Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mokushita Hyuuga ❯ Chapter 16
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Moghedian 
Disclaimer: Naruto and all related characters belong to Kishimoto, not me.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 12.24.2006 | Updated On: 02.11.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 641 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: Naruto and all related characters belong to Kishimoto, not me.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 12.24.2006 | Updated On: 02.11.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 641 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 16
Wringing the water out of the cloth she was holding, Hinata glanced over at her new aquaintance with worry. Getting him to her hotel was bothersome, as he was much bigger than her.
Placing the cool cloth on his forehead, Hinata ran a finger along a scar that decorated his face from the corner of his eye to the edge of his mouth.
"Having fun?" Katoki said, Hinata squeaked and nearly jumped a foot.
Opening his eyes, Katoki sat up and grabbed the wet cloth before it landed on his lap. Putting his hand to his forehead, he said,
"How long was I out?" Hinata blinked and tried to force that blood that had collected to her cheeks back.
"A-a few hours. Are you ok? I mean, you just collapsed!" She said. Leaning onto her fists in front of her.
"Yea, I'm fine. Am I in your hotel?" Hinata nodded. Katoki sat up properly and after a few minutes of silence, asked,
"Um...Your eyes...Byakugan right?" Hinata stiffened, but nodded, Katoki continued, "Sa...The boy had those too...do alot of people with your eyes have the same dark hair?" Hinata looked questionly at Katoki.
"Most of the people with my eyes have dark hair, yes. Every once in a while someone marries outside the clan and you get the lighter haired ones." Katoki nodded slowly.
"So your husband has the blonde hair? Where is he? Was he with you when you were watching the boy?" Hinata grimaced.
"He did have blonde hair...and as where he is...He's dead. He died before Kouden was born."
"Oh! I'm sorry! Oh kami-sama..." Katoki said, his eyes wide and and his hands waving.
"It's ok. It was along time ago." Hinata stared at Katoki.
"Can I ask where you got those scars? The uh...the ones on your face?" Hinata asked, blushing slightly. Katoki just rubbed the back of his head.
"I...I dont know." Hinata looked at Katoki, her pale eyes full of questions. Katoki continued.
"When I was younger...I woke up in the hospital, with no memories. I didn't even know my name. I have no idea how old I am, or where I am from. I had asked the nurses about these scars here," Katoki guestured at the one that Hinata had been stroking, "She said that they were bleeding when I arrived at the hospital, So I assumed that I had recieved them when I lost my memory." Hinata nodded.
"What hidden village are you from?" She said.
"Why do you figure that I'm a shinobi?"
"You've obviously heard of my byakugan, so I'm sure you know what it can do. I saw your coils. Well developed from long Chakra usage. And I saw you climb the tree." Katoki laughed and rubbed the back of his head. Hinata's heart panged painfully.
"What's wrong?" Katoki said, seeing the suddenly painful look on his rescuer's face.
"Uh...nothing. It's just that my husband used to do that," she gestured his actions. "before he died. But anyway, what hidden village are you from? You never answered me." Katoki paused.
"Kumogakure. What about you?" Hinata jolted. Kumogakure?
"What?" Hinata said angrily, Katoki almost smacked himself on the forehead.
"Sa! Sorry again. You must be wary because of that incident. I studied it once for my Jounin exam...the group that tried to capture the Hyuuga heir all those years ago, all the survivors that made it to Kumogakure were charged with trying to start a war. Our Raikage is much like your Sandaime was. Peace-loving. That rebel group were all executed." Hinata wilted visably. A small smile of relief dressed her face.
"Konohagakure, for me. But you should have known that." Hinata said.
"Ahh, yes. I should have. What rank? I'm ANBU." Katoki said, with a grin of pride. He even smiles like Naruto-kun...
"Uh...I was chuunin."
"Was?" Katoki asked. Hinata wrung her fingers, trying not to slip into her habit of pushing her index fingers together.
"I'm considered dead to my village." Katoki blinked. "I'de rather not talk about it." She said.
Katoki's stomache took this as an ample oppurtunity to growl, rather loudly. Hinata giggled and Katoki chuckled.
"Do you want to get something to eat?" Katoki said. Hinata nodded and helped her new friend up to his feet.
