AN: I am not sure where to go with the story after this, so suggestions would be useful. Also, you all forgot the runaway Hinata, didn't you? Well, here she is.

Hinata had always been seen as the weak one of the family.

Her father had always been willing to tell her about her faults: She was bodily weak, didn't like guns, didn't think plans through and was way too squeamish. Not traits that boded well for an outlaw, and outlawry was the Hyuga family business.

And so, the thousandth time Hiashi told Hinata she was not fit to be an outlaw, she decided he was right. It was not, after all, like there was anything so glorious about being an outlaw anyways. However she doubted her father, no matter how much he disapproved of her, would let her leave the family business. He was a stickler for tradition. So she would have to run away.

She had left in the middle of the night, taking nothing but a horse and her clothes, and leaving nothing behind but her other belongings and a note, explaining she was going to go off and become something that was not an outlaw and never come back, and that it was no use going after her. She had felt a bit sorry for Hanabi, left to face Hiashi alone, and had apologized in her note, but there was no way that was going to make her stay. Father had always liked Hanabi better anyways, and she was far more suited to become an outlaw.

The main problem with her plan was that, well, she didn't really have one. She hadn't thought very far past leaving the house, except to get far away as fast as possible. So she wandered for a while, and somehow ended up in an inn in Konoha Creek, buying some supplies before moving on.

She was only stopping to talk to Teuchi, a rather fatherly man, for an instant. But she had not been speaking for even that instant when they were interrupted.

"Mr. Teuchi! I haven't seen you since yesterday!"

She turned to see a blond boy with a huge grin on his face and a deputy's badge on his shirt pocket. For a moment she quivered-Hyuugas and law enforcement were not a good combination-before remembering that she had decided not to become an outlaw, and had nothing to be afraid of.

The boy walked over to Teuchi and the pair started to chat. Suddenly he grabbed Hinata's arm and said, "And who's she? New in town? Maybe a relative?"

Hinata cringed.

Teuchi laughed easily. "Naruto, you're scaring the poor girl. Why don't you ask her if you want to know so badly?"

"Okay," the newly proclaimed Naruto said. And then, to Hinata, "So, who are you?"

"Um. My name's Hinata." Please don't ask my last name.

Naruto didn't seem to notice the missing last name. "So what are you doing in Konoha Creek?"

He must think she was a criminal. This was a problem. Think fast, Hinata! "I'm, uh, I'm, I'm…."

"Heh, so you're not doing anything in particular? I didn't think so. You didn't look like you knew what you were doing."

"Naruto!" Ayame shouted. "Don't be rude to the girl."

"It wasn't an insult," Naruto protested.

"Oh?" said Ayame. "Well, what was it then?"

Hinata, meanwhile, was blushing deeply. She had hoped to remain inconspicuous, but it didn't look like it was going to work out. As the young woman and the blond boy continued arguing, another man strode into the inn. He also wore a deputy badge almost identical to Naruto's and a long suffering look. "Naruto, I don't leave you alone for two minutes and you're already making trouble," he scolded. "Apologize to Miss Ayame."

"Make him apologize to Hinata; she's the one he insulted," Ayame said with a hmph. She glared at both Naruto and Iruka.

"I didn't insult her!" said Naruto.

Iruka sighed like Hiashi used to when Gai rode up to the Hyuga household and started declaring the joys of youth to the whole neighborhood. "Miss, I am sorry about whatever Naruto said. He's a loose cannon. I hope he hasn't influenced you against the town."

"Of-of course not." Coming to the attention of two deputies as soon as she entered the town! This was not a good day for Hinata.

"Will you be staying in town long?" Iruka asked politely, while Naruto and Ayame were still holding a glaring contest.

"Uh…"

"Probably not," Naruto said loudly. "She's not really doing anything here."

Hinata felt a bit slighted. "Yes. For a couple weeks anyways." Which was a horrible decision, staying in the only town where two deputies knew her already, but she couldn't back down from that. Even if she was a failure as a bandit, she was still a Hyuuga and had a Hyuuga's pride.

Naruto's eyebrows lifted almost to his hairline, which was a pretty high hairline, so Hinata felt a great deal of satisfaction, though she tried not to show it.

"Do you want to get a room here?" Teuchi offered.

