A/n: I apologize for the delay...I just graduated from university, and it's been pretty hectic trying to set my work schedule at my lab. Also my dad was diagnosed with kidney cancer two months ago, but he's all clear now, minus one kidney? Apparently kidney cancer has one of the lowest metastatic rates, so I'm so grateful for that and that's all I could hope for. Am I forgiven yet?

Thank you to everyone who was patient enough to wait for this really short chapter. The plot is moving along...kind of...but thank you for reviewing and favoriting and following. It really means a lot to me, and it was you that made me want to get back up and keep writing.

ALSO THE BIGGEST, HEARTIES THANKS TO MY BETA SERIOUSSAM...You are seriously awesome, and I'm fairly sure you may have heard that a lot by now.

If you see any particularly poignant lines in here, I blame him for about half of them. And if you want more, read his story MY PRECIOUS PEOPLE which I will advertise until the day this story is ended and beyond...hopefully we'll finish by September...seeing as we're about a little over halfway through.

So in the spirit of this chapter's title...

We Move Forward

'I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...'

The mantra ran through her thoughts, all-encompassing and all-consuming. She let herself drown in it, because there was no other way she could face this suffocating, burning reality that she had willingly given herself over to.

She peeked at him through thick lashes; fright and disgust hidden skillfully behind a small, plastic smile that made her look endearingly coy and shy. Her cheeks were naturally flushed; her lips painted the ruby red of the imperial court. Her petite form was clothed in precious silks of teal with gold brocade outlining the graceful forms of koi fish. The elaborate twists braided into her hair were secured by hairpins decorated with the finest purple hyacinths and tinkling beads of jade. (Please forgive me)

Beautifully ensnaring shackles, all of them... gifts from the man who was her now fiancé… he stood ostentatious beside her, wrapped up in his puffery and finery…

She clutched the ever present pendant in her hand, pressing so hard that the tiny points of the jeweled flame would leave red pinpricks embedded in her pale, soft skin.

'I'm sorry... I'm sorry...'

The mantra sped up as she saw his head tilt towards her lips, his handsome face coming ever closer and closer.

She let herself imagine that he had blonde hair instead of dark brown, that his eyes were the most brilliant shade of sapphire blue and not the color of a dappled forest floor.

She let herself imagine, because there was no other way she could deal with the weight of the reality pressing upon her.

She closed her eyes, and the tears fell slowly.

'I'm sorry...'

The kiss was chaste, but still she tasted the finest of wines. The scent of several perfumes that had mixed into a gaudy, overpowering scent assaulted her senses. She wondered why this kiss in particular was so distasteful to her, especially since she had gone on a few dates over the past few years and had been kissed by others.

And while those had been nice in their own small ways, none of them had ever matched the taste of Land of Fire saké and ramen broth.

She vaguely wondered why she was always comparing those few kisses to her first, even though she already knew the answer.

The words ran through her head, self-loathing blooming dark within her heart.

'I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…'

She didn't know to whom she was apologizing. It could have been to him...or perhaps to herself. Heaven knows an apology was due to the both of them. But what good would it do, if her apology would never be heard? And furthermore, what reason would he have to give one? She had walked away from him… from the embers of a fire that was just beginning to awaken without giving it a chance… without giving them a chance…

His distinct, huffing laugh pulled her out of her protective reverie.

"Dear girl, why are you crying?"

Her eyes widened in fear, and she once more allowed a small, demure smile to curl on her cheeks.

"I-It's simply because I'm so happy, Kazuhiko-san."

And the he smiled back at her with all the arrogant kindness that was in his nature, his fine hands gingerly cradling her in an embrace that was all too possessive. Her face was pressed up against the folds of his own impressive kimono, the maroon silk finer than her own.

She cried still, her tears turning into angry ones as they fell onto the fabric. Their bitter saltiness mingled with the taste of fine wine and blood, which flowed from where she had bit her cheek too hard.

She knew all too well that soon it wouldn't be only her blood flowing if he was allowed to continue his plans.


Ino had a plan. Whether or not the plan would work depended on how well she executed it, and the respective reactions of those who were involved in it.

She could almost hear Shikamaru's disappointed sigh ringing in her ears.

"Don't meddle."

And Choji would simply nod his head sagely, all the while knowing it wouldn't do any good. But she reasoned to herself that if this worked, it could set things right.

Yamanaka's were observant by nature, sometimes so in tune with human emotions that it got in the way of personal relationships. Suspicion was a key point in their work, and their knowledge of human psychology was such that they could always find the weak points in their enemies' mental defense… and unfortunately, sometimes this extended to their friends as well. Ino was not exempt from this, and coupled with her penchant for gossip, had all too often hurt her friends by saying or doing things without thinking first.

She became all too aware of this after apologizing to Naruto. And even though she was a self-proclaimed gossip – and there were many others that would agree with that description – she vowed to make up for it with the same eagerness she had put forth in making the mistake in the first place.

Her awareness of what her actions had caused only served to rise further after seeing Naruto and Hinata tonight. Both of them had been walking back to the settlement from who knows where and when she looked closer, she could see the unintentional, yet still welcome touches given by both parties.

There was something in the way Naruto laid his hand on Hinata's shoulder to guide her through the dark and over jutting tree roots, and something in the way Hinata leaned in slightly to accept his help that told her the dynamic between them was changing.

It was reverting slowly back to what they had had before, just a lot more cautious and far too aggravatingly slow for her taste.

