Chapter 45

Sakura hummed to herself as she looks around the Yamanaka shop. She enjoyed staring at the flowers of different kinds and colors, their sweet scent attracting her a bit.

Ino watched her from the counter with curious eyes while resting her chin on her palm. “You look in a good mood today, am I missing something?”

The pink haired girl merrily beamed before pointing at the red tulips. “I’ll get two of these.”

“I’m asking you a question!”, the blonde went mad, a little infuriated for getting ignored. She sighed before gently wrapping the red flowers in a white clad of paper.

“Can you separate them?”, Sakura requested to which Ino complied albeit visibly annoyed.

“Who are you giving the other one for? I’m pretty sure Sasuke is not in the hospital.”

“I’m giving one to Lee-san. The other is for Lhexi to congratulate her for getting discharged.”

Ino blinked her eyes, a little surprised. “You mean that weird guy with those bushy eyebrows?”

“He’s not weird at all!”, Sakura retaliated earning a sweat drop from her friend.

“Alright, alright. I’m sorry okay?”

Sakura tucked the flowers in her arms, careful not to rip them.

“By the way Sakura, I heard from Shikamaru, Lhexi got promoted to Chunin recently. Is that true?”

The pinkette scratched her chin, thinking. “Hm. Kakashi-sensei said something about her joining our team but, getting promoted to Chunin? I don’t really know but, probably…it’s Lhexi we’re talking about here.”

Ino slammed her hands on the table removing her apron as she approaches Sakura who was bewildered. “Wait! Wait! Wait! Lhexi is placed on team 7?!”

She gripped tightly on Sakura’s shoulders and the latter flinched a little.

“Y-yeah. Lady Tsunade informed us yesterday.”

Ino backed away shocked and betrayed. “That’s so unfair! You two get to be on the same team as Sasuke-kun! What about me?! I’m stuck with a fatso and a lazy bum!” She cried and Sakura patted her back sympathizing.

The Yamanaka playfully smacked away her arm and Sakura continuously teased her. They run in circles inside the shop, playing a game of tag.

“Get back here! You billboard brows!”

“Try to catch me if you can, Ino-pig.”, Sakura sticks her tongue out, the two threw horrible nicknames at each other only stopping to get a rest.

“It’s been a while since we’ve done that…haah.”

Sweat dribbled on their skin as they wipe away the saline liquid. They sat on the ground with their back resting against the wall, facing the glass windows.

“Hey, Sakura. Aren’t you worried?”

“About what?”

“You know, Lhexi has been really popular back in the academy for her good looks. Not lying, she’s really pretty and sweet. She’s strong too. Did you watch her fight against that waterfall ninja during the Chunin Exams? She really beat the crap out of that frost guy. As if we have a chance against someone like her. How unfair, she has everything I don’t!”, she gritted her teeth in jealousy.

It was unacceptable that someone was perfect and it wasn’t her.

“Sasuke-kun likes girls with long hair, right? What if he falls for her…wouldn’t that be a little too much for us? Especially for you?”, Ino glanced a worried gaze on Sakura whose smile didn’t falter.

“You see, I’m not really worried.”, she confidently responded back earning a quick look of confusion from her friend. “Even if Sasuke-kun falls for her, they’ll never be together.”

“Huh?”, Ino tilted her head to the side in perplex, a question mark popping above her head.

Sakura maliciously smirked then her eyes turned red, horns and a tail appearing on her body. “Well, it’s a secret for now.”

Ino grabbed her collar, choking the hell out of the pinkette. “You can’t leave here until you tell me the truth!”

“Okay! Okay!” Sakura aggressively panted for air the moment Ino released her grip. “Just promise me you won’t tell anyone okay?”

Ino bobbed her head enthusiastically. She couldn’t wait to hear it. Sakura nervously looked around before leaning forward towards Ino’s ear. She covered her mouth as she whispers something.

Ino’s eyes went wide agape, her mouth hanging open. She processed every word that left Sakura’s lips. “Really?!”

