Hey, hey!
So looking on this story will be 60 chapters. Just so you all know the journey you have going on.
This story has to build the romance. So while it may be a little simpler to have the Naruhina, it is always a fun challenge to create the Sasuhina. A challenge that I like to accept.
Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Hinata over did it last night. She felt absolutely awful this morning. She didn't feel sick or anything, she just felt very sluggish and like she wanted to stay in bed all day.
Could be from her escape last night, or it could be from her sparring session with her father. Hinata didn't know.
More like she refused to see in the problem in her drinking. Still putting the blinders on that there was a problem.
Hinata just knew when she got out the shower this morning she felt absolutely awful. Now she was currently sitting near the Hokage's building under a tree waiting for their sensei.
Her head was pounding and she knew she looked very odd chugging down so much water. She was dehydrated. That much she could tell. Hinata sat separate from Naruto and Sasuke. Her mood for social interaction was at an all-time low.
Even with Naruto's bright personality. She usually liked being around that type of personality. Naruto was typically a breath of fresh air for her. However, at this moment. She wanted nothing of it.
Hinata leaned her head against the tree and closed her eyes. She was starting to feel a little bit better. She took some pain pills this morning for her headache and it was starting to kick in. Her stomach made a loud growling sound and Hinata's face turned a lobster red color, but she made no other expression to show she was embarrassed by it.
Sasuke heard the sound but didn't say anything about it. She would just lie about it anyways, or just avoid answering. Hinata acted like her life was so mystical and complicated. It was annoying. Naruto heard the sound and looked at Hinata interested that she would be hungry after just leaving her house. Surely she ate breakfast.
He took a long look at Hinata and noticed she had a bandaged right cheek. Her fingers were individually wrapped up as well. Naruto's eyes trailed up to her neck and noticed her neck. Hinata wore a big baggy hoodie so it was hard to make out her frame or any flesh on her body.
Many of the girls from their graduating class showed some type of skin off their body. They were young girls all trying to get the attention of Sasuke Uchiha. Not Hinata though.
However, even with Hinata's oversized clothing he could make out her bluish-black discoloration on her neck. She was bruised all over he concluded. "Hey…umm Hinata. Are you…I mean how was your sparring match?"
Hinata's eyes were still closed as she listened to Naruto. "It went well. Thank you for asking." Naruto's eyes widened as Hinata spoke without one single stutter. "Well…I think you're lying. You look pretty banged up. Please don't lie to me."
Hinata was quiet for a moment as she opened her gallon water jug and took another large gulp of water. Naruto watched as she took a large intake of water and wondered if she was trying to substitute food for water.
She wasn't going to answer him. Naruto concluded this and Sasuke angrily figured this out as she used the water as an escape mechanism. While Naruto babied this behavior. Sasuke found it infuriating. Hinata worked on almost every nerve he had dedicated to this annoying team.
Sasuke thought he wanted a quiet teammate, but this was too much.
Naruto still wouldn't let Hinata slide with not answering him. He just stared at her calmly and with a light smile. "What's something your family likes to train in the most?"
Hinata put her jug down and looked over at Naruto tiredly. He wasn't going to stop. She knew that. She knew Naruto Uzumaki was no quitter. "Taijutsu."
Naruto stared at Hinata for a moment. He was seeing if she was lying or not. Seemed like she wasn't. The bruises matched the fighting style. "Would you ever want to practice with us more in taijutsu?"
Sasuke watched the two interact. He didn't pay too much attention to Hinata's appearance, but now he saw the reason Naruto was asking so many questions. She was banged up pretty good. She did say she had a sparring match with her father, but Sasuke never remembered his family sparring matches outcomes looking like this.
What was up with her family? She clamped up every time they inched close to asking about it.
This was all annoying. She was making teamwork a chore. Sasuke didn't need anything else in his way. This girl said she wouldn't be burden.
"No thank you Naruto. I train in taijutsu enough alone and with my family. I rather work on chakra control."
Sasuke further frowned. It was easy for him to get any other girl to talk to him. They opened up to him easily and wouldn't shut up. This girl acted like she hated talking to him, but she would open up to Naruto.
