Hey guys, I'm back with a fairly quick update. This ones a bit shorter than my last chapter, only a little over 3000 words. There are several reasons why I'm posting this chapter right now. First and foremost, I'm exhausted. I've gotten a majority of the new chapters for my other two stories written, plus, I've been playing make-up with all my college courses. Thats a lot of writing.

Another reason for my update is due to the story line. When you get to the end, you'll see what I mean. I'll explain more down there. (Points to the bottom of the screen)

The last reason has a lot to do with reason number two. I'm completely indecisive on how I want to go about the next few chapters, so until I put myself in a position of no turning back, I can't move forward. And if I wait to long, I'll lose interest and just procrastinate, which was an adding factor in my five month gap.

Anyways, I don't own any of the characters, locations, blah, blah, blah, blahdy, blahdy, blah.

Enjoy.


Chapter 12

Reflections of the Past

It was around noon when the decayed gates of Konoha came into view for the two shinobi. Neither said a word as they walked by the large doors which had come off of their hinges. The Hokage Mountain was so worn by time that the faces were nothing by rough bulges, trees had split the stones that made up walls, and the buildings were sunken far into the ground and jutted out at odd angles.

With nothing more than a nod in the others direction, as if a noise would cause themselves to shatter, the two split directions, each heading off to their own perspective way. As Naruto ran, he saw the locations of his most cherished childhood memories in ruin.

He came to a stop outside the Academy. The tree that once held the small swing was now gone. In its place, were the roots to an enormous tree that stood fifteen meters away and that towered above him.

Venturing into his old classroom, he found half had collapsed in on itself. The desks were little more than random bits of frame sprawled throughout the debris. As hard as he tried to stop it, a tear found its way down his cheek. "How could we have let this happen?"

In this very classroom, was the point were he felt his life had truly begun. At this very spot is where Iruka had announced the four members of Team Seven.

In one of the remaining corners of the room, he found the small, crude carvings of himself as Hokage he had engraved in the wall during his countless hours of sitting there due to his various pranks. Iruka had been furious when he had found it, but the scarred man never made him fix the wall.

The Chunin always believed in him, and because of that encouragement, he was able to earn the respect he longed for. But now, his entire life's work was pointless. He knew it was a vain way of thinking, but, much like Gaara, he had always based his entire existence on the reactions of those around him. When they ignored him, he made it his daily goal to be noticed. When they criticized him, he strived to prove them wrong. When they thanked him, he tried his best to truly earn it.

Now though, aside from Hinata, nobody knew or cared who he was. He had felt lonely before; He had felt useless too, but never had he felt as if life was completely hopeless.

"I can't even give Hinata back her life." he thought gloomily. "Where do we go from here?"

The sound of heavy footsteps sounded from inside the hallway.

"Why do the girls always get the easy jobs?" said a low, male voice.

"Because," said a second, lighter voice using a deadpanned tone "their women. It's in their nature to push all the hard work on us. If we don't take it, then they don't 'put out'. And the worst part is that they know that we know that."

"Psh." scoffed the first one.

As quickly and quietly as he could, he crept to the top of the rubble pile and hid behind a particularly large piece of fallen ceiling just as the two men turned into the classroom.

Doing what a shinobi does best, he watched and listened.

"Why do the men always get the easy jobs?" asked Kiko, as she climbed down the thick vines that grew up the large, stone gate that surrounded the area. They had been in Konoha from three days now, but had found nothing to take back.

"Because," answered Ako as she dusted off her pants "their men. They do nothing but bitch and complain if we don't give them their way. So, where are we exactly?"

"No ones entirely sure, but I think it used to be a clan house. See how its all the same color?" she pointed out. All of the surrounding buildings were painted different hues of white, but then again, it could just be the effects of time. "And its a big, fenced in area. Konoha was famous for its powerful clans, so it wouldn't be to unbelievable for all of this to belong to one person."

"Ritzy." mumbled Ako in feint astonishment as she scanned the run down area. In the distance, something caught her attention. "Hey Kiko, hand me the binoculars."

"Sure," she said as she handed them to Ako, her attention on an rusted metal tea cup lodged in the ground.