And then, almost as if she had been burned, Hinata's eyes widened behind her glasses and she snapped upright, pulling herself away from Naruto's gentle guiding grip. They were too far away beyond the trees for her to hear clearly what was being said, but Ino was a master of reading lips and body language. It seemed that for all her growth, there were some aspects of her personality that Hinata held very little confidence in, or took the initiative with.

It was almost as if the girl was apologizing for being too close or familiar with Naruto, and between her rigid movements and slight distancing Ino sensed a certain kind of reluctance. The small, plastic smile that stretched across Hinata's face as she bid him good night was unassuming and to an extent, forced and fake.

It was the same smile that had appeared back at the cafe after she had opened her big fat mouth about Sakura and Naruto's previous relationship. It was a mask, albeit a very good one. Ino realized Hinata must be very skilled to keep her from noticing it back then. However, now that she thought about it, as an Ambassador to the Daimyo's court Hinata certainly had to be.

Something was blocking Hinata's desire to move forward with Naruto. Something all too avoidable and that she could easily be blamed for.

As Hinata turned to leave, she missed the expression of heartbreak on Naruto's face. His bright grin fell and his eyes became downcast. His empty hand was left hanging in mid-air, as if he were waiting – or perhaps hoping might be the better term – for her to come back.

Ino however, didn't miss it.

Guilt flared anew in her chest, the heavy, achy feeling all too familiar and awful. She hated it with every fiber of her being, but she needed to fix this. Hopefully her plan could work.

She gave Hinata a welcome smile as she entered the tent, her polite greeting and flushed cheeks belying her state of distress.

"If it's not too much of a bother, I believe that it would be best if we pack tonight. We'll be heading back tomorrow at dawn." Hinata advised kindly, before proceeding to do just that.

Ino nodded in agreement, all the while thinking of the right way to begin.

She wrung her hands, agitation very clear as she shifted on her knees. Every so often, she would pause in the middle of packing her travel bag, as if on the cusp of saying that first word, yet hesitant to do so because of the nature of the subject matter.

Hinata was behind her, carefully placing her sparse belongings into her pack with a particularly harrowing order and methodology. The work was mind-numbing, but she could sense her friend's tension, taut and stretched like a string on a loom.

Ino decided not to wait for it to break and instead took the initiative. "Hi-Hinata-chan."

Hinata quickly fastened the clasp of her bag closed and turned, giving Ino her full attention along with a small, open smile.

Ino clenched her fists in the folds of her flak jacket, her teeth gnawing at her bottom lip as she recalled just why her agitation had become so prominent on this last night in Kusagakure.

"I think... I think I want to stay here too."

Hinata blinked owlishly, surprise parting her mouth in a small 'oh'. Before she could ask for an explanation, Ino gave her one.

"There's only so much one, or even two medic-nin can do here with so many injured, and I think that it would be best if stayed to help Karin. It doesn't take more than one person to do a mission report anyways, and I can keep Shino company while we wait for reinforcements."

"I see," Hinata replied, still surprised but graciously accepting Ino's tumbling words. "That's very kind of you, Ino-san." Hinata gave a genuine smile, warmth emanating from her kindly face and Ino was reminded again why the Konoha Twelve had all been taken in by this girl from the start.

"I'll go tell our captain in a second," Ino commented, an amused smile playing at her lips. It felt strange calling Naruto that. "But first, I have something I need to talk to you about."

The ambassador nodded quietly, not quite liking where the conversation was headed. Ino's tone heralded personal questions, and she didn't feel ready to face them all just yet. She waited, which she seemed to be doing a lot of these days. The brief chirping of the crickets filled the silence with an odd, rhythmic pattern of chirps that called out the rest of their kind hiding in the dead of night.

Ino sighed, bracing her shoulders as if she was about to face an army.

"Hinata-chan... I'm sorry."

Confusion alighted on her features, clouding Hyuuga eyes with emotion. The hurt and guilt threaded within Ino's apology seemed so palpable and genuine that it made Hinata want to forgive her on the spot, without even knowing what it was for yet.

"Why are you apologizing? You have nothing-"

"You're wrong! I do!" Ino interrupted vehemently, rising slightly from her kneeling position. "It's because of what Tenten said that you don't want to go back to loving him, isn't it?"

Hinata's blush returned full force, creeping up her neck and onto her cheeks, almost glowing in the dim light of the lantern.

"E-excuse me, Ino-san… that's hardly an appropriate matter of discussion for a miss-"

"Isn't it?!" Ino interrupted once more, moving closer on her hands and knees, exasperated with Hinata's avoidance. Her blue eyes bore into Hinata's own, and she was oh so tempted to use her jutsu to get her point through her friend's thick Hyuuga skull.

"How... How do you know what Tenten-chan said?" Hinata asked breathlessly, embarrassment and ire rising fast.

Ino clenched her fists, and then closed her eyes in fear of Hinata's reaction. "Because I'm the one who told her about that."

Hinata's eyes widened momentarily. "Oh," she said impassively.

Ino's eyes snapped open, angry at the lack of reaction or emotion. "Oh? Is that all you have to say?!" she exclaimed, clearly agitated. "I ruined his chances. I hurt you. I hurt him without meaning to, and it's all because I couldn't keep my big fat mouth shut!"

Ino clenched her teeth, frustration and contrition washing over her. She felt tears pricking at her eyes, and even though she knew that Naruto's and Hinata's problems were by no means caused solely by gossip, it still held a large part of the blame and she'd be damned if she let that continue. Before Hinata walked out of this village, she would set things right.

