Hinata was surprised to see her girlfriend waking up. She doesn't really know why, she had to wake up sometime. "Morning, Naru-chan."
"Morning, Hina-chan." Naruko didn't really get up, she just snaked her arms around the white eyed girl and snuggled into her drowsily.
"Naru-chan, you've been asleep for three days, don't you think it's time you get up?"
With a sigh Naru-chan slowly rises and Hinata notices something odd. It was only there for an instant, but she could have sworn Naru-chan's pupils were white for the briefest of moments.
As Naruko rises she notices Hinata's missing right hand. "How is it?"
"It's an adjustment, but I'll get by. I'd gladly sacrifice a hand to save your life."
"Hinata." The girl blinks in surprise, Naruko hadn't called her by her name without chan in years. "I don't want you to hurt yourself for me. I wanted us to get stronger so we don't have to get hurt." Hinata looks like she is about to protest. "No! Hinata, I don't want to see you getting hurt for my sake. I'm faster than you Hina-chan, I likely always will be. If you had just told me to move I could have dodged, and you would still have your hand." Hinata looks down, the redhead was right, she could have just put her faith in the redhead's ability. She had been obsessed with protecting her, to the point she had let it cloud her rationality. "But don't think for a second I don't appreciate it. I just love you to much to want to see you get hurt like this more."
"Okay, I'll try and have faith in your ability more." Naruko nods, that's all she could ask for. She leans in and gives the white eyed girl a kiss. She still loved the girl more than anything.
A polite cough interrupts the two lovers as Kurenai stands in the doorway. They look at her for a moment before Hinata smiles mischievously and leans forward kissing Naruko more passionately.
"You're such a brat Hinata. How're you feeling Naruko?" The redhead finally manages to break free of her girlfriends lips, blushing softly.
"I feel fine, pretty normal really." Kurenai nods.
"We'll be leaving in a few days, the bridge is almost done and we need to return to Konoha." Naruko nods.
"So what happened with the enemy nin and Gato?"
"You killed Utakata and Fuu escaped while we were distracted with Hinata. As for Gato I killed him." Naruko nods, she can't really remember it, but they have no reason to lie to her.
***
And so the heroes of wave left the country five days later. The journey back to Konoha was considerably faster than the journey to wave. And it only took them a day of traveling at ninja pace to reach the village.
When the team reached the gates they were greeted by Izumo and Kotetsu, known as the eternal gate guards. Of course only the elite jonin and up knew that the two were actually jonin level nin that were intentionally kept at chunin to sell the friendly vibe. They accepted it gracefully and held the act well.
The guards did a double take upon seeing the handless Hyuuga heiress. Talk about C-ranks going poorly. Kurenai quickly files the paperwork and the group is let into the village. They had to report directly to the Hokage as the mission involved combat. It didn't take long to arrive at the Hokage tower. They walk up to the secretaries desk outside of the Sandaime's office.
"Is Hokage-sama free?" Kurenai asks, looking at the secretary.
The woman looks up and gestures to the door. "He's not busy at the moment, go ahead and knock." Kurenai nods and does so.
"Enter."
Team 7 steps into the office and Kurenai bows, then she says, "Team 7 reporting back from C-rank mission to wave."
Hiruzen eyed the missing hand of the Hyuuga heiress and the look the Uchiha heir was trying, and failing, to subtly give the Uzumaki. "Report."
"Hours after leaving the village we encountered the Demon Brothers and swiftly subdued them. I'm assuming you got my message?" The man nods and she continues, "When we arrived at wave we encountered a nin from Ame."
"They finally ended their isolation?"
"Yes sir, the woman we encountered claimed to be one of the leaders of Ame. Her name is Konan and she's an S-rank nin. Apparently Hanzo the Salamander is dead." Hiruzen's eyes widen at that. this was huge news indeed. "She had claimed she wanted to test Naruko and we fought. She injured me and then approached Naruko. She offered her to join Ame." Hiruzen's eyes flick to the redhead. She was here and not in bonds so she likely rejected, still that's concerning. "She considered the offer seriously before saying no. Then the woman told us she'd be sending comrades to kill the bridge builder a week later, and she left."
"Naruko-chan, why would you consider the offer?"
"Permission to speak freely?"
"Granted."
"First, it's Naruko. Second, the people of Konoha abuse me, and I hold no love for them." He had figured as much, he'd have to recall Jiraiya. The man would be furious at him, but he should be able to help ensure the girl remains loyal to Konoha. And if even that doesn't work, then she would be disposed of. For now he can't punish her for considering the offer, it would only make her more likely to leave if given an opportunity.
"Kurenai, continue."
"We trained for a week and then had the battle. The enemies were a missing nin from Kiri and a missing nin from Taki. I have the body of the nin from Kiri sealed in a scroll." The aged kage nods. "The nin from Taki ultimately escaped. During the fight the nin from Kiri used some kind of acid bubble technique. One of said bubbles popped on Hinata's hand and it caused Naruko to use it's power." Hiruzen nods, well that explains the oddities with the genin. "Then Gato appeared and I killed him. After that we stayed to recover and to finish the C-rank."
"I see. Well then Hinata, let me ask you. Do you wish to continue active duty?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Then all four of you will be given time to train and help Hinata learn to fight with only one hand." He knew they would grow from this, he could see it in their eyes. "You all will also be marked down as having completed both a C-rank mission and an A-rank mission." It would be S-rank but the Ame nin, Konan (the name sounded familiar but he couldn't quite remember from where), was not aiming to kill them, and the mission was not of high importance to the village. "Now you're dismissed, Kurenai I expect a full written report on my desk in two days."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."