Chapter 10

Disclaimer: Okaaaay. How many times must I repeat this? -.-'

Naruto changed to his Kyuubi appearance.

Hinata noticed that, too. She lowered her head to the right; her eye-lids drooped to cover half her eyes as she recalled her encounter with Gaara…

"Hinata-sama?"

Hinata looked up from her tea at Gaara. The thin wisp of smoke fluttered in a dream-like state from her tea, waved uncertainly in front of Hinata's face.

"Yes, Gaara-kun?"

"May I have more of your tea?"

On hearing this, Hinata stopped stirring her tea and gave him a rosy smile. She liked it that Gaara enjoyed her tea. She got up quickly to pour him some more.

"Hinata-sama…"

"Hinata will be fine." Hinata caught herself from saying it. Likewise, Gaara was stunned and he also noted her stricken expression. His voice became hard.

"No. Hinata-same, I…"

Hinata interrupted and said firmly, "Hinata is fine." She knew she had to be careful of expressing herself in front of Gaara, because she knew he was fragile emotionally and any 'glitches' on her features might give him the wrong impression. Although she had been here for a few weeks, Hinata knew a great deal about Gaara from Sanate-sensei.

"Hinata…" Gaara tested her name without the suffix; every syllable rolled of his tongue expertly. "Do you think I am… capable of protecting the Village?"

Hinata traced a finger down a shoulder-length lock of hair, pushing it to the back of her ear. "Why are you asking me that?"

Gaara was momentarily setback. "I…"

She gave him a good-natured smile. "You know it in yourself. You want to protect your people, using your powers for goodness, putting it in good use. You are already trying to put in effort to connect with the villagers at large… and that is something. That is a small step, but it is a very brave step."

Hinata…

"You know that, right?"

Yes, I do, Hinata. Gaara placed his hand on hers after she finished pouring tea. He brushed back Hinata's long indigo bangs, his thumb rested at the corner of her eyes, his palm covered the corner of her cheek.

He gave her a smile of gratitude and said, "Don't cover your face with your hair. I would like to have a clearer view of my… friend."

Hinata cherished that moment and other fond memories when she was in Suna. When she finally came back to reality, she withdrew a kunai, an unusually long kunai. She was prepared.

The cave entrance was utterly destroyed by Sakura's enormous strength. As the rubble and dust cleared, Hinata was not prepared to meet the challenge that lay ahead.

Neither was Naruto.

"Gaa-ra…" she said barely a whisper.

Naruto kept on yelling for Gaara to wake up. He wouldn't believe that Gaara is really dead. Gaara cannot die!

Too much pain…Naruto and Hinata felt a stab in their hearts.

Naruto wanted to charge forward and retrieve Gaara's body, ignoring Kakashi's logic. However, he felt a small hand clamped down on his wrist. Kakashi also jumped in Naruto's way.

"Naruto," Hinata's voice was clear. She repeatd Kakashi's warning, "Don't be hasty."

Naruto wanted to shake off her grip. Sasaki noted Naruto's upcoming roughness with Hinata and was on his guard, a diamond-shaped disc ready, obscured in his hand.

"Sasaki…" Sajou said warningly as he unseathed a scroll from his pouch.

"Naruto," Hinata repeated. "Gaara depends on us to rescue him. We cannot afford to make rash and silly mistakes that will cost us our lives. He needs us alive."

The Kyuubi face turned to look at Hinata. What met him was a gaze full of steel, remorse and cool pity. Her expressive eyes convinced him. His Kyuubi façade faded.

Deidera noted Hinata's influence on the Kyuubi-boy. Sanate's apprentice. This should be very interesting.

However, for now, he wanted to lure the Kyuubi out to add to the Akatsuki's "Jinchuuriki" collection.

"Now, now, Uncle Sasori. My taste in art is no less than yours. We just have different interest in this vast field. I relish in making bombs and you, in puppets."

Deidera and Sasori's debate over the nature of art infuriated Naruto. Although his rash rage has lessen somewhat from Hinata's convincing persuasion, he is still overcome by a feeling of honorable bonds. Naruto summoned a large Shuriken and threw it at them, but his effort was met with a simple flick from Sasori's metal tail.

His attack seemed… non-chalant to the two Akatsuki member.

"Deidera…" Sasori said warningly.

Deidera gave Uncle Sasori a cheeky smile. "I'll leave!" He puts up his hands in a surrender art. His bird scooped up Gaara's lifeless body into his mouth and both him and his owner flew out of the cave.

"Hey, WAIT! STOP RIGHT THERE!" Naruto yelled and began to chase after Deidera. Kakashi hastily chased after Naruto and Hinata followed.

"Sajou, Sasaki! Stay here to help Sakura and Chiyo-sama." She disappeared into the woods, going after Kakashi and Naruto.

