First I'd like to say thank you for the reviews, favs and follows! I honestly didn't expect even that reaction from everyone, so thank you, again for making me feel accepted as new fanfic author.

Now chapter 1 really dove into the story with little explanation so this chapter slows things down to do some character development and a little foreshadowing, I hope everyone will still find it enjoyable. On a side note digital cookies to anyone who can guess or knows the connection between Ronin's partner's name and the anime.

I do not own Naruto or anyone in his world, but I fully claim my OC's. Now on with the show.

Chapter 2

Watching the masked man move away from her, Hinata was still unable to relax. She was just rescued by Ronin that thought alone astounded her. The rumors surrounding his name stated that no one who went against him survived. As far as she knew he also never saved anyone before. So why did he save me? She shifted to place her body as close to the tree as possible, tucking one foot under her while drawing the knee of the opposite leg close to her torso. She did this in case the need arose to stand quickly, not that she truly felt capable of moving quickly in her current state.

Details that she'd overlooked before stood out starkly. Of course those details had been unimportant when her main focus was escape and survival. Adrenaline was a funny thing like that; it could increase one's strength and speed in times of danger but had the nasty habit of blocking out necessary details. As the adrenaline rush faded the fact that nearly every part of her body ached and the dizziness she awoke with had only gotten worse was very clear. Will there ever come a time today when I am not dizzy? Shifting her eyes back to her shoulder to note that the material of her gown was quickly becoming soaked in blood she knew the answer to her question.

Glancing down she saw that the pale cream colored gown she wore, which hadn't provided much cover before, was definitely failing to do so now. It had fallen to mid-thigh but now that the material was torn to create a make-shift bandage it barely covered her butt. Add the fact that the gown was sheer and, thanks to the hole in her left shoulder, covered in blood the material now clung damply to her torso as well.

Hinata shuddered at the source of the blood on her right side, a regrettable fact. She did not regret that Gorou was dead or even the method of which that death had occurred. Instead she regretted the fact that until she was able to change she was forced to suffer the blood of that vile man on her body. She mentally shrugged thoughts of modesty, and Gorou's blood, away as they were unimportant in comparison to the potential threat standing mere feet away.

Keeping her head tilted down Hinata raised her eyes in an attempt to watch both men covertly, she studied them noting that Ronin was tall, possibly six foot. He would seem to tower over her diminutive height of five foot three inches. This would give him greater reach in a fight between the two, meaning she would have to be careful to stay out of that range or move quickly enough to land her blows before retreating a safe distance. He was clearly well-muscled, a fact she'd become aware of as he'd carried her. Of course, she'd immediately noted his blue eyes resting above his mask it was something no one could miss for those eyes were cold and detached promising death to any who dared to look upon them.

What she hadn't noted before was that the man had blonde hair reaching just past the collar of his jacket, though sections of it stood up at odd angles as though trying to escape his head any way possible. She wondered if this assassin wore a mask because his face was hideous, thus giving her the answer as to why his hair would wish to escape his head. If that was the case then she felt it would be a shame to waste a body like his on a hideous face. Who cares what his face looks like it certainly won't matter when he decides to kill me. He could be bucktoothed or covered in warts and it wouldn't matter. She tried to stem her curiosity over the appearance of a man she should hate. She was unable to garner any other useful information as the mask and heavy coat he wore revealed little.

She despised hired assassins, men with no moral code, whose ethics swayed depending upon the amount of money they were paid. Yet she couldn't dredge much hate for the man who had saved her life. She had to admit from what she could discern he had a body to die for, literally. But who was he; that was the one hundred million ryo question. Oh yes, the man before her had accumulated a hefty bounty in the bingo book. Even the slightest information regarding his identity could gain someone a small fortune. She could understand why he would be determined to keep his identity secret, though she couldn't help but find herself curious about him.

