The Games We Play

FAQ’s (All questions are paraphrased.)

Q: “Why doesn’t Naruto just kill Misako?”

A: Naruto is a ninja and I believe it would be against his moral code to fight someone who is not a ninja and a girl. Naruto will not lay a hand on Misako because of that, also Naruto doesn’t really care about her right now as much as he cares about Hinata. Same goes for Sasuke, he’s lost interest in Yuna and just wants Sakura back.

Q: “When are Sakura and Hinata going to kill them?”

A: As entertaining as that would be, no that’s not going to happen. Sakura and Hinata are not teenagers in the story, they are young women in their early twenties. They are hurt and they are upset but they will not do something that childish. However, Sakura has a temper and it will get her into trouble.

Q: “When are they going to kick some ass!?”

A: Like anything worth while it takes time. Just be patient and read everything because every line, every scene and every conversation is important. Stories have a time line, we have passed the beginning and the ‘point of no return’ up next is the climax and the after math.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________-

Chapter 15

“Friendly Advice”

-----------------------

Sakura ran her fingers through her hair nearly scratching at the scalp. The large meeting room didn’t seem so large anymore. She hadn’t eaten that morning or the night before so she was hungry, and the sleeping pills had yet to really ware off so she was sleepy. Sakura sleepy and hungry was not a good combination, she was in a mood. A bad mood she could feel it on edge at every single small movement she made.

She had been waiting for the Hokage and her guest for almost fifteen minutes. Sakura already hated to wait but in her mood right now she was just about ready to march over and pull them both in here to get this damn thing over with. She didn’t even know why she had to be here in the first place. It was just a meeting to see where they stood, something only the Hokage should know about. She should feel privileged to be asked to join in such an important meeting about the future of her village but at the moment all Sakura could think of was getting a grip on herself before she ripped Yuna’s face off the second she walked in the room.

As the image of Yuna Tanako screaming for mercy at her grip Sakura heard the door click open and she stood up. She took a deep, deep breath and smiled. She maybe hungry and sleepy and so pissed off she could take down the building in one punch she was still a professional ninja.

Tsunade walked in first and looked just as sleepy but just as professional she hid it. Or she was already drunk; it was a coin toss between the two really.

“Good morning Sakura.” She greeting warmly and Sakura said hello and bowed. Behind her was Yuna.

Her black hair was flowing behind her back; her blue dress was freshly pressed and only made her intense features even more visible. She smiled a wide smile and Sakura, who in return smiled back clenching her jaw so hard it ached.

“Hello there Sakura I was wondering when I was going to see you again.” She said in that sweet voice as before. Sakura wanted to answer by ripping out her throat.

“I’ve been very busy Miss Tanako,”

“Yes, Tsunade told me all about the hospital it must be wonderful to be counted on so much but perhaps if you’re in charge of the nurses you should instruct stricter rules.”

Bitch!

“Yes we’re working on that.” Sakura said with a very strained smile.

“Anyway, Sakura’s disappearance aside lets get this meeting on I’m sure no one wants to be here this early.” Tsunade said making a move to the table. Sakura sat next to her opposite Yuna but kept her eyes on her.

Yuna met her eyes and a strange smile came over her lips. It was all Sakura could do to keep herself from leaping at her. She decided it was best for her not to say a word until this piece of work was out of the room. She didn’t know what would come out of her mouth if provoked.

“Very well,” Yuna began as they were wall sitting. “After almost three weeks here I am pleased to say I am very impressed with what I see as I’m sure my father will also. Everything seems just as you said Tsunade the people are wonderful and though your shinobi bring a good amount it does indeed seem some extra funding wouldn’t hurt.”

“Thank you.” Tsunade said smiling. Sakura didn’t realize she had stopped trying to hide her glare.

“As for what the funding will be spent on I believe that is what we need to discuss here today.”

“Where is you’re sister?” Sakura interrupted.

“Misako?” Yuna asked looking confused. “Oh she didn’t want to come in this morning.”

“Shouldn’t she be here?” Sakura continued despite Tsunade’s obvious annoyance. “Don’t you both represent you’re father?”