What the hell? This kid was dead last in their academy class and she wanted to talk to HIM of all people.
Naruto smiled brightly at Hinata, "I do too! I want to learn everything I can! I want to master it all. Ya know!" This actually made Hinata smile. Naruto noticed she covered her smile with her hand until the smile vanished from her face. He continued to smile at her and watched as she started to avoid his face. Why was she scared to smile?
He liked seeing Hinata smile. She blushed whenever she smiled and Naruto noticed she had a light trace of dimples. Her lashes were dark and full and seeing her bright gray-lavender eyes really made Hinata pretty cool to look at.
Naruto deemed Hinata as pretty. Without trying she was very pretty and elegant, but this was something Naruto would never admit. This girl was way out his league. No way Hinata thought Naruto was anything but an orphan brat.
Still. Even though Naruto knew Hinata would never look his way. He wanted to see her smile. He was a nice person like that.
"I know Naruto. A Hokage is a master of all. I have faith you will achieve it." She really did believe that. Even if Naruto didn't really like her, or was faking this kindness. She appreciated it. Him attempting to make her comfortable. A Hokage is kind to his people when he needs to be.
Naruto was caught off guard by the compliment. He usually had to argue with people when they heard his dream. Hinata just accepted it and even encouraged it.
Why couldn't people in Hinata's social status actually see people like him. "Really? Jeez, thanks Hinata!" Hinata took another drink on her water as she contemplated asking him a question. "C-C-Can…umm. Can I-I ask you something N..Naruto?"
This caught both Naruto and Sasuke's attention. Both for different reasons. Naruto was just happy that Hinata was finally talking to them. It seemed like it's taken forever to get her to open up. Even if just a little.
Sasuke, well he was mad if he cared enough to share. He's never experienced someone being so rude to him and not to Naruto. This girl literally acted like he wasn't there. That he didn't exist and that HE wasn't worth HER time.
How dare this wallflower.
"Yeah. Go ahead Hinata. Ask me anything!" Naruto smiled at her and this made Hinata's stomach feel like it was filled with butterflies instead of alcohol being diluted with water.
"What…what would you change as Hokage? Is there anything in particular?"
Naruto paused for a moment. His eyes grew wide and he looked dumbfounded. "What would I change? Wow I really never thought about that. Hehe sorry, I know I look so dumb right now."
Hinata and Naruto both looked at Sasuke as he scoffed at Naruto. "You want to be Hokage, but know nothing of what being a leader really entails. You are really a class A moron. You're just as dumb for listening to him Hyuga."
Naruto growled at Sasuke's insults. He was getting just about SICK of him. "Say that to my face you freaking prick!"
Sasuke dismissed Naruto after he got the rile up he wanted and proceeded to ignore him. Hinata watched the interaction and while she didn't care if anyone insulted her, because she was used to it. She did get upset that Sasuke kept picking on Naruto.
"N-Naruto. As a Hokage it is important to not let people get under your skin. They do it out of spite."
Hinata took a deep breath as she said this. She already knew Sasuke was waiting for her to say something that would upset him. Hinata could tell since day one Sasuke wanted to give her a tongue lashing.
Sasuke's eyes snapped over to her and he slowly stood up from his spot opposite of the tree to get closer to Hinata. Naruto saw the hostility and stood in front of Hinata, who never stood up from her position on the ground.
This was ridiculous that they were still hostile among each other. Especially coming from the Uchiha.
Is this what she had to look forward to until she died in battle? Being around this self-entitled Uchiha that constantly insulted her every second he got. It was stressful and believe it or not he was creating more problems for their team than her or Naruto. She refused to believe her sensei when he said she was the one with the worse teamwork skills.
Again Sasuke saw Hinata just dismissing him and this just made him see RED.
"Sasuke. Leave her alone." Naruto looked at Sasuke seriously. Hinata didn't even defend herself when Sasuke called her a name. She was just trying to defend him. He wouldn't let Sasuke attack her with his words or touch her.
