"Neji-san you can stop embarrassing yourself now!" Natsu said.
"Why?" Neji asked. "I'm having fun that's all that matters!"
The reception ended soon after and Natsu and Neji were the last two people to leave. As she helped the drunken Neji through the door the stoic Kazekage smiled and nodded, his bride only a few feet away cleaning a few things up. As they exited the reception hall Genma, Anko, and Ayame stood outside waiting for her.
"Well I guess you were right Natsu." Genma said handing her a stack of money.
Anko simply grumbled as she handed her money over to the overly happy Jounin.
"Here you go Natsu-chan," Ayame said, handing in her money as well. "You deserve this."
"And you also deserve this." Tsunade said. "I've found a surgery where I can replace your leg, it will take a lot of recovery time but I'm sure you can do it!"
"Really?" Natsu said ecstatic.
"Congratulations Natsu-chan!" The bride said hugging her tightly.
"No I should be thanking you Hinata-chan," Natsu said squeezing the bride back. "If you and Gaara-sama hadn't gotten married I wouldn't have gotten the money to pay for my new prosthetic leg."
"Natsu-san?" Neji said. "Can I walk you home?"
"Yeah…" Natsu said, realizing they were alone.
The walk to her apartment was silent and she felt very awkward. When she got to the door Neji stopped her from opening the door.
"What is it Neji?" Natsu asked, but the Hyuuga didn't answer. "Neji?" Natsu asked again nervous.
The young man opened his mouth and a loud beep made its way to Natsu's ears.
Her eyes slowly opened and her hand slammed viscously on her alarm clock. Slowly she sat up and rubbed her eyes wondering why she was up so early. Then she remembered, Hinata was denied the mission to look for the Kazekage and was depressed so Natsu had decided to make her breakfast. Smiling to herself and completely forgetting her dream she got up and walked into the kitchen to begin preparing breakfast. It took a little over an hour and Natsu could not force down the pride she felt as she picked it up and prepared to carry it into Hinata's room which took her another fifteen minutes.
"Hinata! Breakfast!" Natsu said happily.
However when she walked in she found the Hyuuga girl missing. The first thought that ran through her head was she went to see her cousin. Natsu then stuffed the breakfast into a basket so maybe they could have a picnic when she found her friend. Grabbing her crutches she began her search. Finally when she spotted the Hyuuga Genius he had spotted her and was walking over purposefully.
"Ah Neji-san!" Natsu smiled.
"Natsu-san." Neji nodded curtly. "Have you seen Hinata-sa…Hinata?"
"No…I was just going to ask you the same question." Natsu said thoughtfully.
"I've checked everywhere and I can't find her." Neji said frightfully.
"Then where could she be?" Natsu asked.
They stood and contemplated for a moment before they both looked at each other and Natsu dropped the basket of food.
"Gaara." They said in unison.
Within seconds Neji had scooped Natsu up and began sprinting towards the Hokage tower.
--Page Break--
"Watch out coming through!" Sakura shouted pushing through the throngs of people cluttering the Kazekage towers medical ward.
Naruto and Kakashi followed close behind afraid of getting trapped without Sakura acting as bulldozer. Finally they reached Kankurou hospital room and the pink haired girl didn't even bother knocking. She flung the door making all three occupants of the room stand.
"Who are you?" Matsuri asked first.
"Haruno Sakura, apprentice to Lady Tsunade." Sakura said bowing towards the smaller girl.
"Ah Haruno-san I am glad you are here." Chiyo said gesturing to the poisoned young man in the bed. "You will be of great help since you know of Tsunade-sama's expertise."
"Are you sure?" Temari asked standing, her grey eyes all puffy and her cheeks stained with tears.
"Don't worry Temari-san," Sakura said placing her hands on her shoulders. "I'll be able to save your brother."
Temari nodded and was ushered away where she stood in the back of the room with Matsuri and the other two ninja from Konoha.
"Are you two going to go save Gaara-sama?" Matsuri asked warily.
"We will do whatever we can." Kakashi said first.
"Of course we'll go and save Gaara!" Naruto cried a little loud.
"Are you all that Konoha sent?" Matsuri asked again.
The two men looked down afraid of looking the younger girl in the eyes. She gasped and turned to tell Temari but the older girl shushed her.
"What about Hinata?" Temari asked.
"She begged to come but Tsunade wouldn't let her." Naruto said the anger evident in his voice.
Suddenly the door opened and a Suna Jounin entered walking straight towards the eldest sand sibling catching everyone's attention.
"Temari-san," the Jounin said.
"Yes what is it?" Temari asked.
"We have just received news from Konoha; they have sent another team to help with the rescue of Kazekage-sama and also they alerted us of five missing ninjas." He continued.
"Who are they?" Temari asked warily.
"Hozuki Suigetsu, Karin, Jugo, Uchiha Sasuke, and…" he trailed of his gaze dropping almost as if he was afraid to reveal the last person.
Naruto glared his anger already high after hearing Sasuke had left once again, while Temari waited. When there was no answer she sighed frustrated.
"And?" she urged.
The Jounin swallowed hard and clasped his slightly shaking hands together before looking up at the group of serious ninja.
