AN/- Yowzas. That is not really a word but it rolls neatly off the tongue.

So chapter 4 eh? And yup, it is ridiculously long compared to the previous chapters, but that is what happens when you have two super duper incredibly awesome beta's. yes. I now have TWO beta's known as OB1 and OB2 or, to the wider fanfiction world, wingedmercury and gone-burgers. They are the reason this chapter is presentable earlier than normal so BIG THANKS TO YOU TWO! for all your little (big) cyber-nudges, ideas, encouragement and awesome grammar-nazi skills. You know you rock. _

Anyway. As promised, this chapter has that little bit more plot that we've been waiting for so please enjoy and remember, I don't own Naruto or his little world either. (-that's my disclaimer, btw) XD

Oh and don't forget to review! ^_^

Not being the type of person to wait around for the good stuff to come to him, Naruto surprised himself with his exceptional display of forbearance. The initial discovery of what Hinata became in his eyes, Hinata who had evolved from being the shy and generally overlooked kunoichi to a standout beauty overnight. The idea in itself was an irrational one because she had not changed in the least, but Naruto was renowned as Konohas' Dead Last. Why shouldn't he be the dead last person to notice Hinata in all her womanly beauty?

He had been waiting for an opportunity to act on his feelings, but he was determined not to force himself on Hinata. She was a soft person at heart and soul and he knew, through years of friendship with her, that she wouldn't appreciate his sudden testimony of love. No, he would play this out as cool as possible. Calm-headedness and patience was the key.

During a boring mission briefing, chance presented itself sooner than expected. The mission was nothing spectacular. Something about borderlines. Suspicious activity. Spying. He wasn't exactly paying failed to understand why top ranking ninja had to undertake the menial task. All annoyances were soon forgotten as opportunity walked through the door.

"My apologies, Hokage-sama," Hinata said, bowing as she entered the room, "we did not think the clan-meeting would take so long this morning."

Hinata moved across the room to stand in the furthest corner from both the door and Naruto, followed by Neji who took a place by her side.

Naruto knew he was staring, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She stood erect and at attention, her shoulders back and her chin high. There was little that reminded him of the shy Hinata he thought he knew. This revelation only served to enhance his affection for her.

Naruto's eyes wandered over her hungrily, appraising the shapes of toned curves and slender legs that could just be seen through the material of her clothes. They lingered on thick hair that cascaded down a straight back and framed soft, beautiful, porcelain pale skin.

A loud clearing of the throat brought Naruto's attention back to the task at hand as Neji threw him a warning glare. His head snapped forward to meet the hazel stare of the Hokage.

"Everything okay, Naruto?" she asked with an amused smile.

"Yeah," he replied with his trademark sheepish grin, "everything's great!"

Neji watched Naruto as he moved around the camp fire, much like he had been watching him during the mission briefing earlier that afternoon. With the eyes of a diligent hawk, he was constantly surveying and silently plotting towards an ultimate goal. Of course Neji's ultimate goal differed substantially to that of a keen hawk, but he was determined not to let Hinata fall into the blonde shinobi's hands.

It seemed, though, that Naruto had other ideas earlier that afternoon. Neji and Hinata had arrived at the meeting together, as pre-arranged the day before. While Neji had feelings of elation during the silent yet companionable walk there, the feeling soon dissipated only to be replaced with irritation as they entered the room. It was as if Hinata had become a magnet for wandering blue eyes.

Naruto had followed their progress across the room and continued to gawk at Hinata's person until Neji could no longer stand it. He supposed it was rather childish of him and he cringed to think that Hinata would laugh at his actions, but it couldn't be helped. Perhaps if he hadn't taken note of the slight pinkish tinge that adorned Hinata's cheeks, an expression that can only be explained by Naruto's blatant stares, then he might've known self-control.