Sakura nodded her head, serious. “Yeah, I saw them.”

Ino finally bursts out laughing clutching her stomach as she smacks her knees. “Oh my god, that’s big news! Why did you only tell me now?!”

“Well you never asked…”, Sakura looked away whistling, avoiding Ino’s suspicious eyes.

“But, that Naruto…he sure is a one lucky bastard.”

Sakura creased her eyebrows feeling nervous now that she revealed it. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said it in the first place.

 Naruto sneezed out of nowhere catching the attention of Sasuke who was sparing against him.

“What are diddling about, dobe?”, he threw a spin kick, one that smacked Naruto right across his cheek as he flies directly to a bush.

“Sasuke-teme! That hurts! Argh! My cheek’s swollen! You bastard! You really did it!”, Naruto screamed struggling to get out from the twigs that got caught in the fabric of his clothes. “Why you!”

“It’s your fault for spacing out during training.” Sasuke watched Naruto with a deadpan look as the latter glare at him with a hateful gaze.

“I’m really gonna get you! Just you wait!”

Sasuke facepalmed as he got second hand embarrassment from his rival who couldn’t even get out from a bush. Why did he even thought, Naruto was surpassing him?

“Make sure to get out of there before the sun goes down, Usuratonkachi.”, he stuffed his hands in his pockets as he smirks. “Well since it’s you, it will probably take until midnight.”

Naruto screamed in annoyance, realizing he looked really foolish in front of Sasuke who was enjoying his misery.

“Hey Hinata, have you seen Shino?”, a grey hooded boy with two red tattoos on both his cheeks approached the timid Hyuuga.

“Hm. He’s in the forest, capturing rare insects again.”, Hinata replied with a sweet tone, well that’s how she usually speaks with people she is comfortable with.

“Ehhh, that’s a shame. I was thinking of sparing against him today. I want to try out our new combo, right Akamaru?”

His little puppy barked in return as he wags his tail in excitement.

“Maybe tomorrow? It’s almost sunset.”, she suggested as both of them walked out of the training grounds, walking side by side on the busy streets of Konoha.

Kiba placed his hands on the back of his head as he whistles to himself, his puppy howled in return.

“I haven’t seen most of the teachers for a few days now. Even Kurenai-sensei.”, Kiba said out of nowhere with his posture relaxed.

“They are quite busy finishing their solo missions. We can only wait here in patience until, the military power of Konoha stabilize.”

Kiba jumped in fright and Hinata turned around to see Neji walking towards them. He didn’t have the stern face like he did before his fight with Naruto. But, he was still very hard to get along with, he has to work on that.

“Lady Hinata, I’ll escort you back home.”

Hinata was silent for a few seconds as she processes the words he had said. Back in the past, he would just ignore her presence completely.

“Haah?! Hey, have you already forgotten what you did to Hinata?! You jer--!”

“Sure, Neji-niisan.”, Hinata nodded in return although a little nervous. Her short response brought a smile to Neji’s face.

He didn’t really know how he would make up for his extremely rude behavior in the past, but he’s trying his best.

“Hey, Hinata! Are you really sure, about this?!”, Kiba retorted as Akamaru barked twice in agreement with his master.

“Hm. I want to get closer to Neji-niisan.”

Kiba retreated away as he takes in what was going on. He stared at Neji for a few moments, earning a disturbed look from the Hyuuga.

His scent was the same from before but, there was some changes. Back then it gave off an unfriendly and gloomy vibe, much worse than Sasuke. But, now it seemed to have softened up a bit to his surprise.

He can’t even sniff any lies behind Neji’s pure actions to make amends to Hinata. “I get it. But, be careful! I’m leaving now! I don’t want to be late for dinner!”, he made a run for it, leaving a trail of dust behind.

The two Hyuuga were silent as they were left alone. Neji silently wished, Kiba would have stayed or it would be awkward for the two of them.

“How was your training?”, he asked almost stuttering.

