The sun is going down as Ino, Chouza, Choji, Shikaku, Shikamaru, and Hinata are walking and talking.
"Hinata, have you ran into Kitsune, again?" Shikamaru asks.
"Yeah." She says.
"He's that hired assassin that you ran into on your mission right? The one we talked to earlier?" Ino asks.
"Hired assassin?" Shikaku asks.
"Here in the village?" Chouza asks, a little startled.
"Nice Ino." Shikamaru says.
"Yes. But he's only here to get supplies and money. He's not here to assassinate anyone." Hinata says.
"He said that he wouldn't bother anyone as long as they don't bother him first." Shikamaru confirms.
"And you trust him?" Shikaku asks.
"Well, he did help us out on our mission." Hinata says. Shikaku looks at his son with a questioning look as he explains:
"We had a little trouble with some guys who thought they were tough."
"How did he help?" Chouji asks before opening a bag of barbeque chips.
"Well, it might not have been what we would have done but-"
"He killed them all." Ino says cutting off Shikamaru who cuts her a look. Chouji gulps loudly as he looks at him and asks:
"In front of you?" Shikamaru sighs as he nods his head.
"But he said that he was hoping they would be alone." Ino says.
"So then he was there to kill them from the beginning?" Shikamaru asks out loud.
"Yeah. I was hired to kill them, but when I got there I saw you guys. So I couldn't just kill them all and leave. Well, I could have, but it would have freaked you out and you probably would have started throwing kunai at me. So I just announced my presence." Kitsune says. They immediately start looking around for him as he sighs and says:
"Up here." They look to where the voice came from and see him up in a tree, leaning on the trunk with his legs lying on top of each other and his hands behind his head.
"I really do regret killing them in front of you like that, but I had already been paid and the people who hired me wanted them killed today." He says not changing his position.
"Oh. Well, I guess we can understand that." Ino says. Kitsune laughs as he says:
"No offense, but I really don't think you can. Thanks anyways." Ino's face turns red as he laughs even harder.
"So, how old are you anyways?" Ino asks trying to cover her embarrassment.
"Sorry, but I can't tell you that." He says as he stops laughing.
"Why not?" Hinata asks.
"Because if you're above a certain age, then you're considered old and incapable of doing tasks. And if you're under, then you're considered puny and too inexperienced. Either way you're underestimated and you will never get hired. But if you stay neutral, then you are judged on your performance and will be hired for every task available." He says. They think this over for a minute as Kitsune hears someone walk up and say:
"Hey, you up in the tree!" he exhales as he looks and sees a guy standing there. He is wearing a blue shirt with a green long sleeve shirt, unbuttoned, over it, along with black pants and blue ninja sandals. Kitsune notices some people behind him, apparently his friends.
"I hear that you think you're pretty tough."
"I haven't said anything of the sort." He says calmly.
"You calling me a liar." The guy says.
"No. I'm telling you, that you have your information wrong." He says not moving from his position.
"You telling me you haven't been going around telling people you're a hired assassin." He says.
"Well, that guard did tell that room full of people, and then I told another group. But I didn't brag ab-" Kitsune says getting cut off by the guy saying:
"HA! See there. So you do think you're pretty strong."
"Sigh…No. I know how strong I am." Kitsune says.
"Well, why don't you come down out of that tree and show me how strong you think you know you are and I'll tell you that your wrong." The guys says smirking.
"Do you have any idea how stupid that makes you sound?" Kitsune says. Ino laughs as the guy scowls and says:
"Come say that to my face."
"Look, I only warn people once, so here is yours. You don't want me to come down there." Kitsune says in a tone that sends shivers up everyone's spine. He then turns his attention back to Hinata and the others.
"Sorry, about that. Some people just-"he says as the other guy throws a cable at Kitsune and it wraps around his arm. He just exhales as he looks at him and says:
"You asked for it." He then jumps down from the tree and lands in front the guy. The guy takes out a kunai as Kitsune starts to unwrap the cable from his arm. The guy charges at Kitsune, but he just continues unwrapping his arm, never once looking up. The others just stare as they watch the guy run at Kitsune and he just stands there unwrapping his arm. Hinata is just about to scream out a warning when Kitsune finally looks up just as the guy runs up to him and swipes at him with his kunai. Kitsune leans back and avoids his attack, grabs his wrist, bends his arm around to where the kunai is at his own throat, then kicks him in the bend of his right knee which gives out as he falls on it.
