Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mokushita Hyuuga ❯ Chapter 18
[ 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: 01.01.2007 | Updated On: 02.11.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 622 | 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: 01.01.2007 | Updated On: 02.11.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 622 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 18
"Oi, Hinata-san, wake up." A gruff voice said. Hinata opened her eyes, and sat up. Looking at the voice, she saw that it was Ganjou, and tried to cover up her blush with a yawn.
"Good morning...Where is Katoki-san?" Hinata said, folding up her pallet. Ganjou looked out the window at the still dark sky.
"He's in a meeting with the Hokage. He should be back with the escort group in a few minutes actually." Hinata nodded and picked up Katoki's cloak.
"Here. Have this." Ganjou said, holding a folded beige peice of fabric out to Hinata. Grabbing it, Hinata unfolded it to reveal an ANBU vest. Hinata nodded and removed her hoodie.
"Good thing my shirt is sleeveless." Hinata said to herself. Sliding the vest on, she was surprised at its warmth. Throwing the long black cloak around her shoulders, Hinata placed the mask on her face just as Katoki popped up in the window.
"Can you use any weapons?" He said, glancing at Hinata's bag.
"Uh, Senbon, and the usual shruiken and kunai." Katoki hummed.
"Do you have any senbon on you? If we run into trouble, you can't use jyuuken right? Assuming you can perform it." Hinata reached into her bag and pulled out a kunai pouch. Opening it, she showed it to Katoki, revealing that it was filled with tens of senbon.
"I know that I can't use Jyuuken. You'd think 12 years of running would teach me that." Hinata said. Katoki laughed.
"Everyone is waiting down there. Can you two be ready in less than a minute?" Hinata heffed her bag up onto her shoulder. Ganjou was already walking toward the window.
"Well, Katoki. It seems that Hinata-san and I are done, and ready. Now lets escort us a princess." Katoki nodded and dropped down from the window, his cloak fluttering around him.
"After you." Ganjou said, holding his hands towards the window. Hinata smiled and jumped out, landing next to Katoki. The Konoha ANBU with the deer mask watched her the entire time.
Hinata looked around and saw that the group was larger than she thought. It consisted of herself, Katoki, Ganjou, Shikamaru, Kakashi, Sasami, and Sakura, as Hinata knew would be there, but it seemed that a few nin decided to tag along. Shiro, Sasami's teamate, was there, as well as Neji's daughter, Aiko.
Looking up at Katoki, she slightly twitched. Katoki nodded.
"Saa. I was told that I was only going to be accompanied by a single ANBU and two jounin. Yet I see two nin here as well. Does the Hokage doubt my ability to keep Migoto-sama safe?" Kakashi raised his brow and shifted his feet.
"Erm...I know it may be troublesome, but this boy is Sasami's teammate, and wishes to accompany her to the border. This other girl..."
"Aiko."
"Erm...Aiko, appears to be a companion of them both." Shikamaru said. Katoki looked at Ganjou. Ganjou shrugged slightly and Hinata shifted her stance.
"...Alright, we don't have much time. Yondaime-sama gave us a time limit, and we have nearly reached the end. If you chuunin can keep up...Then please do so. I plan on reaching the border by early afternoon." Shikamaru nodded. Raising his fingers up he motioned for his fellow nin to start towards the entrance.
Katoki took off at a fast speed, followed closely by Hinata and Ganjou.
Katoki was slightly disapointed when the group didn't reach the border at the time he wanted. He knew that he should be fair, as the pink haired girl and her friend with pale eyes like Hinata's were still genin. Or so he thought. Hinata kindly informed him that the girl with brown hair and pale eyes was still an academy student.
"Errrgg... We aren't going to make it..." Katoki said, his voice bordering on a whine. Hinata smiled behind her mask. Jumping slightly closer to Katoki, Hinata said in a hushed tone,
"Take it easy...Sasami-chan is still a genin." Katoki sighed.
"What about the other one, what kind of genin travels that slow?" Hinata giggled quietly.
"A..Aiko? She's an academy student!" Katoki faltered and misstepped a branch. Hinata grabbed his arm to prevent him from falling. Katoki looked up at her, and Hinata was glad that she was wearing a mask. She was sure her face was as red as a tomato.
"Academy? Kami-sama...Oh! I noticed that her eyes are the same colour as yours. Does that mean you are related?" Hinata nodded.
"She is my cousin's daughter. Hyuuga Aiko." Katoki nodded. After a few moments of scanning the group to make sure everything was orderly, Katoki turned back to Hinata.
"This will be a story to remember, the whole escorting a princess thing." Hinata smiled and nodded.
