Chapter 10:

Another week has passed and Neji's wounds are completely healed and he was finally able to take occasional walks around Shinpei. It reminds him a lot about Konoha, the people seems to have the same warm smiles, their friendly gestures even the kids playing seems familiar. It made him a bit feel left out and alone.

"Must have been hard for Hinata to adjust to a place like this" he thought, when he was wandering around Shinpei.

About this time Hinata is at the school the Council made her go to. Neji is now accustomed to following Hinata around with his wounds healed. Already he knows a few of Hinata's friends and even where Hinata would usually spend her free time. Sometimes Hinata would even invite Neji to come along. But he hasn't forgotten the two Hyuugas living with Hinata. He has been following them for quite some time and has been caught once, but luckily he was able to make up an excuse only now they think he's a pervert. Even if he does all the spying without question, it doesn't stop him for thinking as to why Hinata's father wants him to know about Hinata's doing. If he cared that much, why not just let her come back to Konoha? Thinking of Hinata's father made him realized, in three days time they will be arriving. They received a letter yesterday saying that they'll be arriving here in three days time.

It was weird to see Hinata's expression that day, she was like a foreign book- cannot be read and understand.

He sighed and looked up to see the clear sky. Birds were freely soaring upwards, how much he wanted to be just like them. Free to fly.

He turned the corner to where Hinata's school was and took his usual spot where he could clearly see the school using his Byakugan. He checked his watch, and just in time he heard the bell rang and not a moment too soon few students started to file out of their classrooms and were happily chattering away making their way out of the building.

With his Byakugan, he saw Hinata making her way out of the school and was caught up by a girl, Neji has definitely seen before.

It was a few days ago when he met Kume. Hinata was cooking one evening when Kume and a young woman probably a few years older than him arrived and Hinata introduced them. The young woman is the personal maid of the girl. They talked and laughed all night, Neji only listened to their conversations. Kume was saying that her father wanted to invite Hinata on a trip next week on an orchard her father's friend owned. Hinata was hesitant but in the end she agreed, she even invited Neji along but he didn't say anything. He didn't want to go, it seems pointless.

Neji saw Hinata walking out of the building with the girl and two caped men came up to them as Neji have known and they took Kume. Hinata said goodbye to them.

Neji deactivated his Byakugan and followed Hinata from a distance. It's been like this for a few days; Hinata would stop by a store and buy a cone of shaved-ice with a syrup on top. Cherry flavor must be her favorite, it was what she always buy. She seems to be well acquainted with the vendors of the shop for they treat her with care and she would often smile exiting the store.

"Thank you Izuko-san!" Hinata said smiling at the woman behind her.

"Come back again tomorrow okay? Hinata-chan!" a boy called out to her. His eyes were practically stuck on Hinata.

"Stop staring at her Miko! You'll scare her away." Izuko said holding the boy down.

Hinata waved at them and continued walking back to their home happily finishing off the cone.

In another minute or so, they were both back to the house.

"Good afternoon, Hinata-sama" Neji greeted her as if he wasn't following her all this time.

"Oh? Hello, Neji-nii-san. Were you strolling again?"

"Yes."

"Well, I guess so. Although better not run into Shizune and Hachi again. They thought you were following them." Hinata smiled and Neji forced a smile. If only you knew, he thought.

"uhm, Neji-nii-san. Do you want to come with us to the shrine? I don't think you've been there before. Kume-chan's mother was buried there and we are going to visit today." Hinata said looking at Neji with a pleading look.

"I think I'll pass." Neji said coolly.

"Oh okay. I just thought maybe you'd want to come since it's annoyingly boring here." She laughed

Neji's mind racked for reasons, I will be following Hachi today, he's been leaving the house daily these past few days.

"I'm sorry Hinata-sama, but I saw this shop and I was planning on returning there this afternoon"

"Oh okay? Next time then, huh? Hinata smiled and entered her room to change.

When Hinata returned to the living room, Neji was already in his room.

"Nii-san! I'm going out now. Tell Hachi-san and Suzume-san that I'm with Kume-chan. Bye" she called out and then she headed to Kume's house where she saw Yukio Ayumi, Kume's personal maid, standing with Kume by the gate.

"Sorry I'm late. Oh? Good afternoon Daimyo-sama." She greeted the man who had just appeared from the gate.

