If Tomorrow Never Comes

By Revelias

Author's Note:

I do not own Naruto or anything there in. I am only borrowing them for a sort time so please don't sue me.

Thanks for all the great feedback, please keep it coming. You guys are the best.

Sorry that this chapter took a lot longer to get then out normal but as always comments, critiques, complaints or anything else of the kind are always welcome. It's because of them that I'm inspired to continue writing.

0o0o0

In days of old there were angels who came and led men away from the city of destruction. Today we see no white-winged angels, yet good men are still protected as unseen hands takes hold and leads them forth gently towards a calm and brighter place. ~ Ryan McTavish

Chapter 11: And The Angels Sing

"This is ridicules!" Emi huffed as she scattered the reminisce of a long dead campfire.

"We've been tracking them for a year! A whole damn year and the only thing we've managed to track down are deserted campsites! The jonin team leader bellowed as she vented her anger.

It was never a pretty sight for Team 17 to see their sensei when she was angry. It was less attractive after spending weeks trudging through the frozen planes of the Land of Snow.

"Umm Sensei, may be we should..." Kento began.

"We should what!" Emi interrupted her student causing the young genin to take a step away from the fuming woman.

Realizing that allowing her anger to overwhelm her was not going to help the teams current situation Emi collected herself before offering a quick apology to her three charges.

"Look I apologize for losing my temper. I'm not angry at any of you, it's this mission that has me so irritated." She spoke before pausing to consider how to continue.

"You all know our orders are to locate Hinata Hyuga and deliver Lady Tsunade's orders. The time frame for that mission was one year. Over the course of the past year we have repeatedly failed to locate our target despite receiving reliable information to her where about. We always seem to be several steps behind her. The result of those failures is that we are close to exceeded our allotted time for this mission.

If we are to return to the village before years end then we would need to begin the journey back no later then the first of November. Therefore, as a group we need to decide whether to continue the search until the first or turn back now." Emi advised her team.

"But Sensei, isn't that your decision to make?" Rokurou cautiously asked the elder kunoichi.

"Normally it would be, however, after all this time I think that this is one decision that we should make together." Emi responded and waited to see if anything else the others wanted to say.

"That said, what are each of your opinions on the matter?"

"Sensei, our orders where to locate the target and deliver the message. Shouldn't the completion of our mission be top priority?" Kento questioned.

"Yes, those were our orders. However, we were also order to complete the mission within one year or return to the village. Returning now when the likelihood of successfully completing the mission within the remaining time is so low would not be a violation of our standing orders." Emi assured the young man.

"If that's the case, I vote we head back now. If the odds are that even if we continue looking we want find the target then what's the point of continuing. After all isn't it true that even if a ninja dose his absolute best there are times when the mission simply can't be successfully completed." Rokurou spoke out.

"You're right Rokurou, there are times when a mission can not be successfully completed despite the best efforts of the assigned team. In those cases it is best to retreat and report everything you can so that if another team is assigned to take up the mission they will have as much information as possible. In other words there is no shame in failing a mission if information from that failure will aid in completing the mission at a future date." Emi explained to her team.

"But Sensei, this isn't just some random person, it's Hanabi's sister. Don't we have an obligation to..." Kento begin before Hanabi interrupted him.

"I vote that we return to the village. The fact that the target happens to be my sister has very little to do with this mission. It is simply a coincidence.

What we should consider are the following facts. The target has eluded us this long and there is no reason to believe that she will not continue to do so if we continue to search. Also the simple fact is that we have no real ideal where the target is. True the information that we received indicates that the target should be in this area. However, after searching for almost a month we have found nothing. At this point shouldn't we consider the possibility that the information we received was wrong and that the target was never in the Land of Snow." Hanabi calmly explained to the now silent group.

"Well Kento, considering Hanabi and Rokurou's opinions do you have anything to add?" Emi asked her student.

"No Sensei. Based on what the others have said I will go along with the majority opinion and vote to return to the village." Kento replied somewhat despondent by Hanabi's lack of concern for her sister..

"Very well, we will make camp here tonight and tomorrow we will begin the journey back to Konohagakure." Emi declared as she shrugged off her pack and began to setup camp for the night.

0o0o0

"ENOUGH!" Naruto roared out as powerful tails of chakra forcefully restrained Hinata and Yukiko inches apart.

"The trial is over!" The blond sternly spoke as he lowered the spirit cautiously to the ground while focusing his attention upon Hinata.

"Do you understand Yukiko?" He continued never turning to face the spirit fox.

"As you wish my Lord." Yukiko softly responded as she lowered herself to rest near Naruto.

Quickly and cautiously Naruto checked Hinata's vitals before moving on to address her more serious injuries only to discover that aside from a few minor cuts and scratches she was unharmed.

"I don't..." Naruto began to question Yukiko.

"This was a trial to judge the girls' heart. The only thing that was real during the trial were her actions and motivations. Everything was designed to test her, to determine the strength of her conviction to you. It was to..."

"And none of this had anything to do with Kyūbi and your desire to be reunited?" Naruto sternly asked determined to discover any ulterior motives of the ancient being.

"It would be a lie to tell you that those desires did not carry some weight." Yukiko quickly responded choosing to be completely open with the young man.

Instinctively Naruto trusted Yukiko. Perhaps it was merely Kyūbi's influence or his own trusting nature but regardless of the reason he trusted her.