"But Hinata!" Sasaki spluttered.

Chiyo cut in and said to all 3 of them. "This is my fight. All three of you are no match for him. I will fight him alone."

Sajou understood. Sasaki just kept quiet. He knew this was personal to Chiyo.

"No," Sakura surprisingly interjected this understandable significant seriousness.

In that crunch, the walkie-talkies on Sajou and Sasaki beeped. Kakashi wanted them to help the others to fight off troublesome doppelgangers. Both of them took off, leaving the two female behind to battle the dangerous Akatsuki member.

"You think they can handle him?" Sasaki asked Sajou.

"Chiyo knows all the puppet tricks in the book and Sakura… is like Tsunade."

"You compared her with Tsunade. She must really be something," Sasaki adjusted his collar.

Sajou shrugged. "I find the three of them, Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke are very much like the three Legendary Sannins." Suddenly, Sajou sensed something coming at them.

Sharply, he pushed Sasaki out of the way as a thick vine was hurling at great speed towards them. Sasaki was about to land on soft ground, but his landing morphed into a series of thorny nettings.

Sasaki twisted his body, so his back was aiming at the potentially harmful bulk. Three more vines shot out seemingly from inside the shadows at Sajou from behind. However, the simultaneous attacks were futile.

His greeny tentacles froze and melted away, without even coming to close contact with them. Sajou and Sasaki did not make a move to dodge it.

"Disappointed, Zetsu?" Sasaki taunted. "As long as one of the torikage is still living, our backs are always protected by them. They are the eyes on our backs, repelling deceitful and sneaky attacks from dishonourable losers like you."

Sajou said, "That's enough information said, Sasaki. Shouninkanmon fun'iki." (Summoning Witness Atmosphere musical)

A beautiful dark solid object appeared in Sajou's hands. The design is lovely, ancient and detailed; its size is comparable to a baby crocodile.

Sharp music sliced through the tense moment, cleaving through advancing shrubbery, echoing throughout.

Sasaki obtained a long scythe just by adjusting the existing sabre he always carried on missions. Two metal rings were attached to the edge of the blade.

"Chaimu gigaku!" (Chime ancient song)

Sasaki's chime song coupled up with Sajou's Witness Atmosphere proved to be a potent force, knocking out trees and rocks in the vicinity. Animals around the area weren't affected.

Sajou heard a terse grunt. He pinpointed his aim at the source of the sound, expecting Zetsu to come out of his hiding place.

Suddenly, a dirty green vine extended out, forming 5 claws with each one lined with fine thorns.

"Since you're protected from the back, I'll attack you from the front," Zetsu laughed maniacally.

Sajou barely scraped through with his limbs intact. His immediate changed in playing had halted the advancement of the claw momentarily.

Whistling was heard and Sajou cursed Sasaki for his impulsiveness. 6 birds of all kind obediently appeared at Sasaki's command. They helped Sasaki ward off lattices, threatening to closed in on him.

Meanwhile, Kakashi, Naruto and Hinata were chasing Deidera.

Hinata and Kakashi tried in vain to keep up with the chakra-bursting Naruto.

"Naruto!" Hinata called out. Her Byakugan was activated and she saw more than she wanted to.

She saw Sajou and Sasaki drove into a Mori ninjutsu (forest illusion). They were giving Zetsu all they have, but were oblivious that they were trapped in the disillusionment created by their enemy.

Hinata made a decision.

"Kakashi-sama. I have to assist my teammates in battle. Please give me permission to leave this chase," Hinata said hurriedly.

Kakashi nodded. Truth be told, he was surprised Hinata was so anxious about Gaara and he was, on the other hand, very interested in her improvement. He wondered about the forbidden techniques Sanate had taught the renown Hyuuga heiress. During the Chuunin, Hinata had shown none of it, but he knew she had learnt at least a few.

Hinata raced after Naruto and fell in step next to him. "Naruto," she said.

"What?" Naruto asked gruffly.

She continued in a subdued voice, "I will leave Gaara to you. I have to help Sajou-sama and Sasaki-kun."

Uncle Sajou and that sandy-haired Song-nin.

"Naruto," Hinata paused and lifted a hand to touch his cheek, but changed her mind. She rested her hand on his shoulder instead. "I am relying on you to bring Gaara back."

Naruto regarded Hinata's remark as a plea, not a demand. He was touched at her subtlety ad he could see that she holds a considerable amount on affection towards Gaara.

"I promise, Hinata." Naruto reached his hand out to pat on her hand sympathetically, but she either was not aware of it or was in a hurry to help her teammates, Hinata had already withdrawn her hand on his shoulder.

She hopped away from the two and concentrate on saving Sajou and Sasaki from the trap cleverly set up by Zetsu.