The Games We Play

BETA: Miroku-dono

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They had met at the gate at dawn and exchanged pleasant morning conversation, the tension was thick but both did their best to ignore it. They made the plan of action hastily to avoid any real conversation agreeing to travel straight at a fast speed to get there by dusk. They knew it would be a bit of a stretch but if they went fast enough they could make it, and it seemed both were very eager to get this mission over and done with. She let Naruto make all the calls, make all the decisions and she never said anything to contradict him unless she really felt she had to, so far she just had to do that once and he agreed with her quickly. It was the only conversation they attempted to really have through out the entire trip. If they weren’t discussing the next path or checking the trails it was intensely quiet between them.

The mission was relatively simple; deliver an important political scroll to a man just out side the fire country. Naruto informed her it required only they get scroll and they were not to entrust with anyone else. It seemed very routine for her taste not hardly a mission requiring two people, she could recall many occasions where she had done several missions alone because Tsunade said it was not a two person job. But she had her orders and she followed with out question.

The location of the village and man in question were set outside the fire country in a small village. She didn’t really know the area; she had been there once before in her genin days with her team but not since. Naruto however claimed to be familiar with the land saying he had spent much time looking for Sasuke there. He also told her while the village itself was very pleasant it was for some reason surrounded by not so very pleasant people. They were also going to be out of fire country borders so these people never saw a reason to be nice to anyone who was an outsider. This didn’t really alarm her enough for her to consider it a good reason to be a two person mission but she nodded at Naruto’s explanation preparing for a scuffle if it should be unavoidable.

Now at late afternoon and more then halfway there she was getting hungry as she hopped through the trees behind him but refused to say a word about anything. She could mention something about stopping to eat lunch but they were making such good time she didn’t really want to break it. If what Naruto said was true about the area surrounding the village she didn’t want to venture there after dark. All fighting was best when could be avoided on missions like these. They could just wait and eat in the village before heading out. Of course on that note Naruto really hadn’t mentioned anything about the trip back. If he was making such a big deal to get there so fast would they come back the moment they handed the scroll over or would they stay the night and leave first thing in the morning? Leaving in the morning made sense if he didn’t want to travel at night but that also seemed like the more dangerous plan between the two. She decided it was a good possibility that Naruto had yet to think that far for one reason or another and she would bring it to his attention later if and when the occasion accrued to them.

Suddenly Naruto stopped on the branch and she quickly stopped right behind him. He stood still for a few seconds making her wonder if he sensed or heard something she didn’t. She was just about to activate her byukigan when he turned to her with an awkward smile.

“I’m getting a bit hungry are you?”

She looked around.

Yes, she was hungry but they had come so far and if they pushed it they could be in the village by the end of dusk just like they planned. She was sure Naruto knew this too so why was he stopping? He made a big deal about making it to the village in a day at the beginning or the mission, what was changing his mind? Hinata looked back at him with a confused expression eyeing him cautiously.

“Yes, but didn’t you want to make it in a day? If we continue we can make it by dusk as planned.” She said.

Naruto laughed uncomfortably and scratched his head.

“I did say that huh?” He looked to the ground far below them and then back at her with a smile he used when hiding something. It was a smile she knew all too well it stung at her chest he would be making that face to her.

“Maybe a rest wouldn’t be so bad, we’ve been going strait for a few hours and we haven’t eaten since before we left.” Hinata agreed getting her pack out. She had packed some small non perishable foods and rations for their trip; she knew Naruto always forgot that sort of stuff.

She silently handed him one with out looking at him. When he reached to get it his fingers brushed hers and an electric shock hit her fingers and she pulled back with a small yelp of surprise.

“Sorry.” Naruto said stepping away and Hinata couldn’t help but smile a little.

Maybe she was just trying to lighten the obvious tension between them or maybe she thought it was actually amusing for some reason. On seeing her smile Naruto smiled too and they shared an equally awkward smile and a little giggle between them before going back to eating in silence.

