Chpt 3:

*Im gonna try a little harder to clarify peoples relationships as I progress with this story, I hope everyone likes it so far (: also just a reminder that a few things are going to change in this story and sorry not sorry if anyone is OOC, I think its more fun that way. Reviews are nice so I know to correct myself or if anyone would like to see anything! Anyways, enjoy!*

Kakashi POV:

What did he mean, the last time? I sat for a second to think of what he meant. I replayed our fight in my head, trying to figure it out. I knew he was a little slower than normal and was losing momentum quickly. I shook my head, I could figure this out later. I turned and rushed to my team, they needed to wake so he could find Gaara, we were losing precious time.

We had found Gaara, luck was not in our favor though. The boys body was unmoving, unbreathing, he was dead. I pushed down my feelings, for the most part. I could see the pain in Narutos eyes, what exactly was the Akatsuki planning on doing with the tailed beasts?

After chasing the blond haired Akatsuki named Deidara member down for Gaaras body, we had gotten in back. It was a fight to remember, Naruto had even transformed two of his tails from his tailed beast, losing all self control. He had even attacked me in the process of hunting down Deidara.

It was a good thing Yamato had given me a release seal for him or kami only knows what would of happened. My body was exhausted from using kamui though and I wasn't sure how much longer I can stay awake.

"Gaara, wake up!" Naruto shouted into his friends unmoving chest, snapping me out of my thoughts. I could feel the pain for him, he knew his friend was gone but still tried.

"Naruto, we need to head back to the sand village with the kazekage" I spoke abruptly. He said nothing but summoned a shadow clone, they both moved Gaaras body and we took off towards the meeting point with the rest of the units we had left Konoha with. I could hear Naruto sniffling the entire way back, what a strong kid, he was trying hard not to cry for his friend.

The journey to the meeting point was causing me to get weary, I could feel my vision going in and out. I didn't bother putting my headband back down, just kept my eye closed.

I could see our friends in the distance, everyone looked beat up but they were all still standing. I sighed in relief. As we drew closer though, I could see their faces from seeing Gaara's body limply hanging off of Naruto.

"Sakura, please help him" he said as his came to a soft hault. I wasn't so gracious, I landed kind of rocky and immediately sat down. Using my sharingan so much today has drained my energy tenfold.

I sat back and watched my student try what she could to bring Gaara back, she couldnt and Naruto started crying.

"Why is it always Gaara?!" he yelled with tears running down his face. I felt his pain, I knew what it was like when a close friend died. The next thing I saw though was Chiyo, the elder of the Sand Village start a jutsu on Gaara, my mouth gaped open slightly. No way, I didn't think that jutsu was used anymore. One's own life reincarnation, a life for a life. I didn't think she cared enough to use something like that on anyone.

I closed my eyes for a brief second, happy knowing everyone was returning in one piece, I sighed, home. Hinata, I wanted to get back to her soon.

Hinatas POV:

Leaving my apartment a little earlier than normal before my shift was a good idea. I hadn't walked in the nice morning air as the sun was rising in a while. It was refreshing, to say the least. It had been three entire weeks since the leaf sent backup to the sand village.

News had spread to the leaf village that they had managed to rescue Gaara but his tailed beast was no longer with him. I shivered, what was the akatsuki up too. Nothing good could possibly come from stealing the jinchurikis for their own personal benefit. I rest my hand on his necklace again, it felt warmer than normal today and I couldn't figure out why.

"Good morning Hinata-sama" Izumo spoke from his post at the front gate of the village. I smiled cheerfully and waved toward him. I continued walked out of the gates to head towards my usual post in the woods. Hopefully they would be returning today so I wouldn't have to continue doing border patrol. I didn't mind it all that much, just a little lonely with Kakashi or Neji to talk to.

Just as I was about to jump into the tree lines, a flash from the bushes caught my attention. I activated my byakugan, carefully looking to see if it was a trap. I could only see one body and they obviously wanted my attention. I looked behind me making sure no one else saw the light. I accepted the fact that only I saw it, I carefully walked towards the bush.

"Hello?" I asked quietly, moving a little closer.

"Don't scream" a voice said from behind me, hand over my mouth. I did what I was told and I was spun around slowly. I deactivated my visual prowess to see Itachi standing a foot in front of me.

"I need you to know I'm not sure how much longer I have on this earth" he spoke with a soft manner, holding my face within my hand.