Shifting her gaze to his partner she was able to garner necessary details about the more talkative man as he appeared unconcerned with keeping his identity secret. Hinata noted that he was several inches shorter than Ronin putting him around five foot six, or seven, inches. She wouldn't have to worry too much about his reach in a fight as the difference in height between them wasn't that great. He also possessed a smaller, though muscular, frame than his legendary partner. In fact he seemed to be almost an opposite of Ronin with brown hair that barely reached his collar, though notably more subdued than his partner's, and dark brown eyes. He wore all black and unlike his partner no jacket.

Hinata continued to watch them as she began to feel the effects of blood loss rushing over her. She needed to stay alert but was having difficulty.

The two men stood five feet away from her and yet she couldn't tell what they were saying or even pick up the sound of their voices. Ronin stood like a statue with his left side towards her, perhaps to keep her in his peripheral at all times. He won't give his back to a potential threat, even in my condition, she noted. His arms hung loosely at his sides though occasionally she noticed his fingers would flex as though preparing to form a fist. His partner seemed to be doing all of the talking, though it was hard to tell with the mask he wore. They're probably debating on how to kill me, she drew a deep breath preparing for any possibility.

Ronin couldn't believe his poor luck, he knew going into this job that the kidnap victim was a Hyuga but did it have to be her.

Upon seeing Hinata inside that cave his chest had ached with memories of the past best forgotten. Too many years had passed and he was a different man now. He'd become so cold inside that even the emotion he felt upon seeing her again was fleeting before shifting into his usual state of calm detachment. Despite that detachment it had been difficult not to react when Gorou had used his earth spear jutsu to pin her to the floor. After years of hearing various gasps and screams of pain or mercy in his profession, he had considered himself immune to such things. Yet he was unable to stand her cry of pain as the spear had struck her shoulder.

Assessing her again as Takeshi spoke in a babbling rant, a common occurrence, he felt anger attempt to stir inside him at the site of her bruised and beaten body. She had always been gentle and soft-spoken, never one to be cruel to anyone especially him and the thought of her being put through so much abuse bothered him. Hinata didn't deserve to be treated in such a way. She should have been secure within the arms of her family, protected by the powerful Hyuga clan and their all-seeing eyes. He couldn't help but be curious as to how two idiots like Gorou and Daichi had managed to kidnap her from her room in the middle of the night.

"Yo, you listening to me?" Takeshi snapped his fingers near Ronin's face. A gesture Hinata had clearly seen causing her to tense, she clearly expected a violent reaction from him. Turning to blankly stare Takeshi down, he merely quirked an eyebrow as a signal that spoke volumes to the younger man, Do you really think I am capable of being that oblivious? Do not do that again. Takeshi merely shrugged unconcerned over the non-verbal communication he'd clearly understood.

"Look I know we never back out of a job but I say we've done our good deed she's alive with her eyes still intact, let's just leave her here," Takeshi spoke in a low voice once again.

Despite wearing a mask and maintaining a silent stoicism, most of the time, Takeshi was still capable of picking up on every nuance of his moods and personality. It was a testament to their years together and the friendship they'd developed. "I see the way you're looking at her and this can only lead to trouble."

Ronin usually tried to speak as little as possible during a job; he honestly felt no need to converse with people he planned to kill or might kill in the future. But for obvious reasons he chose to make an exception on this one.

"Get over there", was all he said while pointing in the direction of the Hyuga heiress. As always his voice was low, and to his ears rough, after all it had changed in more ways than one over the years. Ronin thought of the scar he bore across his neck it was a consequence of a poor decision regarding a woman; one would think he'd have learned his lesson by now. Viciously forcing those thoughts to the back of his mind and slamming a door on them he watched in mild humor as Takeshi gave an over-exaggerated sigh while turning to do as we was told.

Before he could get within three feet of the gentle looking creature she sprung to her feet poised to strike. Not wanting Takeshi to hurt Hinata out of instinct born from his training, Ronin rushed between them and glared down at her. His intervention appeared unnecessary however as he watched her eyes roll to the back of her head before she fainted. Ronin was quick to catch her up into his arms before she could fall to the ground. Clearly the blood loss and her captor's drugs had taken a toll. Laying her down gently he removed his coat to drape it over her.