"Ano...Katoki-san, to make your story better, you can brag that you were technically escorted two princesses." Katoki turned his head towards his dark haired friend.
"Hnn? Two?" Hinata nodded, still looking ahead.
"You said you studied the incident of the Hyuuga with the cloud, right?" Katoki nodded. "Tell me about that princess." Katoki was silent for a second.
"She was three years old when that rebel group arose. Uhn...About her? Well, I know that she was described as an accomplished medic-nin later on in her life, and that she later died tragically...about...ten years ago?"
"12." Hinata said, quietly.
"What?"
"I died 12 years ago." Katoki was silent for a long time after that. Hinata had hung back slightly and made small talk with Ganjou, until Katoki finally said,
"...Hinata..." Hinata looked up and saw that Katoki had pushed his mask back slightly to reveal a stunning blue eye. Speeding up so that she was on par with Katoki, she clenched her cloak tighter around her. It was starting to rain.
The dark haired princess nearly jumped out of her skin when a strong arm wrapped itself around her waist, and in mid jump, held her close for a second. Hinata exhaled, and after a moment that seemed an eternity, Katoki let her go and Hinata nearly stumbled on the next branch.
Pushing his mask off to the side completely, he grinned at her so hard it made his scars crinkle.
"Alright. This is the border. Please, say your farewells to Migoto-sama. We need to get to the Cloud as soon as possible." Katoki announced to a cold and wet escort team. A few nins shot glares at Katoki, but he just ignored them and joined Hinata and Ganjou.
"Ah, Sasami-chan...I'll be sure to come visit you. I'll tell Kouden when he gets back where you are as well." Sasami's black haired teamate said, and gave the pink haired girl a quick hug.
"Kya...Sasami-chan! Be sure to learn all of the techniques on Tsunade-sama's scroll! I'm gonna test you when you get back!" Sakura said, wiping a peice of wet pink hair out of her eyes. She then laughed and hugged her shorter cousin. Sasami laughed as well, and both pink haired girls wiped tears from their eyes.
"Ah! It's too bad Ni-chan isn't here! He could kiss you good-bye!" Aiko shouted. Sasami turned a bright shade of red and turned around holding her cheeks. Aiko grinned widely and slipped Sasami a package.
"Here, It's a present from me and Kaa-chan. I made it myself! It's a special kunai, perfectly balanced, and extra sharp." Sasami smiled and hugged Aiko.
"Thanks...Good luck with you and Shiro-kun. I saw you two kissing behind the academy!" It was Aiko's turn to paint her face red as she stumbled away back to Shiro, who's face almost matched her.
"Aiko? Kissing? Aren't you a little young? What are you...11? Shiro! Behave yourself! You are a chuunin!" Sakura said, quite loud, and bringing sniggers from the other nin present. Shiro's face looked like it was bleeding, it was so red, and Aiko's was pale.
"My my. All of my student's are hooking up! Maybe it's my turn!" Kakashi said, clapping his hands. Shikamaru just sighed. Walking over to Katoki's group, Shikamaru said,
"Ah..Mendokuse, but I am going to have to ask you to send a progress report on Sasami-san every month. Would you be so inclined to tell Raikage-sama so?" Katoki nodded.
"I've got it covered. Don't worry, Shikamaru was it? Migoto-sama is in good hands." Shikamaru nodded.
"Alright everyone. Sasami-san has to leave now, and we have to report back to the Hokage." Shikamaru said, raising his hands and getting everyone's attention. After a last second goodbye from each person there, Sasami was ushered towards Hinata. After the Konoha nin left, Katoki jumped into the trees.
"Alright, Migoto-hime, can you keep up?" Ganjou asked. Sasami nodded and jumped into the tree. Hinata jumped up beside her and said,
"If you get tired, you just tell me, and I can carry you. We can't afford anymore delays." Sasami was quiet, but nodded. Hinata looked at Katoki, who just nodded once.
All in all, even with the rain, Sasami almost made it to the Kumo border. A few kilometres short, and Sasami suddenly passed out from chakra exhaustion. Hinata caught her and Katoki helped to put her on Hinata's back. She slept the rest of the way.
"Hinata-san, stop here." Katoki said, holding up a gloved hand. Hinata nodded and dropped from the tree she was standing on. Shifting Sasami on her back, Hinata looked up at Katoki.
"Saa...I need you to take your mask off. Your vest too." Hinata paused for a second.
"A-ano...Can you take Sasami-chan then?" Katoki grinned and nodded. Some where in the action of lifting Sasami and Hinata moving her arms up to help, Katoki's right hand, covered in a fingerless glove, brushed against her side. Hinata gasped, and Katoki jumped as if he had just been shocked.