She was quiet and reserved but in reality she couldn’t stand what was happening between them. The tension, the strain; it wasn’t them. It wasn’t something she ever associated with his smiling and bright face, his normal confident demeanor was fading fast with her and it seemed to get getting harder and harder for him to keep it up. Through out the trip she often caught him staring at her but the instant she looked his way he quickly darted his eyes elsewhere. They both avoided conversation about anything other then useless trivial things or things pertaining to the mission at hand. The only time Hinata could ever remember being in a situation like this with him was back when she was twelve and even then the tension was because he just didn’t know how she felt when he got so close to her. It really wasn’t fair to be here now, for either of them.

Not being able to take the thick silence anymore Hinata spoke.

“How well do you know the area?” She asked trying to make up any sort of conversation.

“Pretty good Sakura and I did some scouting here when we were looking for Sasuke for a while.” He answered with out looking at her.

“Are they rouge ninja’s?” She asked.

“No, I don’t even thing they’re ninjas but they come by the dozens once they know you’re in their territory and they can be annoying when they want to. Sakura suspected they were some kind of tribe or something.”

“Tribe?” Hinata asked. She hadn’t heard of one of those since her history classes.

“Something like that.” Naruto said in return and that was all she could really think to say on that subject.

Silence surrounded them again and it was beginning to eat away at Hinata. There had to be something they could talk about. She tried to think of the subjects he was most likely to engage in; ramen, training, being Hokage…they had all talked those subjects to death. What could either of them say they hadn’t said before?

She looked over at Naruto sitting a good four or five feet from her. He was crouched low but not sitting eating his food staring into the trees. She knew he was listening around them for any sort of threat that may accrue, Naruto always put himself in charge of taking care of anyone on missions. She watching him silently and then she didn’t know why but she asked a question that had been on her mind for some time.

“Naruto,” she said quietly.

He turned to her still chewing but his eyes were fixed on her. His intense gaze made her blush a bit.

“I was looking for you in the village for a few days and I could never find you, where were you?”

He looked at her and then turned back around.

“You said you didn’t want to talk to me.” He said evenly and the words stung.

So he had taken her seriously, he had taken her so seriously he had just completely left her alone. She didn’t really have anything else to say on that subject. She didn’t expect his answer to be so moody, she didn’t expect the tension around them to sky rocket as it did so she tried to think of something else.

“How much longer until Sasuke gets off probation?” She asked finishing her food and putting the wrapper in her pack.

Naruto shrugged; if her last question had hit a cord he covered it quickly.

“Depends on what that old bag thinks. I think it’s pretty stupid though, I mean half the time she doesn’t stick to what she says. Six months ago Sasuke and I went on a mission like this, she let him go because it was diplomatic or something and Sasuke knew how to handle that kind of situation.”

When he said this Hinata wondered if that was why Tsunade had sent her now. She was a Hyuuga and raised in the politics of sorts, just like Sasuke had been. And even though that made sense, what didn’t is that he wasn’t here now if he was able to leave six months ago.

“I see,” she said not intending it to sound like anything more then an observation but Naruto turned around quickly.

“Not that I don’t want to be here with you.” He said rushed and Hinata had no idea where that came from.

“Okay,” She said confused and taken aback but the sudden proclamation.

It got quiet again and they fiddled with things to say. She was going to suggest they go a head and keep moving but the break was feeling really good and Naruto had just put himself into a sitting position. So she opted to go a head and stay for a few more minutes until he gave the okay.

“What was the mission?” she asked again making conversation.

“Huh?” Naruto looked up from his stare on the bark of the branch.

“The mission with Sasuke, what was it?”

“Oh we had to go meet some guy…oh wait it was that Tanako guy!”

“You met him?” Hinata asked suddenly very intrigued. Why hadn’t Naruto ever mentioned this before?

“Well I didn’t, Sasuke did. Tsunade sent him to talk to him saying something about a common ground or whatever; I went along because she said it would look better if two people showed up and not just one.”

“Oh,” She said nodding.

“It was pretty boring,” Naruto continued obviously liking the topic of the distracting conversation. “I wasn’t even allowed to go up there, Yuna just asked to see Sasuke alone with him…” he stopped short realizing what he had said and Hinata had snapped to attention.

“Yuna?” she asked. “You met her?”

“Well…um…yeah,” Naruto said suddenly looking very nervous. “She’s the one who came down asking to see Sasuke, I didn’t know who she was at the time I thought was just a waitress or something. Even Misako was…” Naruto stopped short realizing his own mistake.