"Why are you here then?" I asked with harshness in my voice. My heart sped up seeing him but I was still angry that he put me under his genjutsu.

"I needed to see you, I see you got my parting gift" he said, looking at his necklace around my neck. I clutched it with my left hand, is it warm because he was near?

"Kakashi and I had a fight, he spoke to me and said I broke you again. I needed to see you one last time before my illness takes over my body" he said, sounding pained.

"Your illness? You're sick?" I could feel my face twist, I had no idea.

"Very. It's terminal. I keep taking medicine and pushing myself to live. The only way I'm dying is by my brothers hand. Until then, I keep surviving" he said solemnly, not looking away from me. I activated my byakugan and looked at his chakra network, it was blocked in some areas and I knew I couldn't help him. He must be in immense pain.

"I bet Tsunade could help you live longer, I know she can" I said taking his hand again.

"Even if she could, I wouldn't accept the treatments. I've done terrible things, this is karmas way of dealing with me" he shrugged it off. My heart just kept breaking. I knew what I had to do and I had to act quickly so he couldn't leave again.

"I'm not going to stand by and watch you die, I want to help you live as long as possible. I'm sorry Itachi" I said softly.

"Sorry for wha-" he wasn't able to finish his sentence. He let his guard down around me and I use it against him. I jabbed one of his pressure points, surrendering him unconscious. I watched his body fall to the flood, I could of caught him but it made me release some pent up anger for his trickery almost a month ago.

I kneeled down to him, I needed help lifting him towards Tsunade-sama. I looked around to make sure no one would see me, I dashed as quickly as I could to the village gates. I'll have Izumo help me, I knew he wouldn't say anything and he owed me a favor anyways. I skidded to a halt to see him looking bored in his post. He looked up cheerfully and saw my facial expression. I put my finger to my lips and waved him over so he knew to be quiet. He jumped forward and landed in front of me.

"What's the matter?" he eyeballed me.

"I need your help carrying someone in here without being seen and you'll understand why when you see" I spoke quickly and turned back towards Itachis body, Izumo right behind me. Good thing he wasn't too far outside the gates.

We slowly walked towards the bush, I could still see his Akatsuki coat, good he hasn't woken up yet.

"Are you serious?" Izumo asked with worry in his voice while looking at me.

"Yes, I need help. I'm not strong enough to lift him but I know you are, I'm just gonna hide his jacket, it's less likely someone will stop us if they don't see this. I carefully lifted his body to removed his jacket, he was so light. Maybe I could've just lifted him..

"This is my favor I owe you" Izumo grumbled as he picked Itachi up and we took off toward the hokage tower. We got there as fast as we could, jumping over buildings. I hope she doesn't get to mad that I abandoned my job as patrol today, her temper scared me.

We made it to the last floor of the hokage tower, luckily no one was in the hallway. Not that I think anyone would really remember what Itachi looked like unless they looked in the bingo book lately.

I listened against her door, it didn't sound like anyone was inside. I opened the door and she looked up at me, conspicuously. Izumo came around the corner, holding him, I shut the door behind us. I heard Shizune make a gasp and I turned around to face her.

"Before he wakes up, please help us" I pleaded.

"You have a lot of explaining to do but first, let's take him to the interrogation unit's hospital branch so he can't escape when he wakes up" she said bluntly and we all made our way that way.

Itachis POV:

I listened to my surrounds as I woke up, sounded like a hospital. Hinata. I mentally slapped myself for not keeping my guard up around her.

I could also feel a cloth over my eyes, I was in no condition to try to escape or use my eyes powers, they didn't have to go this far. Although, I understand, I was considered a threat before I even killed my family and abandoned my village. I also felt cold on my arms and realized my akatsuki cloak was missing, I wonder if she took it off of me.

"You know for a fact he is innocent, is was all Danzo's doing. He was obeying orders" I could hear Hinata yelling from the other side of a wall, I assumed. I wonder how she figured it out. Only a few select people knew what really happened that unfortunate night. I still had nightmares from it, I wish everything happened differently.

"He might of been doing the village a favor but he still committed a mass murder, Hinata" Tsunade bit back at her. I could hear the anger rising from her. If from what I gathered, Tsunade had monster strength and a temper to match. Horrifying, really.

"I'll give up anything to help him live longer" Hinata pleaded, my heart hurt for her. How far was she willing to go for me?