Now red in the face, Katoki stammered out an apology, while an equally red Hinata tried to wave it off. Ganjou? He just laughed.
"Wow! This place is beautiful!" Hinata said, now walking through the streets of Kumogakure, unmasked and carrying a still sleeping Sasami on her back. Katoki smiled and nodded.
"Ne...Katoki, do I really need to give a report? I mean, you can do it though...I don't really want to...Oh! Suzuki-san! Long time no see!" Ganjou said, and trailed off into a conversation with an orange haired woman. Katoki rolled his eyes, but continued on the mainstreet. Coming upon a large, round, yellow building that had a giant kanji for lightning on it, Katoki held out his arm and in a theatrical voice said,
"And this, milady, is the office of Yondaime-sama." Hinata smiled, and supressed a giggle. Katoki grabbed Hinata's arm and lead her through the maze of hallways untill they came upon a set of large red doors. Two ANBU guarded the entrance, but when they saw Katoki, they ignored him. Just as Katoki was about to drag her inside, Hinata hesitated.
"A-ano...Should I be going in? I'm not even part of this village, let alone the mission..." Katoki frowned.
"Saa...Yondaime-sama is a kind old man. He will probably give you a reward for helping us." Hinata hesitated again, but let Katoki drag her into the office.
"Oh? Katoki? Where is Ganjou? And who is this?" An old man sitting at a large desk piled with papers said.
"Yondaime-sama! Ganjou is dawdling with women, and this is my friend Hinata-san. On her back is your grandaughter, Migoto-sama." Yondaime blinked. He dropped his pencil and stared at the girl on Hinata's back.
"Ossu! Wake her up!" Yondaime said. Hinata set Sasami on her feet, and Katoki shook her shoulder. Hinata then stood against the wall and raised her hood, hiding her eyes.
Sasami groaned and rubbed her eyes. Looking up she saw the man that was friends with that other man Shizune healed, and an old man all staring at her. Letting out a small 'eep', Sasami backed up a step.
"Ah! Migoto-chan!" The old man said. Sasami looked at him.
"Please, will you people stop calling me 'Migoto'! My name is Sasami! Who told you it was Migoto?" Sasami said, hugging herself.
"Oh? I suppose that when your father stole you away, he changed your name as well." Sasami looked up.
"Stole?" The old man leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"This can wait until tomorrow. I'm sure you want to see your brother before night falls completely." Sasami blinked.
"Aniki? He's here? Where? Ahh! What about my Grandfather? I was told that he was here too!" Sasami said. The old man just laughed and leaned back.
"Girl, I am your Grandfather." Sasami paled. Sasami quickly bowed and said in a small voice.
"Aa...Gomen! I didn't mean to speak to you so disrespectfully, Jii-sama!"
"No bowing, it's fine! In fact it's refreshing! You are the first person other than Katoki here to speak to me like that in a while." Sasami glanced over at the tall man, who grinned and flashed his rather long canines.
"Come here, Sasami-chan was it? I want to see you. It's been nearly 8 years since I last saw you." Sasami shakily walked over to the old man who grabbed her shoulders gently and looked her over. Pulling her into a hug, Sasami gasped, and the old man just said,
"Ah...Migoto-chan, I've missed you so much..." Sasami frowned slightly, but held her words untill the old man let go.
The doors beside Hinata whipped open and Ganjou stumbled in.
"Ah! Yondaime-sama, gomen! I was...distracted!" He said, trying to regain his composure.
Yondaime-sama? Ah! That's right, my grandfather is the Raikage! Sasami thought, her eyes widening. I was RUDE to the RAIKAGE! Oh kami-sama... Katoki must have been watching her because he suddenly said in a voice that sounded like he was laughing,
"Saa, Yondaime-sama, I beleive Migoto-sama needs her sleep. She traveled a fair distance today, and almost non-stop. Ganjou can escort her to her rooms. Right, Ganjou?" Ganjou blinked. A needle sharp jab of killing intent was thrown at Ganjou, who started to sweat. Pushing a confused Sasami out the door, he bid the Raikage goodnight.
"Ah. Well, now that that is taken care of, I'de like to meet your friend, Katoki. Please inform me on how you met her, and why she seems involved in this mission." Hinata blushed and lowered her hood. She saw the Raikage tense up for a split second as he took in the colour of her eyes, but otherwise showed no reaction. Katoki rubbed the back of his head and grinned. Putting his arm around Hinata, he pulled her close and said,
"Well, you see, I met Hinata-san in the forest, and we fell in love and got married! Isn't it wonderful!" Katoki said. The Raikage's mouth was agape, and Hinata's face was the colour of her eyes. The room was silent, but the silence was broken when Hinata fainted, and hit her head on the corner of Yondaime's desk.
