Underneath the Underneath

The odd duo was only ten miles from the gates of Konoha when they hit a little snag in their travels. A shadowy figure slowly made its way from the cover of the dense foliage, menacingly standing in the middle of the worn trail.

"Leaf ninja…Oh how fun!" coughed the tan skinned, red head as he pulled out a very, very large scythe. His attempted bravado could do nothing to disguise his surprise. Apparently he had not been expecting Ninja, as they usually did not take the main road. He had no headband to mark him, no emblem to identify him. He was wrapped in a grey work kimono, its fringes frayed and brown.

"G-Give me your riches, you bastard, or I'll kill your pretty girlfriend over there."

Sasuke smirked at the nervous attacker. The poor soul would have no chance against an ANBU Uchiha and a Hyuuga together. In a millisecond, he was behind the man, holding a kunai tightly to his slim neck, pressing till a bead of blood ran down into his gray shozoku. Sharingan blazing red as the devil, he stared down the hapless thief. He could hear his heart beat racing, increasing rapidly in tempo.

"You were saying?"

"D-Don't kill me please, I'm begging you! I didn't know you were The Last Uchiha."

Sasuke grimaced at the nickname the general populace had dubbed him. It stung slightly, serving to make him more angry than annoyed at the moment. His grip on the kunai tightened ever so slightly, his Sharingan turning madder red, and the tomoe spinning faster.

"Sasuke-san stop!"

He glanced back at his companion, rolling his eyes at her unnecessary empathy for the man. He was just going to scare him a bit. His eyes widened, however, when he noticed another figure approaching her from behind. Eight feet, five feet, three feet…how could she not sense him? Wait a minute…her Byakugan was not activated.

"Hyuuga, turn around!"

She rapidly did so, slightly before Sasuke's warning, managing to barely dodge a swing of a farm hoe belonging to a pale, blue haired youth.

"No, Sanji, don't!" Warned the red haired captive.

He was too late. Hinata had already prepared her chakra, blue energy crackling at her fingertips, controlled and full of wild potential at the same time. She lightly spun on the heel of her foot, gracefully arching her back to bring herself closer to her target. Her indigo tresses fanned out behind in tandem with her dance.

2…4…8 Partial trigrams!

In less than thirty seconds, her would be assailant crumpled down, his 'weapon' clanging to the stone, broken in half by the force of the fall.

Hinata approached Sasuke's captive, her face blank, her chakra humming erratically, waiting to be released. She truly looked like a kunoichi in that moment. The red haired man closed his eyes, as he felt the Uchiha release him and saw the Hyuuga coming closer.

He felt the slight sting of electricity, then…a sudden soothing sensation, almost as if cool water had been poured over his neck. He looked up. Hinata was concentrating on his injury, her brow furrowed with effort. The cut swiftly closed under her rudimentary medical techniques, and his eyes widened till their whites could be seen all the way around.

"W-Why?"

She softly smiled, her lilac eyes gentle, and nodded towards the large scythe and the broken hoe. "As menacing as it looks, a scythe is hardly a good weapon to use. It's unwieldy, and much too weighty to have an efficient killing streak."

He remained silent, wondering where she was going with this conversation.

"You both are farmers aren't you? You're tools and the way you gripped them tell me that. Your clothes are worn and dirty at the bottom fringes, suggesting field work, and you smell of rice paddies."

He sadly nodded, ashamed. "O-Our families, they're hungry, and the crops-"

"Stop."

She blankly stared at the prone man, middle aged, with wrinkles and sunspots; he was hardly in any shape to attack any capable ninja. She carefully removed her bag from behind her, and pulled out the wad of cash she had left from the journey.

"Here." She smiled gently, and Sasuke could only stare in disbelief behind his mask. "Your friend will be fine. He's only sleeping now."

The man remained seated for several moments, shocked beyond belief. It was only after the ninja had traveled several yards down the road that he sobbingly shouted. "Thank you! Thank you!"

They passed the last few miles of their journey in a tense silence, one wishing to return home as soon as possible, the other relishing the last bits of freedom she had.


