Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mokushita Hyuuga ❯ Chapter 20

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 20
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Hinata stuck the slightly bent and rusted key into the lock on the burgandy painted door. Jarring it to the right a few millimetres, Hinata turned the key, and pulling up on the rusted doorknob, she quickly twisted it and pushed the door open. Taking her sandals off, Hinata dropped her bag on top of them.

"Welcome home. How many nin did you kill today?" Katoki said. He was sitting on their pallets as if it were a couch, and was eating homemade dango, while watching the small TV. Hinata sighed and put her hands on her hips.

"None, thank you very much. But I was called to the hospital again, that's why im late. Today was hectic. The Sound nin's are getting frisky. Three chuunin were killed, and 2 genin were injured in a stupid raid on the border." Katoki grimaced. Patting the folded and stacked pallet, Hinata walked over and sat down.

On the small tv set, various images were popping up, hurting Hinata's eyes. Yawning and rubbing those eyes, Hinata stood up after a few minutes.

"I'm gonna go take a shower. After, do you wanna go to that other dango stand?" Katoki looked at her. His blue eyes were narrowed.

"Why not Chi's stand?" Hinata turned towards the small bathroom at the rear of the one room apartment.

"She stares at you all the time, and I dont like it." Katoki laughed and shoved another roll in his mouth.

Half an hour later, Katoki and a clean Hinata were walking down the street. Hinata was still patting her damp hair down, but it was mostly unconcious as she told Katoki of exploits on the border.

"Do you know anyone from Konoha named...Koba..no, Kiba! Yea, Kiba?" Hinata stopped mid word.

"What? Why?" She said, focusing her pale eyes on the taller man.

"Konoha sent a few Jounin and ANBU over to seal that peace treaty for good, and the only one whose name I caught was Kiba. He had spiky brown hair, and a large dog with him." Hinata was silent for a moment.

"Yea, that was him. Him and his family run a kennel, and train their dogs as nin-dogs. Is the convoy still here?" Hinata asked, as Katoki steered her into small tea shop.

"I think so, we can go look for them tomorrow if you want? Does Kiba know you are alive?" Hinata scrunched her nose up and shook her head as they sat at a small table in the back.

"I wanted dango, and I don't think seeing him would be a good idea. Even if he knew I was alive, he got very protective of 'Kasumi'."

After they had ordered their food, and were happily eating away, Katoki said,

"Hinata, you need to help me find a new apartment."

"Hnn?" She said, her face full of onigiri.

"Well, you said so yourself a few times, that it was too small. And besides, You said you were going to move out as soon as you established yourself. You pretty much did that after your first mission, and it's been a month since then." Hinata blushed, and bowed her head.

"A-ano...Sumimasen...I can find my own apartment then. I didn't realize I was bothering you." Katoki grimaced at the sadness that laced her voice. Waving his hand in front of his face, he said,

"No, no! You heard me wrong. WE need to look for a new apartment. I'm not kicking you out, you can stay as long as you please. But now that I have a roomate, I too have noticed that size is an issue." Hinata looked up, still blushing, and smiled. Katoki laughed again because her cheeks were slightly puffed out from the rice.

Hinata swallowed with a bit of difficulty before looking at Katoki again. Katoki's gaze was not at her face however, it was a little lower. Hinata reddened and looked down to see if she had something on her jacket.

"Why do you do that?" Katoki said. Hinata blinked and looked at Katoki.

"...Do what?" She said, and Katoki pointed at her chest. Hinata looked down and saw that her index fingers were tapping together. Whipping her hands to her sides, Hinata let out a quiet curse.

"It was a nervous habit from when I was younger. I used to be really, really, unbearbly shy. I suppose that my fingers will always try to do that when I am embarrassed..." She trailed off. Katoki's cheeks were turning a bit red.

"Saa! I didn't mean to embarrass you! I'm sorry! Heh heh, I haven't had a girlfriend before..." Hinata's eyes widened and her face turned 8 shades of red. Katoki nearly matched her before he flustered and waved his hand in front of his face.

"Saa! I meant a friend that's a girl! I'm sorry! That came out wrong!" Katoki nearly yelled. The few people in the small shop were staring at them now. Hinata closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. Opening them again, she looked Katoki straight in the eye, and said,

"It's alright! Haha, my genin cell was composed of two boys, and my closest family member was my elder cousin, also a boy. I'm used to the embarrassment." She finished off with a large grin, and Katoki sighed and deflated, still rubbing the back of his head. Hinata ignored the small pang of hurt in her heart and continued to listen to Katoki brag about his latest mission.