Their eyes met. Pale violet to blue. Hinata’s brow frowned as intense anger suddenly boiled in her stomach. He just said her name. He just told her he had met her before and he never brought it up until now making it clearly obvious he hadn’t meant to. He had intended to keep that a secret from her. She could wonder why but she was already so upset she was sure that would just drive her over the edge. She stood up grabbing her back and putting it back on.

“I think we should get going.” She said “We’ve braked to long and if we stick around we won’t make it by dusk as planned.”

“Hinata…I…” Naruto started but she didn’t look at him. Instead she got into position silently waiting for him to do the same.

Realizing his defeat Naruto stood up and grabbed his pack. She heard him move around next to her before getting ready and with out saying another word darted off into the trees. She was at his heels now more focused on the mission then she had been all day.

Hinata knew who she was. She knew she was very shy and very quiet. She knew she would rather sit and listen to conversation rather then partake in it. She knew a lot about herself which was rare for a girl of her age. She also knew that she was never one to get really angry, she got upset and frustrated but those bouts were often let go or forgotten. A ninja life was short and not one to hold a grudge. But in the very rare times she got really mad, and rare meaning hardly ever, she chose to channel her anger into quiet contempt. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t answer questions of even the smallest caliber, she refused to. She would be so quiet the person who often got her mad would break first but even then it would take days or weeks for Hinata to really forget her real anger.

From their break to dusk they traveled in complete silence. The tension was thicker then before but Hinata found she liked the edge. It kept both of them focused and it kept Naruto from trying to make lame conversation as they previously had done. He did mention something about keeping an eye out when they crossed the northern border, she knew he was making some attempt at conversation but she denied him. She didn’t even look at him when he said it; she only nodded and continued to follow him through the denser trees.

They were on high alert, or maybe it was just her. Naruto said there were unpleasant people around this area and they still had a few hours before they reached the designated village. Naruto didn’t mention if these people knew they were there or if they had to do something to make their presence known. She thought of asking him but decided against it, if it was either they would make themselves known in time.

“Okay the forest ends here so we’ll be traveling on ground. Keep an eye out this is where Sakura and I got jumped the last time.” Naruto said and they jumped to the ground. She followed silently activating her Byakugan as she hit the floor.

She scanned finding no signs of life to be threatened by. She and Naruto moved quickly and quietly through the fields of tall grass and shrubbery. It wasn’t too hard to conceal them selves but the lack of tall trees did make it a bit of a challenge. The crossed a small creek and she heard a pebble fall from somewhere to her right. She snapped her head seeing a figure crouched low between the bushes. Calmly she looked around him, several more crouching hiding figures emerged into her vision. She saw no chakra flow but how they had managed to get so close with out her or Naruto sensing them was all the same a mystery.

“Naruto,” She whispered for the first time in several hours.

“I know.” He said back to her but didn’t change his calm façade.

“Naruto they’re not ninja, I don’t see any chakra.”

“Yeah, but they can still put up a nasty fight if they attack don’t take them lightly.” He said not looking back.

Hinata took his words into consideration and while wondering how a non ninja could shake someone like Naruto she sensed something dangerous coming at her fast. She spotted it instantly and dived into the tall grass taking Naruto with her just before it had made contact with her head.

“Shit!” Naruto cursed pulling out his kunai and making hand seals. “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!”

Twenty Naruto’s surrounded them only for the blink of an eye before disappearing into the trees. Hinata watched as his clones found and attacked their attackers. Meanwhile Naruto and Hinata made a run for it, there was no sense in sticking around waiting to fight. If the clones couldn’t take them, they would find them and Naruto and Hinata could worry about fighting then.

They managed to run a good five miles before more flew around the. Naruto and Hinata ducked and dived as objects flew at them all the while the attackers stayed out of sight. Hinata saw they were long range attackers with expert aim but always staying too far for either her or her teammate to attack. They attacked in very large numbers to get their desired affect, however Hinata still didn’t know if they were chasing away or actually trying to hit them.