"Shimatta! Hinata-san, wake up! It was a joke! A joke!" Katoki said, shaking Hinata. The Raikage was still stunned when Hinata finally opened her eyes and held her head wound closed.
"A-ano...aa itai...There a-are s-some band-dages in my p-pack..." She said, pointing towards her fair sized pack laying on the ground against the wall. Katoki nodded, still worried, and retreived the bandages.
He managed to do a half decent job on wrapping her head a few times before the Raikage spoke again.
"Katoki. Please, no more jokes. They tend to hurt people." Katoki laughed nervously, and Hinata unconsciously scooted away.
"A-alright. So as I was saying, While on my grand journey to look for Hoku-hime, I heard an explosion. I climbed a tree to see what was exploding, when the tree I was standing on fell down. I jumped down after being spotted by the kid was apparently using a weird jutsu to cut them down. I chatted with the kid, but he ran off to tell...'Ero-sennin'? I think that's what he said...But anyway, I heard Hinata-san here on a branch, so I asked who was there. Hinata then fell out and hit the ground face first." Katoki took a breath, and Hinata rubbed her nose.
"After I gro...er, woke her up, we exchanged names, but when I looked at her eyes, I had another attack. But this time is was as bad as that one I had a few years ago." Raikage whistled. He remembered that attack. It had left Katoki in the hospital, complaining about a constant buzzing noise for over a week. Concussion is what the nurses had labeled it, but Katoki never beleived them.
"And I passed out. When I woke up, I was in Hinata's hotel room, and she was tending me. We went out for dango after exchanging words." After Katoki finished, the Raikage was quiet for a minute, his gaze was on Hinata, and it was making her nervous.
"So tell me Hinata-san...I assume you are a shinobi?" Hinata nodded slowly. "Can you tell me what Village and Rank?" Hinata paused, and said,
"Former chuunin from Konoha..." The raikage raised a brow.
"Former?" Hinata looked the side.
"Uhn...I left the village 12 years ago...for personal reasons." The old man coughed, and Hinata looked up.
"Oh, oh! No! I didn't kill anyone! I'm not a nukenin...someone close to me was killed, and I got angry at the village, but I dont regret my decision."
"I see. Well, Hinata-san, you are welcome to stay in Kumogakure for as long as you wish, as long as you don't start any trouble." Hinata smiled. Raising her fingers together, she tapped them and said,
"A-ano...Would it be possible for me to be instated as a shinobi here? I mean, I was pretty good when I left, and I wouldn't want my skills to go to waste..." Katoki smiled and Hinata blushed a bit.
"Well, It would be easy to reinstate you as a chuunin, but I'de have to get a Jounin to supervise you at all times untill you are deemed trustworthy." Katoki grinned wider and raised his hand, and jumped up and down.
"I volunteer!" He said, sounding like a kid in a candy store. The Raikage chuckled.
"A-ano...If possible, once I am deemed trustworthy, would I be able to join ANBU? I was planning on it before anyway..." Hinata said, straining not to stutter. Raikage thought for a good long minute before saying,
"Well...It depends. Our test here is different than that of Konohagakure. But for now, stick to chuunin. Report here tomorrow at 8 am and I will give you and Katoki a mission." Hinata smiled widely, she bowed and said,
"Thank you, Raikage-sama, I will not let you down!" Raikage just laughed and waved the girl out.
After Hinata had gathered her things and left to stand in the hall and wait for Katoki, Raikage said,
"Katoki. You realize that your girlfriend there is a Hyuuga?" Katoki grinned.
"Of course. It was my manly charm that attracted her to me." Raikage sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Go now. I have work to do. Be sure to watch her. I can tell she is a good person, but due to our country's relationship with her family, she might not trust us at all." Katoki nodded and walked out the office door to let the Yondaime grumbled about paperwork.
"Ah! Hinata-san! Let's go!" Hinata blinked.
"Where?" Katoki grinned again.
"Well, you need a place to stay right? How about you stay with me untill you can find your own place...or you can just, never leave!" Hinata blushed horribly and waved her hand.
"Aaa...I couldn't bother you...I'm sure there isn't any room for me there..."
"Nonsense! My apartment is big enough for the entire escort team to live comfortably!" Katoki said, and tugged on Hinata's arm. Hinata hid a grin and a blush as her friend excitedly dragged her towards his house.
"Aha!" Katoki said, pulling out a silver key from a pocket in his cloak. Inserting it into the lock, Hinata winced as the lock twisted and gave off a horrid sounding rating noise. Katoki jerked the handle up, and pushed on the door with his shoulder. The door creaked and moaned. If Hinata didn't know any better, she would have thought she was entering a dungeon.
