I've updated all the chapters so all spelling errors should be solved now if there was any.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Naruto for I lost it in a bet to Kishimoto while I was in Japan... bummer...

Chapter 1: A Mission and a Promise

Naruto Uzumaki smiled as he walked down the streets of his town hidden in the leaves, the great Konoha. He was on his way to the Hokage's tower, upon Tsunade's request. He had returned with Jiraiya a year and a half ago. He began to think back to about a half a year ago to when he confessed his feelings to Sakura Haruno. He was surprised when Sakura said that she loved him back, but he was even more surprised when she loved him as a brother and nothing more. He was now happier than ever now that he had a sister like figure in his life.

As Naruto entered the Hokage's tower he thought of how Sai had now become his best friend and about how Sasuke had disappeared yet again with Orochimaru. He entered the office quietly only to find Tsunade digging through everything on her desk for something. He smiled as he stepped in and shut the door behind him.

"Did you lose something baa-chan?" Naruto snickered as he took a seat in one of the two chairs in front of her desk.

"Yes I did- STOP calling me that..." Tsunade growled as she looked up at Naruto. She had just turned 56 last he remembered but she still looked about 22 to him except for her eyes. Her eyes had become stressed lately as if she had something on her mind.

"You wished to see me?" he asked happily.

"Yes... I have a mission for Hinata Hyuuga and I wish for you to deliver the information to her at the head house..." She sighs as he frowned. "It's a special mission where the two of you will leave... You Naruto, Hinata and your instructors' pupil... you will meet you instructor tomorrow at dawn... Don't be late; they hate it when people are tardy..." Tsunade laughs lightly at Naruto's wide grin.

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Naruto came out of the tower about 20 minutes later; He had bugged Tsunade for some information on Sakura, Sai, and Kakashi's missions just to know if they were ok before he left. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he started on his way to the Hyuuga mansion. He groaned as he thought about the mission.

"Why'd I have to go on another training mission... I mean I was just on one not too long ago..." he sighs and looks around at everyone.

'Who cares Kit?' Kyuubi asks. The fox had been talking to him a lot lately but Naruto didn't mind, they were starting to get along finally. 'It's a chance to get stronger than anyone else, you should take the opportunities your given. So don't complain..' Kyuubi growls in a low deep voice.

'You don't understand... I want to stay in the Village a little longer, I mean I haven't even been home for 2 years and they're booting me out again.' Naruto growled back at the fox in frustration.

'Well Kit look on the bright side... I mean at least you'll be with someone you know and a girl in fact...' Kyuubi growls playfully 'I mean you can't with that pink haired girl, Why not find another?' He says almost as if he hated Sakura.

'But I could never... I mean its Hina-chan, yeah I mean... It's nice that she'll be there so I can talk to her but I don't think she likes me, she can't even look me in the eye!' Naruto stops in the middle of the street and looks back at the Hokage tower.

'Kit just think it over!' And with that Kyuubi disappeared into the back of Naruto's mind.

"Yeah..." Naruto whispers and approaches the Hyuuga mansion. As he approaches the guards block the gate. Naruto stops in front of them with a small frown on his face. They blocked the gate again was all he could think. "Let me in." he said as politely as he could even though it had no appeal to the men.

"You're not permitted to pass boy." One of the guards growled as he adjusted a kunai in his hand.

"Go home demon, Your NOT welcome here." the other guard growled. Naruto got furious at what he had said but remained calm, he knew he should be used to it but it still made him mad that they only knew him through Kyuubi and not for him being Naruto Uzumaki.

"I have a mission for Hinata Hyuuga from the Hokage. Now let me pass." Naruto said while trying to remain his calm.

"Tell us the mission and we shall direct it to Hinata..." One of the guards said as the other began to get paper and a pen but he stopped as Naruto spoke again.

"That's not my orders; I'm to deliver it to her not you... It's not the same and I hate to disobey orders..." Naruto growled slightly as they guards went back to protecting the gate. It pissed him off that they wouldn't let him in for even one second.

"Let him pass…" A voice came from behind the guards. The guards turned and moved aside to reveal Neji Hyuuga standing there.

"But Neji-san -" one starts as Neji cleared his throat. Neji had started to warm up to Naruto and became more friendly toward him but he was still kinda cold.

"Come Naruto-san I'll direct you to where Hinata-sama is..." Neji begins to walk in to the compound with Naruto following close behind.

"Thanks for getting me in Neji; I was lucky you happened to walk by..." Naruto smiled at the Hyuuga brightly.

"No problem... but Naruto..." Neji stops in front of the garden with his back still to Naruto. Naruto stops behind him in confusion.

"What is it Neji? Something wrong?" Naruto asked in confusion but when they Hyuuga talked Naruto's face warmed at the worry of the Hyuuga.

"Naruto is Hinata leaving the village for a while?" Neji asked, a bit of worry in his voice.

"Yeah, she'll be leaving for a year or two... Why? You worried?" Naruto smiled but his smile changed to a frown. The Hyuuga looked to the garden, is face serious but worried. "You are worried aren't you?" Naruto asked seriously.

"Yeah... I don't know why but I am... I have a feeling that something bad might happen or something will hurt her... Your going on the mission aren't you Naruto?" Neji asked and he smiled slightly as Naruto nodded his head. "That's good... Could you do me a favor?"

"Sure whatever you want Neji." Naruto smiled happily and got a bigger smile from Neji.

"Could you protect Hinata-sama? I won't be there to do it so could you do it for me?"

"Sure Neji, As long as you can help protect the village in return." Naruto put his hand out to Neji. Neji looked from Naruto's outstretched hand to Naruto's face. Neji took his hand firmly and shook it.

"Deal... But just make sure she comes home safe and sound or I may not be able to keep my promise..." Neji walked away. Naruto smiled after him but as soon as Neji went around the corner Naruto hurried after him, not wanting to be alone in this house. Neji stopped in front of two big wooden doors. "She's in there; she's been in that library for most of the day now. I don't know what she's doing though..."

"Thanks Neji for all the help." Naruto nodded

"I'll see you later then..." Neji walked away leaving Naruto alone in the hall. The house was silent and it kinda gave Naruto the chills. Naruto slowly turned the handle; he slipped inside the room and shut the door behind him. He examined the room to find tons of bookshelves with scrolls of techniques and skills of many different clans.

Along the sides near the bookshelves were low tables with cushions for seats. In the middle of the room was a big long table and there was scrolls piled on it everywhere. He slowly began to approach the table to find a sleeping Hyuuga on it. Hinata had her head resting on top of an open scroll that she must've been reading before she fell asleep. She looked so peaceful, she had grown her hair out like Sakura but she still had the same style of it from years before. Naruto smiled at her, she had been studying techniques again and he knew she would pay for it someday. But for now he slowly approached her.

He was ready for this mission and he needed Hinata, the only one who believed in him, she was to be his new teammate.