“Shit!” Her question was answered when Naruto held his arm where something had grazed him spilling quite a bit of blood. His reaction caused Hinata to pause of only a second, a second too long as something struck her behind her calf. She cried out turning to see a stick sticking out of her leg.

Naruto created more clones to deflect the on coming attacks which worked for only a few moments before they got hit and disappeared. Hinata tried to rip the stick out of her leg but just as she got a grip Naruto toppled her to the ground.

“We have to get out of here, there’s too many and now you’re injured.” He said taking her arm and helping her up.

The pain was intense, she figured whatever it was had gone through layers of muscle and was probably scraping against the bone. However Naruto was not aware of her current injury so he pulled her along until he decided they were in safe range again. Once he had them safe she turned around to asses the damage only to find the part of the stick that was sticking out had been snapped off when Naruto had pulled her to the ground. Now there was something extremely painful and distracting lodged into Hinata’s calf with the means to remove it broken off. She could get her kunai and dig around it, she had done such a thing before but she was not in a safe enough area to attempt that with out massive blood loss.

“I can’t take it out.” Hinata said still examining the damage. She leaned on it and hissed, whatever it was it was definitely deep. She knew it would either take her and her kunai or surgery to get this out. While Naruto stood silent next to her Hinata gathered her chakra to at least numb the pain to continue their journey. She wasn’t a medic but Sakura had taught her some useful and easy tips for first aid.

As she stood up she stiffened as well as Naruto. They both sensed it, another onslaught was on its way and they had to move fast. Before she could even put her pant leg down Naruto had swept her up in his arms bridal style. Hinata was both shocked and upset for this. She was injured but she was not completely useless and for the time being she had the injury under control.

“Naruto!” She protested.

“It’s not worth a fight and you’re injured.” He said silencing her. “The village isn’t far.”

She pushed hard against him forcing him to let her down.

“Hinata,” He started but she stood her ground.

“I’m perfectly capable of using my own legs.” She said and Naruto looked annoyed.

“Just keep up.” He said and darted off.

She followed close behind with out complaint or struggle but even she knew the chakra numbing wouldn’t last long and it wasn’t smart to travel back tonight with that sort of injury. She could only imagine the infection she was getting right now, and she didn’t even know what it was that was in her, it could be poisoning her for all she knew. With this new thought in mind she realized she would have to urge Naruto to stay the night in the village at least so she could asses her wound and make it manageable for the return home. She knew he wouldn’t disagree but then again that part also scared her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The village wasn’t as small as she expected, it was the size of Konoha or maybe even a little bigger. She would have taken the time to properly take in the sights had it not been for the current object lodged through her leg to the bone and her chakra numbing wearing off. She wasn’t a medic so what she did know she knew was small and even a bit choppy, it had gotten her to the village and if she did it again it would work but she couldn’t go home constantly stopping to numb the pain. Naruto told her where there target was and she followed quietly now trying not to show visible limping from her leg.

The house they were at was considerably the largest in the village or at least from what she could tell. She admired it, it was beautiful with its large white walls and large windows and very big door. But her admiration could only go so far she was in dire need to remove the object from her leg. She was sure she would need surgery so they would have to go back Konoha tonight to get there in time but could she do it? She hadn’t been injured before and she got a nasty case of bad luck.

Frustrated she sighed; why did this always happen to her?

“You okay?” Naruto asked hearing her sigh. They waited outside the large doors waiting to see their target and just get this mission over with.

“I’m fine,” She lied keeping her eyes forward, her voice was light and sweet like her but there was an obvious tone. A tone she had used on him before, he was not a stranger to it.

If he knew she was lying he didn’t pry he just looked a head along with her. They waited a few more moments and Naruto was about to ring the door bell again when it cracked open. A large brown eye looked at them from the small crack.

“Hello?” They asked attentively. Hinata looked at the eye wondering why they were obviously so scared.

“I am Uzumaki Naruto and this is Hyuuga Hinata;” Naruto introduced. “We are here on behalf of our Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village in the Fire Country, and we request to see Mr. Ikoto.”

“Oh the ninja’s,” The voice said and the door closed for a moment before opening again wider. This time a pretty girl with large brown eyes and brown hair greeted them with a shy smile. “We’ve been expecting you, my name is Mai, and I am the head maid in the household.” She said giving them both a bow and motioning for them to come in.