"The girl will awake by morning. She expended almost all of her chakra during the trial. However, if you wish it I can awaken her now by giving her a small amount of my own chakra." Yukiko explained as she continue to observe Naruto's interaction with Hinata.

"No, I think it would better for her to sleep." Naruto replied as he gently lifted the sleeping girl into his arms and walked towards their shared tent.

"You should get some rest as well Yukiko."

"Yes, my Lord." Yukiko responded as a clone appeared and lifted the tent flap allowing Naruto to enter with Hinata. Expecting the clone be dismissed once the pair was through Yukiko stared as the duplicant as it continued to hold open the flap.

"What are you waiting for?" The clone asked causing the spirit to consider what was being asked of her.

Bowing slightly towards the clone Yukiko stepped through the portal only for the temporary being to dispel a moment later. No words passed between Naruto and the spirit as Yukiko settled into a spot beside Hinata. Anything more that needed to be said would wait until the morning.

0o0o0

Team 17 was not alone as they made camp for the night. Concealed deep within the snow covered brush four individuals intently watched their every movement.

"What are they doing?" Asked a tall thin man dressed from head to toe in what appeared to be scrapes of fur from various animals.

"They seem to be making camp for the night." Replied the only woman of the group as she dropped down from her point of observation.

"Humph, maybe they finally decided to give up looking for the bitch. If so, maybe we should go ahead and kill them." Said a bulky man dressed in green leather and carrying a heavy looking ball and chain.

"Hold your tongue, Lord Madara's orders were clear. We follow them until they find the demon and his whore. Then we kill everyone standing. Until then we will continue to follow and observe. Now all of you set up camp." The final male rebuked silencing the other as he moved off only to look back towards his companions with a lustful gleam in his eye.

"And woman, you'll be sharing my bed tonight." He finished continuing off without another word.

0o0o0

The boy was running, running as fast as his small legs would carry him. He had to get away, to escape before it was too late, before he was found, before they could hurt him again.

"Faster, farther, have to get away, have to hide, somewhere, anywhere..." The boy's mind raced as he unconsciously channeled chakra into his tiny legs. All that mattered was that he get away from his pursuers because if he didn't it would be like it was the last time he was caught.

"I found him! He's over here!" A slurred voiced called out as powerful hands slammed into the boys back knocking him to the ground and ending the chase.

"No!" The boy silently screamed as he crashed into the ground.

Quicker then the boy could follow the voices owner was upon him, restraining him before he had a chance to flee again. The boy didn't know the man that held him, he didn't know what wrong he had done but in that moment it didn't matter. In that moment the powerful, relentlessly punishing hands were upon him grasping and wrenching his arms in their vice like grip.

"No, it hurts, let me go! Please let me go!" The child screamed as he struggled to free himself knowing that others would soon come. Hoping beyond hope that at least one would try help him, to stop the pain the others were intent on causing.

"We'll teach you, you little bastard! You killed my wife and child and now you're going to pay!" The man said as he unmercifully slammed his fist repeatedly into the boy's stomach and side before renewing his assault.

"Let's just do what should have been done years ago!" A nameless voice called from the gathering crowd.

"Kill the bastard!" Shouted another...

"Make him pay for what he's done!" came another...

"He should never have been allowed to live!" and another still as the child was continually beaten by the nameless assailants before they stepped back to admire the damage they had caused.

Crippled with blinding pain and broken bones the boy tried desperately to get to safety. Yet even as he struggled too flee he knew that it was pointless. Just as it had been pointless every other time he had been caught by the righteous people of Konohagakure.

"Where do you think you're going demon?" The boy heard someone yell seconds before blackness engulfed his world.

"Damn." Naruto swore as he opened his eyes to the start of a new day.

"My Lord?" Yukiko questioned raising her head towards the holder of her sealed mate.

"It's nothing Yukiko, just dreaming old dreams. Don't worry about it." He responded giving the spirit his trademark grin.

"As you sa..." Yukiko begin only to be suddenly silenced as Hinata clutched the spirit to herself as though it was a child's stuffed animal.

Watching the scene before him Naruto did everything he could not to laugh at the pair. After all it wasn't everyday that a powerful spirit was smothered by a sleeping kunoichi.

"Are you going to just sit there or are you going to do something to help me?" Yukiko asked somewhat annoyed by the boys' and by extension her mates' inaction.

"Nope, I think that I'm going to get breakfast started. After all I think you two will have a lot to talk about once Hinata wakes up." Naruto reasoned as he slipped out the tent.

Watching the jinchuuriki leave Yukiko released an annoyed breath while relaxing herself into Hinata's grasp.

"You're not really fooling anyone Lady Hinata so if you would please release me it would be greatly appreciated." Yukiko humbly requested, only to have the Hyuga's hold upon her tighten.

"As long as you are a threat to Naruto I am afraid that I cannot release you." Hinata softly replied as she channeled more chakra into her hands and arms to better contain the spirit.

"I'm not a threat to my lord." Yukiko explained.

"Funny, I seem to remember you saying something about ripping him apart."

"My Lord Kyūbi is forever bond to the boy, they cannot be separated by mortal hands." The spirit replied.

"Both Naruto and Kyūbi have already told as much to me. But that doesn't change what you said or tried to do." Hinata retorted.

"My words and actions yesterday were designed to test you." The spirit calmly informed her captor.

"What kind of test?" Hinata stated rather then asked.

