Operative Name: Wire

She was good at watching. At observing everything going on around her before she acted on anything. She would observe her target for either days, weeks or sometimes months before attacking. In this situation she had three targets to observe and report on. She has been on this mission discreetly for almost 6 months now.

-ROOT operative Sai (Brief observation)

-Uchiha Sasuke (Long term observation)

-Uzumaki Naruto (Long term observation)

She only had been active in ROOT for four years. Yet her mission completion record was stellar. She hadn't failed one yet. During this mission she learned that it would seem Sai was starting to fall victim to the Uzumaki boys contagious optimism.

It was pathetic to witness.

Couldn't Sai see a dysfunctional team when he came across one. Team seven since she could remember was dysfunctional. It was best for her not to think of those times, but for the sake of her mission she had to bring back some old memories. A rather annoying thing to have to do, still she already had a full report on the current and former team seven already.

Haruno Sakura, trained under the Hokage Tsunade. Super human strength. High level intelligence. Advanced medic-nin and holds the affection of Uzumaki Naruto. Possible affection held by Uchiha Sasuke as well. Not properly cleared yet. It is clear that she holds affection towards Uchiha. More than likely love.

Uzumaki Naruto, trained under the legendary Sanin Jiraiya. Due to not being in the village for two and a half years his skills are still slightly unknown. His Rasengan is advanced and he also carried abnormal human strength and healing capabilities. He has a mass chakra reserve and possess the ability to overwhelm opponents with Shadow Clone Jutsu. All this is due to his family background of being an Uzumaki, who carries mass amount of chakra. This is also due to the fact that he is the host of the nine tailed fox. His skill and temper seems to be divided evenly from his parents Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. More so inheriting the Uzumaki temper.

Uchiha Sasuke, trained under traitor and legendary sannin Orochimaru. Sole survivor of the Uchiha massacre done by his older brother, Uchiha Itachi. Mentally damaged from the event. Top of his academy class. Quiet, reserved personality with a large amount of arrogance to go with his skill. At some point while with team seven Uchiha was marked with the curse mark from the snake sannin, corrupted by Orochimaru and possessed with a strong jealous emotion towards Uzumaki that he deflected the village in pursue of enough power to kill his older brother and avenge his family. His family skill is historic and well known, he also had the skill of learning from team seven Sensei Hatake Kakashi, Chidori. Currently he is an excellent swordsman and can correlate that with his Chidori.

Why an unstable person like Uchiha Sasuke needed to learn such a technique was beyond her pay grade. It might have much to do with Hatake having a strong guilt towards the Uchiha clan and feels the need to take Uchiha Sasuke under his wing. Not the best method of rehabilitation, but it was a try.

Upon further research and observation she was able to gather the background of Kakashi as well. From the suicidal father, all the way down to his dead teammates.

The whole team was a walking depression story. Aside from Haruno Sakura, who oddly was placed on team seven even though she mix matched them to a high caliber. It seemed to work out towards the end though, before the team all went there separate ways. It seemed that she was the right source of light that the three males needed.

It did cause for an extremely messy love triangle.

Damaging.

She had kept most of her attention towards tracking down the young Uchiha, but with Uzumaki coming back to the village she spilt her attention between the two with the amazing use of a Shadow Clone.

Uzumaki was bound to make contact with Uchiha Sasuke sooner or later and when he did her job might just get a little easier for the finality of it. Her last target, Sai, was really just to make sure he wasn't breaching any ROOT regulations.

He breached so many fucking regulations.

Sai was top tier in ROOT. She worked with him maybe all of two times. It was an honor really considering how skilled he was. His only problem was that he was…damaged.

After a while in ROOT it was what happened to the best of the members. They hit a burn out. Memories and emotions always end up rearing their ugly heads back to you when you are 'in too deep'.

From what she had been observing Sai became 'in too deep'.

He was falling for the Uzumaki's optimism and high energy. The belief that if you want something to happen that it will eventually get there. That if you fight for what you want, than you will get it. It would be a bumpy road and it will not be easy, but just never give up.

Tsk…a crock of shit really.

She didn't believe in this and found it infuriating that Sai was getting sucked into this shit show. He had far more training and field experience than her. He knew better than to let his emotions get the best of him.

