Sakura wanted to tell Naruto that he picked the worse time to now want to notice Hinata. Now that she was a totally different person and wasn't the sweet, shy, ball of love that she once was before.
When it was first reported that Hinata was missing their whole graduating class was in a panic. Especially her teammates and sensei. Now that Sakura was thinking about the whole situation, she should have suspected something and connected the dots when it appeared that her own family especially her cousin Neji didn't seem to be in that much distress.
That being said, Hinata, she was sad to admit, was not the Hinata she'd like to remember or even be around. This Hinata was…bitter. She had a chip on her shoulder and Sakura wasn't sure if it was directed to them or to the situation Hinata put herself in.
Sakura was in the Hokage's office, she was there to listen to Hinata basically explain that her family pretty much forced her into a situation she never wanted to be in. She couldn't imagine if that was her life, if that was the only two options her parents gave her.
She sighed to herself, clearly feeling troubled for the Hinata she once knew. She also sighed at seeing the strangely silent Naruto leaning against a tree, tossing a kunai in the air. "Naruto. Just let the whole Hinata thing go."
She paused for a moment when his eyes slid over to her direction and frowned at her, "What do you mean let it go? She's just out here killing people for personal gain. She almost killed Sasuke. She's going to continue to try to kill him. She's…I don't even know who she is anymore."
Sakura looked at Naruto in concern as he gripped his hair in frustration and leaned over still venting, "I just don't understand…why they would do this to her. Why she turned into such an angry, evil, gremlin and decided to just turn on herfriends."
She wanted to point out that technically Sasuke wasn't Hinata's friend. She didn't even socialize with him. Sakura didn't even think they said one word to one another. So of course Hinata could care less about Sasuke.
"What could you have done for her Naruto? What could any of you have done for her? You were all 13 years old when this happened." Naruto looked up at Sai, who wasn't even looking at them, more concerned with his sketching, and digested his words, Sai did have a miserable point.
"Sai's right Naruto. It pains me to admit that by the way. Still, we were all too young. Immature and lost. Sasuke is still lost. Hinata admitted to being scared. She is the only one other than Neji that we know of to know first-hand what the curse seal from the Hyuga clan can do. I've seen Neji terrified of it being used against him. So I can imagine Hinata being petrified of it being placed on her or her sister. If she was only given those two options than I am sure ANYONE would have chosen leaving with Danzo. I agree with Lady Tsunade, Hinata isn't a coward."
Naruto leaned back on the tree again and closed his eyes, "I don't think she's a coward either. Even back when we were younger I thought she was strong. Weird, but strong and cool. Still, I can't shake this feeling like that…she hates me or something. Like personally hates me. The things she says directly to me are so harsh and like what the fuck. Ya know?"
"Oh she definitely doesn't like you. She might even hate you."
Naruto and Sakura gave Sai a sharp look. He looked indifferent to the heated stares and kept on scribbling in his sketch book.
"I'm being honest. You put a dent into her mission with Sasuke. She planned out her killing him almost flawlessly really and you held back in your fight against him. You left him with too much fight in him that he could still move. Her blow to his chest would have been accurate if you didn't move him. She sees you as his savior and forever being in her way from completing her mission. It more than likely took her several months maybe even longer to gain the intel on Sasuke and you ruined everything she's worked for in minutes. I would hate you too."
Naruto's face glowed a deep red. Not sure if it was from frustration or embarrassment. "I…but still! You came from the same organization and even you are trying to help us with Sasuke!"
"I am interested in the relationship you all share. The bond. It would be a shame to see it all shattered. Wire from what I've discovered has experienced bonds and relationships previously before ROOT. She must have decided that her work with Danzo-sama is more important than the emotional aspect of life. I can guarantee after her debriefing with Danzo-sama about her failure to complete her mission, she won't let a situation happen again similar to the Akatsuki man and Neji. I believe next time she meets Sasuke she will kill him."
Naruto sits up sharply and stares at the ground in thought. Everything Sai was saying was indeed very harsh realism, but it was something he needed to hear he supposed. Looking from Hinata's point of view, someone that has no connection to Sasuke, it made sense for her to be upset. This was a mission, and this made her look like a failure.
However, he just couldn't let go of how snide and cold she was now. How she just chose this fucked up life.
"We'll just have to find Sasuke before she does then."
Sai hummed at this while still busying himself, "You won't."
Sakura gave Sai a pointed look and clenched her jaw to hold in her frustration before folding her arms, "Why is thatSai?"
Finally putting down his sketch pad he gave Naruto and Sakura his full attention and looked to be slightly annoyed with the question. "How? How are you going to stop her first? She had sights on Sasuke probably months before you even knew what direction he was headed to. She probably GAVE the intel of where we were headed to Sasuke for her own gain. She openly admitted that she has been observing you for months as well and you had no clue. You're your sensei, Kakashi had no clue, and she was able to get by many other people of high status. One of them being Orochimaru and your other sensei Jiraiya. She could be out here now. Gaining more information from you. So again, what makes you think you could find Sasuke before she does?"
