Summary: A series of violent rapes and murders targeting long, dark haired, young women have caught the attention of the Hokage. Her plan? Use a qualified, long, dark haired kunoichi as bait. The only one that fits the criteria? Hinata. NaruHina.
Warning: Rated M. Contains violence, rape, cursing, sex and murder.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything associated with it. That belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. (However I believe I have a claim to the idea I wrote about).
White Kunai
Chapter 2- Briefing
Naruto jumped from rooftop to rooftop heading towards the Hokage's office. He shivered from the cold and blinked rapidly, trying to shield his eyes from the falling snow. Why does Granny Tsunade want to see Hinata? He thought to himself. And how come I can't know why? Naruto frowned, genuinely upset. Was something wrong? Was Hinata in trouble? Does it have something to do with her clan? With him? A million scenarios flickered in his mind and he let out a frustrated sigh. Maybe she's going to be sent out on a mission. His destination was in sight. But why Anbu? Why did Anbu have to come get her? And classified? What's up with that?
He approached the window and saw Hinata facing Tsunade, whose back was to him. Hinata glanced at him so quickly, he wasn't even sure if she did look at him. Tsunade turned to face him and waved him inside. Oh, that was easy. I thought I'd have to hang around outside the window. The Hokage opened the window for him and Naruto slipped inside.
"I thought this was classified," Naruto mocked. He walked around the desk and stood by Hinatas side, his arms crossed. Hinata gave him a small smile.
"It's supposed to be," Tsunade said shuffling though some papers on her desk. "But you were going to hang around listening anyway weren't you?" Naruto grinned. "So much like Jiraiya, you are." Tsunade said with a roll of her eyes.
"Hey, I'm no perv!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing at her accusingly. "At least I'm not an old lady!"
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched and Hinata glanced at both of the temperamental blondes warily. The older woman sighed. "It's true you're not old and that's one of the precise reasons I called for Hinata," she said. "Because she is a young, beautiful, lady."
Hinata turned red and mumbled a quiet thank you.
"Damn right!" Naruto exclaimed and Hinata looked at him surprised, but the ninja didn't seem to be aware of what exactly his words entailed. "Now why do you need Hinata?"
Tsunade mumbled something about respect as she clenched and unclenched her fist, taking deep breaths. "I'll tell you as soon as Hinata's partner for this mission gets here."
"Mission?" Naruto asked, eyebrows raised. "That's it then? Why so secretive?"
"I'll tell you as soon as Hinata's partner for this mission gets here." Tsunade repeated.
Naruto groaned. Hinata giggled. "Man, Hinata. I don't know how you can just wait here patiently," Naruto said sincerely, looking down at the dark haired women. She shrugged, her cheeks still red and avoided his gaze. He thinks I'm beautiful?
"Because she unlike you has manners you little twerp," Tsunade said spreading some photographs on her desk.
Naruto was about to yell about something when the door opened behind them. Shizune ushered in Ino and shut the door as she left.
"Hello, Hokage-sama," Ino said politely. "Hey Naruto. Hinata." Ino said with a smile. "I'm guessing we're going to be assigned a mission together?"
"Just you and Hinata as of now," Tsunade said.
"Why's Naruto here then?"
"He's an idiot."
"Ah, of course. That explains it."
Naruto looked flustered. "He's not an idiot," Hinata said quietly, no longer blushing, and the only male in the room looked at her gratefully.
Ino waved her away. "Of course you would say that," she said with a wink and a small laugh.
Naruto blushed a little at Inos words. Because…I love you. The words echoed in his mind. "I'm here because Hinata's here," Naruto stated. "Not because I'm an idiot," he said with a pout. The women laughed.
Suddenly Tsunade got serious. "I'm sure you've heard about the rapes and murders happening in the nearby Village of Ash," the three young ninjas nodded solemnly. "We have reason to believe that there is only one person behind all these killings. The styles are the same. Both of how the victim looked and how they died. The rape victim was always a young woman. The youngest so far being twelve."
"That's revolting," Naruto spit out horrified. "I knew people were being killed. But raped? And at twelve?" He looked sick.
Tsunade nodded and picked up a photograph of the twelve year old victim. The three ninjas saw a lot of death during the war but this was different. The young girl had long, curly black hair. There were bruises the shape of fingers around her slender neck and blood covered parts of her naked body. There was a white kunai jutting out of her chest, right where her heart would be.
"This one," Tsunade said, picking up another picture, "happened approximately three months ago." The picture showed a young lady sprawled out amidst some trees. Her long, brown hair hung limply on her tight, but torn dress. Her shawl lay ripped at her side and a pair of broken, red, heels seemed like the only article of clothing not touched by blood. A white kunai was stuck above her left breast.
"She was walking alone after her boyfriend of two years stood her up, apparently," Tsunade explained, taking the picture away. "The leader of the Village of Ash, Sora, declared that no young woman travel unaccompanied at anytime, especially at night. A recommended curfew has been set for eleven at night and women are urged not to leave their homes after dark. But the rapes and murders continue to happen. Less, but they occur nonetheless."