Hinata's mouth clicked shut, her eyes turned silvery and cold, and Ino knew she had made a mistake. She had let her emotions get the best of her without considering every part of the problem, not just what she had contributed to.

"It doesn't matter," Hinata responded, her tone flat and polite. And then in a smaller, slightly defeated tone she added, "even if it's true."

"UGGHH... Don't you get it?" Ino fisted her messy, blonde strands angrily. "It wasn't true! Yeah he dated, and he had like three real relationships but it was three relationships in five years, and that's normal! He was trying to move on. He wasn't some kind of common whore that I and all those idiot fangirls made him out to be."

Ino pointed a thumb at herself. "I made the mistake of not verifying my sources. I ruined my friend's reputation because I didn't think. I hurt an innocent person who I shouldn't even be judging when I've had more partners than he has."

She breathed heavily, her tirade over. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Hinata-chan." Ino slumped, her head bent forward. Her bangs covered her eyes as the tears spilled a little... and she clenched her teeth. "I ruined your chances... I made it ha-harder..."

She was amazed when Hinata, who hadn't flinched or moved during the entire time Ino had been railing against her own stupidity, moved forward and embraced her.

There was warmth, and a gentle kindness to her touch. An understanding and patience evident in her expression that seemed to only make Ino sob harder.

Hinata soothingly rubbed her friend's back, not having realized how heavy this had weighed on Ino's conscience and oh yes, she was angry... but at this point there was nothing to be done. She herself was the one who had accepted the stories so easily without even questioning them. She attempted to convince herself that it was fine… she was the one who had let him go, and he was an adult who could make his own choices. And then when given the opportunity, she became two-faced and hurled the accusation in his face, angry and bitter as if he was the one to blame.

But she understood all too well the feeling of guilt, and though not as emotive as Ino, she'd had to make her fair share of apologies since returning to Konoha. So in the same way Ino couldn't judge Naruto for his love life, Hinata couldn't blame the girl for her relationship problems.

"Ino-san, I appreciate your sentiment and concern but I don't think I'm the one you need to apologize to."

Her brows furrowed in concern when Ino sobbed harder into her shoulders, gripping her dark shirt harder as if it were the last tetherhold keeping her from drowning in remorse.

"I...I already did. But I don't think he's forgiven me y-yet," came Ino's muffled reply.

Hinata was at a loss. She remembered the way she'd brushed his hand off her shoulder, albeit politely. She remembered calling him by his last name when training at the lake because she couldn't control her jealousy. She remembered throwing the rumor back in his face, calling Konoha's allies discarded lovers.

A wave of remorse rose in her own chest, and a bitter laugh caught in her throat because that seemed to be the only thing spreading between their group ever since she'd returned to Konoha. Things were moving forward at an unprecedented rate, and she was the dreaded catalyst.

She gulped down her own fears and tightened her hold on Ino's trembling shoulders, because sometimes a little human contact was needed when you felt lost.

She muttered softly, "It's okay. I don't think he's forgiven me either. "

Her grip loosened, and Ino sniffed a few times in an effort to reign in her emotions before raising her head. The tears had stained her cheeks pink, and she wiped them away with her hand before chuckling wryly.

"It isn't a matter of him forgiving you, Hinata-chan," she said, shaking her head in denial and disagreement with that statement, "I think it's more about you being willing to accept him."


She watched as the Kazekage watered and gently caressed the newly bloomed cactus flowers that grew throughout his greenhouse. The sight was pleasantly warm, unlike the searing heat outside.

The menagerie of desert vegetation was surprisingly colorful, blooms of red and orange and pink dotting the rows of otherwise dry looking plants.

Her words caught in her throat, memories of the council meeting they had just left echoing in her head. She was Konoha's representative, and yet Tsunade had sent another member of the diplomacy corps with her for protection, still a little wary after the incident in the Land of Tea.

It had been time to renew one of Konoha and Suna's trade contracts, more specifically the ones regarding the very rare plants found in this greenhouse.

And then, when the arguments had become too heated, one of the her own fellow Konoha diplomats shouted at Gaara that the least he could do was provide these plants at a lower rate to make restitution for the damage he caused to one of Konoha's greenhouses during the attack with Otogakure nearly a decade ago.

The Kazekage had accepted the accusation with all the grace due to his position and swiftly provided the aforementioned plant without comment, without any resentment present in his expression or change in his demeanour.

When the meeting had adjourned, and the Kazekage had left, her fellow Konoha citizen had nudged her jovially, a conspiratorial grin spreading across his face as he celebrated their victory.

Bile rose in her throat and she gave him her best Hyuuga stare, the one where she looked with cold eyes down her nose in disgust, neck raised and shoulders straight. Then she excused herself before he could finish, following the Kazekage to the greenhouse where he had previously extended his welcome.

So now she watched as he watered the plants, tears coming to her eyes at the unfairness of it all. How long would this person have to make up for his mistake? How long would it take until he could move forward?

Then he surprised her. Without turning to her, he discerned her train of thought.

"No one is obligated to forgive you. You can apologize and recognize the mistakes you made, but the other party is not obligated to forgive you."

He quickly snipped off a few of the dried or wilting blossoms from the cactus in front of him, nimble fingers avoiding the long spines with grace.