Hinata smiled to herself at the thought of the older male trying his best. “I’m still honing my skills but, I can’t see myself improving.”

Neji looked down to see Hinata making a sad expression. “If you wish, I can be your sparring partner.”

The girl had her mouth agape, she was too surprised to speak.

“I won’t be as strict as before, but it doesn’t mean I will be lenient.”, he said with a calm tone while being careful not to struck any nerve.

“Really?”

The male wasn’t expecting Hinata to pick herself up in just a few seconds with that bright twinkle in her lavender eyes. He nodded to his younger cousin, relieved that they were finally making a little progress.

He stopped when he saw Hinata looking at the windows of the library. His eyes traveled to where she was looking at only to find the familiar face of Lhexi who had books stacked beside her as she writes something using an ink brush.

“What’s the matter, Lady Hinata? Do you want to greet her?”

The short haired girl was silent stupefying Neji who watched her clutched her chest, an unhappy expression on her face.

“Neji-niisan.”, she called as he bites her lower lip. “I think I’m feeling something I shouldn’t.”

“Hinata-sama?”

“Is it wrong to want what someone else has?”, her eyebrows furrowed in pain and deep thought.

Neji immediately picked up her unusual behavior, turning his heels to face her. “I don’t think so.”

“R-right?”

Neji bobbed his head in agreement.

“Do you dislike her?”

The question shocked Hinata, as she remained silent to herself. Asking her inner mind if that was how she felt.

She shook her head after finally realizing what she truly felt. “I don’t hate her, probably it’s because I want to be someone like her that I’m feeling jealous. I really want to be friends with her. But, it feels like she’s out of my league. And N-naruto-kun likes her as a girl. Even someone like me can see it.”

Neji listened to her words, she never talked this much before. He had his mouth shut. He can’t really give a good advice right now but, it’s worth trying that regretting later.

“Hinata-sama, what do you mean by someone like you?”

The girl looked down as she twirls her fingers on the hem of her jacket. “I-Im timid, unsociable and weak.”

“The fact that you recognize your own weaknesses proves that you have the potential to grow. I have once thought that being a genius is everything, thinking back I realized how foolish I was.”, Neji sighed followed by a chuckle.

Hinata glanced back at the window to see Lhexi staring back at them. The Hyuuga heiress was startled for a moment. She blinked her eyes when Lhexi disappeared from the window.

“Hey there, Neji.”, the female greeted as she appeared infront of them.

She glanced down at Hinata who was a few centimeters smaller than her. “Hinata, right? What brings you here?”

“U-uhm…”, the two patiently waited for Hinata to reply not cutting her off. “A-alexa-san, w-will you j-join u-us for d-dinner?”, she blurted out of the blue shocking the two.

Neji blinked his eyes, surprised as Lhexi scratched her chin. “Dinner…with the Hyuuga…?”

“L-lady Hinata…!”

“E-eh? A-ah, I-I’m sorry!”, she bowed quickly.

“Sorry Lhexi, Lady Hinata is a little nervous so she unconsciously said that.”

Lhexi waved it off with a smile. “There’s nothing to apologize for. And I would love to join you in a dinner, but I don’t want aristocrats surrounding us.”

“Aristocrats…?”, the two cousins tilted their head in confusion. Were there aristocrats in their family?

“Why don’t you join us for some ramen later?”, Lhexi winked her eyes at Hinata. “Naruto will be there so, prepare your best dress.”, she leaned in whispering at the girl who blew a fuse almost passing out on the street.

Neji sighed as he catches her falling form with a deadpanned look at the criminal. All of them already knew that uttering the Uzumaki’s name will one day kill the poor soul of Hinata.

“Sorry not sorry.”, she made a peace sign before making a run for it.

He exhaled, creating a vapor in the cold air as a small smile lingered on his face.

“It’s almost winter, huh?”

Shikamaru was alone sitting on the halls of the Nara compound. He had his shogi board before him, pieces scattered on the checkered wood. He stared in deep thought for he was stuck with the current problem.