“I’m afraid Mr. Ikoto is out right now; please have a seat in the billiard room.” She said walking and they followed.

“Do you have any idea when Mr. Ikoto will return?” Hinata asked pleasantly.

“He is in a meeting right now or so I’m told, I’m afraid I could not tell you when exactly. Are you in a hurry to return?”

Naruto spoke up for both of them.

“Well we are here on business, and I’m sure our Hokage would like to know that we spoke to Mr. Ikoto as soon as possible.”

“Of course, I understand.” Mai smiled opening the door to a room with a few comfy chairs, a bar, and a pool table. “I will send a messenger out now to inform him of your arrival.”

“Thank you,” Hinata said giving her a sweet smile.

They went in to the room silently walking past her. It was then she head Mai gave a small noise getting both of their attention.

“Hyuuga was it?” Mai asked and Hinata nodded. “Are you limping? Are you injured?” She asked concerned and Hinata smiled saying it was nothing. “Perhaps I should fetch the surgeon; he is a personal friend of Mr. Ikoto and would gladly do a house call.”

“No really, it’s nothing…”

“That would be a great idea!” Naruto interrupted from behind her and if Hinata had been looking his way she would have glared dangerously. Mai however only smiled and told them to make themselves comfortable for the time being until the surgeon arrived.

When she left the tension was filled again and Hinata was ready to go back out and ask her to come back in just so they could have a distraction. She looked around not really too interested in her surroundings but still intrigued. She was about to walk to her left but saw Naruto already examining the pool table and went the other way. The cigar cabinet was no where near as entertaining as looking at the green table, the balls, and the sticks but it was on the other side of the room.

“Should you be walking around?” Naruto asked from the other side of the room. His voice was one of worry and concern and in any other circumstances she would be touched but his voice made her angry right now.

“I’m alright,” She insisted lightly looking up at the paintings on the walls.

She may have been known for being timid but she was a Hyuuga and Hyuuga’s were proud people. It just took a lot to get her to really show her pride, but once she did, it was nearly impossible to bend.

“Maybe you should take a look at that injury before the surgeon comes.” He continued. “Is there anything we can do ourselves?”

“Not that I can think of, I’m not a medic.” She said picking up the poker chips.

“Didn’t Sakura show you some stuff a while back though?”

“Yes and I did that, it’s what got me to here. I think we should just wait for the surgeon.”

“Okay,” Naruto said sounding defeated and proceeded to play some pool. Hinata rounded on him.

“Don’t do that!” she said in a worried voice. They may have been there on a behalf of their village leader but they were still guests and such behavior was rude.

“What?” Naruto asked lining up the pole. “It’s okay and she said make you’re self comfortable.”

“Naruto!” She hissed rushing to stop him but in mid step her chakra trick went out and she stumbled at the sudden pain crying out.

“Hinata!” Naruto said and instantly was at her side. “What is it?”

“Nothing, the numbness I put just went out.” She said sitting up bending her leg as to keep the pressure off.

“Maybe we should take a look at it.” Naruto said and feeling defeated Hinata nodded.

He put a hand on her knee and she felt a very familiar pleasant tingle run through her body at his warm touch. He gently moved it in an angle where he could see her calf clearly and with his other hand he moved her pant leg up and Hinata shivered. When he didn’t react she was grateful he didn’t see her reaction. As long as she lived she would never be able to deny that Naruto’s touch always got a reaction from her.

“Wow that looks pretty bad,” Naruto said with a whistle and she blinked out of her head.

“Oh,” she said seeing the angry purple and now swollen wound. There wasn’t much blood, most of it had already clotted around the wound and the broken thick stick but if she so much as moved her toe she could feel it lodged deep in her muscles.

“How deep does it go?” He asked.

“Pretty deep,” She said suddenly trying not to stair and Naruto’s own intense eyes. Was he always that sexy when he concentrated on something?

“Any idea what it is?”

“No, only that it really hurts and really hard to pull out. It feels kind of like a small kunai, maybe wider.”

He nodded but didn’t offer any more on the subject. He sat back leaving her leg exposed with a frown on his face.