"Careful now, one might confuse you for a gentleman", Takeshi's smart mouth interjected.

"Shut up, before I decide I'm tired of your constant nagging, I swear you're worse than a woman", Ronin snapped back at him. With Hinata unconscious he felt he could speak freely with Takeshi.

"Yeah, yeah," was Takeshi's only response. He moved forward quickly to grip the neck of Hinata's gown only to have Ronin catch both hands by the wrist. Unfazed he glanced up, "Uh what are you doing?"

Ronin knew that in order to properly dress the one inch in diameter hole going through the Hyuga's shoulder her upper body would need to be stripped. After watching the amount of fear she'd displayed when Takeshi approached he actually felt some semblance of shame for not trying to alleviate that fear. "Give me the kit, I'll do it."

"Hoping for a quick peak boss? I know it's been a while since yo-", Takeshi's next words were cut off as Ronin swatted him upside the head again, hard. Without commenting or reacting Takeshi turned to draw the kit of medical supplies out of the pouch he carried at his lower back. "You knew her didn't you? From before you left?"

Ronin snatched the kit out of his hands to begin gathering the necessary ointments and bandages. Without look up he said, "Go scout the area." He hadn't wanted to go back down that road even with Takeshi.

Takeshi's face hardened from jokester to the serious assassin, "Sometimes I don't know why I'm your friend, Naruto," with that he rushed off to do as he'd been told.

Left alone with the unconscious Hinata, he released a sigh hoping that it would help calm him. Allowing someone to know his true identity was a mistake, a liability, but he couldn't regret the years he'd known Takeshi. His partner knew the potential risk of being captured and tortured for information on him, but he didn't care.

Naruto moved his jacket to just below her breasts, the material of her gown clung to her body providing an enticing sight to his eyes. He struggled to remain detached knowing he'd have to remove the garment to treat her shoulder. Moving quickly he tore the material away to reveal her breasts. Oh, Kami.. They were perfect, creamy white and tipped with the palest pink nipples. He squeezed his eyes shut as he felt his body hardening at the sight, taking another deep breath he opened his eyes focusing on the bleeding hole in her shoulder.

He cleaned as much of the blood from around the wound as possible before applying a topical ointment. Unfortunately he had to endure the feeling of those perfect breasts pressing into his forearm as he sat her up to apply the same treatment to the other side of the wound, on her back. His breathing was ragged by the time he began carefully applying pads of gauze to both sides of the wound and wrapped the bandage around her shoulder then across her chest to keep the gauze in place. Once the bandage was complete he struggled to move his jacket to slip her arms into it without revealing more of her body. The lower half of her gown was still wrapped around her hips and that was where he intended to leave it, he did not need the additional thoughts such an image would bring him.

Finally getting her body covered, he laid her back down gently before beginning to pace and wait for Takeshi's return. Wandering over to the tree Hinata had previously rested against he slipped his mask off feeling that if he didn't he would surely suffocate. Running one hand across his face and over the back of his neck he attempted to settle back into his typical calm, detached demeanor.

The mask was back in place by the time Takeshi returned as he leaned against the tree in a mock stance of relaxation with his arms and feet crossed. "Well," he questioned.

"There's no one around, but we should get moving. So let's wake her ass up."

Naruto held out a hand to halt Takeshi, "No, let her rest I'll carry her to a safer location."

"You're attracted to her." It was more a statement than a question.

"I'm not blind or dead, yet," he said drily. "Can you honestly tell me you aren't attracted to her?"

"No, I sure can't. I told you she's a hot piece of ass, one I wouldn't mind having under, over or in front of me for a few hours" Takeshi replied crossing his arms over his chest as Naruto growled at him. He pinned Naruto with a glare, "But I know you, you're never this.. gentle or considerate." He said those adjectives as though they were offensive to him in every way.

"She's obviously beautiful, its lust and nothing more. Trust me it'll pass." He moved from the tree to pick up Hinata, careful to ensure his jacket continued to cover her.

