Well now. How you all doing? I know at the end of my last chapter, I said I was nearing my forte, which is full scale battles. I did say that. However, I would point something out. I didn't say it would be this chapter. It may begin in this chapter, or you may have to wait for the next chapter. Anyways, I have until the 8th to write, and then me and my family are moving. So, I'll try to get as much done until then. After that, it may be a week or more until I can actually write another chapter. So please be patient, and don't lose the faith.

RS: Yeah! My brother will be back, and will finish this story. Or else I get to beat him up!

LR: I never said that! When did I say that?!

Naruto: Someone, please help me here. Get me away from them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Now prepare for another Naruto hanyou cliche!

Chapter 7

Team Kurenai, Naruto, and Kage left through the gates, where at least twenty ninja stood guard. All ready, a number of earth style users were busy using their jutsu's to make a trench surrounding the wall. They nodded to the scout shinobi, before returning to work. Kurenaiturned to Kage.

"So, where do we go?"

Kage pointed to the northwest. "That way. They're camp was there, so they should be coming from that way. But we should be careful. They may have pincer forces to form surprise attacks, and we don't want to run into that."

They all nodded, and leapt into the trees. Above them, a messenger hawk wheeled in a thermal to gain altitude, before turning to the southwest, towards Suna.

(A/N: If you don't know what a thermal is... how old are you? It is a pillar of heated air, that rises from the ground. Birds, especially predatory ones, use them to gain altitude, instead of flapping their wings off)

Kage led the way, with Kiba behind him. Naruto and Hinata took the middle, with Shino and Kurenai bringing up the rear. Naruto had his hood and face mask were down, so his ears and nose would not be hindered. Hinata glanced at him, watching his ears twitch towards every sound. She thought they were absolutely adorable, and felt another urge to stroke them. She shook her head, and put her mind back on the mission at hand. She didn't notice the smirk that Naruto had, or the knowing smile of her sensei behind her.

They traveled all day, stopping briefly to eat lunch. They were moving fast, but not at full speed, so they wouldn't end up running straight into the enemy forces. As night began to fall, they stopped to make camp.

Kage looked around the clearing they were in. "This is probably our best cover for a while. It's spacious enough for us, but with decent cover. Do any of you sense anything?"

Shino shook his head. "My bug sentries don't feel any enemy chakra."

Kiba patted Akamaru's head. "We don't smell anyone nearby."

Hinata scanned the surrounding area. "I don't see anyone, Kage-sama."

Naruto shook his head. "Nothing but bugs and birds. I don't hear anything." (A/N: Fox ears. Gotta love em. Cute, soft, and practical)

Kurenai nodded. "All right. Kiba, Kage, try and see what you can find for dinner. Naruto, Hinata, firewood. Shino and I will set up camp."

They immediately separated to their various tasks. Kiba looked over at Kage, as they tracked a rabbit. "So, you trained Naruto's mom?"

"Yeah. Why do you ask, Kiba-san?"

Kiba shrugged his shoulders. "It's just... the guy grew up with no one, ya know? He knows who they are, but he doesn't really know anything about them. I was just wondering if you were going to tell him about her, since only you really know about her life before Konoha."

Kage nodded. "Yeah, I know. It's a shame. After Uzu fell, I came to the Land of Fire to find Kushina. By the time I had healed up, and made it here, the Kyuubi had attacked, and left. I learned about Kushina's death, but never about what happened to any children she had. So, I waited in a nearby town, until Naruto stumbled across my little hut, exhausted, and a hanyou."

"Why didn't you attack him? From what I've heard, most people would have killed a hanyou on sight."

"I won't attack someone who bears me no ill will. When I woke him up, he just told me to kill him. Instead, I talked to him, learned about his past. When I learned of his last name, I knew I could never kill him. So, I started him down the path of getting a new purpose in life."

Suddenly, Akamaru leapt forward, flushing two rabbits out of a bush. Both Kiba and Kage nailed them with kunais, and began to clean the dead animals.

With Naruto and Hinata

Naruto and Hinata were gathering up fire wood from a fallen tree near the camp. Hinata looked over at Naruto, admiring the tip of his tail, which was poking out of the bottom of his cloak.

"Naruto-kun?"

"Yeah, Hinata-chan?"

"What's it like, to be... well, to be a h-hanyou?"

Naruto sighed, and leaned against the tree trunk. "It's... I don't know. On the one hand, it's cool. I mean, I have heightened senses. I'm stronger, faster, more agile. Not to mention the Kitsunegan. That is an added bonus. But... with all of this comes the hatred and prejudice."

He looked down. "Most people only look skin deep. They see the whisker marks, the tail, the ears, and automatically assume something is horribly wrong with me, or I'm evil. It's not like that in Konoha anymore, but I can still sense it. Most people now are bowing, and being respectful. Several have begged for forgiveness, others have thanked me for my mercy. But I still feel glances of hatred, and disgust, from some people. I don't ever see it, but I can feel it."