"All-all right."

"Excellent!" He named a price, and Hinata accepted without haggling. She didn't want to make any more of a scene.

And that was how Hinata Hyuuga ended up spending more time in Konoha Creek than she had expected. She also ended up in the room next to a man named Tazuna, who was apparently being guarded by the deputies at the moment. They refused to explain why.

Tazuna was a bit wary of her. She wondered if he suspected her outlaw roots. She wondered if the deputies had suspected her outlaw roots and told her their suspicion. She wondered if being raised as an outlaw had made her so paranoid she was going stupid.

Whatever. There was a pump and a tub near her room, and Teuchi was a kind enough host to heat the water up for a bath. After a couple weeks on the road, she was going to enjoy this.


The first night, Sasuke was left on guard for the first portion of the night, and he could have done it alone, but for some reason, Sakura chose to stay up with him.

He never really understood the girl's logic, but he didn't mind having someone to sit with. Keeping watch was dead boring. There was only so much of staring at the stars a man could take. As for the amount of staring at Sakura a man could take-well, if it got dull, he could always go back to the stars again, or claim he had to check on the prisoners.

So the two ended up sitting next to a dying campfire, with Kakashi and the demon brothers sleeping in sleeping bags on the other side. Sakura had a blanket draped over her shoulders, since desert nights were often cold, but Sasuke just wore his normal clothes. Kakashi slept completely silently a few feet away-as Sasuke had already known from experience at the sheriff house-while the brothers were snoring quietly and perfectly in rhythm. So in rhythm that Sasuke suspected they were faking sleep so that they could escape while Kakashi was sleeping and he was off guard. Well, not on his watch.

"So, Sasuke," Sakura said quietly. "How do you…I mean…What do you think of being a deputy?"

Sasuke shrugged. Just because he was grateful for the company didn't mean he was going to talk.

"I mean, you know I only became a deputy because of you, Sasuke." She giggled self consciously. "But I think it's working out all right. For me, I mean. And Naruto's not such an idiot as I thought. So…"

"I'd noticed you hanging out with him more often," Sasuke said. He heard a tinge of frost in his voice. Bother. He'd wanted that to sound neutral. He didn't want to fight with Sakura, and really there was nothing to fight about.

"Well, yes. I mean, I'd like to hang out with you, Sasuke. But you're always busy."

She'd hesitated before that last word and Sasuke easily interpreted the hesitation: she meant he was always sitting quietly in the corner. Which was true but there was nothing wrong with that! And just because he wasn't doing things with her every second didn't mean she had to run to Naruto as soon as she stopped talking to him! That was just ridiculous. After all, he was the guy she liked, wasn't he?

Of course he was.

He realized he had just been sitting without talking for a few moments, so he sat up straight again and found himself looking into her eyes. She looked away quickly. Typical Sakura. She'd never act this way around Naruto.

He smiled slightly, in a way that actually wasn't a smirk, although it was a little smug.

"I think being a deputy has been…interesting." He wasn't sure how else to describe it. Sometimes it was uncomfortable, like when he ended up sleeping in a cell, and sometimes it was exhausting and painful, like climbing cacti, and sometimes it was actually terrifying, like when outlaws attacked the sheriff's office. But he couldn't tell Sakura all of that, since it made him sound like a coward or a weakling, and anyways he somehow liked being a deputy.

Sakura looked puzzled. "Um, yes. I would agree with that." Her face brightened. "When the outlaws attacked, wasn't that exciting?"

Terrifying. He'd never had a gun pointed at him before. It made him remember unpleasant things. "It was."

"Of course, I was not as afraid as I could've been. I knew you wouldn't let me get hurt, Sasuke," said Sakura. Her face looked dreamy.

Sasuke frowned. He had been pretty much zero use during that attack. Most of the real work had been done by Naruto and Sakura and Kakashi, with Iruka providing a comforting influence. He didn't see why his presence would make Sakura feel safe.

She was a fool, really.

She was still smiling at him, hopefully. He said, "I would never let you get hurt."

Because when someone was depending on you that was what you did. He wouldn't let Sakura down.

She grinned suddenly, and he thought she looked a little like Naruto. Except blushing. And Naruto didn't blush. "Sasuke!"

What did one say to that?

