Hellfire

Part 5

"You're wrong. That Sasuke-teme will show up," argued Naruto into the side of Sai's face, "He said he's coming."

"Aa," cooed Sai, unintentionally with a condescending tone, "It seems he's doing what I once read about from a book Ino gave me. What was it called again? Oh yes. Er, standing you up?"

Naruto grounded his teeth in fury. "For the last time!" he howled, "I'm not dating Sasuke."

Sai put a finger to his mouth. "That's right. You did tell me about your heart wrenching one sided hot passionate love for a woman who is much too good, violent and inexplicably masculine for someone such as your pathetic dickless self," he said. "Hm."

The Uzumaki nearly tore his hair out, desperate to ignore the flame in his cheeks. Chuckling, Sakura slapped him on the shoulder blade and let out a haughty laugh.

"All right all right ladies, we're here for Hinata so leave your beef at home next time. Ne?"

It was the first time in a while that Rookie Nine had gathered together for a mission - the mission being "retrieving Hinata's memory".

They met at the local park, all lugging behind them things they thought might strike a familiar beat in her, with positive and bright attitudes.

Sakura and Ino sat Hinata on the bench, smiling from ear to ear, as they presented the few hair accessories they'd collected from various festivals they'd attended together in the past. There was an atrocious white hair pin and awful swan headpiece, both so distinct that Hinata's initial reaction was to cringe.

"That's it!" Ino yelled, pointing at the Hyuga's twisted expression. "She made that exact face when we bought this together!"

So it was safe to assume that Hinata indeed had gained a memory. Perhaps one she didn't need but was grateful for either way. It gave her an idea of her relationship with the two.

Choji insisted he go next.

The flavour of sweet chilli BBQ pork chips tingled her tongue and sparked a thought in her mind, but not one of a memory. She agreed the Akimichi did indeed have a good taste in food, and couldn't help but feel a little feverish blush creep to her cheeks when his hand lingered a little longer than necessary on top of hers when he insisted she keep the whole bag.

After all, she overheard Shikamaru mutter in awe; "Choji never shares food." - so that made her feel somewhat special, and a little disappointed she could remember nothing about their friendship.

"All right, all right," said Kiba, standing in between his teammate and the Akimichi. "Who's up next?"

Naruto offered a photograph they had taken when Team 7 and Team 8 had gone on a mission together. Naruto boisterously explained how Hinata had saved them with some hidden technique she'd had up her sleeve that really truly been something that certainly helped them escape successfully.

Hinata tentatively received it and stared at it closely. She could barely recognise herself. Who was that young girl Naruto had pulled in tightly? Her face was red and her eyes were swirling with giddiness, hands brought in close to her chest.

The Hyuga smiled to herself though.

She opened her mouth to say something but the expression on her face gave the yellow-haired boy a different impression. He whooped and swung his arm around her shoulders, her neck resting in the crook of his elbow as he embraced her into his side.

It was an action that mimicked the one in the image. She supposed he had a habit of doing this.

"Wah! She remembers, she remembers! Don't cha, Hinata-chan?!"