Hinata came over, and placed a comforting hand on his arm. He looked up and smiled at her. "But then, there are people like you, Hinata-chan. People like you, who always try to find the best in a person." He gently pulled her close, causing her to blush.

"How is it possible? How can someone so kind and caring possible be a mortal, and not an angel from heaven?"

Hinata blushed even more, and Naruto backed up a little. "Sorry. I guess I got carried away."

Hinata barely shook her head. "I-it's a-all right, N-N-Naruto-kun. I-I really a-appreciated your k-kind words."

Naruto nodded, smiling again. He let go of her, and picked up the pile of wood they had collected. He nodded back to the camp. "We should get going."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

They sat around the campfire, having enjoyed their dinner, which Hinata had prepared with Kage's help. Hinata had blushed at Naruto's praise for the excellent food. Now, she sat near him, her blush having barely faded after being near him for twenty minutes. They were busy talking, sharing stories about what had been going on while Naruto had been away.

Naruto was describing this one fight, skipping over the messy details, and sticking to the main story, when Shino stiffened. Kurenai noticed in an instant.

"Shino, what is it?"

"Some of my kikai bugs have sensed intruders, Kurenai-sama. Ten enemies, coming from the west."

Hinata activated her Byakguan, while Naruto turned his head, his ears straining in the direction Shino had said. After a moment, both of them nodded.

"Shino-kun is right. They are Iwa shinobi."

"An advance guard. They are going to scout Konoha, before the main force arrives."

Kurenai stood up. "We should break camp, and get out of here."

Naruto shook his head. "It won't do any good. They'll know we were here. Our best bet is to hide nearby, and wipe them out when they come."

Kage nodded. "I agree. Me and Naruto can take out several of them before they know what is happening. It will also help leave the enemy blind."

Kurenai sighed. "Fine. Everyone, fall back."

They doused the fire, and spread out into the surrounding area. Ten minutes later, ten Iwa ninja's dropped into the camp. Their leader turned to two of them.

"Search the tents. If anyone is in there, kill them. The rest of you, keep your eyes opened."

The two ninja's opened the tent flaps, and quickly stabbed the empty sleeping bags, checking them for enemies. Then they turned around to the leader.

"Nothing here s-gah!" The two ninja's fell with kunai's riddling their back. Another three fell, one with a shuriken in his throat, the other two with kunai's in their chests.

Naruto dropped down from one tree, a Rasengan all ready formed in his hand. He drove it into one enemy, sending the ninja's body threw several trees. The broken corpse landed almost a hundred feet away.

As the remaining four turned to him, Kiba and Akamaru leapt out, yelling "Fang over Fang!" The ninja's jumped aside, only for one to be covered in bugs, and screaming as they sucked away his chakra. Kage immediately came flying out, his hands blurring through handsigns. "Water style, Ice kunai festival!"

A ball of water suddenly condensed from the water particles in the air, and over a hundred ice made kunai's formed from it. Kage flung his hands forward, and the kunai's shot out at them. One Iwa ninja was pierced over and over again, while another took two in the arm. The third one was caught in a genjutsu, before Kurenai slit his throat. The leader and the wounded one turned to escape through the only open gap, found themselves facing against Hinata, who stood ready, her Byakugan activated. They both rushed her, the leader pulling out a katana, while the other one began hand signs.

"Earth style, Rock barrage jutsu!" Several large rocks ripped from the ground, and flew at Hinata. She dodged them easily, but the Iwa ninja wasn't done yet. "Rock Shrapnel!" The rocks exploded, and hundreds of pieces of shrapnel flew back at Hinata. She quickly adopted the stance of her personal jutsu.

"Protective Eight Trigrams, Sixty-four palms!" Her hands moved with ease, blocking the shrapnel with chakra beams from her hands. Naruto used this moment to drive his right claw blades through the ninja's back.

The leader of the Iwa ninja's, who had jumped back while his ninja had performed his jutsu, was now fighting Kage. He managed to drive the Uzu ninja back, long enough to turn and rush Hinata as her jutsu ended. He was on her as her jutsu ended, and she was barely able to dodge the lethal blow. The blade still managed to cut her arm, but it wasn't anything serious. She turned, and struck at him with her Jyuuken, but he dodged away, preparing for another strike. Suddenly, Naruto was between the two, his eyes red, and his katana held at the ready.

"You're mine now." He rushed forward, his sword arching upwards in a vertical slash. The ninja blocked it, but the force of the impact sent him skidding back. He shook his sword arm, which had numbed slightly. Naruto smirked, as the black crosses on his eyes turned to x's. "Time to die." He said, as the Kitsunegan took affect. He was in his opponents mind, and began to read it. Suddenly, his face twisted into anger. He screamed in rage, and crushed his opponents mind into oblivion. As the Iwa shinobi fell. Naruto rushed over to Hinata, and immediately looked at her wound. Everyone was looking at him, wondering what had caused him to react in such a way.