"This is home sweet home." Katoki flicked on the lights, and Hinata sweatdropped.
End Chapter 18
"Oi, Hinata-san, wake up." A gruff voice said. Hinata opened her eyes, and sat up. Looking at the voice, she saw that it was Ganjou, and tried to cover up her blush with a yawn.
"Good morning...Where is Katoki-san?" Hinata said, folding up her pallet. Ganjou looked out the window at the still dark sky.
"He's in a meeting with the Hokage. He should be back with the escort group in a few minutes actually." Hinata nodded and picked up Katoki's cloak.
"Here. Have this." Ganjou said, holding a folded beige peice of fabric out to Hinata. Grabbing it, Hinata unfolded it to reveal an ANBU vest. Hinata nodded and removed her hoodie.
"Good thing my shirt is sleeveless." Hinata said to herself. Sliding the vest on, she was surprised at its warmth. Throwing the long black cloak around her shoulders, Hinata placed the mask on her face just as Katoki popped up in the window.
"Can you use any weapons?" He said, glancing at Hinata's bag.
"Uh, Senbon, and the usual shruiken and kunai." Katoki hummed.
"Do you have any senbon on you? If we run into trouble, you can't use jyuuken right? Assuming you can perform it." Hinata reached into her bag and pulled out a kunai pouch. Opening it, she showed it to Katoki, revealing that it was filled with tens of senbon.
"I know that I can't use Jyuuken. You'd think 12 years of running would teach me that." Hinata said. Katoki laughed.
"Everyone is waiting down there. Can you two be ready in less than a minute?" Hinata heffed her bag up onto her shoulder. Ganjou was already walking toward the window.
"Well, Katoki. It seems that Hinata-san and I are done, and ready. Now lets escort us a princess." Katoki nodded and dropped down from the window, his cloak fluttering around him.
"After you." Ganjou said, holding his hands towards the window. Hinata smiled and jumped out, landing next to Katoki. The Konoha ANBU with the deer mask watched her the entire time.
Hinata looked around and saw that the group was larger than she thought. It consisted of herself, Katoki, Ganjou, Shikamaru, Kakashi, Sasami, and Sakura, as Hinata knew would be there, but it seemed that a few nin decided to tag along. Shiro, Sasami's teamate, was there, as well as Neji's daughter, Aiko.
Looking up at Katoki, she slightly twitched. Katoki nodded.
"Saa. I was told that I was only going to be accompanied by a single ANBU and two jounin. Yet I see two nin here as well. Does the Hokage doubt my ability to keep Migoto-sama safe?" Kakashi raised his brow and shifted his feet.
"Erm...I know it may be troublesome, but this boy is Sasami's teammate, and wishes to accompany her to the border. This other girl..."
"Aiko."
"Erm...Aiko, appears to be a companion of them both." Shikamaru said. Katoki looked at Ganjou. Ganjou shrugged slightly and Hinata shifted her stance.
"...Alright, we don't have much time. Yondaime-sama gave us a time limit, and we have nearly reached the end. If you chuunin can keep up...Then please do so. I plan on reaching the border by early afternoon." Shikamaru nodded. Raising his fingers up he motioned for his fellow nin to start towards the entrance.
Katoki took off at a fast speed, followed closely by Hinata and Ganjou.
Katoki was slightly disapointed when the group didn't reach the border at the time he wanted. He knew that he should be fair, as the pink haired girl and her friend with pale eyes like Hinata's were still genin. Or so he thought. Hinata kindly informed him that the girl with brown hair and pale eyes was still an academy student.
"Errrgg... We aren't going to make it..." Katoki said, his voice bordering on a whine. Hinata smiled behind her mask. Jumping slightly closer to Katoki, Hinata said in a hushed tone,
"Take it easy...Sasami-chan is still a genin." Katoki sighed.
"What about the other one, what kind of genin travels that slow?" Hinata giggled quietly.
"A..Aiko? She's an academy student!" Katoki faltered and misstepped a branch. Hinata grabbed his arm to prevent him from falling. Katoki looked up at her, and Hinata was glad that she was wearing a mask. She was sure her face was as red as a tomato.
"Academy? Kami-sama...Oh! I noticed that her eyes are the same colour as yours. Does that mean you are related?" Hinata nodded.
"She is my cousin's daughter. Hyuuga Aiko." Katoki nodded. After a few moments of scanning the group to make sure everything was orderly, Katoki turned back to Hinata.
"This will be a story to remember, the whole escorting a princess thing." Hinata smiled and nodded.
"Ano...Katoki-san, to make your story better, you can brag that you were technically escorted two princesses." Katoki turned his head towards his dark haired friend.