"We're supposed to find this disgusting, piece of filth?" Ino spat out. "Fine. Gladly."
"No," Tsunade said sharply. "We tried that. Several times. The White Kunai Killer is a ninja from what we can tell. And a good one at that. The ninjas sent out to hunt him down have either not returned, returned dead and in pieces, or have simply been unable to find him." Tsunade winced and picked up several photographs.
"More victims?" Hinata asked sadly.
"This?" Tsunade asked, gesturing towards the stack of papers she held. She shook her head. "Just one. I won't go into details but this girl was found scattered throughout the forest near the village."
"That's sick," Naruto said angrily. Hinata gasped and Ino looked furious.
"How old was she?" Ino exclaimed.
"Does it matter?" Tsunade asked her voice hardening now. She stared at Hinata intently who shifted under her gaze. "This is where you come in. But first, tell me, any of you, what did you see in common about these murders?"
"You mean other than the kunai sticking out of their chests?" Naruto said, crossing his arms again.
"It was a white kunai, thus his name," Ino added. "White Kunai Killer. And it was always stuck in their hearts. Except maybe for the one cut in pieces…"
"Very good," Tsunade nodded. "We have no actual witnesses but some ninja placed in his genjutsu believe he was clad in all white. Anything else?" she looked at Hinata again.
Hinata was about to press her fingers together, an old habit she sometimes succumbed to when she was really nervous. "Um, well, they all had long hair. Long, dark hair."
Tsunade smiled sadly. "And?"
"And," Hinata took a deep breathe. "And I have long, dark hair. I fit his criteria of 'young,' I could be his next victim," Hinata finished.
"That's right," Tsunade said with a stiff nod.
"Woah, woah, wait a minute," Naruto said waving his arms, putting the pieces together. "You want Hinata to go out there and find this serial rapist killer guy? Are you insane?"
"That's not what we're doing," Tsunade said. "Hinata isn't going to go looking for him. He will come to her."
"To rape her!" Naruto yelled angrily. "Why would you want to put her in a situation like that?"
"You think I want to do this Naruto?" Tsunade retorted. "Listen kid, we tried everything else we could. We tried hunting him down. We tried ambushing him. We tried disguising ninjas stronger than her, no offense Hinata, but the White Kunai Killer saw through the henges. We need an actual young, beautiful, dark and long haired woman to be bait! And the only one that fits this category is Hinata!"
"I don't like it," Naruto huffed.
"None of us like it you idiot," Ino said with a shake of her head. "But we have to do it. More women will suffer and die if we don't."
"Easy for you to say, you're not the one who'll potentially get raped!" Naruto exclaimed angrily.
"Don't get mad at me because your girlfriend happens to fit the bill, Naruto!" Ino yelled back.
Naruto turned red, "I just don't want her to get hurt."
Hinata pushed the fact that Naruto didn't deny her being his girlfriend to the back of her mind as she stepped between the arguing blondes. "I'll do it."
"Hinata!" Naruto said exasperatedly.
"I have to, Naruto-kun," she said gently. "No one else should suffer by his hands," she turned away from his blue eyes and looked at the Hokage. "And if there's something I can do to stop it, I'll do it. What is it that I have to do, Hokage-sama?"
Tsunade gave her a brief nod. "You and Ino will be heading out to the village, under the impression that you're on your way to a friends wedding. In fact there will be a wedding. It was announced a few months back. It's between the leader Sora's daughter named Mizuki and some man from another village nearby but that is unimportant." Hinata's eyes widened at the daughters name but it went unnoticed.
"Will we need backup?" Ino asked.
"We have learned when it comes to this murderer, less is more," Tsunade explained. "Previous attempts at sending the traditional team of four have gone awry, as have larger groups. You will need to be as inconspicuous as possible. It's easier to lay low and follow the fake story set for you if you have less people."
"Just myself and Hinata then." Ino stated.
"And Naruto."
"Wait, what?" Naruto asked, looking suspiciously happy.
"I originally thought to send just Hinata, as bait, and Ino, since she can use her mind to communicate and her healing could be a good asset but a pretty recent team sent out a month ago made me come to the realization that this White Kunai Killer is much stronger than expected. They succumbed to his apparent genjutsu ability. I'm sure you, Hinata, can fight just fine, but having Naruto there will be beneficial. Three people can still disguise themselves pretty well, not appearance wise in this case, but simply hiding the real reason as to why they're really there. You three are to hide your ninja abilities unless you come into contact with the killer because if he becomes aware that Hinata is, indeed, a kunoichi, things can go bad. Fast."
The three nodded understandingly.
