If Tomorrow Never Comes
By Revelias
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Author's Note:
I do not own Naruto or anything there in. I am only borrowing them for a sort time so please don't sue me.
As always comments, critiques, complaints or anything else of the kind are always welcome. It's because of them that I'm inspired to continue writing.
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Chapter 4: These Ties That Bind
"I'm either crazy or drunk but in either case I've made my decision. Hinata Hyuga I am ordering you to reinforce Naruto Uzumaki on his current mission until such time as you are either recalled or that his mission is concluded. Although I don't have exact information of his current whereabouts I will provide you with what information I do have.
As of early this morning he was traveling in the direction of Suna. An Anbu team on patrol near the border reported that he was traveling in the direction of the Village Hidden in the Sand. It is believed that he is on his way to meet with their Kazekage. If this is correct then you might be able to join him there. You are to tell no one of your mission and to leave immediately. Good luck." The Fifth barely finished before Hinata bowed and rushed from the office leaving Tsunade to pray for her success.
Hinata wasted no time in gathering supplies and leaving in pursuit of Naruto. It would normally take three days to reach Suna from Konoha however, if Tsunade's information was correct then Naruto must have been traveling at top speed to have almost reached the border. Hinata was fully aware that given the blond's speed and stamina that Suna was only one of many directions in which he could have traveled from a given point along the border. Still the Anbu's report was her only lead as to the direction in which Naruto had traveled and she was not about to allow it to pass by.
Traveling at top speed for most of the day Hinata had nearly reached the border of Fire country when the sun began to set. Having exhausted most of her chakra reserves she wisely decided to make camp for the night.
Despite what most people thought of her, Hinata was highly efficient when it came to practical matters. Within then span of half an hour she had setup her campsite and was about to start preparing her evening meal when movement from the trees above caught her attention. Jumping to her feet and activating her byakugan she was instantly ready to defend herself from whatever enemy might be approaching.
It is the way of the ninja to wait for the most opportune moment to attack your opponent. Any hasty movement could be the signal that would bring a quick end to your life. Hinata knew this lesson well and was not about to become an example of it. Focusing her full attention on the surrounding area she quickly determined that she was only up against one opponent. However, that bit of information was of no comfort to the kunoichi as she had no ideal as to their intentions or level of ability.
Hinata's mind raced through years of training trying to come up with any scenario that might give her an advantage under the current circumstances. She could feel the approaching person drawing closer. Whoever it was their chakra was immense, seemingly never ending. It felt as though the weight of it would crush her at any moment. Her heart began to race whether for excitement or fear. If asked the Hyuga would not say which but deep down she knew..., it was fear.
The only constant in all her battles as a ninja was that she had never been alone. True, her allies had not always been by her side but they had always been close by to help her if the need arose. However, this time she was alone. There would be no reinforcements or last second daring rescues. Whatever, happened would happen. She would either win or lose, live or die. And she could not afford to die. To die here before she ever reached her objective was absolutely unacceptable to the young woman. There was to much left for her to do, to much left to say. Still, she knew she could die, but the chance that death might embrace her wouldn't stop her from trying. It wouldn't stop her from facing whatever was coming with eyes wide open facing forward. Yes, what she was feeling was fear. It was the fear of what might never be. Her opponent was before her, fate would determine the rest.
"Hey Hinata! What are you doing way out here? You on some kind of mission." Naruto happily said as he stepped from behind a tree to stand before the battle ready Hyuga.
"Na... Na,,, Naruto?" Was all an overly perplexed Hinata was able to say before darkness claimed her.
"Not again!" Naruto humphed as he went to unconscious woman to make sure she was ok.
Hinata reluctantly woke from the dream she was having. She had found Naruto, or rather he had found her. She knew it had to be a dream because he was reported to be moving in the direction of Suna and there was no way she could have passed him in her pursuit. No, it had to have been a dream. But, it had seemed so real....
"So, Hinata how do you like your fish? I can grill it or I have a pan so I could fry it if you want." Naruto asked drawing the young woman from her mental ramble.
"Na...ru...to. You're here? But how? There's no way I could have passed you." Hinata rapidly asked as she watched Naruto preparing to cook his catch.
For the most part Naruto had not been especially paying much attention to the girl as he was occupied getting the things together he would need to cook with. However, the last part of Hinata's statement did peak his interest.
"Huh, how did you know I had left the village and why were you trying to catch up with me?" He asked his still somewhat bewildered companion.
"Lady Tsunade summoned all of your friends for a meeting this morning and explained why you had left. Afterwards she and I talked and she decided that you might need some backup on your mission so I was sent to reinforce you." Hinata explained conveniently leaving out the fact that she had all but begged the Hokage to come after him.
"How could she do that? I have no ideal how long this will take, it could be years. I told Grandma that I might not ever return to the village. So why the hell would she do something as insane as send someone out to join me?" Naruto heatedly told Hinata trying to make the woman understand what she had been ordered to do.
"It's alright Naruto. I understood what it would mean when I accepted the mission. Besides, my orders are to reinforce you until such time as you complete your mission or I am recalled. So you see I could be called back at anytime. However, until then if you will allow I will just support you any way I can." Hinata replied as she moved to take over the nights cooking duty.
Stepping out of her way Naruto could not help but wonder why someone he barely knew would be willing to give up so much for him. Sakura sure, maybe even Shikamaru, but Hinata he would have never considered that she might care that much about him. True he had known her from their days together at the academy but they had never been close in any sense of the word. She had always just been one of the few people in the village that had accepted him, one of the few people he could call friend.
"Listen, Hinata. Orders aside, if Tsunade explained everything to you then why did you agree to it?" He softly asked as he watched her plate the grilled fish.
Hinata never slowed in her task, continuing almost as if she had not heard his question and for a moment Naruto believed that maybe she had not. Then she stopped and turned to him and in voice that Naruto had never heard the Hyuga use before she said; "It had to be me because my life is yours."
To be continued...