Demon Sun

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Summary: Hinata Hyuga is a princess, well she used to be,but after escaping an arranged marriage she bumps into Naruto Uzumaki, the most wanted pirate in Konoha, and is recruited onto his ship. When you add being hunted, sea battles and love, what happens? NxH

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Chapter Four:

Hinata:

Robbing your own house is a strange yet exhilarating feeling. Strange because it's your house, and exhilarating because you finally feel...free, free of everything holding you back, weighing you down, and making you lose your love of life. Plus, it makes you feel like a rebel, something princesses usually aren't.

Then again, I'm going to be an ex-princess pretty soon.

I gave a small grin at Naruto, the cloth bag slung over my shoulder starting to feel quite heavy.

"Can we go now," I asked, making sure to whisper, the Hyuga guards were highly observant and intelligent, making it extremely hard to sneak past them. Luckily I knew the castle inside out and Naruto was a stealth master. Considering the fact that he was a pirate I shouldn't have been too surprised.

My hair was snugly placed back in my hat, and my hood was covering my face. Even though I knew I could trust Naruto I felt safer with my hood on, just in case anybody caught a glimpse of us or anything.

Naruto glanced around the room, sized up our bags, and after a moment of consideration nodded, "Sure, why not? The items we picked up should bring up a decent sum of money on the market."

I raised my eyebrows, "Decent? Do you know how rare and valuable these items are? To have just one of them is something."

We were in the main gallery in the third floor. Here was where my father kept all his prized artworks, things he had collected, bought, or traded for, some even as gifts. Eastern Sabi (the domain where my father ruled), was an area filled with exotic natural resources, making this a place well-known for trade.

There were four domains in the Fire Country, Eastern Sabi, Whirlpool, Winefy, and Guligip. The reason Eastern Sabi had a direction before its name was because Sabi is actually divided between the border of Fire Country and Thunder Country. Sabi was used as a name for both places, and since neither wanted to give up the traditional name directions were stuck on to them to make them easier to identify. Whirlpool was known for it's fighting, Winefy for its creative arts, and Guligip for intelligence.

Eastern Sabi was the once area where it bordered another country and the sea, making its location invaluable for connections and trade.

"There's the Hyuga pride," Naruto chuckled, "anyway you have a lot to learn about the pirate market. While these items are extremely valuable, there are items out there worth ten times as much. Antiques like these are nothing compared to some of the treasures you'll find in the sea. You'll learn more about this once we get on board and meet my crew." He gave me a wide grin, though my stomach began to do flips.

I had forgotten that I had to meet Naruto's crew. That was nerve wracking, as I had never done well with crowds, or individuals for that matter.

I ignored my feelings of anticipation and focused on trying to exit the mansion. We had to get back to my room and out the window, through a series of guards. Luckily all the guards moved in a sequence, an orderly pattern with specific time requirements, and all you had to do was get your timing's right to get by them. For such a wealthy and politically influential man my father had really bad security procedures. It was a wonder we had never been robbed before.

I crouched down behind a painting and motioned for Naruto to follow me. He came behind me, footsteps not making a single sound, and crouched a little too close for my comfort. I had a hard time concentrating on the times as my body was hyper aware of his face just a few inches from my neck. My face was flushed but luckily Naruto couldn't see that, and as I counted down the time before the guards would stop patrolling the door my face cooled down.

"120," I breathed, "let's go."

I looked around quickly (you should always double check) before quickly darting across the room, through the door. There I ducked in a corner in the hallway, counted to 120 again before crossing the hallway, and finally coming into my room. I was so glad I had explored this place when I was little, knowing all the shortcuts and hallways really helped.

I closed the door quietly behind me, calmed my heart that was still beating quickly, and turned to face Naruto. "Can you hold this?" I handed him my pack, "I'll probably drop it on the way down."

He raised his eyebrows, "Aren't all Hyuga perfectly well balanced?"

My cheeks flooded lightly, "I am! I've just never carried a bag down a palace before, that's all. Extra precaution."

Gathering all my confidence I thrust my bag at him, stalked past, and opened the window. I let the wind blow gently against my face, and I sighed, this was it. I was going to go with Naruto and meet his crew, I was going become a pirate, I was going to be...free.

The one thing that kept bothering me was my father and what he would do when he found out I had run away, but I pushed the thought away. That problem was for another day.

