Now What Have I Gotten Myself Into? ~Enter Konoha's number one knuckle head

24

Chapter 24

It was a bit frustrating. Kakashi had decided since I am of no real use tracking them that I needed to stay behind. So I can back Sai up in case someone attacks while Sakura is looking after Hinata. I had told him I was ready to go but for some reason he chose otherwise. Most of this mission, Kakashi has been acting strangely but until now, it hadn't affected his decisions. Why keep me back? I'm the only one literally made to fight that woman. Frowning I set up from having laid back on the rock to look at the others before looking up towards a particular tree.

Someone cloaked in a greyish blue was standing on a branch watching us. I could see the gleam of sunlight on glasses and feel his smirk as he stares down at me. Kabuto raises a hand and adjusts his glasses before disappearing from the tree. Recon, or was he trying to let me know he was here? "Take it easy, Hinata. You still need to recover." Sakura informs Hinata as she tries to get up again.

I haven't been forced to stay behind since I was still in the beginning stages of my training. Itachi and Kisame would tend to leave me at camp to complete their missions. Itachi had said it was because I needed to train. Kisame however blatantly informed me I was weak and would get killed. If I didn't let it bother me back then, I shouldn't let it bother me now. Raising my knees and placing my feet in front of me on the rock I withdraw my book and pen from my pouch and set the book on my thighs.

Opening it I found my eyes widening at actually seeing messages from Itachi.

-I miss you.-

-took down two marks today, are you well?-

-Hidan says he ran into you, leader pulled rank to keep him from killing you.-

-Hidan and Kakuzu never reported back, are you alright?-

-Leader says the zombie team is dead. Did you do it?-

-Please, tell me you are safe.-

-Kira-

Tilting my head I turn the page and write his name a single time. What should I tell him? Tell him no I wasn't a part of killing Kakuzu and Hidan? Tell him that the Hokage is planning on killing Danzo and clearing his name? Tell him that I am on a mission tracking down Orochimaru's goons in order to find out the location of his latest hideout? Anything I tell him like that, would only make him worry. So I decided to apologize and tell him I am on a mission with Naruto and the others. That so far it has been uneventful and that Naruto is annoying me with how loud he is.

I nearly smile when I tell him that being around the leaf ninja is surreal but it was nothing compared to him and Fishface. I finally told him how I miss both of them and to be careful before closing my book and slipping it back into my pouch. Sighing, my mood sobered with that last sentence. I found myself curling my fingers into fists against my thighs. In the end, I couldn't really tell him anything to help alleviate his worry.

"I can stand now, thank you." Hinata's voice meets my ears pulling me out of my thoughts. Looking over at her I see her up on her two feet with Sakura next to her. Sai walks over from his lookout perch with a smile. "We can go now, I'm fine." Hinata smiles at the two of them and I begin to wonder if they even care that I'm still here? Even earlier everyone had taken off when Naruto grabbed Hinata. I was left behind. No one jumped in to help when they would have with anyone else.

Shaking my head to free myself of those thoughts I get up and walk over to them. "If you are feeling up to it, we should go meet up with everyone else." I speak up and nearly cringe at how emotionless my voice was. Since I got to the village I've taken up the perfect role to gain everyone's trust. This persona has only faltered once. Until now. Sakura frowns as Sai looks in my direction. Hinata's smile wavers a moment before she nods.