Sai watched strange emotions run across Naruto's face and was able to catch them as being shock, realization, fear, anger and was that rage or hate?
"Gawwww! Dammit! Why the fuck does she have to be this way?!"
Hinata had to be about a good three miles away as she watched Naruto have a mental breakdown on the discussion about her. This was proving to be one of those annoying days when she would collect information watching him and all the information was basically pointless. Days like this happened, it was just annoying to have the topic focused on her personally.
Naruto was the least of her problems when it came to her mission. Now Uchiha Itachi was added to it. If she wanted to find Sasuke she would have to find his brother first. She knew of Itachi's capabilities and knew she was of no caliber to fight against him. She had to be strategic dealing with him.
Honest, open, an honorable ninja. Everything she was not.
It's not like she wanted Itachi to die or anything. She just wanted to use his connection to get to the younger Uchiha. She confided her plans to Lord Danzo and he was actually oddly helpful. He gave her a lot of detailed information about the Uchiha clan and where their other properties were outside of the village.
Hinata started by sending out a clone to scout one property at a time. She soon started to realize before the massacre, the Uchiha clan was actually pretty wealthy. She also started to realized Lord Danzo knew quite a bit of information relating to the Uchiha clan…that maybe he shouldn't know. Herself being from a well-known clan there were some things outsiders just didn't know. Why did he know so much about this clan.
That was none of her concern though.
To her pleasure she was able to pinpoint one spot. 'The Uchiha Hideout'. A dark run-down place, perfect for a dark family. She noticed Itachi there and noticed how…frail he seemed. Tired and not fully there. She did not doubt that he wasn't still a major threat and refused to get closer than two miles, but still she could tell he was ill.
He had separated from his Akatsuki teammate and she was borderline confused as to why he was here when the masked Akatsuki man had taken Sasuke. Shouldn't they have fought already? Did the masked man not share this information with Itachi? Weren't they all on the same corrupt, evil team? This was all confusing as to why action wasn't taken yet.
Thinking back to her failed mission. Hinata came to a conclusion this masked man was going to be a problem for her.
What was she not seeing about this man? What was she not understanding about him that made him so hard to figure out? She couldn't see his face so how was she supposed to be able to research about him. His chakra system was too much to figure out in the short time span she saw him in. He had to have known about the Hyuga clan to deceive her eyes so easily.
Now that she thought about it, he seemed familiar and knowledgeable on almost everyone there to just be a stranger. He had to AT LEAST be familiar with the hidden leaf village. Maybe he worked side by side with the village for a while…or maybe he was a former Konoha ninja?
This was all guessing and she didn't like to guess. She liked to observe and find out the truth, but unfortunately she wasn't able to do that with this masked man.
Still, the unknown man wanted Sasuke, he saved Sasuke. Itachi and Sasuke haven't battled yet more than likely due to this man. So…just something is telling Hinata this man has a connection to the two Uchiha brothers.
She could just let her clone engage with Itachi? She was sure he knew she was observing him anyways. Plus Lord Danzo approved her to assassinate the younger Uchiha so she could technically make contact with anyone to complete her mission. The worst Itachi could do is destroy her clone. She already knew where the hideout was so no point in worrying on losing his location.
Or maybe she could just give this information to people she was sure would do the right thing with it? Surely the Hokage and Team 7 would love to hear this news. It builds on their trust for her too. It would be a win-win situation she liked to believe. Itachi was in a state that with the right man power he could be captured. This would aid in baiting Sasuke, thus completing her mission.
Perfect
"This is some detailed information you were able to acquire Hinata. I am beyond curious how you were able to achieve it in such a short time."
Tsunade looked over the information Hinata gave her once more before looking up at the young Hyuga, who was fully dressed in her ROOT gear down to her dotting her mask on.
The older woman ran her hands through her hair and made a slight sound of annoyance. "So no one is here. Just me and you. Before I bring in Team 7 just tell me this for my own curiosity sake. You're planning on killing Sasuke right? Orders from your Lord and savior Danzo."
The silence given was well enough the answer to Tsunade's question.
The blonde woman sighed loud before looking at Hinata slightly disappointed, "You know. I am not a fan of this prick Sasuke either. Still, for Naruto's sake I'm not going to haul off and order a hit on the kid. There are things you and I both do not know or understand about the Uchiha massacre. Can't you understand the sneaky, unethical shit Danzo has you doing? I have no real reason to have you hauled off and stored away in lock up at the moment so right now I am TRYING to get into that demented head of yours."
There was again a pregnant pause, "Hokage-sama…it is not my place to think about the Uchiha clan. It is not my place to think about Lord Danzo's personal affairs. I just follow orders like every other ninja."
