Hinata screamed and sat up in her bed. She panted heavily and she was shaking and sweating. Another nightmare. Ever since Naruto had left on that mission, she had been having terrible nightmares about him. The first night, she dreamed that the Nine-tailed fox took over his body and destroyed the village. The next night, she had dreamed that he had been captured by the Akastuki. Her subconsious came up with horrible ideas of what they were doing to him. The night before she dreamed that their conversation with Hiashi had all been a dream and she was forced to marry Neji. Tonight, it was much worse than any of them. In this nightmare she had to kill Naruto with her own hands. She looked adown at her hands and had to quickly shut her eyes. It was as if she could really see his blood on her hands. She looked again and the vision was gone. she clutched her chest and tried to calm herself down. The door opend and Hanabi came in, running her eye sleepily.

"Onee-chan, did you have another nightmare?" she asked drowsily.

Hiata force herself to smile.

"I-I'm fine, Hanabi-chan. You can go back to sleep." she lied.

Hanabi, not buying it, climbed up onto Hinata's bed. She looked at her sister,concerned.

"What was it this time?" she asked.

Hinata looked down at her hands again.

"Tsunade-sama ordered me to kill Naruto-kun." she said gravely.

Hanabi wrapped her arms around Hinata's arm.

"Well, it's not true, is it?" she asked quietly

Hinata shook her head. Hanabi lookd up at her.

'Then, thre's nothing to worry about. Naruto-san's not dead. And you and I both know that Tsunade-sama would never do anything like that"

HInata gave a small smile and patted her little sister on the head. So like Hanabi to be practical and logical. Hinata hugged her.

"Thank-you, Hanabi-chan. You can go back to bed now." she said gratefully.

Naruto gasped and sat up quickly. He panted heavily and his bare chest was covered in sweat. Another nightmare. This was the fourth on since he had left. Each was more horrible and elaborate than the next. Sakura stirred and looked over Kakashi and Kiba at Naruto. she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"Another one?" she asked sleepily.

Naruto wiped the sweat from his brow and got up.

"I'm going out for a bit." he mumbled.

Sakura sighed. Poor Naruto-kun, he hasn't slept since we left. she thought.

Naruto went out and looked around the barren desert landscape. The only thing around for what semed lie a thousand miles was the little oasis that he and his team had found the da y before. They hadn't seen hide or hair of any Akatsuki member so far. All they had found was evidence of battles and destruction. They at least knew that someone was out there. Naruto went to the edge of the oasis and sat down on a rock. The cool desert night air whipped around him, buffeting him with sand, but he didn't mind. His thoughts were a hundred miles away. With Hinata. In his nightmares so far, she had been murdered, kidnapped, killed in childbirth, and now, tonight, captured by the Akatsuki as bait to lure him in. One particlular Akatsuki member, Itatchi, took a sick pleasure in making her miserable. Naruto ground his teeth. It was just a dream. It wasn't real. He told himself. He looked up at the clear night sky.

"Hinata-chan." he said wistfully.

Tsunade sat in her office, reading through some reports, when Shizune came in with a scroll.

"Tsunade-sama, a message just arrived. It's for Hyuuga-san. " she asid .

She walked up and handedn it to Tsunade. tsunade read over it, her eyes growing wide. She dropped the scrool onthe desk .

"Hinata-sama." she said horrified.

Shizune picked up the scroll and read it.

"From HIdeaki Koizumi, Head of the Koizumi Clan
To The Hyuuga Clan

For the murder of Toshi Koizumi, brother of Hidekai, Son of Kimaki and Jyshio, the Koizumi Clan demands recompence. The Koizumi Clan demands the blood of HInata Hyuuga, heir of the Hyuuga Clan, as payment for this trangression. If Hinata Hyuuga is not delivered over to The Koizumi Clan before the end of the week, it shall be regaurded as an act of war.

Signed,
Hidekai Koizumi "

"Tsunade-sama, what is this about?" she asked in shock.

Tsunade shook her head.

"The people who tried to kidnap Hinata-sama, they were a rival clan of the Hyuuga's. Apparently, when Team Kakashi rescued her, they killed a high-ranking member of the clan. Neji-san told me of a time when something similar happened."