"No... no, please no."

"Naruto-kun, what is..." Hinata suddenly started swaying, and collapsed into Naruto's arms. Kurenai rushed over, as Naruto lowered her to the ground.

"What's going on?! What's happened to her?"

Naruto slowly began to cry. "The ninja's sword. It was coated in poison."

(A/N: Cliche, I know. But I need it, so another cliche can happen, so Naruto and Hinata can really be together)

Kurenai immediately began to dig through Hinata's medical pouch for antidotes, but Naruto stopped her. "It won't work. The poison is fast acting. S-she'll be gone in... in a matter of minutes."

Kurenai shook her head. "There must be something we can do?! Are you going to just let her die?!"

Naruto looked at her in rage, his eyes changing back into the Kitsunegan. "Do you think I want that?!" He looked at her, before turning into his mindscape. He rushed to the Kyuubi's cage.

"Where are you, you damn fox?!"

"Silence mortal, I'm sleeping."

"Well, wake up! I need you!"

The foxes eyes opened. "Why should I help you? And yes, I know it is for your wrench."

"Don't you dare call Hinata-chan that! Now help me save her!"

"Why?"

"Because I'll kill myself if you don't! And that means you cease to exist."

Kyuubi let out a howl of rage, before glaring down at Naruto. "Fine. But the only way is for my chakra to be in her. And in it's state, it will merge with her, and do to her what it did to us."

Naruto started at this, then looked down at the ground. Then he looked up. "Be ready."

He returned to reality, where the others were looking at him. He sighed. "Kyuubi says he can save Hinata-chan, at the cost of her being hanyou for the rest of her life."

The others looked at each other, then Kiba nodded. "It doesn't matter to me. I'll stand by her, just like I do for you."

Kurenai nodded. "This will save her life." Shino just nodded. Naruto looked down at Hinata, whose face was becoming paler than normal. He gently lowered his head, and whispered. "I'm sorry."

He placed a hand on the wound, and began to channel his and Kyuubi's combined chakra. It formed around his hand, and flowed into the wound, disappearing beneath the skin. After a few moments, Hinata's eyes shot open, and she turned on her side, vomiting onto the ground. Her whole body shook, and she suddenly grasped her stomach, whimpering and crying in pain. Naruto immediately pulled her into his lap, holding her tight. He whispered comforting words into her ears, even as she screamed in pain, and tears fell down his face. There was a ripping sound, as a lavender furred tail erupted from the seat of her pants. Her ears grew similar colored fur, as they morphed into fox ears. Just as suddenly, she stopped shaking, and fell against Naruto, panting. He stroked her, crying as he continually whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She seemed to snuggle against him, and her eyes opened for one brief moment.

"Naruto-kun? Am I dead?" She whispered.

"No. No, you're alive."

"Good." She said, her eyes closing, as she fell unconscious. Naruto just held her close. What will you think when you wake up? I've condemned you to the same life I have had. Can you ever forgive me?

Kurenai sighed. "Well, I'm glad that's over with. We'll rest here for a while, then head out to find the enemy force."

Naruto looked up, his eyes now red from crying. "Th-there's no need. I-I read his mind. They are two day behind them We have two days till they arrive at Konoha." He immediately turned back to Hinata, holding her, and gently wiping her mouth clean. Kage nodded.

"I suggest we rest for a few hours, then fall back to Konoha. One of us should move ahead to give them this information. Also, they can take our prisoner." He pointed to the Iwa shinobi, who Shino had drained. He was lying there, his body paralyzed by poison from the bugs. Kurenai nodded, and turned to Kiba.

"You're the fastest. Get the prisoner, and get back to Konoha. Inform them of the enemies distance, and... tell them about Hinata's current state. Tsunade may need to do a check up, to make sure there is nothing wrong."

Kiba nodded, and grabbed the Iwa ninja. He tied him up, and secured him to Akamaru's back. Then the two of them disappeared into the trees, heading back home. Kurenai turned to Naruto, who was picking Hinata up, bridal style.

"We'll rest for a few hours, then get out of here."

Naruto nodded, and carried Hinata to one of the tents. He placed her in one of the ruined sleeping bags, and covered her with a blanket. He watched her ears twitch, and her now calm face, as she slept. He lowered his head, tears beginning to fall again from his eyes.

Why? Why must I hurt everyone I care about? Why can't anyone be safe around me? He sat like that for the next four hours, until Kurenai came into the tent. She looked at Hinata, and whispered, "Is she okay?"

