AN: Hello everyone! This is random, but I've been thinking about words recently. I can't help but wonder where words like "hubbub" and "chagrin" come from. Really, who comes up with them? *Random shrug* Oh well. I have, however, decided that my favorite word is "scamper". Why? Because you can make the scariest villain sound lame when you use it. For example, if you say, "The evil man stalked menacingly through the underbrush," it sounds mildly scary. But if you say, "The evil man scampered menacingly through the underbrush," you just burst out laughing. To all my readers out there, what's your favorite word?

Review!

Blue Serenity

Inspired By Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto

Hinata remained in her futon glancing at her loudly snoring teammate as he rolled over in their makeshift tent, snuggling closer in Akamaru's thick white fur. As much as Hinata was tempted to follow his example and also cuddle the large dog she couldn't bring herself to do it. She felt too restless after her earlier experiences that day.

Slowly she pulled back her blanket and sat up, stealthily beginning to crawl towards the small tent's flap. As she lifted it Akamaru raised his head and blinked at her sleepily. Hinata put a finger to her lips and the ninja hound simply lowered his head again.

Without further interruption the Hyuuga slipped from the tent and crept silently past Kurenai and Shino, who were standing guard quietly in the trees above. They noticed her go by and did nothing but give her a small wave. They knew her habits by now and were content with her leaving their makeshift camp so long as she kept her weapons' pouch with her at all times.

Though lacking her usual lilac jacket (She removed it so she could sleep, but kept her black pants, shirt, mesh, shoes, and weapons' pouch on just in case there was an attack in the middle of the night that required instant preparedness) Hinata slipped easily through the forest, following the sound of rushing water that had been audible from their campsite- the reason why they had chosen it in the first place. Her pale face lit up upon reaching the small waterfall that she had been searching for, a soft smile reaching her features at the sight of the large pool of water that collected around it before spilling into a river that wound away through the trees.

Before she continued she activated her Byakugan for a brief search through the trees to make sure there was nobody in the nearby vicinity to watch. She saw no one in the forest. With a small, pleased hum the navy-haired teen removed her shoes and placed them delicately next to the water's edge. That was the only article of clothing she removed for- after an embarrassing experience with Naruto stumbling across her- she knew better. Without making another sound she focused the chakra to her feet and smoothly made her way onto the water, only stopping when she made it to the center of the pool.

Hinata took a deep breath and closed her eyes. What she was about to do was something she had done since she was little. It had originally been for training, but now she did it simply to relax her when she had problems finding sleep. She opened her eyes and exhaled.

And then she began to dance.

~oOo~

It was a problem. That was the only way to describe what was happening to Itachi Uchiha. Hinata Hyuuga, the Hyuuga heiress, was on his mind even more than before since he had heard her softly whispered thank you. It had only been a day since then, but it was enough to make him realize that something was truly wrong.

That, evidently, left only one course of action. Itachi had to ditch Kisame for a night so he could think alone and in peace. Hence why he had moved to a nearby waterfall, going so far as to slip into the hidden niche behind the falling water that had been set up by the Akatsuki for a situation that required them to take a speedy cover.

Once inside he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, immersing himself in his thoughts. First he chose to think about how he had behaved the last time he saw her. When he was in the warehouse he could have done many things. He could have just dropped a paper bomb in without even entering and his job would have been finished. He could have killed both Goro and Hinata to leave no witnesses of his presence. He could have killed her squad, too, for that matter. So many options… and yet he chose to kill the black market dealer not so he could complete his mission- for it was the farthest thing from his mind at the time- but so he could save her. A girl he hadn't even spoken to before that day. It was illogical, but then- if his actions at his first two encounters with her were any indication- she had a tendency to make him do illogical things.

It wasn't a good tendency.

The dark-haired Akatsuki couldn't let himself to forget that he couldn't allow himself happiness. He had ended all chances of that when he had chosen to put the Leaf Village before him and kill his Clan… to scar his little brother for life. He was destined to die to bring his brother happiness, and only then would he himself find peace.