“We’ll have to stay the night,” He said and for some reason butterflies flew into her stomach, but not the good kind.

“Are you sure?” She asked, she really didn’t want to spend anymore time on this mission then they already had.

“Well something like that is going to take at least a night for you to be able to travel on it, if Sakura was here she could heal you right up and we’d be on our way. But I don’t know any medical stuff and you said you could only numb it, and if you’re injured we could end up worse for wear on our way back.”

While Hinata knew everything he said was right she still wanted to contradict him. She hated feeling like such a pathetic nuisance when it came to missions that she got injured in. If she said anything he would tell her it wasn’t her fault but she knew it was. When Naruto go hit she pulled her attention away from the mission at hand, something she was never supposed to do. But his hiss of pain and his angry words had pressed a button in her; it was something she could never ignore no matter what situation they were in. The result was this and therefore entirely her fault.

“We can find a place and stay the night, we can leave at first day break you should be little bit better by then and you can numb it like you did earlier to make the trip back. We shouldn’t have much of a problem going back as we came in; they seem to favor the night more then the day.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything. She just wanted to leave; she wanted to go home and curl up under her covers and be depressed of how useless she was. She was a distracted ninja who got emotionally tied up and jeopardized the mission; and apparently such a horrible girlfriend her boyfriend didn’t even want to tell the truth about anything! She was a sorry excuse for a person, if Sakura was in her shoes she would have beaten Naruto senseless for lying.

“Hey what’s the matter?” Naruto asked looking at her. “You look like you’re about to cry or something, is the pain that bad?”

She looked up meeting his eyes in a dead stair.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me you had met Misako before?” She asked her voice crisp and clear. Naruto sat in front of her his eyes wide but his lips in a thin tight line. Clearly this was not the answer he was expecting.

“It was a while back, before I started dating you,”

“Before we started talking?” She asked quietly and he looked away.

“No, but nothing was happening between us at the time I didn’t see how it would have been relevant to say anything.”

“I see,” She said looking away.

Really she didn’t see at all. All she heard was that Naruto didn’t want to tell her because he knew she would be mad and she knew he never intended to either. Which in spite of everything that happened, of all the trust she felt had been broken if then at least very frayed, that might have finally done it.

He looked like he was about to say something but whatever it was would have to wait because the door opened and three people entered. Mai from before, a man with a nice suit, and a man dressed in dark pants and an old shirt carrying a doctor’s bag.

“Hello!” He said very cheerfully and Hinata’s dark face disappeared with a sweet smile. Naruto smiled as well though not as convincing. “I’m Dr. Mori, what is the problem here miss?”

“Hyuuga,” Hinata said giving her head a bow in her sitting position. “Hyuuga Hinata,” She said with a smile.

“Hinata,” Dr. Mori repeated and knelt down he saw Naruto and looked at him.

“Uzumaki Naruto.” Naruto said with a nod the doctor nodded back. He looked at her leg and gave a hiss. “That looks pretty bad, how deep is it?”

“I think I can feel it touching the bone.” She said and he nodded.

“Well surgery is not a choice anymore. I’m afraid the only way we’re going to get that out is to cut it out, are you okay with that?”

“I’m fine,” She said nodding.

“Good, all we need to do is…” He looked around the room and pointed at one of the large flat chairs. “Place you there, and we can start the procedure.”

“Here?” Hinata asked confused. She thought surgeries were commonly done in a hospital; a sterile white, clean hospital.

“Here is fine, its nothing too major unless you feel you can walk to the hospital or you’re friend can carry you there.”

“I…”

“It’s okay, here is fine.” Hinata interrupted Naruto quickly trying to pick herself up. She could just make it to the seat but Naruto had other plans. He picked her up carrying her bridal style much to her surprise and annoyance. But with company in the room she didn’t show it, and when he put her down she simply met his eyes for a second with out saying a word.

“You’re going to have to turn on you’re stomach.” Dr. Mori said walking over and Hinata turned over. “This won’t take too long but it will be long enough.” He laughed and Hinata didn’t really find the humor in that.

“Naruto, why don’t you talk to Mr. Ikoto about why we’re here.” Hinata suggested feeling his presence just too much at the moment. She didn’t need to look at him to know he was about to protest being here with her but after a moment she heard his feet walk away.

