The main reason why you're getting a new chapter so soon is because I've already written this chapter. I'm just editing it so it's more presentable and easier to read for those who are reading it on this site. If you want to read the latest chapters, my username is Naruko Hyuga./users/NarukoHyuga/works

It had been two months since Hinata started instructing Team 7. In that time, she has seen progress in her team. Sasuke still hasn't shown any respect; he doesn't show it, but he doesn't respect her because she is a woman. He has voiced his opposition openly, but he shows it through his attitude. Sakura, despite having issues with her at first, now takes her ninja training seriously, whether it has to do with wanting to keep up with Sasuke or not wanting to be on her bad side, she doesn't care as long as she does what is required.

Naruto was the most cooperative of the three, and he was actually the most respectful, which surprised her due to his reputation. He talked to her with respect and didn't talk back to her. In fact, it seemed like he went out of his way to treat her respectfully. She didn't understand why. She didn't mind; in fact, she preferred working with Naruto over the other two. He was receptive to her lessons, but she could tell he was losing patience in doing the same kind of missions.

"Hinata-sensei, why do we have to do these damn missions? They're so tedious and annoying. Can't we do something different, like a C-rank mission? Please?"

Naruto tried hard not to be disrespectful, but he appreciated her efforts. Despite her own struggles, she was more understanding of Naruto's situation because of his harsh upbringing. She understood what it was like to deal with physical and psychological abuse.

"That's not up to me, Naruto. Only Hokage-sama could decide that." She said to him patiently. She gave him a chance to absorb what she said. "Then can we ask old man to give us one then?" Naruto asked Hinata. "Naruto, you will refer to him as Hokage-sama, calling anything else is disrespectful." Hinata gently reprimanded him. "I don't mean any disrespect, Hinata-sensei. I have nothing but respect for him." Naruto said apologetically. She sighed; she knew he meant well and he didn't mean disrespect for him. "I know you don't, but when you're in my presence, you will call him by his proper honorifics." Hinata was gentle on how she handled Naruto. She knew he was more receptive to kindness than he was towards people criticizing him all the time.

"I'm sorry I feel like such a screw up,"Naruto said ashamed."Naruto I know you're trying it's difficult I know everybody else I wouldn't let them get away doing what you do but you have never been raised with parents you've been on your own your whole life. I just want what's best for you" someone would consider what she's doing spoiling Naruto or playing favorites but she wasn't his upbringing was harsh she can empathize because how her upbringing was kindness was the best way to deal with how Naruto has been acting not harsh and humiliating scolding.

Hinata and Naruto were waiting for Sasuke and Sakura. Another thing she noticed was that Naruto arrived earlier than all of her other students. He was eager to impress her. She had scolded Sakura harshly when he was called "the teacher's pet", and Sakura never teased him again.

Sakura was the second person to show up, despite her misgivings. The girl is trying to get better, despite her infatuation with Sasuke, being one of her biggest flaws."Hinata-sensei, I have a question. Well…"Hinata patiently waited for Sakura to finish her question."I was wondering if I could get the same kind of training you give to Naruto. I want to be stronger so I won't become a burden to everyone."She likes this answer, so she wants it to become stronger for her own sake. That's good; she actually was worried that she would only drag the team down because of her obsession with Sasuke.

Her forcing her to take her duties more seriously, she saw a positive change in Sakura; she even cut her hair to showcase her dedication." I can do that, but not the one I'm teaching Naruto. it won't work as well on you." Sakura didn't look pleased with her answer." Why is that?" Hinata knew this would have to be explained eventually." Naruto unlike you has huge chakra reserves. The training method I've been teaching him would only work for him because of the amount of chakra he has." Naruto was listening intently.

"I still want to be stronger; there must be something," Sakura insisted.

"There is something that you can do that neither I Naruto nor Sasuke. You may not have their Chakra reserves, but you have something they don't have: your chakra control is better than either of theirs. Yours is even better than mine was at your age."

Sakura lit up.

"You mean I have skills that they don't have, but what good is that? I would like to do what Naruto can do or Sasuke or your sensei. There has to be something."

Hinata smiled; Sakura really wanted to get stronger.