Neji did notice it though and it sent an unpleasant feeling through his gut resulting in what he liked to call an impulsive, erratic response to a disagreeable action. He coughed in a not so subtle way causing Naruto to blush and turn his head away. Tsunade sent Neji a comical, all-knowing glance that set his embarrassment glowing. He would've shrunk to the ground from it if Hinata had not touched his arm quickly and flashed him a thankful smile, the blush still lingering. The feeling of elation had slowly begun to creep back.

Now, on the first evening of their assigned mission, he sat a distance away from the small fire, trying to create some sort of plan. His endeavors were thwarted as he constantly found his eyes straying towards the blue-haired kunoichi on the other side. She was talking with Tenten, both of them in hushed whispers that sparked suspicion in Neji. He didn't trust Tenten and her promise for discretion concerning Hinata. He was brought out of his unintended spying by a shout from behind.

"Hey Neji!" Naruto yelled, sitting himself next to the Hyuuga, "so what are we going to do about Iwa?"

Neji suppressed a sigh, wondering why Naruto never bothered to listen during mission briefs. It would save every captain of his team the trouble of having to repeat everything.

"Naruto," Neji started calmly, "Hokage-sama already gave us strict instructions."

Naruto smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah but, I was a little…distracted…during the meeting so I think I missed that part."

Neji twitched, his irritation crawling back. He hoped Naruto didn't notice the sudden clenching of fists. Distracted, eh? He could guess why.

"Fine," he said in a clipped tone, "what did you miss?"

Neji retold the details to Naruto in a quick, to-the-point fashion. A four-man team has assembled to scout the borders of Fire Country in an A-ranked surveillance mission. Rumours of Iwagakure recruiting in large numbers of ninja had reached Konoha's ears. Action was deemed necessary and it was their job to gather as much information on Iwa's movement as possible without their secrecy being compromised.

"Oh I see now!" Naruto cried triumphantly, "I remember the old hag saying something about that…" his face scrunched into a thinking pose as he tapped the bridge of his nose thoughtfully, "she said something about a traveller – no, a performer? He was ambushed on the way to Konoha a couple weeks back. I wonder if that had anything to do with Iwa…"

Neji had to squash the impulse for his palm to meet his face. The levels of density Naruto could rise to was astounding.

"Of course it did," he said, biting his tongue short of adding 'stupid' to the end of the sentence. "Hokage-sama explained that also during the meeting. The merchandiser identified Iwagakure by the headbands the bandits were wearing. We need to find the bandits, okay?"

"You got it!" Naruto cheered, holding two thumbs up and grinning like crazy.

Neji sighed. Their mission was essential to Konoha's Intel on Iwa. There was a possibility that it could detect and even deflect the next breakout or war threat.

It was a mission that needed eyes, ears and backup of the most elite kind. With their current team they had all three of the above mentioned qualities. Although Neji would have preferred Shikamaru or even Lee to join their team instead of the blonde-haired, energy-ball Hokage-sama insisted on.

Some things can't be helped though and all Neji could do was hope for self-control during this long mission. Perhaps not just to restrain flying fists either, he thought warily as he once again found himself staring into a pair of pale-eyes across from the camp fire.

Two days passed since their team started on this mission and Hinata had done very little except eat, sleep and walk around the dense forest. If Iwa were indeed within Fire Country's border, they were nowhere on this side. The decision had been made by an equally exasperated team captain to head further along the border.

The journey was at a fast pace and silent save for the occasional rustle issued by the passing ninja. It could easily have been mistaken for a soft breeze caressing the trees. It was smooth going, Neji and Naruto leading with Tenten and Hinata trailing close behind.

Hinata was left to her own musing devices as she leapt from one branch to the next. Her eyes were constantly being dragged to Neji's position at the front and, once or twice when he happened to glance back, their eyes would meet for half a second before Hinata would blush and look away.