Sasuke snarled at Naruto, "You don't even CARE about her. Why are you doing this? You're just being fake nice so I'm the odd person out. I don't care if I am the odd person out. All I care about is this freak not bringing the team down. It's worse enough I'm stuck with you dobe, but now I have this stuttering mess that is sick all the time. She can't even make sure she's fed for a mission. She's useless."
Naruto pushed Sasuke. He might regret it, but during the heat of the moment he surprised Sasuke and pushed him on the ground. "You…you take that back! You can say what you want about me, but Hinata has done nothing to you!" Sasuke immediately got back up and into Naruto's face. The two snarled at one another and Hinata could see a fight about to happen.
"Please stop. Sensei is coming. We'll get in trouble."
Sasuke stopped and looked around the area. He didn't see anyone at all, Naruto did the same thing and didn't see anyone. Sasuke looked at Hinata and faltered a bit when he saw her Byakugan activated. She looked off into the distance for a moment before her head turned and looked at Sasuke and Naruto.
Naruto and Sasuke couldn't lie. It was a very intimidating thing to see.
Hinata already was pupilless and her eyes were very palish gray. With veins pulsating around her eyes and the cold look she was giving them. To Naruto she looked like a ghost. That scared him a bit because she looked so inhumane.
To Sasuke she looked like her brother. Just cold and empty.
Sasuke frowned at her. "Stop making that face…where is he? Is he hiding?"
Hinata kept her face the way it was to Sasuke's frustration. Why did she never listen to him?
Hinata really did this because it got Naruto and Sasuke to listen to her. They took her more serious this way. "He's about ten minutes away. A little more than half a mile traveling east. From the memorials of the fallen ninja's. I told you he was coming so you two would have time to calm down."
Naruto looked absolutely flabbergasted. This was insane. He had no clue Hinata could do this with her eyes. What else could she do? This was so freaking cool!
Sasuke backed away from Naruto and crossed his arms over his chest as he stared down at her. "What else can your Byakugan do?" Hinata deactivated her dōjutsu before looking away from Sasuke. "Useless things."
Sasuke heard Naruto grunt as he held in a laugh. Sasuke's scowl deepened. Oh man was this girl really grinding his gears. She could be very sarcastic when she wanted to be. "You don't respect me? Why? You show this dobe more respect than you show me or our sensei."
That was a lie. She had the utmost respect for their sensei.
Hinata's lips became thin as she contemplated speaking to Sasuke again. This was going against her character to even share such information with someone that could care less to remember her whole name. "I…"
She finally looked at Sasuke as she took a deep breath and stood up from the tree. Her energy finally returning back to her. "I am a Hyuga, there are many things we can do with and without our dōjutsu."
Sasuke looked annoyed with her answer. She was dancing around his questions again, "What the hell does that mean?" Hinata looked off in the direction Kakashi was coming from before speaking again, "We are walking lie detector tests. I know when both of you are being deceitful."
Sasuke's eyes widened a little when she said this. How is that even possible? Is she bluffing.
"When you call Naruto an idiot half the time you do not mean it. When you said it's worse enough you're stuck on a team with him you didn't mean that either. Your heart rate elevated when you said that. That is a known sign of deception. However, no elevation or change in blood pressure when you said all those things about me. You meant it. I can see that."
Hinata turned around and stared at Sasuke with her Byakugan. "That's why I know you don't really care. You force yourself to speak to me when in reality you're sick by just being around me. I am the weakest link to you and you don't believe me when I say I won't be a burden. We do not need to speak since you feel this way."
Naruto stared at Hinata in total shock as she deactivated her Byakugan again. "Woah. What. The. Fuck. That is INSANE. I…I don't even know what to say." Sasuke gave Naruto a sharp look before looking back at Hinata. He was going to speak again, but soon Kakashi came around the corner.
The young Uchiha snapped his mouth closed. He'd finish this conversation with Hinata again. She was NOT going to get the best out of him.
Kakashi could sense the tension between his three students and refrained from rolling his eyes. It's like they rotated between who was the bad guy of the day. Typically so far, it was usually Naruto and Hinata against Sasuke. Sasuke wearing the crown as villain of the team. He had to get this under control. If they continued at this rate, Sasuke would be permanently voted out.
