*A/N: I ain't the owner of Naruto, don't sue me.*
Chapter 12: The Test of Your Life
Hinata's POV: Three Hours Southeast of Konoha, 2 Days Until Destination
Stopping to rest after our non-stop traveling for some time, I immediately activate my Byakugan to check the perimeter as Kiba and Shino do the same. With my upgraded ocular abilities that have granted me the ability to see nearly to the front gates of the capital city of the fire country even though we are still days away or over a hundred and fifty kilometers away, I do not see any real issue for a long time. Deactivating my eyes, I then found the nearest log to sit, which was near where everyone else decided to sit, slightly winded from the travel. "Jeez Hinata, you don't seem too bothered." Stated Kiba seeing that I wasn't as affected by the journey. I giggled, "I'm just good at hiding it." I responded.
"Hinata, was the status of our surroundings?" Asked Kurenai strictly while sitting facing us, "We are clear for a great distance, Kurenai sensei, I just see some animals to our east roughly 500 meters away, they seem to be calm." I responded as Kurenai sensei nodded, "Kiba, Shino, do you detect any residual chakra?" Kiba responded accordingly, "No ma'am, it's all clear for now." Shino nodded in affirmation. Kurenai sensei smiled at us earning me a slight blush for my troubles but that went unnoticed, I think at least. "Good job guys, but remain vigilant no matter what, also take this time to check your supplies." She said as she also went to check her supplies.
"Yup, I still got my kunai, my shuriken is good, good on medical supplies, good on the disgusting chakra pills, yes, ah, I'm still not good on my emotions. Now is not the time for my crush on my sensei to be affecting me, man this is embarrassing, these damn butterflies need to go away." I ranted internally. With a sigh I came back to reality before I got caught spacing out again, maybe if I told someone I could help, I mean I did write about it once but…nah, no one will take me seriously. Oh you know, I have feelings for a woman who is much older than me and happens to be my sensei, yada yada. Yeah if I was to tell anyone, I would probably have to go into T and I. I groaned internally as I looked at one of Shino's bugs flying around and landing on a random daffodil that I happened to miss, no matter how good my eyes are, I'm not sure how I missed that beautiful flower.
At least this is the biggest thing for me to worry about now, no more glaring father who hates my existence, no more being seen as pathetic every time I step into my own home. Thinking about that, I couldn't help but smile slightly, remembering the struggles of the past. "Alright, breaks over, let's try to make another couple of hours before the sun sets, everyone good?" Asked/demanded Kurenai sensei, back into her 'sensei mode', I have taken to calling it. "Yes ma'am!" I said along with Kiba as we gathered our things to get into formation. I also couldn't help but glance again at the daffodil, wishing I could pick it but thought against it, after all, it's probably gonna be dried out after my journey back to the village. We all get into formation and take off again at genin speeds, good enough for Kiba and Shino, but a way too slow for me, however, it's not right to show off in front of your team right?
Hinata POV: 24 Hours Southeast of Konoha, 1 Day Until Destination
Feeling a few hard taps and a lick on my forehead, I realized that it was time to get up. After awakening from the most uncomfortable sleep I have had in like…forever…I immediately sit up and look around our immediate area, nothing but some trees, and more trees. I then glance to the suspect of my unneeded free face wash to see a small, cute puppy wagging his tail and a grinning Kiba beside him, "OI, Hinata-chan, it's time to go." I hummed in understanding, taking a glance over to our sensei, who was currently walking towards Shino to awaken him. After we all awakened and got ourselves ready, we set out to the capital, aiming to make it there by nightfall by pushing ourselves slightly harder.
Timeskip: 2 Hours After Breaking Camp
After traveling for some time, I activate my eyes again to scan in the perimeter when, "Sensei, we have potential hostels to our west, about 1 km away at a camp!" I shouted to our sensei who immediately took on a serious face as Kiba followed and Shino, well, was Shino. Kurenai demanded, "Let's halt here to assess the situation, Shino-" "On it." Shino responded as he released what I presumed to be a female insect in the direction I pointed out. Kiba and Akamaru then started sniffing around the general area, as I remained focused on the camp, seeing what looked to be a bandit hailing a bag of something into a tent. "I count five bandits and a ninja, but he seems to be lower ranked," I stated in the direction of Kurenai sensei. I saw our sensei nod in approval. "My female is saying that they have come through here recently." Stated Shino, Akamaru barked in approval as Kiba nodded, "He's right, these guys seem to have trampled everywhere around here."