As she turned her head quickly after such an encounter she fancied she saw something move below them. A flitting shadow almost drowned amongst the shadows of the trees. She looked for a moment longer, slowing her pace ever so slightly, but saw nothing else. She shook her head, wondering if perhaps her imagination was having way too much free reign these past days. It would explain all the supposed looks she swore Neji made at her when he thought she wasn't looking. He probably made no such move; it was all her and her over-active imagination.

She increased her pace once more, trying to focus all of her attention instead on her breathing, keeping it steady to conserve energy and oxygen in the most beneficial way. Not on imagined looks, made up shadows and silly, juvenile thoughts.

They were just approaching their destination, having skirted around the edges of the border when she noticed something strange. Where the forest was hushed with few animal calls a little while ago, it was now alive with the incessant chattering of birds. Strange calls that Hinata questioned as being genuine, real birds. To any other person it would be unnoticeable, but the benefits of belonging to an influential clan had many perks. One such perk included having a bird house near the centre of the Hyuuga compound. It was somewhere Hinata particularly liked to sit, listening to the soft murmurs of the quiet animals. They had much variety and most were unique to the Fire Country, and yet nowhere had she heard such peculiar calls as she was hearing now.

Her suspicions rose as she once again thought back to the shadows she saw earlier. She scanned ahead, activating her byakugan and noting Neji doing the same. Of course he would notice it, seeing how the bird house was also one of his favourite places to go – more so than Hinata. The oddity would've stood out to him too, no doubt.

She skimmed the area quickly, looking out for unfamiliar chakra signs. Her progress was halted, though, when a soaring kunai nearly sliced her face. Her deliverance was at the hand of their weapons mistress who deflected the kunai with one of her own.

"Ambush!" Tenten yelled, pulling out more kunai out.

Hinata would've cursed her momentary lapse in security vigilance if she had had a moment spare to think about it. Instead she had to rely on carefully trained reflexes to dodge the next flying kunai aimed at her. She twisted in mid-air, breaking her progression from one branch to another and dropped to the ground while activating her byakugan.

Hinata scanned the area in one fluid motion, making sure each of her team mates were accounted for. She allowed for a moment of assurance as they all fell into place beside her, dropping into their respective battle stances. Neji nodded as he moved to stand next to her, his byakugan giving him that fierce look she so loved.

She could see four adversary figures still hiding in the trees. There were two more on the ground. She presumed they would strike first.

"I didn't see them approaching until it was too late," she said under her breath, "I'm sorry,"

Neji's head shook infinitesimally, no doubt carefully noting the position of each of their opponents.

"Tch," he said, "Don't apologize. I did not see them coming either."

"Well whoever they are," Naruto growled, his blue eyes sparking fiercely, "I'll take them all down in one shot!" Hinata had to hold back a laugh at his trade mark enthusiasm.

"Tenten," Neji breathed, choosing to ignore Naruto's typically heroic comment, "how many can you reach?"

"The two on the right," she confirmed, her hands twitching for the familiar feel of steel against her fingertips.

"Naruto," Neji addressed, "There are two hidden ahead. Twenty meters. Make it quick,"

Naruto nodded, a feral grin beginning to show on his features, "Hinata and I will take the two on the left," Neji said.

"You got it!" Naruto shouted, already preparing for his shadow clones. Three appeared with a chorus of "yeah's!" before charging with balled fists towards the target.

Hinata took one last look at Neji, trying to convey some sort of confidence in her easy stare, before jumping up for the overhanging trees. They landed on the branches with barely seconds to spare before the kunai came flying once more. They were coming from the right and were quickly halted. They heard a shrill laugh from that direction shortly followed by the clashing of metal and steel.

"You think you're all that with your weapons, huh?" they heard Tenten shout savagely, "you ain't seen nothing yet!"

She pulled out one of her weapons scrolls with one hand while carefully deflecting shuriken and kunai with the other. Despite the fact that they were both jounin, against Tenten they didn't stand a chance, especially if they fancied themselves expert weapon users. They definitely hadn't seen anything compared to Tenten. Her skills were being demanded by ANBU in the Combat forces unit.

