Her knees ached as Hinata awoke, kneeling amidst a sea of red fog.

"Where am I?" she asked aloud. This didn't make sense. Where was Naruto? Where were the others? Where was the enemy? She stood and tried to get her bearings. Nothing seemed right in this place, surrounded by thick red mist.

A hot wind blew against her, carrying whispers with the heat. They were faint, like the voices of a chalkboard, the powdery lines given utterance to mumble white words. Hinata strained to hear them, to make some sense of the sound around her. One voice came through clearly.

"Run…"

A forest began to gather around her in the swirling red fog, the trees pushed into focus by some strange force.

Who…? What's going on?!

"RUN!"

Panic rose within her, and she ran, speeding through the trees with her arms trailing out behind her.

"Don't look back! Don't let it—DAMN!"

Blood pumped painfully through Hinata's veins as she scrambled over roots and rocks and soft forest earth, fleeing from—

What am I running from?

"Dammit Hinata, RUN!"

Scorching heat pressed on her back as she pushed on, her bare feet cut and bleeding. Hinata stumbled as her heart thumped within her, sending searing pain through her nerves with each beat.

"Don't you DARE stop running, dattebayo!"

Hinata grit her teeth and pressed on, running faster. The adrenaline coursing through her veins stifled a cry of pain as her heart pumped wildly. The heat was growing stronger, closer. She ignored the lack of oxygen in her lungs, ignored the feeling of a vice being tightened around her heart. Whatever was coming for her was NOT going to catch her. She wouldn't let it.

But the faster she ran, the more she felt like her lungs were half filled with cement. There was a brick in her chest trying to pump the blood along, and all the adrenaline and self control in the world couldn't stop the blood from rising in her throat. She coughed and spat the bile and blood, trying hard not to gag, distinctly feeling the sickening sensation of blood drip from her lips down her chin. She ignored it. All that mattered was moving away from the heat.

Hinata noticed the light her pursuer threw on the forest around her, an orange, flickering light. She was running from a fire. The forest was in flames, the source of the blaze closing in. Hinata could feel the hoodie begin to burn away, quickly turning to ash and crumbing behind her as she ran, consumed by the fires. With a tug, she had unzipped the hoodie, and pulled it off, tossing it behind her, running in her wire mesh. She pushed away the regret as she heard the few scrolls inside pop and explode, destroying her new sweatshirt.

Where was the voice that was supposed to be guiding her?! She strained to listen over the crackle of the burning forest around her, but no panicked commands came. There was no escape, and Hinata knew it. The fire had already begun to overtake her. Acting on instinct, she swerved right, heading for a gap in the flames. The source of the fire turned with her, blisteringly close to surpassing her.

This was no ordinary wildfire. Confrontation was the only way to win. She uttered a silent prayer to any higher power that was watching over her, turned, and prepared to strike.

What IS that?!

Déjà vu is a horrible feeling. Hinata felt it settle in her stomach like a writhing hot stone.

As she spun, her pursuer burst through the flames and into her chest, inside her.

Hinata fell to her knees, clutched her arms to her chest as she felt her insides begin to boil, felt the blaze close around her and begin turning her skin to charred bits of ash. She could feel every agonizing moment as she burned from the inside out. The first thing she vomited was the charred, flaming ashes of her heart, and soon, her destroyed body began to follow suit, rising in the wind, piece by piece, her ashes taking flight above the flames.

"And now you are mine," the fire said, its malevolent voice reverberating through her chest.

It began again. Hinata was whole once more, surrounded by the ruthless red fog.

"—tebayo!"

"You idiot, she was safe in there."

"Safe my ass! Let her go!"

"Oh, poor poor," the word was garbled, "her mind is lost now. Claimed by the void. She's dead."

The void?!

"LIAR!"

Naruto?

There was a feral snarl as the second voice screamed, "Her mind is gone! She's mine!"

"You insult me," again, the word was mangled, "I know you better than that! You're lying! She's alive!"

The voice grew louder. "Hinata?!"

Naruto? Naruto!?

"HINAT---"

Silence.

Hinata called out Naruto's name frantically, begging for him to save her from this swirling hurricane of bloody red mist. There was a bright flash of red light behind her as she stopped crying for help, and Hinata felt the heat again, pressing in on her back and neck, the flames threatening to tear away her flesh. She spun, and came face to face with an inferno.

The flames were more intense than before, burning a bright blue not two feet from her, scorching her skin, slowly burning through the fabric of her clothes. At the fire's heart, Hinata could make out a faint, dark crimson shadow with glowing red eyes. She could feel the hatred emanating out of the thing, striking her with wave after wave of blistering heat.

"He thinks he can fix you. He is wrong. You and I, our fates are intertwined," it said.

Hinata simply stared back, trying to be brave, to stay calm. "Let me go."

