Okay then, I don't know what got into me, but this one came too early didn't it. Anyway, this is the Hinata mission I had said I would write. I finally got around to it.
I have to tell you its unlike the other chapters in the way I used flashbacks, and I'll explore some more, though the plotting of this chapter I had wanted the front and the back to meet, I couldn't do it, but still I had fun doing this. And now, the story
-x-
Wave County, 12th December.
For any thirteen year old child, drinking Sake in a bar would have been a strict no-no. But Kiba Inuzuka was no ordinary thirteen year old, he was a ninja, an adult by the definitions of a Shinobi world, he was perfectly entitled to drink Sake in a bar. However had his sensei found him drinking Sake at this point, he would be a dead ninja. That is why he refused the offer of a civilian who had heard about the Inuzuka clan and had offered Kiba some sake as a mark of respect.
"I respectfully decline, I am on a mission right now, so I can't drink." Kiba said to him, this was a lie. He was here as he wanted to celebrate a successful mission.
The man nodded, however he was soon joined by another elderly looking person, who had called him out. "Shiro, let us hurry. We have to add to our collection"
Collection. Kiba thought, what the hell were these guys on about.
Shiro seemed to be in some sort of a conversation with the old man, who did not seem very pleased with him, however he returned two minutes later and took his leave, apologizing for the sudden departure. He bought Kiba a Sake anyway as he was leaving, telling him to take one anyway. He looked at Akamaru, who was sitting on his head, fast asleep from the long week they had had. Akamaru opened one eye and yipped. So there was the seal of approval.
Eh, what the hell. I told him we were on a mission, but it can't hurt now that we've finished it can it. He took a gulp of Sake as he remembered how it had all started.
Flashback. Four Days Ago.
"Ah, welcome people" Sarutobi had said as they had walked in, Hinata with Kiba and Shino in tow.
"Good day Lord Hokage" Hinata said, bowing down. Sarutobi smiled.
"I have a mission for you guys, its in The Land Of Waves, and is C-Ranked. Kurenai, you think they are ready"
Kurenai did not say anything. she just nodded.
"Good, your job is to take out Gato"
Kiba was flabbergasted. "Lord Hokage, do you mean the shipping magnate, Gato?"
From the looks on his teammates faces they had a tough time believing it too. However the Third Hokage just smiled. "Oh yes" he said as he took in some smoke from the pipe. Kurenai stiffened at that, while Kiba was just taking in the badass Hokage had seemed while doing it.
"You see, Team 7 has taken out one of the nins that were hired by Gato, which leaves nothing but meaningless Samurai who aren't properly trained in his employ." The Hokage continued. "It shouldn't be a trouble taking all the henchmen out. Anyway Gato's influence will fade as the bridge is almost done, but still you have to finish him off."
Kurenai nodded. "Yes Lord Hokage, we will make sure of it. My team and I will be successful in our efforts."
The Hokage smiled as he opened his drawer to take out an orange colored book. Kiba wondered what it was while Kurenai stiffened even more. She was as stiff as a tree. Suddenly Kiba had a desire to laugh as he realised that it was unnatural for a woman to be stiff. This was the male's job. He giggled at the seemingly clever joke he had cracked. However his giggle wasn't mental. It was real. And Kurenai heard it.
She began glaring at the Hokage, who seemed to retreat under the fierce glare cast on him. He hastily put the book back in the drawer that he had pulled it out from.
"This mission" The Hokage said, sounding flustered. "It has to be done carefully, don't announce to the whole world that Konoha Shinobi took Gato out. Try to keep things quiet while you go about the mission" The Hokage said. Team 8 nodded.
They left the village in an hour.
End Flashback
-x-
Wave Country, 11th December.
Shino Aburame was confused. While he found it extremely logical that the bandits he had just taken out had deserved to die. This was their second day of operations against the forces of Gato. The first day was a stalemate. Even though the Samurai Gato had hired were pathetic, they were in a huge number. And locating them had been difficult. They had taken on a force of at least five hundred. Even as his bugs were quickly incapacitating the Samurai, Hinata was using her gentle fist techniques to strike the heart of all the Samurai that had taken her on, assuming her to be just another girl.
Oh how were they mistaken. Kiba meanwhile was using his clan techniques with Akamaru and beating the hell out of all these bandits and Samurai. However his small moment of pondering over the battle had led Shino towards a mistake. He had let himself be surrounded by the bandits.
"Face it kid, you might be Shinobi. But you are surrounded" one of the men sneered. "Surely, still not thinking you can kill our master Gato can you"
Shino smiled. While all this fighting was going on, Kurenai sensei had used a Genjutsu and entered the warehouse Gato had holed himself in. The mission was already over, as far as he was concerned. Now he had to defend himself. These men surrounding him did not have bugs on them. He decided to play with them, and began letting out his bugs. But as he was doing that, he was interrupted by Hinata, who slammed through the circle enclosing Shino, managing to strike three of the seven people in the heart, probably killing the. Kiba took the other four out with his Fang Over Fang technique.
