Captain Blues: Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back. At the end of the chapter, I will repost the pairings as I made a few changes at the end of this chapter. And minus one person, the pairings are hard-locked in. Now, let's get into it.
Ansatsuken
Chapter Nineteen: Saying Goodbye
[Theme of Konoha (Morning):
Royal Capital from Legend of the Dragoon]
"Man, this feels so weird," Kiba noted as he and his best friend, Aburame Shino, stood at Konoha's entrance gate with Hinata. "Seeing you off like this, I mean. When we became a team, we swore that we would have each other's back. Knowing you'll be with Uzumaki, Yamanaka, and some person we don't even know? I just feel like things won't go as well."
"I concur," Shino agreed. "Do be safe out there, Hinata-san. I would hate for anything to happen to you."
"I u-understand both of your concerns regarding me being on a different t-team," Hinata stammered with a small smile to Shino. She then turned to Kiba and said, "But we are all K-Konoha shinobi. We all h-have each other's backs. I will be okay, I promise."
"You better," Kiba said as he ruffled Hinata's hair, which made her laugh with a bashful smile. "Otherwise, we're going to murder those three."
Shino chuckled but he did not disagree with Kiba's statement. "We should get going, Kiba-san," Shino announced. "Our mission is later this afternoon."
"Right, right," Kiba replied. "Catch you later, Hinata."
"G-Goodbye, and be safe. Both of you," Hinata replied.
Kiba and Shino nodded and then jumped off to their next destination. Hinata smiled to herself as she stood by the gate. She appreciated how much those two worried about her. She wondered if this was what it was like having siblings that actually cared for her…
"Good morning, Hinata-san!" A cheerful voice exclaimed from behind her, which caused Hinata to jump in surprise. She swiftly turned around to see her temporary teammate, Rock Lee, standing behind her. "It is a beautiful day, is it not?"
"G-Good morning, Lee-san," Hinata greeted with a shy smile. "And yes, it is quite a beautiful morning. Ano…where is your team? Won't they see you off?"
"Neji-kun was busy this morning and Tenten saw me off this morning at home," Rock Lee replied.
"A-At home?" Hinata asked. "Do y-you two live together?"
Rock Lee nodded and explained, "Gai-san adopted me when he found out I was an orphan back when I was in the academy. Recently, he became engaged to Tenten's mother, Tenrai-san. So yes, we do live together. As siblings of sorts."
Hinata was surprised.
She had met Rock Lee and Tenten several times when they would stop by the Hyūga Mansion and while she knew they were friends, she was unaware of such a relationship. "Wow. Congratulations a-are in order, Lee-san," Hinata stated with a small smile. "It must be a new e-experience having someone like Tenten-san as your sister."
Rock Lee laughed and replied, "Many thanks, Hinata-chan. Tenten-chan and I are still having growing pains in regards to this new arrangement but if I had to have anyone to be my adopted sister, it would be her."
"I am t-truly happy for you," Hinata sincerely told him. "H-Hopefully, this mission will go w-well so that you c-can return safely to your new family."
"Hey!" A familiar voice called out from a distance, which prompted Hianta and Lee to turn their attention away from each other and to the owner of the voice.
To Hinata's surprise, it was her other two temporary teammates, Yamanaka Ino, and her crush, Uzumaki Naruto. While she wasn't surprised to see Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke, she was surprised to see an unfamiliar girl and a small child sitting on her crush's shoulders.
"Ino-chan! Naruto-kun!" Rock Lee greeted the group once they joined them in front of the gate. "Good morning to you and your friends."
"Good morning, Lee. I hope you guys didn't wait here too long," Ino commented.
"Not at all, Ino-chan!" Rock Lee exclaimed.
"N-No. Only for a few minutes," Hinata stammered. "Good morning, everyone."
"Morning, Hinata-chan," Sakura and Ino greeted with a friendly smile while Sasuke nodded his greeting.
"Daddy? Who are they?" The little girl asked Naruto, which startled Hinata and from what she could see out of the corner of her eyes, it also started Rock Lee.
"These are my teammates for the mission," Naruto answered with a smile. "Speaking of which. Haku-chan, Smiles, this is my rival and friend, Rock Lee. And this is my friend, Hyūga Hinata. Rock, Hinata, this is my girlfriend, Haku, and our daughter, Emi."
Hinata smiled and greeted both the adorable little girl on her crush's shoulder and the girl beside him, but inwardly, her heart shattered. "Wow, Naruto-kun. I was unaware you had a girlfriend and child!" Rock Lee exclaimed.