Naruto might be forgiving of Sasuke and talk to him. That was just Naruto's caring character, but Kakashi would imagine Hinata would be the one to write Sasuke off.
Don't get him wrong. Hinata was very caring. She was the sweetest person he had ever met when none of the attention was on her. When no one asked her any personal questions and when she could just be there.
Hinata would offer her food, support, advice, the clothes she was wearing. Anything to make someone happy. She would do all of that for her comrade Sasuke. Would she trust him? Respect him and welcome him into her world? Not a chance and to have a successful team, that's what would have to happen.
From the look of things. Being accepted in her world is all Sasuke secretly wanted.
"Well it seems we will be helping the Fire Daimyō out today. I hope you all are up for rescuing Tora." Naruto's eyes lit up at hearing the indication that they would be doing something so elite.
A rescue mission for the Fire Daimyō! This was a dream come true so early on in their ninja careers. "Are you serious?! A rescue mission for the Fire Daimyō. This is freaking awesome! Believe it!"
"Umm…N-Naruto."
Said person paused their celebration and looked at Hinata. "Hmm? Yeah Hinata?" Hinata looked off to the side and secured her hands behind her back, "T-T-Tora i-is…Tora is the Fire Daimyō's…cat. His wife's cat."
Naruto's whole face deflated. A fucking cat? They were going to rescue a CAT. This cat probably wandered off or something. "You have…You have GOT to be kidding me. Please tell me you're joking Hinata? PLEASEEEE!" Hinata's face lit up with a deep blush and she shook her head repeatedly, "N-No. It's true!" She squeaked that last part and covered her face.
Kakashi smiled at the interaction between the two. He's honestly never seen or heard of a person being this nice to Naruto. It was all authentic too. His eyes drifted over at Sasuke and noticed the menacing look he was giving his teammates. Particularly Hinata. He couldn't really pinpoint what exactly was causing Sasuke to look so angry, bitter and annoyed.
Naruto flopped onto Hinata and sobbed his frustration. Hinata had never been touched like this. Not even by her family. She didn't know how to take this. Her blush was getting darker and darker. Her ears were ringing. Before she succumbed to passing out from the contact of someone she admired, she felt Naruto being yanked off of her.
"Cut it out you idiot. She's red all over. She's going to pass out again like on day one. Let's just finish this mission already and you can fake flirt with Hyuga later. You two are so annoying. You're dragging this whole thing."
Naruto harshly shrugged himself from Sasuke's grip. He gave Sasuke an annoyed look and stood in front of Hinata in a protective manner. "Oi! Shut the hell up Sasuke. You're the one being so annoying. No one is talking to you. No one is bothering you. Go start without us then and we'll catch up since you want to get it over with! What's with all this 'fake' talk too? Unlike YOU, I'm not being fake!"
Sasuke's eyes widened when Naruto said this. Naruto looked at Sasuke's shocked face, confused for a moment before he thought over what he said. He also remembered Hinata's words from earlier. Naruto's eyes widened just as wide as Sasuke's, "Wait…w-wait a minute. Umm Hinata. Let me explain. Really! Please don't feel uncomfortable, that's not what I meant. HINATA!"
Naruto was able to catch Hinata as she passed out. Her body was burning up and concern washed over him, "This is all your fault teme! You always talk down on her, look what you did!"
Sasuke's eye twitched as he looked at Naruto. "Me? You really are a moron you know that." Naruto's head snapped at Sasuke and he growled, "Say that one more time. I dare ya!"
"Alright. Enough you two. You're giving me a headache. You two know the drill. Just wait for her to wake up in a moment and we'll start the mission."
Sasuke and Naruto gave one another a dirty look before falling into silence. Naruto held Hinata the whole time for ten minutes until she started to wake up on her own. Sasuke stood over Hinata with his hands in his pocket and waited for her to open her eyes and focus on him. "I'm happy that at least you got to take a nap. Now, if you're done being lazy. We have work to do."