"Do you have any food preferences?" Hinata asked, as the two walked down the semi crowded streets. Katoki was silent before saying,
"Dango? Do you like it? We have an awesome dango stand back home." Hinata gave a small giggle.
"I love dango, it's one of my favorite foods." Katoki smiled as hard as he could, and let Hinata lead him through the streets to the dango stand she had found the previous day. Sitting at a small table in the corner of the small restaurant, Hinata twiddled her thumbs while Katoki just stared at her.
"A-ano....When was the first time you had dango, Katoki-san?" Hinata said, cursing to herself for stuttering. Katoki looked to his left before answering.
"Uh...I think it was a few days after I woke up...from the hospital, of course...But I was wandering the streets, taking in sights and sounds that were completely new to me. I had turned a random corner, and saw this small restaurant. It just drew me in, for some reason...and after finding out it was a dango stand, I ordered some, and fell in love with it." Hinata smiled. Katoki did as well, but Hinata suspected that he was leaving something out.
She didn't mind though. Some secrets were meant to be kept quiet.
"Ne, Hinata-san...what about you? When was the first time you had dango?" Katoki said, Hinata blushed slightly.
"Uhn...I can't remember, I was so young...the cooks at my manor always cooked some. I never really liked it...but on the day I became a genin, my team and I went out to a small restaurant, kind of like this one..."
"Hinata! What do you want?" Kiba's loud voice called out. Hinata cringed, and resisted the urge to put her hands over her ears.
"A-ano...Kiba-s-san...you a-are standing 2 f-feet away..." Hinata said softly, hoping she didn't offend.
Kiba just rubbed the back of his brown mop and grinned, showing his elongated canines. A small yip came from Kiba's jacket as Akamaru's small white head popped up near Kiba's neck.
"So...What did you want to order?" Kiba said, much quieter this time. Hinata just blushed slightly and stared at the menu.
"I suggest the dango. I hear it's very good here." Hinata's quieter teammate, Shino, said. Hinata just nodded, and let Kurenai order the food for her.
When it finally arrived, their table was a mess. Kiba had spilled his water all over Akamaru, who jumped out of Kiba's jacket, and spilled Kurenai's coffee all over her jounin flak vest, and getting a few splatters on Shino's white jacket. Hinata couldn't see his mouth properly, but she was very good at reading emotions. He almost radiated disdain for his loud mouth teammate. Hinata just sat in the corner and tried to blend in with the wall. Her face almost as red as Kurenai's pants, Hinata tried to sink into herself.
When Shino calmly took the dango from the waitress's hands, he handed a stick to Hinata. Placing the tray on the table, making sure that Kurenai and Kiba's squabbling wouldn't hit it.
God-forbid if they ruined Shino's dango.
Hinata stuck the sticky ball in her mouth, and nearly melted.
"Mmm! This is good!" She said, Shino nodded and popped his own ball of sticky goodness into his mouth.
"Kurenai-sensei ended up thumping Kiba-kun so hard that his head broke the table on the way down. We never made her mad after that." Hinata said, she felt very happy being able to talk about happy memories.
"That's awesome! My genin team were alot younger than me, so they treated me like a big brother, but I acheived chuunin a few months later. Once on a mission to Amegakure, they, and our sensei took us to a ramen stand. That stuff almost rivals dango! Have you ever had ramen?" Hinata blinked. Her mood instantly shifted.
"Uhn...Yes. There were several ramen stands in Konoha." Katoki hissed.
"Sorry again. That look means that I've brought up bad memories. I'll just...not talk about ramen anymore." Katoki laughed and waved Hinata's sad face away.
The rest of their hour long, many dango'ed conversation went without a hitch. Walking out the restaurant, Katoki looked at the sun, which had just set.
"Sa! I need to get back, I didn't tell my partner I was leaving." Hinata smiled but felt sad.
"Will you be here tomorrow?" She couldn't help but ask. Katoki paused. A smile that copied hers was on his face.
"Probably not. I'm actually on a mission. Sa...If you come here, at maybe 5 am, we could have one last dango together?" Katoki said, Hinata blushed slightly before nodding.
This is almost like a date!! inner-Hinata nearly screamed. Hinata nearly jumped. The bold Hinata hadn't shown herself in a few years. When she looked back up at Katoki, she was shocked to find that he was already gone.
