Bonds That Bind
Hinata awoke to discover that she was still at the small sample of paradise within the multiple forests in the Land of Fire. Dusk was falling down upon her and it painted the sky with an amazing bright orange and red that was reflected in the many clouds floating above her. It was a perfect end to one of the best days of her life. She fought her body in order to get up off of the soft grass that had served as her napping place for the better part of the day and started walking back towards her home; once more, recapping the events that had happened earlier that day and brought her one step closer to her love.
"I'm saying that, we get all of the Jinchuuriki together, and then we make a last stand against Akatsuki as a whole. Once and for all." Naruto was headstrong in his plan. Confident that Tsunade would adopt it as her main strategy for combating The Akatsuki.
"I'm sorry Naruto, but I am not going to be able to commit to that plan." Tsunade stated in a calm and clear tone while she stared blankly past Naruto and seemingly into the wall that faced her.
"What! Why the hell not?!"
"Your strategy does not follow the direction that Konoha has already committed to. It is not for this village."
"It's the perfect strategy to fighting Akatsuki and you know it!"
"It is a good strategy Naruto, I'm not denying that. However, I told you once before that Konoha's plans for dealing with the Akatsuki and Orochimaru were to let them wage war with each other before we made a move. I am not able to send our shinobi out across our borders in an attempt to gather the remaining Jinchuuriki together and make a stand."
"Damnit to hell Baachan! Don't you understand that if you go through with that you're just going to allow more Jinchuuriki to be killed? And what about Sasuke?! Do you care about any of their lives?!"
"Enough Naruto! Don't you dare through the value of life in front of me as if it were a mere piece of trash! You don't understand what I have to consider when I make choices that involve possible human sacrifice."
Naruto's eyes glazed over as he looked down at the brown, polished floor beneath him. Thoughts of Sasuke and Gaara went through his head. 'There is no helping it then. I'll just have to go on my own. I'll possibly be branded as a traitor. It doesn't matter. If I can put a stop to Akatsuki and save Sasuke from that snake monster… It'll be worth it.'
Naruto slowly turned and began walking towards the door to the Hokage's office. Tsunade could tell that he was upset, and had a pretty good idea if the thoughts going through his head right now. "Naruto." Naruto stopped; no more than a foot away from the door and beginning of his future as a missing nin. "Come over here for a moment; let me inform you of something. And then if you still want to go against Konoha than go ahead."
Naruto's body twitched; stunned that she could predict his actions. 'That's the Hokage for you.' He mussed to himself as he approached the Hokage's desk and sat down.
"Firstly let me explain that it wasn't my strategy that Konoha sits by idly and waits for one side to destroy the other before we move. The village council basically forced their tactics upon me and there wasn't much I could do to stop it; unless I wished for a revolution and a possible civil war to erupt within my own village. That is why I haven't dedicated more than reconnaissance units towards the situation with Akatsuki and Orochimaru."
Naruto listened to the Hokage's monologue, taking in every word that came out of her mouth. "But, can't you override them? I mean, you have greater authority right?"
"I could override them in certain areas pertaining to Konoha's military, but there are still individual ninja units that are only loyal to the village council. The threat of a war amongst us was just too high."
"But! They can't! They don't have the …"
"Enough Naruto! What's done is done. All that matters is what lies ahead. Now I have a mission for you. And I think that you'll enjoy it. You will be assigned to a four-man squad along with your mentor, Jiraiya. It is an S-ranked mission. Your objective will be to gain intelligence on organization known as Akatsuki. Sadly, you and your squad will not be able to contact Konoha for quite some time. It's a shame that you won't have to report in to me in regards to your locations and activities." Tsunade winked at Naruto who continued to sit in his chair, staring up at the seemingly twenty year-old Hokage. "Now go and meet up with Jiraiya, he should be working on his perverted book somewhere. You two together will come up with the remaining two members for your squad before you leave for you mission tomorrow."
Tsunade watched as the bewildered blonde left her office. 'Please tell me that Naruto understood what I was saying. He truly is unpredictable. Coming up with the same strategy that Jiraiya and I had, and then becoming oblivious to my hints at its approval. Oh well, Jiraiya should state it blatantly enough for him to understand.' Tsunade sat back down in her chair overlooking the village that she had sworn to protect; all the while staring up at the sky that loomed overhead.
Naruto left the Hokage's office and started looking for his perverted mentor. He was confused about how the Hokage was acting when she told him of his mission. So he decided that he should talk with Jiraiya about it and see what he knew that she wasn't telling him. Naruto's first stop on his search was the hot springs. He figured that there would be a lot of women there for a relaxing evening and concluded that it was perfect ero-sennin territory.
