She closed the office door behind her gently, her pale eyes serious but hopeful as she walked down the hallway. Her rapidly beating heart the only thing that betrayed her outer calm.
It could work, she thought, nearly unable to believe it, the mission doesn't have to be a failure...
Hinata smiled, nervously brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she navigated the many stairways of the Hokage tower. She would have to thank Kiba-kun and Shino-kun, the plan would never have been possible without their help.
It could work, she nearly giggled.
Tsunade-sama had said so, and the esteemed Fifth Hokage was not one to mince words. Hinata could nearly die from relief when the woman said so. She had been so nervous, so anxious when she had opened those doors.
I can help Naruto-kun, she blushed.
She had never been able to before. Always in the shadows, watching his back and silently cheering him onward. It was agony and ecstasy both, to watch and gain strength without him knowing. She shook her head, a frown now on her face, she wouldn't think of the past anymore. She was stronger than that now.
The rains had cleared, and the harsh late summer sun bore down on her. The air sticky and the breeze nonexistant. It couldn't have been a better day.
"Hinata-san?" the honorific was said with some hesitation.
She turned, "Sakura-san?" she didn't know the other kunoichi well, unable to bond because of lack of affection for Uchiha Sasuke, "Are you meeting with Tsunade-sama?" Hinata asked politely.
"Yes," Sakura smiled, "She's quite the taskmaster, not that I'm complaining!" she hurriedly added, waving her arms in dismissal, "But, are you here by yourself? I didn't see your teammates."
"Kiba-kun and Shino-kun are not with me, we decided that I should meet with the Hokage-sama myself."
"Huh?" she seemed surprised, "Why? If you don't mind me asking."
Hinata raised her pale eyes, "We have devised a plan to find Uchiha Sasuke."
"What!" she shouted, drawing stares from across the street, "What?" she asked more calmly, her green eyes intense and probing, her hands on Hinata's shoulders.
"W-we," she swallowed and started again, "We were not satisfied with the result of our mission."
"That's it?" she asked incredulous, "You just waltzed into the Hokage's office with some plan, and Tsunade-sama said, 'alrighty, go ahead'?"
"No," she glanced away, "She pointed out many obstacles that we will have to overcome before we can start. And the plan itself will take time."
"But," Sakura dropped her hands, leaving Hinata's shoulders sore, "Why bother?"
"Uchiha Sasuke is a fellow Leaf shinobi."
"That can't be it," Sakura replied, "You barely know him and Kiba doesn't like him and who knows about Shino. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for your help, but..."
"We wanted to help you and Naruto-kun," she fibbed, but only half way.
Sakura raised a brow, "Oh?" clearly not believing her.
Hinata blushed, uncomfortable under the other kunoichi's stare, "I wanted to help Naruto-kun for once," she whispered. I want to help him this time...
Eyes wide, something in the back of Sakura's sharp mind clicked, "I see," she smiled, suddenly much more light-hearted than before, "Then I owe you a thank you, don't I?"
"You don't have to," Hinata muttered, twiddling her fingers.
"Nonsense!" she beamed, leading Hinata down the street, "You deserve it, and I know just the thing."
"Ummm..."
Sakura smiled wickedly, "You get to break the good news to Naruto!"
Hinata was going to faint, "Ahh..." she could feel the blood rushing to her face.
"I have to meet with shishou," Sakura continued oblivious, "and shouldn't Naruto know about this right away? I mean, you can't tell me and then not tell him, can you? He's probably been training all day alone, so some company would do him good. And he's probably hungry, so you can take him some lunch too!"
Training Area 34
She kept reading the faded sign over and over, hoping the words would somehow change into advice or encouragement. It didn't happen though, she had only her own heart pounding to cheer her on.
It felt as if her feet were rooted to the ground, a feeling that had nothing to do with the swamp that covered most of the training area. Dead and skeletal trees sprouted from the murky water, twisted and gnarled and bone white. A rocky outcropping stood tall on the northern end of the area.
"Haaaaa!"
A blue swirling light and then an explosion as the hapless tree splintered under the force of his attack. He stood, breathing heavily before sitting down hard, and wiped his face with the end of his shirt.
Naruto-kun...
Hinata nearly hid when she saw him, jacketless and sweating. She felt her face heat up, could feel the inevitable faint coming on. Why couldn't she do this? Why couldn't she just call out his name, just a simple...
"N-Naruto-kun!"
"Eh?" he turned around, finally spotting her, "Hinata?" he sounded surprised.
She couldn't hide now, especially now that he came jogging up to her, a smile on his face, "G-good afternoon," she stuttered.
"Hey, Hinata!" he replied, skidding to a stop in front of her, no trace of his earlier exhaustion, "What brings you here?"
Glancing at his toes, then a quick look up, "I came to tell you about a mission," she said quietly, secretly amazed her words were coming out so clearly.
"I should have known it," he complained, "When does Tsunade-baa-chan want me?"
"No," she shook her head, "It's not that type of mission."
"Then what type of mission is it?"
Hinata took a breath, steeling herself, "I came up with a plan that m-might," she faltered for a moment, "that might find Uchiha Sasuke."
His blue eyes seemed impossibly wide before she looked away, her face heating up anew, "Seriously?" he asked, trying to peer at her from under her bangs, "You did?"
She stepped back nervously, "Yes."
"All right!" he cheered, pumping his fist in the air, "Did you tell Tsunade-baa-chan and Sakura-chan? What did they say? When can we go? Are you coming with?"
She couldn't help a small smile at his energy, "I-I..." not knowing where to start.
"What is it?" Naruto asked, cupping a hand around his ear, "I can't hear you."
Hinata peered up, mortification melting away into amusement at the toothy grin on his face. Her chest lightened, her heart resumed its more natural pace. Why am I so nervous? This is Naruto-kun.
"I brought some lunch," she held up the bento, "I could tell you while we eat."
He seemed surprised at that, and slowly took the boxed meals out of her hands as if they were so fragile they would suddenly disappear if he touched them. He was silent for so long she was about to speak up, but then he smiled one of those smiles where his entire face crinkled up, "Thank you, Hinata-chan!"
The white walls of the Hyuuga compound loomed over her as she passed through the front gate, the outer courtyard looking much the same as the dusty street. The buildings inside were low and traditional, tiled roofs and polished wooden floors.
Hinata daintily removed her sandals at the stone steps and continued on passing several Branch members with a nod of greeting. Her steps were sure against the cool floor and the summer windchimes sang faintly.
The study door was slid open, and she could see him seated at his low desk surrounded by several electric fans, "Father," she kneeled.
If he was surprised to see his eldest daughter he didn't show it, the smooth motion of his hand never faltered, "Daughter."
"I have a request."
Hyuuga Hiashi put down his calligraphy brush, "What is it?"
Hinata looked up, pale eyes determined, "Tell me about the Sharingan."
Disclaimer: Still not mine.
AN: These two chapters will be up first, but after this it will be one at a time. A couple of notes:
I'm not going to go into detail about the plan- I'll just be proven wrong I'm sure.
Naruto doesn't seem to get many random acts of kindness, and the ones he does get he has to fight for. I hope he starts to appreciate Hinata wink
If the Sharingan is descendant from the Byakugan, don't you think the Hyuuga would have some knowledge of its secrets? These are the same people who seal other Byakugan users. I seriously doubt that when some Hyuuga popped out a Sharingan user the other Hyuuga were like, 'Hey, how cool! Now go ahead and start your own clan to rival our power!'. Yeah... I don't think so.
Anyways, thanks again for reading!