Sasuke leaned against a building breathing heavy. Damn was it hot out here. It was hot and they were nowhere near catching that stupid cat. He was sweating now and his hair was sticking all over his face. It had gotten so bad that he actually was drinking water from Hinata's gallon jug she would carry with her for some odd reason.
Just another weird trait of hers.
Sasuke closed his eyes. Him and Naruto had taken shelter in the closest alleyway they could find that had shade.
Did it smell? Yes, but they didn't care.
It was much too hot to care where you were when you wanted shelter. "Why…just WHY is that cat so damn fast?!" Naruto was breathing just as fast. He sat beside Sasuke and the only thing separating them was Hinata's water jug.
Naruto took the jug and wasted no time taking several big gulps. He was so thankful Hinata would carry this giant thing around. Naruto unzipped his jacket and started fanning himself.
Sasuke not too far behind from doing the same. "That thing's gotten away from us again. This is annoying. Hinata just keeps pinpointing it for us and we keep missing it."
Speaking of Hinata. Naruto and Sasuke looked up from their position on the ground as they heard light footsteps. Of course by now they learned that was Hinata. She approached them with an equal amount of sweat on her face. Her coat was still fully zipped up and she looked like she had no intention of removing layers to cool off.
Even with her cheeks puffy red and sweat beading down her forehead.
Sasuke scuffed at this. This girl was absolutely nuts. She was going to pass out again, but this time from a heat stroke. Naruto looked at Hinata with concern on his face, "Hinata. Aren't you hot? You look like you're burning up. Why don't you take a break in the shade. I'll put your coat beside my jacket and you can get some water."
If Sasuke was the type to burst out and laugh, this would be that situation. The Hyuga's face was PRICELESS. He had never seen her eyes get so big and offended. She gripped her coat closer to her body and was a stuttering mess. "I-I-I…NO!"
Naruto blinked at Hinata. What the hell? He was just trying to help. Sasuke just gave Hinata his usual annoyed stare before rolling his eyes. "Look. We know you're hot. Why not listen to advice from us for once."
Hinata frowned at the two as she wiped sweat from her forehead. If she wore her forehead protector in the right position she wouldn't have so much sweat getting close to her eyes. Her Byakugan was still activated and she was getting it irritated. "I…that is not it. I am not r-really hot. I-I…I get cold easily actually so I am c-comfortable."
Sasuke and Naruto both looked confused by the statement. Naruto the first to ask, "Why is your face so red and strained then?" Hinata looked off to the side before rubbing her temples, "My…eyes hurt."
Sasuke eyes widened at this. They had been looking for this cat for hours. He forgot that Hinata had her Byakugan active this whole time pointing out where the cat was for them. It made everything so much simpler for Naruto and Sasuke, but he was sure Hinata was straining herself.
Sasuke cursed to himself. He should have known better. He was a dōjutsu user as well. Even if he hasn't activated his yet. He still knew a great deal of how fragile your eyes can get when you over extend them.
Like blindness. "Just deactivate them. Me and Naruto aren't doing you any good. We haven't caught that dumb cat, even though you've done your part several times. We keep falling short. We're being pretty useless to you right now."
Naruto's mouth dropped open when he heard Sasuke. His head slowly turned to look at his cocky teammate. He thought he'd never hear Sasuke say something like that. Hinata looked equally as shocked. When she looked at him, with her Byakugan pulsating, she could see he was being honest with her.
She had no clue how to take this.
This was not the Uchiha Sasuke she was used to. She did not expect such openness and humbleness from him. Her eyes drifted to Naruto and he looked at her equally shocked.
Naruto then closed his mouth and smiled at Hinata. Like he was encouraging her to speak up. "I…have not deactivated my Byakugan yet, because I have faith in you and Naruto. It d-doesn't matter that you're failing now. I know you will soon succeed. P-Please do not g-g-give up."
Sasuke made eye contact with her. He didn't say anything for a moment, he just studied her. She seemed like a fragile, weak little thing. She fainted all the time. Had a horrible stutter to the point it was annoying to talk to her. Her haircut made her look like a girly boy and just being around her the last few weeks, he could tell her anxiety controlled her life.