Tsunade tapped her chin like she was in thought, looking up to the ceiling with her lips pursed. "Yes, ninjas are given orders every day. Some more dark and emotional than others. I wish to stop such violence, to stop the bloodshed Hinata. Someday…that is my wish. Well tell me this Hinata. Since you are so dedicated to Danzo, would you rather him be in this seat as Hokage than me?"
Tsunade couldn't see Hinata's face, but she knew behind that mask was a conflicted look. "You cannot even answer a simple question. I'm beginning to think you hate this man just as much as I do. I get it, somewhat. You have this weird sense of debt that you owe him. Which by the way, you owe him nothing. Don't worry, I won't mess with that confused little brain of yours any longer. I am going to pass this information down to Team 7, but Ibetternot even catch a hint that you left the village to follow them. If I find out you followed them, I'll make the order to personally punish you myself. Is that clear?"
It was no problem for Hinata. Her goal was to assassinate Uchiha Sasuke, not Itachi. Having him successfully brought back to the village would make her job easier when Sasuke would so obviously pursue him. She bowed at Tsunade before speaking, "I understand Hokage-sama."
Tsunade rolled her eyes before ushering Hinata out the office when she heard another knock at her door. More than likely Team 7, "Oh and Hinata. If Danzo tells you to do ANYTHING that you are uncomfortable with you come tell me. You understand. You remember that you are not his tool. He knows your weakness and he will use it against you."
Her back was facing Tsunade when she stiffened at her words. Hinata turned her head slightly and nodded towards Tsunade before opening her door and being face to face with the blonde boy she'd rather continue avoiding.
Naruto blinked at seeing Hinata. He remembered her ROOT mask, height, smell, and stature enough to know when it was her. "What are you doing here?"
Ignoring his question Hinata maneuvered by him and left the office. Just the blatant fact that she pretty much said a silent 'fuck you' and left without answering his question like he wasnothingwas infuriating. She just ignored him like he wasn't there, he might as well had been a pile of shit beneath her feet.
God did she work on hisfucking nerves.
Kakashi put a hand on Naruto's shoulder before gently pushing him into the office, "Just let it go Naruto."
Tsunade grinned at the peeved look on Naruto's face, it would seem that he found a new fixation. "Don't get all annoying on me brat. Besides, you should be thanking 'Wire' for her hard work. She really is going out her way to help you guys out."
Naruto frowned at this in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"Well, she was able to give me detailed information where Uchiha Itachi is right now. She said that he is ill so now would be the best time to capture him. He is located in a Uchiha hideout. Leave as soon as possible. According to Hinata it would take some time for Sasuke to heal. Even with an advanced healer like that red head he has around Hinata messed with his heart. That is beyond precious and takes detailed focus and TIME to heal. Giving you a select window to get moving."
Tsunade pulled out a scroll and tossed it to Sakura, "These are his exact locations. More than likely just because he's ill doesn't mean he isn't a dangerous threat. So be careful."
After being dismissed and everyone separating to prepare there things so they could meet at the gates, Naruto couldn't help but feel…played. Something wasn't right. Hinata just so happened to want to cooperate with them now? How long has she had this information before she decided to give it up and 'help'.
She was using them again, but for what? She said her mission was to kill Sasuke. Why was she aiding to get Itachi? Did she really think Sasuke would be crazy enough to come back to the village just to kill Itachi?
Well actually. That sounded exactly like something he would do.
This had to be her plan. This had to be what she was hoping would happen. Itachi would be used as bait so she could kill Sasuke. Did she really think it would be that simple?
Hinata stood facing Itachi, who was sitting in a thrown like chair looking at her in a bored manner. "So, my younger brother has abandoned his village to seek power from Orochimaru so he could better himself to kill me. He's almost killed his former teammates numerous times and overall is losing his mind. Danzo is also seeking to have him killed by you. So pretty much there is a bounty on my brothers head from not only his village, but other villages as well because he is a rogue criminal and he is slowly going insane with darkness. Also a 'masked man' from Akatsuki saved Sasuke when you almost killed him and Sasuke is in his care."
She watched as Itachi rubbed his face in a tired manner and let out a deep sigh, "Also team 7 should be on their way here to attempt to 'capture me'."
"Yes to all of your assumptions." She continued to look at him on guard as he leaned back in his chair and looked at her with a sharp glare, "Why should I believe anything you say clone? You are attempting to kill my brother are you not. How do I not know you are not attempting to do the same with me?"
Hinata pushed her mask to the side so Itachi could see her equally tired worn out pupil-less eyes. "There was a story I was once told. It could be a folk tale, or it could be true. I cherish the story none the less because the story reminds me of myself. Would you like to hear it?"
Itachi stared at her for a moment in silence before motioning with his hands for her to continue.
"It's about an older sibling that would do anything for his little brother…"