"Hnn? Two?" Hinata nodded, still looking ahead.
"You said you studied the incident of the Hyuuga with the cloud, right?" Katoki nodded. "Tell me about that princess." Katoki was silent for a second.
"She was three years old when that rebel group arose. Uhn...About her? Well, I know that she was described as an accomplished medic-nin later on in her life, and that she later died tragically...about...ten years ago?"
"12." Hinata said, quietly.
"What?"
"I died 12 years ago." Katoki was silent for a long time after that. Hinata had hung back slightly and made small talk with Ganjou, until Katoki finally said,
"...Hinata..." Hinata looked up and saw that Katoki had pushed his mask back slightly to reveal a stunning blue eye. Speeding up so that she was on par with Katoki, she clenched her cloak tighter around her. It was starting to rain.
The dark haired princess nearly jumped out of her skin when a strong arm wrapped itself around her waist, and in mid jump, held her close for a second. Hinata exhaled, and after a moment that seemed an eternity, Katoki let her go and Hinata nearly stumbled on the next branch.
Pushing his mask off to the side completely, he grinned at her so hard it made his scars crinkle.
"Alright. This is the border. Please, say your farewells to Migoto-sama. We need to get to the Cloud as soon as possible." Katoki announced to a cold and wet escort team. A few nins shot glares at Katoki, but he just ignored them and joined Hinata and Ganjou.
"Ah, Sasami-chan...I'll be sure to come visit you. I'll tell Kouden when he gets back where you are as well." Sasami's black haired teamate said, and gave the pink haired girl a quick hug.
"Kya...Sasami-chan! Be sure to learn all of the techniques on Tsunade-sama's scroll! I'm gonna test you when you get back!" Sakura said, wiping a peice of wet pink hair out of her eyes. She then laughed and hugged her shorter cousin. Sasami laughed as well, and both pink haired girls wiped tears from their eyes.
"Ah! It's too bad Ni-chan isn't here! He could kiss you good-bye!" Aiko shouted. Sasami turned a bright shade of red and turned around holding her cheeks. Aiko grinned widely and slipped Sasami a package.
"Here, It's a present from me and Kaa-chan. I made it myself! It's a special kunai, perfectly balanced, and extra sharp." Sasami smiled and hugged Aiko.
"Thanks...Good luck with you and Shiro-kun. I saw you two kissing behind the academy!" It was Aiko's turn to paint her face red as she stumbled away back to Shiro, who's face almost matched her.
"Aiko? Kissing? Aren't you a little young? What are you...11? Shiro! Behave yourself! You are a chuunin!" Sakura said, quite loud, and bringing sniggers from the other nin present. Shiro's face looked like it was bleeding, it was so red, and Aiko's was pale.
"My my. All of my student's are hooking up! Maybe it's my turn!" Kakashi said, clapping his hands. Shikamaru just sighed. Walking over to Katoki's group, Shikamaru said,
"Ah..Mendokuse, but I am going to have to ask you to send a progress report on Sasami-san every month. Would you be so inclined to tell Raikage-sama so?" Katoki nodded.
"I've got it covered. Don't worry, Shikamaru was it? Migoto-sama is in good hands." Shikamaru nodded.
"Alright everyone. Sasami-san has to leave now, and we have to report back to the Hokage." Shikamaru said, raising his hands and getting everyone's attention. After a last second goodbye from each person there, Sasami was ushered towards Hinata. After the Konoha nin left, Katoki jumped into the trees.
"Alright, Migoto-hime, can you keep up?" Ganjou asked. Sasami nodded and jumped into the tree. Hinata jumped up beside her and said,
"If you get tired, you just tell me, and I can carry you. We can't afford anymore delays." Sasami was quiet, but nodded. Hinata looked at Katoki, who just nodded once.
All in all, even with the rain, Sasami almost made it to the Kumo border. A few kilometres short, and Sasami suddenly passed out from chakra exhaustion. Hinata caught her and Katoki helped to put her on Hinata's back. She slept the rest of the way.
"Hinata-san, stop here." Katoki said, holding up a gloved hand. Hinata nodded and dropped from the tree she was standing on. Shifting Sasami on her back, Hinata looked up at Katoki.
"Saa...I need you to take your mask off. Your vest too." Hinata paused for a second.
"A-ano...Can you take Sasami-chan then?" Katoki grinned and nodded. Some where in the action of lifting Sasami and Hinata moving her arms up to help, Katoki's right hand, covered in a fingerless glove, brushed against her side. Hinata gasped, and Katoki jumped as if he had just been shocked.
Now red in the face, Katoki stammered out an apology, while an equally red Hinata tried to wave it off. Ganjou? He just laughed.
