CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Retrieval part-5
"Why did you not tell anyone about this Naruto?"
Naruto looked to the snowy ground and picked up another twig in his hand. As expected, Sakura's reaction upon finding out about Him and Hinata's secret was anything but pleasant.
"It was for safety reasons"
"Safety?!" Sakura rose to her feet, glaring down at Naruto. "How can you say that? You should've told us that Hinata was relevant to these Otsusuki folks, we could've protected her! Imagine if she had more support when she got abducted from her family home!"
"Then more people would've been at risk" Naruto tossed the twig into the fire. "I'll be honest with you, I wasn't too convinced to keep it a secret myself but Hinata insisted I tell no one else." He stood up and looked into the distance then continued.
"I didn't get it because it seemed like she was going to tell everyone, then all of a sudden she decides not to anymore"
Sakura held her forehead in her hand and paced back and forth in frustration.
"That girl…..I wouldn't put that kind of mindset past her"
Naruto adjusted his scarf and stepped closer to Sakura. "Look, the important thing is the situation at hand now. Hinata is gone and we still have no clue where to find her."
"For now" Sakura faced Naruto with a determined look. "We don't know where to find her yet, but trust me we are not going home without her." She placed a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I don't need to remind you how difficult it will be, but I have faith in you and the rest of this team."
Naruto smiled at her and spoke. "We've already dealt with one Otsusuki by working as a team, what's one more eh?"
Sakura laughed a bit and turned in the direction of her tent. "That's the kind of optimism we need." She waved a hand at her friend as she made her way inside the tent. "Hanabi should be back by now, You and Konohamaru are up for night watch"
Naruto slumped his shoulders as his protégé seemingly appeared out of nowhere by his side, startling him.
"We're up old man!"
"Argh! Konohamaru don't sneak up on me like that!"
"Get your head in the game Naruto, we're not going to rescue your girlfriend with you letting your guard down all the time"
Naruto waved his hand dismissively and headed off into the woods with Konohamaru behind him. As he settled down on a tree branch later, his mind drifted off to his conversation with Sakura earlier. Being optimistic was all he really could do at the moment, he still had no solid lead on where Hinata was. But all they could do was keep searching and hoping that they would recover her. Naruto looked up at the starry night sky, focusing on the full moon.
Hinata, I made you a promise to protect you and I intend on keeping my word. I swear on my life that I will bring you back home, even if I have to search every inch of this world.
All I can ask of you is to wait for me.
Kaguya looked at the woman beneath her. Of her own accord, Mikasa was presenting herself to be her vessel during her time on earth. With a smile she reached for her with both hands and raised her to her feet.
"I appreciate your offer, Mikasa. Your selflessness warms my soul." Kaguya gently took Mikasa's hand in hers.
"But I must decline"
Mikasa was stunned for words. "W-What? Why?"
Kaguya let her go and moved over to Hinata. "My plan does not require me to reside on this planet for long, as long as I have your full cooperation, Hyuuga"
Hinata stepped backwards carefully. "My cooperation? Why should I help you?"
Isshiki walked over to Kaguya's side and spoke directly to Hinata.
"Because everyone on this planet will die if you do not cooperate"
Mikasa looked at Isshiki in shock. "Die?...is something threatening to kill us all? She walked closer to him as she spoke.
Isshiki looked at her sternly and without shifting his gaze, have his reply. "No"
"But you…you are supposed to save us?" Mikasa stuttered increasing the distance between Isshiki and herself
Kaguya looked at Mikasa with a sad expression. "My child….I have already tried to help your kind, but you have proven yourselves beyond the need for salvation"
Mikasa could only stare at Kaguya, speechless.
It….it can't be….
"How? When did you ever help us?" Hinata asked, interrupting their conversation. Kaguya turned to face her and spoke, slightly confused.
"My subordinates, Hagoromo and Hamura; have you never heard of them and their deeds?"
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. "The sage of six paths was….related to you?"
