"Hey Hinata. We heard your team was on a short break, so what are you doing?" The Hyuga was sitting at Ichiraku's, but was reading a book instead of eating. She looked up at the voice as two people sat down.
"Hi Shikamaru-san, Choji-san. Not much, just working on something. Are you guys on break also?" Both of them simply nodded at her.
"We were going to get some barbeque, but seen you were here so we ducked in. You've been looking at that book for so long though your food's cooled off." Choji gestured at the bowl in front of her.
"It hasn't been that long, has it?" She took an experimental taste and scrunched her nose slightly while pushing the bowl away. "Blech. Anyway, could you help me out Shikamaru-san?"
He eyed the girl suspiciously. "This isn't going to be difficult is it?"
Hinata shook her head. "No, I'm just curious about something. The Summer Festival is coming up, and I got to wondering where else it's celebrated and how. I was thinking you guys might know something about it."
Shikamaru nodded. "Ah. That's easy. It's held in most of the elemental nations. Odd question though, you planning a vacation?"
Again the blue haired girl shook her head. "No, just curious. It's a big deal here and I wondered about other nations. But it's not mentioned anywhere in here." She held out the book she had been reading to the pair.
Choji looked at his friend and shrugged. "A travel guide? Hmm, I know a lot of the smaller countries don't celebrate it, like the lands of Iron, Snow, or Sky."
Shikamaru shrugged. "But all of the Great Shinobi Nations do. And I think Rivers, Sound, and Hot Water celebrate it."
"Hmm. Sound has five letters..." Hinata frowned as she thought.
"Five letters? You lost me there. I thought we were talking about where the festival is held?"
She blushed slightly. "I-i-i-it's nothing. Just a random thought."
"So why five letters? What about village names? Do they count?"
"I'm just wondering about countries, like Land of Earth and other places."
"Mhmm. Just going by five letters in the name. There's Water, Earth, Sound, Birds, Frost, Stone, Bears, Claws, Woods, Fangs, Uhh... Some others too."
"You didn't mention the Land of Honey, or Rivers." Choji looked at Shikamaru suspiciously. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Shikamaru?" Choji grinned and held his hands up in a gesture of surrender as Shikamaru scowled at him. "Just saying. It's not like you to need reminded of something." Shikamaru cocked his head to the side listening to something, and his eyes widened. "Shhh! Choji, henge!"
Both boys immediately transformed to look like a pair of old men, and the smoke had barely dissipated when Ino poked her head into the ramen stand. "Hinata? Hey there! Perfect. Can you use your byakugan and look for Shika and Choji?"
The Hyuga girl glanced at the two henged ninjas, then activated her sight. "Uh. Nnnnooooo... they must be too far away, sorry."
"Damn those two! They're supposed to be helping me set up the flower stands. Gotta go, tell them if I find them they're dead, okay? Thanks!" The blonde girl didn't even wait for an answer and left.
"What a drag. We still have a few weeks, why does she insist on setting up so early? We're going to find somewhere to hide, thanks Hinata!" Shikamaru and Choji left in a hurry.
She pulled a letter out of her pocket, then frowned and put it back 'Rivers is six letters. Still, there's so many places it could be. Guess I have to wait until Tsunade-sama finds out where they are again to send this.' Hinata paid Ayame for the food and put the book in her pocket. "Thanks Ayame, I'll come again sometime." She bowed slightly and left the stand.
She entered the gates of the Hyuga compound and went to the Dojo to practice, but her father's voice interrupted her plans. "Hinata. Go pack for a trip. We're leaving in an hour."
"What? B-but I thoug-"
Hiashi gestured at his own pack. "Pack only the essentials. One spare set of clothes, your usual tools, and basic rations. Neji has already left to inform your friends and teammates you'll be unavailable."
"Father, what's going on?" Hinata looked at him, then the pack. "I thought we-"
"Change of plans. You can enjoy the festival with your friends next year, so hurry up and pack. Meet us at the East Gate in less than an hour." Hiashi picked up his bag and walked out the main gate of the compound.
'Just what is going on that has father in a hurry?' Mentally shrugging, she grabbed the travel bag she always kept ready, then left for the gate.
After arriving at the East gate, Hinata looked around. 'Nobody is here? Maybe the guards know?'
"Excuse me, Izumo-san? Have you seen my father around here?" The guard silently chuckled and pointed behind Hinata, so she turned around to look.