"Wow! This place is beautiful!" Hinata said, now walking through the streets of Kumogakure, unmasked and carrying a still sleeping Sasami on her back. Katoki smiled and nodded.
"Ne...Katoki, do I really need to give a report? I mean, you can do it though...I don't really want to...Oh! Suzuki-san! Long time no see!" Ganjou said, and trailed off into a conversation with an orange haired woman. Katoki rolled his eyes, but continued on the mainstreet. Coming upon a large, round, yellow building that had a giant kanji for lightning on it, Katoki held out his arm and in a theatrical voice said,
"And this, milady, is the office of Yondaime-sama." Hinata smiled, and supressed a giggle. Katoki grabbed Hinata's arm and lead her through the maze of hallways untill they came upon a set of large red doors. Two ANBU guarded the entrance, but when they saw Katoki, they ignored him. Just as Katoki was about to drag her inside, Hinata hesitated.
"A-ano...Should I be going in? I'm not even part of this village, let alone the mission..." Katoki frowned.
"Saa...Yondaime-sama is a kind old man. He will probably give you a reward for helping us." Hinata hesitated again, but let Katoki drag her into the office.
"Oh? Katoki? Where is Ganjou? And who is this?" An old man sitting at a large desk piled with papers said.
"Yondaime-sama! Ganjou is dawdling with women, and this is my friend Hinata-san. On her back is your grandaughter, Migoto-sama." Yondaime blinked. He dropped his pencil and stared at the girl on Hinata's back.
"Ossu! Wake her up!" Yondaime said. Hinata set Sasami on her feet, and Katoki shook her shoulder. Hinata then stood against the wall and raised her hood, hiding her eyes.
Sasami groaned and rubbed her eyes. Looking up she saw the man that was friends with that other man Shizune healed, and an old man all staring at her. Letting out a small 'eep', Sasami backed up a step.
"Ah! Migoto-chan!" The old man said. Sasami looked at him.
"Please, will you people stop calling me 'Migoto'! My name is Sasami! Who told you it was Migoto?" Sasami said, hugging herself.
"Oh? I suppose that when your father stole you away, he changed your name as well." Sasami looked up.
"Stole?" The old man leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"This can wait until tomorrow. I'm sure you want to see your brother before night falls completely." Sasami blinked.
"Aniki? He's here? Where? Ahh! What about my Grandfather? I was told that he was here too!" Sasami said. The old man just laughed and leaned back.
"Girl, I am your Grandfather." Sasami paled. Sasami quickly bowed and said in a small voice.
"Aa...Gomen! I didn't mean to speak to you so disrespectfully, Jii-sama!"
"No bowing, it's fine! In fact it's refreshing! You are the first person other than Katoki here to speak to me like that in a while." Sasami glanced over at the tall man, who grinned and flashed his rather long canines.
"Come here, Sasami-chan was it? I want to see you. It's been nearly 8 years since I last saw you." Sasami shakily walked over to the old man who grabbed her shoulders gently and looked her over. Pulling her into a hug, Sasami gasped, and the old man just said,
"Ah...Migoto-chan, I've missed you so much..." Sasami frowned slightly, but held her words untill the old man let go.
The doors beside Hinata whipped open and Ganjou stumbled in.
"Ah! Yondaime-sama, gomen! I was...distracted!" He said, trying to regain his composure.
Yondaime-sama? Ah! That's right, my grandfather is the Raikage! Sasami thought, her eyes widening. I was RUDE to the RAIKAGE! Oh kami-sama... Katoki must have been watching her because he suddenly said in a voice that sounded like he was laughing,
"Saa, Yondaime-sama, I beleive Migoto-sama needs her sleep. She traveled a fair distance today, and almost non-stop. Ganjou can escort her to her rooms. Right, Ganjou?" Ganjou blinked. A needle sharp jab of killing intent was thrown at Ganjou, who started to sweat. Pushing a confused Sasami out the door, he bid the Raikage goodnight.
"Ah. Well, now that that is taken care of, I'de like to meet your friend, Katoki. Please inform me on how you met her, and why she seems involved in this mission." Hinata blushed and lowered her hood. She saw the Raikage tense up for a split second as he took in the colour of her eyes, but otherwise showed no reaction. Katoki rubbed the back of his head and grinned. Putting his arm around Hinata, he pulled her close and said,
"Well, you see, I met Hinata-san in the forest, and we fell in love and got married! Isn't it wonderful!" Katoki said. The Raikage's mouth was agape, and Hinata's face was the colour of her eyes. The room was silent, but the silence was broken when Hinata fainted, and hit her head on the corner of Yondaime's desk.