He arrived at the hot springs and heard the sounds of laughter and conversations coming from the women's area, but couldn't find his target. Next he thought he would check hospital. Naruto had caught he mentor numerous times hitting on the nurses of different hospitals during his training.
Naruto arrived at his least favorite place on earth and entered the lobby. Ignoring the stares he received from the older employees of the facility, he headed for the help desk and asked they had seen his target sannin. Unfortunately they hadn't seen him, so Naruto thought of one more possible location for his sensei to be hiding. Naruto headed towards the apartment complexes of Konoha.
He walked up the stairs of the two story apartment complex and went down the uninteresting hallway until he arrived at Jiraiya's door. Naruto knocked on the door and was surprised to see a serious looking Jiraiya answer his call. "Hey Ero-Sennin, why aren't you spying on innocent women like normal?" Naruto inquired.
"Naruto please come in, I have something to discuss with you. It's regarding the reconnaissance mission that you received from the Hokage." Jiraiya led the blonde chuunin through his house and towards the balcony that overlooked the residential district of Konoha. "Listen Naruto, we aren't really going to do reconnaissance on Akatsuki. Our true mission is an attempt to unite the remaining Jinchuuriki and bring them back to Konoha in preparations for a last stand against Akatsuki."
"But Baachan couldn't do that idea. I just asked her. She said that the council was overruling her in the strategy for Akatsuki and Orochimaru." Naruto was clearly confused.
"You idiot, how can my apprentice be so dense? She was ex-communicating you; turning a blind eye, if you will. Basically she sent us out on a mission that didn't necessarily require us to bring back anything or accomplish a physical objective, and we don't report in to Konoha for long periods of time. We're free to do what we want, or in this case, unite the Jinchuuriki without the council's knowing."
"Oh, I see. So that's why she winked."
"She even winked at you? My God you're stupid."
"Hey you shut up you perverted old man!"
"I'm not perverted! It's research for my novel!"
"For the last time! That is no novel! It's just a dirty old book for old people with no love lives!"
"Why you…"
Bang. Bang. Bang. "Hey you keep it down over there or I'll call the landlord!" One of Jiraiya's close neighbors yelled out.
"Hehehe, we're sorry about that. It won't happen again." Jiraiya responded in a sheepish manner. "Anyway Naruto, we need to come up with another two team members. They should be someone that you're close to; maybe someone you have done a mission with in the past or your old teammate."
"Why is that?"
"Because they are going to have to find out about the Kyuubi inside of you sometime during the course of the mission, and it would be easier if it was someone that knew you well enough that it wouldn't change their opinion of you."
"Oh, well that makes sense. Hmm, I think Sakura-chan should be one of them. She knows me really well and she is a medical ninja, she could really come in handy if we got into battle."
"Makes sense, do you have any idea about the other one?"
"Well, Kakashi-sensei would work out well. He already knows about the Kyuubi and he is one of the best shinobi in the village."
"That is true, but unfortunately Kakashi is not available. I understand that Tsunade is going to send him out on his own mission shortly after we depart."
"Damn, he would have been a good one too."
"Well, Naruto, we could have an ANBU member fill the spot."
"No, those guys kind of creep me out. I don't like how they always cover their faces and never seem to talk a lot."
"Well, what are we going to do about the fourth slot? Oh you know what we need? We should have someone with some experience in tracking or scouting. It will definitely come in hand when we need to avoid being detected by Akatsuki."
"Like a Byakugan user?" Naruto asked.
"That would be perfect."
"Oh I know! What about Hinata. She would fit the role well."
"I'm not sure about her Naruto, you two aren't really close. She might react in a bad way when she finds out about your little friend." Jiraiya knew that Hinata was anything short of being obsessed with Naruto, but he also knew that Naruto has been completely oblivious to it all and probably didn't even know that she existed.
"Well, funny story…" Naruto scratched the back of his head with a hand while he smiled with is toothy grin. "She uh, kind of already knows."
"Wait, what?"
"Yea, I was talking with another Jinchuuriki from the chuunin exams about our Biju and she overheard."
"So, how did she react?"
"Really well, it was even enjoyable for the most part. She accepted me for who I am and not what's inside of me. It was really comforting all in all." Naruto started recapping what had happened earlier in the day.
"Well then, it's settled. I want you to stop by each of their homes tonight and inform them of the mission. I'll head over to Tsunade's and tell her who is in our squad. We'll meet at the gates of Konoha tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
"Right!" Exclaimed Naruto with a positive and determined tone.
Naruto leapt off of the balcony and headed towards Sakura's home, jumping from rooftop to rooftop as the night finally engulfed the village and stars lit Naruto's path.
Naruto arrived at Sakura's home a little bit before 9:00 pm. 'I hope she isn't asleep yet.' He rang the doorbell and greeted by an annoyed Sakura.