"I address you today, on a wonderous note." The dark room, with it's dark stone walls, bounced every sound off of it's walls, amplifieing the androgenous voice.
"The jutsu has been completed. With an accuracy rating of nearly 100, it's finally time to put our wonderous plan into motion." The speaker raised it's fist up, letting a glimpse of pale hand show.
Tatari nearly shouted with glee. Finally! she thought, I can prove myself to Leader-sama! Swishing her long, and currently unbound red hair, she shot a look at the woman who sat beside her. On her black cloak, the symbol of Kirigakure shinobi. The four curved lines were set in light blue, and made the blue of her eyes glaringly obvious. The woman with blue eyes's mouth twitched.
Tatari knew that the woman wanted to stick her tongue out at Tatari, almost as much as she wanted to kill her. Pretending nothing happened, they both turned their attentions back to the nameless leader. Tatari tried to get another glimpse of him, or her, but was thwarted. The dark of the cave was too much.
After the speach ended, The leader had the only other hooded outlaw hand out scrolls. Each one had the symbol of their respective countries on them. Turning around Tatari bumped into Satoshi, who seemed to ignore her untill the leader had left with the other hooded person.
"I'm gonna find my target before you do, Tatari!" The woman said, sounding very much like a 12 year old. Tatari wrinkled her nose, and ignored the sighs that came from both Satoshi, and her rival's partner.
"Yea right! I've already found mine! I've been keeping tabs on her for nearly 4 years, Kasumi-chaaan~!" Kasumi's face turned red and she brandished a polished kunai from her cloak. Her partner stepped in and took the weapon from her hand.
"That's quite enough. Let's go." He said. The ragged scar that ran across his throat drew Tatari's attention, just like it did everytime she saw the man. Kasumi huffed, but disapeared in a puff of smoke.
The man sighed, but fixed the scratched out suna hiteate that sat on his forehead, and bowed before he poofed away.
"That was immature, Tatari-chan." Satoshi said. Tatari eyed him with her piercing green eyes. Satoshi, in turned, rolled his brown ones. Reaching out to her, Satoshi pulled her in closer, and smoothed her long hair. Tatari fiddled with the clasp that had been shaped like the cloud on Satoshi's hiteate. She sighed and looked up at her partner.
"When we get vastly strong, and rule the world, alongside Leader-sama, we should have a child." Satoshi grinned. Not even the least bit fazed. Ever since the first time she saw him without his hood on, Tatari had latched herself onto his arm, and never let go. Telling him at least once a day that she should let her bear him a child.
"If, and when." He said. Tatari sighed, and poofed out of his arms. Satoshi followed less than a second later.
"So how did Hinata-san hold up all those years?" Jiraiya asked the small blonde beside him. Kouden finished his ramen in record time, and politly used a napkin to wipe droplets off of his face.
"Kaa-san was always nice and considerate. She didn't tolerate rule breaking though. I remember a few times when I tested her patience, she'd close the tenketsu on my arms." Kouden grinned. He remembered that those time had also been very painful.
"She spaced out alot though. I'de often see her sitting on a low branch near the cabin staring at the sky. When she was out picking vegatables once, I read her diary. They made me sad, even when they were happy." Jiraiya wasn't smiling anymore. Instead he had a thoughtful look on his face.
"From what I remember of her...She was always so attached to Naruto. I can see that losing him, and her place in the village had probably ripped her soul up." He said. Kouden nodded somberly.
"I think she might be dead." Kouden said, bluntly. Jiraiya blinked.
"Why do you say that?" The mighty sannin asked. Kouden fiddled with his chopsticks.
"She hasn't visited me in over three years, when she promised me she would come as often as she could." Kouden paused, looking up at Jiraiya.
"Can we go visit my home? I want to see if she even lives there anymore." Jiraiya stared at his student sadly. At least his father didn't have to go through the pain of losing parents.
"Sure kid. We can leave tomorrow. On the way, I can help you increase your chakra stores even more. You're gonna need them if you ever have hope of summoning Gamabunta." Kouden grinned. He had been at it for nearly two months, and the only frog he could summon was Gamakichi. Gamakichi was a few inches bigger than when Naruto summoned him last, but him and Kouden hit it off great. Kouden often summoned him just to talk and play with.
