Of Hearts and Scars

Chapter 1: No More

Summary: 15-year-old Hinata is abused and sexually harassed by her father. It gets too much for her so in the cover of night, she disappears without a trace. Three years later a mysterious masked girl and her friend come to assist Konoha against a dangerous threat.

Disclaimer: I don't own any shows, I am not low, and I don't own Naruto!

"Leave her alone!" yelled Naruto, standing in front of Hinata.

The small girl was on the ground behind him, shivering and bleeding worse than she should have. Her lips were torn, her left wrist looked broken and blotchy, blue and black bruises covered her body. She was wearing a slim, torn black long sleeved shirt that was torn on one sleeve and small green shorts. Naruto's anger rose as the girl fought to stand up but failed. This was not unnatural for Naruto to come over and see this. Hiashi lost his wife and blamed Hinata for it. So he beat and sexually harassed her often. When Naruto found out, he became a constant visitor to the Hyuuga mansion. Though they couldn't stop it, Neji and Naruto did their best to stop it whenever they could, but Hiashi was one of the most powerful men in Konoha. There was very little two Chunins could do.

Hiashi snarled and punched Naruto in the face. That was also not unnatural but Naruto had grown to love Hinata, though he refused to tell her, and would do anything for the quiet Hyuuga. She gasped, as she did every time her father hit him but Hiashi's rage continued. "Leave my home Naruto; this is no business of yours! Leave me now!" he screamed. Naruto kept his position, his arms spread out to hide Hinata from view. "You have no right to harm her Hiashi!" Naruto yelled back. He sensed Hinata stiffening behind him.

"Oi, what's going on?!" called a voice from a different room.

"He's doing it again!" Naruto yelled back.

There was silence, then two pairs of footsteps were heard, one away and one towards the fight. Neji burst into Hinata's room, in nothing but pajama bottoms, his hair astray and wild, taking in the scene. He saw Naruto's bruised face and anger danced in those lavender eyes. "Uncle, stop this instant!" he yelled.

Hiashi, so angry, threw a kunai at Hinata. Hinata squeaked and turned her head to dodge the weapon. The knife cut her, deep enough to cause a scar on her cheek. She groaned softly, the loss of too much blood making her dizzy.

"Uncle no!" yelled Neji, pushing his uncle to the side; just as the door banged open.

Standing at the doorway were Kurenai, Kakashi and Tenten. The weapon's mistress was red in the face and panting.

"S-Sorry Neji…I ran as fast as I could…" she gasped. Kurenai and Kakashi took in the scene and the visible part of Kakashi´s face twisted in pure rage.

"Hiashi!" he yelled, storming up to the Hyuuga, grabbing him by the pale throat and pressing him against the wall as Kurenai walked to Hinata. Naruto glared at her for a moment, so pumped with adrenaline he didn't process who she was. Once she got passed the blond ninja, she wrapped her arms around Hinata.

The girl didn't even cry, she just let Kurenai hold her for a moment but she did jump when her sensei stood up. Fear showed on her face.

"Don't leave!" she begged. If her father wasn't so bent on breathing, he would have smacked her. Kurenai smiled in a pityingly way.

"Yes…I'm leaving…but you're coming with me" she said. "Get a bag and pack. You're living with me until further notices." Hinata smiled and did what she was told, the boys helping with Hiashi, the girls helping Hinata pack. She filled the bottom with clothes, the middle part with her beloved books and the top money and jewelry. She fitted a shimmering chipped ruby necklace around her neck, blushing at Naruto's smile. He had gotten it for her for her 14th birthday. She pulled her long hair into a loose ponytail and nodded at Kurenai.

"I'm ready sensei!" she said, happiness seeping into her voice.

That happiness wouldn't last. Hiashi pulled away from the boys for a moment and slapped Hinata roughly across the face, making blood fly out of her mouth, before Kakashi could hold him down again. "You little bitch!" yelled Hinata's father. "You're worth nothing, you will never be worth anything, and you will die nothing!" Instantly, the light disappeared from Hinata's whole body posture. In a monotone voice she replied "Yes father…I will never be anything…" Naruto opened his mouth to argue but Hinata already left the room, followed by Kurenai.