"A test to determine your dedication to my lord. A way to see if you were truly worthy of being with him. Or more precisely if you might strong enough for anything that might be asked of you in the future." Yukiko explained.

"Worthy of being with him?" Hinata softly replied as her hold on Yukiko tightened.

"I needed to know how much you would to sacrifice for him. If you would give up your hopes and dreams to make his come true. I had to know if you would give up everything for him." Reasoned the white fox.

"Are you serious?" Hinata retorted as she forcefully pushed Yukiko away before storming out of the tent.

"Good morning... Hi..nata..." Naruto attempted to greet his girlfriend only to be ignored as she sprinted away from the campsite.

"My Lord." Yukiko said slightly bowing before she chased off after Hinata.

Not really understanding what was going on Naruto turned his mind towards his inner demon.

"Hmm, Kyūbi. What just happened?" Naruto asked as he watched the pair of women move further into the forest.

"I don't really know Kit. However, at times like these I have discovered that it is best not to ask too many question. If they ask for your help fine, otherwise let them work it out for themselves. But believe me when I say that for your own peace of mind the last thing you want to do is get dragged into the middle of their argument." Kyūbi advised as like his host he watched the pair rush off into the forest.

Naruto, although not normally one to just let something go, in this instance concluded that it might be better to defer to the wisdom of the Nine-tails before simply nodding and returning to the preparation of the morning meal.

0o0o0

Hanabi watched in awe as the morning sun broke through the canopy of trees and danced across the newly fallen snow creating an ideal fairytale scene. The sight was breathtaking for the young kunoichi as the morning light shattered into a multitude of colors and patterns the likes of which she had never imagined and would never forget.

"Beautiful isn't it" Emi softly spoke as she joined her student.

"Yes, it is. I only wish that I was seeing it under different circumstances." Hanabi replied.

"Your sister?" Asked the older woman.

"Hmm, I can't seem to think about anything else, Sensei. I know in my heart that it will better for her if she isn't discovered but I can't help be feel as though I need to find her, that if I don't then something really bad is going to happen." The young woman tried to explain as she continued to look out upon the magical scene.

"Why did you vote to return to the village if you felt this way?"

"I voted for the best option for the team. I refuse to allow my own feelings to influence me where the good of the team and the mission are concerned." Hanabi explained.

"Where as I agree that a good ninja should not allow his or her personal feelings to get in the way of a mission. There are time when ones feelings and the good of the mission coincide." Emi reasoned with her student.

"That maybe true Sensei. However, can you honestly say that this is one of those times?"

"No. I can't say for sure. But, given that there are still a little over two weeks before we have to begin the journey back wouldn't it be better to exhaust what time we have available and be sure rather then give up and discover later that our goal was just over the next horizon?" Emi asked as a gleeful smirk graced her lips.

"Damn!" A voice from behind the two women snarled causing the pair of kunoichi to turn and face their male team members.

"It's not nice to ease drop on others conversations Rokurou" Hanabi spoke as she glared at the pair.

"Maybe not. But it's also not nice not to tell your teammates that they're are going to be stuck on a mission for another two weeks after having voted to end the mission the night before." Rokurou knowingly interjected as Kento stood back and watched the exchange.

Emi looked to each of her students before the smirk she wore slipped away.

"Alright Team 17 get you gear together. We will continue the search for another twelve days. After that we will be returning to Konohagakure regardless of the outcome." The jonin issued her orders as the member broke off into separate task with an resounding.

"Yes Sensei!"

0o0o0

"Oh, I couldn't have fallen in love with a normal guy. No, I had to go and fall for Naruto. The one guy in the whole village who has a demon sealed in him. Oh, and not just any demon, no he just had to have the King of all Demons sealed in him. But as if that wasn't enough the fox has the queen of all bitches for a mate.

Kami, I swear, if I didn't love him so much I'd pack my gear and head back to village right now. I'm sure I could smooth things over with my father and the council and maybe fine a nice guy to settle down with. Hell if no one else wants me I'm sure Kiba would jump at the chance to get in my pants." Hinata ranted as she sprinted aimlessly through the forest.

"Still, who am I kidding? Naruto is the only one for me. There is simply no one that could ever come close to taking his place in my heart." The Hyuga heiress chuckled to herself as she slowed and finally came to stop.

"So I suppose that means that you and I will just have to come to an understanding, Yukiko." Hinata spoke without ever turning to face the being behind her.

"You are nothing like I would have supposed you to be Hinata Hyuga." Replied the spirit.

"And your nothing like I imagined you to be Lady Yukiko." Hinata respectfully retorted.

"However, our personal estimations of one another aside. I believe it would be best for all if you and I reached an understanding before we returned to camp."

"Agreed. It will not do for us to continue acting as kits before our mates." Yukiko reasoned as she came set beside Hinata who had lowered herself to a snow-less patch of ground.

"Very well then. How shall we begin?"

0o0o0

"They've been gone for most of the day. Do you think that we should go after them?"

"Do you believe the girl a weakling, Naruto?" Kyūbi asked as he watched his host train.

"Of course not! Hinata is one of the strongest women I know."

"Then why would you belittle her by not trusting in her own strength." Asked the Nine-tails as he summoned several smaller versions of himself to attack the jinchuuriki.

"I understand your desire to protect her. However, before you rush off to save her ask yourself two questions. One, does she need to be saved? And two, does she want to be saved?"