"Hyuuga…Hinata."
--Page Break--
"Alright so you know what your mission is?" Tsunade asked.
"Hai." The four Jounin's answered, some more enthusiastic then others.
"Alright then I would like the team leader to step forward and recite the mission details." Tsunade replied.
Gai stepped forward and bowed before beginning his explanation of the mission they had only been given moments before.
"We are to go help Kakashi's team rescue the Kazekage while keeping our eyes peeled for the missing ninja's, Karin, Jugo, Hozuki Suigetsu, Uchiha Sasuke, and…" he paused for a brief moment glancing at Neji. "Hyuuga Hinata."
"Alright then I expect you all to leave immediately." Tsunade said dismissing them.
As Neji walked out the door he was met with the concerned face of Natsu. She waited for him to speak but he merely kept walking.
"Well?" She asked anxious.
"My main priority in this mission is to retrieve the Kazekage." Neji said.
"Then what about Hinata?" Natsu asked anxious.
"I don't know." He whispered.
"Then promise me!" Natsu said shoving her hand in his face.
"What?" Neji asked as she held up her pinkie.
"Promise me." She smiled. "Promise me you and Hinata will come back safely.
"This is so childish," Neji said, not being able to make his small smile disappear completely.
Natsu puffed out her cheek and would not let Neji pass finally the young man sighed and grabbed her pinkie with his.
"Promise."
--Page Break--
"Dear…GOD!" Karin panted as she continued to sprint after the rest of the traveling ninja. "What the hell is she?"
"Karin." Sasuke warned.
"Demo Sasuke-kun," she started sweetly. "I'm tired, we crammed a journey that would have taken us at least half a day in only two hours! If we keep on like this I don't know how much longer I'll last."
"Yeah Sasuke," Suigetsu piped in. "I mean I know that I can kick Karin's ass any day when it comes to speed and stamina but even I'm a little bushed."
"It might be beneficial if we stop." Jugo said.
Sasuke sighed at his teammates and sped up to be even with Hinata. He would never admit it but he felt as if he was going to pass out from running so much. Also his concern for the Hyuuga told him that she was not okay to go through all this running.
"Hey Hinata?" Sasuke said trying to get her attention.
"What Sasuke-san?" Hinata asked.
"They are tired." Sasuke said referring to the three people behind them.
"Then they shouldn't have come." Hinata said.
"Hinata," Sasuke said grabbing her arm and stopping her from running. "Everyone's tired. We need to rest we've been sprinting for hours. Most of all you need to rest if you plan on saving Gaara from the Akatsuki."
"But I won't save him in time if I don't keep going." Hinata said trying to wrench free from his grip.
"Do you even know where we're going?" Sasuke asked tightening his grip.
Hinata stopped struggling immediately and almost collapsed, Sasuke barely catching her. She was able to stand again before looking at Sasuke tears in her eyes.
"No," she finally answered collapsing in hopelessness.
Sasuke dropped to his knees to try and comfort her when they heard a loud voice above them.
"I thought not." Suigetsu said, pulling Hinata to her feet while ignoring Sasuke. "That's why I had my buddy Jugo here." He said pointing to the other young man. "Find out where the hideout is and he's narrowed it down to three places right Jugo?"
"Yes, they will either be in grass village, thunder village, or rain village." Jugo answered like he was a text book.
"See Hinata-san," Karin said, managing to force a smile. "We want to help you. But you need to also help us."
"Well Thunder village is a long ways away and if we stop we'll never be able to save the Kazekage," Sasuke mentioned.
"We've got that covered to, right Jugo?" Suigetsu said as the other sound ninja produced a scroll.
Doing a few hand seals he bit his thumb and began his summoning jutsu. As he continued to mutter Suigetsu began to back away.
"It looks like he's summoning the big one I suggest we all back up." The boy said.
Everyone did as they were told and not even a moment later a huge burst of wind swept over them nearly knocking them over and making the trees bend. What had landed on the ground was a giant bird.
"All-a-board!" Jugo said climbing up onto the birds back. "Bird express going to the thunder village."
It took a few minutes before they were all on the back of the bird and were on their way once again. Hinata turned around to where all the sound ninja sat preparing to rest and conserve their strength.
"Thank you," she said softly though none of them heard it.
--Page Break--
"Who goes there?" the vicious voice growled from behind the gate.
"Your mom un, now let us in." Deidara sighed making a face at the man who they couldn't see but could obviously see them.
"I'll ask you one more time." He said. "Who are you and what is your business in the village of rain?"
As the blonde was about to open his mouth and make another smart remark Sasori spoke before him.
"Sasori and Deidara no surnames." He added just in case there were any suspicions. "We are here to deliver something to the leader of this village."
"How long will you be staying?" He asked.
"Four days and three nights." Sasori said glancing at the red head Deidara was now forced to carry. "Give or take."
Then the gates slowly opened and the two Akatsuki members entered the village that the Kazekage would most likely never leave.
A/N: HAPPY B-DAY MAC! That's my little sister and even though she'll probably never read this I still think I should say Happy Birthday. PLEASE REVIEW!