Thank you to my only reviewer so far! DreamingInOctober

I will take your advice on board, and im glad you like the story, here's chapter 7 dedicated to you :)

Also i have slightly editted the ending of chapter 6. Nothing major, just thought it fit better.. and ended the chapter better than the previous one, so please go back and read it!

This is just a short chapter, i appologise. I just wanted a little break in all the fighting and depressing stuff.. :)

Enjoy!



"There's an old abandoned village west from here, just large enough for our numbers. I reckon heading there would be our best choice, especially since we have children in our group now."

For once, Jiraiya was taking things seriously and the group were thankful; they knew they had a better chance of survival with a Sannin in their midst. Neji and the others walked up to their group, smiling at the fact that their friends were ok.

Sakura turned her head to the approaching group, glad that her other friends had been able to make it out of Konoha. She almost fainted when she recognised the well known chicken-butt hair style of her former team mate. His appearance was the usual sound shinobi garb, purple wrap and all. His outfit showed most of his smooth chest, she also noted that he now carried a sword.

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke understood the absence of the "-kun" suffix when she said his name, and for some reason he didn't like it. Naruto came to his rescue when he explained just what had happened both to Sasuke and how they had met in the forest near Konoha. Jiraiya studied his once cursed shoulder and confirmed it; he no longer held the curse seal to the relief of all the shinobi gathered.

"Looks like we have no other choice, were heading west"

Kakashi was relieved that Sasuke was back under his own pretences and not being controlled by that damn curse seal but decided to keep a close eye on him, who knew what games Orochimaru could have played with his mind.

They were running at a medium pace for gennin because of the 7 young children they had with them and also because of the four gennin's lack of stamina. While they had stopped to set up camp last night, Naruto and the others had insisted on getting to know each of the children. Akamaru was carrying both the eldest and youngest child of the seven; they were to be brothers therefore the older child had insisted he be with his brother. Katsu, the eldest was ten, while his brother Yori was just 6.

Once Katsu had told them his and his brothers names the other children had also come out of their shell. Miu and Ren were a set of twins of age 7, both with similar brown hair though Miu's was past her shoulders due to her being a girl. Ren's hair hung loosely at the back yet spiked up towards the front, though they were almost identical both had different eyes. Ren had stunning dark blue eyes, while Miu's eyes were a vibrant brown matching her hair. Hotaru was the oldest girl in the group being 9; she had her blonde hair cut to shoulder length with green eyes that almost looked blue when the light hit them. Akemi was a shy and reserved girl who only really spoke in full sentences with Hotaru. She had black hair with matching black eyes; her hair was in a low ponytail that went down to her hips. Kiyoshi was the last to talk about himself, he had dark blue hair cut short but with bangs that hung loosely around his 8 year old face.

Katsu and his younger brother Yori were very different in both appearance and personality. Yori was bubbly and outgoing, his almost glowing red hair matched his personality and his green eyes held a rarely seen purity. Katsu obviously felt that his younger brother needed protecting; he was a serious boy rare for a 10 year old to be. Katsu's features were almost opposites of his younger brothers, His hair was a light brown, almost blonde and his eyes were an enchanting hazel colour.

The older ninja had taken charge and assigned others positions while they were travelling. Jiraiya and Shino were at the front, Neji and Tenten flanking them slightly off to the side. Ino and Lee were on the left side of the almost diamond shaped formation, while Shikamaru and Temari were on the right opposite them. In the middle of the diamond was Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Kiba and Matsuri all with a child on their back. (Naruto - Kiyoshi, Hinata Akemi[A:N Ironic much?Sakura Hotaru, Kiba Ren, Matsuri - Miu) Akamaru was also with them slightly in front, carrying the two brothers on his back. Konohamaru, Moegi, Udon and Hanabi were behind them just inside the diamond formation just keeping up with the pace set by the older shinobi. Gaara and Kankuro were flanking the gennin on either side, with Chouji in the middle of the two. Iruka and Anko were lagging behind to cover up and tracks that were being left by the group. Thankfully they had not run in to any more enemy shinobi, and according to Jiraiya they were just a day's travel from the abandoned town.

That night they decided to set up camp in a large cave Neji's Byakugan had come across. Jiraiya, Neji, Gaara, Kakashi and Shikamaru had just finished talking about what they planned on doing once they arrived at the empty village. Naruto and Hinata were assigned to the first watch of the night; sitting just outside the entrance Naruto had just finished setting up defensive traps with Hinata as lookout while he did.

"I hope it wasn't just us who were able to get away from that snake's forces."

Naruto plonked himself down next to Hinata on the ridge metres away from the entrance, giving them easy access to the rest of the group. Hinata nodded in agreement, had this been Hinata just 2 years previous she probably would have fainted by now.

"I'm sure there are others Naruto-kun, Leaf shinobi aren't push-overs after all."