"I don't understand?" Naruto replied as he put down the last of the foxes clones.

"The girl has spent a lifetime watching you from afar. Everything she has accomplished she has done so in order to prove herself to you. You alone have the ability to lift her to the heavens or slam her into the earth. Your words and actions mean more to her then those of any other.

Now does knowing this help you to answer the questions I placed before you?" The King of Demons explained before he turned away leaving the blond alone as the world around him shifted back to that of the Land of Snow.

0o0o0

"What is that you really want Lady Yukiko?" Hinata asked her companion after having spent several hours discussing various topics without coming close to a mutual understanding.

"I want the same as yourself, Lady Hinata, the best possible life for my mate and myself." Yukiko frankly replied.

"An understandable answer. However, that isn't what I asked."

"What is it then that you would ask of me Lady Hinata?" Yukiko calmly asked.

"You said that our fight was a way for you test my worthiness. However, I think that that is only part of the reason behind your test." Hinata began.

"Oh, let us assume that you are correct. What other reason could I have to judge you?"

"I think that, at least in part, you wanted to see if I would make a suitable host."

"And why if I for some reason desired to be sealed in a human would I chose you. All things considered." The spirit backhandedly slighted the Hyuga heir.

"I can think of only one reason; Kyūbi. I once asked him why he had chosen to train me. He said it was in the hope that I might become host to his mate. It was his hope that by my becoming your host he and you might be able to be reunited in a more... physical sense. However, at the time my becoming your host would not have solved that problem as Naruto and I were not together.

That fact, however, has changed. Naruto and I being together means that should I become your host you could be with Kyūbi again." Hinata reasoned while watching the spirit for any clue as to what it might be thinking.

Yukiko chuckled inwardly as she listened to Hinata's analysis of the situation. Once again the girl had proved herself interesting in the eyes of the spirit.

"If you believe this to be the driving motivation behind my actions then you have undoubtedly considered how you would answer the question if asked?"

"Truthfully I haven't done anything but wonder about how to answer that question. When I first confronted Kyūbi about his reasons for training me I considered the possibility of allowing myself to be bonded with you. Honestly, I was excited about the prospect," Hinata responded as she stood and slowly began walking back towards the campsite.

"Excited?" Yukiko pondered, falling in step beside the young woman.

"Tell me child what was it that excited you? Was it the prospect of gaining power or something else that excited you?" The spirit coldly asked.

"Please, don't misunderstand Lady Yukiko. When I say that I was excited I do not mean because of what such a bonding could potentially gain me in terms of power. I truly thought very little about such aspects of such a union. Rather, at the time joining with you meant that Naruto and I could potentially grow closer.

You see, for so long there was no one that could really relate to his feelings. It wasn't until he befriended Gaara of the Sand that he had someone who could understand what it truly meant to be a jinchuuriki. But, by joining with you I hoped that I might be able to gain that understanding and draw closer to him."

Listening to Hinata speak Yukiko could not help but scoff at the girl's explanation.

"You're intentions are noble but your methodology is flawed.

Do you honestly believe that bonding with me would provide some magical insight into the soul of Naruto Uzumaki? You told me of how deeply you loved him. You proclaimed before Kami your willingness to die for him. Was all that you said before a lie or is it that you do not know your own heart?" Asked Yukiko as she continued to move past the now motionless Hinata.

"Not at all. I love Naruto with all my heart and I have never been more confident with my own own feelings.

I thought that by bonding with you that I would be able to understand how it was for Naruto being bonded with Kyūbi. But I realized that it wasn't necessary.

When I followed Naruto my only hope was that I would be of some help to him. I didn't know how I could help him I just knew that I wanted to help him. I told Lady Tsunade that I would not reveal my feelings to him and I kept that promise. It was Kyūbi who actually told him how I felt about him. Yet even that wasn't necessary since he was already aware of how I felt. So you see, Naruto and I are already very close and now that we are a couple we are growing closer still." Explained Hinata as she continued moving towards the campsite.

"I see. Then for you there no longer exists a reason to consider becoming my host." Yukiko replied with a hint of loss slightly coloring her voice.

"No, in that regard I would never consider bonding with you. However, that does not mean that I would not be honored to do so." Hinata brightly answered the ancient being only to find that Lady Yukiko was no longer by her side.

0o0o0

Hiashi sat in contemplation of the event of the past few years. After speaking at length with Lady Tsunade he had come to realize that there was much he had to answer for.

"You sent for me Hiashi-sama." Neji asked as he bowed before the clan head.

"Yes, Neji, please sit. I would like to ask a favor of you." The elder Hyuga began.

"If it is within my power it shall be done." Neji replied.

"I have recently been made aware of the many mistakes I have made in regards to my relationships with my daughters. As badly as I failed them as a father I think I have also failed you as an uncle. If things had been as they should I'm sure that Hizashi would not have made the same mistakes as I. He was always the more sensitives in matters of the heart. Times such as these I dearly miss my brothers council." Hiashi spoke more to himself then to the rooms other occupant.

"Hiashi- sama I..."

"Neji, you know my children better then I do. Please I'm asking you not as the leader of the Hyuga but as a father who wants nothing more than to make up for his past mistakes. Help me to understand them so that I can be a better father to them in the future." Hiashi humbly asked as he bowed to his nephew.

Neji considered the odd request for only a moment before he said.