He just didn't understand why she was like this? Even growing up he knew about the Hyuga family. About Lord Hiashi. His own father was so annoyed by the upscale man and how he always tried to seem better than the rest of the clans of Konoha. How their finances and name rang across the nations. Yet the leader of the Hyuga clans daughter was…this fragile, weak girl.
Something wasn't adding up. Or Sasuke wasn't seeing the bigger picture.
He's seen Hinata do some pretty impressive things though. Especially when she was determined not to mess up her families name. When you threatened that her father was going to find out she failed at something, all of a sudden Hinata had all this fight in her.
It amused Sasuke really. Since being on this team with her, he's seen Kakashi use Hinata's family name to his advantage to get realness out of Hinata.
Not that fragile, pathetic mask she carried around. Sasuke didn't know what was more annoying. That fake, stupid mask Naruto wore to make people believe he was indeed a moron. Or this weak mask Hinata puts on to make people write her off as useless so she doesn't have to assert herself.
Sasuke kind of understood why Naruto did what he did. So he could laugh at the pain. So he could survive. He didn't know why Hinata did what she does and that is where it's hard for them to get along.
Hinata wasn't like the other females Sasuke has encountered. She could care less about him. About his name, his family, his looks. Anything. She just didn't care about him. At first Sasuke thought it was because she was a rich, spoiled heiress.
However, she had a liking for Naruto. From what Sasuke could see, she had a REAL liking to Naruto.
Why? She was so confusing.
She was so complicated that sometimes, after spending a whole day with her and Naruto, he'd forget his own pain. His own misery. He was so wrapped on figuring out his teammates that he didn't have time to be angry.
He didn't know if he liked that concept or not.
Naruto stood up and smiled at Hinata before giving her back her water jug. Encouraging her to drink to at least stay hydrated. "Okay. You have one more try from me Hinata. After that promise to rest your eyes. Please." Hinata blushed at this and placed her arms behind her back bashfully before nodding her head agreeing to Naruto.
Sasuke rolled his eyes at the two. Naruto may be dumb enough to not understand basic human emotions, but Sasuke refused to believe that Naruto had no clue he was being overly affectionate towards Hinata. Granted this is different than how Naruto talks to the girl Sakura from their graduating class.
Naruto laid it on thick on Sakura. Flirted with her so hard and would flat out ask her out. Meanwhile Sakura would look at him completely grossed out and would constantly cling on to Sasuke's arm. Now that Sasuke thought about it. Naruto did this a lot in front of Hinata back before they were placed on a team. Hell, even if Naruto saw Sakura in the village now he would do it.
What the hell was wrong with that dobe? Naruto has the nerve to call Sasuke a bastard when Naruto was probably part of the reason for Hinata's low self-esteem. Tsk. Hypocrite.
Sasuke stood up and brushed off his clothes. He gave Hinata a serious look. She eyed him for a moment before she couldn't stand the pressure and looked away. "Listen. I Hate to admit it but Naruto's right. We'll try this one more time, but after that you seriously have to rest your eyes. You'll damage them. You know that."
Hinata looked back at Sasuke and gave a meek nod, "Yes…I k-know."
Sasuke folded his arms and the trio walked out the alleyway. "Okay. Tell us the location for this parasite of a cat." Naruto grumbled in agreeance with Sasuke, "No joking. I'll never get a cat man. I considered it a few times, but now. I'm never gonna get one." Hinata smiled at the two for a moment before her eyes focused on the wicked feline.
"Quarter of a mile going west. Heading towards the training grounds. Tora could get hurt out there."
Naruto looked at Hinata impressed. She was getting better at controlling her stutter. Seemed when it was work related she barely or never stuttered. "Alright! Let's give it our best." Naruto took off first, with Sasuke not too far behind. Hinata trailing after them.
By the time Naruto laid eyes on Tora he was drenched in sweat. It was so hot out there. "We're almost done dobe. Just keep pushing, but pace yourself. That's your problem. You don't pace." Naruto turned and noticed Sasuke was now jogging beside him. Naruto didn't even notice when he started to jog.