“No just me Sakura, but if her prefer to have Misako present we can continue this meeting another time if you’re that passionate about her presence.” There was a tone and Sakura saw it. She opened her mouth to respond when Tsunade kicked her foot.

“Sakura is just tired and cranky, I’m sure Misako would be bored if she came here. Please let’s continue.” She said and Yuna nodded giving a look under her eyes at Sakura with a smirk. Sakura’s insides started to boil.

“As I was saying, we need to discuss what money will go where. I have made notes as to what I believe should get the biggest amounts. The school for one,”

“The hospital needs new equipment.” Sakura interrupted again. Yuna smiled again but her patients was beginning to visibly thin.

“Yes Sakura I am aware of that. I wasn’t done.” She said an edge to her voice and for some reason Sakura liked the edge she was giving her.

“Well Tsunade asked me to join so I think my opinion is valued and Tsunade would agree with me when I saw the hospital should be first priority on the list.”

Yuna’s smiled faded for a second and she glared.

“Yes I am aware of that Sakura. However we need to have the settled before my father arrives he doesn’t like the trivial matters as he is a busy man.”

“Oh yes of course.” Sakura said smiling. And Yuna continued.

“I noticed the roof of the school could do some remodeling as well as the classrooms. For both the ninja and the secondary school as far as I saw, also I don’t think it would be such a bad idea to create more running space for the children-”

“The ninja academy is not for regular children.” Sakura again interrupted. “Those who attend go with the complete intention of being a serious working ninja. They do not need play space, the space they have is for the training.”

Yuna folded her arms.

“If you insist on interrupting me Sakura, perhaps you would like to sort out these affairs yourself.”

Sakura could not ignore the bait.

“Perhaps I should after all as a life long resident of the village I am much more in touch with its wants and needs better then and outside.”

“You make it sound as though outsiders are not welcome.”

“Well we aren’t exactly a tourist town,”

“Perhaps we can change that; there is a lot of money to be made in tourism.”

“We like our village as is. Besides, tourists can often meddle in dangerous affairs.” Sakura seethed her eyes burning daggers into the girl across from her.

Yuna paused and met her eyes. And Sakura knew she knew. She smiled all too smugly.

“And what constitutes as dangerous?” Yuna provoked.

“We are ninja; we are dangerous on our own. A ninja provoked can be a death wish.”

“I understood ninja’s to be trained to control their emotions,” Yuna said smugly. Sakura went reaching for her weapons pouch.

Sensing the tension Tsunade took action.

“Perhaps we should break.” She said.

“Agreed, it seems Sakura has some issues we will continue when the matter is resolved.” Yuna said standing up.

Sakura remained behind with Tsunade. The instant Yuna was out the door Tsunade rounded on her student.

“Are you feeling okay?” She asked.

“No.” Sakura said in complete honesty.

“What’s the matter? You were very hostile.”

“I’m cranky.” Sakura answered trying to melt the door with her eyes.

“I thought you of all people understood what was going on here.” Tsunade countered and Sakura’s stomach started to boil.

“Sorry.” She said shortly.

“Sakura,” Tsunade said with a tone that made Sakura look at her. “Take the morning off, I’ll see you in my office after lunch.”

With out complaint or questions Sakura left the room. She all but slammed the door on her departure. Outside she felt a bad for behaving the way she did but she couldn’t help it. Honestly she was surprised she only spoke to Yuna instead of leaping across the table and scalping her.

Rubbing her hand over her face Sakura walked down the hallway. Maybe she just needed to eat something and then go back to sleep for the afternoon. On second thought maybe she just needed to completely destroy several training areas. Trying to decide which was better, Sakura walked into the lounge to get some coffee. In the past coffee always made her feel better. But the lounge was not empty and the second she walked in she wanted to pivot and turn around but they saw her.

“Sakura,” Yuna said her voice light and cheery. “Are you feeling any better?”

“Wonderful,” Sakura said dryly. “I just came into get some coffee…” She saw the coffee pot was empty.

“Oh I’m sorry I didn’t know you wanted any, I took the rest.” Yuna said putting sugar into her paper cup with a smile.

