The New B-Ranked Mission is... Nothing?!

[richter]

Neji sighed softly as he stood by entrance gate to the village hidden in the leaves, waiting for Hinata. The two of them had been assigned to a B ranked mission, which suprised the raven haired nin that it was just the two of them. On top of that, they hadn't even been told what the mission was, only that their contact was at an inn between here and the village hidden in the sand.

The Hyuuga looked around idly for Hinata again, already geared with his ninja tools, and pack.

 

[dhaze85]

It was rare that Hinata was late, but today she was. For some reason she'd been a little aprehensive about going on a mission alone with Neji. In all the years they'd been ninja, not once had they worked together alone like this, and it was bringing up feelings that Hinata had managed to long since bury. For so long she'd felt such strange feelings towards her cousin.....feelings one shouldn't have for family....and for a while she had buried those feelings. Now though....now it was all coming back.

Still, she had to try and bury those feelings again as she approached the gates of the village, waving slightly to Neji as she approached him. "Hello there....Neji. I'm looking forward to our mission together, I'm sure we'll do very well working together. Should....we get going? The Hokage made it sound quite urgent..."

 

[richter]

Neji looked over, nodding at Hinata's presence. "Right... according to lady Tsunade, it shouldn't take us more than a day to arrive at the location. I find it odd that the Hokage would send just the two of us, when Gai and Lee are currently available... but we will go through with it regardless." He said as he started heading out of the gate, securing his pack.

"Shall we get going then Hinata?" He asked, turning back slightly to look at her. She had grown a lot, not only strength, but as a female as well. Neji caught himself staring and quickly returned his attention forward. "We don't want to be late after all..."

 

[dhaze85]

"Yes....let's get going...." Hinata smiled softly and nodded in response. She didn't catch Neji staring at her, but only because she had caught herself staring at him instead. She quickly pulled her eyes away, looking back up to Neji as they started walking. "Yes...it is strange. Kiba and Shino are both free aswell..but, I'm sure the Hokage has her reasons". The girl smiled as they left the village, walking beside Neji. At least this way she could stop herself staring at him. Well, she could at keast restrain herself a little better anyway. With some luck, this mission wouldn't take long and she could go back to burying her feelings.

 

[richter]

Neji smiled as well, although Hinata couldn't see it. The Hyuuga blinked slightly, looking over as Hinata started walking by his side, the smile returning to his face for a moment before he quickly looked away. He tried to start a conversation several times, but couldn't manage to think of what to say.

Several hours go by and he looks back at her again. "Hinata... do you want to stop and get something to eat? There's a small village up ahead it seems." He asked, still walking in the general direction, their path fairly close to the one that lead to the village.

 

[dhaze85]

The sudden question caught Hinata by surprise, and she almost seemed to snap out of some kind of daydream when Neji spoke, turning to look at him and barely managing to squeak out a response. "Y-yes!" She quickly blushed in embarassment and looked away. She'd been daydreaming about Neji without even realising how long had passed. They must've been nearly halfway to their destination by now. Hinata looked up slowly at the village as they approached, glad that they were approaching civilization once again. Perhaps being around some other people would help make this just a little easier. There would be more to distract her at least...

 

[richter]

Neji looked over at her for another few moments, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "You don't need to be nervous... the Hokage wouldn't have sent us on a mission that we couldn't handle, right?" He said, placing a hand on her shoulder softly before they headed torwards the small village.

 

[dhaze85]

Hinata nearly jumped when the hand was suddenly put on her shoulder. She had been so deep in thought she had totally dropped her guard, probably not a good thing for a ninja. "Ah....r-right...she wouldn't.." She nodded quickly, face flushing a soft crimson colour as they approached the small village. "But....we shouldn't stop too long....we should just get something to eat and then we should get moving again....I'm sure the Hokage wants us there as quickly as possible"

 

[richter]

His hand quickly retreated as Hinata jumped, and Neji sighed softly. She still hasn't changed
that much I guess... He thought to himself before shrugging the thought aside. "Of course, but I would prefer to eat it here rather than go, unless we have to." He said as they looked for a restraunt around the village once they arrived.