"Konkonkon!" A small orange ball of fur tried to run to the blonde boy that stood a few feet away from her, but being only a month or so old, she wobbled a bit and slipped on the smooth tile. The boy laughed and picked the kit up, cradling her to his neck and speaking quiet nonsense into her ear.

Jiraiya rolled his eyes. The boy had been very cheerful this past month, despite the news that made him an orphan. That fox kit of his may be annoying, but Jiraiya was wise enough to silently thank it for keeping the kid's spirits up.

Sipping another mouthful of warm sake, the old man sighed. They were currently staying in a guest room at the Kazekage tower in Sunagakure. The Kazekage it seemed, took an instant liking to the blonde boy for obvious reasons.

Tat tat tat The blonde looked up from his cuddling and then looked at Jiraya, who merely flicked his head toward the door. The boy got up and opened the door. Looking down he saw a small red haired girl who appeared to be about 2 or 3 years old. Looking up at the boy with large turquoise eyes, she didn't say anything, but looked pleadingly at the furry bundle in his hands.

Behind the girl was a woman who was barely taller than the blonde himself. She had sandy brown hair, and near black eyes. When the boy looked up at her, she bowed her head and said,

"Ah, Kouden-san, Kaisa-chan was wondering if she could see Aki-chan again...she seems to have taken a fancy to her." Kouden looked down at the little girl and nearly melted. Kaisa was starting to form tears at the edges of her large eyes, and the hand that wasn't in her mouth was up, reaching at Kouden.

"Ahh, Of course! Anything to make Kaisa-chan smile." He stepped back from the door way, and invited the two in.

"Ah, me. What can I owe the pleasure of this visit, Matsuri-san?" Jiraiya called from his seat by the window of the room. Matsuri bowed and ushered Kaisa towards Kouden who was kneeling down for the girl to pet Aki.

"Sumimasen, Jiraiya-sama... My husband was busy with paperwork and the upcoming chuunin exams. Kaisa-chan said she wanted to see Aki-chan, and I had nothing better to do. I trust I am not bothering you...?" Jiraiya chuckled and waved her off.

"No no, not at all child. Here, come sit and have a drink." Matsuri did as asked, and after a few minutes of watching her daughter squeal everytime she touched the small fox, she spoke.

"Hmm. It seems like my daughter has taken a liking to your apprentice. Maybe one day, if he gets tired of you, he can come and be Kaisa's caretaker. Temari-ne-san is only around for 6 months a year, and Kankuro...well, I don't really see how Gaara can stand even letting him watch her for a few hours... I'm afraid that he is going to let her play with his puppets, or let her get hurt, or lost....>sigh<" Jiraiya laughed again, and said,

"I doubt that Kouden will get tired of me. I've been feuling him with jutsus and chakra control excercises. That boy is a lot like his father, a bundle of energy. I doubt he could stand just watching children for days on end." Jiraiya nodded and took another sip of his sake. Matsuri pursed her lips, but sat back. The boy amused her. When she saw the look on Gaara's face when he learned of Kouden's parentage, she nearly fainted. She knew Gaara had opened up over the years, but showing emotion in public was still hard for him. The shear amount of shock that he displayed, made her mind implode.

"Aah! Kazekage-sama! It's been a while." Jiraiya boomed, as a small woman led them into the Kazekage's office. Gaara looked up from the paper he had been reading and smiled pleasently when he saw the tall white haired man.

"It has, Jiraiya-san. I'm glad that you made it to Suna without incident. The Iwa nin have been getting restless, and I've been receiving more and more reports of raids to the small countries that separate us. I fear a war is on the brink of spilling into the wind country." Jiraiya looked down at Kouden, who was half hid behind the him, and saw that Kouden's face was one of awe.

Gaara followed Jiraiya's gaze untill it stopped on the blonde haired boy. Gaara blinked, and dropped his stack of papers. The small woman, now standing beside him, looked at the red head with bewilderment. Looking back up at Jiraiya, the white haired man nearly laughed out loud.

"This, Gaara-sama, is Uzumaki Kouden. The only son of your former best friend." Gaara's face was one to behold. His mouth was agape, his turquoise eyes looked like they were bulging, and his hands were trembling.

"...what?" Was all he managed, before sitting down on his chair with a thump, and a cloud of dust. The woman beside him was agape as well, but not at Kouden, at Gaara. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she said,

"A-are you alright?" Gaara didn't respond, but instead closed his mouth and placed his hand over the woman's.

Gaara's blank stare was interuppted by a roaring laughter. Looking up, he saw Jiraiya wiping a tear from his eyes, and the young blonde beside him was looking at him with surprise.