The hokage and her father was walking towards the gate, while Kakashi was walking backwards in front of them and arguing. "And another reason! I really have no idea how to do this, everything will be a mess when you return! You could make Shikaku do it, he's-"
"Shikaku isn't in the village right now. Quit being a baby about it, you'll do fine Kakashi." The blonde hokage nodded her head as she smiled at him.
"So call him back! Or what about your advisors? Those three could do it, right? Or what about-"
Tsunade smiled innocently then stepped in close to him and grabbed the masked ninja by his vest. She leaned in close and whispered in his ear. "Or I could assign you to helping Might Guy and his team train since you don't want to do this for me... Would you like to do that instead, Kakashi?"
The visible part of the masked ninja's face went pale. "I-I-I-I'll be happy to temporarily fill in for you, Hokage-sama."
The hokage smiled again and released Kakashi's vest. "Good! I knew you'd be willing to do this! Don't worry, my advisors will help you out with the paperwork and any decisions, and ANBU is already aware of what they need to do. All you really have to do is walk around making sure things are okay, and take care of everything while I'm gone."
Shizune came running up carrying Tonton in her arms. "Lady Tsunade, I've got everything, and also sent notice to Oto so we won't be offending the Daimyo."
"Good idea, thanks Shizune. Kakashi, one other thing. I also need you to watch over Tonton. Thanks." She took the pig from her aide, and handed her to Kakashi.
Hinata perked up at this. 'Sound... Five letters... could it be? No, better not get my hopes up.'
"Alright, let's go then. Hiashi, Hinata, you've got everything you need, correct?" Both the Hyuga bowed slightly. "Yes Hokage-sama."
Shizune and both Hyuga scrambled to catch up as Tsunade broke into a run.
Tsunade called out to the others. "Alright, it's getting too dark to see, so let's stop here for the night."
Hinata collapsed to the ground where she was, breathing heavily from running all afternoon. 'How in the world are they not tired? Maybe I should have agreed to train with Neji and his team.'
"Hinata, are you all right?" Shizune was leaning over her with a concerned expression.
"I'm... just... fine... Need... to... breath... catch..." She gasped out. After a bit of resting, she sat up and nodded to Shizune, who smiled in sympathy and handed her some water. "Thank you Shizune-san, I'm fine now. Just not used to running that fast, for that long."
"Tsunade-san, are you sure this is a good plan? We could be going in the wrong direction, and you really didn't need to come along on this." Hiashi looked calm and relaxed, from his appearance you wouldn't know they had just ran halfway to the border of the Fire country in a single afternoon.
The hokage scratched her cheek absently. "Well, I could have sent someone else, but I meant what I wrote. I figure they left for the Land of Earth after leaving Sound, so I asked Choza and Inoichi what they would do if they had to run away. Then as insurance, I bet they were wrong." She grinned evily.
Shizune and Hiashi nodded at this, but Hinata was confused. "Um, Hokage-sama, if whoever you're looking for went to the Land of Earth, then why are we going to the Land of Sound?"
The blonde woman sighed, and Shizune laughed at this. "Because she always loses when gambling with money. So we're taking advantage of it by checking Choza's guess first."
The blue haired girl whispered to her father. "That makes no sense, do you understand it?"
Hiashi nodded and whispered back. "I don't understand why it works, but it does. By betting money against them, it's guaranteed that one of them will be right and she'll be wrong."
"But they could all be wrong couldn't they?"
"It's possible, but not when Tsunade-san is betting money. She'll lose to one of them. The only time she ever wins is when something truly bad is going to happen."
"Father... I don't want to sound rude, but I don't think that's how chance works, it's far more likely that none of them would win..."
She trailed off as Hiashi shook his head. "Any other time you'd be right. But this is the Legendary Sucker. She's going to lose to Choza or Inoichi."
"Hiashi! I've warned you before. Don't call me that name, or your innards will become your outards!"
Hinata simply blinked at this statement. "I... see... Hokage-sama? Why didn't you bring a proper jonin team, or ANBU?"
"No time. And traveling with too many people would be too slow."
Hinata frowned. "I'm not sure I should be here... I'm not as strong as you three, and with Father here my clan abilities really aren't needed, since he can do everything I can, but better." She started fidgeting with her fingers.
"We're not going for a fight. Well, there shouldn't be one, unless something happens on the way. And you have it backwards. Hiashi-san insisted on coming with since I requested you."
