Forgotten

Chapter 8: The Arrival

The next morning came faster than I wanted. I awakened to large hands strongly gripping my shoulders gently shaking me.

"Hinata. Hinata wake up." The voice whispered.

I slowly opened my eyes. At first I could only see an outline of a person over top of me, but after blinking a few times I was met face to face with Sasuke Uchiha.

I groaned and tried to move away but my body was pinned to the ground and stopped from moving. "There is no going back to sleep. Get up now before I dump cold water over you and your sleeping bag." The raven haired man threatened menacingly. I jolted up knowing his words weren't an empty threat, but when I suddenly raised up to quickly my forehead ran smack dab into his jaw.

"Ow!" We both cried out together as I held my head and he held his jaw. We stared at each other for a moment glaring then burst out laughing at our own stupidity.

Sasuke retreated to his bag and I climbed out of my sleeping bag and grabbed my clothes to go and change behind a tree somewhere. As I left I hadn't noticed that the others weren't around. As I was changing I heard a sudden snap of a twig. I swiftly turned around and screamed when I saw Kiba standing there in only his boxers staring at my half naked body in shock.

"Kiba! Look away idiot!" I cried throwing my shirt on quickly. Just in time because just then the others came running asking what was wrong. I swallowed and merely covered my red face not wanting to tell the others of the awkward situation that had occurred. Sasuke showed up last and stared at my red face and then at Kiba's shirtless body. He nodded as if understanding the situation and walked over to Kiba. He leaned over to the brunette and asked, "So how does she look? You did get a look right?"

My face burned brighter as the others smirked. "Yeah I got a quick peak before she got her shirt on." Kiba walked over to me as if he were a wolf stalking his prey. He walked around so he stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I gasped and from the corner of my eye I noticed Sasuke tense for a moment before going back to his emotionless self. "You're well gifted, Hinata. I wish you'd have told me earlier I'd be all over you." Kiba joked wrapping his arms tighter around me and burying his face in the nape of my neck.

I hid my face with my long hair and the others laughed. Sasuke saved me by walking by and knocking the wolf man over the head. "Okay enough messing around let's get a move on."

Kiba released me and we all headed back to our camp area to gather our things and head out for the Hidden Sand Village. Once we began to walk the path I shared a thankful look with Sasuke which he surprisingly returned with a slight smile.     

            Hours later we arrived at Suna. The sun was falling over the horizon. The guards greeted us and allowed us through the gates. We first stopped by the Kazekage's office and announced that we had arrived. Gaara greeted us with his stone cold face. He shared a small smile with Naruto who was like a brother with him and when he saw me he gave another smile.

            I looked away embarrassed that he had smiled at me. When I turned my head to the side my eyes fell onto Sasuke's face which was tense. What's his problem? I thought as I looked away and back at Gaara.

            "We have three rooms set aside for your team, Sasuke." Gaara said addressing our team's captain. "Two for the men and one for the lady, I figured Hinata would want a room to herself." Sasuke agreed and I nodded in gratitude to the Kazekage.

            We bowed and went our separate ways to our rooms. The first room Kiba, Shino, and Shikamaru settled into, the second corridors held Naruto and Sasuke, and finally on the far end of the hallway was where I occupied my own room. I settled in and went and took a bath. When I returned from my bath, fully dressed, Gaara was waiting for me.

            "Kazekage Gaara." I greeted bowing to him. He waved his hand dismissing me from having to be so formal in his presence.

            "We are the same age. I don't expect you to treat me with such formality." He said smiling softly. I nodded understanding that he was different than he was before he became friends with Naruto. "So this is your first mission as an Anbu Black Ops member I heard. Are you nervous?"

            I hesitated to answer. If I said yes I was afraid of being seen as weak, but if I said no I didn't think I could lie convincingly. "I am nervous, but I have trust in Sasuke's team and in my abilities to keep them safe." I said confidently.

            The ginger stepped forward. "You may be ready to protect your team, but can you protect yourself along the way?" He asked his green eyes boring deep into my soul. He knew I was weak and that I could end up risking the lives of my teammates because they would have to protect me.

            I looked down ashamed and I noticed the Kazekage's hand traveling up towards my face. His fingers gently gripped my chin and forced me to look up at him. "Don't worry Hinata. Like you said, Sasuke makes a good team, if he didn't think you could handle it he wouldn't have allowed you on his squad." His thin lips curved up ever so slightly and I couldn't help but smile back.

            Just as I began to relax I noticed his lips approaching mine. Just like last night I froze unable to move. Right when I could feel his breath grace across my lips he was pushed back by an unseen force.

            I felt an arm wrap around my hips and pull me closer to a solid body. I looked to see who it was. "S-Sasuke?" I stuttered out seeing his angry expression.

            "You're right, Gaara, Hinata isn't weak and that's why I chose her as my team's medical ninja. However, don't lay your bloodied hands on something that isn't yours." The raven said glaring at Suna's leader.

            Gaara smiled and laughed. "I had my assumptions." He merely said as he walked towards the door. "I'll leave you alone so that you can talk about tomorrow." The leader then left closing the door behind him quietly leaving Sasuke and I alone in my large vast room.

            "I never liked the guy. He may have changed from when we were kids but I still think he's dangerous." Sasuke grumbled tightening his grip on my waist.

            "Sasuke, what are you doing here?" I asked turning as much as I could in his grip to face him. The raven haired man eventually released me and targeted his onyx eyes on my lavender ones.

            "I just came to check if you were okay. Luckily I did, Gaara would have attacked you if I hadn't come along." I blushed at his words a little grateful for his sudden appearance. "Also, I wanted to go over the mission details with you. Tomorrow we hunt out the murderer and if we come face-to-face with him I want you to be prepared."

            I nodded and went to my book bag grabbing the file so we could read over it. Sasuke had me go through a couple stances that would help defend me against the crook. Minutes became hours and hours became the whole night. Without warning we had both fallen asleep. Before daybreak I had woken up excited about the sole purpose of our mission to begin. When I woke up though, I found myself wrapped in my captain's warm arms unable to move.

            I softly began shaking him awake whispering his name, "Sasuke. Sasuke wake up." When the raven finally woke up enough to understand his surroundings He pulled away from me and stood up. He left without another word back to his room he shared with Naruto and returned when everyone was ready to head out.

            We set out in the dark of the morning ready for anything at any moment. Then all at once we were flanked from behind.