"But…" Hinata trailed off, unsure where to begin. She had always lived by the 'forgive and forget' motto, and it seemed to have buoyed her enough throughout her life. It was a motto she had assumed Naruto followed, and she had it adopted wholeheartedly. It was only when she got to know more of him that she realized he had the forgiving part down pat, but the forgetting part was another thing altogether.

The slight disillusionment on her part had served to remind her that for all his power, Naruto Uzumaki was still human...and it had only made her fall all the more in love with him.

"Then what do we do?" She wondered aloud. How would she move on without forgiveness? How could any progress be made on any front without that simple building block of humanity?

On another note, how would diplomacy ever work if nothing was ever forgiven? If forgiveness was no guarantee, everything would remain at an impasse and she refused to believe in a world where that was possible. And maybe she was just being too optimistic, but throughout her travels so far, she had seen forgiveness. It wasn't always fine or reciprocated, but it was progress nonetheless.

So there lay the question. What to do?

She felt a frisson of doubt and fear grip her, and instinctively tilted her head towards a path of sunbeams streaming in through the green-tinged glass of the building. They were bright and warm, allaying some of her discomfort.

And from the corner of her eye, she discerned with not some small surprise that apart from desert plants, Gaara's collection boasted an array of tropical flowers, as bright and loud as could be in the otherwise calm establishment.

Wordlessly, Gaara plucked a blossom from a nearby bush, broad verdant leaves brushing against his sleeves. He handed it to her, amusement sparking in his eyes because her firm belief in the best of humanity reminded him so much of his friend.

Uzumaki Naruto had left his mark on this one, and she was a kindred spirit of Naruto's influence. Like him, she had been changed and like him, she was looking for a path to follow with those principles, even if she was just a little lost.

"I suppose people won't always forgive you, but the most important thing is to be able to forgive yourself. And then…"

"And then?" She asked quietly, gazing at the fully bloomed desert hibiscus lying in her palm, brushing its thin veined, yellow petals with her thumbs. (Beneficent)

Gaara simply turned back to his plants, a smile almost playing at the corners of his mouth.

"And then you move forward."


"But where's forward?" Hinata whispered absently to the graying sky, tightening the straps of her backpack as she walked.

The atmosphere was charged, prickling with that familiar feeling of pregnant rain. She had hoped the heavy wind would be enough to muffle her thoughts, but no such luck. Her voice had been loud enough for Naruto to hear.

He turned over his shoulder to look back at her. "Did you say something, Hinata?"

When she shook her head and told him it was nothing before returning her gaze downward, his smile fell. Something seemed to be distancing her from him even more, and ever since last night, she had been far quieter than she had been previously.

Her slight rejection had still hurt, and it had been very sudden, but he wouldn't press the issue because he feared the same things as before... that he would push her away by asking too many questions. And he had no idea where exactly he stood because Hinata was still as hard to read as ever, and what little progress they had made seemed to have been swept up in Kusagakure's own problems.

Then again, it seemed like his problems were always swallowed up by outside events, washed away by a tide of drama and external forces that seemed never ending. The irony was that even in a time of relative peace he still seemed to have no time or ability to face his own relationships.

Sasuke was the only thing that seemed to have been resolved, and even that was only partially fixed. Team Seven's bonds were crumbling because of tension between the other two, poor Sai was lost in the intricacies of it all and Kakashi-sensei was busy being Interim Hokage on Tsunade Baa-chan's long trips. There was no telling where Yamato-sensei was to be found, except for the occasional time he popped in for an awkward Ramen dinner.

Hinata leaving had just been the straw that broke the camel's back. His world had come tumbling down, an avalanche of life and emotions that in no way could he have expected, anticipated or prepared for. It was a force that even he, with the strength of the nine tailed fox assisting him, couldn't stop.

Love was a pain, indeed.

Meanwhile, Hinata began to wrestle with herself. The issues that had seemed so far away now loomed on the horizon and ironically, they were in the same direction of Konoha.

She found herself unable to call it home, for a variety of reasons. But it was still somewhere she cherished, and where her path would be completed.

There was a decision she had to make – a gamble for her future, and she couldn't do it alone. She refused to run away again, but standing her ground was a bit frightening, especially when she had always been able to spread her wings and fly through the storms of life, finding another alternative where it seemed none lied.

She had accepted Ino's request to stay behind without question or argument, and now she stared at the back of her only traveling companion. Naruto's shoulders seemed so much wider from this position, his impressively strong figure towering over her.

Her eyes softened at the sight, because she knew that no matter how strong he looked, he still had his doubts. Those same ones he had expressed last night at the clearing and how hesitant and careful he seemed to be when dealing with her. He was afraid that he might ruin whatever friendship they had rekindled during their time in Kusagakure and that was something that she didn't want him to believe, and definitely something she didn't want.

A decision was made. Determination flowed in her steps as she increased her pace, the chill of the breeze ineffective against her jacket. She swiftly caught up to him and tugged on his sleeve, her plan set and the Will of Fire in her eyes.

Naruto turned towards her, his eyes wide and concern in his voice. "What is it, Hinata? Are you still hurt? Do you need to stop and rest?"

Worry laced through him, and he rested his hands on her shoulders, trying to gauge her condition. She appeared to be fine, but the look in her eyes told him she was about to do something unexpected.

Hinata smiled fondly and once again, she felt that familiar feeling of butterflies in her stomach. She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks as she began to blush, but she suppressed it quickly. At the moment, a singular focus was needed for what she was about to ask.

She lifted her hands and gripped Naruto's hands tenderly, pulling them gently off of her shoulders.