Damn was it hot.
"Tora sees us now. If you and Naruto fall back and I try to catch her then you two can determine where Tora is going and grab her." Both Naruto and Sasuke slowed down to look at Hinata. That actually wasn't a bad idea at all. How many ideas could Hinata cook up in her head. She was pretty decent at strategizing.
Hinata sprinted in front of the two and Naruto had no clue she was that fast, "I swear she wasn't this fast in the academy."
Sasuke looked at Naruto like he couldn't be serious. They barely even paid her attention in the academy. Well Sasuke knew he didn't pay Hinata any attention what so ever, Naruto might have given her a glance here or there.
Sasuke didn't even recall Hinata ever answering a question. Never raised her hand. Never asked a question for clarification. Yet she passed everything. How? Even he asked questions in the academy just to make sure he was correct.
Hinata leaped for Tora and of course missed. Her freshly washed jacket was now covered in dirt. Sasuke pushed for Naruto to move to the right, having caught eye before Tora dodged Hinata where her body was moving. The duo jumped in the spot that was predicted where Tora was going to run off to and caught the swift feline.
Hinata looked up from her position on the ground and smiled at the triumphant looks on Sasuke and Naruto's face.
She knew they could do it.
Hinata let out a small cough and sneeze from breathing in the dirt on the ground and slowly stood up. She looked down at her clothes and she looked…scared. Almost terrified.
Naruto immediately knew that look. He could feel Hinata's nerves radiating off her. Naruto has experienced absolute terror before. He knew what it felt and looked like. Why though? Why was Hinata scared like this?
Sasuke caught Hinata swiping at the dirt on her clothes vigorously. Confusion covered his face. What was she? A germaphobe too? "It's just a little dirt. You'll be fine princess. Come on. Let's find Kakashi and return this cat."
After the team had officially completed their mission and left the Hokage's office, it was Naruto's idea to go celebrate with ramen.
"Come onnnn! This is the first mission we've had that actually made me rethink life! We have to celebrate. We did awesome and before you say it Sasuke. I don't care how low and simple the mission was. It could be a D minus times negative mission and I still would want to go celebrate. That mission sucked and we deserve to celebrate!"
Kakashi looked down at Naruto and shrugged his shoulders. Naruto had a good mindset. Plus Kakashi was hungry. "I'll go with you. Sounds like a plan to me."
Sasuke looked up at Kakashi. He was honestly surprised Kakashi wasn't giving them some dumb ass excuse to leave them for the night. Kakashi was a master of random excuses for being late or leaving them. "Fine. I'll go to."
Naruto smiled at this and looked at Hinata, "Come on Hinata! Let's celebrate!"
The young Hyuga was still messing with her jacket and shook her head. "I-I can't. I h-h…I have to go get c-cleaned. M-Maybe some other t-time."
Naruto frowned at this and shook his head. He shook his head because what he was thinking couldn't be the reason Hinata looked so scared earlier. This couldn't have anything to do with her home life. Her dad. Not in a big, nice house like that.
"What?! Hinata, you got dirty from a mission. No one is going to give a ninja the side eye for having some dirt on them. Come on. Pleaseeeee! I think you look cool."
Hinata looked at Naruto and a pout formed on her face for a moment. Hyuga's didn't get dirty from D ranked missions. To walk around like this was embarrassing. "Naruto-kun."
She watched as said person eyes widened at the added pronoun and scratched the back of his head nervously, "I just think it would be cool for all of us to hang out after a mission is all Hinata."
A smile finally found Hinata's face and her wall she built around herself was slowly starting to crumble, "Okay."
Naruto's observant, but hesitant to really say anything about Hinata's life right now. However, he is getting close.
As you can see Sasuke and Hinata still aren't seeing eye to eye, but this completed mission was a start in the right direction.
I wished the Byakugan was explored more in the series. They touched on and hinted so many things, but never dived in to how cool it would be. Overshadowed by the wonders of the Sharingan I suppose.
Well see you all Wednesday!