Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Sakura walked silently through the woods on their way to The Village Hidden in the Midst. Naruto and Hinata walked hand in hand, while Sasuke and Sakura merely walked side by side, hardly acknowledging the other. "I hope we find Kakashi Sensei," Sakura smiled. Naruto looked at back at her, giving her a glare, Sasuke did the same. "What?" she asked innocently. Hinata giggled quietly as Sakura's stupidity. "We're in enemy territory right now," Sasuke hissed. Sakura stared at him as if to say "excuse me!" Suddenly, Hinata stopped, causing Sasuke to bump into her.

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

"Someone is near," she whispered.

"Like who?" Sakura asked clutching Sasuke's arm.

Hinata shook her head, "I don't know."

"Let's just keep walking," Sasuke mumbled grabbing Sakura's hand and dragging her forward.

"I wouldn't if I were you," a voice said behind them. They all turned suddenly, Sasuke and Naruto pulling out shurikens ready to fight. As soon as they recognized the stranger, they gasped dropping their weapons.

"Told you," Neji smirked.

"Neji, what are you doing here?" Hinata asked.

"Protecting you," he answered.

"That's my job!" Naruto hissed.

Sasuke grabbed Sakura and Hinata pulling them away from Neji and Naruto, "We should stay out of this."

"Why? Are they going to fight?" Sakura asked.

"No, we aren't," Neji answered hearing her question.

"Tell us why you are here," Naruto demanded.

"To protect Hinata, I told you!" Neji glared.

"Protect me? From what?" Hinata asked stepping forward.

"Not what, who," Neji corrected, "Your father is after you."

"What? Why? I'm confused," she asked.

"He wants to kill you, it's the only way your little sister can become heir."

"But we're looking for Kakashi," Sakura burst out.

Neji looked at her, "Find him, quick, the more protection Hinata has the better."

"We think he's in The Village Hidden in the Midst," Naruto said taking Hinata's hand and pulling her away from Neji.

"Let go then," Neji ordered.

Three days later, the group was almost at the village. Naruto and Neji had fought over Hinata the whole way, causing Sasuke to use his Fireball Jitsu to break them up. Hinata and Sakura walked together in the back of the group, away from the fighting guys.

"So when did you and Neji work things out?" Sakura asked.

"About a year after he nearly killed me at the training battles," Hinata answered.

"So, you two are like friends then?"

Hinata smiled and nodded, "Kind of, we're working on getting the branches of our clan to like each other."

"That must be hard."

"Kind of," she whispered looking up at the still fighting guys.

Sakura looked up at them too, "Think they will ever grow up?"

Hinata laughed, "Doubt it. Hey look, we're here!"

"Naruto! Sasuke! We're here!" Sakura called.

The guys stopped.

"Finally!" Naruto cried out, "Neji was getting on my nerves."

"I don't like you either," Neji mumbled.

"Can you stop arguing, the sooner we find Kakashi, the sooner we can head home," Sasuke yelled.

"Chill out Sasuke," Sakura smiled walking up to her boyfriend.

"He's right though, we need to find Kakashi," Neji agreed grabbing Hinata and walking her inside the village gates, Naruto running after him.

Sasuke and Sakura rolled their eyes and followed the others.

"We found you!" Sakura squealed hugging Kakashi tightly. Sasuke blushed with embarrassment at his girlfriend's behavior as he pulled her off their old sensei, "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Kakashi laughed, "it's nice to see you all again."

"We need your help," Neji said taking over.

"Hold on, why are you here Neji? Hinata?" Kakashi asked.

Naruto grinned, "Hinata is my girlfriend."

Hinata smiled, "Neji is here to protect me."

Kakashi smiled, "I see, well before we discuss why you visiting, I can't believe how you've all changed."

"Isn't Sasuke handsome?" Sakura asked, googly-eyeing Sasuke.

"Um, then again, some things don't change," Kakashi corrected himself.

"We're dating now, so I guess it's not as annoying as it used to be," Sasuke explained.

Kakashi smiled, "I thought you two would end up together."

"Can we talk about protecting Hinata now?" Neji asked butting in.

"Alright, alright," Kakashi smiled, "what can I help you with?"

"We need you to join us on the way back to The Village Hidden in the Leaves and stay with us until Hinata is safe from her father," Neji explained. Naruto stepped in taking Hinata's hand, glaring at Neji. Kakashi studied his old team member's faces for what seemed liked ages.

"Well?" Sakura asked.

"Ok, I'll help you," he smiled.

"Thank you, "Hinata smiled.

"We'll leave tomorrow morning, for tonight you will stay with me," Kakashi said leading them to his home.

"You're safe now," Naruto whispered to Hinata.

She smiled, "I hope so, and I'm still in shock from finding out that my father wants me dead."

"You'll be fine," Neji said rushing past them.

Naruto looked into Hinata's worrying eyes, "He's right."

To be continued...