"Hello Hinata-san! It's been a long time. Where were you all this time?" he asked smiling

"My cousin arrived a few weeks ago and-"

"Let's go Hinata-nee-chan!" Kume said pulling on Hinata's arms.

"Gomen daimyo-sama! We have to go"

"It's alright. I think my old friend has come anyway." He said and looked at the huge man with white hair and he seemed well-built.

"It's nice for you to come visit me Jiraiya-san!" he said shaking hands with the man.

"I couldn't resist the offer you made." He laughed rather maliciously.

Jiraiya glanced at the bunch that gathered in front of the gate. One was eyeing him with the familiar strange eyes.

A Hyuuga?! Here? In Shinpei? he thought.

"Shall we go 'old friend'?" the daimyo diverted his attention.

"Depends on what term you are using that word." They both laughed and walked the other way. Jiraiya glimpsed back at the girl. They were already walking the opposite direction.

A noble clan from Konoha here in Shinpei? He wondered.

They were walking back to Shinpei when Hinata heard a faint noise in the forest. She remembered earlier that she was hearing the same thing when they were making their way up to the shrine.

"Ayumi-san?"she addressed the young lady beside her.

"What is it Hinata-chan?"

"Do you know anyone living in the forest?

"What are you talking about Hinata-nee-chan? Who would want to live in there?" Kume said looking at Hinata with a weird look.

Hinata laughed, "Okay fine."

"Actually I heard some guy did live there before. A long LONG time ago. Probably even before Kume-sama's father's time." Ayumi said.

"Really Ayumi-nee-chan?!" Kume asked

"Yeah, I think it was Satsuya who told me about it." She closed her eyes as if she was remembering something.

"Oh? You can't really believe him. He talks about nothing. Remember he told us that he saw a ghost in his bathroom mirror." Kume frowned.

Hinata frowned at the forest then she suddenly remembered something. She has the Byakugan.

The Hyuuga clan is the most famous. With their Byakugan, they can see through walls, see anything around them more than 358 degrees horizontal and 358 degrees vertical and many other things. Their powerful taijutsu, called Jyuuken, is used to damage parts of your internal body systems, especially the chakra circulatory system, Not only the Hyuugas can do this, but they can do it with much more ease than normal people because of their ability to see the system. But only the strongest of Hyuugas can see the chakra system clearly enough to make out individual chakra points. Hyuuga Neji is the prodigy of the Hyuuga clan, but is part of the branch family so he cannot succeed the clan.

(A/N: I wasn't sure at all about this Hyuuga part)

Looking away from Kume and Ayumi. She formed a few hand seals and whispered, "Byakugan"

From around her she saw Kume and Ayumi's chakra emanating from them. Kume's was predicatably dormant and inactive. She doesn't use chakra at all.

Surprised engulfed her when she saw another figure from the forest. It's chakra was unstable, chakra kept on emanating from the person and it seems whoever it was it's been using its chakra way TOO much.

"Uhm, Ayumi-san. I think I forgot something from the shrine. I'll just go and get it. You go on ahead. I'll have to search for it." She said walking back up.

"But nee-chan! Father-" Kume called back

"Sorry Kume-sama! I really need to go back."

"Hurry back Hinata, okay? It'll be dark in hours. Come on Kume-sama"

In a few more minutes, the two women was gone from sight and Hinata activated her Byakugan as well.

The figure was still there. It was kicking and punching. She followed it without realizing she was deep in the forest already.

She saw an opening and she deactivated her Byakugan and peeked from the bushes.

There was a boy- or young man- around her age. His black shirt was sweaty. His yellow ruffled hair hung unsupported on his forehead. He was kicking and punching a tree stump powerfully. His speed was somewhat fast. Hinata hid in the bushes, she stood in awe.

Is he- he can't be-, she thought. Unfortunately, she stepped on a twig and it broke echoing behind her.

The young man in front of her turned around and he seemed surprised.

"Oi! Who are you?!" he yelled.

Hinata shrieked and staggered sideways unsure of what to do.

"Oi! Who's there?!"

Hinata heard footsteps towards her and she was sure in a few more seconds she would be seen.

"uhm.." she stepped up. Her face was hot and she was sure she was blushing. She tried to hide it, she was so adept at it before. She closed her eyes.

