Author's Note:

Hello my few faithful readers, it has been awhile since I last posted something, and I'm sure of those reading this they were hoping I might update one of my other two stories…that will hopefully be coming soon. Before I begin with this tale of awesomeness I should let all of you know that I have adopted this story from Trisya-Rogan-Draegalia who ran into a roadblock on this story so I offered to continue it after my computer was fixed from a nasty virus.

That has obviously now happened. A number of the ideas in this story are Trisya's and it won't be up until the eighth chapter that I will actually be running under my own power with the story. Without further ado let us begin.

Disclaimer: I, unfortunately, do not own any part of Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, etc, etc... Only the OC's are mine/Trisya's…Trisya's seeing as I have no OC's yet and they're merely on loan for this story.

The Hyuuga heiress sat in the Hokage's office, waiting for the Godaime Hokage to say something. Minutes passed, and Hinata could feel Tsunade studying her. The silenced seemed to thicken, and the docile kunoichi began to twitch anxiously.

"Was there something you needed to tell me, Tsunade-sama?" Hinata asked, her voiced wavering slightly but the young woman refused to let herself stutter again. It had been that fear off misspeaking that had allowed her to let Naruto leave, again.

...

Flashback

...

Uzumaki Naruto stood at Konoha's gate, ready to leave on another mission. His red and black sage cloak flew out behind him in the breeze that flew through the village. Next to his side stood Uchiha Sasuke, the forming missing-nin that had come to his senses after losing an intense battle to the dead last, Naruto. The last Uchiha was talking to Naruto in a carefree manner, so different from the Sasuke he had been in their genin and chuunin days. Naruto laughed before Sasuke walked away with a wave and a crooked smile, heading back into the village.

Hinata stood from a distance, watching her childhood crush prepare to leave once more. The Hyuuga felt herself struck with a sense of foreboding, a sudden fear that this was the mission that her Naruto-kun would no return from. She shook herself to calm her anxious thoughts, trying desperately to reassure herself, telling herself that Naruto was a strong ninja and his nindo wouldn't let himself die. After all, he had promised Sakura-san that he would always come back. For her, Hinata began to think.

While she battled her own emotions, Hinata missed Naruto greet a number of ANBU, all disguised by their animalistic masks. Naruto glanced in Hinata's direction, where he knew she was, before smiling and walking slowly away from the village. Hinata glanced up, just in time to watch her favourite blond disappear over the horizon.

...

End Flashback

...

Her Naruto-kun had never returned from that mission. A part of Hinata had died when she saw two of the ANBU from that mission return, bruised and broken, bearing terrible news. Their future Rokudaime had disappeared, taken in the midst of battle. They had no idea if he was captured or not, injured or unharmed. All they knew was that he was gone.

Staring back at the Godaime, Hinata remembered the day she had found out her Naruto-kun was lost.

...

Flashback

...

Holding a mug of tea, Hinata sat next to Sakura, in her living room, a tradition the two had set up long ago. Each time Naruto was away from the village, either training with unknown masters or on a mission, the two would have lunch every day, waiting for their hero to return. Both knew of the other's love for Naruto, but they both cared about him enough to sit next to each other as they waited for him to come home. They could be as unfriendly as they wanted when Naruto was safe but, while he was away, they had a common enemy: worry.

"Hey, Hina-chan," Sakura greeted the Hyuuga heiress with a sad smile.

"Good morning, Sakura-chan. How are you?"

"The usual." Sakura took a sip from her mug before placing the cup down and folding her legs under her. "I- I don't think he's been gone this long before."

"Neither do I… I was going to ask you about that. I don't think-" Whatever she had been about to say was quickly forgotten as Hinata stared at her mug, gasping at the crack that just formed. Her mouth moved wordlessly as she glanced at Sakura, now bearing a worried frown. Both women stood from the table quickly, sloshing the tea as they sped towards the front door.

Breathless, they arrived at the gate. Hinata watched as two masked ANBU collapsed just outside of the village. She ran towards the pair, her hands already glowing with green energy. She and Sakura got to work healing the injured ninja while others began to crowd near the gate.

The ANBU that Hinata was working over coughed, trying to speak. Hinata tried to quiet him, but he insisted. She was just about to put him to sleep when he said something that made her heart skip a beat.

