Kirigakure: A Change of Heart.

Introduction: Ao killed her relative but for the sake of peace, Hinata has no choice but to go to Kirigakure to help save the Byakugan thief from death.

This story contains many romantic pairings and is dedicated to my friends SS, Nina, Ayiti Princesse and Destiny Blitz. I hope you like this story - I have certainly enjoyed writing it.

Wishing you happy reading, anoldfan xxx

Chapter One.

Knock-knock. A light tapping was made at the door to the large office and he knew from its sound exactly who it was.

"Ah! Hinata! Come in." Beamed a very happy Naruto. He had been appointed as the 6th Hokage last week and although Lady Tsunande was helping him in getting to grips with all the responsibilities he now had, he was in at the deep end and loving every moment of it. The harder things seemed, the harder he worked and the more satisfied he became.

Hinata came in and walked up to the large desk.

"Hokage-Sama…" Addressed Hinata.

Naruto was standing up, his arms behind his head and the Cheshire cat grin on his face as large as a crescent moon. He wore a red coat with a thick black ban around the bottom of it, with the words "6th Hokage" written on the back in large orange characters. Instead of his tracksuit, he wore a pair of black trousers with an orange short-sleeved shirt with black trimming around the ends of the shirt and sleeves. He then nodded his head towards the empty chair in front of his desk and watched Hinata gently nod back and sit down into it.

He then removed his arms from behind his head and proceeded to sit into his chair so he could face her easier. She had cut her hair so it now just touched her shoulders and instead of her purple jacket and navy trousers, she wore deep navy trousers and a white gui jacket with dark navy/purple around the bottom of it. In the middle, on the back of her jacket she now wore the ying-yang symbol. Since the war, she had taken up many ways in which to hone her skills (including Tai Chi, which seemed to suit her nature and greatly improved both her fighting and homeopathy skills and the reason why she chose to wear the symbol). She had now become a teacher to the 13 children of her clan and even when her father handed over control of the clan to her sister and Neji, he was clearly proud of his eldest's achievements. She had done well and her sister was extremely happy with her progress and skill.

Naruto was always struck by how amazing this lady was whenever he saw her. She tried hard to avoid his gaze and smile by looking straight ahead of her at the window to his left-hand side. Thinking how confident she now was, he looked down at his desk thinking back to the young shy girl he once knew and knowing how much she had changed now, confident in what he was going to ask her to do.

"Hinata…" he paused for breath before continuing."… I have been given a request by the Mizukage. It is extremely hard to even consider helping her with this specific mission … BUT … it is very important that IT IS accepted by us. If we help the Mizukage, this could mean amazing things for our village and our ongoing treaty… "He paused again and briefly looked down, biting his lip.

She watched the Hokage as he attempted to sugar-coat what he was going to have to ask and she patiently waited. She knew it was going to bad and sadly, she was right.

"Hinata, its concerning her bodyguard, Ao. He needs your help." Naruto looked at her and prepared himself to be hit with a torrent of verbal or physical abuse … but it didn't happen. This wasn't Tsunande who was angry at him for stopping her gambling or Sakura for forgetting their dinner arrangement … it was Hinata. She flinched as he spoke the man's name and he felt awful. Like he had hit her and was watching her sting from the impact. That felt worse than her yelling at him and all that was left between them for a few seconds was a painful silence.

"I'm …" She paused for a moment, trying to stop her mind from jumping from thought to thought and compose herself again. But… Oh Kami! That man killed her and then took her eyes! Her death was felt across EVERY member of the family and now the only time contact has been made is not to offer an apology or condolence BUT for a favour!

"Nar-Hokage! Ho-Hokage- Sama…" She was stuttering so much and Naruto felt totally disgusted at himself. He couldn't let her continue and blurted out an apology.

"Please forgive me!" He closed his eyes and bowed his head. "I really hate hurting you." Ao had not only killed a Hyuuga main branch member … the sole daughter of the Elder, the current clan leader's sister, Hinata's Aunt but stole her eyes from her too. The one then considered sacred to the entire Hyuuga Clan. There was never any information to show even how the defeated Hyuuga had died. Merely through intelligence gathered at 'The Five Kage Conference' that the Byakugan was acquired "in battle." This was an incredibly difficult thing to have to ask his … friend to have to do. He wished he could have asked ANYONE else to do this but only she could do this. No other Hyuuga would be able to successfully complete the mission except her. "Hinata, Ao is dying and the Mizukage has requested for the Hyuuga to help."

He raised his eyes to her face and noticed she was now returning his gaze and not blushing. In fact, rather than blood going to her face, it seemed to be draining from it. She looked dazed and did not reply. Inside, she was seething with anger and smirking slightly at the idea of the murderer dying and needing "the Hyuuga to help". Oh, they'd want to help alright. And that is when she realised why he had asked for her to come.

"Hinata, I can only trust you for this assignment. I could not ask any other person to do this but you because you are strong enough to deal with this and to not create an international incident. You have an intrinsic knowledge of your clan's properties, as well as good medicinal skills. Your natural therapeutic remedies have helped Sakura amazingly throughout her 1st trimester.

This Ao," Naruto spoke the name and it left a bad taste in his mouth. "Has expressed guilt at what had happened though he refuses to tell anyone the details. I am confident in no-one else being able to take control of the situation except you. Many would simply kill him upon seeing him… I need you, Hinata. We all do. Do what is needed to find out the truth with damaging him in any way."

"I need you, Hinata". Her eyes closed for one moment. She had wanted to hear him say those words to her for so long and even though she knew nothing could happen between them now, she allowed herself to enjoy Naruto say them to her. She then found her sought composure quickly, opened her eyes and again, looked at her Hokage. Her Naruto was never her Naruto, but her Hokage-Sama was her Hokage-Sama. Her Hokage needed her. That should be enough for her.

Hinata looked at him long and hard for a few more seconds and then looking away, tried to make herself decide what to do. She thought hard about her family and what they would be feeling and thinking. A thing like this could destroy them if handled badly by anyone.

"Hokage-Sama, I would like you to ask my elders first. I will do as you request, but on the condition that they support you. This will be very hard for them to accept but for the sake of our Village, I am sure they will agree and will do my best to support what you have asked me to do."

When did Hinata sound so strong? He still was shocked at how much the bluenette in front of him had changed. She may no longer be the heiress to the Hyuuga clan but she spoke with such authority that Naruto felt how much the Hyuuga Elders must have regretted not making her their leader. She looked down at her hands and started to play with her fingers… that made him relax and smile. It was like seeing the old Hinata he once knew resurfacing, though he knew her well enough that he had just asked to complete an incredibly difficult task. But there really was no-one else he could ask or he would have spared her doing this. She was the only member of the Hyuuga Clan with the medical knowledge, clan knowledge and sheer moral strength to be able to do this. Since Sakura's pregnancy, she was unable to even walk to the hospital without being sick and needing Sasuke's help - he could not risk her and the baby. Any other Hyuuga would accept the mission as an attempt to assassinate the murderer of their family member and his blatant showing off of the Byakugan he had made the whole Clan unify in their hatred of him.

"Hinata, I will arrange for a meeting with your family's Elders when they are next available to discuss this. Thank you for supporting us all and understanding."

Hinata merely nodded, still playing with her fingers for a moment longer before standing up, bowing to her Hokage and leaving without making eye contact. Her heart was heavy and she hated the fact that as much as she did not want to help this man … she couldn't refuse. She couldn't let down her village or her once Naruto-Kun … never.