"Of course uncle. However, before you can understand who they are today you need to know who they were and how a man considered to be a failure saved them from themselves."

0o0o0

"Naruto!" Hinata screamed as she ran towards the blond as he was gathering pieces of wood for the evening fire.

"What is it Hinata, what's wrong!" He anxiously replied as he rushed to the frantic girls side.

"It's...Yukiko. We were...talking and...she just...vanished. I tired...loo..king for her but...I couldn't find...her any...where." Hinata forcefully related through labored breaths.

"It's alright Hinata, I'll look for her. You just take a minuet to rest."

"But, how, she...could be...anywhere?" Hinata asked only to watch as Naruto made a familiar hand sign.

"Multi-shadow jutsu!" The blond called out as several hundred clones appeared and immediately scattered in every direction in search of the wayward spirit.

"Now Hinata can you tell me exactly what happened?"

Finally catching her breath Hinata sadly looked away from the eyes of her beloved as she began to recite the details of her talk with Yukiko.

"So Yukiko disappeared without ever realizing that you were willing to become her host?" Naruto asked as he sit with Hinata awaiting news from the army of clones he had dispatched.

"Yes, I believe so." Hinata replied.

"Has Kyūbi said anything about her disappearance?"

"No, he hasn't which probably means that Yukiko is safe and just doesn't want to be around us right now" Naruto answered his worried girlfriend.

"I don't understand. Why would you assume that his silence would mean that something isn't wrong?" Hinata angrily asked as she quickly stood and turned her back to the jinchuuriki.

Confusion consumed Naruto for a moment before realization suddenly struck and he explained.

"I'm sorry Hinata but I thought you knew. Kyūbi and Yukiko are mates in the truest since. They share a bond that allows them to communicate with and sense the others location at all times."

Turning to face Naruto, Hinata face reflected a mixture of relief, confusion, and disbelief.

"So, I've been worried all this time and you have known exactly where Yukiko is?"

"No, I don't know where she is, that's why I sent out the clones to look for her." Naruto answered trying his best to calm his companion.

"But you just said..."

"I said Kyūbi knows where she is. I'm not Kyūbi and unless he chooses to share information with me I'm as much in the dark as you. Hell I didn't even know about the link until we had been wondering around Snow for over a year." The blond explained as a pained expression quickly passed over his face.

Regardless of how quickly it had passed Hinata had seen her beloved's pained expression and knew that she was the cause.

"I'm sorry Naruto. I know that you are not Kyūbi. It's just that... mmm... I mean..." Hinata tried to explain her mistake.

"Don't worry about it. Right now we should check on Yukiko." The blond replied as he quickly kissed Hinata before taking her hand and leading the way to where the clones had discovered Kyūbi's mate.

0o0o0

With a heavy heart Hiashi Hyuga had listened as Neji related the story of his daughter's lives. He had ignored so much of their childhood by choosing to only focus upon training them to become the embodiment of the ideal Hyuga. Without a doubt he had failed as a father.

"What must Hatori think of the way I have treated our children?" Hiashi pondered causing Neji to pause his story.

"Tell me Neji, if you were to compare Hinata's skill level when I ended her training to her level now, how far do you think she has progressed under Kurenai?" The elder Hyuga struggled to ask.

For a moment Neji considered the question before he heavily sighed and said.

"I'm sorry Hiashi-sama but I cannot answer that question."

"What do you mean you cannot answer?" Hiashi responded somewhat annoyed by his nephews seeming defiance.

"I do not mean to be disrespectful Lord Hiashi. However, the question you asked is impossible to answer. Whereas it is true that Lady Kurenai is responsible for the vast majority Lady Hinata's training she is not responsible for her improvement as a ninja." Neji hurriedly explained to the clan leader.

"Go on."

"Yes, well... Although Lady Kurenai is a excellent instructor she has to my knowledge never been able to motivate Lady Hinata to excel in her training. That credit must go to another."

It was easy to tell that Hiashi was quickly growing tired of Neji's round-about explanation as his brow which was normally smooth had developed several creases to accompany his narrowly focused eyes.

"You seem to be either confused by or avoiding my question so I will make it easy for you and simplify it. How much has Hinata improved in her training and to whom does the credit for that training belong." The Hyuga head snarled causing Neji and visibly shutter.

"Forgive me my Lord. Lady Hinata has improved significantly since you last trained her. If I were to judge her skill level I would say that she is at least high chunin or low jonin. As for who the credit for that improvement should be accredited there is no doubt in my mind that the credit belongs solely to Naruto Uzumaki." Neji replied expecting the elder Hyuga to launch into a fit a anger.

However the explosion that Neji expected never came. Instead as the Hyuga genius watched Hiashi's face became eerily serene before he arose from his seat and walked out the room but not before saying.

"Thank you Neji. That will be all."

0o0o0

Kyūbi could do little to console his mate as the spirit's muffled cries echoed across the mental landscape. Reaching out through their shared link to try and sooth Yukiko's troubled mind was the best that he could accomplish.

"My love things are not as they seem, there is still hope but you must be patient." The Demon King's voice rumbled into the mind of his beloved.

"The girl rejected me. What hope is there for us if the mate of your host refuses the bonding?"

"It is not for me to say. I can only tell you that the boy knows where you are and he and the girl are coming to speak with you." Kyūbi replied trying to comfort Yukiko.

"Therefore I would ask that you not do anything before they arrive."

