It's been EXACTLY a year! I planned it like that...
Well, if you want to know what's going on, just check out the last chapter of Gone.
I'm trying not to make such a long author's note, but since this is the 1st chap, this is an exception.
If you're a new reader and have never even heard of Gone, then don't fret.
This sequel is a completely different story from there.
It won't connect to the other story that much...I think
EXCEPT FOR GLOO! If you're a new reader or have forgotten about him, he will be the first thing I explain :)
So, um, there's nothing much else to say but this:
Disclaimer: I suck at drawing and I'm a girl so obviously I don't own Naruto

Prologue

5:30a.m.

Gloo was like a dog.

He was actually a large black blob of goo, but if a Hyuga would use his/her Byakugan, he/she would see he's also a big blob of chakra. He smelled like gasoline but he can stick like a magnet to anything and won't be removed unless he decided to stop. When Neji first encountered him, he was flat on the ground, attached to his feet, making sure the Hyuga will stay put. Another part of him surrounded his arms, pinning them to his body. However, when he saw that the young man was reaching down to him with his hand covered in the same substance he had inside, he knew that would burn and cut him. He avoided them just in time and then sprang off the young man before he could do any more. Finally connected with his other part, he morphed into his real self: a black, slug-like thing. (A/N: If anybody out there watches Ben 10, think of Upgrade, but he most resembles Ship.)

Ever since then, he's been connected to this young Hyuga, even if he tried to hurt him when they first met. When he left, the blob followed. He had to keep his distance, though, since he knew his new master (for that's what he thought of him now) didn't like him. It was not until the day after they met that he was named: Gloo. A boy with red fangs on his cheeks and a large, white scary monster was the one who named him. It was a combination of goo and glue, for he was both.

As the days passed, he and his new master got closer and closer. He also got closer to his master's friends. All of them were friendly; he especially liked the one who was most like his master: a young woman with hair as long as Neji's (he learned his master's name) and has the same eyes. She was always friendly to him; she would always smile at him and pet him gently. He liked it very much when she scratched him at his favorite spot. He made sure he didn't accidentally get her stuck to him.

So yes, Gloo acted like a dog, but he absolutely does not look like one.

Gloo was dozing peacefully by Neji's bed when his master woke up. Neji looked sleepily at his clock and sighed. Lord Hiashi was off on a clan meeting and he appointed Neji as temporary head during his absence. Neji was thrilled and scared at the same time. Thrilled because this was the first time a member from a branch family was ever appointed head, even if it was temporary; scared because he didn't know what the head of the clan does.

Hiashi gave him a quick rundown of how it worked, but he still had questions.

"If you need help, just ask Hinata or Hanabi. As one of them will be heir, they've been taught of how to properly lead the clan," Hiashi said.

"If they will be heir, then why choose me? Shouldn't you let Lady Hinata be temporary headmistress?" Neji asked.

Hiashi smiled. "I have plans for you, too, Neji. And Hinata..." The Hyuga shook his head. "Lately, she's been forgetting a lot of things. She even forgot her own name once!"

Neji frowned. "Yes, I've noticed that. She has been acting strange."

"So, I'm putting you in charge until I feel she's ready for the job."

Neji was really nervous, but he tried not to show it. "Yes, sir."

Neji bowed and they separated.

Today was his second day of leadership.

He got off his bed, careful not to step on Gloo. He grabbed his robes and headed to the bathroom.

It was really early in the morning; it was maybe around 5am. It was sort of dark, like the sun, too, was too sleepy to get up. However, as temporary headmaster, he was to get up early and make sure the Hyuga clan would follow schedules.

7:05a.m.

Kiba, with his dog Akamaru, walked to the Hokage tower just like every morning for the past six days.

Yes, it's been six days since Hinata's return to the Leaf, and six days since Kiba showed the mysterious flower that was embedded on Hinata's forest clothes. (A/N: Haha, new readers ignore that.)

Kiba visited Tsunade every morning to see how the examinations were progressing. Every morning they would tell him what's new. Every time it was something bad.