"Tell you what, when there's a chance, I'll teach you something you can do, but know this: it's an advanced skill that requires precise chakra control. If you can prove to me that you have the skills to use it, I'll teach you the technique."

Sakura was excited to finally be able to learn something.

Did you hear that, Sasuke-kun?" Hinata rolled her eyes. If only she were infatuated with Sasuke, she could be so much more.

Sasuke joined the rest of them.

"Since everyone is here, we're going to the Hokage office for our next mission." She waited for them to groan. "I don't want to do that D-rank mission of 'hell' again. Please, anything but that." Naruto complained. "I agree; I don't want to chase that damn cat again, and I can't believe I agree with Naruto for once." Sakura chimed in. Sasuke didn't have to say anything for Hinata to know he was tired of the missions too; she sighed. "I'll see what I can do." Hinata replied. She doesn't normally do this, but she doesn't want to do that D-rank mission either. Though she won't voice that out loud because she wants to make a positive example for her students to follow.

later

Team 7 went to the Hokage Tower where the Third Hokage sat. He looked like he was done doing paperwork when he smiled at Naruto. "Naruto my boy, how are you doing? How's your new sensei treating you?" he asked him with that old man affection. Hinata thought he was a good man but not someone that should be Hokage. She didn't think he was capable of making the hard decisions that were needed. "Hinata-sensei is great, she's awesome. I learned so much under her. I don't think I could have asked for a better sensei." Naruto was praising her in a way she never heard others praise her. It shouldn't really matter to Hinata but it felt good to be appreciated.

"I was wondering ol' I mean Hokage Sama, do you think you can give us a C-rank mission? These D-rank missions are so tedious and boring" the way he was looking at Naruto was as if he was considering something. He went under his desk. "There was a mission I was considering giving to you, but since you're here first, here it is." He gave Hinata the mission profile. They're going to escort a man by the name of Tazuna to the Land of Waves. It didn't seem like something out of the ordinary, and she didn't think it was too advanced for her students.

"This will definitely be their first time outside the village. Be careful out there!" he said, looking at her. "We'll be fine; we'll be back before you know it. Believe me."

Naruto said, "Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, you are dismissed. I'll be speaking to your sensei alone for a bit."

Naruto and the rest of his team had left, leaving both him and the Hokage alone.

"It seems like you made quite an impression on Naruto."

Hiruzen said, smiling at Hinata, who didn't know what he meant; she was oblivious to the fact that Naruto had a crush on her. A massive one, he praised her like he'd never praised any of his other teachers. "I don't know why I make such a good impression on him. What I hear from his other teachers is that he's never been this respectful towards them, like he is towards me." If only she knew why Naruto, being treated kindly by others, is a rarity. Hinata is one of the few people who has treated him as a person and not a monster. He feels terrible for not giving Naruto a better upbringing, but the civilian council wouldn't give him anything that would make his life less harsh. "It's because of your kindness, Hinata. Whether you think of it as a weakness or a strength, it certainly has had an impact on Naruto. I've never seen him improve so much in such a short amount of time. I made the right choice in making you the sensei of Team 7. I know you have mixed feelings about them and Sasuke's lack of respect. He'll turn around, and you are the role model Sakura needs.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Hinata said, bowing respectfully before leaving. He asked her one last question. "What's your opinion on Naruto Uzumaki?" This was the last question he wanted to ask. She froze at that question. She took a moment before giving her answer. "I think he's a good boy who deserves far better than what he's been given. I don't know why he's treated the way he is by the village, but it's wrong. Naruto is a hard worker; many can learn from his example." Hiruzen was pleased with her answer, but something else surprised him: the way she was answering the questions. She looked like she was hiding something; he decided to let it slide. Perhaps it was nothing.

"Well, I won't keep you here. Give me your report when you get back." She bid him farewell and left. He couldn't help but think aloud. "Minato. Like father, like son. History is repeating itself. It seems." He smiled. He remembered Minato and Kushina and how they met. There were differences, of course. Was it possible that Naruto and Hinata would history repeat itself? Only time would tell.

"I can't wait to get started on this mission. It's such an exciting thing, something new at last."