Ruffling the blondes hair, Jiraiya grinned as he remembered not only ruffling Naruto's spiky blonde mop, but Yondaime's as well. Sigh. Jiraiya was starting to think of retiring. He was getting to old to witness any more tragic lives.
"The clouds are nice..." a tall man wearing a white vest said. Both of his partner's eyebrows twitched, and the little girl standing beside him just nodded in agreement.
"Shikamaru! Watch the clouds later! We're training!" A tall woman in black and dark purple yelled. The third partner, a large man with long spikey brown hair just shoved another chip into his face. The little boy behind him copied him. Shikamaru sighed. Kneeling down to the little girl beside him, he said,
"Zai-chan, can you make your kagemane reach to the that tree?" He said, the girl nodded, eager to please her father, went slowly through a set of seals, and Shikamaru watched as the girl's shadow extended and reached a tree a few metres ahead of them.
"So. Chouji, it's your turn to be the shadow victim. I'll be Inoshi-chan's." Chouji nodded. Whispering something to his red-haired son, the boy nodded and shoved a few more chips in his face before shoving the bag into his pocket. Shikamaru turned to his blonde friend.
"Ino, Inoshi-chan, when you're ready." Ino nodded and pushed her daughter forward. Inoshi blushed and went through the seals for her family jutsu.
"Shi-shitenshin n-no jutsu!" Inoshi blurted. Shikamaru felt a small push at his forehead, but nothing else happened.
"Did it work?" Ino asked. Shikamaru shook his head. Inoshi lowered her arms in defeat. Shikamaru smirked and placed his hand on Inoshi's short blonde hair. The girl looked up at Shikamaru with her dark eyes and Shikamaru said,
"Dont worry. Ino didn't get a hang of the jutsu untill she was 9 years old." Ino's eye twitched and she thumped Shikamaru. Laying on the ground, Shikamaru sighed again.
The clouds are nice... A bird flew across the tree tops, catching Shikamaru's eye.
"Mendokuse...." He said, standing up Shikamaru dusted his vest off. "Alright. I have to report to the Hokage's office, Ino, can you look after Zai-chan until I'm back?" Ino sighed and nodded. Shikazai ran over to Shikamaru and hugged his leg.
"Tou-chan! Can you get me some pocky when you get back?" Shikamaru laughed.
"Yeayea. Just be good for Ino. And don't tease Nazo-kun." Shikazai giggled, and Shikamaru jumped into the nearest tree.
About half way to the Hokage tower, Shikamaru was joined by Kakashi.
"You got called too?" Shikamaru said, landing on a pole and using it to propell him up again. Kakashi nodded and Shikamaru sighed.
Landing on the wall beside the window to Tsunade's office, Shikamaru used chakra to sit on the wall while Kakashi opened the large window. Following Kakshi inside, Tsunade had her hands on her hips.
"Tsch. You know that we have a door, right?" Kakashi laughed and Shikamaru mumbled about things being troublesome.
"You called?" Shikamaru said. Tsunade paused before handing him a scroll. Unrolling it, Shikamaru scanned it before handing it to Kakashi.
"So we have to retrieve a genin? Why was I even called? This doesn't seem to need an ANBU. Besides, it's Kakashi's student. Why am I involved?" Tsunade's eyebrow twitched. Clenching her fist, she hit her desk, it then broke in half, scattering all the papers.
"The Raikage sent all the countries a scroll asking for the return of his grandaughter Migoto, or Ditama Sasami, as we know her. I'm sure he has sent his own nin, probably ANBU, out looking for her. He said that it was to do with politics, which is why I'm sending you. I need you to not only protect her, but if you do encounter any of his nin, deal with them in a politcal manner. Invite them to Konoha so that we can discuss the release of Sasami-chan. Try to keep this as bloodless as possible. Our treaty with the Cloud walks on a knife edge." Shikamaru sighed.
"I need you to tell Shizune that her mission has been aborted. Tell her the client has withdrawn." Kakashi nodded and turned to Shikamaru.
"Main gates in 15 minutes." the grey haired man said before poofing away in a swirl of leaves.
Mendokuse... The black haired man sighed again, and walked out of the room.