"My Lord, I will not lower myself to her. I love you with every fiber of my being but I will not surrender my pride to her." Yukiko determinedly said fearing Hinata's motives for seeking her out.

"Nor would I ever ask you to My Lady. However, I would still ask that you hear her out before you do anything rash."

A few moments passed before the ancient spirit heaved a heavy sigh and said.

"As you wish My Love. I will listen to what she has to say."

Traveling quickly through that snow covered forest Hinata and Naruto reached Yukiko in record time. Upon their arrival it was obvious that the spirit was less then enthused to see the lavender eyed girl. However, knowing that it would fall to her to make the first move Hinata confidently stepped away from Naruto and paused for only a moment before knelling with her face turned towards the ground and spoke.

"Lady Yukiko. Please accept my humblest apologies for any confusion my ill chosen words might have caused you earlier today. And if you would but allow me a few moments I will do my best to correct my mistake." Hinata humbly addressed Yukiko.

Taken back by Hinata's willingness to prostrate herself Yukiko quickly found that any ill feelings she had towards the girl wiped away by the selfless act of humility.

"Lady Hinata, there is no reason for you to humble yourself before me. I am as much at fault as you perhaps I am more at fault as it I who led us down this path from the moment we first met."

Standing Hinata offered Yukiko an understanding smile before she began to speak.

"Regardless of how this journey began we are here together now and that is all that really matters."

"Agreed." Responded the snow fox.

"Now that that is settled I need to say what I should have said earlier." Hinata began.

"In my family I am considered a failure and for many years I believed that to be true. However, thanks to the support and understanding of my pernicious people I now know that to be a lie. Still I am not arrogant enough to believe that I am without fault, because I know I have many.

I am not the strongest, smartest, or prettiest kunoichi our village has to offer. I am not gifted with any remarkable talents or skills. Everything that I have achieved I achieved through hard work and discipline. I do not see myself as being someone who is worthy of becoming your host. However, if in your eyes I am someone that you would be wish to bond with I would be honored to become one with you Lady Yukiko." Hinata solemnly spoke.

The world seemed to be holding breath for Yukiko's response after Hinata finished speaking.

"Why do you not answer Dearest. Have you changed your mind about the girl? Do you find something about her lacking?" Kyūbi asked his life's mate.

"No My Love. The girl...Lady Hinata is everything I could hope for in a host. It is just that now I find myself wondering if it is right to ask her to sacrifice her life to the bonding. Yourself and Naruto had no choice and now your lives are forever interwoven. You know of the pain that the joining caused the boy. Do I have the right to ask her to suffer the same stigma?"

"I understand your doubt My Love but consider this. Lady Hinata would not be forced into bonding with you, it will be her choice. By choosing to bond with you any sacrifice she is called on to make would be one that she is willing to make. Finally, Hinata could never experience the same painful life that Naruto did. He was alone with no one to care for him or love him. He had no where to turn for comfort when the weight of his burdens became to much to bear. Hinata, however, will have Naruto's love and the support of their friends." Kyūbi wisely advised.

Although the mental conversation between the demon and spirit took only a moment to those looking on from the outside it seemed as though an eternity had slowly passed before Yukiko looked upon the expectant girl and said.

"Lady Hinata we have known one another for less the two days. In that time we have fought and argued at almost every turn. Yet despite the strife we have plunged ourselves into for the sake of those we love I believe that we have come to know each another in a way that very few can claim.

I have no doubt that you and I would benefit greatly from the bonding. Therefore it would be my honor to become one with you Lady Hinata."

0o0o0

Tsunade watched as the latest group of civilians were escorted from the village. It had taken nearly a month but almost all of the Leaf's people had been secretly ushered to safety.

"Mission accomplished Hokage-sama. Our group has been safely delivered to Suna without incident." Konohamaru reported as team Ebisu appeared behind the Fifth.

"Good work. Take a few hours to rest then relieve Sakura and her team on watch at the North Gates." Tsunade instructed as she headed towards Hokage tower without ever truly acknowledging the reporting team.

"Are things really that bad Koh?" Moegi asked as she watched the village leader's departure.

"Huh, what do you mean?" Konohamaru responded turning to face his only female teammate.

"Didn't you see the look on her face? Couldn't you hear the emptiness in her voice? It's almost like she's given up. As if she knows that everything we've accomplished over the past month has been leading us to our own destruction. Are things so hopeless that even the Hokage would give up before the battle has even begun?" Moegi softly asked.

For a moment Koh considered how to answer her before a huge smile graced his lips as he turned away from his team and headed towards Ichiraku's and called back.

"As if!"

0o0o0

Naruto silently praised Kami for the woman in his arms. After years of suffering under the hate filled eyes of Konoha's people something good had finally come into his life. Within Hinata he had found a true companion. She was everything he had ever hoped for and more. For the first time in his life he was truly happy and it was a feeling he never wanted to give up.

"What are you thinking about?" Hinata's small voice gently asked.

"About you and the mistakes I've made."

"Mistakes?" She questioned as she idly caressed the arm that snugly held her.

Naruto pulled Hinata closer as he began to say.

"I wasted so many years telling myself that staying away from you was for the best. I never doubted that I was making the right choice. Because, I knew with absolute certainty that I was doing what was best for you. But now I know how wrong I was.

If only I had listened to my heart rather then my head then who knows what might have been." He finished as he caught her lips with a tender kiss.

