Hinata woke up with a yawn and a stretch. Momentarily forgetting where she was. Then she opened her eyes. And everything that happened the day before came flooding back to her instantly. She had been kidnapped by Itachi.

She glanced around the room and found him sitting on a window seal. He was sleeping, but she wasn't going to try to run. She didn't stand a chance with the other members outside and his Sharingan. But there was something almost appealing to her looking at him with the dawn lights behind him.

"There is food on the table next to you. Eat."

Hinata jumped and looked up at him. Then she turned to the side table and found a tray of food sitting on it. But after all that happened, she just wasn't hungry. She bowed her head and closed her eyes. "Thank you, but I am not hungry."

Itachi opened his eyes and looked over at her. She looked pitiful. "You need to eat."

Hinata kept her eyes downcast. "I would have an appetite if I was home."

Itachi turned and looked back out the window. He had no clue why Leader had asked him to get her and watch her. But orders were orders. "Look. My orders are to keep you safe and alive. If you don't eat, I will force it down your throat."

Hinata gasped and her eyes went wide. She reached over and picked it up. As she started to eat she couldn't stop the tears from falling from her eyes. "What is going to happen to me?"

"I have no clue. That is up for Leader to decide."

Hinata looked up at him as she swallowed a bit of food. Only just now realizing how much he really did look like Sasuke. But different at the same time. And yet, it really bothered her, that even though she should feel nothing but loathing for him after what he has done to her, but there was just something about him. Something that made her feel like he wasn't as evil as she thought.

x

Hiyashi gasped and jumped to his feet. "What!?"

"That is what we were told My Lord."

Hiyashi glared as he ran past the servant and headed straight for Tsunade's office. He had to know if it was true. Praying that it wouldn't be.

When he reached her office he found Naruto, Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, Sakura, Kurenai and Kakashi. But what really told him that what his servant had told him was true. He had not seen those same red eyes since the night that the nine tailed fox showed up at the village. The one that Naruto housed. "It is true then."

Tsunade looked up and sighed. By his ashen expression she could tell what was coming next. And just as he was about to speak she glared. "You can just forget it! You are not going!"

Hiyashi glared at her. "Why not! She is my daughter after all!"

Tsunade glared right back at him. She had her reasons for not letting him go. "While for any other rescue mission you would be more than qualified. But because it is your daughter is why you are not going on this one."

"That doesn't make sense!" He started to take a step to argue his point with her, but stopped when he heard Naruto say his name. He met Naruto's gaze and was rendered speechless. Even though he had the eyes of the fox right now, he could still see Naruto inside them. And there was something about them that he couldn't explain.

Naruto bowed his head. "I asked Hinata to meet me at the training field today. Every intention on hopefully making her the happiest girl in the village by telling her that I had fallen in love with her. It is my fault that she was anywhere outside of the village alone. But, I swear to you Lord Hiyashi. I will bring her back."

Hiyashi just stared at him as he started to turn to the door. "I sent word to Neji about his cousin. Please Naruto. Let him go with you."

Tsunade glared. "Do I look like I am in charge here? I think that is what it means because I am sitting at the desk. Naruto can't add anyone to the mission!"

Naruto only nodded then went on out the door. He was a Jonin now and was heading this mission to find Hinata. He could let anyone he wanted to join in the mission. And Neji would be useful.

He had no sooner walked out the door when he saw Neji coming to a stop in front of him. "Really are fast aren't you?"

Neji had grown close to his cousin after Naruto beat him when they were children at their first Chunin exam. So when he heard that she had been taken by the Akatsuki, he thought it a cruel trick. But judging by Naruto's face, it was truth. With a face set hard as stone he met Naruto's red eyes. "I am going."

Naruto smiled as he let his head fall down and walked around him. "Do you really think that I would have left you behind Neji? I know how close the two of you are now. Wouldn't dream of it." Then he and the others fled out. Each getting what they needed then meeting at the Village Gate. They would save Hinata and bring her home. Killing any Akatsuki member that gets in the way.

x

Hinata sat on the bed with her knees in her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Starring at the tops of them. She still held out hope for a rescue. She had a feeling that Naruto was going to tell her how he really felt about her when she got there. And with all the attention he had been paying her she thought that her dreams had come true. She just knew that after she was late he would have went looking for her.

Then she remembered how Itachi had left her headband on a piece of ripped Akatsuki cloak! A sudden fear tore through her entire body as she snapped her wide eyes up to Itachi. "I know why I was the one you kidnapped!"

"Why is that?"

"To use to lure Naruto out! Anyone who knows anything about Naruto knows that he wouldn't leave a comrade in the hands of the enemy."

"That is a interesting point and something I will remember. However my dear that is not why you are here I am afraid."

Itachi turned and saw the hologram of Leader. "More orders?"

Leader looked from Hinata to Itachi. "Another group of rouge ninja were spotted by Zetsu coming this way. I am sure they just think that if they can take down the Akatsuki they will earn a name for themselves. However, my plans for her will not be interrupted. Take her and leave. Wait at location B for further orders."

He saw the hope that sprang into the girls eyes at the mention of ninja coming. Probably thought that he was lying about them being rouge so she wouldn't know they were Leaf Ninja. "I see the hope. It doesn't matter. My plans won't change for you."

Hinata looked up into eyes more evil than Itachi's or Sasuke's. To her they would even rival Orochimaru's. "What are your plans for me?"

Leader laughed as he closed his eyes. "You will know what they are soon enough." Then turned his now open eyes to Itachi. "Go now. The rest are to delay them here or kill them. Whatever happens in the six hours that it will take you to get to location B."

"And Zetsu is going with us?"

"Yes. He will aid you if it comes to that."

Itachi nodded as he watched Leader disappear. He stood and walked past Hinata grabbing her hand as he walked on out the door. Only to run into Zetsu. Though he didn't know what bothered him more right now. The fact that this freak was looking at her like his next meal or that he wanted to strike him down for the thought.

He walked on past him, moving Hinata so that he was between the two of them. "Leader said that you are to aid me if something does happen. I will stay with her and if we run into any trouble you will stay and handle it."

Zetsu nodded and starred at the girl. "I understand. Leader has already informed me."

Itachi glared then turned and walked on. In a lower voice so that Hinata was the only one that would hear him, he sighed. "I know that you don't want to be here. But, stay with me and never let yourself around him alone."

"Why?"

"Cannibal."