((if you want, we can go ahead and skip this, and even the the rest of the trip to where we get to the hot springs, either way is fine with me -nods-))

 

[dhaze85]

((*nod* probably easiest to skip them just eating I think))

Hinata nodded softly in response, glancing around the village, before pointing out a nice little cafe. "We can stop to eat and rest there ok?" She managed a shy smile, before turning to head inside, finding the two a table where they could get something to eat and drink in preperation for the remainder of their journey.

It was around half an hour later when the two emerged, rested and fed. "If we go now, then we should arrive at our destination at about sunset I think....that'll make it easier than having to stop and camp partway there don't you think...?"

 

[richter]

Neji sighed contently as they walked out of the restraunt, stretching slightly. "Yes, that does sound good, hopefully the mission wont start as soon as we arrive." He said with a chuckle as they made their way to their destination.

The rest of the trip passed by without incident or break, they were going at a leisurely pace afterall. As they approached the building Tsunade had spoke of, Neji slowed down even further, activating his Byakugan silently as he scanned the building, and the nearby area. "There doesn't seem to be anything suspicious yet... let's go in and meet our contact Hinata." He said, releasing his kekkai genkai before they made their way inside, looking for a slightly taller, elderly woman that was supposed to inform them of the actual details of their mission.

 

[dhaze85]

Hinata nodded in agreement as she surveyed the area around them whilst Neji investigated the building. Besides a few animals there really wasn't much around. "Alright....let's go inside..." She nodded as they approached the building, the sign advertising it as a natural hotsprings resort. "This is....kind of an unusual meeting place for a mission.....isn't it?"

As they stepped inside, their 'contact' would be almost immediately obvious, the elderly woman standing behind the reception desk, clearly there to check-in new arrivals. Still, it made sense as a contact. Someone who could standi in plain sight and talk to people without raising even the slightest suspiscions. And from the look on her face, it was clear she immediately recognised Hinata and Neji as people she was expecting. Then again, the eyes were a bit of a giveaway.

"Ah! Welcome! I've been expecting you both" The woman smiled and nodded, flicking through a large book of names, clearly the reservations list. "Please, come on over and let's get things sorted shall we?" She waited for the two to approach the desk, before handing them a single key. "Here you are, this is your room key"

Hinata blinked slightly, clearly confused. "Our....room key? I thought...." "Ah yes..." The old woman leaned in, lowering her voice. "Your mission from the Hokage. Very important, top priority. These orders come from her personally....so come closer..." She waved a wrinkled finger, motioning the teenage ninja closer so she could whisper. "Your orders are....to spend the next two weeks relaxing, all expenses paid, right here at this resort. This mission cannot be refused" With a slight grin, the woman stood back up, scribbling something in her book. "Would you like me to show you to your room?"

 

[richter]

Neji was also suprised at the nature of the building, but then figured it wouldn't seem out of the ordinary for two people meeting someone at the hot springs, and dismissed it, immediately heading torwards the reception desk. Judging by the way she was whispering, it did indeed seem like she was the contact, and leaned in to listen for their orders. He raised an eyebrow as they were handed a key. Perhaps some escort or delivery of a valuable item? The Hyuuga thought to himself, unable to think of any other reason.

He blinked several times as their 'contact' told them of their mission, looking over at Hinata. "I see... very well then." He said after a long pause, bowing slightly. He didn't believe that they needed a vacation forced on them, but there was little they could do about it. "We can find our own room, thank you." He said, waiting for Hinata before heading up to the room.

 

[dhaze85]

Hinata slowly turned to walk towards the room, rubbing her head slightly. Why just one key....? They were only going to have one room? The thought caused her to suddenly blush intenself and hang her head in an effort to hide her face. She and Neji were going to share? Oh god....that was....well....embarassing.

When they arrived at the room, Hinata stood back whilst Neji opened the door, though as she stepped inside she squeaked loudly. There weren't even two beds, just one very large king sized one. "I....I um....." She glanced around, spotting a nice large couch on one side of the room. "I'll sleep on the couch alright Neji...?"