End Chapter 16
Saaa, I got my computer back, FINALLY, but It will be gone when school starts again. I will try to update as much as possible untill then. Thank you all for reading this! It makes me very happy!
Wringing the water out of the cloth she was holding, Hinata glanced over at her new aquaintance with worry. Getting him to her hotel was bothersome, as he was much bigger than her.
Placing the cool cloth on his forehead, Hinata ran a finger along a scar that decorated his face from the corner of his eye to the edge of his mouth.
"Having fun?" Katoki said, Hinata squeaked and nearly jumped a foot.
Opening his eyes, Katoki sat up and grabbed the wet cloth before it landed on his lap. Putting his hand to his forehead, he said,
"How long was I out?" Hinata blinked and tried to force that blood that had collected to her cheeks back.
"A-a few hours. Are you ok? I mean, you just collapsed!" She said. Leaning onto her fists in front of her.
"Yea, I'm fine. Am I in your hotel?" Hinata nodded. Katoki sat up properly and after a few minutes of silence, asked,
"Um...Your eyes...Byakugan right?" Hinata stiffened, but nodded, Katoki continued, "Sa...The boy had those too...do alot of people with your eyes have the same dark hair?" Hinata looked questionly at Katoki.
"Most of the people with my eyes have dark hair, yes. Every once in a while someone marries outside the clan and you get the lighter haired ones." Katoki nodded slowly.
"So your husband has the blonde hair? Where is he? Was he with you when you were watching the boy?" Hinata grimaced.
"He did have blonde hair...and as where he is...He's dead. He died before Kouden was born."
"Oh! I'm sorry! Oh kami-sama..." Katoki said, his eyes wide and and his hands waving.
"It's ok. It was along time ago." Hinata stared at Katoki.
"Can I ask where you got those scars? The uh...the ones on your face?" Hinata asked, blushing slightly. Katoki just rubbed the back of his head.
"I...I dont know." Hinata looked at Katoki, her pale eyes full of questions. Katoki continued.
"When I was younger...I woke up in the hospital, with no memories. I didn't even know my name. I have no idea how old I am, or where I am from. I had asked the nurses about these scars here," Katoki guestured at the one that Hinata had been stroking, "She said that they were bleeding when I arrived at the hospital, So I assumed that I had recieved them when I lost my memory." Hinata nodded.
"What hidden village are you from?" She said.
"Why do you figure that I'm a shinobi?"
"You've obviously heard of my byakugan, so I'm sure you know what it can do. I saw your coils. Well developed from long Chakra usage. And I saw you climb the tree." Katoki laughed and rubbed the back of his head. Hinata's heart panged painfully.
"What's wrong?" Katoki said, seeing the suddenly painful look on his rescuer's face.
"Uh...nothing. It's just that my husband used to do that," she gestured his actions. "before he died. But anyway, what hidden village are you from? You never answered me." Katoki paused.
"Kumogakure. What about you?" Hinata jolted. Kumogakure?
"What?" Hinata said angrily, Katoki almost smacked himself on the forehead.
"Sa! Sorry again. You must be wary because of that incident. I studied it once for my Jounin exam...the group that tried to capture the Hyuuga heir all those years ago, all the survivors that made it to Kumogakure were charged with trying to start a war. Our Raikage is much like your Sandaime was. Peace-loving. That rebel group were all executed." Hinata wilted visably. A small smile of relief dressed her face.
"Konohagakure, for me. But you should have known that." Hinata said.
"Ahh, yes. I should have. What rank? I'm ANBU." Katoki said, with a grin of pride. He even smiles like Naruto-kun...
"Uh...I was chuunin."
"Was?" Katoki asked. Hinata wrung her fingers, trying not to slip into her habit of pushing her index fingers together.
"I'm considered dead to my village." Katoki blinked. "I'de rather not talk about it." She said.
Katoki's stomache took this as an ample oppurtunity to growl, rather loudly. Hinata giggled and Katoki chuckled.
"Do you want to get something to eat?" Katoki said. Hinata nodded and helped her new friend up to his feet.
"Do you have any food preferences?" Hinata asked, as the two walked down the semi crowded streets. Katoki was silent before saying,
"Dango? Do you like it? We have an awesome dango stand back home." Hinata gave a small giggle.