The wild grin on her face served only to goad her rivals on as the two men unsheathed their katana. The blades left their cases with that deadly hiss of sharp metal escaping their confines. The rest was lost in the commotion as Hinata's attention was snapped back to her own battle. She and Neji crouched low on their branch as two men on the opposite side dropped down to reveal themselves. They looked young to Hinata, perhaps just fresh jounin. One of the men, a tall, bald-headed guy with heavy lidded eyes and a crooked, feral grin laughed heartedly.

"I don't fight girls," he said, pointing at Hinata, "especially weak ones. That's not fair!"

His companion smirked, tossing straight brown, shoulder length hair behind him.

"That's alright. I'll have her for myself." His smile was sickly and made Hinata want to gag. Before she could fathom any sort of response to their banter the brown-haired jounin threw a collection of shuriken and kunai in their direction. Hinata twisted to the right dodging all of them with ease, and slipped a few of her own out from the pouch on her side. She threw one towards the pair and silently cheered as the two clones burst in a puff of smoke.

With careful precision she then aimed for the two chakra signatures behind them. Her kunai's had a boomerang effect as she threw them directly in front of her only for it to curve around and fly towards her intended target. She was rewarded by a low grunt as one of the weapons hit their mark. Neji took it as his opportunity and moved, fast enough to look like a blur to the average eye, jumping in the direction of the newly injured man and his companion.

Hinata knew her kunai would not have disabled the man entirely. She just hoped that, when Neji got to him, he would remember some self-control. Bringing these ninja back to Konoha alive was essential. Neji landed on the enemy's branch and immediately began his assault, swinging his leg in a neat roundhouse kick that made impact with a stunned shinobi just as he stood from his hiding spot.

There was little time to dwell on that though as the man she injured staggered out of the leaves he hid behind and leaned against a thick branch for support.

"You – blank-eyed – bitch." He huffed as he clutched his side. Hinata's kunai was still lodged there coated in fresh blood. She chanced a glance at Neji who was caught in the middle of his own battle with the bald-headed guy. She could hear him shouting, unleashing the terror of gentle fist on the unsuspecting ninja. She'd have to go this one alone.

"Eyes forward, honey." The ninja crooned and pounced at her. Despite her not being prepared for such a forward attack, Hinata managed to jump high enough to elude his outstretched hands. As she landed she ducked low and the man thrust out, kunai In hand. Hinata quickly turned on the balls of her feet, twisting around to face him again. Standing upright she tightened her grip on her own kunai.

He lunged forward once more and their weapons met with a grind of metal. Her assailants' right leg slipped between her own. Their eyes locked on one another as they struggled fiercely. Hinata felt herself being pushed backwards but could do little to stop the progress. When it came to brute strength, Hinata would always lose. Even so, she channelled her chakra to her feet in order to maintain some leverage.

Her back met with the hard bark of the tree and the ninja came closer, pushing up against her roughly, his leg still licked between her own. He leaned closer to her and slowly slid his tongue across his top lip.

"You know..." he breathed while his eyes wandered down Hinata's curves, "You're pretty."

Hinata's face contorted in disgust and she shoved against him. The movement only served to push their bodies even closer together, though, and the man smirked.

"Not too friendly though." he continued, "I hate that."

Hinata's arm was trapped between her body and her opponents while the other hand wielding the kunai was locked in his firm grip. He lifted his right hand, the metal of his own kunai glinting dangerously. Tilting the point towards her cheek he caressed her face with the blunt side of the blade. His breathing was heavy and hot against her face while her own was frantic. She felt the cool metal slide down the side of her face, following her jawline and moving down her neck. As the blade reached her collarbone he paused, brown eyes sparking cynically, before moving lower towards her cleavage.