"Hello!" Emi greeted with a wide smile.
"Hello, little one," Rock Lee greeted as he held out a hand. "My name is Rock Lee. I'm a friend of your Naruto-kun."
"Hello, Mr. Lee," Emi greeted and then tilted her head at his hand.
"You're supposed to shake it, Emi-chan," Haku told her.
"Oh! Okay!" Emi then shook Lee's hand. Hinata had to admit, the sight of his was cute. His hand was comically large compared to the little girl's. It practically swallowed her hand whole. "Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you too," Rock Lee replied. Hinata noticed that Ino, who had been talking to Sakura and Sasuke, saw Rock Lee with Emi and blushed.
She wondered what that was about.
"What a youthful child, Naruto-kun and Haku-chan. A wondrous sight. If either of you do not mind me asking, when did this happen?" Rock Lee asked both Naruto and Haku as he moved away from Emi with a sincere smile.
"It is quite a new development, Lee-san," The girl, Haku, answered with a gentle smile that made Hinata's cheeks slightly redden. The girl was pretty, far more pretty than Hinata was. It was no wonder why Naruto was with her.
"Yeah, it's really new," Naruto replied, also smiling. "It happened on my last mission."
"I-I see…." Hinata spoke, struggling to keep her voice at bay. Struggling to keep the sadness from reaching it.
Naruto nodded as he turned to her, only for Hinata to notice both Naruto and Emi frowning with concern. Hinata also noticed, with a pang of frustration, that Haku looked worried as well. "Hinata, is everything alright?" Naruto gently asked.
"I-I'm okay," Hinata replied with a shaky smile. Why. Why had she waited before his mission to gain the courage to talk to him? Why did she waste so much time?
"Daddy. Down," Emi requested with a small pout.
"Sure, Smiles," Naruto said as he crouched down on one knee. Haku lifted Emi off of his shoulders and sat her on the ground, where the small girl immediately walked over to Hinata and hugged her leg. Hinata stilled from the sudden affection and glanced down at the small girl.
"No being sad," Emi urged with determination on her little face. "You gotta smile!"
Hinata stared at the small child and despite herself, her eyes watered as she saw an image of a young Hanabi where Emi stood. It had been so long since someone, anyone, had hugged her. "I-I am sorry, Emi-chan," Hinata shakily apologized. "I-I am feeling sad."
"Why?" Emi asked.
"I-I was injured and i-it hurt," Hinata truthfully answered. Her heart felt like someone had pierced a sword through it. "B-But I will try to s-smile for you."
"Promise?" Emi asked.
Hinata smiled as a tear slipped down her left cheek. "I promise," Hinata replied.
"Maybe we should take you to the hospital if you're injured, Hinata-san," Haku softly told her.
Hinata shook her head. "I-I will be okay, Haku-san. But I thank you, and you too, Naruto-kun, f-for your concern," Hinata said.
But it wasn't okay.
All she could feel was her heart breaking.
Why hadn't she been brave?
Out of the corner of her eyes, Hinata could see a look of sympathy on Ino and Sakura's faces. Hinata knew that the two of them had known of her crush on Naruto and she realized that she really didn't want them around her right now to view her worst nightmare coming to life.
"You're still sad, Hinata," Emi chided with a small pout, catching Hinata's attention once more. She watched as Emi turned to Naruto and said, "Daddy! Can you cheer her up like you did me and Mamá?"
Naruto let out a soft laugh, which despite it hurting, Hinata realized how….cute it made him sound. "I can try, Emi-chan," Naruto said. "We have a whole mission together for me to bring a smile to her eyes." Naruto looked away from Emi to Hinata and asked, "Right?"
"R-Right…." Hinata softly confirmed.
"Good! No one should be sad while Daddy is around," Emi declared as she moved away from Hinata and to Haku, who took the small girl into her arms.
"Sakura," Sasuke said. "We should get going. We never know when a mission will occur for us."
"You're right as always, Sasuke-kun," Sakura replied. "All of you, be careful out there."
"Yeah, yeah, Forehead-chan, we'll be fine!" Ino replied. "What's the worst that can happen?"
"You know, I said the same thing before my mission, remember?" Sakura asked. "And all that happened was our mission going from C-Rank to A-Rank, with Naruto defeating Momochi Zabuza."
Both Hinata and Rock Lee's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You defeated Momochi Z-Zabuza?" Hinata stammered with shock. "H-He is one of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū….A-And you defeated him."
