Chapter Five

Feelings would be so much easier if you could put them in a box and throw away the key. Hinata had realized that on the way to the main gates of Konoha the next day. She had tried to figure out what Naruto had lied to her about but every time she asked someone, no one in her age group knew, or appeared to know. She had tried to ask older adults about it. However she always got the same response.

“You need to ask Hokage-sama about it.” It was simple and too the point but the point of the matter: she still didn’t have any answers. She had even tried to look up information in the Hyuuga archives but that area was in such a state it was clear that nobody had gone in there in a long time. She hadn’t even seen Naruto long enough to ask him, as he always seemed to be with someone or just going somewhere when she managed to catch up to him.

It was almost as though he was avoiding her.

Hinata sighed. That was something she thought would never happen. As she made it to the gates she smiled already seeing Shikamaru and Naruto there waiting patiently.

“Hi Hinata-chan.” Naruto said with a bright smile, “are you ready for your trip to Sound?”

“Can’t wait.” Well it was a half-truth. She didn’t know what to expect from Sound if Ino had been convinced to move there.

“It’s not that bad Hinata-chan. It’s just the person who founded their village had been.” Shikamaru scoffed.

“Can’t say much for the current their Otokage, either”

“He had his reasons, Shikamaru.” Naruto said somewhat coldly and Hinata knew he wanted his assistant to drop it.

“Don’t worry I’ll be pleasant through the peace talks, Hokage-sama.” Shikamaru went back to cloud watching and Naruto sighed.

“I should have realized we’d be waiting on him.” Naruto said a few moments later.

“Did he make it to Ichiraku’s on time Naruto-kun?” Hinata asked.

“Yeah. He’s just being deliberately late for making him take Kushina for ramen and being on time for once.” Naruto said with a small laugh.

“You knew he would do this?”

“I did.” Shikamaru spoke up still lazily looking up at the sky, “and just pointed it out to our esteemed Hokage here.”

“How’d he get Kushina, to go along with this?” Naruto raised an eyebrow.

“Give Shina the opportunity of free ramen than seeing her father? She’ll take the ramen over her father any day of the week.” Naruto responded.

“Sounds like someone else we know.” She said wryly, causing a laugh from behind her that caused her to jump and turn around in defense mode, where she spotted Kakashi and Kushina on her his shoulders. She laughed herself, at the sight.

“Great, you’re here.” Naruto commented looking slightly at his watch, “Five minutes late. Have to say I am impressed, Kakashi.” Kakashi started to speak but Kushina started wriggling.

“Kashi, let me down. I want to see Dad…” The youngest of the group whined.

“Yeah, Kashi” Hinata laughed as Naruto teased the older man.

“I thought you wanted to go, Hokage-sama?” Kakashi retorted. Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I can deal with a hug from my daughter, Kakashi.” Kakashi let Kushina down and she ran to her father.

“I was just joking, Hokage-sama.” Naruto gave the sunny smile that Hinata had loved as a child.

“I know.” She watched as he sweaped his daughter up for a big hug, “Are you ready to see Aunt Sakura, Kushina?”

“Yep and Uncle Sasuke!” Hinata’s eyes widened.

“Sakura and Sasuke are in SOUND?” She questioned in surprise.

“You wanted an explanation of where Ino, Lady Sakura and Lord Sasuke where, Lady Hinata” Kakashi pointed out.

“What else aren’t you three telling me?” Hinata demanded raising an eyebrow.

“We’ll explain later Hinata-chan.” Hinata narrowed her eyes at the blonde in question.

“I will hold you to that Hokage-sama.” The coldness reached her ears and she nearly winced but she didn’t when she saw Naruto wince himself. At least he now knew how she felt about the situation.

“Let’s go on our way now shall we?” Kakashi spoke up and both Hinata and Naruto turned to glare at him.

“Let’s go Dad!” Kushina bounced up and down the child oblivious to the tension between Hinata and Naruto.

***

Two hours later Hinata was wondering if she should have said no to this mission. The only noise was coming from Kushina and random comments from Kakashi. Shikamaru was still annoyed at being forced to come along and Hinata was annoyed at the three males for keeping secrets from her. Which was fair wasn’t it?

She bit her lip and refused to answer that question in her mind. She knew everyone was aloud to have secrets but Sakura and Ino had been her friends. Part of her thought this wasn’t fair, but the other part thought there might just be a reason.

Maybe.

