Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Too bad for me.

LATER THAT DAY/IN THE FOREST OUTSIDE AME:

The group of ninja, now a group of 5, flew through the trees. They came to a clearing, with trees blocking the view of anyone trying to find them. They all came to a stop, landing on the floor of the forest softly. Without thinking, Hinata threw herself at Naruto. His hands immediately wrapped around her waist and he spun her around once before setting her on the floor.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

Between each word of thanks, Hinata gave him a quick kiss. A soft cough broke through the moment the long parted lovers where sharing. They turned to the other ninja. Sakura held her arms out, a faked hurt expression on her face.

"As much as I hate to ruin the moment, I want some of the love!"

Naruto laughed and pulled her into a hug. Without a second though, Sakura grabbed Hinata and pulled her into the hug as well. The three stood in a tight circle, holding onto each other tightly. Finally, Sakura pulled back. She wiped away some tears.

"I miss you Naruto."

"I missed you to Sakura."

He gave her a soft smile. Naruto had seemed to age 10 years while he was gone. Actions speak louder than words, goes the saying, and Naruto wasn't as outgoing as he was. He seemed reserved, but not in a bad way. He appeared to have become more mature and thoughtful. The blond spikes he had stuck to through his childhood had grown out to a little below his shoulder, falling much like the 4th Hokage's had. His blue eyes were still as bright as ever and they seemed to shine with happiness. Naruto turned to Hinata again and wrapped his arms around her waist, on hand going up to fiddle with the tips of her hair.

"I love your hair cut Koi."

Hinata blushed. She wrapped her arms around his torso and gave him a light squeeze and released him, pushing him gently towards Neji and Shikumaru. Both men seemed to be suspended in time, but then wrapped their arms around Naruto. Neji pulled away, letting Shikumaru get his hug in. Naruto smiled at the two of them, clasping both of their hands and pulling their forearms to touch.

"I missed you guys. Been taking care of my girls?"

"'Course."

At this point, Hinata had come to stand next to Naruto, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, her arm around his waist. Neji had grabbed Sakura's hand, holding it in his tightly. Naruto grinned.

"Finally tied the knot then?"

Sakura bit her lip and giggled. Neji smirked, tapping his knuckles against Naruto's. Said ninja turned to his genius friend.

"What about you Shika? Married to Temari yet?"

"Nah, women are too troublesome."

Naruto turned to look at Hinata, stroking the side of her face with his free hand.

"I wouldn't say that."

Everyone smiled at the couple. Suddenly, Neji tensed.

"We have company. Three strong chakra signatures headed this way."

"Best to run. Come on."

The group followed Shikumaru as he jumped to the first branch he could get to and began to run. Naruto and Hinata ran behind him. Sakura and Neji brought up the rear. The group dashed through the trees, trying to shake the people tracking them. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a little clay spider exploded in front of Shikumaru. He lost his balance, falling off the tree and landing on his back. Neji jumped up to take his spot, while Hinata and Naruto jumped down to his side. Sakura and Neji stood in front of the three, Neji's Byakugan checking the area.

"Is he alright Hinata?"

"Knocked unconscious. The bomb got some of the ligaments in his right calf. Want me to fix it?"

Sakura nodded, keeping her attention on the area surrounding them. She barley had any time to move when a clay bomb hit her dead on. Pushing herself backwards with a bit of chakra, she desperately pooled chakra into the hit artery in her neck. As the wound started to cover itself, she blacked out. Naruto moved quickly enough to catch her before she fell to the floor. Hinata moved her hand over the artery, nodding and pouring a bit of chakra into the area to ensure proper healing. Neji was busy trying to block the onslaught of spider bombs raining down on the group.

"Rotation technique!"

Neji's chakra began to form into a dome, completely surrounding him and his companions. Clay spiders, along with kunais and shuriken, fall to the ground of explode as they hit the barrier of his chakra. The chakra fades away, and Neji begins it again, only to be stopped when a kunai hits him, sending him hurtling towards a tree behind his companions. He crashes into the tree, causing said tree to fold in half, trapping Neji. Hinata stands as Naruto pulls the tree off Neji.

"Thanks so much for bringing the Kyubi out for us, hm."

A flurry of leaves reviles a man in an Akatsuki cloak. His blond hair is partly pulled into a ponytail, another part hanging in front of his eye. He smirks. Hinata grabs a kunai, twirling it in her hand. Pupiless eyes narrow as they stare into the enemy's blue ones.

"Deidara of Akatsuki."

He bowed, standing back up with a grin.

"I'm honored, hm."

"Don't be."

"Feisty! I'll just be taking the boy now, hm."

"Over my dead body!"

Deidara grinned.

"That could be arranged, hm."

Hinata tensed, ready to spring forward. However, a sharp pain in her neck stopped her from moving. Her body crumpled to the forest floor, her eyes struggling to remain open. The last thing she saw was the blond picking up Naruto's unconscious body and jumping on a huge clay bird.

LATER THAT DAY:

Hinata ran as fast as she could. She could vaguely hear Neji calling her name, but she didn't stop, didn't even slow down. She had to get to Naruto as fast as she could. She had just gotten him back, there was no way she was losing him again so soon.

I'm coming Naruto!

END OF CHAPTER:

I suck at endings. I've finally realized that! Please review, even though this chapter sucked and was a day late.

~!snow!~