Naruto said excitedly, finally something different. Sasuke couldn't help but sympathize with Naruto because he was getting tired of those missions too. Even if he wouldn't admit it as much as he disliked his sensei, he respected her skills though he would never openly admit it. Her harsh lecture on him two months ago forced him to face the fact that women are just as capable as men as ninja and that attitude he once had was counterproductive. He wouldn't openly admit it because his pride would never allow it.

They were waiting for their client, who seemed like a difficult one to work with. Sasuke didn't know if even he would have the patience to deal with such people. A man appeared, looking like he was in his late 50s or early 60s. He looked like he could be the client they had to escort. He was hoping he wouldn't be too difficult.

"I have a bunch of kids escorting me. I was hoping for experienced ninja." The man said, annoyed, Sasuke couldn't help but twitch, though he kept his cool, there's nothing to be gained by losing his self-control over something so small. "I take it you're Tazuna?" Hinata asked in a businesslike manner. "Yes, and not only do I have kids, but a damn girl. Are you sure you're even qualified to lead this mission?" Sasuke saw the face of Hinata change. "I assure you, Tazuna-san, I am more than capable." Hinata said in a cold voice. The eyes Sasuke saw in Hinata changed from kind to icy cold. He found her personality to be very hard to read. She acts kind one minute and cold the next. Which personality is the real Hinata? Sasuke didn't know, and it made him feel uncomfortable having a sensei with a hard-to-read personality.

Naruto wanted to smack the man for disrespecting Hinata like that. What amazed Naruto more was how she kept her cool. Though it made Naruto really confused on how cold she was acting ever since he had started being taught by her, she's acting cold one minute and kind the next. From what Naruto can gather, her cold exterior is a mask and her true self is the one that teaches him, which is kind but different from the Hinata in front of her team. Ninjas always use deception even against their own students and only show their true selves when there's a bond between them. Naruto wasn't any closer to understanding Hinata now than he was the day he first met her; he knew next to nothing about her other than her name and her hobbies.

"Whatever as long as you're capable and can get me to my destination in one piece, it matters not so long as your kids don't screw it up. You'll get paid." Tazuna dismissed Naruto, who wanted to smack him but kept himself in check. There was nothing to be gained; he had to learn patience, one of the things his sensei had taught him. They went to the front gates of Konoha and checked one last time for all their belongings before leaving.

Naruto couldn't believe it when the nerve of that man and the disrespect he showed to his sensei. He wanted to smack him, but he knew that wouldn't help with their mission: to escort him. He tried to keep as much distance from him as possible. At least as much as the mission allowed, he noticed Hinata was looking around as if she were looking for enemies (which wasn't likely). It was an escort mission; it wasn't like they'd encounter assassins or any other dangerous enemies on a C-rank mission.

The idea was preposterous. Naruto had thought he would continue walking in the forest, not noticing two puddles of water. There were two men who ran quickly, but Naruto didn't notice them until it was almost too late; he froze, unable to move. "Damn it! Move!" Naruto muttered to himself. He couldn't move; he was scared. These men weren't actually there; it couldn't be true. The first man among them was about to strike. Naruto and Sasuke got between them, and Naruto looked at him with that smug look on his face that he had grown to hate.

He didn't even feel the scratch on his right hand when the second man went straight for his client, but he didn't get far.

Hinata made short work of him; she hit him at the chest with a technique he didn't recognize. He flew into a tree, which shattered his spine and killed him instantly.

Even though it only happened in a minute, Naruto felt as if it had lasted an eternity. He was scared of all the things that could go wrong.

"What's wrong, scaredy-cat?" Sasuke said mockingly. Naruto wanted to hit Sasuke. Not only did he look pathetic, but he was also weak; even Sakura didn't freeze, and worst of all, Hinata didn't make herself look like a weak and scared fool in front of her.

"Let me take a look at Naruto." Hinata went towards him and examined the wound.

"This has poison. It won't leave your system until the blood is removed."

Naruto felt so pathetic and weak that he wondered if he could still call himself a man if he looked this sad and pathetic in front of everyone, including Hinata.

No, he wouldn't look weak. He can't look weak. He took out a Kunai and jabbed it in his right hand, shocking Hinata and everyone. The pain was unbearable, but it was better than the humiliation he had suffered earlier. Blood dripped out of his hand. He vowed he would never again be a coward or a fool. He would never freeze again. He would never look like a fool in front of Sasuke or his sensei." I will not ever again be a coward or a fool. I vow I will never again be afraid to act. I will never look like a fool in front of Sasuke or my sensei" the surprised everyone with his rash action. He knew it wasn't rational, but he didn't want to be pitied, especially by Hinata.