"Not a chance," the inferno said calmly.

"Let me go!" Hinata shouted.

"You gave yourself to me, Hinata," The shadow growled, "As weak and pathetic as you are, you accepted me. We are one. There is nothing you can do about it."

Hinata glared at the shadow. "Shut up," she said, her tone dangerous.

The shadow laughed. "I wouldn't try to give the orders! You're tentative, shy, and weak. And you've got a HORRIBLE temper, hidden beneath all that innocence. Manipulating you is child's play."

Hinata took two steps into the blazing blue flames.

She could feel her fingertips begin to burn, felt her hair slowly catch fire and shrivel. The inferno seemed to burn things slower than normal flame, as if to accentuate all the blistering pain. But she did not run. She would not run this time. Hyuuga Hinata was going to kill whatever was inside the inferno. There was simply no other option.

Hinata pressed deeper into the blaze, ignoring the pain as her fingers burned. The rest of her body seemed to be okay, untouched as yet by the fire, but her hands and her hair were burning faster than the rest of her. Had she looked down she would see the white finger bones begin to char and blacken, but she disregarded it, only putting one foot in front of the other, eyes locked on the shadow's red slits.

"I am not weak," she said as she felt the skin and muscles around her fists turn to ash and rise into the flames.

"Is this supposed to impress me?" the shadow said, clearly unimpressed.

"I'm not weak."

There was a streak of orange as the shadow burst through the wall of flame that surrounded it, and Hinata could very clearly see the claws of a huge, red fox with… How many tails?

She didn't have time shrink in terror. There was a laugh, followed by searing pain as the huge paw smashed into her face, its nails digging into her flesh, down to her skull.

"Like I said," the monster whispered, "child's play."

And suddenly it all stopped.

A cool breeze played against Hinata's previously burned skin, blowing through her previously scorched hair. She fisted her hands and was surprised to find skin and muscle covering her bones. The sky was a soft navy blue, filled with bright pinpricks of light above the treetops. It was another forest, one of the immense woods surrounding the village of Konoha, one that Hinata knew well.

"Go on, explore, or you'll miss the fun," the voice inside her said.

Hinata took off through the forest, half-expecting the flames to spring up around her. They didn't. The trees cleared ahead, a clearing that Hinata knew well. It had a wonderful stump for sitting and thinking and crying with your head in your hands…

"You're pathetic," the Other spat.

Hinata tried to ignore it, but couldn't help but think, I am.

Shino sat on the stump, his back to her. He didn't acknowledge her as she approached and sat beside him. He focused on the pair of dragonflies he was releasing into the night sky. They danced around his fingertips for a second, hovering uncertainly. Shino gave them a slow nod, and they flew away. He looked… sad, even through his sunglasses.

Hinata didn't really know what to say. She just wanted this to be real, not some sick part of her nightmare with the ever-growing flames. Fortunately, she didn't have to think of anything to say. Something else did it for her.

"Shino," Hinata looked up into his face, "what's wrong?"

Shino gave her a sidelong glance, and turned away. "Hinata," he began, "You will not understand. You cannot understand."

She placed a soft hand on his shoulder, causing his head to turn, to finally look at her. "Teach me to speak with them as you do," she said, smiling.

I can't move! I can't… No! Give my body back!

Shino seemed to think for a moment, and turned to her. "Do you really want to know?" he asked, his voice filled with seriousness and disbelief. He wasn't playing around, this wasn't a game.

No, I don't, this isn't me! Shino!

Hinata nodded, her smile kind and warm.

Stop it! No! Shino, you're smarter than this! Don't let me trick you!

Shino took her hand in his, squeezing it softly. Hinata stared in horror as the Other inside her forced her to gently squeeze it back

"Okay," he said, "I can teach you…"

Slowly, from underneath his sleeves, the bugs appeared and began to crawl over their joined hands. Hinata wanted to scream, to shiver, but her body refused to react to her will. She had lost all control, and could only feel every enhanced sensation. She could only watch as the bugs began to flow over her hand, underneath her clothes, across her body. The bug's tiny legs tickled and itched against her skin as they moved, feeling out the landscape.

She reached up and pressed her hand against Shino's surprisingly warm cheek. Shino's head turned and he simply looked at her. She could tell he was confused, but he wasn't fighting it at all.

Slowly, Hinata brought his face nearer to hers, smiling comfortingly. Shino began to blush, but made no protest. Instead, he pulled his high collar down and pulled off his hood as his face neared hers. His hand let hers go as he wrapped his arms around her. He was warm, she could feel all the life within him as she hugged him back, softly pressing her lips to his. Hinata felt all the bugs stop for a moment as Shino's heart skipped a beat or two.