She heard the two men exchange hellos and proper greetings and Mr. Ikoto lead Naruto out of the room. When she turned around she saw Mai coming to her with a bowl and some rags.

“This is going to sting a little, but it’s just a bit of morphine.” Dr. Mori said and there was a sharp pinch on her calf, she didn’t budge though. A ninja was used to the physical pain.

“So how did this happen Hinata?” Dr. Mori asked taking his tools out while Mai cleaned her wound.

“We were attacked on our way into town,” Hinata said laying her head on her arms in front of her.

“By the nomads?” Asked Mai and Hinata tired to turn around to see her.

“The who?” Hinata asked.

“We don’t know who they are,” She continued. “They showed up a few years ago and they attack anyone who ventures from dusk till dawn.”

Hinata supposed that was why they were here in the first place. Some sort of treaty or agreement to help maybe. Two ninja’s couldn’t really take them on but ten or twenty was a different story.

“I believe that is why you are here,” Mai confirmed. “I understand Mr. Ikoto has been asking for Tsunade’s help for a while now and it was just recently Miss Tsunade was able to work up and agreement to spare some troops.”

“Recently?” Hinata asked curious now, and it seemed Mai knew a lot of just being a house servant.

“Yes, from what I understand Tsunade regretted not helping earlier because she and Mr. Ikoto are old friends but she claimed with budgets in the village she could not spare enough help. We are a small village and money is scarce so it would be difficult for us to pay for the help we needed, but I believe Tsunade said Konoha is going to get some more financial support very soon so she is now going to give us the help we need.”

Hinata did the math. She knew what financial support Mai was talking about. She didn’t know their money problems were that bad, she felt bad for Mai and her people having to suffer because of it. Maybe the source of the money was dreadful but the money itself seemed to be something they did really need. Hinata didn’t say anything after that and neither did the other two in the room, which was fine because she didn’t want to talk about anything any more anyway.

What felt like several hours later Dr. Mori said he was done, and Hinata was allowed to carefully turn over and sit up. She saw her leg bandaged up and he was holding some sort of stick with a very sharp but wide end on the of it.

“An arrow?” Hinata asked taking it from his hand. It was six inches long and still covered in blood.

“Yep, haven’t seen one of those in a while huh?” Dr. Mori laughed. “You’re wound is one of the more common ones I’ve seen treating people who have been attacked by those people.”

Hinata turned the weapon in her hand observing it. It was certainly not the last thing she thought she’d find in there but not the worst either. Just then the door opened and Naruto and Mr. Ikoto came back in. They both smiled at Hinata who smiled back signaling she was fine.

“I see you had a run in with out uninvited guests.” Mr. Ikoto said looking at the arrow in Hinata’s hand. “I’ve just been explaining to Naruto about the situation at hand. When you return please be sure to thank Tsunade for me, I don’t think my village will be able to truly express our gratitude for your villages help.”

Hinata smiled at him.

“We would be honored to help sir.” She said bowing her head.

“Have you two thought of where you will stay?” Mai asked once everyone stopped talking.

“Oh well…um…maybe an Inn or something?” Naruto said shrugging.

“An Inn?” Mai asked and turned to Mr. Ikoto who nodded.

“Nonsense,” he said. “I have a spare room here and would be honored if you two stayed the night here.”

“Uh…” Naruto and Hinata avoided looking at each other but both knew they couldn’t say no.

“Okay,” Hinata said tentatively. “We will stay the night, where are you’re rooms?”

“Oh I’m afraid I have only one available but I assure you it is one of the nicer rooms we have in the house. Mai will show you to you’re room when you’re ready.” He said gesturing to the pretty dark haired lady. “Now if you’ll excuse me I must retire, if you are staying the night then I have time to write a proper thank you to Tsunade.”

When he left Mai smiled at them.

“I will have the rest of the servants get your room ready, would you like some dinner while you wait?”

Naruto bit his lip and Hinata nodded at her with a smile.

“Dinner would be nice, thank you Mai.”

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TBC - Oh my Hinata, what will you do now?

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AN: Delicious tension! Whats going to happen? Well you're just going to have to wait for the next chapter :-P