Naruto nodded. "She'll be okay. Her body isn't accustomed to Kyuubi's chakra, like mine was, so the process was more exhausting. The poison didn't help either. But she survived, and just needs time to rest."

Kurenai turned to him. "How about you?"

Naruto just stared at Hinata, almost blankly. "I don't know. I'm glad she is alive, but what kind of life have I condemned her too? I told her about the hate and prejudice I still get. And now, she will receive it too. I... I wish there had been another way. But there wasn't. What will she think of me, for turning her into this?"

Kurenai sat next to him. "I think you are overreacting. I really think she will not blame you, especially since you saved her life. Just trust her."

Naruto looked at her, and nodded. Kurenai sighed. "We need to get going. Can you carry Hinata?"

"Of course." Naruto carried Hinata outside of the tent, then performed his trademark jutsu. Twenty clones popped up, and immediately began to take the camp apart. When they finished, they dissipated, as everyone picked up their packs. Naruto carried Hinata's, as well as his own, and carried her bridal style. She snuggled against him, smiling the whole time. Naruto felt some of his fears melt away, as he looked at her happy face. They moved out, Naruto moving fast, but carefully, while the others formed a defensive circle around him.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Tsunade stood by the gate, with Kiba waiting by her. The trenches were almost complete, and other ninjas had begun readying the wall. Large ballistae were being placed at intervals, and rows of bolts covered in large explosive tags were being lined up. Other ninjas were reinforcing the wall along it's weak points. All in all, their defenses should be ready.

When Kiba had returned, Tsunade had sighed in relief. The enemy was still far enough away, that they should be ready for them. Not only that, but Gaara, the Kazekage of Suna, had promised reinforcements, and would lead them personally. As long as they could hold, she felt that they would win this war.

However, her relief was mixed with concern, as Kiba had also informed her of Hinata's condition. She wasn't concerned for her well being, but for her treatment in the Village. She hoped that Hinata wouldn't face the same problems as Naruto had. Even if she did though, she knew Hinata would have plenty of people standing next to her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout from a sentry on the wall. The rest of Team Kurenai, along with Naruto and Kage appeared. Hinata was still unconscious, and in Naruto's arms. Tsunade rushed over to them.

"How is she?"

"Still asleep. But she has stirred a few times. I think she may wale up soon." Naruto said softly. Tsunade immediately performed a diagnostic jutsu, and sighed in relief when she was done.

"Beyond the change in her DNA, there is nothing wrong. Her body has adapted well to the new features. She should be fine."

Naruto nodded. "I'm glad to hear that. Do I need to take her to the hospital?"

Tsunade shook her head. "Just take her home, and rest. I'll call on you if I need you."

Naruto gave her a sad smile, and headed off, ding his best to hide Hinata's new characteristics from view. Kurenai came over to Tsunade.

"He fears she will hate him for what happened. The poor boy has been quiet and upset the whole way home."

Tsunade sighed. "With everything that has happened, I'm not surprised. It may take him a while to fully trust anyone, after what has happened to him. But Hinata is one of the few people who can help him."

At the Namikaze apartment

Naruto laid Hinata down on the couch, as he placed his and her packs aside. He hung his cloak on a coat rack, and had finished removing his weapons, when he heard a soft sigh behind him. He turned, and rushed over to Hinata, in time to see her eyes open. She looked around, then smiled as she saw him.

"Naruto-kun? Where are we?"

"Back home. The mission was a success."

Hinata nodded, then frowned as she felt something weird. It felt like there was something extra, but she couldn't figure out what. She reached out, and when her hands made contact with the extra "thing", her eyes widened. She looked up at Naruto.

"W-what happened?"

Naruto sighed, as he kneeled next to her.

"I... I had to save you life. But... in order to do so... I... I had to... I had to make you a... hanyou."

Hinata's eyes widened even more, and her mouth opened in surprise. "What?"

I'm evil. I left another cliffhanger. Now, you all must suffer.

I should have another chapter coming out, and that one maybe the last one until we are done moving. So please forgive me.

I know that I just followed another classic cliche (turning Hinata hanyou), but c'mon. Have any of you read a story where Naruto was a hanyou, but Hinata wasn't the whole way through? I did read one but it was a one-shot with a lemon in it.

Anyways, props to vampireslover19 for the Ice Kunai Festival jutsu. He gave me several different ones to play with. I know Haku had a kekkai genkai for Ice manipulation, but whose to say that Uzu didn't know how to do Ice jutsu? The ninja of the Land of Snow did.

Anyways, next chapter will have my forte in it, unless I'm suddenly inspired otherwise. As for the ballistae, DO NOT QUESTION ME! I WILL DEFEND KONOHA AS I SEE FIT!

RS: You're scaring me.

LR: Good.

Naruto: All right, I respect that. But did you have to do that to Hinata?

LR: DO NOT QUESTION THE ALL MIGHTY AUTHOR!

Please review.