𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐆𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍

Fear

Hanara and her squad along with Team Guy made it to the Sand Village in time to see Gaara waking up with tons of people around him. No one noticed the returning ninja but the Kage on the hospital bed.

"Naruto..." Gaara rasped.

Naruto ran over to Gaara and grinned, the relief obvious on his face.

Hanara walked up to Sakura.

"Hanara, you look exhausted!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Everything's a blur, honestly. I think my mind is still processing what happened... I killed two S-ranked missing ninjas and fought another one with you. I'll be fine." she gave Sakura a forced grin, "A pretty heavy first mission as leader, huh. I think once we go back to the Leaf, I'll head straight to bed. I need some peace and quiet."

"Do you want to talk to Ino? Or another Yamanaka even? It's not unusual for Jonins to do that, y'know."

"Sakura, I appreciate it, but I'll be fine. It's just overwhelming, that's all. I'll get help if I need it, don't worry."

Once everyone made sure that the Kazekage was fine and a few promises to get Jiraiya to look at Gaara's seal, they finally left. Hanara was really getting the need to escape from it all. She had been a ninja for a while now, heck she was a Jonin, but it was still the first time she truly felt in danger. It was the first time she felt the danger of the path she chose. On the run home she was oddly quiet. Maybe her teammates felt it or maybe Sakura told them, but no one bothered Hanara although she could see some concerned looks sent to her.

Nearly three days later, they reached the Leaf.

"Hanara, I can do the mission report for you," Neji whispered.

She shook her head, "No, there's something I need to tell Lady Hokage."

"Lady Hokage," Hanara bowed, wiping all exhaustion away from her face. "I've seen all members of the Akatsuki and killed two."

"WHAT?" Tsunade exclaimed, "Have you put names to their faces?"

"Not yet, m'lady."

"Once we are done with this, go through all the Bingo Books and give me their names."

Ignoring the incoming headache that was an effect of her two sleepless nights, she nodded.

"I was also given some information from Sasori of the Red Sand before he was killed. He implied that there was a remaining Uzumaki in the Hidden Grass Village."

Tsunade's eyes widened, "Are you certain that he was not lying."

"He seemed quite genuine. Besides, I doubt a dying man's last words would be lies," Hanara responded.

Tsunade's face steeled into one of determination, "You are dismissed. Find all the details you can on the Akatsuki"

Hanara worked through that night, finally finding nearly the names of all the members she'd seen.

'Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, Hidan, Kakuzu, a plant-like man, a man with a spiral mask, a man with the Rinnegan, and a blue-haired woman. Along with Deidara and Sasori that's one hell of a team... if they were all there at once we would've died, no doubt about it. Heck, half of their remaining members aren't in any of the Bingo Books! Not in any of the ones that have ever come out!'

After looking through the books for another couple of hours (and fighting the urge to sleep), at eight in the morning, Hanara made her way to the Hokage Tower, notes in hand. She dropped them off quickly and went to bed.

But, while her headache subsided, her paranoia did not, and she was seriously considering the fact that something must be wrong with her. So, she did what she promised Sakura. She got herself help, but not from anyone that Sakura suggested.

When Shikamaru opened the door, he immediately noticed something was off about Hanara and invited her in without a word.

"Can we go to the backyard?" Hanara asked.

Shikamaru nodded and led her there.

"What's wrong?" Shikamaru questioned as they plopped onto the grass side by side.

'Deep breaths, Hanara, you can do this. Opening up isn't that hard.'

"You know I led that mission– the one to save Gaara," she started shakily. "I killed two S-ranked missing ninja, but that's not the point. I fought two S-ranked ninjas. A battle. To the death. That jutsu Izumo taught me saved my life and I almost forgot it. I could've died Shikamaru... Heck, anyone could've died. I thought I accepted that the moment I got my headband, but it just hit me. I don't know why Lady Tsunade put me in charge! I was panicking the whole time, and Naruto... When he saw Gaara almost dead he nearly ran straight towards the enemy... I was in charge of him! If the Akatsuki got hold of him because I couldn't make him stop..."

She took in a breath and shivered, causing Shikamaru to wrap his arms around her. She was thankful that he knew her so well and knew just exactly what to do.

"There's gonna be a war," Hanara whispered, "I just know it. And of course now of all times I'm scared of death, when I was never before..."

"Hanara," Shikamaru responded, rubbing her back comfortingly, "You're strong and smart. The reason that Lady Tsunade chose you is because you're capable. It's okay to be afraid, sometimes fear is what you need to survive. It's a survival instinct and can be the difference between life and death. If there's a war, you will survive. You have just the right skill-set to, and I know that you'll do anything you can to make sure that everyone else will too."

They sat like that for a moment, Hanara sobbing in Shikamaru's shoulder and both hugging each other tightly.

Hanara calmed down ten minutes later, and she spent the rest of the day at Shikamaru's. She wasn't in the mood to do much, so they just lay down in the grass for most of it. Luckily, Yoshino and Shikaku didn't bother them.

"Shikamaru..." Hanara whispered as she noticed the sky get dark.

"Hmm?" he grunted from beside her.

"I– I don't want to spend the night alone..."

"I'm sure Mom and Dad won't mind."

'I'm so lucky to have someone like him in my life.'