The sound of someone approaching snapped him from his thoughts, causing him to open his eyes. As Itachi watched he realized with dread that it was none other than Hinata who approached the waterfall. And, to his dismay, it was too late to leave without alerting her to his position. Of course, as she activated her Byakugan he realized that she might just find him anyway. For a moment he tensed, but when she didn't even think to check the waterfall he relaxed, though in his head he chided her for being as careless as to not search every possible hiding place.

Then she took off her shoes.

For a horrified moment he thought she would continue to strip and begin to bathe, but when that was all she took off he calmed down slightly. After all, while Itachi had incredible self-control he was still male, and when faced with such temptation he wasn't quite sure if he would do the honorable thing and look away.

His attention was drawn from his thoughts to her once more as he watched her move to the center of the pool of water that collected around the waterfall. Through the falling water her image was blurred, her frame only being visible due to the light of the full moon above. Itachi was only lucky that it was hard to see him in the far corner of the dark niche behind the waterfall on such a clear night.

And then, as he watched, her back straightened and her head rose. Slowly and smoothly she began to move, arms and legs raising and lowering in a calming movement. She began to sway, her feet starting to move along the water's surface, carrying her with them. Itachi's eyes widened and his mouth opened a little in amazement.

The Hyuuga was dancing.

Before his very eyes she got more and more into her routine, no doubt hearing the perfect music in her head. Her movements continued fluidly and swiftly as she added more steps to her dance. Her form was silhouetted against the moon's light, only showing her slender form twisting gracefully as her long, navy-blue hair swished and wove around her captivatingly. And then she purposely skimmed one of her bare feet in the water to send a small spray into the air, only to bring them into her dance as well, the small droplets of water floating around her arms and legs as they sparkled like tiny jewels.

To Itachi's dark eyes she was mesmerizing. She was… beautiful.

His last thought startled him, but it still couldn't make him remove his gaze from her dancing form. He had already known that she was attractive, but when he thought it this time it felt different. He had admitted it the first time because it would be the general consensus of anyone who came across her, but now he admitted it because…

He stiffened and swallowed inaudibly, unable to admit the truth quite yet. Instead he just remained where he was and gave the dancing girl his full attention, being perhaps the most attentive audience she had ever had, despite the fact she didn't know of his presence.

At last, her pace began to slow. Her movements got less energetic and her lifting limbs got lower and lower. Her entrancing dance ended with a gentle leg swing across the water and an elegant crouch with her head bowed as her hair finally settled around her stilled form.

In an instant she stood, straightened, and yawned. Without a moment's hesitation she left the water and put her shoes on once more, easily slipping among the dark trees and disappearing. Itachi sighed but remained behind the waterfall.

After her stunning performance and his reaction to it- one he thought akin to an adolescent boy's with how entranced he was- he had to admit to the only possible explanation for his odd behavior. Why he thought of her so often… why he had lost sleep over her… why he had been so concerned for her… why he even acknowledged her at all…

The answer was simple.

He, Itachi Uchiha, had fallen in love with a girl about his brother's age that he barely knew. He cringed at how such a proclamation sounded even in his own head. His illogical side had struck again, this time creating a bigger problem for him that would doubtlessly land him in severe trouble. How could it not? He had somehow fallen for perhaps the most innocent Kunoichi in the entirety of the Shinobi world while he himself was destined to die at the hands of his younger brother. There would never be a chance of happiness for them, even if she did begin to feel for him in such a way, which was highly unlikely as she had never so much as had a conversation with him.

And yet, as he thought of her breathtaking dance on the water he couldn't completely blame himself. Anyone who didn't fall in love with her would have to be mad.

With a sigh he finally slipped out from behind the waterfall. It was time for him to go back to Kisame and get some rest. If the realization he'd come to that night was any indication, he'd need it.