"Shimatta! Hinata-san, wake up! It was a joke! A joke!" Katoki said, shaking Hinata. The Raikage was still stunned when Hinata finally opened her eyes and held her head wound closed.
"A-ano...aa itai...There a-are s-some band-dages in my p-pack..." She said, pointing towards her fair sized pack laying on the ground against the wall. Katoki nodded, still worried, and retreived the bandages.
He managed to do a half decent job on wrapping her head a few times before the Raikage spoke again.
"Katoki. Please, no more jokes. They tend to hurt people." Katoki laughed nervously, and Hinata unconsciously scooted away.
"A-alright. So as I was saying, While on my grand journey to look for Hoku-hime, I heard an explosion. I climbed a tree to see what was exploding, when the tree I was standing on fell down. I jumped down after being spotted by the kid was apparently using a weird jutsu to cut them down. I chatted with the kid, but he ran off to tell...'Ero-sennin'? I think that's what he said...But anyway, I heard Hinata-san here on a branch, so I asked who was there. Hinata then fell out and hit the ground face first." Katoki took a breath, and Hinata rubbed her nose.
"After I gro...er, woke her up, we exchanged names, but when I looked at her eyes, I had another attack. But this time is was as bad as that one I had a few years ago." Raikage whistled. He remembered that attack. It had left Katoki in the hospital, complaining about a constant buzzing noise for over a week. Concussion is what the nurses had labeled it, but Katoki never beleived them.
"And I passed out. When I woke up, I was in Hinata's hotel room, and she was tending me. We went out for dango after exchanging words." After Katoki finished, the Raikage was quiet for a minute, his gaze was on Hinata, and it was making her nervous.
"So tell me Hinata-san...I assume you are a shinobi?" Hinata nodded slowly. "Can you tell me what Village and Rank?" Hinata paused, and said,
"Former chuunin from Konoha..." The raikage raised a brow.
"Former?" Hinata looked the side.
"Uhn...I left the village 12 years ago...for personal reasons." The old man coughed, and Hinata looked up.
"Oh, oh! No! I didn't kill anyone! I'm not a nukenin...someone close to me was killed, and I got angry at the village, but I dont regret my decision."
"I see. Well, Hinata-san, you are welcome to stay in Kumogakure for as long as you wish, as long as you don't start any trouble." Hinata smiled. Raising her fingers together, she tapped them and said,
"A-ano...Would it be possible for me to be instated as a shinobi here? I mean, I was pretty good when I left, and I wouldn't want my skills to go to waste..." Katoki smiled and Hinata blushed a bit.
"Well, It would be easy to reinstate you as a chuunin, but I'de have to get a Jounin to supervise you at all times untill you are deemed trustworthy." Katoki grinned wider and raised his hand, and jumped up and down.
"I volunteer!" He said, sounding like a kid in a candy store. The Raikage chuckled.
"A-ano...If possible, once I am deemed trustworthy, would I be able to join ANBU? I was planning on it before anyway..." Hinata said, straining not to stutter. Raikage thought for a good long minute before saying,
"Well...It depends. Our test here is different than that of Konohagakure. But for now, stick to chuunin. Report here tomorrow at 8 am and I will give you and Katoki a mission." Hinata smiled widely, she bowed and said,
"Thank you, Raikage-sama, I will not let you down!" Raikage just laughed and waved the girl out.
After Hinata had gathered her things and left to stand in the hall and wait for Katoki, Raikage said,
"Katoki. You realize that your girlfriend there is a Hyuuga?" Katoki grinned.
"Of course. It was my manly charm that attracted her to me." Raikage sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Go now. I have work to do. Be sure to watch her. I can tell she is a good person, but due to our country's relationship with her family, she might not trust us at all." Katoki nodded and walked out the office door to let the Yondaime grumbled about paperwork.
"Ah! Hinata-san! Let's go!" Hinata blinked.
"Where?" Katoki grinned again.
"Well, you need a place to stay right? How about you stay with me untill you can find your own place...or you can just, never leave!" Hinata blushed horribly and waved her hand.
"Aaa...I couldn't bother you...I'm sure there isn't any room for me there..."
"Nonsense! My apartment is big enough for the entire escort team to live comfortably!" Katoki said, and tugged on Hinata's arm. Hinata hid a grin and a blush as her friend excitedly dragged her towards his house.
"Aha!" Katoki said, pulling out a silver key from a pocket in his cloak. Inserting it into the lock, Hinata winced as the lock twisted and gave off a horrid sounding rating noise. Katoki jerked the handle up, and pushed on the door with his shoulder. The door creaked and moaned. If Hinata didn't know any better, she would have thought she was entering a dungeon.
"This is home sweet home." Katoki flicked on the lights, and Hinata sweatdropped.
End Chapter 18