And with that, Hinata shoved the kunai up into the base of his skull. There was a soft squishing sound as she twisted the blade through the fleshy skin at the top of his neck. With another push, the kunai would enter his brain.

He made no sound, no outcry of pain, as if he were expecting it. Hinata broke the kiss, grinning malevolently as Shino tried to command the insects on her body to exact his revenge… but couldn't. It was Hinata. He… He just couldn't.

Blood began to drip down from his mouth as he coughed, and fell on his side, his eyes full of silent content. Hinata bent down and kissed the fresh blood on his cheek before leaning in close to his ear.

"I love you, Shino," she whispered mockingly, and forced the kunai deeper into his brain. He gurgled in reply.

Hinata stood, the bugs slowing dying around her as their host drew his last labored breath. She laughed, brushed the bugs from her body, and walked away. When she was out of sight, the Other returned Hinata's body and she fell to her knees, crying angrily.

"You murdered one of your best friends," the fire around her heart said, cold and unfeeling. "How does that make you feel?"

"STOP IT!" Hinata screamed, her eyes shut tight, spilling tears.

The heat only laughed at her. "Move along, little Hinata. There is more fun to be had…"

Hinata felt an intense twinge of fear as she rose and took a faltering step deeper into the forest. It was as if she were an instrument at rest, suddenly given to a brutal amateur. She couldn't stop shaking, couldn't stop feeling Shino's warm body against hers, his warm blood flow over her hand as she killed him.

It was eerily silent and peaceful for a while as she walked through the forest she knew so well at night. A part of her continued to hope that salvation was approaching, that she wouldn't have to endure any more of this torture. This feeling left her as Hinata caught sight of Kiba strolling across her path in the distance, hand in hand with… herself.

Hinata watched as Kiba and the other Hinata gazed into each other's eyes, walking side by side, hands clenched together. She watched as Kiba stopped, and drew her close to him, wrapping his arms around her as she snuggled into his chest. She watched as Kiba slowly, nervously kissed her.

In that instant, Hinata and the Other switched places, and Hinata could feel every sensation. His lips against hers, his body against hers, every pump of blood through her veins, every beat of her aching heart. She couldn't decide what was worse, watching the travesty committed by her other self, or taking part in it, feeling every exciting detail. She could feel him blush, his skin so warm as he kissed better than Shino had.

And just like that she switched back, all her feelings ripped away in the blink of an eye. She could only observe again. The other Hinata moved a hand underneath Kiba's clothes, running it up against his abs. He growled quietly, smiling as her hand came to rest on his chest. The Other smiled and struck him, releasing chakra into his heart.

The real Hinata screamed as Kiba went flying backwards, landing roughly. He barely had time to cough up blood and clutch at his chest before the Other was upon him, leaning over him, grinning, eyes wide. She spun the kunai around her finger a few times before she grabbed his hair and pulled his head back. Kiba gagged on his own blood as she raked the blade along his throat, cutting it deeply.

"Needle and thread, Kiba-wan-wan, it'll patch that right up," the other Hinata said, her mouth close to his ear. It was Hinata's voice, and yet, so full of hatred and malice that there was no WAY it could be Hinata.

A bark of rage filled the air around the other Hinata and the dying Kiba as Akamaru charged towards them, snapping his jaws as he began his attack. The Other didn't even turn around. Her arm flashed out behind her, grabbed Akamaru's muzzle, and spun him, lifting the massive dog above her head. In total silence, she threw the hound into the air, and showered him with shurikens, making sure to hit every major artery. Akamaru hit the ground with a sickeningly wet thud as his enormous body nearly burst open.

The Oher walked over and kicked the dying dog's body, listening to him whimper. In a swift motion, she kicked Akamaru's remains over to his dying master's body, watching in glee as the bloody mess of man's best friend landed atop Kiba.

"Stop!"

The Other turned and looked straight into Hinata as she stepped forward in defiance. With a sadistic grin, the Other ran, disappearing into the forest. Hinata dashed after her, her fists and teeth clenched in rage. She followed the faint path of bloody footprints her double had left behind, pushing Akamaru and Kiba's whimpers of anguish behind her. Hinata was going to catch herself and make her pay.

"Vengeance?" the voice asked.

Yes.

"Don't lie, weak little Hinata. You want this."

Why would I want to kill Shino?! And Kiba?!

"Because you are me, I am you, we are one, and we hate humanity."

Soon the trail disappeared, and Hinata was running blind, her anger leaking out of her as she tried to forget the murderous memories. The trees again parted, and revealed the pond that she and Sakura had bathed in. Sakura was descending into its depths, the cold shimmering water soaking her clothes. Hinata stopped, looking around frantically, and was about to ask if Sakura had seen her come through already, when her thoughts were interrupted.

"Ah, Hinata," Sakura said, her back to Hinata. "Have you… found the sheep?"

