Takano struggled against the men holding her captive. "Let go of me!" she yelled again. Toshi came up and put a knife to her throat. She stopped struggling abd glarred at him. He smiled evily. "Our prize?" he asked roughly. Takano tightened her jaw, her eyes burning into his. Toshi lifted the blade away from her neck and brought the hilt down on her head. Takano gasped and a few drops of blood spattered on the sand. She lifted her head defiantly, and looked at Hideaki. He turned to his men. "Take everything in the cave." With a "Yessir" they all trudged into the cave.

"Raaaaaaagghh!" Naruto yelled as he rushed over to the cave. The men were taken aback as he rushed up to the man closest to him and kicked him in the head.

"Stop him, you fools!" Hideaki yelled. In the immeadiate confusion, the three men holding Takano loosened their grip. She took advantage of the opportunity and jabbed one guy in the ribs. When he let go of her right arm she grabbed her knife out of her pocket and stabbed another guy in the leg. With her left arm free, she slashed the last guy across the face. He dropped to his knees and she raced off to the cave.

Sakura was fighting two guys by herself when she spotted Takano running for the cave out of the corner of her eye. She turned to Naruto who was defending himself with a kunai against one of the men's gloden swords. "Naruto-kun! Hinata-chan!" she yelled before she punched one guy in the stomach.

Naruto looked over at the cave. He knocked the sword out of the guy's hand, punched him in the face and ran for the cave.

After Takano had left the cave, Hinata had taken the opportunity to escape. She used sharpened chakra from her fingertiips to slice through the rope around her wrists and then untied her feet. She went over to the mouth of the cave to watch the events unfold. When she saw Naruto, her heart skipped a beat. Naruto-kun. He came for me. When Takano staggered into the cave, she jumped.

Takano looked at Hianta in shock. Then she got into a fighting stance, her knife pointed at Hinata. "I don't know how you got out of those ropes, but untill I get my money you're not getting out of this cave." she threatened.

Hinata got into the gentle fist position. "We'll see about that." she said.

Before either of them could do anything, however, Naruto appeared behind Takano.

"If you touch her, you'll regret it!" he growled at Takano.

Hinata looked at Naruto. His eyes were red and the wisker-like scratched on his face had grown longer. His teeth were long and sharp. It was the first itme Hinata hd seen him turning Kyubi. It frightened her. Not because it was all that scary to see, but because Naruto didn't look himself.

Takano was scared too, but she wasn't about to give up. She lunged for Naruto with her knife. He caught her wrist and flipped the knife out of her hand. Takano gasped, now realising what kind of mistake she had made. But it was too late. Naruto threw her against the back of the cave wall with a sickening crunch. Takano cried out n pain.

A single orange tail sprouted out of Nauto's back as he stalked over to Takano. She tried to stand and Naruto picked her up by her shirt. He looked at her in the eyes. Tears ran down her cheeks. Hitori, I'm sorry I failed. she thought.

Hinata ran over and wrapped her arms around Naruto. "Naruto-kun! Stop, please!" she begged.

Naruto slowly turned his head and looked at Hinata. She looked up at him. "It's alright, Naruto-kun. I'm safe." she said smiling, tears streaming down her face.

Naruto looked back at Takano adn dropped her. She fell to her knees, looking at Hinata in shock and graditude.

Hinata let go of Naruto as he turned around. His single tail receeded and tears streamed for his sweet blue eyes. He fell to his knees, looking up at Hinata. "Hinata-chan...please...forgive me...I never wanted you to see me like that." he said quietly. He bowed his head and put his arm up to his eyes, tears pouring out now.

Hinata knelt in front of him and put a hand on his knee. He looked at her in amazement. She smiled at him through happy tears. "Naruto-kun...it's alright...I...I love you no matter what." she said softly.

Naruto smiled at Hinata. "I guess I always knew that." he said sweetly. Then he leaned forward and kissed her.

Hinata turned bright red, but then she cupped the back of his head in her hand and kissed him back. Naruto smiled and rested his forehead against hers. He looked deeply into her eyes. "Hinata-chan, you really are a great person, aren't you?" he cooed. Hinata blushed.

Takano pulled herself to her feet. She looked at the pair on the floor and then at the cave enterance. She could hear the fighting in full force going on just outside. She looked down at the couple again and kicked the boy in the leg gently. Naruto looked up at the woman, ready to fight again. Takano mearly gestured outside. "You better get her outta here, kid." she said emotionlessly.

Naruto looked at the woman, stunned. Then he smiled. "Thank-you." he said. Then he helped Hinata to her feet and the two of them headed for the outside. Hinata stopped. Naruto looked at her. "What is it, Hinata-chan?" he asked. Hinata looked at Naruto and then back at Takano sympathetically.

Takano looked at Hinata and scoffed. "There are better ways of making money. " she said nonchalantly, "Besides, my sister wouldn't want to live in a house that was bought with other people's blood."

Hinata nodded. "Your sister is very lucky to have a sibling that cares for her as much as you do." she said.

Takano shook her head. "No. I'm lucky to have her to live for."

Hinata looked at Naruto. He smiled at her. She looked back at Takano. "Good luck." she said before her and Naruto walked out into the brawl.

Takano looked after them for a while. She took the picture out of her pack and looked at it. Yeah, Hitori would be proud.