The Shadow on The Sand [Naruto Fanfic]

Chapter 7 - Mission

Chapter 7 - Mission

It was the day before Hitori's team was supposed to leave for the mission. The wind was whipping up around her, black hair waving around her smaller form as she watched her hand picked team going through their flawless plan that she had spent hours and hours agonising over.

Temari, Kankuro and her had spent a whole day just trying to put together a good team, then they had been training ever since. The team was 15 strong, including the siblings, and Hitori. Both siblings could tell that this was troubling for her, but since she hadn't told them why or acted like she had any interest in revealing why, they had kept to themselves and hadn't asked. They knew that if she wanted to tell them, she would.

"Okay guys. That will do for today. Go home, get a good rest. We will be leaving at first light tomorrow." Hitori's voice sounded out and everyone stopped moving and bid their goodbyes before heading off home.

Ashinami was allowed to be on the team, only because of Hitori's sympathy with his position, and he mostly ignored everyone during the training sessions but sent the Kazekage's brother and sister a respectful nod, and a much smaller one to Hitori before going in the opposite direction knowing that if he didn't at least do that, he would probably get kicked off.

He had been thoroughly pissed off at first, but when Hitori had personally come to him and asked him whether he wanted to be on the team, he had gained a new respect for her. The brunette man wasn't stupid. He had figured out that something was up with Hitori as soon as Gaara had brought her into his office when they were being briefed on the mission.

Even though he was still upset about not being able to lead himself, he didn't contest with Hitori's rule, mostly just because he didn't want the crap beaten out of him and also because he would probably get kicked off the mission if he did. He was just glad to be on the mission.

Hitori smiled at Temari and Kankuro who were currently strolling over to her and all three of them began heading in the direction of home, where Gaara would have most likely only just arrived since it was a little after 5pm. The blond kunoichi tried to make conversation with the grey-eyed woman, but she was being insufferably stubborn and stayed mostly silent, using mostly one worded answers.

She knew that Hitori wasn't trying to be rude, but this quiet act was starting to get on her nerves. Usually the two of them would be taking a dig at Kankuro, or talking about something that they had done over the years. But the Konoha jonin was withdrawn, like a turtle into it's shell, and Temari was being pushed to her limits.

"So, what should we have for dinner tonight?" she asked conversationally, and punched Kankuro in the stomach when he went to put in his two cents. Hitori simply shrugged and made a small sound symbolising her saying 'Whatever'. A vein popped in Temari's forehead, and it was the last straw.

"Alright! I've had it! Hitori, what the hell is wrong? I'm sure that if you wanted to talk to us about it, that you would, but you are being so damn closed off that it's making me depressed!" she said loudly, finally losing her temper.

The black-haired woman didn't react outwardly, knowing that she should have been expecting this sooner or later. A low, long sigh sounded from her and she nodded in acceptance. She couldn't keep acting like this forever. When they walked in the door of their home, she looked up at her two friends and the look in her eyes told them that it was something painful.

Temari's expression changed from frustrated to concerned, and Kankuro walked over and put an supporting arm over Hitori's much smaller shoulders and lead her towards the living room. All three of them sat down, and at that moment Gaara emerged from the hallway his room was located in, but because of the serious aura he felt, he approached silently and said nothing.