Taking another look at the boy Jiraiya claimed to be an Uzumaki, Gaara noticed that he had pearly white eyes. He also noted that the boy's nose was more upturned than Naruto's, but shook his head in dismay of how he even rememebered that detail.

"Alright, alright. Let me explain, Kazekage. We all know of that tragic day in January when we lost not only one, but two of the best shinobi in generations, right?" Gaara nodded, still unable to speak, and still staring at the small boy, who was trying to be inconspicuous.

"Well, It turns out that Hyuuga Hinata-san, was still alive, and stayed alive to raised Kouden untill he was old enough to become a Konoha shinobi." Gaara furrowed his brow, and unconciously touched his 'ai' tatoo.

"Hyuuga...Hinata? Was she that dark haired girl with white eyes I saw hanging around Naruto?" Jiraiya nodded. Gaara's brow furrowed even more. "But...I thought, I was told that Hyuuga-san had been the one that had ki-... er...How did this happen?" Gaara held out his hand in the direction of Kouden, who started.

"Ah. Well, Naruto told me, one fine day at the hot springs, that on the mission to rescue Sasuke for the final time, she had been knocked down by Sasuke, and mumbled her feelings in her sleep. I left the village shortly after, and Naruto was still confused about the girl. I'm assuming that they finally got toghether." Gaara blinked again and sat back, absorbing the information.

"Well, where is Hinata-san now?" Gaara said. Kouden looked down, and Jiraiya stopping grinning.

"She's dead. We visited her house, and it had been robbed. There was dried blood on the floor as well." Gaara nodded somberly.

"What is your name again, boy?" Gaara finally said. Kouden jumped, but replied in a slightly squeaky voice.

"U-uzumaki Kouden, Kazekage-sama..." Gaara's face molded back into it's emotionless expression, which looked weird when he gave a dry chuckle.

"Kouden, eh? Your Mother had a dark sense of humour." Kouden shuffled his feet. Jiraiya raised his hand and opened his mouth, but was cut off by the door to the office swinging wide.

"Gaara! The Iwa have just demolished the village hidden in the Smoke!" Gaara stood up and glared at the messenger.

"Kankuro, are there any survivors?" Kankuro nodded and said,

"A few smoke nin, about 70 of them total, survived the attack due to their absence in the village at the time. Our nin have also rounded up about 200 civilians. We are still looking for more survivors, but the scouts say it is unlikely we will find any more..." Gaara nodded.

"Go, and set up a refuge camp near the edge of this city. Transport the survivors here, when they get here, I will debreif you all. Dismissed." Kankuro nodded and slipped out the door.

Turning to Kouden and Jiraiya, Gaara frowned and said,

"I'm sorry...I will have to meet with you later. But for now, Matsuri-chan, can you escort our guests to the 6th floor?" Matsuri smiled warmly at Gaara and nodded.


"So, any more word on the Iwa raid?" Jiraiya said, breaking Matsuri's thoughts. Matsuri blinked and looked at Jiraiya.

"Er, well, from what I've heard, since yesturday the ANBU have gathered up the survivors and set up a refugee camp on the village edge. The Smoke nin arrived this morning, but the civilians are still making their way." Jiraiya nodded.

"I bet this move has sealed a concrete treaty with Smoke." He said, staring at Kaisa who had just jumped onto Kouden's back, and was pulling his hair to try and stay on.

"I'm sure it has. Ah, Kaisa-chan, dont pull Kouden-san's hair. I'm sure he doesnt like it!" Matsuri said. Kaisa spoke a few words of toddler language, and let go. Kouden sighed, and looked at Jiraiya. His pale eyes were watering a bit, but Jiraiya just laughed.

Thunk...Thunk thunk! Kaisa started to cry and Matsuri went over to comfort her. Jiraiya looked at Kouden, and the blonde boy nodded and went over to the door, opening it slowly.

The the door was partly open, the person was was banging on it, shoved it open, and stood in the entrance.

"Ahh, sorry, kid. I didn't realize anyone was there!" The tall man said to Kouden, sitting on the floor, and rubbing his nose where the door hit him. All was silent for a few moments untill Matsuri sighed.

"Kankuro... How did you find me?" The man at the door grinned.

"Dont worry, I came to see Kaisa-chan! I just got back from my mission and I wanted to give her the gift I bought." As he said that, he reached down and picked up the small red headed girl and laughed as she giggled and ran her hands over his purple face make-up. Kankuro wasn't wearing his hood, but his hair wasn't dusty, so Kouden assumed he had just pushed it down.