"W-where are we g-going Naruto-kun?" she stuttered as the enthusiastic boy pulled her along towards the edge of the village, where the hills grew steeper and the forest thicker. Her long tresses kept getting caught in branches and twigs. By the end of this, she would look like a fright.

"Come on!" He kept a tight hold on her hand, unknowingly smudging them with wet green paint.

They eventually slowed down, reaching a downtrodden field with the sun shining on a ramshackle two story house in the center. Wooden boards tacked on in random areas made it seem as if the house was one storm away from being blown over. In contrast, its mint green paint was smooth, looking as new as any of the other buildings in the rebuilt Konoha.

"W-what is this p-place?" She quietly asked, unspoken was her concern over Naruto's sanity.

"Just look."

And then small heads slowly peeked from the dusty windows, curious as to who their visitors were. Naruto stood waiting and welcoming in his orange robe, the black flames floating invitingly. The children broke into matching grins and about a dozen poured from the sturdy front door, shouting in excitement.

"Naruto!"

"It's Naru-onii-chan!"

"He's back!"

As children of varying sizes and colors surrounded the duo, Hinata began to understand, and felt slightly ashamed at her previous assumptions. She gave a brilliant smile to the young man next to her, marveling at his never ceasing wonders. 'So this is where he was the whole day.'

"See, Hinata, you have to look underneath the underneath!" He grinned cheekily, giving a thumbs up. "Right guys?"

"Right!" They chorused back. And promptly began a game of ANBU vs Rogue Ninja. Hinata laughed as a child ANBU, in a makeshift paper mask 'captured' her with paper shuriken and wooden kunai. Small hands and fingers tugged at their clothes, asking gently and playfully for attention. And Hinata was all too glad to give it.

"Naru-onii-san," called a sweet little pig-tailed girl," Is that your girlfriend? She's really pretty."

Both Naruto and Hinata froze in embarrassment, both sputtering denials and blushing red. The children laughed and resumed their antics. They organized varying games and Hinata taught the girls flower arrangements with the wild flora. By the end of the day, all were tired out and their matronly caretaker called to them for supper.

"You two are of course invited," she smiled, tilting her dark head in welcome at the two youngsters.

They politely declined, stating that they had to wake up early, but that they would certainly visit again. And with shared grins, and waves to the children of the Konoha orphanage, they made their way back home.

Hinata discretely glanced up at Naruto. Silently laughing at the twigs and leaves stuck in is hair, as well as the occasional paper shuriken. His remaining joy at the events of the day had left a small, permanent grin on his face. It was infectious. 'He would make a wonderful father.'

She blushed, matching the setting sun, not knowing that Naruto was thinking things along the same lines about her as well.

She was startled from her reverie when Naruto suddenly turned to her. "Thanks, Hinata."

"You're welcome Naruto-kun."

The would-be couple walked the remaining distance in a comfortable quiet, both unconsciously relishing in the occasional brush of hands, and silently wishing that they could do more.


"What were you thinking Hyuuga? You could've gotten yourself killed." Sasuke bit out, his teeth gritted in exasperation. He tightened his grip on his cloak, wanting to shake common sense into the strange woman.

She smirked back at him, eyes twinkling.

"You have to look underneath the underneath Sasuke-san!" And with that, she began the final sprint towards Konoha, leaving a thoughtful Hawk-san in her wake.


Tsunade sat again at her desk, congratulating herself on using Naruto's Hokage Training as a way to finish most of the paperwork. She gleefully poured herself another cup of clear Land of Iron Sake. She glanced out the windows, noting the gently rising sun and the shadows running across her beloved Konoha. It had stopped raining. A beatific look crossed her face, and then it was quickly covered by a frown of concentration. 'Is it too early? Can I…?"

"Ah to Hell with it!" She shouted, and downed the drink straight from its bottle. She took her time, rolling the beverage around in her mouth to savor the clear and wonderfully bitter taste of it. Sometimes it was the small things in life that could really make a difference.