"He- He's gone. I- I can't- I couldn't-" the ANBU struggled to form a coherent sentence. Hinata felt her heart skip another beat, and another. Her vision grew hazy and she heard a voice so much like her own, screaming in agony.

The Hyuuga felt gravity betray her as she fell forward, crying as she hit the ground. Sakura glanced around her, panicked and trying not to act on an assumption. Tsunade separated herself from the crowd and stopped in her tracks.

In front of her lay two injured ANBU, one in the process of being healed by her student, Haruno Sakura. To the side, by the second ANBU, lay Hyuuga Hinata, writhing as if she were in pain. A painful stab into her heart and Tsunade felt herself fall to her knees, understanding what had happened. He's gone.

...

End Flashback

...

Hinata was blinking away tears, reliving the raw memories. Naruto had disappeared seven months ago, all hope long gone from the village. Now, there was no heir for the Hokage's seat, all capable ninja refusing, trying to give Naruto time to come back. All of Naruto's friends, a very sad number, had been given a chance to search for him in a single mass force. The mission was short, Konoha could not spare its entire ninja force for long, but it sent a disheartening message. They had returned to the area described by the ANBU but had found no trace. The old battlefield was slowly disappearing, the forest healing after the destruction that had been the Konoha ninja's downfall. With Kiba's nose, the group had been able to trace Naruto's path before it disappeared. There was not even a body to bring back to Konoha.

After that failed mission, the Godaime had ordered an end to failed recovery missions with tears in her eyes. It broke Hinata's heart but she had obeyed, always cursing the moment she had let herself shove away her own instinct as she watched Naruto turn away for the last time.

Breaking out of her memories, she returned attention to her surroundings. Tsunade sighed sadly, motioning for Hinata to stand. Obliging, the younger kunoichi got to her feet, confused.

"Actually, you may want to sit." Tsunade shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She walked around her desk before kneeling close to Hinata. "Hinata. I need you to do a favour for me."

"Yes, Godaime-sama?"

"Hinata, for this to work, we need to have at least a semblance of equality. Just call me Tsunade. I'm getting way too old for this job, anyway." Tsunade rubbed her temples, reaching for her trusty bottle of sake, always hidden behind the portrait of herself. She poured two glasses and shoved one into Hinata's hand. "It has been seven months, Hinata."

"I'm fully aware of that, Tsunade-sama," Hinata spoke, proud of her voice for not shaking once.

"I'm only reminding you because I want you to do something for me."

"What is it Tsunade-sama?"

"First, call me Tsunade-sama one more time and I will personally punch you to Suna. I like you, don't make me do that. Second, I'm sending you on a SS mission, if you accept."

"What is this mission, exactly?"

"I can't tell you. I'm not entirely sure myself. All the information I have to give you is a note."

"Who requested the mission?" Hinata asked the Godaime, know both curious and confused. Tsunade responded by holding up what Hinata assumed to be the mission request.

"He signed with a Whirlpool Country clan symbol." The elder woman pointed to the signature. There, in plain black ink was the Uzumaki clan symbol. "Hinata… There is only one Uzumaki left. The others all died when Whirlpool was destroyed. And on top of that, the sender specifically asked for you."

Hinata's eyes scanned the paper quickly. There was no description for the mission, only map coordinates and a side note that clearly said 'Send Hyuuga Hinata'. The kunoichi felt her breathing become ragged as her eyes grew wide. There is only one Uzumaki left. Oh my god, Naruto I will KILL you! Hinata thought, trying to remain conscious.

When she was more or less recovered. The Hyuuga stared at the note then back at Tsunade. Clearing her throat, she made a single comment. "Get me a map, Tsunade. I'm leaving in twenty minutes."

With that, the young woman arose from her seating, downing her glass of sake in one shot and slamming the glass down onto the Hokage's desk and jumping gracefully out of the window. With the ghost of amusement, Tsunade walked over her desk, lifting the glass and smirking lightly at the small indentation left in the once level surface. The Hokage hid her precious sake once more behind her portrait and grabbed a map from one of her shelves before walking to the main gate to wait for Hinata.