He placed the pieces based from memory of his shogi match with Lhexi. He won the match after the girl forfeited in defeat. But, he can’t buy that. At first, he believed that Lhexi had no chance turning the tides around. Oh, how wrong he was.

He narrowed his eyes, seeing something was wrong. Shikamaru was one step away from capturing the opponent’s king and it was his move.

But, the way how the opponent’s officials were placed was troubling. Maybe he couldn’t see it from his angle.

He moved to the other side, his knuckles turning white from gripping the board. A small grin made its way on his face.

Lhexi’s officials were one step away from capturing all of his pieces except for his king. If she kills all of his pieces, the king would be left alone, not even clothes to hide from. It felt like she staged the whole match.

“She's such a drag…”

Tenten was in her room, her hair that was usually tied in two buns were now flowing flawlessly beside her as she lied on her bed. The lamp on her side table, flickered a little, looming a shadow on the book she was reading for split second.

“The author is really cruel! How could he let all of them die?!”, she cursed as she flips to another chapter of the book instantly blushing at the unexpected sexually romantic scene.

“What the hell?”, despite that, she continued reading the book, peeking through the gap between her fingers.

“It feel like the author’s a sadist.”, she muttered arriving at the climax. “He made the husband kill her wife in the end to save his friends. What an awful choice…”

She dropped the book beside her as she wipes the welling tears on her eyes. “Now I know why in most love stories, the female lead chooses the villain over the hero.”

“A hero will sacrifice you to save the world but, a villain will sacrifice the world for you.”, she sighed as she plops her arms. “It would have been better if the wife survived. I was rooting for her. “

“Stupid author…”

……….

“You are fifteen minutes late! Team 7!”, the five flinched at Tsunade’s loud voice that crackled upon them. Numerous angry veins appeared on her forehead and she looked like she would throw the table at them any moment now.

“L-Lady Tsunade…p-please calm down…”, poor Shizune, she was tasked to serve a master who was almost impossible to handle. Tonton hid in fear of getting burned to crisp by her fiery gaze.

“Tsunade baa chan, you should reprimand Kakashi-sensei, he was late on telling us you would assign us to a new mission. And it’s almost night ttebayo!”, Naruto rested his hands-on top of his head with close eyes, pushing all the blame on his sensei who sweat dropped.

“I don’t want to hear any excuses. But, I hope you will fix that bad habit of yours Kakashi.”, she clasped her fingers together, resting her chin on her thumbs giving a warning.

“Yes ma’am.”, was all Kakashi could reply. He wouldn’t retaliate a walking bomb like Tsunade or she might just punch him to Suna.

The three genin snickered in return loving and enjoying the misery of their oh-so-amazing teacher.

“A-hem!”, the fifth hokage fake coughed to gain the attention of the five. “Your mission would take several days at most so listen very well.”

Naruto and Sasuke perked up excitedly. Since it would take a few days, most likely it’s a C-rank mission or higher, they hoped.

“Find a man named Fukunaga Mabushi, and bring him to me alive.”, Lhexi’s eyes wavered at the mention of that name.

Danzo wanted him dead for he was apparently a traitor, much to her disbelief after Tsunade suddenly ordered them to bring him alive.

Was Tsunade trying to kill them? If they would bring Fukunaga Mabushi alive, they would surely encounter the ANBU themselves. And it wouldn’t be a nice meeting.

“He was last seen at the Land of Iron. He has a prominent cross scar on his right cheek, black hair and blue eyes. He’s in his mid-thirties.”

Since Lhexi is an ANBU, she might as well kill that man along the way.

“This would be a difficult one…”, Kakashi sighed as he looks down at his students, worriedly.

“Why?”, Sakura asked.

“The Land of Iron is a country where it's winter all year round. It’s nice to look at but, staying for a few hours on that barren land will get you frostbite.”

Naruto and Sakura shivered, as cold wind brush against their skin. Sasuke was prepared although a little worried, but he didn’t show it on his face.