"You sure it will," Takeshi questioned glancing pointedly between Naruto's face and the girl lying unconscious in his arms.

"We're done here," He replied turning to leap into the trees so they could get out of the area and to a safer location.

Holding her in his arms again was distracting, he didn't remember her being so small but then he hadn't been much taller than her before he'd left the village. He felt as though he could easily crush her in his arms now if he wasn't careful.

Naruto began to allow memories of his time in the village to surface, something usually avoided. Back then he'd always considered her pretty and full of grace; her gentle nature had always stood out the most to him as it made him feel the need to protect her from the harsher realities of their world. But now glancing down to make sure she was still unconscious he had to admit that she now possessed the beauty that had only been hinted out in her younger appearance. She'd let her hair dark indigo hair grow out and it'd only enhanced the features of her delicate face.

After traveling for several hours Naruto and Takeshi came to a stop in a small clearing that was surrounded by such dense trees they knew it'd be hard to spot them once the sun went down. "This should be a good enough spot for now. I'll scout the area just in case. Set up camp and keep your distance from her, remember she's a gentle fist user so don't drop your guard." Naruto told Takeshi as she settled her down and flashed away.

Takeshi shook his head, he's acting like he just met me or something. He knows I never drop my guard, with a worried glance in the direction his friend had disappeared he thought, I have a bad feeling about this job.

For the second time, in what she hoped was still the same day, Hinata awoke to unfamiliar surroundings. Fantastic, this is becoming a habit. Except this time didn't seem as foreboding this time she awoke outside with daylight upon her, laying on a bed roll reminiscent of her days as a genin of her village. She was lying on her right side and could feel a weight pressing down on her. Unsure of what the weight was or the situation she'd open her eyes to find, Hinata attempted to maintain a steady breathing pattern.

Recalling everything that had happened, especially Ronin, she felt her heart jolt in fear then seemingly lodge in her throat. She needed to figure out what was going on, but before she could do anything a voice rang out.

"You're safe. So there's no need to pretend to sleep or plot some ill-conceived escape." She thought that voice belonged to Ronin's partner. Choosing to face the situation head on she took a deep breath and opened her eyes sitting up. She quickly discovered that she was wearing a long black coat, Ronin's coat, and judging from the weight it was lined with armor that would help thwart all but the very sharpest of blades. Suits of armor fell out of fashion because the added protection wasn't worth the loss in speed and agility. Flak vests like those worn by shinobi were more preferable because they allow for maneuverability. So for this man to wear a full armored coat, even a lightweight armor, he must possess the strength necessary to ensure it didn't hinder his mobility.

Turning to look in the direction the voice had come from while gripping the edges of the coat together she found Ronin's partner practically lounging against a tree. A quick glance around revealed Ronin himself was nowhere in sight.

"How's your shoulder?" bringing her attention back to the man before her, his dark brown eyes gave the impression he actually cared there was a warmth in them absent from Ronin's eyes. He continued before she could respond, "Ronin took care of it while you were out."

Takeshi had to admit he was curious to see what her reaction would be. He could easily guess how her shoulder was feeling, that's not what he was curious about. I bet it hurts like hell, but what do you think of Ronin stripping you down? Takeshi wasn't a bad guy but he did get amusement out of the discomfort and embarrassment of others.

Hinata chose to ignore what he'd said, I will not think about that man, with that deadly aura, seeing me naked. Nope won't do it. She feared if she did then her face would reveal her thoughts or worse she'd faint again. I think I've done that enough for one day. "Where are we?" she felt as though she'd spoken around glass but she needed answers. She knew they were no longer outside the network of caves they'd narrowly escaped, the trees were denser here and there was no rubble.

The man shrugged replying, "The where isn't important," he said softly. "Just know that you're safe for the moment and will be back in Suna soon now that you're finally awake Hyuga-san."

"Why did you save me?" that question was plaguing her.

"Allow me to catch you up on a few things, first you've been missing for thirty six hours," he paused to let that fact wash over her.

"I thought I'd only been gone twelve maybe fourteen.." she said in a confused whisper.