Kaguya looked at Hinata sternly. "How did you come to possess Hamura's power? Did he not entrust it to you along with your mission?"
"My mission?"
Isshiki sighed, shaking his head at the duo of Hinata and Mikasa. "What did Hamura accomplish all those years, if his own successor does not know their mission?"
Kaguya moved closer to Hinata. "Hyuuga, do you really not know why or how you came to wield this power?"
Hinata meekly bowed her head with a polite 'No'
Expecting a harsh reaction from Kaguya, Hinata was surprised to see the woman smile warmly at her instead.
"Very, well. I will tell you my role in this realm"
Kaguya flew to a large, elegant window and started outside. Without turning to face Hinata, she spoke.
"Long ago, I visited this world of yours. I came to share a gift with your kind, the gift of chakra. Earth was a terrible place in those days, torn apart by wars, pain and suffering. I intended to help your planet with my power so I awakened the divine tree to spread my power around the world, granting every person the ability to harness and utilize chakra to your benefit. Before I left this world, I left it under the care of two of my subordinates, Hagoromo and Hamura of the side branch of the Otsusuki"
Hinata interjected. "I know of the sage of six paths and his brother, but what I want to understand is why you have returned?"
Kaguya remained silent causing Hinata to immediately regret her question. She was certain she had angered the Otsusuki, and began to think of an apology when Kaguya suddenly spoke.
"To find my husband"
"Hokage-sama, we still haven't received news from TF-003 on lady Hinata's location"
Kakashi raised his head to address the man in the room.
"Very well, you're dismissed"
The man bowed and exited the room.
Kakashi looked at the clock on his table and sighed. It was 11pm and he was still at work. But he was prepared for the late night shift in the office that day. It was a sacrifice he had to make if he wanted to have sufficient time to himself the next day. He looked at his desk calendar and singled out a date he had marked red.
His one year marriage anniversary.
With a groan, he prepared to get back to work when a guard walked inside the room.
"Lord sixth, there's….a bit of an emergency"
Kakashi felt his heart rate accelerate. "What is it?" He asked as he bolted upright. He prayed in his heart that it had something to do with the abduction situation.
The shinobi nervously stepped aside. "I brought up the order you gave about not entertaining guests till tomorrow but it appears you have a…very persistent visitor tonight"
"A mere VISITOR?" Anko shouted at the cowering guard as she stormed into the room. "Is that how you refer to Konoha's first lady?!"
Kakashi sighed with exasperation and settled back down. "What brings you here Anko?"
Anko strutted over to his desk and took a seat. "Do I need a permit to check up on my own husband?"
Kakashi leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "Alright, what do you want?"
"Kakashi, you're acting like I'm here to discuss the yearly budget or something" Anko laughed. She made room on the table and dropped a basket.
"Wait, did you….." Kakashi asked, leaning forward with surprise.
"There, now you can stop assaulting our fridge at midnight everyday". Anko watched with a smile as Kakashi enthusiastically went through the contents of the dinner his wife prepared for him.
"Anko, honey….this is…."
"Your dinner" she completed his sentence for him. "It makes me feel bad seeing you starve every night, so I decided to start doing something about it."
Without looking up from the basket, Kakashi thanked her. "This was very thoughtful of you, I am grateful"
Anko walked over to his seat and stood behind him to give him a neck rub which Kakashi very clearly enjoyed.
"Enjoy your meal Hokage. I'll be waiting for you at home"
"Actually, you think you could just stay there a bit?" Kakashi asked as he continued melting into his seat.
Anko laughed and bent down to kiss him. "We'll have all the time tomorrow"
"Oh, right" Kakashi remembered what the next day was.
Anko reached for her purse and made for the exit, waving Kakashi a good bye. Before leaving she stopped at the door, mischievously peeking over her shoulder at him.
"The new restaurant near the East gate, I'll pick out something nice." Then she left the room, leaving Kakashi alone.
"Dammit, I knew it" Kakashi grabbed his head with both hands as Anko left the room and leaned back into his chair.