"I won't deny that I wished things would have been different but thinking about it who is to say that everything didn't turn out for the best. The time we were apart made us stronger and wiser. It made us more confident and allowed us to grow as individuals.

I can't say what kind of person I would have become if we had been together when we were younger. But being apart made me the person that I am and the person that I am is the person you accepted. I wouldn't change that." Hinata replied.

"Of course you right Hime. I just wish that I hadn't taken so long to allow myself to acknowledge your feelings. "

"Enough of that kind of talk Naruto. We are together now and after tomorrow..." Hinata began as Naruto once more captured her lips with his before saying.

"We'll be together forever."

0o0o0

It had taken Yukiko ten days to prepare for the bonding with Hinata. Unlike Kyūbi's sealing into Naruto theirs would be a perfect bonding allowing the two share a true symbiotic relationship.

"Lady Hinata, before we begin I would ask you once more if you sure you understand what is about to happen.

The bonding is the complete joining of one being to another. Everything that I am you will become as everything you are I will become and although our minds will be separate there will be nothing of the other that we will not know. " Yukiko stated offering Hinata a final chance to turn away from the path she had chosen.

With complete resolve Hinata drew closer to Naruto, who despite his concerns for her well-being understood that this decision was hers and hers alone, before saying.

"I understand and I am..." Hinata began before the clang of metal and angry screams filled the air.

"Bastard, get away from her!" The child-like voice yelled out as several kunia whizzed through the air towards Naruto only to be struck down before reaching their target.

Cursing himself for not being more aware and allowing an apparent enemy to get so close during such a crucial time Naruto placed himself between the unknown assailants and Hinata as Yukiko quickly moved to support him should the need arise.

"Kit the bastards have dared to attack us and our mates! Show them the error of their ways!" Kyūbi roared from his mindscape.

Acknowledging his sensei's command the entire area was quickly flooded with the overwhelming aura of Kyūbi's and Naruto's chakra as the blond prepared to counter-attack with lethal force.

"I don't know who you are but for what you've attempted to do here today you're going to die!" Naruto yelled out as he unleashed a series of hand signs and called out.

"Multiform ascendent..."

"Naruto please don't kill her! She's my sister!" Hinata screamed as she rushed to Naruto's side forcing him to halt the completion of his jutsu.

Reluctantly Naruto did as Hinata asked while remaining on guard should the woman before him chose to continue her attack.

"Hanabi stand down! How dare you attack a fellow comrade?" Emi shouted as she and the remainder of team 17 arrived next to the scowling battle ready young Hyuga.

0o0o0

"Leader, they have made contact with the target. However, there seems to be a bit of strife between the two groups. What are you orders?" Said a bulky man dressed in green leather.

"Hmm, this could play out to our advantage." The one known only as leader said as he grasped a elongated ivory spear.

"For now we will wait and see how this little reunion plays out."

"Yes Leader." his three companions voiced in unison,

0o0o0

"Explain yourself genin?" Emi harshly question her subordinate.

Hanabi's hate filled glare never left Naruto as she did her best to calm herself before answering her sensei.

"Nee-chan does not deserve the fate that awaits her in Konoha. Not when that is the cause of all our pain and suffering." She said while pointing accusingly towards Naruto.

"He is a demon and has used my sister's kind heart to delusion her into believing herself to be in love with him. The demon's lies are what have caused her defection from the clan and he alone must atone for her loss of honor.

As a member of the Hyuga it is my duty to kill him and return my sister to her rightful place within the clan. Once she is free from his influence then everything will be alright again. Please Sensei let me do what must be done!" Hanabi ranted as her fellow ninja looked on with silent pity.

Listening to her sister's rant Hinata buried her head into Naruto's chest in order to hide her tears from the gathered shinobi. Knowing how much his beloved must be hurting Naruto instinctively drew her closure as he tried to shield her from the pains of their current little world.

"Is that how you really feel Hanabi-chan?" Hinata asked as she pulled away from Naruto and turned to face her sister.

"It's the truth isn't it? He used is demonic influence to sway you to his side didn't he? Why else would you follow the demon bast..." Hanabi began but never finish as Hinata ruthlessly rushed and slammed her to the ground.

Seeing his team-mate attacked Rokurou leapt to her defense only to find himself face to snout of a extremely large snow fox.

"Boy I think it best if we allowed Lady Hinata and her sister to work this out for themselves. Don't you?" Yukiko growled as she slowly backed away from the tremblingly and rapidly nodding genin.

"I'm sorry Hanabi-chan. But I can not stand by allow you to continue to speak so disrespectfully of one I have sworn to protect." Hinata said as she looked sadly upon her little sister.

"You would chose him over you own family? Has his evil so tainted you that you would show you back to those who love you?" The younger Hyuga asked as she stood cradling her wounded left shoulder.

Hinata's heart broke to hear the hurt and anguish in her sisters voice. From the beginning she had known that there would be repercussions to her decision to follow Naruto. Yet somehow she had hoped that at least Hanabi would have been understanding. Yet now it seemed that even that was too much to have hoped for.

"I had hoped that you would be strong enough to see beyond the closed minded thinking that all too often seems to infect some members of our family. I see now that you weren't.

Tell me sister, why is it that so many in our family are set against change? Why is it a crime to look outside our walls and embrace what we might find there? Is it so wrong, Hanabi, to be a Hyuga and to want something more than what the Hyuga can offer?