"He did," Sasuke answered.
"NARUTO-KUN! YOUR FLAMES OF YOUTH ARE TRULY POWERFUL FOR YOU TO DEFEAT SUCH A FEARSOME FOE!" Rock Lee exclaimed with fire in his eyes, only for Ino to nudge his side.
"It's too early," Ino complained.
"It was a close fight and it easily could have wound up with him losing," Sasuke continued. "So dope, for the sake of Emi. Come back safely."
"No worries," Naruto stated. "With Hinata-chan, Rock, and Ino? We're bound to succeed."
Hinata felt warm at Naruto's praise but was immediately saddened by this.
No.
She had to try and let this go….
"Naruto-kun is right," Rock Lee followed up. "We are all skilled shinobi and kunoichi! We shall succeed on this mission and come back safely!"
"I would certainly hope so," Haku commented before she placed a kiss on Naruto's cheek. "Be careful out there, Naruto-kun. I know that you may need to take some risks….But don't take one you feel you won't come back from….Emi and I need you here."
"I know," Naruto softly replied as he placed a kiss on Haku's forehead, along with Em's. "I'll be back soon."
"And don't worry, Haku-chan. I'll keep this dork in check," Ino replied as she slung an arm around Naruto's shoulders. "For you and Emi-chan."
"You're a lifesaver, Ino-san. Thank you," Haku replied.
"Anytime," Ino chirped.
Just then, Hatake Kakashi appeared in a swirl of leaves. "Hello kiddies," Kakashi greeted. "I had to follow up with something before I left."
"Hello, Hatake-sensei," Rock Lee greeted with a salute.
"Hello, Hatake-sensei," Hinata also greeted while adding a bow.
"Welcome back, Kakashi-sensei," Both Naruto and Ino said at the same time.
"Thank you all. Well, now that I am here, we can get moving. We have a long trek ahead of us," Kakashi informed them as he walked past Haku, sparing just a moment to ruffle Emi's hair, much to the younger girl's giggle.
"Right!" Three of the four genin exclaimed, with Hinata nodding.
"Good luck out there, sensei!" Sakura exclaimed.
Sasuke nodded as he crossed his arms.
"Yes. Good luck, Kakashi-san. And be safe," Haku told them.
"Many thanks, all three of you," Kakashi said. "Alright team, let's move out!"
"Bye Auntie Ino! By Kakashi-jiji! Bye, Hinata! Bye, Mr. Lee!" Emi exclaimed.
"Bye Emi-chan!" Ino exclaimed.
"So long!" Rock Lee waved.
"G-Goodbye," Hinata murmured as he gave a bow to the group and then walk off. She then stopped to see Naruto back with Haku and Emi. She watched as Naruto embraced his girlfriend and daughter, placed a kiss on Emi's forehead, and painfully, a kiss on Haku's lips before he rushed back to her side.
"Bye Daddy!" Emi's voice called out.
"Bye, Smiles!" Naruto shouted as he waved goodbye.
Hinata noticed that Naruto's jovial expression melted into a sad one. Hinata's hand reached out to him, only to falter for a moment. She wanted to swear at herself. It was her faltering that caused her to lose out on being with him.
Hinata then shook her head and placed her hand on her shoulder, which prompted him to turn to her. "I-It will be alright, Naruto-kun," Hinata told him. "W-We will be back…S-Safe and sound."
Naruto gave her a soft smile and nodded.
"Thank you, Hinata-chan…."
Captain Blues: And that is the end of this chapter. I know its a bit of a short one but I wanted to get reacquainted with this world. I also know that I focused more on Hinata's reactions to everything but trust me. This is the start of her character development.
And now, for the pairings….The thing I was very nervous about. The Final pairings.
PAIRING UPDATE!
Naruto/Haku/Hinata/Tayuya
Lee/Ino/Yakumo
Sasuke/Tenten/Tamaki
Sakura/Fū
Kakashi/Anko
Kidōmaru/Kin
Neji/Karin
Chōji/Karui
Gaara/Matsuri
Shikamaru/Temari
Shino/Kurotsuchi
Kiba/Shizuka
Honoka/Ayame
Sai/? (If anyone has any suggestions for Sai (Male or Female) please let me know)
There is another pairing that I am keeping a secret for now but trust me, it may be very interesting….
But these are the pairings and I know, I'm sorry for everyone that wanted Naruto with more girls but I think three will be a good limit. The next chapter will come on in two weeks so until then, farewell!