"Shino. What the hell, watch it man? You expect us to cover for you, but how can we fight if all we do is get surrounded?"
Shino smiled.
Flashback.
They had just left the village an hour ago, and were travelling as quickly as possible. At this rate they would be there in a day . Time was at a premium. They had to finish off the Gato threat as soon as possible. They had come a long way away from the village when Hinata decided to ask Kurenai Sensei a question.
"Kurenai Sensei, why were you glaring at the Hokage?"
Kurenai smiled. "Hinata, why I was glaring had something to do with the book Lord Hokage was reading. It was a book written by a pervert and for perverts. Its called make out tactics."
Hinata gulped. She remembered that book, one of the Hyuga branch clan members had brought that book home but was discovered, and the book stolen. In the end it turned out that it was another member of the family that had taken the book for himself.
"Kiba" Kurenai said. "I want you to stay away from that book"
Kiba gulped. It was the tone in which she said it. Hinata giggled. "Kiba, you are a huge pervert." she said, Kiba's face fell.
"Oh, Hinata, but that is really hypocritical of you" Shino said. "Its completely illogical too."
Kiba sweat dropped. Shino talked like this a lot. "What do you mean Shino" he asked him.
"I have observed Hinata spying on Naruto from time to time. She even asks her sister to alert her if she sees him. I do not understand, but I believe Hinata finds Naruto's training really attractive."
Hinata turned red like a tomato while Kurenai giggled. Kiba howled with laughter.
"Oh wow Hinata, heiress of the Hyuga clan, the one who will carry the clan on her shoulders. One of its two prodigies. And you have a thing for that idiot?"
"Don't call him an idiot" Hinata said. Appalled.
"Listen you people" Kurenai said sternly. "While all the fun and games are good, and this mission is a simple bandit camp extermination. I want you to be careful"
The team looked at Kurenai, giving her all the attention they had. Kurenai continued.
"The useless sounding D-Rank missions do the most important thing in a Shinobi's career, they help him work in a team. That's what you guys are now. A team, and a team sticks together. No matter what. Am I clear."
Kiba nodded, and spoke up. "Hey, Shino might be weird and Hinata might have a thing for Naruto, but I still consider them my friends. I swear on the Inuzuka clan loyalitiy that I will help them"
Hinata smiled (even though she was red faced) and Shino nodded. Saying something that sounded like 'That's very logical'
Kurenai nodded too, she was pleased with what Kiba had said. But she would compliment them after the mission was done.
"Good" she said. "Remember that"
They had then continued on, however Hinata still had a doubt. "Shino, how did you find out about me asking Hanabi to spy on Naruto. Were you eavesdropping?"
Shino shook his head. "I was standing right there, you just did not notice me."
Kiba and Hinata groaned. This guy was gonna sulk again.
End Flashback
-x-
Wave Country, 10th December.
It had taken a day of tracking, but they had finally found the hideout. Gato had holed himself up in some sort of a warehouse. This was because of the death of one of the Seven Swordsmen of The Mist, Zabuza Momoichi. Who had been hired by Gato to stop the completion of the bridge. All day long, Shino's bugs had been hard at work, while Kurenai and Hinata had done a lot of asking around. They had finally found the hideout, and there was going to be some serious bloodshed now.
Kurenai realised that the inevitable was about to happen. The truth about the world of Shinobi. Killing was just something they had to do. And before they were to launch an attack, Kurenai had told them to just kill and not worry about the consequences. These men had all deserved what was coming to them. That's what she had told them, however that was not what Hinata's father had told her.
Flashback.
"Eight Trigrams, Sixty Four Palms" Hinata cried out as she launched an attack on her father. Who had blocked out most of the strikes, however she still managed to strike him at least ten times. She seemed disappointed. Maybe she had let her father down. However her father just smiled.
"Well done, daughter. I don't know what happened two years ago, but you are finally living up to your potential. To be able to strike me ten times is something only Neji has managed doing before."
Hinata smiled, she was happy that her father was proud of her. However she had to go to a team meeting in a couple of hours. Today Kurenai had said that they would be getting a new C-Rank Mission.
"Hinata, come here and sit down" Her father called out to her.
She sat down, and Hiashi began speaking.
"I know you have a gentle disposition like your mother" he said. "But I have to tell you something that is necessary for you to be a great Shinobi we know you can be."
Hinata nodded. "Some day Hinata, you will be forced to kill. And then you have to be extremely careful"
"What do you mean father?"