"I warned you." Kitsune says as beads of sweat start running off the guys face. Kitsune had moved so fast that the guy's not sure what happened which is why he is in complete shocked and completely scared out of his mind. He shuts his eyes as he waits for Kitsune to finish him off. Hinata watches in complete horror, as she opens her mouth to scream out to not kill him, but the words never come, instead they get caught in her throat. Hinata closes her mouth as Kitsune releases his arm, turns around and walks back towards them. The guy opens his eyes and sees him walking off as a grin spreads across his face. He stands up as he runs after him and swipes at him again yelling:
"Never turn your back on your opponent." Kitsune shakes his head as he crouches down, again avoiding his attack. He then spins, and sticks his left leg out, which hits the guy in the legs as he falls forwards, right on his face. Kitsune then stands up and says:
"Now, I was trying to be nice, and let you walk off. But I guess that's out of the question." He then grabs the guy by the seat of his pants with his left hand and his shirt with his right hand as he turns around and throws him towards his friends. The guy flies in the air for about a minute, then hits the ground, and slides, stopping just as he reaches his friends feet. They watch their friend come sliding up to them. As he stops they look up at Kitsune as he says:
"Take him home before he gets himself killed." They immediately bend down and pick him up as they drag him off towards his house. Kitsune turns around and walks up to Hinata as he says:
"Again, sorry about that." She notices some red hair peeking out from under the hood and his blue eyes that are rimmed with red, on outside and inside. She also notices that he is really tall, seeing how she only comes to his shoulders.
"You didn't kill him?" Hinata asks before she can stop herself.
"No, I didn't. Why did you want me to? If so that would have cost ya." Kitsune says jokingly. Hinata then did something she hadn't done in three years, she blushed, just a little.
"No. It's just… for a minute there I thought you were going to." She says.
"I never had any intention to hurt him, physically. I just wanted to teach him a lesson. I don't just go around killing everyone I meet. Even my clients have to follow guidelines." He says. This intrigued Hinata as she asks:
"Guidelines? Like what?"
"Well, the people I'm hired to kill must have done something pretty bad. Like my last job. Those guys have been known to raid towns, killing hundreds of innocent people and rapping women. I'm not some dirt bag who kills anyone for a little money. I pick my jobs and I have refused some before." He says
"You don't sound very…happy to be doing that job." Ino says.
"Heh, I hate my job. Worst job in the ninja world." He says. This caught everyone off guard as they look at him in shock. He laughs a little as he says:
"I know what you're thinking. If I hate the job so much, then why do I do it, right?" all them nod their heads, even Chouza and Shikaku.
"Cause it's what I'm good at, unfortunately. And a man's got to eat right?" he says.
"You're not what I expected." Hinata says.
"Oh?" he asks.
"Well, it's just when I hear hired assassin, I think of a hardened criminal or murder. But you seem like a kind of nice guy." She says.
"Yeah, well. Don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to protect." He says teasingly. 'There is something familiar about him. I just don't know what it is.' Hinata thinks as she hears someone behind her yelling her name. They all turn around and see Hanabi come running up.
"Hinata, dad wants to talk to you. It sounded kind of urgent." Hanabi says as she comes up to them.
"Everything is urgent when it comes to him." Hinata says rolling her eyes as she remembered why she wasn't getting along with her father, this time.
Flashback
Hinata is standing in the middle of a field sweaty, breathing hard and exhausted. She is in the Eight-Triagrams stance, with handfuls of bent shuriken and kunai at her feet. All of a sudden Shino, Kiba with Akamaru and Kurenia-sensei jump down in front of her as she relaxes a little and drops her arms by her side.
"Good, Hinata." Kurenia-sensei says complimenting her.
"That was awesome. You're definitely getting better." Kiba says as Akamaru barks, probably in agreement.
"Thank you guys for helping me." she says getting her breath back. Ever since two years ago, when Naruto was pronounced dead, she has poured herself into her training and everyone can see that it's paying off. Every mission she has is successful and she also finally stopped stuttering.
"Alright, why don't you guys take a break." Kurenai-sensei says.
"I'm fine. Really." Hinata says, getting her breathing under control.
"You may be. But I need a break." Kiba says as he falls on the ground backwards and Akamaru right beside him. Hinata giggles a little as she hears:
"Hinata." She turns around and there stands Hiashi. Hinata is shocked seeing how her father rarely comes to the training grounds.
"Father." She says trying to hide the surprise. Kiba sits up as Akamaru gets up, walks over beside him, and sits down. Kurenai and Shino are also surprised, all though you would never know it with Shino.
"It's nice to see you again, Hiashi." Kurenai says, lying through her teeth.
"Kurenai." He says in the non emotional tone he is hated for.
"Is something wrong?" Hinata asks.
"I need to talk to you." he says.
"About what?" she asks, a little worried, remembering when they ever had a talk, and getting nothing.
"I've noticed how strong you've gotten and all the successful missions you've had lately. I'm very impressed and it's very befitting of a Hyuuga. But, I've also noticed that you are always here training or on a mission." He says. This confused Hinata. 'Wasn't this what he wanted me to do? To become powerful and not a burden? Figures. I do what he wants and he's still not happy! Wonder what I've done wrong now.' Hinata thinks as she asks:
"Is there something wrong with that?" trying not to say what she really wanted to. Over the past year she has gotten a little more courageous, but not enough to tell her father what she really thought he should do with the Hyuuga clan pride and prestige. Or so she thought.