"Not so tough now, huh?" he breathed. Hinata could only watched in repulsion.

Just as the kunai was about to cut through material there was sickening squelch. Her captors eyes widened in shock staring into Hinata's eyes with the gaze of a soon to be dead man. His kunai dropped from his hand, falling to the ground far below, and his grip on her arm was released. Hinata gasped, pushing him off her as he coughed blood from his mouth.

She looked up and met the gaze of a very pissed looking Neji. He ripped the katana from her rival in a swift stroke before discarding the weapon off the tree. The man was now kneeling in front of her, blood pouring from his back and mouth, and Neji continued to glare at his dying form.

"Are you alright?" he asked stiffly,

"Y-yes, thank you." Hinata stumbled, her hands shaking slightly. Neji nodded before kicking the ninja hard so that he fell from their perch with a cry. He hit the ground with a thud and there was silence.

Hinata looked at Neji once more, her eyes trailing over his barely scuffed form. As she opened her mouth to say something, they heard a call from Tenten.

"Neji," she said, coming out from her cover, "this guy's got a scroll!"

Neji nodded at Tenten before turning back to Hinata.

He moved forward and placed a tentative hand on her check, smoothing where the metal of the kunai had been not minutes before. Hinata had to refrain from closing her eyes and leaning into the touch. Instead she smiled shakily before touching his caressing hand with her own.

"You should probably go check that out." She said.

"Yeah, you sure you are okay, Hinata." He asked, removing his hand. Hinata missed it as soon as it was gone.

"I'm fine," she replied, "you go. I'll go down and see what I can get from our opponents."

He nodded once more before jumping in the direction of a very happy looking Tenten. She'd have to ask Tenten about that later.

Hinata dropped back down to the ground, landing beside the two fallen ninja they had just fought. The bald-headed man she could see was still breathing, but it was very shallow. She moved to his companion and glared at his bloodied body. She could see no signs of breathing coming from him but, quite frankly, she didn't care whether this man made it back to Konoha alive or not. She touched self-consciously at her collar bone and remembering the feel of his sick breath against her skin.

She knelt down, her knees meeting damp forest floor, and turned to the bald-headed man. She would see what damage was done to this guy and then move on to wherever Naruto and his opponents were.

Her hands glowed as they moved over the man, taking note that Neji had disrupted all of his chakra points to an almost fatal point. He really had no restraint sometimes, she mused fondly. She continued her assessment careful not to actually do anything in terms of healing. It would be most unfavourable to have any of these guys conscious during the trek back to Konoha. Instead she took careful note of the damage done, made sure his lights were sure to stay out and tried to gather any information in terms of Intel while she had the opportunity. When she found little she decided to move on.

As she pulled her hand back from his still body she moved her weight backwards and then stopped abruptly as she felt her skin pierced by a thick blade. With her back turned it happened too fast for her to do anything except gasp a silent scream.

Her mind was a hubbub of confusion and the only coherent thought she could make was that her medic pack is all the way on the other side of the clearing, before she got lost in the pain.

It almost felt surreal, the sharp metal blade penetrating skin easily. She could feel nothing and yet everything all at once. The world was on fire, her back searing with pain, and yet nothing registered. She could feel warm breath on the back of her neck, panting with the effort of sitting upright, but laughing nonetheless. She could feel the blood pouring from her lower back, the copper taste rising to her mouth, torturing her with the taste of death.

"How does that feel baby?" the man whispered in her ear, pushing the blade in further, "not too great, huh?"

She could hear her team-mates yelling, Neji shouting her name and Naruto screaming revenge. Her attacker was determined to put his last efforts to good use, though, as he wrenched the kunai out raising it high for a final, potentially fatal strike.

"Don't make another move," came a feral cry.

It took a moment for Hinata to realize that the words had come from someone other than her attacker, someone with brighter hair than the assailants' mousy brown.