He said, "It's a cold night." So now he was commenting on the weather just because he felt awkward? Ah, how the mighty had fallen. He sighed.

But for some reason Sakura didn't seem to mind. She just said, "You can have my blanket, if you want."

"No. You need it." It was true that it was cold, but not actually cold enough for him to be complaining about it. That was just to pass attention away from awkwardness, really. He was an Uchiha, and Uchihas didn't whine!

"We could share it," she offered, hesitantly, already moving closer to him. He almost leaned towards her to take a part of the blanket, but he snapped back.

"No, you can have it." Uchihas didn't snuggle. Pretty much ever.

Sakura sighed, disappointed, but returned to her side of the fire.

Sasuke watched the embers glow. It would be more interesting if it were high fire and he could watch the sparks, but this was safer, less likely to attract bandits.

Not that he couldn't have taken them, with Kakashi and Sakura there to help.


Lee had been stuck in the outlaws' hideout for a whole day. It was a disconcerting experience. He had had to sit by and listen while Gai, the green fiend, plotted crimes with his two subordinates, grinning all the while! The man was completely lawless, and he seemed to enjoy it.

Today, the third day since his capture, Neji had gone out with Tenten to get food and supplies from the town while Gai held down the fort and, coincidentally, Lee. Now that Neji and Tenten were out he was no longer outnumbered, and surely the time was perfect to escape. The only obstacle was Gai, who was unfortunately a rather large obstacle, not to mention cunning and youthful.

Gai started out the day by tying Lee to a chair with his arms tied down by his sides.

He then crouched next to him, grinned a huge grin and announced, "So, how do you like Nejii and Tenten?"

Lee thought about it for a moment. The problem was that Gai had asked about both of them at once. He knew what he thought of them, really, and it was about the same-they were bad people to follow Gai but more or less courteous in an outlaw sort of way. But if he talked about Neji, he wanted to sound scornful, but it would be rude to talk that way about Tenten, since she was a girl.

He cleared his throat. "They seem most capable. I cannot fathom why they would want to follow a man like you."

Gai's grin turned into a disappointed face. "Ah, Lee," he sighed tragically. "They understand what you do not. They feel the tug of adventure, or freedom. If you could feel that too, you would perhaps be able to fathom it, as you say."

Lee scowled at the man. "I have often felt the temptation to stray from the paths of youth and justice, but I know my duty and I know what is right. That is what you have lost."

Gai frowned. "You are young and full of enthusiasm, but when you say such things you sound older than I do."

Lee half agreed with this. It really wasn't fair.

"Perhaps it is because you are looking for youth in the wrong places. Certainly you have youthful fire, but you seem to think your vocation is to keep it restrained."

The mixed metaphors were starting to give Lee a headache. Also the ropes were making his arms sore, and he hated sitting still.

He fidgeted.

Gai glanced down at his fidgeting arms and legs. "Ah, I see you feel restricted by your bonds, young ex-deputy? I am sorry to keep you bound so, but I know you and I know how you would act without them. You would definitely try to escape! And I will not allow that. You will stay here until you realize the truth of my teachings and accept that lawlessness is the true expression of youth!"

"I will never accept such a thing, you fiend! And it is purposeless for you to try to hold me captive here, not to mention cruel!"

Gai stroked his chin. "Ah, in time you will see the wisdom of my words. I will convince you with the power of my determination."

Lee was, actually, starting to get a bit worried about this. Seeing Gai alone in a bar was enough to make him doubt his own, lawful principles and was bad enough. Being stuck in a cave with him and his minions for who knew how long would be…bad. Sooner or later he was afraid he would cease resisting the brainwashing, which Gai honestly seemed to believe, and stop believing in the value of law and order.

He had one hope though, other than his youthfulness. Kakashi. The man had no way to know that he was in trouble, but he was a good sheriff, and he seemed to hear a lot more than he really should have been able to. Surely he would hear about this eventually, and when the time came he would come and rescue his (ex) deputy. In the meantime, Lee would simply have to hold up as best he could.

So he made an elaborate grimace at Gai and told him, "The power of Sheriff Hatake's determination is even more powerful than your determination!"

"It is not!" Gai shouted, clearly insulted.

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"


The attack on Tazuna happened the very next day, late in the afternoon.