Who cares if these people knew emotions that Sai did not. That was not part of the mission to explore these things. To become envious of it.

The only good thing Hinata got out of observing all of this in the shadow was perfecting her skill in suppressing her chakra and presence to elite ninjas like Yamato, Kakashi, Jiraiya, Tsunade and even Orochimaru. This was no easy task. These people could easily crush her like a bug, and she was sure the snake sannin would waste no time in doing so. Even if he was currently weak.

She also got to witness first-hand the young Uzumaki's little secret. To see him in four tails form, acting like a wild animal and attacking his teammate. How…pitiful he looked after the fact. Team seven really was a twisted love triangle.

The other positive was she found Uchiha Sasuke actual hideout. In the beginning because she kept her distance too far she would lose sight of where he was actually resting his head. Now she knew.

Staying close to Naruto and Sakura got her the closest encounter with the traitor. Following Sai got her the inside depth of everything. She watched how the Uchiha actually got upset with Sai talked negatively about Sasuke's former teammates. This further frustrated her in see how dysfunctional team seven really was. How they had a toxic love/hate relationship for one another.

It annoyed her just watching all of this.

It wasn't her place to step in though. Just to observe and report. The information was enough to make Danzo incredibly proud of her and further aided in her repaying her debt to him.

Still…Sai was no fool on any of this. "You don't have to do this…Wire."

Hinata didn't turn around to look at Sai. He was behind her and she was five miles away from the rest of team seven doing what she did best. Observe.

"Do what Sai?"

Sai continued to stare at her cautiously, frowning at the realization that she was actually on a mission to supervise what he was doing on his missions.

"What Danzo-sama has instructed you to do."

Hinata remained quiet and continued to stare off into the distance. Not missing a beat on the chakra signature of Uzumaki Naruto. "You have failed Sai."

"By choice."

"By choice with the Uchiha as well? You misjudged his dysfunctional affection towards his teammates. Caught in that miserable Sharingan."

They let silence come between the two and Hinata stood up slowly. Noticing that Naruto and Sakura were looking for Sai. She figured they'd picked up on the extra chakra signature for she was a bit more relaxed than usual considering the distance. She would take her leave to best not come into contact and blow her cover that she worked months on.

Granted she was in her uniform and face was covered. Also, she did not go by the name they knew of her by and it would more than likely be difficult for Naruto to remember her since he barely knew her before.

Sakura and her memory, she was not sure and did not want to risk it.

She knew Sai would not say anything about their encounter. If he did that would mean he was talking confidential things about Lord Danzo and she knew he physically could not do that. She turned and looked at him for a moment before disappearing into the trees.

Sai watched her silently as she left. The only reaction he made to their brief encounter was a sigh of frustration.

"Sai! What the hell man. We've been waiting for you at the training grounds. Hey…I sensed someone here with you. Where'd they go?" Naruto gave Sai a curious, skeptical look. Looking at him up and down before Sakura showed up.

"Is she still here?!"

Sai eyes widened at Sakura's words but made no other reaction to her, "She?" Sakura gave him a look that told him to not play with her. That she was not in the mood for him faking ignorance. "Hinata! Where's Hinata! That was her chakra signature right?!"

Sai made no acknowledgement to this. Hinata huh? That was her name this whole time.

"I honestly do not know who you're talking about Sakura. The person that was here was a female with long white hair, tall and had dark eyes. Is that this Hinata you speak of?"

He lied. It wasn't his place to ruin 'Hinata's' mission that she worked on for months.

Sakura looked at him for a long pause and he knew that she wasn't at the level yet to tell if he was lying or not. Not with his experience of the matter. She turned her head to the side in frustration and cursed lightly. "Hinata was someone very important to us Sai."

Well…you could forget about her now. It would be best this way.

"Hinata? Hyuga Hinata was here? Hinata from team eight? Every time I ask about her everyone gets so hush hush and gets upset with me mentioning her. Especially Neji. Sai…was she really not here? Don't lie to us."

Sai thought about it for a second. She seemed to be someone of importance to team seven. He would later investigate on his own her importance to people. "I don't know a Hyuga Hinata. That is me being honest."