Sakura’s anger soared. She made a grab for the cup to toss it in that tramps face but she stopped and counted to ten. She already pissed off Tsunade with her attitude, scolding Yuna’s pretty face wasn’t going to do any good in the long run.

“Tsunade is waiting for you.” Sakura said shortly reaching into the cupboard to make another pot of coffee.

“Will you be joining us?” Yuna asked.

“No, I have other things to do today.”

“I see,” Yuna said getting the cream. “Will you be seeing Sasuke?”

Sakura snapped.

She slammed the coffee container on the table and rounded on the girl. Her eyes were in a fierce glair while Yuna smiled smugly.

“So you do know.” She said lightly.

“You stay AWAY from Sasuke!” Sakura yelled.

“My my, such a temper Sakura; and I thought you were a ninja.” Yuna mocked blowing on her coffee.

Sakura growled.

“Anyways little cherry blossom, I will stay away from Sasuke I always did.”

“You fucking liar.” Sakura spat out.

“It was Sasuke who did not stay away from me.” Yuna said and then smiled at the angry girl. “And you should think twice before speaking so disrespectfully to me. I would hate to pull your villages funding because of one temperamental girl.”

She saw the white of the paper cup in Yuna’s slender hands. She saw white followed by brown, followed by red. Yuna screamed as the hot coffee from the bottom of the pot splashed onto her face.

Sakura left the lounge feeling much better. Yuna cursed and screamed demanding help but Sakura only closed the door behind her leaving the rich little girl to take care of herself.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hinata didn’t want to train all day but she didn’t want to sit around and do nothing either. As far as she knew her friends were all busy and her cousin and sister were on missions. That left with Hinata with two options, she could be alone and think and think and think, or she could demand to be of service to her father. Something she didn’t really ever do, but desperate times called for desperate measures and her father didn’t really mind so much as confused for the new helping hand. After her second errand to run he told her to stop doing his servants work but she insisted and too busy with clan problems he didn’t argue. If anything she could see it as ‘training’ for taking over the clan.

By lunch time she had gotten her fathers and was now getting her own in a surprisingly good mood. It seemed the longer she avoided the main subject in her current life drama the happier she was, at least for the moment. Another good thing was probably that she had yet to see Naruto around town, which did bring questions in the back of her head but like everything else she currently ignored them.

She was getting her take out when someone bumped her from behind and for a split seconded her heart stopped. She swallowed hard and turned around and heart lifted along with the weight on her chest.

“Kiba!” She said happily and her friend smiled back.

“Haven’t seen you around in a few days,” Kiba said putting a friendly are around her shoulders.

“You either, what have you been up to? Is Shino with you?” Hinata asked making a grab for her meal that was ready at the take out bar.

“Shino is with his dad doing some bug stuff.” He walked out with her his arm dropped from her shoulders and Hinata suddenly missed his warmth.

Everyone had friends and best friends. Hinata had her girl friends and she had her boyfriend, but before all that she had Kiba. Kiba had accepted her long before everyone else had. Kiba had been the smiling face when everyone ignored her. Kiba had always been her rock, her support for everything. There was a bond there, a bond no one could ever break or even come close too. They had an understanding, a bond, a friendship that nothing could touch.

“Where is Akamaru?” Hinata asked noticing the large dog was not following them around as usual.

“Back at home playing with some new puppies.”

“You got puppies?” Hinata asked excited at the thought of adorable puppies running around Kiba’s property.

“Yep. Want to come see them sometime?”

“Sure!” It was always a treat going to Kiba’s house because there were puppies and dogs everywhere and she loved dogs. She could spend hours just playing with the puppies with Kiba by her side lending a helping hand.

Kiba smiled back and they continued to walk. For the first time it accrued to Hinata that there was something on his mind. He was quiet and reserved, something Kiba was not known for being.

“Is something wrong?” She asked.

“Huh? Nah, I’m fine. How about you?”

Okay now it was weird. For being the friends they were, they were having a very trivial conversation. It was the kind of conversation Hinata often had with people who she liked but not people she was considerable close too.