Kurenai cleared her throat and spoke, "Hinata, maintain focus on the camp, Kiba and Shino, remain at our flanks, I will remain in the rear for support, we're moving in slowly, be careful, and remember, try not to hesitate when taking them down." I nodded as Shino followed although in a slightly less enthusiastic way that even he somehow managed, Kiba looked slightly downcasted with a clear face of nervousness. I looked to Shino, "Hey, don't worry, let's just try to capture them." I said as I looked to Kiba and nodded, earning a nod back. "If this does go South, I will come in to help out, alright, now, let's move," Kurenai stated with a stoic face as we started making our way towards the camp, Shino sent out a few more of his bugs.
Once we reached a tree line nearby, giving us a clear view of the camp, but at a distance to where most bandits can see us well. Oh…no. That is all I can say internally as I see a couple of bandits unhaul a horse-drawn wagon, clearly holding a few ragged-looking women and a child. I was slightly shocked at the scene as Kiba along with Akamaru started to growl quietly, surprisingly, Kurenai seemed to also growl. "What do those filthy bastards think they are doing." Everyone went silent, I looked at them, and they looked at me in slight shock, "What? Is there a problem?" I asked in confusion. Everyone shook their heads, "No, no problem, we just never seen you that angry…" Said Kiba as Kurenai and Shino nodded. I slightly blushed in embarrassment, "I apologize, it's just that I don't like people getting taken advantage of, it kinda gets me…angry." I said in a slight growl as I stared at the camp in fury. "That's understood, Hinata, you are assault, Kiba, Shino, cover her flank, try to capture them." Demanded Kurenai as she disappeared in what looked to be flower pedals. I turned to Jiba and Shino and nodded, "It's go time." I said as I took off at what may have been low jJoninspeeds, not noticing Kiba and Shino staring in slight shock.
50 meters to camp. Remembering much of the pain I went through for much of my life, my heart starts beating slightly faster, boom, boom, budum, like the sound of a galloping horse. 30 meters to camp, I saw one of the men push the child slightly too hard, causing the child to fall onto the ground in pain, that was it, that man is now my prey. 10 meters to camp, with my sights set on the man who pushed the child, my hands lit up in blue flames that took the shape of a lion as the veins of my face pulsed with a slight snarl on my face, I blazed at top speed, reaching the man at the camp within a couple of seconds of running. With a flaming palm aimed at the man's midsection, I let loose a strike that the man never saw coming. I connected my strike as I sent the man flying a few meters with a face frozen in pain and shock.
I turned to the child seeing his face in shock and perhaps, admiration, I then turned to see Kiba engaging in a fight with a couple of some bandits with Akamaru. I then turned back to the man I struck, he was still in the position in the way he landed with his face still frozen. I saw the eyes were glazed over, I froze, I then stood up out of my stance and glazed around at the two bandits who were holding the tent flap open, ththeytood in absolute shock and horror. I quickly went to the one on the right, but before he could say anything, he was unconscious, his partner followed only a second later. I stood frozen, processing my feelings, which were, not much. I feel as if I am floating in water without floating in water. I don't feel good, nor do I feel that bad, maybe I still need to process it. My musings were interrupted as I had to dodge a kunai that sliced in front of my face, intending to slice my neck, but failed barely. My face retook a mirror of stone as I opened my eyes, blazing with power, and glared at the suspect.