"Requested... me?"
"Hiashi, you didn't explain this mission to her?"
The elder Hyuga shook his head. "I didn't have the time, and we were too far apart while running to really explain anything until now."
Tsunade looked at the girl. "Hinata, I need you to be bait so I can find that old pervert. You're going to find Naruto, and that old pervert's not going to be able to resist spying and taking notes on you two when you do. That's when I'll get him." Tsunade slowly clenched her hand in a fist, knuckles popping omniously.
"We're going to find... N-N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata looked at the hokage, who nodded at her. 'Notes? Why would Jiraiya-sama want to spy on us and take notes?' Hinata's mind helpfully started replaying parts of the Icha-Icha books for her. She turned bright red, and fainted.
Hiashi looked at his daughter in surprise. "I thought they were kidding about her fainting at random like that."
Extra: How Kakashi became (The Temporary) Hokage!
"You needed to see me?"
"I have a mission for you, to be carried out immediately." The hokage handed him a scroll.
Kakashi read it, and read it again to be sure. "You're kidding. Did Gai put you up to this as a joke?"
Tsunade shook her head. "Afraid not. Something's come up, so I need you to fill in as Hokage for a couple weeks. A month at the most."
He looked at the stack of papers on the desk, then at the hokage, and his visible eye widened in fear. "No way."
"You don't have a choice. I'm sorry, but you're the most qualified jonin available to do it."
He started shaking his head. "Hell no. That paperwork is worse than any class A jutsu. I'm too young to die."
Tsunade glared at him. "Fine. I order you to do it."
"I quit."
"Resignation refused. Please Kakashi?"
"Unfortunately I won't have the time. My ninken miss me. We haven't had a poker night in a long time."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at this. "They can be here with you. And you'll also be paid for a class S mission."
The masked ninja glanced out the window and gasped. "Oh my, that poor, poor lady! I'll be right back. There's an old lady carrying a black cat that needs a hand crossing the street."
She sighed. "Your excuses suck. Come on, I need someone I really trust to do this."
He shook his head again. "And die from papercuts? Not happening. Get someone else to do it."
"How about a bet? One round of paper, rock, scissors. I win, you'll take this mission and I'll owe you a favor. But if you win, I'll give up on convincing you, and find someone else to do this. Deal?"
"A bet? With your reputation?" Kakashi raised his headband to reveal his sharingan. "I can't hold back on this."
"Fine. Ready?"
Kakashi eyed the hokage suspiciously. With his sharingan and her bad luck, there's simply no way he could lose. "Ready."
"Jan!"
"Ken!"
"PON!"
Kakashi and Tsunade both started to swing their hands down, making their decisions and forming their choices. Kakashi watched the hokage's hand intently, his sharingan eye analyzing every subtle movement she did, every muscle tensing or relaxing, all of it as if it was in slow motion. 'Heh, she's going to make paper. I win.' He started to make the sign for scissors.
He also noticed Tsunade had flicked a coin at him with her other hand right before they called 'Pon'. Unable to help himself, he caught it.
"YES! I win!" Tsunade took off the hokage's hat and held it out to Kakashi with a wide grin. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to be going."
"What? How?" He stared down at his now clenched hand in disbelief. "I was going to use scissors... You tricked me..."
She smirked at him. "You could have caught the coin with your other hand. Blame your sharingan for causing you to react so quickly." Tsunade closed the door behind her as she left.
Kakashi's voice echoed through the tower. "NOOOOOOOOO!"
Author's Note: Currently kicking myself for the decision to not use timestamps. This chapter happens at the same time as Jiraiya receives his letter from Tsunade in the previous chapter.
I got annoyed and did some serious chopping on this chapter. This originally was supposed to be detailing the festival, how it came about, and why it's so widely celebrated. When I was proofreading... well... it was mostly a massive information dump, and I didn't like how it read, at all.
So I apologize for that, it's still going to be explained, just not this chapter. .
The extra at the end is something that I thought of right before uploading this. I wanted this chapter to only cover what Hinata seen. But with Kakashi trying to convince Tsunade to find someone else, it felt like it should be told instead of just the glimpse Hinata sees at the East , on the off chance someone doesn't know about it, Cassius Coolidge is the artist of the famous 'poker night' painting. I can see Kakashi's ninken in that painting instead.