“I’m okay,” She said playing along. Maybe Kiba would spill the beans eventually.

“What are you doing out here?” Kiba asked suddenly.

“What do you mean?”

“Well it’s the first time I see you in about three days and you’re getting lunch. What have you been up to?”

“Oh I was just helping my father out this afternoon, how about you?”

“Nothing special, I was looking for Ino but she seems to have disappeared or is very good at avoiding me.”

“Ino?” Hinata asked. She had a sneaky suspicion there had been something going on with the two. No one could read Kiba like she could and she had seen a lot between him and the blonde but he never said anything so she never brought it up.

“Yeah…, its nothing.” He quickly said and she nodded.

“Oh, okay.”

They continued to walk but not with any destination in mind they began to wonder around. They talked of little things and laughed at small memories of the past mission. Like when Sakura had fallen into a stream chasing Akamaru after he playfully took her medical pack.

After some time and after Hinata food had gone from hot to warm they settled on a grassy knoll by a stream. They sat side by side both eating out of Hinata’s food. Kiba complained that she got too many vegetables and went strait for her beef and chicken.

As they sat quietly Hinata’s mind began to wander as it always did when she wasn’t mentally stimulated for long periods of time. Her mind traced back to the past few days; images flew through her head but one memory stuck out. Something she had neglected for sometime because she had been consumed by her own thoughts and concerns. She looked over at her friend who was lazily picking through her food leaning on the back of his arms.

“Kiba,” She asked getting his attention. “Ino told me you…uh…”

“What did Ino say?” Kiba asked with sudden keen interest.

“Um…” Kiba’s eyes were suddenly intense. “She said you…punched Naruto…”

“Oh…yeah…”

“So then you did?”

“Um…yeah…sort of…”

“Why?”

Kiba was quiet slowly chewing for a long moment before looking at her.

“Why were you crying?” He asked and she quickly looked away.

“I…”

She could never lie to Kiba. He could always smell a lie, just like he smelled fear.

“Why are you scared of telling me? Naruto did do something didn’t he?”

“…”

“I saw him going to you and the next time I saw you, you were running away crying. I put two and two together.” Kiba said evenly looking away.

“Kiba you didn’t have too…”

“I know I didn’t have to do anything.”

“Yeah but,”

“I don’t know what happened and I don’t think you’re going to tell me but don’t tell me not to do things to people who hurt my friends.”

“Kiba…” She looked away taken aback by his words. She always knew he was protective, it was the dog part in him, always protecting the pack. It was something she always knew, but she never expected him to turn against an old childhood friend like Naruto. A part of her knew she should be at least a little bit touched but she wasn’t. Not in the least.

“I found out he kissed someone while I was gone.” She said suddenly she saw Kiba stiffen next to her but he didn’t move.

“Who?”

“Misako.”

There was a sudden thick tension coming from the man next to her. Confused and even a bit frightened Hinata actually backed away.

“He told you?”

“No, she did.”

“Misako told you?” He asked and she nodded looking anywhere but at him.

A short moment of silence passed between them. Hinata didn’t really know why she told Kiba, every inch of her common sense said not too but she couldn’t help it. In times like this she told Kiba everything; it was something she had been conditioned to do.

“Have you talked to Naruto about it?” Kiba voiced breaking her thoughts.

“Well…no…”

“You should.”

She sighed. So far that was three people going for Naruto.

“You really think so?”

“Yes, get his side of the story.”

“I know she wasn’t lying.”

“Are you really sure?”

“Yes.” Hinata persisted but the more Kiba asked the more it faltered. She had been very sure, so sure she was avoiding Naruto and anything and everything to do with Naruto to hide from her pain.

“Don’t trust what others tell you Hinata,” Kiba said.

“You think she was lying?” She asked confused.

“No, but I think you need Naruto’s side of the story before you make anymore judgment calls.”

Hinata drew her knees to her chin wrapping her arms around them. She pouted looking over their small hill as the wind rustled the grass under them. She knew Kiba was right, she knew everyone was right. She knew she needed to talk to Naruto, but she just couldn’t. Why didn’t anyone understand that? Why didn’t they get that it wasn’t just about the kiss! Yes there could have been so much more, and as far as she knew there wasn’t but it was there mere thought that there could have been more. It was the fact that he broke the trust that had taken her years to build up, he broke that confidence she worked so hard to build and prove to him.