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Midnight that night

Hinata quietly dressed in the bathroom on Kurenai's apartment. She washed her face, wincing as her fingers poked the stitches on her cheek. There was going to be a nasty scar there. She put on her new jacket; a twin of her usual one except this one was black. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled sadly. She was surprised at how much a little more black could change her appearance. She walked out the bathroom and picked up her bag, still packed.

Quiet as a mouse, she snuck into Kurenai's dark room. She watched her sensei sleep for a moment before tucking a note under her hand and kissing her forehead. Still silent she snuck out of the house and locked the door behind her. Running at top speed, she made it to the quiet gates of Konoha she stood and looked back at her home. She touched the ruby necklace at her throat and smiled softly. "Goodbye Konoha, goodbye Neji…goodbye Naruto. This will be the last time I see you…" she whispered. With that, the Hyuuga girl left her home.

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That morning

"What the hell is this?!" screamed Kurenai, thrusting the note in Tsunade's face. The woman's eyes widened to read the note. She read it out loud "A painful future but you saved me. I would stay but its time for this bird to fly free…does that mean she ran away?" she asked slowly. Shizune smacked the hokage in the head. "Yes!" yelled Kurenai. "Well she is not only a Hyuuga but she is trained by you, so there's no point in chasing after the girl" she said calmly. Naruto punched her desk, leaving an interesting dent. "Why aren't you after her father?!" he roared, full of hurt and anger. "You knew what he did to her! Why aren't you after him?" Tsunade twitched. "Because you have no proof, you idiot!" she yelled. "Let her go! This is best for her! Move on!"

Naruto blinked, shocked into stunned silence. After a moment he nodded, his eyes dead. "Yes…if this is best for her…let Hinata go…" he said softly.

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3 years later

Two figures flashed their ID's at the watchers at the gate of Konoha and trotted into the village. The most visible one was a boy of about 19 years of age. His hair was a light, bright purple but his eyes were gold. His skin was tan and muscles were hidden under his cream and brown ninja clothes. Though his weapons and movements screamed he was a ninja, he had no headband. His companion was more mysterious. Her long indigo hair was flowing down her back to her waist, and her pale creamy limbs danced with gracefulness. She was wearing a small, light purple dress, with white stripes going down the sides. She had slim black leggings to cover her unmentionables if the dress went up and purple weapon packs on her legs. An ebony black staff was strapped comfortingly on her back. But there were two things different about her: one, like her friend, she had no ninja headband. Two, she had a beautiful violet band covering her eyes, though she could clearly see well and walking proudly. She was obviously not happy about being there, for the boy was pulling on her hand and prompting her.

"Come on, Nata. I know you don't like it here but they already paid us. 15 million yen! That's quite a bit, yes?" he asked in a deep, soft voice. The girl turned her head to him as if glaring. "Erhen you idiot, we have twice that much at home. We don't need another. You know I hate this place yet you drag me back here anyways. The Mist was offering 20 million yen. Why not take that offer? We could always go back and ask!" she asked, in a sweet yet wise voice. Erhen sighed. "No Nata. As assassins we have a right to help those in need!" he said heroically, his golden eyes following a group of giggling women, who seemed just as interested in him.

"Shut up Erhen. You just want to look at the girls..." but the girl, Nata, gave in. "Lets make this quick, okay?" she asked. Erhen laughed and ruffled her hair, "Yes Nata-chan. As fast as possible, I swear."

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Sakura stomped towards the Hokage tower angrily. "The fifth time this week!" she yelled. "The fifth! Can't you and I go on a date without being called to the damn Hokage?!" Her boyfriend followed behind with a raised, slim, gold eyebrow. "Um...Sakura-chan? She only called for me..." he said, twitching his whiskers. "I don't care Naruto! You're my boyfriend! I have a right to go on dates with you!" she yelled, pulling him towards the 'damn Hokage's office'.