What stood in front of me was a slight hulk of a man, probably double my height and triple my weight, "Hehe, what's a little girl like you doin' here eh?" He slurred out, "Ya look like a real piece of fuckable meat, mmm yes, pale eyes and everything." He continued as he pressed his kunai against my neck. I stared into his eyes, not budging an inch. "Awwww, it seems like im gonna get a timid fuck toy today ain't I?" Timid, weak, fragile, toy. Those words echoed in my head as my eyes pulsed blue. "Ahhh!" The man shouted as he fell over to his back with his legs not working. I stepped over him as my hands once again lit up into flames as I stared down at him, rage present in my face, "Don't call me a toy." I said in a dark tone as I prepared to smit his existence. I felt my arm get grabbed as I snapped out of my state, I turn to see Kurnai sensei look back at me, shaking her head, "Its not worth it, Hinata." I sighed as my arm was let go of as Kurenai tied up the man with ninja wire.
After calling down slightly, I turned to walk to the tent that held the other hostages. I walked through the flaps seeing Kiba and Shino standing there trying to calm the former prisoners. Kiba turns to me, a face of concern etched on his features, "Oi, Hinata, you good, you kinda went on a rampage back there." Kiba asked, as Shino also turned around. "Im fine, I just got a little carried away." I said with a slight smirk and a head scratch. Shino nodded but even I could tell he wasn't to sure about my mental state. Kurenai, finally walks into the tent, "I interrogated the man, it seems that these hostages were also heading towards the capital but they were ambushed for there merchandise." I nodded along with the rest of the team. "We will be escorting these people to the capital shortly, Um, Hinata, can I please talk to you for a second?" She asked also with a face of concern, I nodded and followed her out of the tent, jeez, everyones on my case today.
After walking out of the tent and a couple meters or so away, Kurenai stopped and turned around with her hands slightly clasped, "Hinata, I am told that this is your first mission, but, are you sure you are OK? I just, I never seen a genin, take out someone like that with such power, and…not be that phased by it." She stated. I sighed deeply as I looked down at my hands, remembering the face of that man, "I feel…not much feeling…I feel almost like I killed a bug...sensei is there something wrong with me?" I asked looking at seSenseiith a face of concern, mirroring her. "I don't feel good for doing that, but, I felt it had to be done…when I saw him push that child, I..I couldn't help it. I felt rage for that child and the women, at that moment I felt hatred for that man." I continued as I pointed to my target a distance away. Kurenai sighed, "I guess we all handle our first kills differently, but, it is good that you still feel something, if you felt nothing at all, not even for the victims, that may have been a cause of concern." She said.
"What's that mean?" I asked. Kurenai answered, "It means that you may have been put on temporary leave for a psych evaluation, after the downfall of the Uchiha clan, it has become a standard that when genins get their first kill, if they do not feel anything at all, they may have to be taken out of the force." I stood in silence with a puzzled look on my face, "But why's that? Wouldn't it make you a more effective ninja if you didn't care about your enemy?" Kurenai glumly nodded, "Yeah, it would make you good, too good. So good that your own teammates may be frightened and untrusting, in Konoha, we pride ourselves on teamwork, its the will of fire, your team is your lifeblood." She explained. My face took on an understanding look. Kurenai continued, "Its the will of fire that Hashirama-sama invented and it keeps our village moving, by caring for your enemies as much as your allies, he believed that we would be able to reach peace by understanding each other's perspectives. By using your love for one another, you can grow stronger." I stood frozen, peace through understanding. I looked up, "Kurenai sensei, I still don't understand that idea." Kurenai looked understadingly, "I can assume its because that idea is based on if humans can actually agree on anything, and the world that were are in, you are doubtful of that, am I right?" I nodded, "War is apart of who we are as humans, theres no way that we can exist without some kind of conflict, we are far too complex to understand another so easily, let alone two villages, or the world." I said in honesty. Kurenai nodded, "Very intelligent for a young genin, Hinata, but we got to get back to the others, we can always have a philosophical debate later." She said patting my shoulders, as she started to walk off, missing the slight red tint to my cheeks as I followed.
End of Chapter
A/N: Yo guys, sorry for the short chapter for this one, things have been pretty busy in real life but I will try to make the next chapters a bit longer. Anyway, hope you enjoyed, Katomi signing off.