What he wanted more than anything was her respect. He wanted to repay her for the kindness she had received in the past two months, and he wouldn't dishonor her by acting like a pathetic child in the midst of battle.

"That was reckless of you, Naruto! We're lucky we have an anesthetic; if that gets infected, you can have a high fever. Don't do that again!" Hinata said gently. She was worried about him; you could see it in her eyes, even though the tone of her voice was saying something else.

One day he wanted to be the one to protect her; another vow he made to himself at that very moment.

After she was done tending to Naruto's injury on his right hand, she went to the surviving ninja who tried to kill Tazuna. She activated her Byakugan as a intimidation tactic. She wasn't going to mess around. "Who sent you and why did you come here?" Hinata asked him with no emotion. The ninja spat in her face. "I wouldn't tell you even if I could do your worst." He didn't take her seriously; it was a big mistake. "You listen here. Do you know what they call me? I'm the lioness you don't want to fuck with. If you don't tell me what you know, I will make this experience painful. Do you understand? I'm being lenient here. If you don't tell me what I want to know, I will make this experience painful and I know many ways to make you talk. We can do this the easy way or the hard way; it's your choice." The man showed no fear. She hated using methods that were taught by Kakashi and the Abu Black ops but she had no choice. She looked at her team.

"Turn away what I'm about to do is unpleasant and I don't want you to see what I'm about to do"Hinata ordered her team did as they were told when they were far enough away where they won't witness what she's going to do but close enough if any other outside threats were to come she could come to their aid quickly. When they were out of earshot. She took a tool from her ninja pouch a tool of torture this was only given to Jonin it was only advised to use it under extreme circumstances due to the amount of physical and psychological pain it causes to its victims. She never used this and she didn't want to so she asked the ninja one last time. "Do you know what I hold in my hand?"he said nothing. "This tool is not something anyone wants to be on the receiving end of it was invented by my clan and we used it for generations to abstract information from our enemies since the founding of Konoha it's been distributed only to those of Jonin rank and there's certain hand signs that only they know since I'm a member of the Hyuga clan I can use this jitsu and this tool to its full effect do you want to know what kind of hell I will inflict on you if you don't cooperate? If you still insist on this pointless resistance, know that I will break you until I get everything I want to know. This is not a gentle process. You will wish you were dead, you have one last chance to cooperate before I use this on you."the ninja still said nothing.

"Very well," Hinata said in disappointment. She removed the scroll that was tiny and opened it, and summoned a device with many needles. She placed it on her hands like a gauntlet. The man looked terrified. "Please! I'll tell you everything I know. Just don't use that! Please!" The man broke quickly without any torture even happening. A gutless assassin, probably a hired thug, she put the device away and listened to everything he told her. He was hired along with his brother, who's now dead by a man named Goto. She knew about that name; he's the most notorious criminal in the Land of Waves. Before he could say anything else, two needles suddenly pierced his neck, killing him instantly. She activated her Byakugan and saw nothing. She looked to where her team was, they weren't in danger. Whoever killed him wanted him to be silenced. Someone else knew why those assassins were here and she needed to have a talk with Tazuna.

Naruto wondered what was happening at the same time he felt embarrassed. He behaved like a coward in front of everyone, especially Hinata. "It seems you don't want to be seen as a fool in front of your future mate, do you?"

Naruto looked around, unsure of who had spoken.

"Only you can hear me, so be careful with your body; it would be inconvenient if you died."

That same voice sounded inhuman, unlike what Naruto had imagined.

"What are you?"

Naruto asked the mysterious voice.

"You certainly must have heard of me; what the humans call Kyūbi. Though I doubt you're smart enough to figure out my real name; it's not that I wouldn't tell you."

The fox, which ruined his life, made Naruto angry.

"You damn fox, you ruined my life."

Naruto said angrily.

"I couldn't care less if anyone; you should be angry at it's that damn Madara Uchiha."

