A strange new life

That night, ears burning, I went to bed with Ino. It was like a walk of shame, with every step under the scrutiny of the Yamanaka Matriarch.

Despite the late hour, we didn’t go to sleep immediately.

And no, we didn’t make out either.

I don’t even know if Ino saw us in a relationship or what. She’d been clingy, but she had started no attempt at intimacy other than being touchy. I wasn’t going to push her. I was more than happy to let Best Girl Ino find peace with her choices and take the lead.

We talked, hushed words and whispers and plans.

“I talked with Kiyo-Obacchan,” Ino said after we finished giggling over the night’s events. “You should visit them.”

“You think they can help?” I was still convinced that the den of gossiping grandmas was more than just, well, gossiping grandmas. It had been years, and I had found no evidence of it yet, but that didn’t diminish my certainty.

Her hand followed the contours of my ear. I closed my eyes. Gooseflesh rippled down that side of my body.

“She wouldn’t say, but I think so.” Her other hand threaded my hair.

I held back the urge to squirm. Ino was so mean. “I’ll talk with the merchants that buy my seals. Maybe they can make their voices known or something.”

“That’s a good idea,” Ino said.

The silence was only interrupted by breathing until Ino spoke again.

“Did you meet with Tora’s owner?”

“Madam Shijimi?” I shuddered. Was it memories of the lady or Ino’s hands? “Not yet,” I admitted.

“What about the Aburame’s clan visit?”

I leaned my head against her shoulder. “That’s still a few days away.”

We didn’t talk more after that. I wrapped my hands around her waist, pulling her closer. The contact and proximity felt good. Calming, peaceful.

I drifted to sleep thinking about flowers. They smelled nice.

Things after that day moved fast. I avoided visiting the flower shop too much. The mood was strange. I think Ino’s mom was mad at me for putting Ino at risk but also not willing to get on my case about that.

I visited the GGC. Paid a copious amount in pastries and submitted my head to vengeful tousling hands. Chiyo-baa was in the “known” about current events. War with Kumogakure was all but inevitable now. They were accusing Konoha of attacking one of their outposts.

Mika-bachan also added to the rumor mill. “You didn’t hear this from me,” she started, “but I heard the Hyuga clan head got in a huge fight with his wife.” She turned to me, eyes squinting. “You know something about that?”

I shook my head. Maybe a bit too fast. Had to dodge a lot of hands after that. Was Mom okay? I hoped so. When was she going to visit?

By the end of the spy meeting session, Kiyo-Obacchan updated me on the situation.

“We know some people. We’ll spread the word,” was all she said about my issues with the council codgers.

The problem of trying to be social was dealing with people. I spent deep hours in the night baking. In the morning, I rushed to the mission hall, met with Madam Shijimi. Somehow, Tora had fled again. She was annoyed that it wasn't my team completing the mission, but calmed down after I gave her one of my post-mission pastry packages.

We moved to a private room where I delivered the traded goods, got my payment, endured the hug that I was sure caused Tora to flee.

“Thank you, Hinata-chan,” she said after releasing me. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t returned.”

I bobbed my head. “I apologize for causing you worry, Shijimi-sama,” I said and bowed.

“None of that, dear,” her heavy hand pressed me to the ground. She pocketed the many seals I had prepared. I even included a few of the mango-flavored ones. They passed muster, after all.

She turned, ready to leave.

I took a deep breath. “Shijimi-sama,” I don’t know why it was so hard to ask for her help. “Could I ask for a favor?”

The woman stopped, sat down again, patted the seat by her side. I obeyed, and let her fuss over me.

“What is it, Hinata-chan? Tell me, and I’ll help.”

“You see, I’m in a spot of trouble.”

I gave her the abridged version of events. I had been kidnapped when younger, and held prisoner for a few years. Because of that, some in the village believed I was a sleeper agent, with most of the discrimination coming from the two councilmen.

The woman hugged me. By the end of my tale, she was in tears.

“Don’t worry, Hinata-chan, I’ll tell hubby about it.” I offered her a handkerchief. She blew her nose. “You’ll hear from me soon.”

I gave her another hug. “Thank you, Shijimi-sama.”

In the mornings, when possible, I kept training with Ino. She had said nothing, but guessing by how she often avoided talking about home, she hadn’t made up with her mom yet. Guilty prickled my insides at the thought I was the cause.

In the rare moments we weren’t training, we played.

Still sprawled on the ground, taking deep breaths from the last spar, Ino spoke up. “Hinata-chan, let’s play tag next.”

