Author's Note: I know this story sounds boring. I don't even plan the beginning! Ha... Bad, bad me. Anyway, I just came back from two weeks of dreadful test and my mind is still messy. This one will be a VERY boring one. Demo... please bear with it.

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing in naruto or FFXI. Nyunyu...

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I may know the answers.
Journeys over snow and sand.
What twist in fate has brought us
to tread upon this land?

-Distant Worlds-Chain of Promathia Ending Song

FFXI-performed by Megumi Toyoguchi

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Chapter Two

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"Thank goodness you found them by the river bank, Naruto."

The young medic of the village, Haruno Sakura, rubbed the ointment on Hinata's left shoulder gently. Sasuke watched from the door, onyx eyes following her every movement. Naruto beamed beside him, grinning proudly.

"It's nothing! It's nothing!!" he said loudly. Sasuke closed his eyes and said, "That's for sure."

"UUURRRGGGHHH!!!" Naruto glared towards Sasuke for the nth time. "You're always like that!!!"

"Enough, both of you!" Sakura placed her hands on her hip. She looked at Kiba. "Alright, Guardian! It's your turn now!"

"Instead of me first…" The man suddenly opened his cape. "Please cure Akamaru."

"Akamaru?"

A sweet whimper was heard from Kiba's cape. Just a moment later a puppy's head popped out, cute but wounded.

"CUUUUTTTEEEEEE!!!"

Sakura's squealed made Sasuke winced. He hates that kind of things. The former took the little dog to her arms and embraced it affectionately. The dog looked like enjoying the attention and licked Sakura's face as a reward. Kiba's eyes softened at the sight. He grinned and said, "Looks like Akamaru likes ya."

"He's so cute!" Sakura lifted Akamaru to the air. Her hands started to shimmer when the healing magic worked. "You're a gentle guy inside, eh? Only a gentle person who'll keep this cute little creature in their arms!"

"Ah, well… perhaps…" Kiba rubbed his neck awkwardly. "It's not like that…"

"Are they our special guests?"

Everyone turned his or her head to the door. An old man went in, smoking an old pipe. His calm gaze fell on Hinata and a smile quickly appeared on his face. He bowed down and said, "Welcome, Hinata-sama."

Hinata returned the bow and shyly said, "T-Thank you… Y-You didn't have to do that, Sir."

"Humble as expected, Princess Hinata," The old man stepped in casually. Kiba stiffened a little; cautious gaze fell on his face. "I see that you've grown into a fine lady."

A blush crept up her face. She politely nodded and said, "T-Thank you for your compliment, Sir…"

"Sarutobi," The village chief finally said. "My name is Sarutobi, Your Highness. I'm this village's chief."

"Thank you for your hospitality," Kiba's voice finally heard. He bowed down politely. "I can't thank you big enough for saving us—I mean, Hinata-sama. We've been through a lot."

"I can see that," Sarutobi nodded his head. "Now may I know what happened?"

The guardian and the princess exchanged a meaningful look to each other. Finally it was Kiba who spoke.

"The Hyuuga Castle was attacked by The Idion Army last night," said the man slowly. He let out a sigh. "We… We can't defend it."

Sasuke and Sakura narrowed their eyes slightly. Naruto could only blinked. Sarutobi nodded again and said, "Continue, please."

"Hiashi-sama… couldn't make it…" Kiba closed his eyes as he said so. Hinata's eyes grew sad. Her father was gone. "But before his death, he gave me a final mission—to save Hinata-sama and run away. We managed to get away from the secret passage but at the edge of the forest surrounding the castle, the enemies attacked us. We… we have no choice but to jump to the river below the cliff and… and… two of your villagers found us by the riverbank."

Sarutobi watched Kiba closely. The latter looked back and said, "Since we lost our direction… drifted solely by the current of the river… May I ask, Sir… where are we?"

A smile formed on Sarutobi's face. He was about to answer when Sasuke's cold voice rose.

"Konoha, The Hidden Village of the Rebellion," said the boy. Kiba's eyebrow raised and he said slowly, "The rebels' village?"

"Rebels to the Idion Country," Sakura gently informed him. Her hand shimmered again when she cured the wound on Kiba's body. "You're in the Idion territory right now. You are lucky to be found by us. I can't imagine what could've happened to you two if any Idion citizens found you."

"We're in…" Hinata slowly repeated the words. "… The Idion's territory?"

"Yes, but you are safe now," said Sarutobi softly. "We are enemies of Idion too. We won't harm you. Actually, you, Hinata-sama, is our hope to get out of this condition. We will gladly offer our help to the two of you."