A light knock disturbed her temporary celebration, and she narrowed her hazel eyes in annoyance. She was peeved. The unlucky visitor had just incurred the wrath of the Godaime Hokage and the poor sucker didn't even know it. She firmly set down the porcelain bottle on her desk.

"Come in."

"Tsunade-sama," greeted a slim kunoichi with kind, but firm eyes and chestnut hair bound into two buns atop her head. Her cream colored Chinese style blouse interestingly paired maroon bottoms complemented her nicely.

Tsunade felt her initial aggravation melt away at the respectful greeting. This was one of her kunoichi. One of 'her girls' whom she loved like her own. The wonderful assortment of girlish characters she was lucky to have cared for contained as many flower variations as the Yamanaka flower shop.

Here now stood the Blue Bell (1). 'For constancy. And she has remained so, despite everything.'

"Tenten, how can I help you?"

"She was supposed to be here by last night." Tenten's brows knit in worry for her little Hyuuga friend. "She sent a letter by Alba-chan about a day ago; he had two messages, one for me and the other was addressed to you."

Tsunade's posture straightened in her confusion. "I never received any message. I was…"

She remembered having to attend a brief Kage summit the other day, leaving Naruto and Kakashi as co-acting Hokage in her absence. 'Naruto probably saw the message. So he knows now?'

"Dammit."

Tenten raised her eyebrows in surprise, the Hokage rarely cursed in front of her kunoichi. "What is it Tsunade-sama?"

"Naruto was here when the message arrived." Her eyes closed in frustration, knowing the problems this knowledge of the most mysterious of the Konoha 13 would cause would be difficult to fix.

Tenten now understood, her fists tightened and she closed her eyes in anger; outraged at the unfairness, and resentful of the circumstances. She rarely if ever became huffy with Tsunade-sama, her idol and her teacher of sorts. But this was too much.

"Why?" She bit out.

Tsunade stared back in surprise at the angry tone. It was too early to deal with this right now.

"Why what."

"Why did you make her come back here?! She didn't want to! She was perfectly fine doing what she was doing. She's one of the best ambassador's Konoha has, and you force her back here, for what?" She waved her hands in exasperation, asking the same questions with her body language.

Tsunade sighed, knowing it would come to this. The truth was there was no good reason for calling back their only Global ambassador. Hinata Hyuuga had found her niche, if the reports and opinions of their contact countries were anything to go by.

Talented, she had been called by the Daimyo of the Land of Rice. Polite and well-spoken with the wisdom of a sage had said the Raikage. She chuckled. Even the Prince of the Land of Gold had called her a beauty beyond compare with a delightful and engaging wit. (He had made an offer of marriage, which she had declined.)

So Tsunade was truly at a loss as to what a good, logical reason would be for calling back the girl. She had even sent an ANBU to help collect her.

There was no good lie, so she told the truth. She gazed directly at the discerning kunoichi before her. How this girl had become so close and protective of someone not even present was beyond her.

"Naruto will take up my mantle in about two months." She said wearily, her expression finally making her look her age.

"So what, she's supposed to be there in the crowd cheering for him? She's supposed to watch him kiss Sakura or some random girl in his own damn happiness as her heart breaks again?"

The Hokage was affronted at the lack of respect. She glared daggers at the young kunoichi, prompting her to back up a little in fear. "Calm down, Tenten."

"You and I both know the idiot boy needs her. He hasn't been the same in the past five years."

"That's his problem, not hers."

Tsunade wilted under the veracity of the statement, and again closed her eyes to collect herself.

"She's the albatross around his neck." (2)

And with that, Tenten understood why Hinata Hyuga had to come back.


A/N: Phew! This was a long chapter. I know Naruto doesn't seem like the best person now, but whoo boy just wait!

Bluebell-meaning constancy. (Tenten is an unchanging character for the most part, and I wanted that to be a good thing.) I used the Victorian flower language as a guide for the metaphor. Throughout the story you'll see continued use of flower symbolism and I will have notes on them.

The albatross around someone's neck is an old saying meaning a problem or encumbrance that hinders one accomplishment. An albatross, not dead, is also symbolic of good luck on the seas.