Tsunade slammed her fist down on the desk.

"DAMMIT! Who do these people think they are?" she growled.

Shizune bit her lip.

'What should we do?" she asked hesitantly.

Tsunade sighed and shook her head.

"As Hokage, I can't allow Hinata-sama to be killed."

She looked out the window.

"However, I aslo can't allow this rival clan to start a war."

Tsunade sat and thought for a long time. She pulled a bottle of Sake and took a couple of quick shots. She slammed down her fouth cup.

"Well, there's only one thing we can do for now."

She looked at Shizune.

"Send that message to Hiashi-san and tell him not to do anything without my permission. I'm interested to see what he has to say about all of this."

Hinata, Hiashi, Neji, and a few other members of the Hyuuga clan were having a meeting when Shizune delivered the letter. Hiashi opened it and read it carefully. Then he calmly closed it and set it on the floor. He slid the scroll over to Neji who also read it. Neji's eyes grew angry, but he remaind quiet. Hinata was getting nervous. Why does Neji-san look so angry? she thought. Neji put the scroll down and looked at Hinata gravely.

"What is is, Nii-san?" She asked worriedly.

Neji closed his eyes. Then he looked over at Hiashi. Hiashi sat staring at the ground, his brow wrinkled in thought. Panic tightened in Hinata's chest. What was going on? She had neveseen her father so concerned before. Hiashi looked at Shizune.

"I assume Hokage-sama has looked at this as well." he stated.

Shizuned nodded.

"She instructed me to tell you not to make any moves unless consulting her first."

Hiashi nodded.

"Very well. We shall discuss the matter and give her our descision tomorrow. YOu may go now, Sizune-san." he said.

Shizune bowed respectfully. She looked at Hinata sadly before going out the door. Hiashi looked at Hinata. Then he addressed the group.

"We have just received a message from the Koizumi Clan. In the rescue mission to retreive my daughter, Toshi Koizumi was killed. As can be expected, they are demamding blood as payment for their lost member."

Hiashi looked at Hinata.

"They want Hinata-san as payment."

Hinata gasped and the group was thrown into an uproar.

"How dare they!"

"They have no right to make such demands!"

"This is an outrage!"

"We should not stand for this!"

Hinata clutched her hand to her chest and put her finger on her lip. Her defense mechanism. She felt the blood drain from her face. The last time this happened, they had wanted her father's blood. His twin brother, Neji's father, had fooled the rival clan by taking his place. But Hinata did not have a twin sister. There would be no fooling them this time. Hinata was beyond tears. She was seized by sheer terror.

"Quiet! All of you!" Hiashi demanded.

The members of the Hyuuga clan quieted . Hiashi closed his eyes.

"You all remember when this happened in the past. My twin brother, Hizashi, bravely sacrificed himself in my place. We cannot get away with such deciet in this instance. "

Hiashi looked at Hinata and then at Neji.

"Neji-san, take your cousin out of here and help her calm herself." he said.

Neji nodded. He went over and helped Hinata up. She was practically hyperventalating by now. She shakily stood up and was out by Neji. The two went outside into the crisp morning air. Neji sat Hinata down on the steps. Neji rubbed her back while she tried desperately to get a hold of herself. She was shaking violently.

"I-I f-f-feel s-s-sick." she said weakly.

HInata felt strong arms wrap around her. She looked at Neji, surprised. He looked at her, tears welling in his eyes.

"Hinata-chan, if I could take your place, I'd do it in a heart beat." he said.

Hinata felt tears prick her eyes.

"Nii-san..." she said awestruck.

Neji pulled her close to him and closed his eyes.

"Hinata-chan, no matter what I've said or done in the past, I love you. I love you as if you were my sister. I promise, I'll do anything I can to protect you."

HInata was touched by this sudden burst of kindness from her normally stoic cousin. She hugged him tightly and burried her face in his shoulder. She cried inot his shoulder until she ran out of years. He sat, holding her close. He watched the sun slowly climb up over the horizon.

If he were here right now, no doubt he would do everythiong in his power to protect her too. Naruto-kun...I'll do my best.