"…eh? Were you just spying there?"

"me?...uhm…no I wasn't…I heard noises and I was just wondering…." Her voice trembled. She opened her eyes and right before her she saw Naruto peering at her.

"Huh?...Your eyes? Aren't-" he peered at her even more closely which made Hinata blush even more.

Naruto saw the red tint in her cheeks and jumped in surprise when he realized who it was.

"OI! YOU-YOU-YOU-HINATA?!" he shook her wildly and laughed.

"What are you doing here? How come you're here? You are Hinata, right? It's been a long time. How long has it been? Hmm…I didn't realize it was you. I don't think I've ever seen you in a kimono. You have changed a lot. Do you remember me?" Naruto asked continuously leaving Hinata shocked.

Hinata couldn't help but smile to see her old classmate.

Hachi stepped out of the store carrying a few accessories on a brown bag and rounded a corner. He stopped and stood still. He dropped the bag carefully.

"Don't hide. I know you're there" Hachi said to no one. His voice ringing in the secluded alley.

A few seconds later. A figure loomed out of the dark.

"You can't pretend anymore. I know you've been following me all this afternoon. I know you've been following Hinata ever since you arrived here. I know you meeting Suzume in the bathhouse wasn't an accident at all. Now tell me why? Do you intend to harm Hinata-sama?"

"Good to know that Hinata-sama isn't after all in the hands of careless people."

Silence befell both of them. They both stared at each other.

"Why are you here?" Hachi said in his unusual cold voice.

"I'm on a mission." Neji said coldly not daring on closing his eyes.

"Mission? To what? Kill Hinata-sama."

"you're insane to think that"

"Then exactly why have you been following Hinata like a prey." Hachi's voice was louder, it was more powerful.

"It'll be senseless for me telling you my purpose. It doesn't concern you."

"HELL does it concern me?!" Hachi acted sending a blow on Neji's head. But was blocked with Neji's arm. He sent a few more powerful jab with his Byakugan activated and tried to hit a few chakra points.

"Hinata-sama is like a daughter to us! Her father left her here alone with us to take care of her. He haunts her with every word he has ever given her. Do you have any idea how HARD it was for her to adjust here? To accept that her own father didn't even cared for her?! It sickens me to think that he doesn't even write or visit her. Then he writes finally giving a ray of hope to Hinata-sama that she could go back to Konoha. I don't even know why she wants to go back to that place where no one even RECOGNISES her. Don't even try to hurt one strand of her hair or else don't EXPECT to go back serving that Council-shit of yours!"

Neji jumped back to avoid Hachi's Jyuuken fist aimed at one of his chakra points near his newly healed wound.

"Don't jump to conclusions Hachi. Do you know, you could get detained for insulting the Council for that." Neji said

"Fine! Do whatever they want to me! I don't care as long as Hinata-sama's safe! As long as their DIRTY hands won't touch our LITTLE HINATA!"

"Hachi, you perfectly well know you can't get attached to your mission. If Hyuuga-sama finds out about this-"

"About me loving Hinata-sama as my own kid. Suzume and I know Hinata better than anyone. Better than her own Father. Fine! Atleast someone loved Hinata, Atleast Hinata-sama received the love her Father was supposed to be giving her." Hachi bellowed.

Neji stood there a little shaken.

"Don't do any more useless things. If there is an enemy. I assure you it isn't me or her Father. I told you not to jump into conclusions. You don't know anything." Or more do I as well, he thought

Hachi stood there, taking in deep breaths. Neji turned around leaving Hachi.

"We are not finished here Neji! We settle this here and now" Hachi yelled

"I told you, don't jump into conclusions" Neji barely could be heard and he disappeared in a flash.

"Hinata-sama…." Hachi whispered and he shook his head.

Naruto dived once more in the lake leaving Hinata on the side.

"This is really refreshing after a training" he sighed floating on his back.

Hinata averted her eyes seeing Naruto floating. Earlier after Naruto greeted her. He grabbed her hands and dragged her here.

"Gomen Hinata-chan, I was sweaty and stinked back there. I couldn't let an old classmate of mine to see me like that." He said smiling at Hinata.

"It's…it's okay Naruto-kun" she said, her voice still trembled but she was able to keep a straight face now.