"Naruto-kun... you told me to trust in you." Her voice was steady, the words hurled with all the bluntness of a Hyuuga. "To not be afraid and ask for help if I needed it…"

Naruto noticed the tenseness in her form, the lines of her body angled towards him and her lavender eyes seeming to glow, even in the dingy grayness of the day. But despite the intensity, she still seemed hesitant. There was a certain vulnerability in the tilt of her head, the quirk of her lips and the lifting of her chin.

Hinata Hyuuga always managed to embody that which seemed so opposite; confidence and vulnerability, mystery and clarity, calmness and intensity.

He opened his mouth, fully ready to offer his support, when she held up a hand to forestall him. Her brow furrowed and her mouth turned into a small frown.

"First, please listen to what I have to ask. If you don't agree with my course of action, then I will not obligate you further." She said a bit breathlessly, the words tumbling out both haphazardly and apologetically. She bit her lip and wrung her hands, making her worry palpable and contagious.

Naruto fidgeted worriedly, the very act of remaining still after her abrupt statement being exceedingly difficult, but he swallowed his questions just like before because he was still aware that the newly formed bonds between them, while strong enough to hold some sort of trust, were not enough for him to become argumentative or intrude. It saddened him, because even after the catharsis the other night, she still seemed very reluctant to share her burdens with him. Tidbits here and precious moments there, but it had only been a few days since her injury and their talk.

He wondered if the closeness they had shared was merely a byproduct of trust between newly met strangers, the kind that caused someone you just met to bare their soul because they had no ties or connections that could hurt you. The information held no leverage because in all likelihood you would never cross paths again.

But still he waited.

Finally, Hinata stopped her fiddling and sighed, her breath mingling with the early morning mist common to that part of the Land of the Fire.

"I don't want to lie anymore." She confessed quietly, ducking her head in shame. Her voice was thin, making her seem more vulnerable than any other gesture she could have done.

Instinctively, Naruto breached the short distance between them and placed a warm hand on her upper arm, in an attempt to wordlessly offer comfort and support. He briefly wondered how such a small person could cause so much trouble.

She shot him a grateful look from beneath heavy lashes, and her back straightened once more.

"I need you to be a diversion, please."

Naruto blinked confusedly. "What?"

"A diversion," she repeated earnestly.

"Explain." Naruto found himself asking for clarification, as he seemed to do more often than he liked when talking to Hinata. Her words were cryptic, designed to prolong conversation and keep her listeners on the edge, always grasping for more information that she laid out like a trail of bread crumbs wherever she wished to steer the topic.

"A Hyuuga with glasses and without a Byakugan has no chance as an heir. I need... I need to be kept away from the clan for a while."

His eyes widened in surprise. "But, isn't… isn't that part of the reason why you took that job with the Diplomacy Corps? I mean, you can't just keep delaying things like this. It's not-"

"That's not it!" She huffed, a bit chagrined at her words being misunderstood so easily.

"Then what is it?" He pushed back, his arms crossing in front of his chest defensively. Tentative bonds of friendship or not, he wasn't backing down from getting an explanation this time.

"I'm going to tell my father the truth as soon as we get back. And then…"

"And then?" Naruto prodded.

"I'm going to ask him to give up his position as clan head." She said plainly, knowing full well the implications of her statement.

"WHAT?!"

"I believe I was perfectly clear with what I said." Her voice lilted, confidence once again infused in her tone.

Naruto cleared his throat. The request definitely caught him off guard. "And how exactly do you expect me to be a diversion?"

"When I first arrived back in Konoha, Tsunade-sama wanted me to assist you with organizing the Hokage ceremony. To help with sending out invitations and such…"

"Oh." This was the first he was hearing of this. "And…?"

"I refused due to…. extenuating circumstances. But it's a brilliant cover. As the Hokage-to-be, you have some power in assigning missions, and it would keep me away from the compound until I can speak with my father regarding the matter."

"And how do you know he'll agree? I mean, there's a ton of stuff going on right now, and…"

He trailed off, his voice faltering at the look of blazing determination in those pretty, lavender eyes. His heart raced, and he felt himself grow warm under her gaze, and though she was looking up at him, her neck craned all the way back to look at his face, it still made him feel smaller than her at the moment.

"He will. There are unsavory things going on within our clan, and this move will benefit him as well. Besides, unless I miss my guess Tsunade-sama is acting as we speak."

"How do you know that?" Naruto asked incredulously and Hinata merely shrugged, a teasing smile letting him know this was payback for the Princess Kaguya thing last night.

She skipped away merrily, her tiny figure dancing down the road, her excitement and elation making itself known. She was finally moving somewhere, and even though she wasn't sure it was forward, she could definitely say it was progress... and in her heart, there was a levity that only came from knowing that she wasn't alone... at least, not anymore.

And despite the heavy rain clouds looming above, it felt as if the warmth of a sunbeam splayed across her back, the same comforting warmth she had felt when Naruto had fought beside her over and over again. The same warmth afforded to her every time she made even the slightest contact with him.

There were thoughts niggling at the edges of her joy, darkness seeping and still ever present, but it was okay, because there was silver lining lying beneath it all. She had spent the past five years worrying, the situation she had willingly dropped herself into gnawing at the edges of her consciousness. She had hoped, somewhere deep down that things wouldn't turn out so bad, and yet she had still girded herself for the worst.