Yes, I followed Naruto. I suppose that in a sense I did abandon the Hyuga. However, not in the way that you seem to believe. You look at the world in terms of right and wrong with the Hyuga being right and the rest of the world being wrong. But the world is so much more then the sum of rights and wrongs. It's a million billion twist and turns and interactions between people and the world around them.

I followed Naruto because I love him. Does that mean that I love you or anyone else in our family any less? Of course it doesn't. It simply means that I want more for myself then what our family can offer." Hinata softly said as she turned and returned to Naruto's side.

"Pretty words sister. But that is all they are, words. The truth is that you would rather be a lowly demon's whore then a respectful woman within our family!" Hanabi hatefully spate.

"Sister, at this moment I can only imagine the amount of hurt and anger you must be feeling. So it's easy for me to forgive you for the things you have said and done here today. However, my compassion for your feelings does have it's limit." Hinata said never showing how much Hanabi's words and attitude had hurt her.

Naruto watched the exchange between Hinata and Hanabi with a deep sense of regret. Although he understood that Hinata had made the choice to come with him for herself now that ramifications of that decision was before him he could not help but feel guilty. This, however, was Hinata's cross to bare and he would begrudgingly allow her to do so despite how much it pained him watch her suffer, however indirectly, because of him.

"Kento." Emi called out breaking the focus away from the sisters.

"Please attend to Hanabi's injuries."

"Yes Sensei." The young man replied as he moved to attend his wounded team-mate.

From the moment Hanabi had first attacked Naruto Emi had not taken her eyes off the elder genin. She held no delusions about the boy and the burden he carried nor the fact that if Hinata had not stopped him then there would be at least one if not more bodies littering the pristine scenery of the Land of Snow.

"I apologize for the actions taken by my subordinate. She will be punished once we have completed our mission and return to the village." Emi said as she bowed towards Naruto and the others.

"A mission huh, I was beginning to wonder why a team from Konoha was way out here." Naruto coldly spoke causing the jonin-sensei's blood to chill.

"Is your mission a secret or may I ask what would bring you and your team this deep into Snow?"

Something about the way the blond had spoken to her screamed for her to chose her next words carefully.

"Naruto-san, Lady Tsunade order ourselves and three other teams to locate and deliver a message to Lady Hinata." Emi said as she took a scroll from her pouch and handed it too Hinata.

Taking the scroll offered her Hinata looked somewhat worried.

"Am I being recalled? She asked.

"I do not know. Our orders were simply too deliver the scroll within the year. Failing that we were to return to the village." The jonin explained.

"Wait, within the year? How long have you been looking for us?" Naruto asked losing the coldness in his voice from moments before.

"Eleven months twenty-one days." Rokurou stated from behind his sensei.

At once Naruto knew something was wrong. Tsunade would have never committed four teams to simply deliver recall orders for one shinobi unless it was of dire importance.

"Hinata I think you had better open that scroll."

Wasting no more time, Hinata released the seal binding the scroll only to have a second seal appear in place of the first.

"It's a blood seal. The first seal must have had a time limit. If the time limit was reached before the scroll was opened then this new seal would be activated." Naruto explained as he examined the newly formed seal.

"Try releasing it Hinata."

Swiping a bit of her blood across the scroll the seal glowed for a brief moment before failing to release.

"Shouldn't something have happened?" Kento asked as both he and Hanabi took knelling positions behind their sensei.

"It would have if the scroll was still meant for me." Hinata said as she turned and offered the scroll to Naruto.

"Lady Tsunade must have meant this for you Naruto. Why else would she have included a seal that I couldn't open."

"Grandma Tsunade must really be in it deep if she's going to this extent just to get me a message." The blond nervously joked as he released the blood seal only to become uncommonly quite as he read its' contents.

0o0o0

In the distance the faces of the past and present Hokage watched over Konohagakure as it's few remaining citizens went about their daily routines blissfully unaware of the chaos that would soon reach their gates.

"Riku, notify all commanders that we will begin our assault upon the Leaf in twenty-four hours." Madara Uchiha callously spoke.

"It will be done My Lord." Riku replied as his master's emotionless laughter filled the room.

0o0o0

There was no emotion on Naruto's face as he read through the scroll's content. For those that knew him best it was strangely frighting for the normally exuberant shinobi to suddenly be void of passion.

"Naruto is everything all ri..." Hinata started to ask before a harsh scream filled the air.

So absorbed in the scroll Naruto had been vaguely aware that Hinata was speaking to him before the sound of someone screaming completely refocused his attention.

Quickly scanning the area cerulean eyes searched for the source of the disturbance before finally falling upon woman before him.

"Hinata?" He softly said as his rational mind collapsed from the sight before him.

"I love you." She said as lavender eyes meet azure moments before Hinata's spear skewered body slipped to ground and a puddle of blood begin to form around her.

Naruto could hear shouting coming from those closest to him. He could sense the ones that had caused the turmoil fleeing back into the forest after accomplishing their task. The voice of the Kyūbi screamed the loudest but it too was but a annoying hum in the back of his mind.

Naruto's world was frozen. Everything and everyone he cared for locked in a repeating cycle of events beginning and ending with three little words, "I love you." Over and over the words repeated until finally his mind flashed and the vision of the one that had spoken them snapped to the forefront.

"Hinata." He whispered before he screamed and the world trembled in fear. The Demon King had been reborn.

To be continued...