A Lukewarm Reception!
The team arrived in the early hours of a cold day, a slight fog was set over the village, but not dense enough to where Izumo & Kotetsu couldn't see them. "Hey guys, you need to report to the Hokage Residence immediately.", Izumo says. A few of them sigh & Naruto exclaims, "But it's morning & we just got here! Can't it wait 'til after we rest?!", Izumo shakes his head sternly & replies, "No, that's what the orders were. I told you, now go or the punishment's on you.". They walk off & head toward the great mansion that makes up the living quarters/office of the Hokage when Tsachi puts his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "I'll try to get you guys out quickly to rest, I'll deal with the reporting stuff.", he whispers loudly so they all can hear. Everyone looks up at him with a smile as they continue the walk toward Tsunade.
"IT'S 4 IN THE GODDAMN MORNING!, THIS BETTER BE GOOD!", they can hear the 5th Hokage yell from down the hall as all of them stand in her office. The door flies open, & Tsunade is standing there in a robe, trying to hide whatever she's wearing, all of them guess it's something rather revealing. "This couldn't wait a few hours?", she inquires irritably. Naruto starts to speak, but Tsachi gives him a warning glance before replying, "Izumo & Kotetsu said the order was to come here immediately no matter what. We wanted to wait but they were adamant about it Lady Hokage.". Tsunade sits in her chair & starts grumbling, something about making a certain pair of stupid lazy bastards pay, before pulling out the file she needed. An equally tired Shizune walks in slowly, dragging her feet on the wooden floor as she holds a pair of mugs of coffee. She sets 1 on the desk, takes a big swig of the other, nods & groans at the returning shinobi before exiting.
"Alright, so you made it back alive. That's good, how did the mission go?", Tsunade asks after downing a good bit of the piping hot coffee. Tsachi steps forward & pushes the others back, "Successful, we obtained the Power & prevented any opposing forces from doing so.", as he answers the others rush out the door & head home, even Kurenai. The Hokage groans & states, "Well, I guess it's unfair to ask to see it now.", she takes another sip before continuing, "Any casualties in the mission?". Tsachi sits down & pauses before answering softly, "yes. naruto killed a cloud ninja, & i killed 3...", Tsunade glares at him angrily but Tsachi continues, "&...& the raikage."
Tsunade looks away for a second in disbelief before yelling, "ARE YOU JOKING?! NO, WAIT I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T JOKE LIKE THAT. WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING TSACHI?! LIKE IT WASN'T HARD ENOUGH WITH THEM BEFORE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT GETS OUT THAT A NINJA FROM MY VILLAGE KILLED A KAGE?! HUH TSACHI? WHERE'S THE PEACE GOING TO BE THEN!?". Tsachi looks into Tsunade's big brown eyes, his blues locking onto them as he states sadly, "There's no need to worry. Orochimaru did more than I ever imagined possible.". She gasps softly in shock, "He..he was there?", she questions curiously. Tsachi nods & answers, "Yes, & he has a team now. He calls them 'Hebi', & together they destroyed the Cloud Village. If anybody gets blamed for those deaths, it'll be them.".
Tsunade sighs & says authoritatively, "Ok. You are not to share this information with anybody, & whoever does know, tell them it is committing treason to speak of it. As for the results of the mission...I'm going to set up a series of exhibition matches for each of you. Fights to showcase to me & the rest of the village just how important & useful this new power is for us.". Tsachi inquires, "So we're fighting each other then?", to which the 5th Hokage responds, "No, I'll notify your opponents ahead of time, but none of you will know who you're facing until that day. It will be sometime next week, so make sure they know to stay on their toes.". Tsachi smiles & replies, "Will do Lady Hokage, will do.". As Tsachi gets up to leave, Tsunade calls out to him, "Tsachi.", he turns around & looks at her, "Welcome home.", she says warmly. He smiles & puts a scroll, the scroll from the temple, on her desk & walks out.
Later that day....
Iruka caught up to Naruto, & they started talking all about his latest mission, his old teacher & friend hanging on to every word. "That sounds amazing Naruto!", he responds with excitement & pride in his voice. Naruto smiles a big-toothed grin & states confidently, "Yep! It's just 1 step closer to my dream of being Hokage!". They laugh & as their stomachs growl, decide to head off to Ichiraku. On the way there, they pass by Sakura, who Naruto vehemently avoids. He even walks around to Iruka's other side just to get away from her.
"Naruto, what was all that about? Usually you'd invite Sakura along. Heck, I remember 1 time when you pushed me into a stand just to get closer to her!", he asks as they sit down on the stools of the Ichiraku Ramen Bar. "I...I don't wanna talk about it right now. I'd really like to eat if that's ok.", Naruto responds, his voice a mix of sadness & pain as he thumbs through the tiny menu like he doesn't already know everything on it. Iruka frowns, but puts his hand on Naruto's shoulder & looks over to Ayame, "Please, the 2 largest bowls you've got.".