"Now what you have to do is simple. Ino will connect your minds, all three, together so you can communicate while Hinata is doing her part of the mission. I'm sure you will be able to accomplish that, Ino?" Tsunade looked at the ninja who nodded. "Hinata will walk around the village at night, as normally as women walking around alone with a serial rapist on the loose act," Tsunade said with a small but bitter smirk, "and wait until the killer makes contact." Tsunade noticed Naruto was about to say something but put up a finger to silence him. "And you Naruto will be nearby at all times. You will watch Hinata. You will protect Hinata. You will make sure no real harm befalls Hinata during these treks. Is that clear?"
"Transparent, Granny Tsunade," Naruto said, mock saluting her. "I'll protect Hinata with my life." Ino smiled genuinely at the obliviously love-struck boy and Hinata tried to suppress the blush creeping up her neck. She listened to Tsunade's briefing in silence, allowing the information to sink in. She was to be bait for a rapist and murderer. She shivered at the thought and the orange clad ninja, noticing, placed one arm around her shoulders protectively.
"You will have to postpone your current Hokage training though," Tsunade added.
"That's fine, Hinata's safety comes first."
"Very well. Ino will stay far away from where Hinata is, to call less attention to yourselves. Be sure to suppress your chakra at all times, unless it's really necessary to use it," Tsunade continued. "Report back to me with important news when possible. Ino you will make sure you're all linked so you know what's happening to one another each time you go on these outings. I considered putting you in Hinatas place but the killer doesn't fall for transformation jutsus. The only thing I'll need you to do, Hinata, is to hide your characteristic Hyuga eyes."
"My eyes?" Hinata questioned, raising her hands towards her face. "Oh," she said, having an epiphany. "They'd give away the fact that I could possibly be a ninja."
"I'm sure you can do the transformation jutsu?" Tsunade questioned.
Ino laughed. "Of course she can, the only person that really couldn't at the academy if I remember correctly was Naruto."
"Leave me out of this!" he sputtered.
Hinata laughed and looked at him. He grinned and gave her a thumbs up. The last thing she saw before she closed her eyes was blue. She did the appropriate hand signs and there was a poof and she slowly opened her eyes.
Ino had her mouth open. "Wow."
Tsunade smiled. "Very well, that's the color you're going to go with?"
Color? Hinata thought. She was so used to having what she thought of as simple, white eyes.
Ino saw her confused look and smiled, pulling out a shiny kunai from her pack. "Look Hinata. This is how yours and Narutos love child would look like," she said laughing.
Hinata took the weapon and saw her reflection. Her eyes were the same color as Naruto-kun's! Oh…she felt heat rise up to her cheeks and slowly glanced at the young man next to her. Oh…he was smiling and rubbing his hands through his hair, a light blush brushing his cheeks.
"I think it looks nice," he stated.
Hinata fought the urge to faint.
"How come it's okay to transform her eyes but not just get another ninja to use a henge?" Ino questioned.
"Smaller, more sectioned, transformations are less obvious than full ones," Tsunade clapped. "Well then, I think that's all I have to say about this. Ino, you and Hinata should go shopping for some more casual outfits to go along with your ninja attire. I'd like you three to leave as soon as possible. The faster you get to the Village of Ash the faster you can catch the White Kunai killer and the less chance there is of other innocent victims getting hurt. As always, be careful." They nodded in understanding and as they were about to leave Tsunade called Hinata again. The three turned to face their Hokage in confusion. "Oh, Hinata, apparently the rapist has a keen eye for innocent girls. I'm sure you are one?"
Hinata turned a deep scarlet when she noticed the Hokages eyes move to Naruto. Tsunade was stifling a laugh. "Yes," the Hyuga squeaked.
"Good, you're all dismissed."
"Hey, Hinata, what did she mean about innocent?" Narutos voice echoed down the hall. Tsunade laughed. Their footsteps began to fade but she continued listening to their conversation. "And why did Granny Tsunade look at me all weird. And why are you so red right now? You aren't catching a fever for real right? What does innocence have anything to do with this anyway," Naruto continued. "I mean we've all been to war! We fought in a war. I'm sure we can handle one more ninja."
"Naruto, what are you talking about?" Ino asked in confusion.
"Well war can change a person," Naruto continued. "That's what I'm trying to say. So Hinata's probably not considered innocent anymore right? And neither am I."
Tsunade heard a thud.
"Hinata!" Naruto exclaimed. "Oh man! She fainted. It's been forever since she's done this. Ino help me out!"
"You're on your own, Uzumaki!"
"But you're a medic nin!"
Tsunade heard the Yamanaka girl laugh.
Tsunade looked at the pictures. Dead women. Slaughter. Rape. She hoped they would be able to handle this. White Kunai. Ruined innocence. Oh, this is going to be an interesting mission indeed.
Okay the story is starting to pick up now. There will be more NaruHina in the next chapter. Sorry if it seemed as though this chapter went on and on and on. I had to explain what was going on. The real action will be coming soon!
Thanks!
-Magma E.
Up next: Beginnings
"…by the time Kiba got to her…some of the bandits had their way with her. Her clothes were ripped and there was blood where there shouldn't have been."