"You can't just bargain with me. I might be your friend but I am also the Hokage, I have to do what is right for the village" Tsunade spoke with more softness in her voice. I felt around the bed I was lying on, I was being held down by my wrists and legs, damn I really wanted this cloth off my face, it was becoming itchy and annoying.

"He was apart of this village once, he needs medical attention, I won't stand by and watch him die!" Hinata shouted again. I knew if I came back, nothing would be easy.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do for him. But you're going to have to make a decision if he is willing to stay" Tsunade said, I could hear one of them put their hand on the door leading into this room.

"Whatever it is, consider it done" Hinata said with hope in her voice.

"You'll find out soon enough" Tsunade said with a certain tone and I heard the door to my room open finally. Footsteps approached me.

"You can take his cloth off of my eyes, I won't do anything. I have no energy. I havent been able to take my pills in a few hours" I croaked out, my throat was dry. How long had I been out for?

"Where are the pills you're taking?" Tsunade asked me, full medical ninja voice submerged from inside of her.

"They should be in my cloak, I need them though" I whispered.

"I'll grab them and then I'll take your blind off" she said and I could hear her walk to the right of me, near my head somewhere. I could hear the bottle of pills shake and then warm hands lift my head to until the cloth and pull it off. I opened my eyes slowly, a very bright light was blinding my eyes, I squinted a little bit. I looked over towards Hinata, a small amount of anger flared threw me, I was not trying to be held hostage in this village and I knew I couldn't escape at the moment.

"I'm sorry" she said softly, her head looking towards the floor.

"I'm going to need anything you can tell me about your illness so I can try and help prolong it for you" Tsunade spoke, breaking my vision away from Hinata and I looked at her.

"Better get a notepad ready" I said, trying to lighten the mood.

A few hours had gone by, Tsunade ran some tests and got me some more medicine, I didn't question anything as I just took them. I really shouldn't just trust her like this but she is Hinatas friend and I know she wouldn't let anything bad happened to more so than it already was.

"Tsunade-sama" a female nurse spoke from the doorway, we all looked at her "the rescue teams from helping the kazekage have returned, you are needed in the hospital" she spoke softly and vanished out of sight again. Why had it taken them so long to return?

"I will be back when I am doing tending to them, Hinata you are to remain here. If I come back and you are not, your punishment will not be pretty" Tsunade spoke with slight rage in her voice. Hinata nodded and Tsunade left, leaving her and I alone in the room.

"When I said I wanted to see you again, I didn't mean laying in a hospital bed in the very last place I wanted to be" I said, breaking the silence. She started to walk towards me.

"No matter how much you push me away, I will always follow you. You weren't getting away from me easily this time" she said sweetly, putting her hand on top of mine. Tsunade had undone my restraints during all the treatments, I held her hand back. I miss all of this, it was a short period of time her and I spent together before everything changed and I left.

"Why do you care so much about me? I've done nothing but hurt you in the past few years" I said truthfully, if I were her, I would hate me.

"You've been one of most cherished people in my life since I can remember. You were there for me every step of the way when I was disowned from the Hyuga and when I was struggling to become a great ninja. You and Kakashi helped me threw so much" she said quietly, she stopped talking for a second to sit on my hospital bed. I pushed myself up with whatever energy I had so I could also sit up.

"You somehow knew whenever I needed someone, whenever I was on the verge of having a breakdown. Something about you had always drawn me towards you, the comfort you put out. I don't think you realize you're doing it half of the time" she spoke a little louder now, moving fingers on top of my hand.

She looked up at me, looking me in the eyes.

"You were my everything and when you left, you broke me. I know I should be mad at you but I just can't" she said with sadness in her eyes.

"I'm glad you're being honest with me. Just know I never stopped thinking about you" I touched her face with my free hand. She touched my hand that was on her face, I could feel the warmth of her skin. It was making my chest grow warm.

"Please don't leave again" she opened her eyes to look at me, moving her face into my hand a little more.

"I don't exactly have a choice right this moment, do I?" I smiled slightly and neither of us said anything. She moved a little closer to me, filling the space between us. Our face were at least four inches apart from each other. My heart started to speed up. She closed the gap between us by crashing her lips down on mine. I could feel her pushing me back a little bit, the heat between us started to rise. I held her face with both of my hands at this point.

The sound of coughing broke us apart and we looked at who in the doorway, her cousin Neji didn't look very happy and I can probably guess it was from my return to the village.

"Hinata, why do you like to torture yourself?" he asked with concern toward his cousin, what was that supposed to mean?