December 3rd, 2018.
Prompt Three: Snow
Hinata knew it was unwise to have left her team mates behind but considering Akamaru's growing temperature and Shino's dislike of cold weather, Hinata knew it was for the best if she travelled alone into the village near their camp.
They had been on this B class mission for three days now and Akamaru had, unfortunately, become sick from the cold weather. Kiba had been by his companion's side since his first sneeze but their emergency medicine from Hana was beginning to run out.
Hinata had chosen to go into the village in order to get some medicine for Akamaru and food for her team, in order to rebuild some strength before they inevitably would have to leave in the coming days.
Their mission was to track down a missing ninja between Konoha and Iwagakure, capture him and return him to their village for questioning.
He had been spotted recently and team eight were deemed the most efficient at missions which involved tracking.
The weather, however, was unusually cold for this time of year. This year the snow had fallen even before they had left the village, slowing the team down by one day already.
Hinata was returning to her campsite when she spotted a lone black crow circling between the forest and the village she had just left.
Activating her Byakugan, she noticed that this crow had a steady amount of chakra running through it.
It was a ninja's summon.
Having carefully studied many missing ninjas listed in the Bingo Book, she knew of only one who used a crow as his summon.
Itachi Uchiha.
Hinata knew she would not be strong enough to apprehend or fight the Uchiha by herself, but if she returned to gather her team, she ran the risk of losing him.
She quickly created a shadow clone and sent her back to her team mates, informing them of her discovery.
The original then scouted the area with her Byakugan, quickly finding a strong, unfamiliar, chakra signature within the shadows.
As she quickly approached the figure, she stopped in her tracks the instant the signature had disappeared.
Itachi Uchiha had left his place, appearing in front of her.
"Uchiha Itachi," she stated, quickly getting into her fighting stance, "I am Hinata Hyuuga of Konoha, I am unable to allow you to leave."
He made no move to attack.
She stared at him in curiosity, careful to avoid his eyes.
"I have no interest in fighting, Hyuuga." He stated smoothly, "However, I also have no intention of being captured."
"Then come along willingly." She replied, knowing he would never comply.
"Forgive me, but that is not an option at this moment."
Hinata was ready to strike at that moment, but she felt his presence once again disappear, only to reappear behind her.
His chest was touching her back, his hands trapping her own.
"I said I have no intention of fighting, Hinata." He said lowly into her ear.
Hinata couldn't move.
Her entire body was frozen in its spot. Not from fear or surprise, but from a seemingly unnoticed genjutsu which disabled her body movements.
He could kill her right there if he wanted.
But he didn't.
He did not even attack.
"The snow is beautiful, don't you think?" he asked, slowly letting go of her hands as the fell limply to her side.
Hinata tried her best to face him.
"I saw you once, when you were younger, playing in the snow." He said, stepping once again to be in front of her.
She was confused, she had never met this man before.
"It was an easier time back then. You were so happy, playing with your sibling. Hanabi, was it?"
She froze at the mention of her sister's name.
"I'm sorry for the pain this world has caused you. I'm sorry you can no longer play carelessly in the snow. Ninjas like us have no time for carless fun anymore."
She looked him in the eyes then, seeing genuine sadness in his dark orbs.
"What are you going to do?" she struggled to ask, fighting her hardest against the genjutsu which held her still.
"Nothing, to you, Hinata." She shivered at the familiarity at which he said her name, "Nor to your team mates."
She blinked in confusion.
"I must be going, but it was a pleasure to see you again, Hinata. I hope we never have to encounter each other after this."
He disappeared then, leaving nothing but his footprints in the snow before her.
That night, Hinata had a dream, reliving a memory she had all but forgotten.
She was playing with Hanabi in the snow, she was only six at the time.
She had looked up towards the trees surrounding the estate, seeing a small black crow circle over them as they enjoyed the carefree fun of childhood.
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