As the meetings broke off into groups of topics, people moved to who they needed to speak to, shifting around the room. Hinata stood by her father until he signaled with a subtle flick of his wrist behind his back. Hinata instructed Hanabi to stay as she moved around to play her part as the easy-to-approach Hyuga. People took the bait, dropping hints that showed their true nature when they spoke to her. Eventually, she turned away from a conversation and came face to face with bright purple face paint.
Hinata flinched back to focus her eyes on the Suna male. "I'm so sorry."
"Hyuga, right?" Oh, she almost ran into him because he was about to get her attention?
Hinata bowed her head respectfully. "Yes, Hinata Hyuga."
He shifted stiffly. "Your clan is important to the decisions made by the Konoha, right?"
Hinata chose her words carefully, always. "Yes, our clan is a large part of the community. We are considered in most decisions made by the village."
"I'm Kankuro." Kankuro pointed to the Kazekage, who sat next to the Hokage, glaring at the table like he was trying to set it on fire. Yet, Naruto was talking at him with the biggest smile. "Adviser to my brother Gaara, the current Kage of Suna." So they were related. Gaara. She recognized that name. Naruto spoke highly of him, but she couldn't place any details other than that.
"Pleased to meet you." Hinata bit down on her tongue before taking a risk. "He doesn't look very happy today, does he?"
Kankuro's face twitched, making another uncomfortable face. "No, he never really is." Red flag. Was his brother scared of him? Had they fought? The Kazakage didn't seem like someone you would want to have a disagreement with. He looked like a man who would make a strong stance and not care to listen to yours, but you couldn't guess everything on looks.
"Will you be handling relations with the clan then?" It explained why he approached her so awkwardly.
"That's the idea, an important year for peace and all." Kankuro's moved his wary look from his brother and focused on her. Hinata smiled to ease his worry, offering for them to sit. She sat up straighter. Kankuro was taller by two heads, at least.
"Are Hyuga women all so beautiful?" Kankuro sat beside her, giving her a crooked grin, changing his demeanor with the subject.
Hinata faulted as a blush crept to her face. That was a complete change of mood. "That's a matter of opinion, Kankuro-san." Hinata attempted to will away the redness, but the confident grin he gave her didn't help. Men made comments all morning. Honestly, this was the first comment to be a little charming. She was sick of hearing men twice or more her age make passing comments on her purity and 'birthing hips.'
Kankuro was pleasant. They spoke about how the Hyuga influenced the village. How and why their decisions mattered. He kept an upbeat, cheery demeanor but occasionally tossed a wary glance at his brother like he was waiting to be scolded. Hinata took one of those as a chance to ask about him. Kankuro dodged her by giving her another compliment or turning the question around on her.
"Hinata-chan?" Hanabi whispered over her shoulder. "Can I sit with you for a while?"
Hinata motioned to the chair beside her. Hanabi was starting to look worn. These events took a lot out of you, and it only got worse by the day.
"This is Kankuro-san. Kazekage's advisor and elder brother." Hinata motioned to him. "Kankuro-san, this is my younger sister, Hanabi-chan." Hinata introduced them. Hanabi bowed her head like a lady. Good girl.
"See what I said? Hyuga's are beautiful." Kankuro commented.
Hanabi didn't even flinch, merely thanked him with a proud smile. Hinata wished she had her sister's confidence. She was still trying to flush blood from her cheeks.
"The Kazekage doesn't look like he wants to be here." Hanabi got a tap from Hinata's finger on her leg, telling her no, but it was too late.
"No. Not really, but he always looks like that when he's working. He probably would have just sent us if it weren't for his little friend." Kankuro gave another glance to his brother. Hinata was starting to get the impression he wasn't worried about getting caught doing something he shouldn't but rather about what his brother might do if he wasn't being watched.
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata wonder. Kankuro nodded.
"Why?" Hanabi pressed.
Kankuro's eyebrows came down in confusion. "You haven't heard about him?"
The two Hyuga girls shook their heads.
Kankuro sat straighter, shifting his eyes, unsure how to word himself. "My brother is not known for good things. As the vessel to the one tails, he's been known as the monster of Suna. He's been a respectable leader, but he has a past of being ruthless and harsh, with no remorse for killing his enemies. All that isn't easily forgotten. It's built him a reputation that he lives up to. He's usually fine when in a calm social setting, but he's still fierce when working. Unfortunately, he's a workaholic."
Hinata's heart broke for him as she remembered all that Naruto went through growing up a vessel. Naruto grinned like all was good in the world, shouting to the Kazekage, who glared at him with only a distaste for his volume.
"It must be hard on him to be considered that way. It's cruel. It's not the child's fault that the last generation decided they should take on a demon. It can't be easy growing up, managing a whole other being inside you." Hinata turned her sad gaze from Gaara to Kankuro, who looked like she slapped him. "I'm sorry?" Has she missed something, lost her thoughts? Did she say something out of line? Hanabi was just as confused as she did.
Kankuro held his hand up, whipping his head around, looking for someone. "Can you excuse me for a moment?" What had she said that caused such a reaction? Kankuro ungracefully weaved through the room to the other Suna-nin, hastily dragging her from her conversation with Shikamaru. When had he come in? Was he a security detail?
The woman became irritated, but with a few whispers, her face slowly twisted into the same thoughtful shock as Kankuro had.