Now, she quivered with uncertainty and possibility, the nervous energy translating into graceful half steps and playful chakra manipulations bubbling from the tips of her fingers, the heady moisture in the air making it all the easier for her to revel in her chakra nature.

And the heat and comfort of his hand had lent her strength, and a new hope that she had tried in vain to squash was blooming in her heart, its bright petals brushing against the wall that was once locked away Naruto and her love for him.

Then it dawned on her. He had cared. Had really, really cared.

He had tried to move on too, just like her. He hadn't been unaffected. Her thoughtless departure had hurt him terribly… in the heat of the moment five years ago, when everything had fallen upon her, she had selfishly thought only of herself and not how it would affect others around her.

Especially the one who supposedly meant more to her than anything.

She stopped her little merry dance in realization; the remnants of her small jutsu dissipating around her, tiny orbs twisting and weaving around her like glass planets.

With wide eyes and newly flushing cheeks, she turned back to look at her companion.

What she saw almost made her turn back and hide behind her curtains of hair and heavy bangs. She saw him, sapphire blue orbs staring wide underneath the cover of rain clouds with a soft, gentle smile playing across his cheeks.

And the look in his eyes... there was something in the way he stared at her, a reverence or awe and she couldn't decipher it. It made the lingering warmth in her shoulder sink into her belly, igniting an old heat. Suddenly it flared, rising up to her neck and coloring her cheeks even redder than before.

"Naruto-kun…" His name fell on her tongue, burning and enticing.

He smiled sheepishly, realizing that he had been caught staring.

And then the rain fell.

The droplets were fat and heavy; taking with them what was left of Hinata's water play, drenching the travelers to the bone.

Naruto watched in amusement as he saw the closest thing to hatred to ever cross the girl's face manifest itself in an icy glare and furrowed brow. Her eyes were scrunched behind her now fogged up glasses and her bangs were matted to her forehead. Her stunned expression had fallen into anger as the droplets fell harder still, and she puffed out her cheeks in frustration, tugging her hood overhead.

And Naruto laughed at that, relief infusing his voice. He welcomed it readily, because he had seen it – something had clicked for Hinata and her opinion of him had shifted drastically. He was scared because as strong as he was, an all-out rejection from her would break him in ways the last time she had said goodbye and abandoned him hadn't been able to do.

So instead of resenting the rain's interruption, he merely tilted his head towards the sky, letting it run down his face. He shivered as the droplets went past the collar of his vest, relishing in the feeling of simply being alive and here.

The same could not be said for his companion.

Hinata was still ahead of him, struggling to keep her belongings dry. Her backpack was now in her arms and she was hunched over it, trying to protect the precious documents inside.

"Oh, dear... this is unacceptable. I... rrrgggh... this rain is..."

Chuckling to himself, Naruto reached into his jacket and pulled out a scroll. He pushed a bit of chakra into the intricate seal drawn across the paper. As soon as the smoke cleared, it was apparent that Naruto was more prepared than he let on. He held an umbrella gingerly, it's white umbrage taut and patched with orange in certain areas.

He smiled fondly at the small thing, cherishing the memory that accompanied it. He strode forward to catch up to his irate companion, her little complaints barely making it past her chattering teeth.

Soundless atmosphere reigned in Hinata's mind, the colors and bruit of the rainy world suddenly muted as it registered that she wasn't under the rain's assault any longer.

Her eyes followed Naruto's extended arm upwards, until they rested on a familiar sight.

Though the orange hadn't been there before, and she fully remembered the silver spokes having been bent past salvation. There was no mistaking what it was that shielded them from the downpour.

"That… That's my…."

Naruto made no move to respond, staring at the sheets of water falling in front of them. He simply maneuvered himself closer to her, wanting to cover them both with as much of the small umbrella as he could manage.

For a while, neither of them said anything, the pitter patter of the rain rhythmic and disquieting.

Then, after what felt like years of silence, Hinata reached out and placed her fingers over the handle of the umbrella, just an inch or so below his hand. It was close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating off of her.

Her index finger twitched as it brushed his skin accidentally, but she kept her hand in place. She followed his gaze outwards, too embarrassed to look at him. And then quietly, almost whispering, she said...

"Perhaps… forward is together."

Naruto's answering grin was brilliant and hopeful as they walked together towards the beginning of a solution, the dawn of a new beginning ready to break across the horizon.


The Hyuuga were a clan of polished silver and cold, white and gray robes. Eyes the color of frigid steel lent themselves to the image of winter frost.

In other words, pretty from a distance, but far too depressing and painful to associate with for very long. The irony that lay in their name suggested otherwise.

Towards the sun, my ass. More like a cloudy day than anything. Tsunade humored the thought, a smirk playing across her lips as she stared at her guest.

"I think you know why I summoned you, Hiashi."

She relished the confusion that crossed his normally stoic demeanor, breaking that immutable façade for a brief moment before he had a chance to compose himself. The only thing on him now that seemed out of order was the residual drops of rain dotted throughout his long hair, something he didn't seem to notice in his agitation.

"As insightful as the Byakugan makes us Hokage-sama, the Hyuuga are not mind readers." He bit out, all patience having been leeched out by the letter he squeezed, knuckles colored white and red from the intensity of his iron grip.

Tsunade glanced meaningfully at his hand, a fringe of paper exposed through frustrated and angry fingers. Tawny eyes glittered with suppressed mirth.

Hiashi suddenly found himself at a loss. There was something he was missing, and he suspected it had to do with his eldest daughter, who had been absent far too long for his liking.