"….to be honest. I didn't really remember you but I only knew two with the same eyes and one was a guy so I thought it had to be you." He laughed and continued to float on his back. He still had his black shirt on.

"Really?" she said a little bit disappointed. But he didn't seem to notice and he continued on.

"Yeah, I fought him before during the Chuunin Exams. He was really scary though." He frowned remembering Neji

"Oh? It must be Neji-nii-san."

"That's right. Then I remembered a girl from the academy with same eyes. Yeah then I asked him about you. I heard he's back with the family or something like that. I don't really know. He isn't much of a story-guy."

Hinata's mind couldn't help but smile, she can never really keep up with his words. He talks and talks, she just listens.

"….uhm, Naruto-kun? What are you doing here anyway?" Hinata managed to ask.

"me? Eros-sennin took me here to train. I think I'll be here for two or three years……it's a long story." he added.

"Train? Why?" Hinata asked, she was really impressed by how she as holding up. Before she couldn't utter a single word to Naruto now she was having a sensible conversation with Naruto.

Then suddenly Naruto's cheerful face changed to a more downtrodden one. Hinata doesn't know why but she noticed it but then it returned in a split second later.

"'Why?' Of course so that I become a Hokage! What else?" Naruto jumped making a few splash on Hinata and standing up beside Hinata with his nice-guy pose and smiled.

Hinata laughed, she remembered now. It is his dream to become a Hokage and she guesses it still is. They talked for more, well it's more like Naruto talked about Konoha. He told Hinata about Tsunade and how he was able to convince her to be the Hokage when the Third died.

Naruto felt so alive, talking about Konoha to someone who could actually relate about what he is talking about made him so full of energy. He was completely lost that it was beginning to be a little dark.

"Oi Hinata-chan! Do you mind, I'll just go change. I'm freezing on my butt here." Naruto smiled and ran towards the direction of the house.

Hinata stood and couldn't even sink everything that had happened just a second ago that she was ready to believe that she was hallucinating. But this hallucination she hoped would still linger a little longer.

Naruto-kun! You didn't change one bit Always proud of yourself. I wish I was a bit more like you. It's really nice to see you again. She thought and once again she felt her heartbeat increasing its' pace and her face felt hot once again.

Hinata never in a chance thought this could happen. But then it did. How happy and excited she is, only God knows. The feelings that had subsided before is resurfacing once again. But she's changed, if it was before she couldn't stand an inch from Naruto but now, she could converse with him freely, how everything felt seems so new to Hinata. She couldn't help but smile, its all she could do to express her feelings because not even words could explain what she's feeling the very moment seeing the blonde-boy walking up to the house while she follows. Unknowingly, her fingers played just like how it does before. Memories of how she watched from afar before when she was still in Konoha flashes back in her mind.

"……"

"Itachi! Where is that BRAT?!" a little frustrated voice called out.

"..."

"we have to find that snake-ass, he's got your brother. Probably where that Kyuubib-rat went off to."

"He didn't go to him." Itachi said calmly.

"How can you be sure?!"

"….."

"Answer me teme!"

"He's gone with that Sannin."

Kisame looked at Itachi with a surprised look.

"I thought that jerk was spying about us"

"……"

"Fine let it be like that, Sheesh! Say that Brat did go with the Sannin, then where do we find them?" Kisame pointed out.

"Kisame, you don't seem to understand our situation. Naruto is with the Sannin to train him become stronger. Do you know what this means?"

"Hey! Hey! How could you even be sure about that?!"

"You've got other ideas then you're free to say but we will go after the Sannin."

"Man! You're so troublesome! You're a little hotheaded these days." Kisame sighed

"….." Itachi didn't reply.

Itachi thought about the matter further ignoring Kisame. If Naruto learns how to control the power of the Kyuubi then it'll be even more trouble for them, already one was able to control it's demon and defeated one of the Akatsuki. Even if his notion was incorrect, they still need to act. AND FAST!

Lo' how'd you lyk it? I think Itachi and Kisame are a bit OOC right? Well I don't really know coz I didn't watch the part where Itachi and KIsame appeared in the anime.

Tell me what you think of this chapter. PLS? I really need to know coz I am so unsure of what I've written above…….TNX! I hope you liked it….. Oh and thanks to all of the people who sent their reviews. I really appreciate it.