"Naruto, what on earth are you doing? Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Yea, sorry about that Sakura-chan. Listen, we've just been assigned a mission. The squad is going to be you, me, Ero-Sennin, and Hinata. We leave tomorrow morning, so meet us at the gate."
"Wait, what mission? Tsunade-sama didn't tell me anything about this."
"It's an S-rank and an urgent one too. Oh, and we are going to be away from Konoha for a long time so be prepared."
Sakura was confused and tired, and she didn't like getting her mission info from Naruto. "Ok listen Naruto, I'll talk to Tsunade-sama about this in the morning but for right now, please let me sleep."
Sakura started to close her door but was stunned when Naruto put his foot in its path and stopped it from being shut. "I'm serious Sakura-chan, this is an important mission and it will help us find Sasuke." Sakura saw the look of determination and seriousness in Naruto's eyes.
"Sas-Sasuke-kun?"
"Yes, so check with Baachan if you want but be sure to be at the Konoha gates in the morning." And with that Naruto ran down the empty road towards the Hyuuga Compound, leaving a pink-haired kunoichi that was going through old memories, in his wake.
Naruto arrived at the Hyuuga Compound late. Really late, it was on the other side of town from Sakura's and there didn't seem to be anyone awake. 'Man, I should have come here first before Sakura-chan's home.' He slowly approached the main gate and saw a guard standing before him.
"Hold it right there!" The guard called out. "Who are you and what are you doing here this late at night." It was almost pitch black leaving the guard and Naruto to only appear as silhouettes.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I have an urgent message for Hinata Hyuuga. She has been assigned a mission and needs to be prepared for departure tomorrow morning." Naruto responded in a calm manner.
"The fox brat?" The guard inquired, taunting Naruto with an unseen grin. "You have no business with Hinata-sama; get out of here before I kill you for trespassing."
"Listen you! Firstly you have no right to label me you piece of human trash. Secondly, you just broke the Third's law by calling me that. And last of all, you are about to break another Hokage's law by not allowing me to speak with Hinata!" Naruto was clearly furious with the guard, but he still has his objectives and need to accomplish them quickly.
"I doubt the Hokage would assign a mission that had both Hinata-sama and the fox brat on the same team, it would be doomed for failure from the start."
Suddenly another figure appeared from within the compound. "What is all this noise? Guard, what is going on out here?"
The guard dropped to one knee and bowed before the newly appeared figure. "Nothing to concern your self with Hiashi-sama."
"Like hell it isn't!" Naruto objected. "Hiashi, I need to speak with Hinata. She has been assigned a mission and needs to be ready to leave tomorrow morning."
"Very well, I have no use for her here anyways. Let Uzumaki pass." Hiashi said as he departed down the dark, square halls of the Hyuuga Compound.
Naruto walked followed the guard to Hinata's room and waited for him to leave before he attempted to contact Hinata. Once the guard was out of site, Naruto gently spoke. "Hinata, hey Hinata. Are you awake?" He pushed his ear against the paper wall as far as it would go without breaking through the barrier. "Hinata!" He heard someone stirring from inside and backed away from the entrance. Hinata came out in a light lavender long-sleeved top, and matching pants.
"Naruto-kun?! W-what are you doing here?" Hinata wasn't upset to be visited by her crush this late, but rather stunned that he came all the way there to see her.
"Listen Hinata, we've been assigned a mission. It's S-ranked and we'll be going away for a long time. So say your 'goodbyes' and get prepared. We leave tomorrow morning at the gate."
"W-We're in the same team?"
"Yes, all in all it's me, you, Ero-Sennin and Sakura-chan."
Hinata hated how Naruto gave Sakura the suffix 'chan' and not her, but she was still happy that Naruto was beginning to notice her after all of these years. "Oh, o-ok. And how long will it be?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure. But it could easily be between six and twelve months, maybe more."
Hinata's eyes went wide, she was absolutely stunned. 'Six to twelve months? Me and Naruto-kun. Oh this is truly the best day of my life!'
Naruto noticed Hinata's reaction to the length, "Oh don't worry, we'll be back before you know it. You won't be away from home that long." Naruto flashed her his grin.
"Oh no Naruto-kun, I w-wasn't worried ab-bout that." Hinata smiled at his attempt to comfort her.
"Ok then, remember to be at Konoha's front gate tomorrow morning ready to go then!" Naruto started walking away and then turned around, "Don't forget to work on that stuttering problem, ok Hinata."
"I-I won't Naruto-kun!" Hinata watched the blond slowly disappear into the shadows of the compound before she went back to her room and back to her sleep; where her dreams were filled with being alone with her Naruto for the next six to twelve months.