Pulling a package slightly larger than his fist out of the pocket of his black pants, he handed it to his neice who unwrapped it eagerly. When the ripping of paper was said and done, Kaisa was staring at the small wooden snake that wiggled and wobbled when she moved it. Matsuri sighed again. Loudly to make her point.

"See, Kaisa-chan, when you are older, and you start to use chakra, I can teach you to make it move on its own! Everyone knows you are gonna be puppet master just like your uncle!" Kaisa giggled and wobbled the snake around. Jiraiya held back a chuckle, and Matsuri's eye twitched. Kankuro put the girl down, who immediatly tottered over to Kouden to show him and Aki her new toy.

"Have you even seen Gaara yet?" Matsuri said. Kankuro's grinned dropped as he promptly turned around.

"No need. I'm here." A calm voice said from behind the tall brown haired man.

"Gaara-sama! Join us. It seems to be quite the party I'm having!" Jiraiya said, sitting unforgotten on the small bed. Gaara bowed his head and entered. Kankuro scratched the back of his head before saying,

"A-ano...Sorry I didn't check in first, I wanted to give Kaisa-chan her present... But Now that you know im here and alive, I have to go see Junko now. See you all later!" Kankuro waved and exited.

"Junko? Who's Junko?" Matsuri said, as she closed the door after her husband. Gaara shrugged as he observed his daughter teasing Aki with the head of the small snake. The kit was trying to bat it, and everytime she missed, a peal of laughter filled the room, followed by a giggle from Kouden.

"I don't know. Probably another one of Kankuro's latest flings. You know how he is, keep one for a day, get another for the week. I try not to pry. I'm almost afraid of what I would find." Matsuri gave a dry laugh.

"Matsuri-chan...I came to fetch Kaisa for her fitting..." Matsuri's eyes widened as she consulted the alarm clock on the night table between Jiraiya and Kouden's beds.

"Oh! Oh no! I forgot! I'm sorry, Jiraiya-sama, Kouden-kun, we must be going. I will see you tomorrow, yes?" Jiraiya nodded and Matsuri picked up the small red headed child and hurried out the door. Gaara watched his wife leave before turning around to the white haired man.

"Are you going to attend the function? Its a celebration of the formation of a peace treaty between Sand and Smoke." Jiraiya pulled out a pipe and lit it, puffing once before answering.

"Already? You just rescued them two days ago!" Jiraiya said.

"Have all of the civilians reached the refuge base? Godaime-sama?" Kouden asked, playing with Aki's fur. Gaara glanced at the young boy and said,

"Most. A few refuse to leave their homes, but our ANBU are trying to convince them otherwise." Kouden nodded his head once and continued.

"Was there alot of civillian casualties?" Gaara was silent for a second before responding.

"Quite alot. It seems Iwa wasn't aiming to destroy the just the village, but everything in it as well. But Smoke's evacution system is unusually good at what they do, the total count of civilians so far is just over 300. Why are you so intrested? Being so young, and all." Kouden pursed his lips.

"I'm a Hyuuga too. As much as I'd rather be learning new jutsu, Neji-ni-san made sure I knew politics, to a degree." Gaara turned to look at Jiraiya.

"It seems Hinata-san had good intuition, lending you to her cousin. At least you're intelligent." Jiraiya chuckled and mumbled under his breath,

"Unlike your father." Kouden snapped his head up and glared daggers at Jiraiya, who raised his hands up in a surrender.


"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune yelled, bursting throught the Hokage's office doors. Tsunade sat up and blinked.

"Huh? Wha-? I'm awake!" She said, peeling a report off of her face. Shizune gave a quick sigh, but continued.

"Kemurigakure has been completely demolished by Iwa-nin!" Tsunade bolted straight up again, and said in an angry voice,

"What? When! How many survivors?" Shizune pulled out a paper from the pile on her arms, and Tsunade quickly skimmed it.

Tsunade, the Tsuchikage sent Iwa nins to the Smoke village, and completely demolished it. Our Suna ANBU were sent out to recover what we could of the survivors, and bring them back to the refugee camp we have set up on the edge of the village. A count of surviors after the first night is approximately, 70 Kemuri nin, and little over 300 civillians. We might recover more in the next few days, but the point is that this wasn't an ordinary invasion. This was an extermination.

I beleive the Tsuchi mean war. We request, that in the case of a full blown attack on Suna, you send your capable shinobi and medic nin. I also request for you to send your best negotiators to help avoid a war as soon as possible. This is the last thing we need.

I am aware of your new peace treaty with Kumogakure, I request that you ask them to aid you in negotiating and if it comes to it, fighting this war.