"So he's proposed?" Tsunade prodded, already knowing the answer.

With a sign of resignation he placed the crumpled letter onto her desk, the bright gold seal standing out from the muted shades of the beige colored paper.

"How did you know?"

Tsunade steepled her fingers in front of her and leaned back in her chair, staring out the windows of her office, taking in the view of her beloved village that right now was much too hazy for her liking. The weather was gloomy, a gray sky mirroring her mood. Rain crisscrossed the window panes and the droplets soon grew fat and strong, flowing down the glass with a mad kind of rhythm.

She hummed thoughtfully. "The rain begins with a single drop, Hiashi…"

"Pardon?"

She closed her eyes, an expression of such pained contemplation marring her normally confident features that he found he could do nothing but wait. And he hated waiting. So there was certainly something to be said for his silence.

"Although, I'm not sure in this case who the drop was. And even so, do you blame the drop for the melancholy it brought, or the wind for carrying it forward?"

Hiashi shifted slightly, running a hand through his disheveled strands of hair to rake out the droplets of water. It fell beautifully around his shoulders, silky and rippling, unmarred and once more perfect.

Tsunade had to momentarily wonder exactly what genes in the Hyuuga bloodline carried to have such gorgeous strands, even into their senior years when most others would have lost what they possessed.

"My daughter – ever since she returned, things have moved forward at an alarming pace. It's as if time itself has unfrozen, and I fear-" He trailed off, words failing him as doubt crept in, freezing his tongue and locking his eloquence.

Tsunade continued for him, a kindred feeling grasping at her, showing that she understood him far more than she wished to.

"You fear change. It's natural to do so. But your clan has become far too stagnant to make it through this situation entirely unharmed."

"So you know then?" He inquired, unsurprised at the revelation. Those damned ANBU had been hounding his fellow clan members for years now, gathering intel on every little aspect of their outside business that they could. At one point, he may have resented them and chafed at the liberties Konoha had taken advantage of without compunction. The covenant between them had been forged when the sun shone on fallen leaves, and was signed over and over again by the blood of his kin.

The Hyuuga flame was forever destined to feed the Will of Fire. His only fear was that it was too much to ask of a crumbling clan and a dying tradition. His eldest was embroiled in an affair perilously crossed with ties from all sides, and his youngest was fighting against a fate she could delay for only so long.

But for all the pain, he could not bring himself to hate the village. He had lived through two wars, the massacre of another great clan and had lost too much to turn back now. There was safety in Konoha, along with a stability that could not be provided anywhere else, much to both his delight and chagrin. And safety and stability was something he knew no longer existed within the confines of his clan.

The Fifth could see his turmoil; the deep lines etched onto his brow that hadn't been there until recently, the silver lines threaded through his hair and the slight bow of his back. Pity roused her, because she knew this man only wanted the best for his clan – with the knowledge she had garnered over the last few years, she couldn't really call them a family – and it mirrored what she wanted the best for village.

"As a wise man once said Hiashi, 'the only constant is change.' Things will never get better unless you go forward. Your clan has been stagnant for far too long. The faction made its move years ago, and we've just barely traced it back to Kazuo Yoshida."

Hiashi's eyes widened at that, horror etched onto his face. "It can't be. Kazuo is but a simple farm owner! He grows tea. He married one of my cousins…"

"Lord Wasabi's assassination was by poisoned tea...a particularly high quality chamomile tea grown specifically for him in Kazuo's field. We sent an ANBU pair to detain and arrest him, however he chose death rather than answering for his crimes."

"And what now?" Hiashi gritted out, his jaw tense and his cup of bitterness full.

"We think this business is linked to an alleged coup planned by the Daimyo's son."

"I've heard rumors regarding that. But do you honestly mean to tie the possible destruction of my clan – my family – with the tantrum of an oversized, spoiled toddler unfit to take his father's place?"

His voice grew dangerously quiet, and what little color was in his eyes seemed to leak out leaving them a frigid, piercing white.

Tsunade felt her infamous ire rising, her words bursting from her throat in a fit of anger because he still refused to see the bigger picture. She rose from her seat to look him in the eye, refusing to back down despite the drop in temperature or the nearness of his very dangerous fingers to her own arm.

"There is a change happening in the order of this world, Hiashi Hyuuga. Shinobi are feared and no longer trusted. We are the bane of civilian existence. We are not needed like before. The number of rogue ninja has increased dramatically because they can no longer find employment within their own villages. Looting and murder is a very real threat. Our actions have changed the lay of the land, destroyed crops, flattened homes, and sometimes inadvertently killed innocent bystanders. Kazuhiko is using this against us. He has reached the majority in ways we never even considered. This is no tantrum!"

Hiashi stood in stunned silence, letting the Hokage catch her breath. Then without warning, he broke into a smile – one that seemed far too dangerous.

"I see. And how exactly does the proposed engagement fit into all of this?" His tone was pleasant, but there was something eerie in its timbre.

Tsunade rummaged through the stack of files in front of her and withdrew a particularly non-descript one. She casually tossed it to him

As he thumbed through it, his smile disappeared into the folds of his deepening frown, and the air grew colder, the steady beating of the rain not fitting with the growing tension in the room.

"So…" He snapped the folder shut and tapped his leg with it in agitation. "You and our Daimyo have reduced my daughter… my heir, into being a honey trap for the rodent."