"I love dango, it's one of my favorite foods." Katoki smiled as hard as he could, and let Hinata lead him through the streets to the dango stand she had found the previous day. Sitting at a small table in the corner of the small restaurant, Hinata twiddled her thumbs while Katoki just stared at her.
"A-ano....When was the first time you had dango, Katoki-san?" Hinata said, cursing to herself for stuttering. Katoki looked to his left before answering.
"Uh...I think it was a few days after I woke up...from the hospital, of course...But I was wandering the streets, taking in sights and sounds that were completely new to me. I had turned a random corner, and saw this small restaurant. It just drew me in, for some reason...and after finding out it was a dango stand, I ordered some, and fell in love with it." Hinata smiled. Katoki did as well, but Hinata suspected that he was leaving something out.
She didn't mind though. Some secrets were meant to be kept quiet.
"Ne, Hinata-san...what about you? When was the first time you had dango?" Katoki said, Hinata blushed slightly.
"Uhn...I can't remember, I was so young...the cooks at my manor always cooked some. I never really liked it...but on the day I became a genin, my team and I went out to a small restaurant, kind of like this one..."
"Hinata! What do you want?" Kiba's loud voice called out. Hinata cringed, and resisted the urge to put her hands over her ears.
"A-ano...Kiba-s-san...you a-are standing 2 f-feet away..." Hinata said softly, hoping she didn't offend.
Kiba just rubbed the back of his brown mop and grinned, showing his elongated canines. A small yip came from Kiba's jacket as Akamaru's small white head popped up near Kiba's neck.
"So...What did you want to order?" Kiba said, much quieter this time. Hinata just blushed slightly and stared at the menu.
"I suggest the dango. I hear it's very good here." Hinata's quieter teammate, Shino, said. Hinata just nodded, and let Kurenai order the food for her.
When it finally arrived, their table was a mess. Kiba had spilled his water all over Akamaru, who jumped out of Kiba's jacket, and spilled Kurenai's coffee all over her jounin flak vest, and getting a few splatters on Shino's white jacket. Hinata couldn't see his mouth properly, but she was very good at reading emotions. He almost radiated disdain for his loud mouth teammate. Hinata just sat in the corner and tried to blend in with the wall. Her face almost as red as Kurenai's pants, Hinata tried to sink into herself.
When Shino calmly took the dango from the waitress's hands, he handed a stick to Hinata. Placing the tray on the table, making sure that Kurenai and Kiba's squabbling wouldn't hit it.
God-forbid if they ruined Shino's dango.
Hinata stuck the sticky ball in her mouth, and nearly melted.
"Mmm! This is good!" She said, Shino nodded and popped his own ball of sticky goodness into his mouth.
"Kurenai-sensei ended up thumping Kiba-kun so hard that his head broke the table on the way down. We never made her mad after that." Hinata said, she felt very happy being able to talk about happy memories.
"That's awesome! My genin team were alot younger than me, so they treated me like a big brother, but I acheived chuunin a few months later. Once on a mission to Amegakure, they, and our sensei took us to a ramen stand. That stuff almost rivals dango! Have you ever had ramen?" Hinata blinked. Her mood instantly shifted.
"Uhn...Yes. There were several ramen stands in Konoha." Katoki hissed.
"Sorry again. That look means that I've brought up bad memories. I'll just...not talk about ramen anymore." Katoki laughed and waved Hinata's sad face away.
The rest of their hour long, many dango'ed conversation went without a hitch. Walking out the restaurant, Katoki looked at the sun, which had just set.
"Sa! I need to get back, I didn't tell my partner I was leaving." Hinata smiled but felt sad.
"Will you be here tomorrow?" She couldn't help but ask. Katoki paused. A smile that copied hers was on his face.
"Probably not. I'm actually on a mission. Sa...If you come here, at maybe 5 am, we could have one last dango together?" Katoki said, Hinata blushed slightly before nodding.
This is almost like a date!! inner-Hinata nearly screamed. Hinata nearly jumped. The bold Hinata hadn't shown herself in a few years. When she looked back up at Katoki, she was shocked to find that he was already gone.
"I address you today, on a wonderous note." The dark room, with it's dark stone walls, bounced every sound off of it's walls, amplifieing the androgenous voice.
