Hinata felt so cold. Where was she?
Looking around she couldn't see anything. No walls, no floor, no ceiling. Why was she alone?
A pinprick of light appeared in front of her. She squinted her eyes, trying to make out what it was, but couldn't. She decided to walk over to it to see what it was, and as she approached the light got bigger and bigger.
It became so bright that she had to cover her eyes with her hands. When she felt she could remove them, she was stunned by what she saw.
She was standing in front of a huge window, and she could see outside. It was as if she was looking out of her own eyes.
Bringing her hands up to the glass she ran her fingers down it. It felt just like glass, so did that mean it acted just like glass.
She brought her fist back and aimed a heavy punch straight at the glass, but it didn't budge. So she tried a kick, but again it didn't break.
Sighing, she rested her forehead against the cool glass. Was she stuck in her?
"So is that you Akane?"
Hinata brought her head up quickly and saw the small man from before looking straight at her.
"You stupid man, can you not tell it's me?"
Her mouth dropped open in shock, that was her voice, but she wasn't saying those words. Who was?
"Thank god I'm free. I couldn't spend another minute with that child's thoughts. She's so goddamn meek that I had to repress all her cowardly feelings. But now I'm in control and that little girl can just stay inside her little mind."
Hinata staggered back from the window but tripped over her own feet, landing heavily on the non-existent ground.
No. No, she couldn't be stuck here. Please no.
But she started to remember all the horrible things she had said. This Akane woman had put words into her mouth, made her say things she would never even think in a million years.
A voice boomed in the atmosphere:
"You won't be leaving here, child. So get used to it, I'm done controlling your mind. Did you really think your mother was there to comfort you? Ha! Stupid girl. You see, I needed a suggestable subject who had exceptional physical capabilities and guess who matched the criteria!"
Hinata had been speechless but suddenly found her voice, "But how did you get inside my head?"
"You stupid child. I've been winding my way in through your chakra coils for a while now. Lets see if you can guess how? But for now I will bid you adieu!"
Hinata felt the presence leave and visably relaxed. But how did she get inside her? She thought hard about any abnormalities that had occurred during her time on the mission, but couldn't think of anything significant.
But then she remembered what had happened just before the mission. Her hands flung to her mouth, how could she have been so stupid? It was all so clear now.
It was the brooch.
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"But I don't see why we can't just go and get her now!" Naruto was gesturing angrily at Kurenai.
"Sit DOWN, Naruto. Juts let me organize a plan first." Kurenai was biting her tongue, trying not to explode.
"The more we sit and chat, the more danger Hinata is in." Naruto complained again.
Kurenai knew that Naruto was worried, but he really was too hot-headed for her liking.
But before she could say anything, Kiba got up so suddenly he startled Akamaru who was sat beside him.
"She doesn't WANT to come back, Naruto. Why force her?" he shouted.
Naruto face changed in an instant and he crossed the distance between them in record speed. He grabbed Kiba by the collar and slammed him up against a tree trunk.
"Because Konoha is her home! I don't believe she made this decision herself. It's just not like her. So I'll force her to come home, because I know that deep down, she wants to."
Kiba was speechless. Kurenai was about to move to break up the pair, when Naruto dumped Kiba on the ground.
He turned to walk towards his supplies, when he turned his head to look at Kiba.
"I will not lose another one of my precious people."
He turned back and continued on.
Kiba was pale but picked himself up and tidied away his things.
Shino looked to Kurenai, who made eye contact with him. They knew they were both thinking the same thing. Naruto was right, they'd force Hinata to come home, because the believed that was were she belonged.
They were all packed in a matter of minutes, and soon three boys and one dogwere stood in front of Kurenai, awaiting instructions.
"Right. We will follow Hinata's trail, and once we get there, we need to try and get her out quietly. But I want you all to be prepared for battle." She addressed them. They nodded solemnly and Shino sent his bugs to work. Kiba and Akamaru soon had a scent picked out and they were on their way.
Naruto thought to himself from his place at the back of the formation, he had never even thought he would miss her so much when she was gone. He felt awful for putting her in danger, but the only thing he wanted now was to have Hinata back, safe.
'I'm coming Hinata, just wait.'
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Hinata was sitting in front of the window, arms wrapped round her knees with her head on her arms.
She lifted her head, noticing something. She had felt comforted for a moment, but she brushed it off.
Out of the window she could still see what was happening through her eyes. Akane was now looking through a fine weapons array, one to rival even Tenten's.
"Have you chosen your weapons, Akane?" asked the small man.
"Yes I have now. I've seen finer weaponry, but this will be satisfactory for the moment." She lifted up some more kunai and hid them in the waistband of her kimono.
The small man smiled greasily at Akane, rubbing his hands together.
"I don't suppose we can talk about our arrangement n…"
"Not Now!" she interrupted abruptly, holding up her hand.
"I'm busy right now." She went back to sorting through the weapons.
The small man sweated profusely and backed up towards the door, apologizing before shutting it behind him.
Akane smirked to herself, tucking some senbons into the folds of her clothes.
"Be patient…patient." She reminded herself.
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OOOooo….I can actually see an end in sight! Have fun reading!