Suddenly Kiba stood up and stretched.

“Sorry to cut it short kid, but I need to find Ino soon.”

“Why?” Hinata asked looking up.

“Just…some stuff…” Kiba said scratching the back of his head. “You should go find Naruto. I heard he and Sasuke may be heading out for a mission.”

“A mission?”

“Yeah, but I doubt it, as far as I know tomato eyes is still under some heavy probation.” Kiba turned to leave and touched her head.

“See ya around.” He said and left.

“See ya.” Hinata repeated but didn’t move for a long time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You threw coffee in her face!” Ino slammed her cup of coffee on the table.

Sakura had agreed to meet her friend for coffee, because apparently Ino believed her and Sakura did not bond enough during their down time. Of course Sakura knew the real reason Ino wanted to ‘bond’, she wanted every little detail on the Sakura, Sasuke drama. Sakura delivered because aside from being amusing Ino was a great vent.

“I didn’t throw anything,” Sakura defended. “She was holing the cup and I hit the cup, the coffee just happened to fly out of the cup…”

“And land on her face!” Ino finished her face too happy for this sort of news.

“I don’t even know if it was on her face, I didn’t stick around to check.”

“Damn, you scorch her and then flee. Nice job.”

“That’s not what happened!”

“Why are you defending yourself so much?” Ino said laughing. “The bitch had it coming!”

“Yeah maybe,” Sakura agreed recalling what she had said to her.

“Not something I really would have done.” Ino said looking into her own coffee cup.

“What’s that’s supposed to mean?” Sakura asked.

“I just mean that’s a bit…violent, and imagine what Tsunade is going to say when she goes crying about that. Did you think about that one?” Ino asked the initial surprise of the news now fading.

“Not in the moment, no.” Sakura said crossing her arms. True she hadn’t thought of Tsunade at all, but she figures she should prepare herself for one hell of an ear chewing very soon.

“I don’t get it.” Sakura said suddenly placing her hands on either side of her un touched coffee. “How could someone do something so…low and despicable? And then have no shame what so ever!”

“Because no one ever stops them.” Ino said sipping her cup.

“What?” Sakura asked.

“Simple bad girl behavior,” Ino enlightened, “When no one stops you from doing something you wont stop. My guess is Yuna’s done it before but no one ever did anything about it for one reason or another so she knew she could get away with it.”

“Bitch.” Sakura mumbled grabbing her coffee ready to gulp it down in a angry gulp.

“Easy girl.” Ino said an amused smile on her face.

“Easy?” Sakura drawled leaning forward. “The woman just admitted to fucking my boyfriend behind my back and then taunted me about it. No she blackmailed me! How the fuck am I supposed to take it fucking easy!” Sakura yelled getting several heads to turn her way.

Ino on the other hand simply smiled again finishing her coffee.

“Them maybe you should teach her a lesson for it.”

“Teach her a… yeah like what?” Sakura asked her eyes growing dark. “If she is banking on not being touched she probably has it right. Rich daddy, protective hand under the Hokage…”

“Hello!” Ino yelled. “Earth to Sakura! You’re the Hokage’s apprentice! You have more power then almost everyone in the city! Do you understand that?”

“What the hell are you getting that?” Sakura said getting annoyed.

Ino leaned forward smiling devilishly and a cold chill ran excitingly down Sakura spine.

“Beat her at her own game.”

It took Sakura a few seconds to really grasp her friend’s dark smile and she returned it with her own.

_________________________________________________________________________

TBC - The game is on.
_________________________________________________________________________

AN: :) I hope you all like this chapter I did. Well if things haven't gotten interesting enough they look they're going to become even a bit more. Remember we're only halfway done with the story and Sakura is known for her nasty temper. As for Hinata, have you ever heard that expression; "It's always the quiet ones." Just keep that one in mind, thanks for reading and I LOVE YOU!