Lhexi’s temperature could already be compared to a corpse so she couldn’t care less, to her unawareness of what's to come.

Tsunade was planning on assigning a field of Jonin for the task but, it would be too obvious and Danzo would immediately take notice.

Fukunaga Mabushi has the taboo knowledge of the Root and the crimes Danzo committed for over the decade.  If she could talk to him, she might even have a lead to Orochimaru’s hideout.

Sending in a genin team is a coward but, smart move. Finding that man would be hard and their possible encounter with the ANBU would be dangerous and she hoped it wouldn’t happen. But, since Kakashi would be there, she’s put at slight ease.

“That’s all dismissed!”

They left the office and Naruto braced himself for the coming chilly wind. “I need to bring ten jackets! And blankets too!”

“Don’t exaggerate it Naruto.”, their sensei told him as he bury his nose in his book.

“Even if I bring a hundred clothes, Lhexi-chan will help me seal it in a scroll, right Lhexi-chan?”, he looked up at Lhexi who placed her fingers on her chin, thinking deeply.

“Hmm. A hundred might be too much…”, she honestly replied, followed by a taunt by Sasuke.

”Maybe it would be easier if we seal you in a scroll.”, Sasuke purposely said out loud earning a nerve by Naruto.

“Right, we should do that.”, Lhexi joked.

Naruto stood in horror and incredulity as Sasuke smirked. Sakura laughed in the corner and the silverette was watching the three bully the poor blonde with a gentle smile behind his mask.

Hinata fiddled with her fingers as she stood across the street infront of the Ichiraku Ramen Shop. The bright full moon was peeking through the dark clouds of the black sky.

It was seven-thirty in the evening and had been waiting for the two to show up for five minutes already. There were only quite a number of passersby who were still wondering in the village. The civilians were still boisterous and active regardless of the time of the day.

She was nervous, red tints glowing on her pale cheeks. Eating ramen with Naruto was once a dream, now it's becoming reality.

Thankfully, her father wasn't strict like before to not let her wonder inside the village alone. It was dangerous, even if she was a kunoichi now, she's still a genin.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

She shrieked, nervously looking around, searching for the voice who called her. Her light violet eyes caught the two figures approaching her. One in a black suit, the other in a bright orange tracksuit that she won't be able to mistake his identity for anyone other than a certain boy.

"A-alexa-san! N-n-n-naruto-kun...!", she was close to blowing her head into a cloud of smoke as Naruto stare at her with his bright blue eyes.

"Hinata? Oh, it's Hinata!", Naruto started with a curious tone, his voice turning joyful recognizing the female infront of her.

She watched them walk closer towards her. She hoped her hair was combed perfectly and wished her simple dress wasn't crinkled.

"Let's eat together ttebayo!", he requested much to Lhexi's pleasure making Hinata fluster.

They entered the shop, Naruto took his place next to Lhexi and the other female was tipsy as Lhexi motion her to sit next to the blonde. She gathered up her courage as she held her breath, taking the empty seat next to Naruto.

She was a bright shade of red and Lhexi sweatdropped, Naruto will surely see all shades of red tonight.

"Welcome! Oh, Naruto, Lhexi, it's rare for the two of you to bring a friend!", Teuchi glanced at the short haired girl who bowed in respect.

Lhexi chuckled awkwardly as she deny his claims. "No way...! Anyway, we'll get the usual one."

"What's yours, Hinata?", Naruto asked to the poor girl who was close to passing out.

"U-uhm...t-t-the s-sa-same as y-yours...N-n-na-naruto-kun...", she used up all of her energy just to reply.

Naruto looked at her weirdly before nodding in response. "Teuchi-ojiisan, we'll order another one of that."

"Three pork mi seur ramen! Please wait a little bit!"

Lhexi watched Hinata with a worried glance, this won't do for Naruto'sa attention was all over herself.