Before he could ask any more questions, Hinata appeared and she had a serious look on her face as she approached Tazuna. She didn't look happy. "There's something you haven't told us: why were those assassins after you? I think you know more than you're letting on."

Hinata was difficult to read, but the tone in her voice was icy cold. "I was hoping we could do it at our destination, but there's no sense in hiding it in the Land of Waves. We don't have enough money to afford anything higher than a C-rank mission; even the request costs us almost everything we have. I'm sorry for deceiving you, but there was no other way."

The man lied. No wonder he was disappointed when he saw Team 7. It made sense. Naruto summarized that he was hoping for more experienced ninja, not a bunch of rookies. Naruto looked at Hinata and couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"By all rights we should abort this mission right now, at least that's what any Shinobi who goes by the book would do. But I don't go by the book all the time, and for this situation, I would like to hear more. But first, we should get to our destination, and then I'll decide one way or the other: should this mission continue?"

It was hard to really tell if she was truly a kind person or was she a cold, calculated person. Why is Hinata so inconsistent?

"Thank you, Hinata-san," Tazuna said sincerely. They wasted no more time with their journey.

A few hours later

Naruto couldn't help but feel something was off. He could smell it and he couldn't explain it. "It's because of me that you're able to have a heightened sense of smell, boy!" Kyūbi said in annoyance. He ignored him and closed his eyes with a heightened sense of smell. He also had a heightened sense of hearing. This is the benefit of having the fox sealed inside of him. It was frustrating. Naruto has abilities that he's been taking for granted up until now that have helped him survive up until this point. He didn't realize how much it was aiding him at the moment. He heard a sword being thrown. "Everyone get down now!" Naruto shouted. He forced Sasuke and Sakura to get down along with their client, Hinata, who ducked in order to avoid the sword. Almost as if she also knew the man, Naruto looked. He had an imposing figure. His skin was lighter in complexion compared to what he was used to seeing.

He was shirtless, with his chest only covered by a belt to which he attached his Kubikiribōchō. Wearing baggy pants with a striped pattern typical of Kirigakure and mimetic wrist-warmers extending up to his elbows, with matching leg-warmers. Looking down at everyone, he spoke in a tone Naruto could feel killing intent in. "Those useless mercenaries couldn't do the job and I have to be the one to clean up their mess. And look what we have here: three kids playing ninja and a woman quite interesting." The way he was speaking about Hinata was condescending.

"You surely have heard of me, Zabuza Momochi. Surely you know better than to underestimate me," Hinata said with confidence. "I was hoping to fight Kakashi but I guess Konoha is low on manpower and decides to allow you, who looks no older than 17 or 19, to lead a team of rookies, which is a disappointment." Hinata activated her Byakugan. "Underestimating me will be the last mistake you'll ever make. I am called the lioness for a reason." She took a quick glance at Naruto and his team and spoke in a commanding tone: "Everyone guard Tazuna and whatever you do, stay out of the battle. This foe is far beyond any of you."

Naruto did exactly as she commanded.

Naruto guarded his front, Sasuke guarded his left, and Sakura guarded his right.

Hinata has heard of Zabuza, one of the seven swordsmen of the Hidden Mist. Although he is not an opponent Hinata can take lightly, they were the same level in terms of rank. One thing he had over her was experience. She has to be careful and not become a victim of his water prison technique. A jutsu like this would be a problem if she were caught in such a situation. She wouldn't be able to get out without resorting to a jutsu that would do both her and Zabuza harm. She would rather not resort to her Lightning Style: Lightning Palm unless it's a last-ditch effort.

"I'm surprised they allow the Byakugan princess on a mission like this, shouldn't you be in your castle, ordering your servants around?" he said mockingly. "If you think this is going to anger me, you're mistaken. I've heard all these insults before. If you don't take me seriously, you will be dead before you hit the ground." Hinata didn't want to exchange any more words; she thought it was a waste of time. He grabbed his sword and went straight past her. She knew who he was aiming for. With lightning speed, she didn't let him get far.