What she saw, made her gasp. About five hundred feet away, sitting on a pile of rubble, was a crying girl. She had her knees pulled up to her chest with her head bent down. "Kiko," she whispered loudly, even though the girl was well out of hearing range. "Kiko look! I think thats Hinata!"

"The blind girl?" she asked disbelievingly "Where?"

"Over there," she pointed while handing over the binoculars "sitting on top of that pile."

"That's impossible." she said as she looked through the goggles "It is..." whispered Kiko in amazement when she focused in on the girl. "What do you think she's doing way out here?"

"Probably doing the same thing she was back when we first found her. I'm wondering how she got here so fast... It took us a day of straight flying and then a five hour car ride."

"Do you think that boy's with her? You know..." she stopped to think "Naruto." she said with a snap of her fingers.

"Most likely..." she said "Should we go up to her?"

"She's one of the prime suspects in a murder case!" exclaimed Kiko "And you want us to walk straight up to her?"

"And you want us to what? Call the cops?" asked Ako sarcastically "If we get to a phone now, the police might be able to get here in time to find what's left of their camp after they pack up and move. Besides, shes crying. What if that boy left her here and she cant find her way out."

"I'm really starting to doubt that she's blind. I mean, she escaped from a hospital, and apparently, assisted in the murder of several thugs."

"The cops said those people were killed by brute force. Look at her and tell me that shes a brute." dared Ako.

"Her boyfriend," countered Kiko "on the other hand, might be. Do we really want to get involved with them?"

"But he might have left her! And she seemed nice enough." Ako reminded her "We can't just leave without finding out."

"Fine, fine, but if I die..." she trailed off, leaving the threat to idle.

"You'll what? Kill me?" smiled Ako. "Now, come on."

"This is where Hanabi's room was." she thought as she sat on the rubble that used to be the bedroom section of the Hyuga compound, tears were running freely down her cheeks.

She had never been very close to her sister, but there had been a bond between them. It was because of Hanabi that she had found the clause that aloud her to pass on the title of heir to a branch member. One night, before she left the Hyuga, Hanabi had knocked on her bedroom door. As far as she could remember, it was the first time her sister had ever ventured into her life for more than just family business.

Xx Flashback xX

Knock, Knock.

Sitting her book face down on the bed, she quickly crossed the room and opened the door. There, stood her twelve year old sister. She was dressed in her sleeping clothes, covered modestly with an off colored, white robe. The girl's usual stoic expression showed hints of exhaustion that ran deeper than physical limits.

"Hanabi?" she asked "What's wrong?"

"Um," the girl started uncomfortably "do you think we could... talk?"

"S-sure." said Hinata, surprised. Hanabi had never confronted her in this fashion.

Quietly, Hanabi walked inside and sat down in the arm chair she kept in the corner.

Taking her seat on her bed, she asked "What did you want to talk about?"

Hanabi said nothing for a long time, the younger girl just stared her feet and fidgeted in her seat.

Content in the silence, she just waited patiently.

Then, Hanabi spoke. "I... I don't think I can do this." she finally said quietly.

"It's fine," she encouraged "just take your time and tell me when your ready."

"No, I mean I can't DO this. I don't want to lead the clan."

"Oh," sighed Hinata. If Hanabi withdrew from the potential heirs, that left only her. Therein layed the problem that both of them seen. "why not?"

"Well," said her sister, somewhat uneasily "there's this boy..."

"A boy?" she gasped. For some reason, the idea of Hanabi noticing boys made her feel somewhat overprotective. The rational side of Hinata told her that it would be hypocritical to tell her sister she was to young, but the protective side wanted to discourage her. "Can I ask who?"

"Well," Hanabi blushed "he's from a suitable family..."

Since the large majority of the notable clans heirs were in her graduating class, there was only one person in Hanabi's age group that would fit her title of 'suitable'. "Konohamaru?" she guessed.

"N-no!" yelled Hanabi with a fierce blush adorning her face. "Defiantly not HIM! Anyways, I don't want to leave the clan, but I don't want to run it, either. The Elders pressure you into following tradition. Meaning I would have to marry into the Hyuga."

Hinata giggled. "I guess it runs in our family." she said slowly, her gaze drifting off.

"What do you mean?" she asked, a defensive tone edging her voice.

"I'm in love with someone, too."