"Hope?" Her voice was weak, questioning. "W-What is that mean?"

Sarutobi took a deep breath. He smiled.

"Since ten years ago… Idion Country of The Sound Land is trying to expand their territory—all to satisfy the desire of King Orochimaru. They attacked their neighbor without any hesitation and keeps on attacking. Many is trying to stop Idion but failed. One of them is a little country named Konoha. Idion slaughtered most of Konoha's citizens but several of them managed to get away and build this little hidden village—a refugee for everyone that despise Idion. The people of Konoha are trying to find their freedom from the iron grip of Idion by every mean. We have our own force but still not strong enough to do any direct act. Now all we could hope for is the nearest country, The White Sky owned by The Hyuuga Clan… The strongest country that can stand from Idion's endless assaults."

Sarutobi looked at Hinata's white eyes. He smiled.

"Your father is a wonderful man, I know him personally," he said softly. "And the one who inherited his fiery passion and precise calculation is you. Anyway… as long as you are alive, Hinata-sama, The White Sky is not in Idion's complete control. You know your citizen better than me, I suppose. You must've known why."

Hinata slowly titled her head. The sudden burden was hurting her. All the nice people of her country was relying on her yet she…

"Now where are you going?" Naruto raised his eyebrow. "Back?"

"No," Kiba quickly replied. He remembered his true mission. "We have to go to find someone."

"Someone?" replied Sarutobi. His eyes flickered. "Who is he?"

Kiba stopped to decide whether it was safe to tell him or not. He decided to tell him.

"Hyuuga Neji."

Silence fell down upon them. Hinata looked at Kiba in shock and she said, "You… You didn't tell me about that, Kiba-kun!"

"My apology, Hinata-sama," Kiba quickly bowed down. "I… I forgot. But I really didn't mean to surprise you or…"

"Hyuuga Neji," repeated Sasuke slowly. His onyx eyes darkened. "The Hyuuga Genius. The strongest Hyuuga ever existed… You're looking for him?"

"Everyone knows he went away from The White Sky about six years ago when his father died," said Kiba slowly. "I don't know why… but King Hiashi gave the order to bring Hinata-sama to him. We have to go… Anyway… we… get separated from Hinata-sama's sister, Hanabi-sama. My comrade, Aburame Shino, was the one who's in charge to take her but we get separated on the way. We have to find Hanabi-sama and make sure she's safe and together find Hyuuga Neji."

"That's tough," Sarutobi inhaled his old pipe. He then smiled towards Kiba and Hinata. "But it doesn't mean it's impossible. You two better recover from your wounds and after that you may go for your journey. There's nothing that I can do than to give you my three most reliable fighters. Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto… You three must accompany them on their journey."

"WHAT?!!!"

The unison of shouting was heard from FOUR different mouths: Sakura's, Sasuke's, Naruto's, and Kiba's. Sarutobi smiled at their reaction and quickly said, "The Land of Sound is harsh and dangerous, not to mention Idion's army that will kill anything that's suspicious enough to kill. We need to be extra careful. Sasuke, you're skilled and full of experience. You know the world wide enough to anticipate anything. Sakura, you're a very skilled medic and a very determined person. You can stand your ground and help everyone around you… And… Naruto…"

Sarutobi paused a little. He grinned.

"To tell you the truth, you have no skill whatsoever," Naruto glowered at the sentence but then his eyes softened when Sarutobi's gaze turned affectionate. "But you're full of spirit and determination. You can light everyone else's way in time of darkness. You can earn loads of new things out there… I'm sure you'll be very happy."

Naruto grinned. He gave a big thumb up towards Sarutobi and said, "LEAVE IT TO ME! I'LL PROTECT THE PRINCESS WITH ALL MY MIGHT!!!"

Sasuke smirked. He closed his eyes.

"It gets interesting."

Sakura looked at Kiba and said, "We'll help you out, not to worry!"

"SO!!" Sarutobi smiled widely. "It's decided then!! Princess, you can leave once your wounds are healed. And in the meantime, I must add one thing: A festival is coming and I insist Your Highness and Her Guardian to come and have fun together! How is that sound?"

Nobody rejected, not even Kiba. He only looked at Sarutobi and said, "Thank you very much, Sir."

After that, Naruto burst into a very long speech about how interesting the festival is and how Sakura was trying to shut him up. Sasuke watched them for a while and then turned his onyx eyes to the sky. His black eyes darkened a little.

"Hyuuga Neji…" he muttered slowly. "… the strongest Hyuuga ever existed…"

A smirk formed on his face. It WAS getting interesting.

tbc...