After they eat, a lot, Naruto starts to open up about what happened between him & Sakura. "& now...whenever I see her I just get so pissed. I turn into this huge jerk & just feel like...I don't even know.", Naruto rambles until finally sighing & setting the chopstick he was tossing in the air onto the bar. Iruka chuckles softly & responds, "You still love her, don't you Naruto?". He looks up at Iruka & answers, "I'm not sure. I can't even stand to be around her now, so how could I love her?", to which Iruka replies, "Because Naruto, if you really hated her you'd be around her just so you can upset her & make her feel bad. You avoid her because somewhere deep down inside you, you love her & you don't want to hurt Sakura, even though she did that to you.". Naruto stands up & unsurely says, "I suppose. If that is the case, a simple 'I'm sorry' won't cut it.".
Meanwhile....
Even though Naruto was rude, Sakura knows she deserves it. She walks through the streets, 1 thought on her mind. She gets to the training ground eventually & finds Team 8. They exchange pleasantries & small talk before Sakura gets to the heart of the matter. "Hinata, can I talk to you for a moment, alone?", she asks. Kurenai glares down at Sakura before turning away, & Hinata nods with a soft smile before they start to walk away from the others.
"Hinata, I'm going to be honest. You aren't very good at hiding your feelings for Naruto. In fact, he's probably the only 1 who hasn't realized it yet.", Sakura states bluntly. Hinata looks at Sakura, her solid white eyes wide open before looking away. "I...I want to tell him. I really do, I'm just worried about what he'd say. What if...what if he doesn't like me?", she responds timidly. The 2 of them stand under a giant tree & Sakura moves past her question to make a statement of her own, "Hinata, I'm giving you 1 chance to tell him without anybody getting in your way. After this...these fights we have to do, you won't be the only girl after Naruto Uzumaki.".
Hinata looks at Sakura, slightly confused, & asks, "What? What do you mean Sakura?". The pink haired kunoichi answers, "After all the pain I caused him, all the screwed up things I did...He was still there for me, saving me. Even when I was hoping he'd drop dead, he didn't let go. Not until I finally broke him. Hinata, you have 1 final chance to step up, because I love Naruto Uzumaki & I'll go through anyone or anything to prove it to him, including you.". Sakura walks away from that tree, from the training ground & she leaves Hinata Hyuga struggling not to cry.
Later that night....
As Tsunade is ready for bed, there's a loud banging on her door. She groans, telling herself it's just 1 of those days & the sooner she can sleep, the sooner it'll end. Tsunade opens the door to find a red faced, teary-eyed & angry Asuma Sarutobi glaring down at her. "Is it true?! Are you putting those ninja that just came back in fights?!", he questions loudly, his hands shaking the Hokage slightly. Tsunade grabs his wrists & pulls his arms off her before answering, "Yes, now what is the meaning of this Asuma?!". A sick smile streaks across his face & he demands, "I'll be the 1 fighting Tsachi then.". Tsunade responds, "Actually I was thinking of Kakashi, or maybe Neji....", Asuma interrupts by screaming at the top of his voice, "NO, I AM FACING THAT FUCKER, PERIOD!". She glares at him & asks, "Why should I? If anything you're proving you shouldn't!", Asuma tries not to break into sobs as he replies, "Kurenai...she...she broke up with me.".
Ninja Facts: Hinata Hyuga
The true heir of the Hyuga Clan, Hinata has been looked down upon her entire life by her family, even her friends at times. She refuses to give up, refuses to accept it, & it's all thanks to Naruto Uzumaki; the guy she loves.
Age: 16
Weight: 99.2 lbs
Height: 5'5" (approx.)
Birthday: December 27th
Chakra Type: Water
Signature Jutsus: Gentle Fist Taijutsu, Twin Lion Fists, 8 Trigrams: 32 Palms, Protective 8 Trigrams: 64 Palms, Chakra Needle Jutsu
Reg. #: 012612
Mission Stats: 10 D-rank, 14 C-rank, 8 B-rank, 1 A-rank, 0 S-rank
Random Points of Interest
Hinata's name means "Sunny place" in Japanese
Her hobby is pressing flowers (along with stalking Naruto. XD)
Her favorite foods are zenzai & cinnamon rolls, while her least favorites are dishes such as crab & shrimp.
Hinata was promoted to Chunin at the age of 14, so less than a year after Naruto left. Ironic?
Notable Quotes
(To Naruto) "When I watch you, I feel strong, like I can do anything - that even I am worth something."
(To Neji) "I will never go back on my word, because that is my ninja way too!"
Hinata might be a bit of an underdog, but who doesn't love her?! Anyway...come back soon for more Ninja Facts!