Chapter 18: Gaara of the dessert

They had finally arrived back in Konoha and Hinoka was taken to a hospital to be properly treated.

As she laid in the hospital bed reading a book two people suddenly burst through the door as they exclaimed, "Hinoka!" At the same time.

Hinoka turned her attention to the two people as she smiled saying, "Hey Naruto, Sasuke."

Sakura came in a few seconds later as she hit Naruto on the head saying, "Naruto! Stop making so much noise where in a hospital!" 

Kakashi sensei walked in as he said, "You're making the most noise right now Sakura."

Sakura blushed with embarrassment as Kakashi sensei turned to Hinoka asking, "Are you feeling better Hinoka?"

Hinoka nodded saying, "They told me I can leave after a few days since by then I'll be able to walk, but I should avoid putting too much pressure on my leg."

Kakashi nodded before saying, "If that's all I'll be on my way."

Kakashi sensei left while Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura stayed there talking to Hinoka till the hospital staff said they had to leave.

As they were leaving Hinoka called out to Sasuke as she said, "Thanks for the necklace, it's like a lucky charm."

Sasuke looked at her surprised before saying, "Get better, going on missions with those two is annoying."

Hinoka smiled as he left.

In the Hokage's office.

The woman that had helped Tenten and the other was wearing an ANBU mask as she knelt in front of the third Hokage saying, "That's the whole report on the mission."

The hokage nodded as he said, "Thank you may leave."

The ANBU nodded before disappearing.

The hokage sighed as he thought, "To think he of all people would be there if Hinoka made one wrong move she would've died, and someone else rescued her. I wonder where they're from.

Hinoka was looking out the hospital window when she turned around saying, "Hey lord monkey."

Lord Third smiled as he said, "Hello Hinoka, how are you feeling?"

"Bored. I wonder, why would you come to visit me in the hospital? I'm sure you have a lot of work to do in the hokage office. Is it because I told you about my past that you feel a sense of responsibility towards me?"

"... of course not, I care about everybody in the village and watch over them including you."

"Is that so…"

"Well then I need to get back to work. Goodbye Hinoka…"

Hinoka didn't reply as he left.

*Hinoka's POV* 

Days had gone by and we had just finished my first mission since my leg had healed.

Sasuke and Naruto were at odds as usual. Kakashi-sensei suggested we disperse, and Sasuke decided to go home, with Sakura following. Before leaving, Sasuke made a cutting remark to Sakura about her strength compared to Naruto's. Naruto, in turn, invited Sakura to practice together.

Suddenly, Kakashi-sensei vanished, and a square-shaped rock appeared, as it followed Naruto.

I sighed, turning to the rock as I said, "Konohamaru, come out."

As the smoke cleared, Konohamaru and his gang appeared. He grinned as he said, "Hey master, big bro Naruto."

"I told you, you don't need to call me that, all I did was pay for your ramen."

"That's not all! Me and big bro were in a pinch, we had ordered a super deluxe one time special ramen but big bro forgot his wallet. And you were passing by when you saw us and decided to pay for our ramen!"

 I sighed as I said, "You know what, I don't really care anymore." 

Konohamaru grinned looking accomplished before turning to Naruto as he and his gang complained about him being distant lately and asked him to play ninja with them. When Konohamaru noticed Sakura who was still frozen from shock thinking about what Sasuke said, as he asked, "Naruto, who is she? You've been busier than I thought, bro…"

Naruto looked at Konohamaru confused as he continued, "Is she your? This." Konohamaru then shows his pinkie finger with a big smile on his face.

Naruto grinned as he said, "Shucks, you guys are pretty sharp for kids!"

Sakura was about to punch Naruto when I stopped her asking, "Hey Sakura, were you just about to hit Naruto in front of me?"

Sakura froze as she said, "What, no Hinoka."

Konohamaru smiled as he said, "That's right, you ugly wench, don't you dare touch Big Bro!"

"Hey Hinoka, I can educate this brat a bit, right?" Sakura asked me.

I nodded saying, "Sure, do what you want with him."

Sakura beat up Konohamaru before angrily walking away.

Naruto smiled at me saying, "Thanks, Hinoka!"

I turned to Naruto before flicking his forehead and saying, "You two should really watch your mouths."

Konohamaru: "Darn that ugly broad forehanded ugly wench! Is she a girl for real?"

Sakura then turned around with an angry face as she started running back in our direction and they all started running. Konohamaru then bumped into a boy and fell.

I stood there not running after them as I said, "Haku."

Suddenly, Haku arrived next to me as I said, "I need you to find what you can on sealing jutsus."

Haku nodded before disappearing. I started following Naruto and the rest when I turned to Sasuke who was on a tree as he looked at me, I nodded to him. 

I caught up to Naruto as he was on the floor talking to two people. 

Just as it looked like Konohamaru was about to get beat up, Sasuke threw a rock at the person's hand making him drop Konohamaru. 

At the same time, I appeared next to a boy that was standing upside down on a tree as I said,"Hi, could you please tell your friend that if they ever even think of touching my friends again, I'll make them wish they were dead."

The boy looked a bit surprised as he came down the tree and said "Temari, Kankuro, let's go." I jumped down after him as they started walking off.

Just as they were leaving, Sasuke appeared next to me as he looked at them saying, "Hey! you there… What's your name?"

The girl with them turned around as she said with a smile while blushing "Huh? M-Me?"

 I rolled my eyes saying, "He's talking about the guy with the red hair."

As the boy with the red hair turned around, he said "I'm Gaara of the desert… I have an interest in both of you as well… What are your names?"

Sasuke replied saying, "Sasuke Uchiha."

"If you really want to know, it's Hinoka. Nice to meet you, Gaara." I said with a smile on my face as we stared at each other.

Before Naruto interrupted asking, "Say! Say! What about me? What about me?"

Gaara turned around to leave as he said, "Not interested."

I couldn't help but laugh as Gaara and the other two ninjas walked away.