"The jutsu has been completed. With an accuracy rating of nearly 100, it's finally time to put our wonderous plan into motion." The speaker raised it's fist up, letting a glimpse of pale hand show.
Tatari nearly shouted with glee. Finally! she thought, I can prove myself to Leader-sama! Swishing her long, and currently unbound red hair, she shot a look at the woman who sat beside her. On her black cloak, the symbol of Kirigakure shinobi. The four curved lines were set in light blue, and made the blue of her eyes glaringly obvious. The woman with blue eyes's mouth twitched.
Tatari knew that the woman wanted to stick her tongue out at Tatari, almost as much as she wanted to kill her. Pretending nothing happened, they both turned their attentions back to the nameless leader. Tatari tried to get another glimpse of him, or her, but was thwarted. The dark of the cave was too much.
After the speach ended, The leader had the only other hooded outlaw hand out scrolls. Each one had the symbol of their respective countries on them. Turning around Tatari bumped into Satoshi, who seemed to ignore her untill the leader had left with the other hooded person.
"I'm gonna find my target before you do, Tatari!" The woman said, sounding very much like a 12 year old. Tatari wrinkled her nose, and ignored the sighs that came from both Satoshi, and her rival's partner.
"Yea right! I've already found mine! I've been keeping tabs on her for nearly 4 years, Kasumi-chaaan~!" Kasumi's face turned red and she brandished a polished kunai from her cloak. Her partner stepped in and took the weapon from her hand.
"That's quite enough. Let's go." He said. The ragged scar that ran across his throat drew Tatari's attention, just like it did everytime she saw the man. Kasumi huffed, but disapeared in a puff of smoke.
The man sighed, but fixed the scratched out suna hiteate that sat on his forehead, and bowed before he poofed away.
"That was immature, Tatari-chan." Satoshi said. Tatari eyed him with her piercing green eyes. Satoshi, in turned, rolled his brown ones. Reaching out to her, Satoshi pulled her in closer, and smoothed her long hair. Tatari fiddled with the clasp that had been shaped like the cloud on Satoshi's hiteate. She sighed and looked up at her partner.
"When we get vastly strong, and rule the world, alongside Leader-sama, we should have a child." Satoshi grinned. Not even the least bit fazed. Ever since the first time she saw him without his hood on, Tatari had latched herself onto his arm, and never let go. Telling him at least once a day that she should let her bear him a child.
"If, and when." He said. Tatari sighed, and poofed out of his arms. Satoshi followed less than a second later.
"So how did Hinata-san hold up all those years?" Jiraiya asked the small blonde beside him. Kouden finished his ramen in record time, and politly used a napkin to wipe droplets off of his face.
"Kaa-san was always nice and considerate. She didn't tolerate rule breaking though. I remember a few times when I tested her patience, she'd close the tenketsu on my arms." Kouden grinned. He remembered that those time had also been very painful.
"She spaced out alot though. I'de often see her sitting on a low branch near the cabin staring at the sky. When she was out picking vegatables once, I read her diary. They made me sad, even when they were happy." Jiraiya wasn't smiling anymore. Instead he had a thoughtful look on his face.
"From what I remember of her...She was always so attached to Naruto. I can see that losing him, and her place in the village had probably ripped her soul up." He said. Kouden nodded somberly.
"I think she might be dead." Kouden said, bluntly. Jiraiya blinked.
"Why do you say that?" The mighty sannin asked. Kouden fiddled with his chopsticks.
"She hasn't visited me in over three years, when she promised me she would come as often as she could." Kouden paused, looking up at Jiraiya.
"Can we go visit my home? I want to see if she even lives there anymore." Jiraiya stared at his student sadly. At least his father didn't have to go through the pain of losing parents.
"Sure kid. We can leave tomorrow. On the way, I can help you increase your chakra stores even more. You're gonna need them if you ever have hope of summoning Gamabunta." Kouden grinned. He had been at it for nearly two months, and the only frog he could summon was Gamakichi. Gamakichi was a few inches bigger than when Naruto summoned him last, but him and Kouden hit it off great. Kouden often summoned him just to talk and play with.