Hiashi smiled. "You remind me of your mother. You might feel guilty. That is not the right thing to do Hinata. Remember that you have to be remember that the people you are killing are your enemies. That's why we are all here Hinata. We are essentially good people, with honor even though we might be arrogant, the Hyuga clan is all about honor, and you are its heir. I might ask you to carry yourself in a certain manner, but take all that away and you are a Shinobi of Konoha. And A Shinobi of Konoha is a man of honor, or in your case a woman of honor. And killing is unfortunately a way of the shinobi, so you will have to uphold that honor. And I know you can do it" Hiashi said. Winking.
Hinata smiled. Something about being called a capable murderer by her father was really comforting.
"And remember, the will of fire is a real thing. The Third and I don't see eye to eye on many things, but on some things we still agree. Like the will of fire that the future will carry. The answer to our worlds problem is always in the future, which is stronger. I hope someday you and Neji and Hanabi surpass me and carry the pride of the clan and our village on our shoulders. Do what is right Hinata."
And maybe, just maybe, you will end the curse and lead the Hyuga to an age of freedom.
End Flashback.
Hinata smiled. She did not need to listen to what Kurenai sensei was saying. These were bad people, and they were fighting for the honor of the people of the Wave. Just for today, she was going to murder as many bad guys as she could. And smile about it.
Kiba looked at Hinata and gulped. Holy Dog Poop. Hinata might enjoy killing them, more than me. I need to man up.
-x-
Fire Country, 9th December.
They had been travelling at a steady rate and were close to Wave Country. They'd be there in another six hours. Kurenai had decided to forgo rest and proceed and rest when they reached the village.
However Hinata's mind went back to the conversation earlier.
"Listen you people" Kurenai had said sternly. "While all the fun and games are good, and this mission is a simple bandit camp extermination. I want you to be careful"
The team had looked at Kurenai, giving her all the attention they had. Kurenai continued.
"The useless sounding D-Rank missions do the most important thing in a Shinobi's career, they help him work in a team. That's what you guys are now. A team, and a team sticks together. No matter what. Am I clear."
Kiba had nodded, and spoken up. "Hey, Shino might be weird and Hinata might have a thing for Naruto, but I still consider them my friends. I swear on the Inuzuka clan loyalitiy that I will help them"
Hinata had smiled at that time, however she only thought about Naruto. Kurenai had given them some details about the mission Team Seven had undergone. And when she had heard that Team 7 was attacked by such a high level shinobi, she was scared. But only for a moment.
Flashback, 6 years ago.
She was upset. She had failed her father again. They were already talking about placing the seal on her, and her incompetence had her considering leaving the world altogether. She was sulking behind the academy when she was attacked by some older boys who were making fun of her eyes. They had began hitting her, however he had saved her. He had spiky bright blonde hair and a black shirt on.
'Hey, its that kid who has no parents' the bullies had said.
'He said he'll become Hokage, what a joke?'
The boy just smiled. 'Pick on someone your own size cowards' he had said. He had received all the beatings she was supposed to get. He had taken it till her body guard had saved him, all the boy got in return was a thank you.
The bullies had asked him to give up, but he had said he would come back as a ghost even though he was scared of them just to become Hokage, but he would never give up.
And then she knew it.
End Flashback.
She didn't know it then, but Naruto changed her. She decided to never give up, and trained harder, becoming more confident as time passed by. Today she was acknowledged by everyone in her clan that mattered.. 'Naruto' she thought. 'I did it, I know you can too. Don't give up.'
Wave Country, 12th December.
It had been a long week, thought Kiba as he began taking the gulp of Sake from the glass.
"INUZUKA KIBA"
That voice was cold. It was also Kurenai's. And his teammates were there too. That's it. I'm going to the memorial stone.
-x-
I did this in one setting, listening to Dark Side Of The Moon (froot album) for inspiration. I hope you liked it. Next chapter we come back to the original story arc. I already dropped some hints over how I would do the Antique Collector Arc. Expect that chapter next week.
I was inspired to do this chapter backwards because of two movies. Memento and Irreversible (its a rape revenge french fim, don't ask) I decided it would be better to keep this chapter on the funny side, and what I think Hinata's character should have been like is exactly how I wrote the chapter. Confident around everyone, giddy around Naruto. This one is for all the people who wanted to see Hinata in the chapter. She was fun to write. I'll say second best after Sasuke.
Shout out to Rixxell Stryfe. The guy was able to predict some parts of the story with uncanny accuracy and left a great review, you and everyone else keep reading this.
Check out my Bonus material for a note about the Antique Collector arc, that'll go up Monday.
Read and review, tell me what you thought. We'll meet again hopefully sooner rather than later.