A new day means a whole new start. Another day to live means that everything else is in the past and there's only the future to look for. When Tsunade had called Naruto, Hinata and Sakura to go on a mission you could sense the awkward atmosphere hovering in the air around the blond and the timid girl. Between them was a probing Sakura.

"Your mission today is to assure this man gets to his village safely and in one piece" Declared Tsunade whilst leaning back on her chair and introducing an old man with a straw hat and scarred faced. "His home is located a few miles from our village just north to the Land of needles. There will be some minor attacks, but nothing you won't be able to handle I presume." She looked especially at Naruto and Hinata.

"But, Tsuanade-sama, as you already know events that will probably-"

"Sakura, you will stay after to finish your statement. There's also a matter I wish to speak of with you." Tsunade said cutting Sakura off in mid-sentence.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama." Sakura obeyed.

"As for you two, go get some rest. Naruto, there has been someone to replace you in your absence. You will resume your place as soon as you get back." She said pointing at him and softly yawning. "Alright, you two are dismissed." Tsunade swung her hand and waited for them to exist before placing her eyes on Sakura. "Sakura, as you know already Hinata has gone through some tough times, I understand. This mission is a test to verify whether she can still fight as a Konoha kunoichi, or if the chain of events have affected her to a massive level." The words left her mouth as if it was the second time she had explained.

"I can comprehend why you're doing this, but still. Isn't it a bit too soon? I mean she just got back a few days ago and when I was checking her at the Hospital…something didn't seem quite right…" Trailed of Sakura trying to recollect exactly what took place.

"What are you talking about" Glared Tsunade with intense.

"Well, as I was checking her she had this sort of…scar? Or more like mark on her. Just in the middle of her back. I was actually going to advise you sooner, but I was trying to get more information on what it could be before bringing it up." She paused and waited for Tsuande's response.

"Thank you, Sakura. This is exactly why I sent you with her on this mission. You're one of my finest apprentices and have the wits to observe every small detail. Your assignment on this mission is to assure Hinata is healthy enough to continue as a Konoha ninja." Tsunade nodded approvingly, almost admiring her own intelligence for her choice. "Now, you are dismissed." She once again drove out the ninja with a wave of her hand.

As the ninjas and civilian were walking on a path carved by others' steps they could hear the birds chirping, and insects singing their melodies. The wind was still, and the shade cast down by the long ancient tall trees created a break from the scorching sun. There was only a few clouds off in the distance that teased the travelers for a fountain of rain to fall. Whenever the sun would touch skin, they could immediately spot the lighted area. Sweat was sliding down their hot faces. The whole bunch were droopily walking with drained faces. It was indeed hot.

"GAH! This is boring, why where we even sent on this mission!? There's no action and it's so. Freaking. Hot." Wailed Naruto as he tugged on his hair.

Immediately, almost as if it were reflex, Sakura yelled, "Shut up, Idiot! Can't you see we're here to deliver this man back to his house? It's a mission not a vacation!" She glared with fire in her eyes and a threatening fist.

"Sorry, Sakura-chan." Naruto lowered his head and pouted, thinking of clever comebacks in his head, not daring to say any in fear of losing his life.

"Perhaps we should take a break and have lunch." Hinata oh so innocently suggested. The group was clearly exhausted from the heat and needed a break.

"Yeah, that sounds good." Replied Sakura as a completely different person, almost appearing nice.

"What?! Why do I get yelled at but she-"Naruto quickly shut up when Sakura's head twisted at an unusual angle.

"What~?" She hummed.

"N-never mind." Naruto cleverly avoided a disastrous situation.

Shortly after the cluster set up camp, each taking turns on keeping watch for an enemy attack. The first to go was Naruto, who out of the whole group could stay up for the longest, as long as he regained his sleep with a power nap later on…or so he thought. The first ten minutes had passed and he was already dead, passed out on the floor.

"Idiot." Sakura uttered while lightly kicking him. Guess her turn came earlier than she expected. Seconds passed and she heard the crunching of leaves which immediately caught her attention. She quickly looked at the direction in which the noises came from with a kunai in her hand. To her surprise it was just a small rodent passing by. Lowering her guard and letting out a sight she resumed her job and just waited. An hour or so flew by when she heard a branch splitting in two off in the distance. Needles soon flew her way, she automatically shielded herself from all and while doing so jolted Naruto awake.

"What? What's going on is it time already?" He said half-asleep.

"Naruto! Wake the others up, we're being attacked!" She declared reflecting a few more needles. This time she spotted the location where they were being sent by and threw shuriken. A shriek was heard in return.

Hinata was exiting her tent when she realized what was going on. She immediately grabbed a shuriken and went to the man's side to protect him. Soon afterward a bunch of ninjas came within sight and began hurling themselves at the small group. Shuriken and kunai weapons were thrown in every direction, the fire that was lit was burning with the same passion in which the ninjas fought. Blood soon stained the field like a spotted pattern and men began to fall from every direction. Hinata glanced at a man whose mask had fallen and was now coughing blood. His expression critically pleaded for salvation. She observed with fear as a memory fragment flashed in her mind. The setting was mush like this one. Hinata's eyes were engulfed in fear, she began shaking hysterically and couldn't concentrate on deflecting the weapons that like bullets were shot at her. She missed a few that grazed the side of her stomach and legs sending her on one knee.

"HINATA!" Naruto yelled as he witnessed Hinata falling to the ground. In a flash he was at her side and promptly took down the opponents. Behind him Hinata slowly got up, her byakugan was activated, looking different. Her pure orbs were now glowing a violet color and her veins were tainted black. Hinata herself seemed distant, someone else. Her body swayed towards the middle of the field, a glowing white chakra could be seen violently surfacing from within her. Hinata began her Gentle fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-two palms jutsu and in just mere seconds the opponents were on the floor gasping for air. Moments later, the last of the men were tied up and interrogated for who sent them and what the reason was. Of course, it was the usual a man with big money hired ninjas to take down an obstacle that stood in his way.

"Wow that was cool!" Naruto ran towards Hinata to congratulate her on her new technique. As soon as he reached her something stopped him. She appeared different, was it possible? Maybe someone was pretending to be her, and used a substitution jutsu. No, this is definitely her, but then again it's…not. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked about to place his hand on her shoulder when she grabbed it with full force. Hinata was gripping his hand forcing a cry of pain from Naruto. "What's the matter with you?" Naruto screeched looking directly at her with his ocean blue eyes. At first she paused and then in the snap of a finger Hinata broke from her trance and released Naruto. She instantaneously fell to her knees and began coughing violently. She gazed up after collapsing on the hard dirt to see Naruto by her side and sensing him slide his hands and arms around her. She then felt herself being lift up from the floor. Hinata slowly blinked and saw Sakura heading their way. She closed her eyes again and couldn't open them again, she just heard voices that seemed to escape her grasp. Hinata had passed out.