"Really, who?" asked Hanabi quickly, curiosity overcoming her proper shell.

"Naruto." she said simply.

"Uzumaki?" the tone she used degraded him in a way without directly pointing him out. "Why?"

"What do you see in Konohamaru?" Hinata asked quickly, but softly.

"It's not that obnoxious brat..." she quietly said.

"Anyways," interrupted Hinata, her tone changing the mood "do you see the position your putting me in by withdrawing?"

A second ticked by before realization crossed her face. "Oh, one of us has to take the fall."

"Yes..." she said sadly.

The two sat in silence for several more minutes. Then, "No," said Hanabi hopefully.

Hinata just waited for her sister to explain.

"Father was telling me once, during one of our history lessons, that a branch member, directly related by blood to the main branch by less than a generation, was once given the title of heir. But later had it taken away when a new heir was born!"

"Neji?"

"Exactly!" said Hanabi, happier than she had ever seen her as. "But I don't remember what the circumstances were."

"Couldn't you just ask Father?"

"I don't think that would be in the best interests." warned Hanabi "He didn't like the idea of it when he was telling me, so he might try to stop it if he suspects us. And theres a second problem."

"What?"

"I know that it happened when no other heirs were present at the time, but as long as were both alive, then it can't be done."

Glancing at the clock, Hinata asked "Do you think we could find out at the archives?"

And from there, the two sisters spent every night for the next week sorting through scrolls and other various documents in secret, searching for the one instance where a branch member briefly gained the title of heir.

A month later, Hyuga Hanabi had the title taken away, along with her main branch status, Hyuga Neji was named the official heir, and Hinata was house hunting.

Xx End Flashback xX

"Why did this have to happen?" she asked herself.

The sound of rubble moving brought her out of her grief. "Hinata?" asked a female voice.

When she turned around, she saw them. Standing about five meters from her, were the two women she had first met after waking up, Tsukiko and Ako. They were slowly walking towards her, but their movements were cautious.

On reaction, she jumped as far back as she could, giving them an extra three meter berth and crouched into a defensive position.

"WHAT THE HELL?" yelled Ako, unexpectedly.

"How did you just do that?" asked Kiko loudly.

"I don't think their shinobi?" she thought. "But whatever they are, they're chasing us." She remained where she was, ready to strike if they showed any hostile movements.

"Calm down," reassured Kiko nervously "Were not going to hurt you."

"W-what do you want?" she asked as she quickly wiped a loose tear from her eye. "Why are you following us?"

"Were not, I promise. We just came across you crying, and thought we could help, thats all."

"Yeah," agreed Ako "we have our own business here."

"What business?" she asked.

"Well," said Ako slowly, looking to Kiko for help. "were not even sure. We were told to come here and not come back until we found something worthwhile..." her explanation was weak, and she knew it.

"So you came here to defile my home." she said, her emotions flaring on the inside. She knew that she wasn't being level-headed enough, but with everything that's been happening, her emotions just weren't cooperating.

"You live here?" asked Ako in astonishment. "I didn't know there was still a free standing building left in this dump."

"Isn't that kind of dangerous?" asked Kiko, trying to cover for Ako's rude tone. "The buildings around here could fall at anytime, and theres not a soul around to help you if your hurt."

She couldn't help it. She tried to hold back the involuntary gasps and tears, but they surfaced, regardless. She tried to keep her feet stable and her arms held ready to defend, but her muscles started trembling and she felt herself collapse under her own weight. She tried to tell the two women to stay away from her, but all that came out was a muffled, meaningless murmur that did nothing but announce her weakness.

She heard the two women gasp, then, several seconds later, she felt one of their arms wrap around her. "Shh," she heard one of them say, trying to console her. "everything's going to be fine. Just calm down." It was apparently Kiko who was holding her, judging by the voice.

"Why don't you come..." she heard Ako start, but the emotional strain was getting the better of her. She couldn't bring herself to focus on everything that the woman was saying; her only thoughts revolved around her lost loved ones. "...tea and get everything straightened out."

"Hinata? Can you hear us?" she heard the other woman ask "Ako, give me your canteen."

She felt dizzy.

"Drink this." she heard as the world started spinning.

Nothing.


'Kurou, Nobu, stay out!'