Had Hinata said something insensitive for Suna culture? Hanabi shook her head. She was just as lost.
The Suna set approached, prompting Hanabi to stand up. "I think they will want to talk to you alone," Hinata felt that too, but she wasn't sure why. Hanabi squeezed her hand before disappearing to return to her father's side.
"Temari, this is Hinata Hyuga. Hinata, this is my sister Temari." Temari was everything Hinata wasn't, tall, tan, strong, and confident.
Hinata bowed, hiding her confusion. "Pleased to meet you."
Temari sat, throwing one of her long legs over the other. "Hinata, have you met the Kazekage yet?"
Hinata sat straighter, tucking her crossed ankles under the chair more. "No, but Naruto-kun said good things, if memory serves." Hinata looked over at the tailed-beast holders again. Another pain hit her heart, seeing Gaara's scowl at the world. Why were they treated like monsters? They both had to work so much harder to become strong leaders of their people.
Turning back to the Kazekage siblings, they both gave her an odd look.
Temari broke the silence between the three. "Do you know the village well, Hinata?"
"Yes," Hinata answered.
"If you're not busy after the meeting, could you take my brothers on a tour? Naruto was going to take them, but he will be caught in paperwork for the Hokage." Temari looked back over to Shikamaru, who might actually be asleep against the wall he was leaning on.
Kankuro leaned forward. "Temari wants to take off with the bum." He received an elbow in his rib cage for the comment, which he rubbed viciously. "Hey!"
"I'm not sure if I'm the best to do so, but I can do my best." Hinata agreed.
Temari lit up. "Perfect."
Hinata fiddled with her fingers as she waited by the door. She felt much more nervous about this arrangement now that she knew her father had spoken to Kankuro before she had. Of course, he mentioned her eligibility. Hinata hadn't considered Kankuro, a possible suitor, but his sister's proposed tour made more sense now. It was a set-up.
Brother to the current Kage of Suna was a high enough status for the Hyuga council.
Hiashi warned her not to offend them. He didn't need an 'or else,' but if she wasn't self-conscious taking the two most eligible males in Suna on a tour alone before, she was now.
Two sets of footsteps approached, prompting Hinata to straighten her back and force a smile. She deliberately clasped her hands behind her back to stop fidgeting. "Ready to start?"
The Kazekage stared her down as if she should already know the answer. Kankuro nodded, returning her smile. She was very aware of the Kazekage's distaste. Was it for her or because Naruto wasn't the one taking them? Hinata led them out the door and down the steps, squeezing her hands behind her to calm her nerves. She kept a speed that would be comfortable for their long legs, sacrificing the usual casual pace, especially in heeled shoes. She kept her shoulders straight and her head tall. She was probably failing. She probably looked like a walking chicken or worse.
Hinata turned her head over her shoulder. "Was there something you wanted to see first?" It felt uncomfortable to be leading. She was always a step behind her father, Neji, and Shino.
"Gaara has been taken to see the Hokage mountainside, but I haven't," Kankuro answered. Gaara said nothing, so Kankuro determined where they went. Gaara's glare became darker when their eyes met. She took the hint and faced forward.
Kankuro took to walking beside her, which she was grateful for. He asked about landmarks on the way, which she answered to the best of her ability. Gaara stayed silent, which prompted her to continuously check if he was still there. They nearly made it to their destination when he finally spoke up. "We've gone the wrong way."
"What do you mean?" Hinata hadn't made any odd turns and took the shortest way.
"This isn't where Naruto took me," Gaara explained as he crossed his arms.
"Oh! Well, that's because I like the view from up here better. Fewer people come up this way. Naruto likes to stand right in front of it… or on it." Hinata mumbled the worst attempt at a joke.
Gaara's crossed arms tighten. Hinata wasn't sure what to do. Should she show him her spot or do things Naruto's way from this point on?
"We can always see it from upfront. I want to see what you got." Kankuro passed her, though his voice didn't seem sure of himself, like he was testing his brother's limits for the day.
Gaara's shoulders stiffened more before he gave an audible heavy breath, following his brother up past her. Hinata closed her eyes to collect herself for just a moment. Letting out a silent sigh of relief as she followed them, glad to be in the back of their small group.
Kankuro climbed the hill. "Awesome." Gaara soon joined his side, gazing out over the village toward the mountainside.
Hinata attempted to not let on that her heels were sinking into the dirt. "It's not the detail you will see from standing in front of it. But it looks more like spirits are coming from the mountain from here." Hinata looked out over the mountain with them. As a child, she thought it looked like they were pressing their faces through the mountain. She used to have dreams of a full person coming out and walking over the village. Maybe those were nightmares. "We can still go right up to see it if you like." She offered, seeing how Gaara's mood hadn't improved.
"Maybe later. I like this one." Kankuro answered, not realizing she wasn't asking him.
"Kazekage-sama?" Hinata added to be more specific.
Gaara turned only his eyes to the side at her, then returned them to the mountain. "This is adequate."
Hinata shriveled inside. She hoped he would at least enjoy the new point of view. "Whenever you're ready, I can take you through the town. I can go the way Naruto-kun likes." Hinata wasn't taking any more chances of offending the Kage. He already didn't like her for merely not being Naruto.
"Sure." Kankuro turned to go back down the hill. Gaara followed him. Arms still crossed, shoulders still tense. Hinata stepped forward, feeling her heel sink into the ground again. This was going to be a long day.