Hinata was sitting beside a warm fire, drinking some kind of vegetable soup. They had only stopped for dinner and then they would be moving on again.
She still had no idea where they were headed to, although the small guy had told her they would only be on the road for another couple of hours.
'I wonder if Naruto is alright?' she thought worriedly, before shaking her head. She shouldn't be thinking about her old friends anymore. They weren't good for her anymore, she needed to move on.
Taking another sip of her soup, she tried to think of other things, suppressing any sad thoughts about her former life.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I'll take the first shift."
They all turned to look at Naruto standing, looking down at them.
Without waiting for a reply, he made his way over to his mat and sat down, keeping an eye on the surroundings.
Kurenai looked away from him and bid the other two boys goodnight. Kiba and Shino nodded their heads in goodnight and made their way over to their respective mats.
Once they had settled down, she threw some dirt on their fire and walked over to her sleeping place, pausing at Naruto's mat.
She was hoping he would want to talk, as she could see he was still troubled. But Naruto just ignored Kurenai, pretending she wasn't there.
Kurenai sighed heavily, but went to bed. She wouldn't get anything out of him tonight.
Naruto could tell when everyone was fast asleep, and only then did he let his façade drop. Instead of the blank face, there were sad eyes and a furrowed brow.
This was awful. It was like Sasuke all over again. Was he going to lose Hinata as well?
"Kit…"
Naruto sighed, he really didn't want to speak to the fox, but he knew the fox would pester him till he gave in so he might as well get it over with.
'What?' Naruto asked snappily in his mind.
"No need to be all angry at me kid." The fox retorted.
"Fine. I'm sorry. Now can you leave me alone."?
"I know what you're thinking, you know. It isn't your fault she's gone…""Baka fox. Of course it's my fault. She was kidnapped because I wasn't looking out properly." Naruto felt anger bubble up.
"Ugh, stupid kid. I'm telling you it wasn't your fault. Yeah you could have been doing your job a bit better, but there is something odd going on."
The anger dropped like a ton weight.
'What? What do you mean?'
"Oh you want to know do you? Well I don't really feel like telling anymore."
"BAKA!" he screamed at the fox, face red from anger.
"Fine. I'll tell you what I can. There is something odd about the girl. If you had paid attention you would see she's been changing gradually. I'd say since you met her at the lake."
'…'
"…"
'That's it? That's all you're telling me?'
"Yes."
'I…I…' Naruto stuttered in disbelief, before resigning himself. 'Fine. Baka fox probably doesn't know anything else.'
The boy promptly shut out the Kyuubi, not wanting to here from the fox again.
The Kyuubi sighed. "That's all you need to know, boy. Work it out."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They had arrived.
At least this place was better than the last. A huge estate sprawled out in front of them, much similar to the Hyuuga compound.
As Hinata stepped through the gate, a strange feeling washed over her. It was as if there was another layer over her, but it disappeared as quick as it came. She had no time to think about it, as beautiful couple stood in front of her.
"Hello dear. We are here to help you." Smiled the young woman.
"Yes dear, come with us and we will make you a better person." The young man held out his hand and Hinata found herself taking it.
It didn't occur to her to ask who these people were, or why there was no one around.
She let herself be led into a bedroom, where the young man led her to sit on the bed. The young woman opened a closet and pulled out a beautiful midnight blue kimono, which she hung up on a stand. She walked over to Hinata and smiled kindly at her.
"Please rest a while then feel free to wash up. There are clothes for you to change into here. Excuse us."
They both bowed before exiting the room, closing the door behind them.
Laying her head down on the pillow, Hinata had never known tiredness like it.
As she drifted off, she could swear she heard malicious whispers, but she was soon deep in sleep.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next day she awoke from a dreamless sleep feeling much more awake.
Stepping out of bed, she walked over to a door she hadn't walked through before. Peeking her head in she found her guess had been correct. It was a private bathroom.
Unpeeling her clothes off, she left them folded on a chair beside the door. As she washed she felt like she was getting rid of all her impurities. Her team, her family, Konoha. She didn't belong to them anymore.
She dried herself with a huge, fluffy towel and walked back into the bedroom. The kimono was hanging up, waiting for her to put it on, and who was she to refuse.
Once she had it on, she could see how well it fit her. She saw a glint on the floor and stooped down to see what it was. It was her little fox brooch. Picking it up she pinned it onto her chest. She brought her hand up to her face. She looked really pretty. 'I wonder if he would think I'm pretty…" she thought.
No! She mustn't think like that anymore!
A knock came at the door. She slipped on some wooden sandals and went to the door. When she opened it she saw the young woman from before.
"Please come with me." She smiled and started walking down the corridor. Hinata followed behind and drank in her surroundings. The walls were full of pictures, people she didn't know, very important looking people.
When they stopped, the woman gestured for Hinata to walk into a room. Once inside she saw the small man from before. In the corner were two other men she didn't know and closing the door behind her were the young couple.
"Please sit down, Hinata." Spoke the small man. Hinata obliged, sitting in a comfy looking armchair.
"Now Hinata, you want to become better don't you?" he asked her.
She nodded slightly.
"And you will do anything for that?"
Hinata hesitated for a second before nodding her head again.
"That's good to hear. Now I want you to close your eyes for me and search deep inside yourself."
As she closed her eyes, the young couple held up the hands, palms facing Hinata. They closed their eyes, concentrating. A glow started to emanate from the silver brooch. The eyes shining brightly and the silver giving off heat.
The small man continued, "Can you hear someone calling you Hinata?"
Hinata could see a tunnel in her mind, at the other end she could hear a faint voice crying out to her.
"Yes! I can hear it!" she exclaimed.
He smiled maliciously, "Good. Reach out to it. Pull it to the surface!"
She reached out her arms and could feel someone coming down the tunnel. A blurry shadow appeared, slowly turning into an image.
"Mother!" she gasped in shock.
Her mother smiled kindly as she walked up to her.
Then she walked past.
"Mother?" she turned and tried to walk after her but found herself frozen.
Her mother kept walking down the tunnel towards the light.
Hinata reached her arms out towards her mother screaming out her name. But suddenly her breath was trapped in her throat.
The woman who was walking away had turned back to look at her with an evil smile on her face.
This woman was not Hinata's mother.
Hinata felt a pull around her middle and felt herself hurtling back down the tunnel, further and further away from the light.
"Mother…" she whispered.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Well Hinata….oops on your part….well hoped you liked this thrilling installment!