Nobody told Hinata about the flowers. He told Shino about them, though, but it was pointless since he already knew (his bugs noticed a weird scent). And Hinata had just returned to her family, so telling her upsetting news now would stress her and her family. Besides, it hasn't been confirmed yet about what the flowers do.

But today was different.

When Kiba opened the door, he didn't even get to say "Good morning" before Tsunade said, "Kiba, I'm glad you're here. Quickly, get your teammates and bring them here. I have an important mission for you three."

Tsunade hadn't had a good night sleep since the flower experimentation. She had bags under her eyes and was crankier than usual. So when she demanded for Team Kureani, Kiba nodded silently and ran off.

7:15a.m.

There was a knock at the Hyuga Compound door. Neji, who was coincidentally closest to the door, went to open it.

"Yes?" he said when he opened it. His face suddenly scowled when he saw who it was.

"Hey, Neji! Hinata awake yet?" asked the person at the door.

Neji hesitated for just a millisecond before answering. "I'm sorry, Naruto, but no. She hasn't awoken yet. Now I suggest you do something else in her absence instead of whine," he quickly added when Naruto opened his mouth to complain. Ever since the blond ninja found out the Hyugas wake up early in the morning he's been coming at around 7 to pick up Hinata to do whatever.

Naruto stayed where he was, arms folded across his chest and glaring at the Hyuga. "Are you sure?"

Naruto and Neji hadn't been on good terms since he and Hinata started dating. Their relationship might have been okay with Hiashi but Neji knew Naruto better than he and disapproved of it. He was worried on what he might do to Hinata, so he's been keeping a close eye on them. Until Naruto can prove that he really did love Hinata and will never hurt her, his Byakugan will always be on the lookout.

Neji sighed. "If you must know she was called just a little while ago by Kiba. It seems she and her team have a mission-"

Before Neji could finish Naruto dashed off to the Hokage tower.

The Hyuga's eyebrow twitched with frustration. This wasn't the greatest way to start a morning but it's been like that for six days.

7:15 (and 59 seconds) a.m.

Naruto was just about to slam open the door when the door swung open. It took all the muscles in his right arm to stop his fist from crashing down on the poor, delicate forehead of Hinata Hyuga. The blond shinobi was staring open-mouthed at the girl in front of him while the latter was staring wide-eyed at the fist inches from her nose. Her teammates (except Shino), Tsunade, and Shizune all had similar expressions.

Finally, after swallowing audibly, Hinata looked at the boy and spoke. "Um . . . hello?"

And that was when Tsunade decided to explode. "NARUTO UZUMAKI, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

Naruto and the rest of the gang winced at the volume of her voice so early in the morning. Still, you couldn't blame her.

Except Naruto. "Grandma, you don't have to yell so loud!"

A visible tick was throbbing on her forehead and Shizune tried to calm her down.

Ignoring them Naruto faced Hinata. "Hey, Hinata! Do you have a mission or something?"

Hinata stared at the man in front of him. " . . . . . . . . . Um, do I know you?" she asked.

Naruto blanched. What?

"Ha! Very funny, Hinata!" Kiba said, smiling and patting her back. "Now, Naruto, if you could just move we'll be on our way." Without waiting for an answer he pushed Naruto aside using Hinata with Shino close behind.

"Ah, wait!" Naruto cried, but Shizune had caught his shoulder.

"Naruto, Lady Tsunade would like to talk to you."

On any other occasion, sure, he would gladly talk to her. But his girlfriend was just about to leave on a mission and might not be coming back for weeks. He shrugged her hand off, muttered "Later" and ran to catch up with Team Kurenai.

It was a cloudy day in Konoha. It wasn't going to rain, but the village still looked depressing for some reason.

"It doesn't have a rank?" Naruto asked, confused.

"No, now can we please go? We're kind of wasting time," Kiba said.