He wasn't lying…he didn't know Hyuga Hinata. He honestly never knew the dark-haired girls name. Never knew her back story or anything else about her. He guessed this is why Danzo drilled into them to forget their past and to not be so personal and go by first names. This was an excellent reason why.

Naruto frowned at him though. Not fully believing him. He knew Naruto was a very good judge of character. He could tell when someone was being whole hearted or vindictive. Sai ignored the two though and made his way back to the training ground where they were all supposed to initially meet.

The two would harp on this for maybe a day or two but would ultimately end up letting it drop. This Hinata girl made a slip up revealing herself, but he doubted she would make that mistake again. Well, not on purpose. If he was to see her next time he was sure the end reason would be to take someone's life.

Sure enough not too far below the trees, where Sakura and Naruto were interrogating Sai, hidden was said person. In the dark, suppressed and just…listening. She frowned at her slip up and further frowned at the fact Sai knew her name now. He would use this to his advantage.

So the Haruno knew of her absence for the past three years. This was annoying, but yet none of her concern. She must stay focused or months of work would be for nothing and she wasn't one to waste hard work like this.

Her mission was to observe and until Lord Danzo gave her the order to execute she would simply continue to stay hidden.

He read her reports. Over and over again. Reading how Sai was successful in the beginning at finding Orochimaru and Kabuto. How Orochimaru accepted Sai's offer and took him back to his base. It would seem everything went downhill after that.

The Uchiha and Sai had a negative interaction and Sai was later tracked down by Team Kakashi. It would seem the Uzumaki demon was able to struck an emotional cord within Sai that Danzo thought he was able to rid of. As a result to this Sai steered off his true mission and tried to bring in the Uchiha back instead of killing him. Everything resulting in utter failure.

"You did well in gathering this information…Wire."

Ah her name. The only name she has had for four years.

"I will still not act on the Uchiha or Uzumaki just yet. Not with you Wire."

She made no reaction to this. Staring straight ahead, but she was sure he felt her curiosity and frustration of the matter. Why could she not make contact and prove herself? She was certain she could excel in what Sai could not.

"I am not saying this because of your skill. I am sure you could do the deed for me, even if it meant sacrificing your life in the process. You see Orochimaru is forever moving and covering his tracks. Moving from hideout to hideout. This is why you must keep an eye on the Uchiha to make sure he does not disappear again. Me and you are the only ones that know of his exact location. So this is important to handle this situation with caution."

She gave a slight nod in understanding. She noticed his eyes roam over to the picture and report of the Uzumaki and Sai before he paused for a moment to think. "You can do both. I know you have the ability to do it. Watching the Uzumaki for so long I am sure you could easily pull off observing Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke at the same time. Sai is Sai. He will not disclose any crucial information and seems to be no use or threat to me as of right now."

At this he dismissed her and watched as she made her way back into the shadows. It was what she did best.

Some days she found observing people rather informative and worthwhile and other days like this she found it to be utterly boring and pointless. Today had to be a beyond pointless day.

"Neji I'm telling you I felt her chakra signature. She's still in this village."

She watched as the pink haired fire cracker, the blond loud one and Sai all sat with the infamous team Guy in the training grounds.

-Mighty Guy

-Tenten

-Rock Lee

-Hyuga Neji

She made no motion at seeing someone that she remembers as her family member. At this point in their life they were no longer family. They were enemies if it boiled down to it. If she was instructed that they were.

There wasn't much about this team that isn't widespread news. Guy's back story and track record was something she assumed many knew about. It was almost a fairy tail 'zero to hero' story. How the man worked his way from the bottom of being considered a complete joke to being a man many people respected and feared.

Rock Lee was his protégé and was up and coming on the same skills as his sensei. Similar back story and similar thrive for greatness.

Tenten…very skilled in her weaponry. An intelligent and supportive teammate. Honestly the only use she had for this person was that she had affection for the famous Hyuga Neji. Whether he acknowledged those feelings were still unclear, but it would be useful to use in the future.

It would seem Sakura had went out her way to find this team and talk directly to Neji. He was the only person other than her father that knew where she was and that knew she was still in the village. She often wondered if he used his Byakugan to keep track of her.

It would be only fair, she used hers the same way on him. Almost every day really.

Neji would not disclose information about her though. She knew that much for certain and his poker face was made into perfection. Sakura wouldn't be getting any information from him.