Naruto and Iruka were sitting in Tazuna's room, playing more poker. Tazuna was winning, but the two deputies were not betting any money on the games, so they did not really care. Then there was a knock on the door.

Naruto called out, "Who's there?"

The voice that answered was a boy's voice. "Ayame wanted me to bring up some coffee for you all."

The deputies and Tazuna exchanged glances. "It's just a boy," said Iruka, who had a soft spot for kids. "I'll let him in."

But Naruto, who sprang up at that moment, ran over to the door before he could.

The door obscured much of what happened after that. The only clear thing was that there was a scuffle, with Naruto hollering and the other poor boy yelping. Iruka was heading over to put an end to the fight when Naruto was shoved roughly through the door and a man with a bandana over his mouth followed.

Oh, and the man was not Kakashi.

"You see what you did to my helper, kid?" the man demanded in a growl. "I think you broke his nose. Maybe I should break yours to pay for it."

Iruka subtly moved in front of Tazuna (this looked like danger) and said, "I'm sorry if Naruto has hurt the boy. Who are you and what is your business here? You do not look like you were sent by Ayame."

The man looked up and laughed. With the casualty of a pro, he took a gun out of his belt and pointed it at Iruka's head.

Iruka paled. Naruto gasped.

The man said, "I am Zabuza Momochi. You may have heard of me. I'm quite renowned as an assassin in some places. But that shouldn't really matter to you right now," he said, moving his gun slightly so that it was still pointing at Iruka's head as the man fidgeted. "What's important is that you step away from the old man. I only have to kill one person today, and I don't want to have to get messy."

Iruka only stepped closer to Tazuna, shielding his body from the gun.

Zabuza sighed. "You sheriffs are all so frustrating. But I guess it doesn't really matter how many people I kill, in the end."

Bang.

Iruka, who had been bracing himself, felt no pain at all. It took him a moment to process what he was seeing. Zabuza Momochi had fallen to his knees with both hands clutching his shoulder. Red blood seeped down on his shirt and Iruka could see more from between his fingers. His gun lay forgotten on the floor with a few drops of blood on it.

"I'll shoot you dead next time you try something," said a quiet voice. "You or your boy."

Naruto stared at the doorway. All right, he should be used to people barging in on his standoffs by now. He should know that the hero always arrived unexpectedly, a few minutes late and yet just on time. But
seriously, "Hinata?"

"Naruto, you should probably collect their guns," the girl in the doorway suggested. She was very calm for a girl who had just shot a man with his back turned. Maybe the shock hadn't set in yet. Either way, Naruto nodded. He picked Zabuza's gun up off the floor. The boy he'd fought earlier surrendered his gun without protest. He put both guns in his belt and started looking for something to tie the assassin and the boy up with.

"Hey, can you keep them covered while I get some rope from Teuchi?" He asked Hinata embarrassedly.

Iruka cleared his throat. "I'm sure between the two of us we can manage it. Get going."

So Naruto did, indeed, get going.

Meanwhile Hinata was having a calm, quiet panic attack. She'd really done it this time. All right, so she couldn't have just let them get shot. But she didn't need to shoot Zabuza in the back either! Now they were never going to believe she was just an innocent girl passing through the town. She'd blown it.

This she contemplated as the deputies handcuffed the two miscreants (Naruto had ended up just going down to the sheriff's office for handcuffs instead of getting rope). She almost expected them to handcuff her as well, but it appeared they still weren't that suspicious yet. They did, however, as her to come down to the sheriff's office with them, saying they could use an extra gun going through town. Of course she didn't argue, but she felt a little sick to her stomach. If this was a trap and she had to fight her way out, she wasn't sure she wanted to shoot the two deputies. They seemed friendly.

With Zabuza and his sidekick in the cells, Naruto, Iruka and Hinata headed out to the main room, where Iruka paused.

"Hm. That seems almost too easy. Maybe one of us should go back to watch Tazuna some more," he said thoughtfully. "But we can't just leave the sheriff's office unattended. Naruto, you and Hinata stay here and watch the prisoners. I'll be back before midnight."

Naruto nodded eagerly. Hinata kind of wondered when she had signed up for deputy duties, but kept her thoughts to herself. Like usual.