"Hey, hey Lhexi-chan! Teach me fuinjutsu, ttebayo. Pervy sage doesn't even teach me the basics, he's always busy with his research.", he closed his eyes, disappointed at his master.

"Ofcourse.", she smiled.

Naruto's eyes lit up as he stood up from his seat. "Thank you, Lhexi-chan!" Excitedness was written all over his face until Lhexi gave him an ominous aura.

"But, you need to learn kanji first, alright?", Naruto paled as he slumped on his seat.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you. We would have to start from scratch since you always sleep during class back in the academy."

The blonde rested his face on the table, muttering incomprehensible words, his soul living his body slowly while Hinata watched him with worried eyes.

"N-naruto-kun?"

"Three Pork mi seur ramen, coming up!"

"Thanks, Teuchi-san."

"No worries! By the way, what's wrong with Naruto?"

"Ah, please ignore him. He's just like that sometimes."

Lhexi took her bowl and Hinata followed. Teuchi laid the bowl of ramen next to the Uzumaki who lost all his excitement from a while ago.

Naruto's nose scrunched up at tne scent of ramen in the air. He rose up to his seat quickly before beginning to slurp his ramen.

"Way to go, Hinata! I think you just beat the record!", Lhexi cheered as she left her food untouched.

"Where did all those food go? There's no way, they're gonna fit in that small petite body of yours, young girl.", the old man asked as he stroke his nonexistent beard.

Hinata was down on her eight bowl before looking to the side to see Naruto with twinkles in his enlarged eyes as if they were gonna pop out form his sockets.

"Woah! You're amazing Hinata! That's so awesome, ttebayo! I can only go seven."

Hinata blushed as if blood gathered up on her face, as she grip the bowl she was eating on too hard, breaking it in the process.

Naruto paled as he watch her with nervousness traveling in his stomach, his throat gulping down his saliva. Several pieces of the broken ceramix flew everywhere while he dodged everything that went after him.

"H-hinata-chan...?", he stuttered unable to make an eye contact.

"A-aH! I-I'm s-s-sorry!", she bowed 180 degrees and Teuchi just watched from the counter with a forced smile on his face.

"It's alright, things like that happen sometimes, it's not your fault.", he replied with a stern face. That bowl costs much more than what she ate,

Naruto and Hinata were outside the shop while waiting for Lhexi to pay for what they ate.

The Hyuuga heiress looked away when she noticed Naruto staring at him for more than five seconds.

"N-N-Naruto-kun..."

"It's true. I'm not imagining it. Hinata, you are always nervous around me. Why?"

Lhexi took her time behind the covers of the shop, secretly listening to their conversation. 'It's rather amazing you out of all people noticed it Naruto.'

"You don't stutter like this to everyone else so why only me, ttebayo?"

The girl flinched as she gripped her clothes tight, probably too tight while looking down on the rocks on the ground

Despite being an idiot infront of everyone else, Naruto isn't a fool. When it comes to romance, his master is the best at it. And being that sannin's student didn't let him escaped from reading his works.

Flushed faced, stuttering voice, nervousness creeping out. Bingo. He realized it finally. It took him long enough.

Lhexi lifted the covers of the shop upon noticing Naruto dragging Hinata somewhere. She looked around, they were out of sight.

It took only a few minutes when Naruto stepped out of the alleyway. Lhexi raised an eyebrow when Hinata followed shortly with a frown on her face. A strange mixture of a crestfallen and droopy expression on her face.

"I-I'll go this way...father is waiting for me...", Hinata turned around from their direction. Hastingly leaving the two alone together.

Lhexi frowned when she saw something gleaming on the girl's cheeks.

"Naruto, did you do something?", she eyed the Uzumaki suspisciously.

The boy retaliated by shaking his head, placing his hands on the back of his head. He leisurely walked on the streets of Konoha without any care in the world. Silently disappointed with the girl beside him.

"Naruto...?", Lhexi called, a little worried on the dark and lonely expression on his face.

"It's nothing dattebayo!", he lied with a grin on his face.