Looking around the small walk in wardrobe he used to store his equipment, Naruto's mood hadn't changed for the better since he left the office, taking a number of kunai from one of the shelves and placing them inside his holster, he was already packed for the mission since he had started preparing himself a lot better ever since he and Hinata had gotten together. How he was ever ready for missions on time before he never knew, now he kept a bag ready for quick missions at all times, even know he had tried making a larger one for longer missions; sadly his concentration usually left him when he tried preparing the bag in his spare time and it got left until the last moment.
Turning around to take in the view of his room, he walked around and made sure he had everything, before walking to a small chest and taking out the headband he had been carrying for years now. Looking at the object in his hand, thoughts running back to the memories from when he made Sakura the promise, through the numerous meetings he had with the rogue nin, and stopped when he heard the snicker of the demon within.
"Someone still has feelings for the enemy…. Weakling" the fox growled the last part as Naruto looked up and into the blackness of the cage that inhabited their usual meeting spot, already feeling upset, the fox's voice, being and words started to push him to his limit. Gritting his teeth, Naruto's fists tightened for a moment until he saw the creatures snout push it's way between the bars, "That's it kit, become anger, because truthfully, what can you do about the predicament you are in"
"Shut up"
"What are you going to do about me being in here, nothing, just like how you did nothing to stop your supposed 'friend' from leaving"
"Shut up"
Grinning at the intent he felt from the boy, the fox wondered how long he could keep it up, after all, the demon only needed one moment of weakness, one small opening and he could make the boy set him free. To the fox, the Jinchurki was easy to manipulate into letting some of the biju's power free without noticing it, anger was the key, something that the nine tails knew since most considered him just a being of malice. Naruto felt himself boiling over, wanting nothing more than to shut it up, but before he could say anything in return, something in the real world brought him back to his senses.
Looking up, he saw Hinata just walking to the entrance to his room, "Hime?" he was a little surprised to see her, especially since he was sure that they didn't have to meet up with everyone until at least another hour. Not uttering a word, the girl merely looked at her boyfriend for a few seconds before walking over and wrapping her arms around him, resting her head on his chest and listening to his slightly quickened heart beat.
"Talk to me"
Barely audible, even to himself when he was this close to her, the knuckle head wrapped his own arms around her waist and looked to the Hyuga heiress with confusion running through his head, until the impossible dawned on him. She had found out.
'It's not possible, how could she have?'
'Let's see what happens now, kit'
Gritting his teeth and trying not to tighten his hands into fists, Naruto took a breath before speaking with his - for now - girlfriend, "What do you mean?" he asked a little too calmly for himself, Hinata took a step back in order to look into Naruto's face. "I know you're not happy with the mission" she spoke plainly, even when they were this close, she was getting bettter and more confident, sadly right now all she wanted was for him to do the same and just talk to her, "Talk to me" she repeated before going back to her original position with her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
Naruto merely sighed, relieved a little at the subject she was reffering to, it was easier to talk about the mission than the guest inside his own body. That talk was one he didn't want to have, and possibly would never want to have if it meant losing her, wrapping his arms a little more tightly around her frame, the blonde merely rested his head on top of the heiress' for a moment. Keeping his eyes closed for the moment that they were having, Naruto finally opened them slowly and tried to think on how he was actually feeling about the mission.
"He's... Was, my best friend Hinata... He was the brother I never had"
Listening to him, Hinata couldn't look at his eyes, for she knew they would hold something alien that personally, she thought didn't belong inside of him; despair and hoplesness didn't have a place in his heart, it was those emotions that didn't get shown to everyone, only her. The couple held each other for a moment longer before Hinata broke the silence this time.
"Hope. It's what we hold onto when everything else seem's to be lost"
Hearing her words, the blonde merely stayed where he was and waited for the woman in his arms to continue.
"I believe in you, and I know you will do what it takes to help him, but you will also do what it takes to protect this village"
The meaning confused him, after all; he truly didn't believe he could do both, save Sasuke and protect the village, one would have to be sacrificed for the other, it was a fact he hadn't resigned himself over to yet. Now the realisation that the choice may lie with him was starting to dawn on him, ever since he had argued his case with the hokage in front of everyone, no one else wished to do it either, but it was their duty to the village to protect it's people, even if it meant killing an ex team mate. Yet the thing that made the point clear was the fact that, he was the only one to argue against killing the rogue ninja, not even Sakura had made a plea to stop them from finishing Sasuke off.
'Am I the last one to believe he can be saved?'
The thought came after he had walked back to his home, now he didn't know what to do about their situation, reason was something that neither he nor the last Uchiha listened much to. Sighing as he held onto the female a little tighter, whispering to her a thank you before kissing her lips gently, when the two parted Hinata merely smiled, she didn't know what she had done but her words must have called out to him somehow. Naruto still wasn't happy with the mission, but he knew now that it was up to him to decide the fate of the last remaining Uchiha.
Getting back to packing the last few items, the blonde turned to his girlfriend and cocked an eyebrow, she giggled in return before answering the question.
"I've already finished packing"
Just as she finished her sentence, a knock at the door drew both of their attention, Hinata stood and walked out of the room to answer it whilst Naruto finished everything and slung his bag over his shoulder. Moving into the main part of the house, he could hear Sakura's voice and groaned in his head, thinking why couldn't it have lasted a little longer, the peace was sometimes a good thing for him to come back to, especially if no one knew where he lived.
'Guess it couldn't last forever'
With that, he moved into view of Sakura and smiled before the three made their way to the main gate, where everyone else would be waiting shortly.
And that's enough for another chapter, yeah I know not much here but thought it was about time you guys got another one, especially if you're as patient as I think you are. Nothing really to mention apart from please rate and review. Hope I don't get too many punches or slaps for taking so long.