"What the Hell is all this about?" Kurou asked as he stared at the small piece of paper taped to the front of their main tent.

"I think it means to barge right in there." said Nobu, a hint of sarcasm on the edge of his voice. "But I could be wrong."

"You really think so?" he asked, his voice tainted with a heavily joking tone "'Cause I was thinking-"

But he was cut off when Ako stuck her head out of the tent and made a quick 'shushing' noise, then receded back inside within the blink of an eye.

If only due to surprise, he stayed silent. Seconds later, the short haired woman quietly slipped out. "Could you guys keep it down?" she said in an angry, hushed voice.

"Whats going on?" asked Nobu just as quietly. "Why can't we go in?"

"Because there's a naked girl in there asleep, that's why!" she yelled in her quiet voice. "Now go away, you two are gonna wake her up."

"A naked girl?" "Really?" asked both as they tried to subtitly lean around Ako to somehow peak through the closed tent flaps.

"Yeah," she said as she blocked their view "follow me."

After she lead them a fair distance away from the tent, she came to a stop.

"So let me get this straight," said Nobu "you found a naked girl in the middle of an abandoned, decayed, ancient city?"

"Kind of..." said Ako, understanding how crazy it sounded. "But she's wasn't naked when we found her."

"Really..." asked Kurou, his tone suggestive as he stared off into space. His mind wondering into dangerous territory.

"Not like THAT!" screamed Ako as she kicked him in the shin "Pervert." she muttered "Her clothes were drenched from a fever sweat."

"Okay, okay!" yelled Kurou as he hoped and cursed at the same time.

"Is she unconscious?" asked Nobu.

"Yeah." she answered.

"Did you find out anything about her? Who she is, why she's here, anything?"

"Well," said Ako, her tone hinting towards an uncomfortable topic "her name's Hinata." she finally said with a pointing smile.

"Wait!" said Nobu in surprise "As in, 'other excavation site' Hinata?"

"Do you mean," asked Kurou loudly "as in 'wanted murder suspect' Hinata?! 'Cause thats the only Hinata I know of!"

"Well, yeah." said Ako sheepishly. "She was all alone and crying," explained Ako quickly "then we talked to her for a second, she did this crazy ass jump, then she was out. We don't know whats wrong with her. Kiko says it could be emotional. We're thinking maybe she was left here by that Naruto kid."

"That kid could still be around here?" asked Kurou. Something about being in the middle of the forest with a possible psychotic killer didn't sit well with him for some reason.

"Hey," came Kiko's distant voice. "Can one of you bring me some dry towels?! Quick!"

"I think there are some in your pack." Nobu told Kurou. With a grumble, the bigger man stalked off, back to the camp.

"Back to the matter at hand," continued Nobu "Do you think its safe to keep that girl around?"

"It's not like she was acting hostile towards us or anything." lied Ako. The guys wouldn't understand the situation unless they were there, so she decided to leave that little bit of information a secret.

"But what if that boy comes looking for her?" asked Nobu.

"What if he left her?" she countered. "We can't just leave her here."

"What makes you think he left her?"

"You didn't see her," explained Ako "she was completely devastated when we found her. She was just sitting on a pile of rubble, crying her eyes out."

"Well," started Nobu "she's here now. Theres noth-"

But he was interrupted by a loud, male scream.

Exchanging a frightened look, the two started running back to the camp, fearing the worst.

(AN: Well, that's it for the short update. I say it's short, but IS longer than some of my other chapters. Now, as you can probably tell for yourselves, though it'll all lead to the same end point, this can go several different directions in order to get there. I was second guessing myself the whole time wondering if I should try to change this to that, or if I change this to this, then can I get to there from here. That's why I posted. Now, there's no turning back or second guesses.

I have a vague idea of what I'm going to do, but I'd really appreciate some ideas. I'm looking for any big twists or anything, just one of the obvious paths that you guys would prefer I take. Don't be afraid to present me with a challenge though, 'cause that's the kind of thing that keeps this story original!

Please review, and if you'd like a response, please be signed in first. I can't say anything back if I don't know who said it.

P.S. - This has not been passed though any beta's. Vami, Timeshift, if you guys by chance see this, for some reason, I can't get any word to you guys.