"Kind of. The thing is if you are always training or on a mission, then you have no time for dating." He says. 'Oh my god! I know he is not actually talking about this. Not here.' she thinks. As she listens to him talk about her duty to the clan and its pride she remembers every word he has ever said to her and she starts getting mad. When she hears him mention something about dating Kiba she losses it.
"HYUUGA HIASHI, THIS IS NONE OF YOU'RE BUSINESS! WHEN I GET READY TO DATE SOMEONE, THEN I WILL DATE THEM! UNTIL THEN KEEP YOU'RE POMPOUS NOSE OUT OF MY PERSONAL BUSINESS! AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED YOU CAN TAKE YOUR HYUUGA PRIDE AND STICK IT SOMEWHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE!" she screams. No one says a word as they stare at Hinata, shocked that she actually stood up to Hiashi. Hiashi quickly gains his composure as he turns and leaves. He would have said something if not for the fact that his seventeen year old daughter could easily kick his butt. (Author's Note: Remember this is a flashback! She's older now!)
End Flashback
'After that I started telling him what I really thought. I got yelled at but I don't really care. The only reason he hasn't disowned me is because I am the strongest Hyuuga in the entire clan.' Hinata thinks as she says:
"I'll be there in a minute."
"But-" Hanabi starts but Hinata says:
"Tell father that I'm in the middle of something." She says. Hanabi just sighs as she turns around and leaves. She knew as soon as she got back without Hinata she was going to be in a lot of trouble.
"I'm sorry Kitsune-k-Where'd he go?" Hinata says as she turns around and finds him nowhere insight. They start looking around, even up in the tree, but they can't find him anywhere. It is like he just vanished.
"I guess he left." Ino says.
"I guess so. Anyways, I've got to go. HIS HIGHNESS is calling." Hinata says rolling her eyes as she says her nickname for him. All of them laugh as Ino says:
"Good luck."
"I'm definitely going to need it." Hinata says as she turns to walk towards her hell on earth, the Hyuuga compound. She took her precious little time getting there, too. 'I wonder what he wants now. God, I can't stand him. The only Hyuuga I can stand is Neji- kun. They are all just a bunch of pompous puppets, even Hinabi. If it wasn't for Neji-kun, I would really tell father off. But I have to become the clan head in order to take off the seal. And I'll be damned if I become his puppet again. Actually, I don't know the Branch family that well, so I can't say anything about them.' Hinata thinks as she walks up to the door of her house. She quietly opens the door, slips her shoes off, sits them beside the door, and continues to her room. Her father's study is on her way to her room, so when she walks up to it she sees a light on inside she knows her father is in their. Even though she knows he wants to talk to her, she tries to sneak past his door, with out being noticed. It would have worked to if Hanabi hadn't walked up and yelled out:
"DAD! HINATA'S HOME!" Hiashi immediately yells:
"HINATA! GET IN HERE NOW!" she sighs as she says:
"Thanks a lot, Hanabi." Hanabi smiles as she walks off to her own room. Hinata then takes a quick breath as she straightens up and walks into the study. Her father is sitting behind a desk, with his arms crossed over his chest, staring at her.
"You yelled." She says, sarcastically. (Author's note: She is only disrespectful, impolite, and unreasonable when she is around the Main Branch of the Hyuuga clan. You'll find out why later!)
"Are you dating anyone, yet?" he asks, ignoring her sarcasm.
"I told you it's none of you're business." Hinata says crossing her own arms.
"Just answer the question." He says, showing his impatience.
"No, I'm not. I don't like anyone in the village." She says. 'The truth is I'm still not over Naruto-kun.' she thinks as Hiashi says:
"Good. The Cazi clan head's son from the Land of Mist has asked for your hand in marriage. And I have accepted." Hinata drops her arms as she clenches her hands into fists and says:
"That is not something you accept. I'm the one who is supposed to make that decision. It's my hand!"
"Not when he asks me it isn't." Hiashi says.
"He asked you for permission to ask me. That's all. And I'm not getting married." Hinata says, furious.
"Yes, you are. You are my daughter, the next head of the Hyuuga clan." Hiashi says.
"Don't remind me." Hinata whispers as he continues.
"And you have duties you have to do, whether you like it or not. This not only affects you but the entire clan. The Cazi clan is willing to make peace and you are not about to refuse the head's son's proposal." Hiashi says.
"So this is about keeping peace between the clan's? I am your daughter, I should come before the clan." Hinata says, her fists shaking with fury.
"The clan is more important than one person. Now then he will be here within the week. Once he's here you two will be married." Hiashi says. Hinata just stares at him as she yells:
"I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED!" She then turns and walks out of the room. Hiashi gets up and walks to the study room door as he asks:
"Where are you going?" Hinata walks towards the front door and grabs her shoes saying:
"OUT!" she then walks out the door and leaves the Hyuuga compound.
Where could Hinata be going? Find out next chapter! Please review.