I sat by her side, also trying to relax. “Tag?” Did she mean what I think she did?

“Yeah,” Ino said.

Euphoria overrode training tiredness. I got up to my feet, pulled Ino up as well. She groaned. Gave me a betrayed look.

Gently, I pushed her away. “I’ll give you a count of five head start.”

Ino blinked, looking at me like she did not know what was going on.

I pulled a tag, just a normal exploding one.

Ino’s eyes bulged out. “That’s not–”

“Three, two,” I counted out loud.

“Shit.” Ino pivoted and fled.

I finished the counting in my head and threw the first exploding kunai.

A few minutes later, once I had tagged Ino more than a few times, we ended the game.

Ino’s clothes were not in the best shape. Dust and grass and sweat clung to her skin and clothes. Her hair was a mess. She was still the most beautiful girl.

“Never again!” Ino yelled. She turned her back to me and stormed off.

Did I misunderstand something?

Karin had demanded I stop using clones to teach her. I obliged. Left the entire theory there, and we’d often discuss it later in the day. I learned Karin had been in contact with the Hokage more than once. By the looks of it, they were negotiating with Grass to take her in as a genin officially.

“That’s so nice, Karin!” I said, hugged her.

Karin’s smile was full of happiness. “Thank you, Hinata-chan.”

Faster than I expected, it was time for the Aburame dinner. This time, I went alone. Ino wanted to tag along too, but I was still skeptical regarding the last time. I made much of the same preparations. Got Kumoko to hide a beacon at the badger’s land for me. Gifted her another batch of honey since she couldn’t take payment. Dressed in civilian clothes and not the pretty kimono.

I had a few weapons with me, but not to the same extent I did when visiting the Hyuga compound.

The dinner was a normal dinner. I ate with Shino and his family, and we made small talk.

In the end, what they wanted was information about the bees. I should have guessed that. I sounded them for support regarding the whole “you are a spy” situation, but Shibi didn’t seem willing to take sides.

“I’m sorry, Hinata-san,” he said after taking a sip of his tea. “If I promise my support, we’d be getting in the middle of the trouble between you, the Hyuga, the Council, and the Uchiha clan.”

That soured my mood, but I also understood his position. The idea of trying to force them to support me in exchange for information about the bees crossed my mind, but I gave up on that. I didn’t want to create any more resentment.

“I’ll have to check with the badgers,” I said after a while. “They are not the most hospitable with strangers.”

Aburame Shibi nodded. “I understand. Any information you can provide will help. We’ll compensate you for that.”

We parted ways soon after. Thankfully, it was just a normal dinner, a possible business arrangement, and not another marriage proposal.

The day after the dinner, I was summoned to the tower, official business. I dressed in my new shinobi gear, put on the flak jacket, and left for the tower.

There, me, Shikamaru, and other Chunin I didn’t know met the Hokage. The chunin was older than us, a lot older. He seemed closer to Yamato’s age. He had brown hair, dark eyes. His hair was combed down, covering his right eye. His forehead protector was like a bandanna, along with the standard Konoha shinobi outfit, which went to his chin similar to Yamato’s.

Wait, wasn’t he the chunin who tried to trick people during the exam? He and that other guy with the spiky hair.

We stood at attention in front of the Hokage.

“Thank you for coming,” Shisui said. “We’re assigning you a team of genin while our jonins are busy with priority missions.”

Me and the older chunin nodded. Shikamaru tsked.

“Shikamaru,” Shisui said, looking at the lazy Nara. “You’ll take over Kurenai’s team.”

I caught the muttered “Troublesome” but held in the urge to giggle.

“Izumo,” Shisui said to the other chunin, “Your team is Hyuga Neji, Uchiha Sasuke, and Uzumaki Naruto.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama!”

That was a strange team composition. Sasuke and Neji on the same team? Then you add Naruto. Hell, that was scary.

“Hinata,” it was my turn now. “Your team is Tenten, Yamanaka Ino and Akimichi Choji.”

“Understood,” I saluted.

The Hokage handed us a slip of paper. "We informed your team to gather and they are waiting for you at the specified location.”

I looked at my paper, training field three. Was that on purpose?

“That’s all,” Shisui said and returned to his mountain of paperwork.

I saluted again, then saluted my fellow chunin, left to meet my team. It was so strange, thinking I’d be leading a team. But I had plans. I’m sure the grin on my face matched my excitement. Grandiose plans. But first, I needed a pair of bells.