Ruffling the blondes hair, Jiraiya grinned as he remembered not only ruffling Naruto's spiky blonde mop, but Yondaime's as well. Sigh. Jiraiya was starting to think of retiring. He was getting to old to witness any more tragic lives.
"The clouds are nice..." a tall man wearing a white vest said. Both of his partner's eyebrows twitched, and the little girl standing beside him just nodded in agreement.
"Shikamaru! Watch the clouds later! We're training!" A tall woman in black and dark purple yelled. The third partner, a large man with long spikey brown hair just shoved another chip into his face. The little boy behind him copied him. Shikamaru sighed. Kneeling down to the little girl beside him, he said,
"Zai-chan, can you make your kagemane reach to the that tree?" He said, the girl nodded, eager to please her father, went slowly through a set of seals, and Shikamaru watched as the girl's shadow extended and reached a tree a few metres ahead of them.
"So. Chouji, it's your turn to be the shadow victim. I'll be Inoshi-chan's." Chouji nodded. Whispering something to his red-haired son, the boy nodded and shoved a few more chips in his face before shoving the bag into his pocket. Shikamaru turned to his blonde friend.
"Ino, Inoshi-chan, when you're ready." Ino nodded and pushed her daughter forward. Inoshi blushed and went through the seals for her family jutsu.
"Shi-shitenshin n-no jutsu!" Inoshi blurted. Shikamaru felt a small push at his forehead, but nothing else happened.
"Did it work?" Ino asked. Shikamaru shook his head. Inoshi lowered her arms in defeat. Shikamaru smirked and placed his hand on Inoshi's short blonde hair. The girl looked up at Shikamaru with her dark eyes and Shikamaru said,
"Dont worry. Ino didn't get a hang of the jutsu untill she was 9 years old." Ino's eye twitched and she thumped Shikamaru. Laying on the ground, Shikamaru sighed again.
The clouds are nice... A bird flew across the tree tops, catching Shikamaru's eye.
"Mendokuse...." He said, standing up Shikamaru dusted his vest off. "Alright. I have to report to the Hokage's office, Ino, can you look after Zai-chan until I'm back?" Ino sighed and nodded. Shikazai ran over to Shikamaru and hugged his leg.
"Tou-chan! Can you get me some pocky when you get back?" Shikamaru laughed.
"Yeayea. Just be good for Ino. And don't tease Nazo-kun." Shikazai giggled, and Shikamaru jumped into the nearest tree.
About half way to the Hokage tower, Shikamaru was joined by Kakashi.
"You got called too?" Shikamaru said, landing on a pole and using it to propell him up again. Kakashi nodded and Shikamaru sighed.
Landing on the wall beside the window to Tsunade's office, Shikamaru used chakra to sit on the wall while Kakashi opened the large window. Following Kakshi inside, Tsunade had her hands on her hips.
"Tsch. You know that we have a door, right?" Kakashi laughed and Shikamaru mumbled about things being troublesome.
"You called?" Shikamaru said. Tsunade paused before handing him a scroll. Unrolling it, Shikamaru scanned it before handing it to Kakashi.
"So we have to retrieve a genin? Why was I even called? This doesn't seem to need an ANBU. Besides, it's Kakashi's student. Why am I involved?" Tsunade's eyebrow twitched. Clenching her fist, she hit her desk, it then broke in half, scattering all the papers.
"The Raikage sent all the countries a scroll asking for the return of his grandaughter Migoto, or Ditama Sasami, as we know her. I'm sure he has sent his own nin, probably ANBU, out looking for her. He said that it was to do with politics, which is why I'm sending you. I need you to not only protect her, but if you do encounter any of his nin, deal with them in a politcal manner. Invite them to Konoha so that we can discuss the release of Sasami-chan. Try to keep this as bloodless as possible. Our treaty with the Cloud walks on a knife edge." Shikamaru sighed.
"I need you to tell Shizune that her mission has been aborted. Tell her the client has withdrawn." Kakashi nodded and turned to Shikamaru.
"Main gates in 15 minutes." the grey haired man said before poofing away in a swirl of leaves.
Mendokuse... The black haired man sighed again, and walked out of the room.
End Chapter 16
Saaa, I got my computer back, FINALLY, but It will be gone when school starts again. I will try to update as much as possible untill then. Thank you all for reading this! It makes me very happy!