I prepared to go down, before my hand went to my neck and I clasped my mother's locket. Mom, Hanabi, I hope I'm doing the right thing. With that I stepped out the window.


Naruto:

I hoisted the packs carefully over my back, and prepared to go out the window after Hinata. She was so different from all the other Hyuga I had had the unfortunate luck of meeting. For one she had emotions, and two, she didn't act like she was superior to everyone else in he vicinity. She also flushed a pretty pink when she was embarrassed, which was often.

I grinned, it was too much fun teasing her and seeing her cheeks flood with colour. My smile faded though as I remembered how she had cried on the rock earlier tonight; I had never felt so ashamed. First, I hated it when girls cried (I was raised old-fashioned), and second, I had judged her before I had even got to know her. I should have known better, after all hadn't I suffered the same thing?

I shook my head, and gave a determined grin. I'd make it up to her, believe it! Plus, I was taking her to my crew. I was sure everybody was going to be nice to her, and warm up to her. My crew were the best crew in the world, I couldn't count on anyone more than I could count on them. That was for sure.

"Naruto?" I snapped out of my thoughts and looked out the window as I heard Hinata's voice. She was on the ground, looking up at me confused, "Aren't you going to come down?"

"Oh! Right..." I scratched the back of my neck sheepishly. Man, I must have looked like an idiot! Not that Sakura or Ino would ever beg to differ...

I checked that the bags were safely knotted again, before carefully crawling down the side of the palace. I could have jumped but I wanted to make sure the articles would stay safe.

I jumped the last few meters (the articles couldn't break from such a low jump), and turned towards Hinata, "Right, let's go!"

Her face clouded, and a mask came on her face, before she nodded, back stiff. I could tell she was nervous, hiding her emotions.

"Listen, " I said softly, placing my hand on her shoulder, "There's nothing to be nervous about. My crew's super nice, and I just know that they're going to like you." I gave her a wide grin, trying to give her some comfort. There really was nothing nervous about, unlike me, my crew wouldn't judge her so harshly.

She relaxed and let out a nervous chuckle. "Sorry about that, I'm not exactly a people person, "she admitted, "I've always had a hard time meeting new people, especially a lot at once."

"You talked to me just fine, " I noted.

Even though it was nighttime and she was wearing a hood I saw her flush. "Well-you-I-surprised, "she was getting flustered and stuttering and for some reason I couldn't help but grin.

"I don't know why, OK?" She finally burst out, face burning she quickly spun around and started walking into the eastern part of the forest, pace quick and jerky.

I was left standing behind her, grinning. She sure was fun to tease. I shook my head smiling, checked the contents of the bag again, and looked up/

"You know you're going the wrong, right?"


Sasuke:

Where was the dobe? He had said he was only going to be out for an hour or two, but it had been 4 hours since he left.

"Idiot, "I muttered, "Why is he our captain again?"

"Because he can actually talk to people without making them infuriated at him." I turned around and saw Sakura walk in. She was grinning, and I frowned at her.

"He makes me infuriated, " I said, before sighing. "Anyway, why are you here, Sakura?"

She pouted, "Can't I visit my Sasuke-kun just like that?" She clutched my arm rather tightly and gave me a scary giggle, looking way too much like Ino.

I scowled and snatched my arm out of her grasp, "Two things, I am not yours, and don't call me Sasuke-kun. Tell me the real reason you're here."

The rosette sighed, "Such a downer,"before a serious look came across her face, "I came here because I have a message for Naruto."

"From who?"

"Sasori."

My eyes narrowed, "What does the gay puppet master want with Naruto?"

"An alliance," Sakura said darkly.

I snorted, "He's an even bigger idiot than Naruto if he thinks we would accept." Rolling my eyes I turned away to focus again on the map. As if we would have an alliance with the Akatsuki, a rival pirate gang, one that had attacked us several times.

While they were pirates like us the Akatsuki consisted of rogue pirates, banished from their homelands from unpardonable crimes, and robbed from everyone, including the poor. They were cruel, vicious, and uncaring, killing anyone who got in their way. They were always looking for ways to conquer as then they would be the number one pirate gang ruling the sea.

"I don't know Sasuke-kun, " Sakura murmured, "The offer seemed genuine, and you know they're not that much of a threat. They're all in love with each other for goodness-sake!"