“Lady Hinata?” Kushina’s voice brought Hinata out of her thoughts. Hinata looked down at the red head who was now at her side.

“You know- Lady Kushina, you don’t have to call me Lady Hinata.” Kushina paused for a few moments looking like she was deep in thought- which reminded Hinata a lot of Naruto in his younger days.

“As long as you don’t call me Lady Kushina, Hinata-chan it makes me feel old” Hinata could help but smile at the young girl. Enjoying the fact that Kushina had decided against Aunt status.

“That’s a deal Shina,” Hinata was startled when Kushina’s hand found her way in hers.

“Tell me a story please Hinata-chan, Uncle Kashi never tells any good ones.”

“Alright lets see…once there was a young princess, who in her younger days was in love with a prince,” She ignored Shikamaru’s cough and continued, “the prince was so determined to become king that he didn’t quite notice the princess. However the princess was deemed inappropriate by her family…”

“Hinata-chan? What’s inappropriate? Dad uses that word when Uncle Kashi brings out his orange book.” Kushina interrupted and Hinata narrowed her eyes slightly at Kakashi who found his way over to Shikamaru.

“It means unsuitable, not worthy words like that, Shina.” The girl nodded, “Now where was I? Ah yes. The princess was deemed inappropriate to be queen of her family. Turns out the princesses father wanted her younger sister to be Queen. However the prince believed in her. He believed that she could do it. Just like the prince believed he could be King of the village that they lived it…” She trailed off when she realized Kushina was yawning slightly.

“How about I pick you up, Shina? Would you like that?” Kakashi asked the girl nodded slightly and Kakashi picked her up with ease and she snuggled slightly into him and fell asleep almost instantly. Hinata smiled slightly watching the two. She knew despite his faults Kakashi was good with children.

“You said was in love with” Shikamaru’s quiet voice surprised Hinata, causing her to jump slightly. The two slowed down a bit letting Kakashi, Kushina and Naruto go on a bit further.

“I did.” She said simply wondering where Shikamaru was going with this.

“Does that mean you don’t love him now?” Hinata raised an eyebrow.

“Now who said I was talking about me, Shika?” Shikamaru just rolled his eyes and took out a cigarette.

“I’m not Hokage-sama, Lady Hinata. I did manage to figure out you where talking about yourself and our esteemed Hokage. I’m sure even Kakashi picked up on that.” Hinata bit her lip wondering what to say next. She sighed.

“Come on you two!” Naruto’s voice called before she could answer Shikamaru, “Just a little bit more and we can stop for lunch.”

“As you wish Hokage-sama.” Shikamaru returned and he put out his cigarette. Hinata raised an eyebrow, “Hokage-sama won’t let me smoke around Lady Kushina.”

“You shouldn’t be smoking at all.” She said with a slight frown.

“I’ve been smoking since I was sixteen I’m not going to stop now Lady Hinata. Just like Kakashi’s not going to stop reading his porn.”

“Shikamaru.” Naruto said warningly as Shikamaru and Hinata reached the other three.

“Troublesome.” Shikamaru simply remarked, “Lady Kushina is a sleep, Hokage-sama and it’s common knowledge what Kakashi reads.”

“He is telling the truth, Naruto-kun.” Hinata spoke up. The first time she had spoke directly to him for a while.

“Hn.” Naruto grunted slightly.

***

A few hours later Hinata found herself next to Kakashi who had passed Kushina over to her father. He looked over at her and she could tell that his mind was on something.

“Activate your Byakugan.” She raised an eyebrow but did as she was told, she carefully looked around and nearly gasped but managed to hold it in.

“I see, our signatures and… Shikamaru get down now.” Hinata yelled out causing Shikamaru to doge just in time of a kunai whizzing past right where he was standing. Inwardly she frowned. She had managed to sense the kunai coming towards them but she could not find the charka.

“Remember protect Hokage-sama and Lady Kushina at all costs.” Kakashi warned as they took their protective stances.

To Be Continued.

Author Notes: Just a couple of notes

-Naruto lost his wife in battle. They didn’t separate. He isn’t completely over her. Also because of that he is not just going to jump in to bed with Hinata- simply because she’s back. It’s completely out of character for him. They’re just friends at the moment. It will be Naru/Hina just relax and enjoy the ride.

-Also Hinata appears to be a little out of character. She grew more confident while she was away. Six years does change a person and she did leave when she was twenty, so all of rookie 9 are 26 now.