"Yeah those two dumb shits decided to keep you drugged to make traveling easier, clearly they misjudged the dosage judging by your physical state," he winced as took in her appearance. "It didn't do them much good though they were slow as hell. We caught up to you easily."

Interrupting him she asked, "Why would two assassins be sent on a rescue mission?"

He cleared his throat before continuing, "Actually, it wasn't a rescue mission it was a recovery mission. Your absence was quickly discovered and we were hired by the Hyuga clan to recover you dead or alive, by any means necessary," he stated point blank.

Hinata knew the distinct difference between a rescue and recovery mission. These men honestly hadn't cared if they'd arrived too late to save her life, only that they had her body to return for their payday. She found herself disgusted anew by assassins. She was even more disturbed to learn that her own clan had only cared that she be returned not that she be alive and well. I'm not so sure I want to go back to Suna and what's waiting there for me, a sad sigh was heard before she returned her attention to the strange man.

"I know the other one is Ronin, so who are you?"

He brought his hand to his chest in mock hurt, "You haven't heard of me? Wow, everyone knows the big, bad, and evil but no one ever remembers poor Takeshi." He dropped his hand replying drily, "That hurts, truly," the corners of his lips quirked at his own sarcasm. Standing up he retrieved a dark bundle of cloth before tossing it to Hinata. "Here, I thought you might feel more comfortable if you weren't traipsing around in just my partner's jacket."

The bundle landed in Hinata's lap and she begrudgingly mumbled a, "Thank you."

"Yeah I don't do so well with gratitude and it's clear you don't like being beholden to someone like me. So walk through that stand of trees fourteen yards and you'll find a stream. You can clean up a bit and change." He pointed in the direction to her right. "And know that escape would be a futile attempt which would only cause you more pain.

Pursing her lips she stood shakily grabbing the bundle of clothes in her right hand, "Where's Ronin?"

Takeshi revealed a genuine smile that made him appear even less possible of being an assassin, "Worried you'll be giving him a peep show? Relax Hyuga-san you aren't his type."

Taking another deep breath she attempted to quell her embarrassment and anger. Acting out emotionally is improper and hinders logical reasoning, one must always be in control, she mentally repeated the mantra her father had drilled into her. Having regained a precarious hold on her emotions she left to clean up and get dressed.

Finding the stream easily enough thanks to Takeshi's instructions and her Byakugan Hinata placed the bundle of clothes on top of a boulder and made sure no one was around. Deactivating her Kekkei Genkai she lowered the borrowed coat off her shoulders pausing to check the bandage. I must admit for an assassin he did a good job bandaging that. Continuing to look over her body she noticed that her gown, I should just call this a rag after today, was barely hanging onto her hips. Stepping quickly out of the rag formerly known as her nightgown she continued lowering the jacket only to feel a presence behind her.

Turning she dropped into a crouch and found the previously missing Ronin staring heatedly at her. She moved quickly to close his coat around her. When she'd looked into his eyes before she could've sworn they were incapable of displaying emotion, but now the way he was looking at her...

Oh, there I go, she mentally cringed, what is wrong with me? I should not be blushing because some assassin is eyeballing me like I'm his favorite snack. Hinata felt warmth spread through her stomach while staring into Ronin's eyes. She had to admit without his coat on she could see more of his lean build. The mask only added a mysterious quality that was somehow captivating. Remember he's probably buck-toothed and wart-faced; oh but what a waste that would be. Attempting to regain her composure Hinata stood from her crouch glaring at Ronin.

He raised his hands in a supplicating fashion taking two steps away from her. "I was told you were ready to travel again." He said this as though it was the only apology he would offer for basically seeing her naked.

"Clearly I am not." she paused before inquiring, "may I continue?" Grimacing she immediately realized how that sentence could be misconstrued as an invitation to let him watch her change instead of the subtle hint for him to leave she'd intended it to be.

Briefly closing his eyes with a nearly imperceptible shake of his head, Ronin turned and left in the direction of the camp.