Sabaku no Gaara, Godaime Kazekage.


Tsunade rubbed her hand against her face, and dropped the letter onto her desk.

"Gaara likes to request things, doesn't he?" Shizune didn't answer, but shifted her feet instead.

"Shizune, I dont need this. I'm getting too old for this." Shizune clicked her tongue.

"It's unfortunate...I really hope this doesn't come to war. Shall I send for some negotiators?" Tsunade looked up and said,

"Yea...Shikamaru, and Kakashi. Oh! Ask Neji to come as well. Ask Sakura to go as backup, and to help with the injured, that'd be great. If you can find one more, send them to my office at once. Just tell them to come straight to me." Shizune nodded, and dumping the small pile of papers on the busty woman's desk, she ran out the doors.

Tsunade glanced at the paper, and leaned back in her chair and sighed. More paperwork.


Shizune sped down the stairs so gracefully, it looked like she was gliding an inch above them. Exiting the spiral stairway, Shizune looked back and forth the streets, and much to her delight, saw Kakashi.

"Oi! Kakashi-kun!" Kakashi, who was slouched over and reading his book while walking, turned his head to look over his shoulder.

"Ah, Shizune! How may I be of...service, this fine afternoon?" Shizune forced back a blush at the way he said that, and instead said,

"Tsunade's office, now." Kakashi's mask twitched, and Shizune saw the impression of a grimace. He put his book away and raised his hands to his shoulders.

"Look, I swear, it wasn't me. Tsunade may think that it was, but I was framed by Gai because I los--"

"Mission, Kakashi-kun, mission. Red code urgent, you need to get there now." Shizune said before dashing off to find the next person.

It wasn't long before Shizune saw a trio of masked and cloaked ANBU sitting on the edge of a roof. Stopping under them, she shouted,

"ANBU-tachi! Are any of you Neji?" The trio shook their heads, and one said,

"Neji-kun is at home, I beleive..." Shizune sighed, that was on the other side of the village. Waving a thanks, Shizune boosted her speed with chakra, and bee-lined it straight to the Uchiha Compound. Joggin past the empty shops, she eventually came upon the main family house. The first thing she saw were 6 children, randomly running around the neatly cared for garden. Not to far away, closer to the porch of the main house were Sakura, Ino, and Temari, chatting and laughing. Ino was holding a new born baby in her arms, and the baby was sleeping soundly.

"Ah! Sakura, you are needed at the Hokage's office, red code!" the trio of mother's looked up at Shizune, who was panting from running across town.

"Shizune-sensei? Red code? Do you know what the emergency is?"

"Classified. Tsunade-sama will fill you in. Temari-san, do you know where Shikamaru-san is?" Temari pointed to the main house. "Uhn, well, Temari, you too. You might want to go, it concerns Suna." Temari's eyes rose past her bangs.

"Ino...?" Ino sighed. Temari hugged her awkwardly and stood up, bringing Shizune into the house after Sakura.

Sakura led them through the main hall, and along another smaller one that led to the private back garden.

"Shikamaru should be here, he likes to watch the clouds with Sasuke, and sometimes Neji when they have time off." Sakura explained as she slid the shoji screen open.

The garden was indeed private. Vine covered walls surrounded it, there was a large maple tree, in which Sasuke was leaning in, near the back, and a small pond in the center. Shikamaru was laying on the grass and sighed when he head the shouji screen slide open.

"Shikamaru-san, you need to be at Tsunade's office, red code." Shikamaru sighed again and sat up.

"Mendokuse." He said, but Shizune was already gone, running through the halls.

Back on the streets again, Shizune used more chakra and made it to Neji's small house in under three minutes.

Knocking on the door, She waited a few seconds before hearing footsteps. Brushing the dust off of her kimono, she snapped her hands back to her sides when the door opened.

"Can I help you?" A girl with brown hair in buns, and white eyes said, eyeing Shizune up and down with her white eyes.

"Er, Is Neji-san here?" Shizune asked. The girl frowned for a second before stepping back and inviting the tired medic in.

"Tou-channn! Tou-chan! You have a visitor!" The girl yelled at the stairs. Shizune heard a shouji screen squeek while being opened, and the pounding of footsteps before Neji appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing nothing but training shorts.

"Ah, Shizune-san, to what do I owe the pleasure?" He said, rubbing his forehead where his curse seal was engraved.

"Tsunade's office, red code." Neji perked and waved his hand before disapearing again. Shizune turned and ran at a moderate pace back to Tsunade's office.


End Chapter 20