"Sakura…why does this concern any of you? This sounds too farfetched to even be true. All of a sudden Lady Hinata's chakra signature appears out of nowhere. Please do not try to bring false hope this way. Leave me alone."

He looked annoyed speaking to her, and Hinata knew he was more annoyed that he had to lie to cover his cousins tracks. He spoke in a manner he was sure Hinata heard and understood that he was annoyed about her being caught. Oh so he did keep tabs on her. How sweet.

Don't worry Neji. This will not be happening again.

Sakura seemed to be thrown off by Neji's lack of caring. She could have sworn the older Hyuga formed a bond with Hinata the same way as the rest of the Rookie 9. "How could you say it like that? It's Hinata…she just disappeared, and no one has heard from her. Kurenai-sensei has been in distress for years along with Kiba and-and that Shino!"

Neji sent her a heated look at the hint that she was giving off. The words hanging in the air that everyone seemed to care about her disappearance except her own family. It was worse enough himself and Lord Hiashi were painted as cold-hearted people that emotionally scarred Hinata. On top of that to have it thrown in your face by an outsider was rather…infuriating.

Still, he wouldn't let Sakura get under his skin.

"Tsk…whatever Sakura. Do not bother me with this." He would endure the slander for Hinata's sake. It was the least he could do for his cousin. She was forever supportive of him. Even when he was absolutely the worse to her. So he would give her the same support, even if it's from a distance.

Also. If he was being honest with himself. He missed her.

Naruto looked confused at what was going on. True when he got back to the village he did look for Hinata. He noticed the somber expressions of Kiba and Shino and how they didn't really have an answer for him. He didn't think of approaching her former sensei, it really never crossed his mind that she was in some type of… distress or danger.

"Is everything okay with her Neji? Was she okay the last time you saw her?"

Neji further frowned at this and had to force himself not to shoot Naruto with an enraged face. Flashes of the night she left often come flooding to his mind. The look of complete defeat on her innocent face.

How she felt like an utter coward. How she was practically kicked out and banished from the clan.

How she accepted this for the good of her sister Hanabi. How he had to lie to Hanabi and deal with a crying little girl that was utterly HURT her sister was gone. Hanabi is still healing. She has become quite the heir to the Hyuga clan. Proving herself time and time again, but she was still mourning her sister. Her protector.

Hinata endured and so would he.

"Dobe…drop it. What is the matter with the two of you? Why are you concerning yourselves with someone you two care little to nothing about. What is this? Hot gossip among your graduating class? Grow up. Sakura, you treated Hinata as a chew toy you would throw to Naruto just so he would leave you alone. And you. You moron. You never even bothered to really know anything about her other than thinking she was always sick. By the way she was NEVER sick. Why the hell would a sick person cook for you and waste her breath talking to an idiot like you. Leave me alone with your stupid, ridiculous theories and don't come back to speak to me about the issue. It's a dead issue in the Hyuga compound and it's a dead issue to me now."

This seemed to rile up the young blond. How could Neji be so inconsiderate about Hinata. They all cared about the quiet girl and the thought of her being in an unpleasant situation made his stomach turn. "What the hell did you say to me?! What the hell are you talking about?! Hinata was our friend…my friend! We practically knew each other since we were in single digits. Meanwhile you were being a total dick to her the whole time and ruining her self-esteem-"

Naruto didn't finish his sentence when Neji sprung up and yoked his collar up and held him in mid-air. "Finish that sentence again you shit for brains. I dare you. Hinata was your so called 'friend' yet you still know nothing about her. Do me a favor and drop the issue and go back to filling your promise to your female affection. It seems to be the only thing you can actually focus on anyways. Look at yourselves, all this focus and misery for a guy that gives two shits about you two."

"Neji!"

"Hey, Neji cut it out!"

"That's enough Neji!"

The two men stared at each other heatedly before Neji released Naruto and glared at him. They shared a look for a moment longer before Neji decided he was done with the conversation and went back to his teammates that were yelling for his attention.

In the shadows Hinata continued to stare at the altercation with an owlish look. Yes, if one thing was certain, she knew Neji wasn't going to tell anyone about the Hyuga's Second Affair secret.

He would just live with being the bad guy. Shouldn't be too hard for him.