Whoah, it's chapter 8!
I'm almost to 10!
MWAHAHAHAHA! I didn't start from the last chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto; Masashi Kishimoto does -- he has a twin!!

Chapter 8: Back in Konoha

This takes place during Day 2. Neji was looking for breakfast when he spotted the hole.
Hinata woke up while Neji was looking at the hole.
The day was still young, but the sun was already near the top of the sky.

"Welcome back, Lord Hiashi," the guard in the compound bowed. "And of course Lady Hanabi."

Hiashi and Hanabi nodded at the guard. They just got back from, what Hanabi thought, a boring, and really short, mission. To Hiashi, it was a tiring, and not short enough, mission. His hand will probably hurt for three days signing all those papers. Now he knows how the Hokage feels.

When they entered the compound and were about to go into their rooms, another guard showed up before them.

"Lord Hiashi, sorry for announcing this to you right after a mission, but..." the guard quickly remembered that he's not to speak until his Lord tells him to.

"Continue," Hiashi said, not really wanting to know. It's probably about Hinata not wanting a guard again. She never wanted a guard, claiming she can take care of herself. Oh well, at least there's Neji.

"It's about Lady Hinata." Here we go.

"She's been kidnapped." At this, Hiashi nearly fainted. Hanabi's jaw fell to the floor and rolled away.

"When did this happen?!" the head of the Hyuga demanded an answer.

"The day after you left. A-about three days ago," the guard was getting scared. (A/N: Kiro and Jug kidnapped Hinata the day after Hiashi and Hanabi left; they wanted to make sure he was really gone.)

"THREE DAYS?!!" Hiashi screamed. "WHERE WERE ALL THE GUARDS?!!"

"Y-you g-g-gave us that d-day o-o-off," the Branch guard replied sheepishly.

"A DAY OFF?!! WHY WOULD I GIVE YOU ALL A DAY OFF WHEN I, THE HEAD, WILL BE LEAVING?!! I WOULD BE ASSIGNING TWICE AS MUCH GUARDS TO PROTECT THE PLACE!!"

"I-I don't know, S-sir, but you told us that you d-didn't need that much g-g-guards, so you gave us that d-d-day off," the guard couldn't help stammering. He didn't like it when Lord Hiashi was in this type of mood. "I-if it helps, Sir, the Hokage wishes to s-see you after your mission."

Hiashi didn't reply; instead he dropped his things, turned around, and headed for the door. Hanabi didn't know if she should follow. She wanted to know what happened to her sister. She had the right to know, right? Hanabi walked quickly to catch up with her father.

Hiashi couldn't believe what just happened. Hinata, his eldest daughter, has just been kidnapped! She may be weak and not fit to be the head of the Hyuga, but she's still his daughter! Besides, she does look like her mother.

"What is the meaning of this?!" was the first thing the Hyuga head said when he burst into the room.

Tsunade sighed. After finally having three days of peace and quiet, someone had to ruin it. Oh well, all good things must come to an end.

"Hiashi, welcome back," she greeted him with a tired smile. Shizune, who was standing next to the Hokage desk and holding Tonton, bowed in respect. The head, however, ignored the greeting and the bow. He marched right up to the desk.

"A guard of mine told me that my eldest daughter is gone!" he shouted, though not as loud as Naruto. Hanabi looked for a seat to sit on. Shizune notice this and gave her the chair she slept on the night she heard Neji's scream.

"That's true," Tsunade replied.

"Have you already organized an ANBU team to search for her?"

"ANBU? We don't need people that proffesional to look for your daughter. I did send a team of four, though."

"Who are they?"

"Neji, Kiba, and Shino." Hiashi sighed in relief to hear Neji's name.

"And Naruto." This made his heart stop (A/N: I exaggerate too much.)

"N-naruto? You sent Naruto, too?" Tsunade nodded. "Why? He's only a Genin." Hiashi didn't feel comfortable to know that Naruto's on the mission also.

"Ranks don't matter. You saw yourself at the Chunin exams that he beat Neji. He's a Genin, but his power exceeds even the most skilled Jonin; he's even more powerful than Kakashi."

Hiashi's eyes widened in surprise. Kakashi's?

"So no need to worry. I've even set a backup team in case they need help."

"And who are they?"

"Sakura, Shikamaru, and Tenten"

"Can I be on the backup team?!" This time Hanabi cried out. She was standing up with her hand raised. Tsunade, Hiashi, and Shizune looked at her. With the stares, she suddenly got embarrassed and sat back down with her head down.

"You know, that's not a bad idea," Tsunade smiled.

Hanabi's head shot back up, while Hiashi's quickly turned around. Now all eyes were on Tsunade.

"Really?" Hiashi and Hanabi cried in unison.

"Don't you agree?" the Hokage turned to the Hyuga head. "Besides, Shikamaru just called and said he couldn't come. He says there's some business here."

"Oh?" Hiashi raised an eyebrow. He was thinking. Maybe this will be good for her.

"Why are you so worried about Hinata anyway? I thought Hanabi was going to be the future head?" Tsunade asked.

Hiashi wasn't prepared to answer this question. How can he answer this question without revealing his true feelings for his daughter? Then he remembered something. "Since Hinata is part of the Main house, she has no seal. Her kidnappers are able to kill her and study the works of the Byakugan. As the leader of the Hyuga Clan, I can't let that happen."

This time, Tsunade raised an eyebrow. She knew he was hiding something. She also saw Hanabi roll her eyes. She smiled to herself.

"I see. So do you need anything else?" Tsunade asked, leaning back on her chair.

Somehow, this surprised Hiashi; he didn't know what else to do. He only came here to confirm what the guard said earlier. Suddenly, he remembered that the guard said he gave them a day off. He remembered no such thing. This would be a good chance to ask him some questions. "No," he answered, thinking.

"Okay then, Hanabi, come here. You need the mission briefing." Tsunade beckoned Hinata's little sister over. Hanabi stood up and walked to the Hokage desk, standing next to her father. "Hiashi, you may leave."

At first, the old Hyuga didn't hear her, still being in thought. Then Tonton snorted and this brought Hiashi back. "Uh, yes, thank you." He didn't even notice that Hanabi was still in the office.

Please Review!

You know, I think every time I mention a chapter, I do a bad job on it. -_-'
I don't think I did a good job explaining everything here.