Naruto finally caught up with them at the gate (they sure move fast). He asked how long the mission would take and they replied that they didn't know, so he asked about the rank to see if he can estimate how long they'd be gone. That was useless, too. Naruto looked at the three chunins in front of him. Ignoring two of them he walked over to the third one standing in the back.

He took one of her hands. "Okay. Make it quick, then, okay, Hinata? I want you to come back as soon as possible." He smiled his Naruto-grin at her.

It was such an amazing and familiar grin that she had to smile, too. But who was this man holding her hand? Uh-oh, what is he doing now? He's leaning down! For what? He was so close to her now, so very close. Just on instinct, her eyelids fluttered close. She felt his lips, soft and warm like the perfect afternoon. She couldn't kiss back because, well, she didn't know this guy.

Naruto straightened up after a few seconds. He was frowning because he was confused. He's kissed Hinata a million times (in six days) but today was the weirdest. Normally, her kisses would be gentle and caring but today it was just . . . plain.

Kiba and Shino watched the whole scene and both understood it. They knew what their mission was. If they could just leave now, the process would be a lot quicker. But still, it would take a long time. They would miss her all that time.

"Hey, hey, c'mon Naruto. We really need to go now," Kiba said, breaking the two apart. None of them had said a single word. He finally sensed something was wrong, huh?Kiba thought.

"Oh, uh, yeah," Naruto stammered. He let Hinata's hand go. When they dropped to her side she looked down shyly, as if ashamed.

Kiba watched sadly. He wasn't a big fan of a goofball dating one of his best friends, but seeing them be separated like this was a sad time. However, he couldn't just say "This is the last time you're seeing each other so you better do what you want!"

Shino cleared his throat. Kiba found he was distracting himself. Akamaru whined at his master's zoned-out face.

With a quick shake of his head, Kiba took hold of Hinata's arm and slowly dragged her to the gates.

Hinata waved good-bye to the man who kissed her. Naruto waved back, a smile graced on his lips. He watched them go until they were out of sight.

Tsunade was going to tell Naruto about the mission. Well, the right term would be that she was going to lieto Naruto about the mission.

She discovered what the flowers did this morning and she sent a message right away. She deviced a mission for Hinata and it was a very important mission. And a very long one, too.

If Naruto knew the truth, he would have complained to no end.

12:40p.m.

Naruto wiped the soup around his mouth using his sleeve. He just finished his lunch at Ichiraku's, but it was lonlier than usual without Hinata. The sun shone a little more that afternoon.

"Thanks, Old Man," Naruto cried after he belched. Then he heard footsteps behind him. He immediately knew whose footsteps it belonged to because there was the patter of an additional four.

Quickly leaving money on the counter he exited the ramen shop. There, headed towards the Hokage tower were Team Kurenai . . . minus one. Naruto felt his heart sink to his feet. He ran to them and grabbed the back of Kiba's collar, turning him around.

"Hinata?" he asked, breathless despite the short run. That one word was enought of a question.

Kiba looked up sadly at his friend. "Naruto. I'm sorry," he croaked. His voice was gruff and full of grief.

Nevertheless it didn't compete with the huge hole that created itself in Naruto's heart. It ripped open, screaming in pain and agony as his head processed the information. "Is she . . . ?" Naruto tried to ask.

Kiba looked away. "Dead."

The two men and one dog entered the Hokage office.

Tsunade faced away from her window to look at them.

"How was it?"

"If you're asking if it was a success, yes," Shino answered. "How was it?" He shrugged.

"I see. Did you run into Naruto on your way back?"

"Yes."

"What did you tell him?"

Kiba cleared his throat. "We didn't give any information away," he said.

"I asked what did you tell him?" Tsunade repeated.

Kiba swallowed. "That she died."

Tsunade stared at them before slowly nodding. "Where is he now?"

Kiba didn't answer so Shino answered for them both. "Who knows."

Sorry it took such a long time!
I was hoping I would improve from that story to this.
Hopefully, I did! Tell me if something didn't make sense or if I need to change something!
Please review, everyone!