"It was necessary. Hinata voluntarily took the mission for-"

"Hinata," Hiashi interrupted, raising his voice aggressively, "is exactly the kind of person who would agree to do something if she thought it would help others." He ripped the file in half, his glare cold and unforgiving. "You took advantage of her."

"I offered one of my kunoichi a haven when she asked for it! Something that she couldn't even come to you for!"

Hiashi drew back, startled and the ferocity of her words but with no clever or defensive retort to deny the accusation.

He remembered small begging hands tugging at his sleeve, and wide eyes pleading for him to support her, to tell her that it would be all okay. That there was hope and that the counterseal could still be found. He had failed her so many times already. His daughter, the spitting image of his wife, a cursed reminder and blessing all in one that he had failed to support over and over again…

His poor little girl, powerless against the manipulations of the Daimyo's son and without the Byakugan, fighting harder than she ever should have had to. She was far more clever than he gave her credit for…

And he was filled with a bitter pride. For what little he gave her Hinata might as well have been fatherless, his support having been distant and little. Neji had been more of a pillar for her and when he had gone, flown away on the same wind that had carried his brother away, Hinata had continued to stand on her own.

"Besides, it wasn't entirely a fruitless endeavor." Tsunade continued, calming down several levels but leaving the atmosphere no less tense. "She helped get us the Hokage successor we needed."

"I see…" Hiashi said wearily. "Then tell me, what should I do?"

Tsunade was dumbstruck. Hiashi Hyuuga was asking for advice. But there was something in the way the muscles in his jaw twitched… it was not borne from anger, but rather from frustration. He was merely tired of the neverending game of political chess, and had no move in place to defend his pieces against an attack.

It had been a very long time since he had slept peacefully.

"You already know what to do. It's time to move forward, Hiashi. Give her the reigns now. Hinata is more than ready to create the change you need."

"And what of the Daimyo's son, this… Kazuhiko?"

"Hinata's clever. She's bound herself already-"

"What?!"

Tsunade waved away his surprise with irritating nonchalance. "The letter he sent is merely a formality. He needs no blessing to marry a working shinobi."

"She is an heir to the most prominent clan in Konoha."

"That's true, but in this case she's independent and under my authority. As long as she remains on active duty as a kunoichi of the Leaf, she answers to me first and foremost, Hiashi..." She glared authoritatively at the man. "…as do you."

"THIS IS AN-"

"BE QUIET! Are you so shortsighted that you can't see this is working in our favor? Hinata has put herself in a position of influence that extends farther than she would have commanded whether she was an heir or head of the Hyuuga clan. She's been using that position to dismantle sections of the faction on her own."

"So what now? I just give up my position? Hand it over to her when half the council still doubts her abilities?"

"Yes." Tsunade stated flatly.

Hiashi sat still, staring absently out of the windows that were still dotted with droplets and streaks of rain, a grimace glued onto his face.

"Hanabi will have to be sealed before Hinata returns and they have a chance to find out about her... injury."

Tsunade startled, not having taken Hyuuga traditions into account. "Isn't there any other way? Hiashi, she's only-"

"Hanabi will understand. She is a Hyuuga and knows her duty. There is no other way to convince the council, and they will demand this step from either her, or Hinata. One way or another, one of my daughters will be branded but in order to bring about the change we need, Hinata must be the one to do so. Do you give me permission to explain the circumstances to her?"

He refused to look at Tsunade, but his posture clearly spoke of the pain in his heart. This weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he seemed to shrink before her eyes.

"You will sacrifice one daughter for the sake of the other?"

"I have faith." Hiashi said simply.

And though he looked grim, his eyes held a spark of hope, as if the sun would break through the rain clouds at the end of this particular game.

"Before the sun can make an appearance... we must endure a little more rain. Isn't that right, Hokage-sama?"

With that, he rose from his chair and walked toward the exit. He stopped at the door, his hand on the knob. Without looking back at her, he spoke once more.

"I will need your assistance... and that of Naruto Uzumaki."

"For?"

"I think it is time we break the lock on the cage. I will need his help if we are to move forward…"

He left, the door closing behind him with a barely audible click.

Tsunade spent the remainder of the day in contemplative silence, the rain not quite as dreary to her as it had been before.


Ahh...yep..This chapter was really short, I'm sorry and it may not have moved the plot as far as other chapters, but it was necessary I guess to show progress in interpersonal relations. Mmm...also please let me know, would you like shorter more frequent updates, or longer ones but longer time intervals? Please message me or leave your answer in a review.

Thank you!

next time on Reluctant Return:"I Do It For You"

The silence stretched for a bit longer, until her blush grew more pronounced and then…

"So you do love Naruto."

What followed was a choking Sasuke and a bemused Hinata wiping green tea off of her lenses.

"What the actual FUCK, Hyuuga?!"

Recommendations: no SasuHina recs this time...sorry to those they were distasteful to, but please keep in mind that I do have some multishippers that read this story...

But here's a lovely NaruHina AU

Put On Your War Paint by mellieforyellie: Art student Hinata Hyuuga becomes intrigued by the story told in Naruto Uzumaki's tattoos. By asking what they mean, she inadvertently falls for him. The feelings are mutual and the two soon start dating, falling fast in love. Unfortunately, Naruto's double life may complicate things for the both of them as he finds himself struggling to balance his 'other job' and his life as a tattoo artist. Really well written, creative and the characterizations are just so much fun. There are SasuSaku and InoKiba side pairings, so just a heads up.

Well, that's all for now. Thank you to everyone and I LOVE YOU ALL.