"You are a lot faster than what is said in that bingo book, it seems like it's outdated"Hinata deliberately did not show off a lot of her skills. It was a huge benefit in situations like the one she's in. It worked to her advantage. He tried to hit her with his sword, Hinata blocked it with her fist. If any other style other than the gentle fist her hands along with our entire body would have been cleaved into two. Her entire body was a weapon. The gentle fist was the ultimate Taijitsu style of close-range combat but it had other applications as well. It was able to also mix it with Ninjutsu though it's encouraged by users of the gentle fist.

"Lightning-style, lightning-lion, palm!" A bolt of lightning pierced through his sword. Zabaza backed away, had it been any other combatant, the encounter would have been done and over with, due to it cutting her opponent into many pieces. "Seems like we have a genius here; Kakashi has trained you well. I underestimated you." He said with a form of respect.

Hinata didn't care to hear his flattery; he was an enemy the longer this fight went on the more likely he would Target the weak link she couldn't afford to get trapped in his prison jitsu. It doesn't matter how much stronger she may be compared to her opponent, if she's trapped in that jitsu it's over he noticed she was thinking the same thing she was thinking. "How do you know you're not fighting a shadow clone?"he asked rhetorically that it's impossible her Byakugan would have spotted it. But that moment of doubt was all he needed. A clone appeared from behind and before she could do anything to respond he trapped her in a water prison. "Damn it,"Hinata said. Her moment of hesitation put her in this position she couldn't blame anyone but herself she couldn't allow herself to be captured like this. She still has a way out. "Forget about me, take Tazuna and get the hell out of here, that is an order"all she has to do is buy her time and Hope this would work. If they flee he would have no choice but to undo the jitsu due to how much chakra it would be taking up. "You're certainly no Kakashi, he would have never got caught in that trap like this, you're soft"he said condescendingly. She was so angry she wanted nothing more than to wipe that smirk off his face but she had to keep control and have faith that her team would follow her orders and survive long enough for her to save them.

Hearing her order them to abandon her was a No-No on Naruto's part. In his eyes those who abandon their friends are scum. "You do know you are no match for that man, you're weak you should do what your future mate says"Kyūbi said to him Naruto was getting really irritated by him calling Hinata his mate. "I can't leave even if I wanted to. Even a shadow clone of that monster is stronger than all of us put together we can free her. He would not expect us to plot her rescue; he'd expect us to flee" Kyūbi chuckled. Naruto wanted to know why. "You're not stupid as you act boy what is your plan?"that was a good question. He had to come up with a plan on the spot he looked at Sasuke. He would be important to his plan. "Okay I got a plan to help our sensei. Are you open for it?"Sasuke looked at Naruto as if he understood what Naruto had in mind. "Sakura will stay with Tazuna and Naruto will handle this,"Sasuke said. If there is one good thing about being a Genin no one would suspect one of his rank to come up with such a plan.

Hinata wondered why her team wasn't following her orders. What were they doing? Naruto, with hundreds of shadow clones, recklessly charged at Zabuza. She wondered why he wasn't running away. It looked like he was trying to hold Zabuza down, but that was pointless since it was just a water clone. He knocked back all the clones, and then threw a shuriken.

Sasuke caught it. She knew what their plan was. It wouldn't work. He could jump over it and dodge it, and then the clone would just kill everyone, and that would be the end of it. Sasuke threw it, and as Hinata predicted, he jumped. "You think I would fall for such an obvious trick, brats?" he said mockingly, but his mood changed as soon as he saw the shuriken turn into Naruto, who threw a Kunai he wouldn't be able to dodge without undoing the jitsu (which he had no choice in doing). So he undid the jitsu and dodged the weapon, but Naruto didn't intend to hit him; he wanted to make him move.

"Good thinking, but stay out of this fight. This is high-level ninja business." Hinata commanded, getting back into her fighting stance and activating her Byakugan. "That will be your one and only chance to kill me. That will be your last mistake you will ever make." Hinata said coldly. "1.8 trigram 64 palms" She got into her stance; her opponent didn't even know what hit him. She was so fast with her strikes; he tried to parry and block, but to no avail. Every single chakra point was cut off. She could use the Lightning Style variant, but he wasn't the kind of opponent that warranted such use, so she didn't use it.