I whirled around to face her, "Are you crazy?" I snapped at her, "You, of all people, should know how dangerous and untrustworthy they are. They don't care for anybody but themselves and will rob us blind if we make an alliance with them!"

I glared furiously at her (part of me wondering why I was so mad at her in the first place), and she flinched, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.

I cringed, backing down. Stupid girls, too damn emotional.

"I-I know! I just thought..."she trailed off, mumbling, "Nevermind, I'm going to check on the crew now." She shook herself, and walked out, leaving me behind to sigh and turn back to the map, shaking my head.


Hinata:

Naruto led me through the woods, following a long, winding trail until, just as I was about to collapse, he stepped out, and I found that we had entered a beach.

I had only visited the beach once, when I was five and my mom and sister were still alive, and I could barely remember it. Now as I stared at it, huge, powerful crashing down onto lands and spraying mists of salt water everywhere I couldn't help but be mesmerized. It was nighttime and the sky was an inky-black, the moon covered with gray clouds and the stars barely twinkling. The sand was cold and soft brown, shells and pebbles sticking up and breaking the otherwise smooth surface, and lead to the ocean, a deep, rich blue.

It seemed to have a power of it's own, wave upon wave breaking upon the shore, a magnificent show of spray and noise, seeming to move with an unseen force. I stared at it for a long time before Naruto gently nudged me.

"It really is breathtaking the first time you see it," he said, his voice far away. He was smiling and there was a distant look in his eyes, gazing at something I couldn't, and probably would never, see.

It wasn't my first time but it might as well be so I gave a small smile and nodded, staring some more before turning away. What I saw next seemed even more unreal.

There, standing in the silhouette of whatever light the barely-there moon shone, was the biggest ship I had ever seen. It was gigantic, seemingly bigger than my own palace though I knew that was impossible, and looked like a sculptured piece of art. It seemed to be made out of a light, versatile wood that I had never seen before, a light, almost cherry colour. It had a beautiful bow that extended, with a statue of a fox on it's tip. The fox had nine tails, and painted red eyes, looking like a formidable beast.

It had high masts and the the sails were blood orange, a surprising colour on a pirate ship.

"I like orange," Naruto grinned as he saw me staring at the sails, and it was then that I noticed that he was wearing a black and orange pirate suit, black trousers, with a black and orange top, a black hat perched on his head.

Eventually I stopped staring at the ship, being overwhelmed by the sheer size of the thing, and turned to Naruto. I gave a nervous grin, "Time for me to board, huh?"

He gave me a lopsided grin, and swung his arm around me, "You'll be fine, my crew is the best crew in the world!"

His words didn't reassure me, but I followed him up a gangplank that had been lowered onto the ground, taking comfort as I walked up of his arm by me. When he took his arm off to take off the rope that blocked entry onto the ship I was shocked by the lack of warmth, but felt heat rise onto my cheeks when I secretly wished he would put his arm back on me.

Luckily Naruto didn't notice and led me onto the ship, and I stared at how high up I felt. We didn't stay alone for long however as I saw a pretty girl run up to us. The weird thing was that her hair was a bright pink and she had sharp green eyes.

"Naruto!" The girl called out before stopping as she saw me, "Wait...who's she?" She studied me and I shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, a hard eye trying to determine if I was good or bad.

"Hinata Hyuga," Naruto answered smoothly, and I tensed up. Why would he say Hyuga? He knew the current state of my last name!

The girls eyes narrowed, "Hyuga, huh?" Her eyes were staring at me in a hard, intense way and I took a step back.

"Relax Sakura, "Naruto commanded, "She's different."

"How?" Sakura challenged.

"Well for one,"Naruto grinned, "She helped me rob her palace." He held up the bags and when Sakura took a look inside her jaw dropped and she stared wide-eyed at me.

I gave her a nervous smile, "Hi."

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A/N: Sorry about this being a filler chapter everyone. I really wanted to update but I was too lazy to write Hinata meeting everyone so I just quickly introduced her to Sakura. Ironically this is the longest chapter in the story. :O I still hope you enjoyed this though! :)

Constructive criticism is appreciated, and please tell me what you liked in the chapter! (Or what you didn't like, hn.) :) Thanks for reading!