Hinata had time to register a few more things before she let the blessed darkness consume her. She watched from her kneeling position as Naruto loomed over them, his eyes a crimson red, his face contorted with barely restrained rage. He reached behind her with hands protruding claws designed to tear and ripped the kunai from the offenders' readied hand. In the same movement he lifted the man up and over Hinata, throwing him against the thick trunk of an old tree. Hinata heard a loud crack but was unsure whether the sound came from the tree or the man that fell to the floor as limp as a dead man. Perhaps he was dead?

The rest Hinata could not watch. It cost her too much energy and effort and she was sure that she had lost a lot of blood in the drama. A figure that her eyes could only identify as a person by the blurred outline of a shadow came to stand in front of her, reaching out to steady her from falling.

Warm arms enclosed around her tired body. She sagged gratefully into them and closed her eyes.

"Thank you," Hinata said weakly, her body throbbing with a dull pain, "thank you…Naruto."

Neji watched the wounded woman give herself over to unconsciousness. She slumped in his arms, her uneven breaths against his collar-bone sending mixed feelings coursing through his body.

There was a heavy weight in his chest and he found himself fighting against the urge to let the tears fall. He refused to call it crying. Grown men don't cry, let alone elite shinobi.

Her blood seeped through the material of her clothes and soon coated his arms. Neji's eyes were fixed on the crimson red colour. It was the colour of demise and he grew sick to the stomach at the thought of it tainting Hinata's body. Yet as he continued to look at her he could only hear those three goading, stabbing final words.

"Thank you…Naruto."

Her words echoed like his own personal form of torture, attacking his emotions like wild fire.

Was it selfish of Neji to want to be the only one for her? The only person who can create the emotions she so easily creates in him? Yet his name is the last on her lips when faced with mortal danger. Was it his face she saw as she closed her eyes?

His arms tightened around her form, holding her close to him when it seemed he was so far from anything else, so far from her that it was almost a physical pain. Perhaps this was the only time he could be close to her like this; perhaps there may never be another. If Neji was going to be selfish, he was going to do it right. He wasn't going to let go of her for her to fall into someone else's arms.

"Neji," Tenten said, crouching beside him and laying a tentative hand on his shoulder, "we need to look at her. She's lost a lot blood,"

Neji's grip didn't loosen. Some part of his brain, the logical part, told him he was really just being childish. Hinata needed medical attention immediately. It was getting the hormonal, emotionally wrecked part to listen to reason that was the problem. His arms were rigid and umoving for another half a minute before Tenten, coughing not so discreetly, motioned towards the prepared make-shift bed. Reluctantly he lowered her down onto the soft surface and leaned back.

Naruto appeared next to him, his face a mixture of fresh anger and worry. His eyes had returned to their normal, outrageously blue hue. It took all of Neji's willpower not to glare.

"Is she going to be okay?" Naruto asked.

Tenten threw Neji a knowing, warning glance.

"Yeah," she said firmly, "she'll be fine. You should probably go and find her medic bag."

Naruto nodded before running in the direction of their packs.

"And you, Neji," Tenten said, taking advantage of their moment alone, "need to cool it. Hinata is going to be fine and you need to stop with the 'cold-shoulder' on Naruto. You're lucky he's the ignorant brat he is."

Neji had nothing to say. He thought his attitude was simply an inside thing, but apparently he wasn't doing a very good job at hiding very much, at least not from Tenten.

Where did Neji's legendary stoicism and indifference go?

He nodded in assent, not meeting the fierce brown gaze of his comrade and friend.

"Hn." he said, adopting a very Uchiha-like sulk. The expression came in handy at times when there was no other response available.

AN/- And here is where I remind you about that little review button down there. You should probably push it and write something. Whatever you want really. This chapter is the most worked on yet and your feedback would be hugely appreciated!

Work on the fifth chapter has commenced (my beta's will be pleased to know) so hopefully the waiting won't be long. Fingers crossed, ne? XD