When they got to the office, they...more like Sakura, barged in followed by a more dignified Naruto. He blinked when he saw Tsunade talking with the two newcomers… now screeching at Sakura for barging in.

"What are you doing girl?! Not only did I not call for you, you do not barge in when I'm talking to my guests! They can help us with the problem!" Tsunade yelled.

While Sakura and Tsunade yelled, Naruto turned his attention to the two strangers. The boy instantly jumped to his feet and shook Naruto's hand. "Hello sir. I'm Erhen Furst. Who are you?" he said with a smile that seemed to make it so easy to trust. Naruto blinked at being called sir but shook Erhen's hand. "Um…I'm Naruto Uzumaki. That girl is my girlfriend, Sakura Haruno. Sorry about her. She's a bit upset" he said. Erhen's companion, an indigo haired girl who hadn't moved since they entered, jumped and stiffened. Naruto's eyes were on her in an instant, along with Erhen's. "You gonna introduce yourself, Nata?" Erhen asked her. 'Just like Hinata…' Naruto thought, noticing her hair and name. 'Whoa, stop that Naruto. Hinata died a long time ago. They found her headband and jacket! Forget about her!' He waited for the girl to reply but she stayed silent and stiff. Erhen shrugged. "This is Nata. She's my little sister!" he said proudly.

A confused look passed over Naruto face. Light purple haired, tanned Erhen related to pale, indigo haired Nata? Erhen saw the look on his face and waved a hand. "Not my biological sister. I found her outside my home one day, all beat up. It was freezing and she had no jacket. So I took her in" he said. That made more sense.

"Hey, Tsunade, did you just want me to meet Nata-san and Erhen-san?" Naruto asked, hushing his rowdy girlfriend. Tsunade shook her head. "Yeah, I wanted you to meet them but I also wanted you to hear their mission. You and the other ninja" she said, just as Neji and Tenten walked into the room. They stared at Erhen and Nata for a moment before nodding and shaking their hands. "I'm Neji Hyuuga and this is my fiancée Tenten" he said, introducing them. Nata near fell out of her chair and yelled "You're engaged?! Since when are you engaged?" Everyone just stared at her as Tenten bent to look closer at her, trying to see around the band that covered Nata's eyes. "Do I know you?" she asked. Nata shook her head quickly. Tenten nodded but still looked suspicious.

"Okay…" said Tsunade slowly. "Anyways, as you know, these two are the Golden Snow assassins. Best killers in the Fire Country according to their past bosses. Now, Konoha has hired you to kill Orochimaru and his comrade, Kabuto. I have already showed you pictures so you know what they look like. Tomorrow you, along with Naruto, Sakura, Tenten and Neji, will go out to find and kill them. Now before you say anything, I know assassins work alone but there will be people guarding the two so they will be your offensive. Also…" she got interrupted as the door to her office opened again. In walked Hiashi and Hanabi Hyuuga. Instantly, Neji, Tenten and Naruto stiffened as Erhen wrinkled his nose in confusion.

"Lady Tsunade, we have a request…Who are these people?" he asked, looking at Nata and Erhen. Naruto looked at Nata, sensing something was wrong with the girl, and saw she was more pale than usual. "This is Nata and Erhen Furst. Nata, Erhen, this is Hiashi Hyuuga and his daughter, Hanabi" she said.

Nata was on her feet in an instant, Erhen's arm in her hand. "We have to go Tsunade. Goodbye" she said stiffly, walking past Naruto and out the door, fast and quiet. The blond ninja was frozen; staring at Nata in what looked like disbelief. As the girl had walked past, the sunlight had touched her cheekbone, making a near invisible silvery scar appear for an instant.

'Hinata…?'

Okay people, just warning you beforehand. This story will be moving pretty slowly. I'm still working on Protecter Diamond and it needs to be finished. I will do a chapter every now and again though. Thanks for reading.

Blackiecatty