Hinata added a faint smile in hopes of boosting Naruto's spirits, in a strange way it worked. Naruto got that weird feeling in his stomach looking at Hinata while she did her best to cheer him up. She had always done that, always been there in her own way to comfort and support him. He remembered back to her words before his fight with Neji in the chunin exams, her words of encouragement. He smiled back, not his big fox-like grin, but a true smile that others rarely got to see. Hinata blushed as she noticed his genuine smile; she was one of the few who could see past the mask he always put up.

While Naruto was away on his training he had thought things through, mainly things involving his friends and his feelings towards them. Sakura, he no longer held romantic feelings for, he had decided long ago that her heart would only be for Sasuke and oddly he was fine with that. He knew it was only a crush, he had only persistently asked her out because she was the only girl he was close to during his first few months as a gennin. Sakura was his little sister and he'd do anything to make her happy. Lee, well Lee was... Youthfull. But Naruto knew that both of them would risk their lives in an instant for one of their friends. Neji he knew would do the same, even though he didn't give it away so obviously. Though not knowing Tenten as well as he knew the other girls, he respected her strength as a shinobi, and the fact that she was able to melt the ice-cube Hyuuga. Kiba and Shikamaru were like brothers to him, annoying but still family. Kiba was like him, a loudmouth but knew when to shut up and take things seriously. Shikamaru was the brains behind most missions he was assigned to, even if it didn't seem like he cared much about the success. He knew if he needed advice he could go to Shikamaru, even if he wasn't willing to give it he'd make Temari help him. Temari, his best friends sister; he knew not to get on her wrong side especially with that fan she always carried. Naruto felt a bit sorry for Shikamaru, but knew that Temari was good for him even if she did cause him several bruises in the process. Kankuro, though he didn't know him all that well he knew Kankuro was fun to be around, always trying to cheer people up; kind of like himself. Gaara, he felt proud knowing that he had helped Gaara in the past and how Gaara was able to get his village to see him as a human and not a monster. Ino, Chouji and Shino, though he didn't know them as well as he did others he called them friends. He knew that Ino could be loud, Shino impossible quiet and Chouji, well yeah. He knew he would risk his life to save any of them if he could.

Hinata. He had thought about her a lot while he was training with Jiraiya, he always got that feeling in his stomach whenever he thought about her. How she was always there to cheer him up, how she had encouraged him before the 3rd stage of the chunin exams. He saw her as a close friend, but yet unknowingly wanted more. He thought it was just a crush at first, but he didn't get these feelings when he was around Sakura in his early gennin days. Though he knew nothing could happen between them, Hinata being the heiress the one of the most powerful clans in Konoha, and him being the Kyuubi container. But he was sure that Konoha was no more, maybe he did have a slight chance; but the knowledge of if he did want to tell her his feelings he would have to tell her about Kyuubi. Naruto decided to break the peaceful silence around the two.

"How's your training been going while I've been away?"

He cursed silently to himself, he knew it was a lame way to start a conversation, but he was curious he had seen her take out countless enemy shinobi, this was not the Hinata from before he left the village.

"I-it's been good Naruto-Kun, I've trained with Neji-niisan and F-Father, I also carried on training with my team mates and also with Sakura."

Hinata berated herself for stuttering, but at least she had managed to say the sentence with only stuttering twice.

"Wow, sounds like you've been busy once we sort out this mess I'm going to have to spar with you."

Naruto let out a low chuckle at Hinata's face; she had a faint blush and a look of shock.

"H-hai, but I won't be a very good match for you."

Hinata lowered her head from the stars to the floor, Naruto had been training with a Legendary Sannin, how would she be able to keep up?

"Hey, I saw you take out countless guys back there I'd have to watch out in a spar against you Hinata-chan!"

Hinata smiled, he always was good at cheering people up and boosting their confidence, that was one of the many things she admired about him.

"H-how was your training Naruto-kun?"

Naruto slid over so he was now facing Hinata's side in a cross legged position, He grinned at how the moonlight enhanced her features. Snapping back to the present he thought about how to answer.

"Well it was hard, but worth it. I've learned loads of new jutsu's; I'll have to show them you sometime."

Hinata nodded while turning to mimic Naruto's position. It was then that she realised just how close they were, they were less than an arms space apart; she couldn't help but let her blush creep up on to her features. Naruto was lost in her eyes, he had never noticed before but Hyuuga's eyes were usually white; but Hinata's held a hint of lavender in them.

"Oi, you two. It's our watch you can go get some sleep."

Temari appeared at the face of the cave, along with a half asleep Shikamaru being hopelessly half dragged along.

"Troublesome woman."

Shikamaru's muttering was heard by Temari and her eyes narrowed.

"Did you say something Shika?"

Her false sweet tone sent shivers down Shikamaru's back, meanwhile Naruto and Hinata decided to enter the cave for safety they knew what Temari was like when it came to being called troublesome. A heavy thud was heard as they walked through the cave; followed by a low moan that could only be Shikamaru's.

"G'night Hinata-chan"

Naruto whispered as not to wake the others as the two parted there ways to separate ends of the cave.

"Good night, Naruto-kun"

Hinata's whisper was just loud enough for Naruto to hear, he yawned as he rolled Kiba further away from his designated sleeping space; that damn dog didn't half snore.


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Marie x