She was about to do the final blow, and when she was about to land it, he was struck at the neck by two needles. She looked up and saw a mysterious ninja with a mask associated with the Mist. Hinata was wary because Konoha and Kirigakure are not at the most friendly terms; they're neither friends nor foes, but Hinata was on guard. The mysterious figure spoke, "I must thank Hinata Hyuga of the Hyuga clan. Much is known about you in my village. What you've done has made things a lot easier for me. I've been tracking down Zabuza for a long time. Surely you know the procedures of disposing of missing-nin? They destroy all evidence of anything their bodies contain on the spot and retrieve what other information they have that wasn't done so. The boy was not a real Abu. This mission got even more complicated."

"We should be heading out, we shouldn't be lingering here" Hinata said to her team. Things were even more complicated. She thought that by all rights, she should abandon this mission. She should have done so already. This is way beyond a B rank mission. She knew she couldn't do it, but it felt wrong. There must be a good reason why Tazuna didn't completely tell the truth from the start. If he did, the mission wouldn't have been taken. Could this be the reason why Lord Third gave her team the mission in the first place?

Nothing would be said for hours; they got on a boat and when they successfully got to their destination, there was a bridge half-finished. She had read about it in the mission report as well. This was far beyond the parameters of the mission. When they stopped at the shore, everyone got off, and Tazuna looked Hinata in the eye, almost knowing that they would have to talk about what happened with Zabaza.

"I know this is beyond your mission parameters, I wasn't completely honest with you, but I know you won't abandon a mission before it's finished. Regardless if it's beyond a C-rank mission, you'll still complete it because if you didn't, it would eat at your conscience when you came back, and you'd be responsible for what happened to me. And you'd have an entire nation of people hating Konoha for the rest of their lives."

He was correct on all accounts. Hinata hated to admit that. "We do the mission as we agreed, but no more surprises. Tell me everything you know." Hinata said in a softer tone.

She walked around as he explained the condition of the town that they were in and how it was common throughout the Land of Waves. What she saw was poverty, starvation; this town was almost dead; the people had no hope in their eyes. She couldn't help but feel angry at the injustice here: a ninja who goes by the book would have abandoned the mission as soon as they found out that it was beyond the parameters but Hinata wasn't that kind of person. No matter how much she wants to, she can't: it's not who she is as a person. She can't abandon people in need. It's against everything she is. Her mother instilled those values into her, and her idol, her childhood hero Kushina, was the same way.

She noticed Naruto was disturbed by what he was seeing."once the bridge is built once we are free and independent from Goto the people's light in their eyes will return the Land of Waves will be prosperous the future of this country is in your hands if the bridge is been built completely we will forever be in your debt" Tazuna said to Hinata and her team this was not why she wanted to be a Ninja she wanted to become one in order to change what she see as Injustice in society but the more places she sees outside of Konoha the more she realizes things are far more complicated and The world isn't black and white.

She couldn't help but feel that what happened with that mysterious mist Abu was suspicious. She looked at her students. If they were going to continue with this mission, they would have to be prepared. The stakes weren't just high for the Land of Waves but also for her students; one misstep could lead to their deaths. She wouldn't allow that to happen, not on her watch.

Zabuza was lying on the ground. Haku removed the needles from his neck. The battle with Hinata Hyuga he couldn't help but replay it over and over again. The woman was as strong as the rumors said. She was even stronger than Kakashi of the Sharingan. The "lioness" of Konoha." That woman was strong. Zabuzasa-san, I've never seen a woman so strong." Women don't tend to impress him, but Hinata was one of the rare exceptions. She was definitely strong; of it wasn't for Haku's timely intervention he would have been killed. The gentle Fist was no joke.

"You studied her during our fight. Is there anything you could tell me that would help when I face her again?" He needed information to find a counter for the Byakugan and a way to get around the gentle fist he couldn't feel anything because his chakra points were cut off; he wouldn't be able to do anything for a few days."There are things I have observed about the Byakugan. There are blind spots." Haku pointed out. Zababa was intrigued; he wanted to know more.

"Tell me everything you observed in the battle, because the next time we face it off, I will be ready to use every means necessary to kill the lioness of Konoha."

The boy he had trained was a weapon.

"We should leave and go to someplace safe for you to rest."

Haku suggested.

"Next time we will finish the job."

He said to Haku as Haku carried him to their hideout. Zabaza closed his eyes and everything went into darkness.