Huh?

"Because if you don't take them… someone else will. I have decided. And I will cuddle the sheep. I will steal your bright orange sheep."

Hinata's eyes narrowed. The girl was spouting nonsense, but Hinata thought she knew what she meant.

I will NOT let you have him! He's MINE! I'll kill you first!

Hinata blinked. Who had thought that? It wasn't her, right? It was the fire within her, right?

…right?

The heat inside her wrapped around her heart a little tighter, laughing.

No, I don't hate her… I don't, I'm not like that… Please, anyone… Help…

"No one can save you now, little girl. You're mine." She felt the Other grin within her.

Hinata stepped onto the water, glancing down at the reflective surface. Beneath her, mirroring her movements was a different image of herself. It was hunched over, grinning madly, fingernails extended into claws. Her eyes were wide and crazed, a red, catlike pupil cutting sharply through her soft lavender irises.

Her reflection dashed forward, and Hinata felt her body mirror it. In a motion that sent the water arcing up around her, she kicked Sakura in the face, sending her crashing into the rocks over which the water poured. The blow stunned the pink haired girl, her face half caved in, and she gurgled underwater for a moment before resurfacing. Hinata was on her before she could splutter any sort of reply.

Hinata held her up by her hair, kissed her forehead, and snapped her neck with ruthless efficiency. Her mirror did the same. In unison, they dropped Sakura's lifeless body into the depths, watching her sink into nothing.

All Hinata felt was disgust for herself, for what she had become, and for the feeling inside her as Sakura settled at the bottom of the pond and drowned. The other Hinata began to rise from the reflection, grinning intently. She stood back to back with Hinata, and held her arms out slightly, entwining her fingers with Hinata's from behind.

"C'mon, tell me you didn't enjoy that one," the Other said. "You've wanted to do that for so long, tell you didn't like it. Lie to me."

As sick and disgusting and atrocious as the thing controlling her was, it wasn't nearly as sick as the part of her that DID take pleasure in snapping Sakura's neck. Hinata couldn't reply. It terrified her that she would… ENJOY something like that, but even she could not deny that a small part of her derived a sordid pleasure from the murder.

"I told you so," giggled the other, turning her head to whisper into Hinata's ear, the voice dripping in dreadful humor. "Little Hinata… You are like me… We are one."

"Let me go," Hinata pleaded, mumbling. "What do you want from me? Just let me go!"

The Other's tone changed as she continued. "Weakling. If I gave you any control, we'd have you sobbing and whining forever, and we can't have THAT."

The Other turned, and pulled Hinata's back close to her chest, wrapping her arms around her waist. "Come with me, my little Hina," she whispered, giving her ear a lick. "We're not done yet."

FLASH

Hinata was home, in Hanabi's room, holding Hanabi's torn and broken body. The warm blood gushed over her hands as her sister struggled to raise her head, to look into Hinata's eyes.

"O…nee…sama?" she asked, her eyes filled with hurt, with betrayal, with pain. Hinata loved that look.

FLASH

Her father knelt, his back to her, going through his morning prayers.

"Hinata, why have you returned to the main house?" he asked, his eyes closed. "What business have you here?"

She silently drew her blade and removed his head from his neck.

FLASH

"Hinata-sama! You're father has been--" Neji's words were cut short as he rounded the corner to find Hinata grinning madly, her hand clutching the long hair of her father's severed head. Neji recoiled in horror, but recovered quickly, glaring at her.

"Hinata-sama," he said, closing his eyes, "why do you have your father's head?"

Hinata didn't even grace him with an answer. She formed the seal she had been taught by her father, to activate a Hyuuga Curse seal, and shouted, "KAI!"

Neji fell to the ground, writhing in agony, clutching his head as his nerves began to dissolve. Hinata knelt beside him and laughed.

"Don't feel ashamed, Nii-sama," she said, "This was simply fate. You were born into the Branch Family. This is the way you are meant to die," and walked away, listening to his cries of pain as his brain melted and his Byakugan eyes burst into flames.

FLASH

The flames had turned to a blazing white, hotter than any fires of earth, as Hinata's mind returned to the misty red, fiery realm. The claws that held her face seemed to burn with the white flames, scarring her face, turning her to ash.

"Oh, and one more," the monster said, tightening its grip on her skull, boiling the blood that began dripping from Hinata's wounds. "Oh, how I am going to enjoy this. I think you can guess who…"

"HINATA!"

A great wind swept past Hinata, bending the white hell around her. The beast snarled, let go, and sprang backwards on all fours. Hinata fell to her knees, the tears and blood finally able to drip down her cheeks as Naruto, armed with his huge greatsword, landed in front of her, slamming the blade into the ground. The beast dove backwards again, hissing and sputtering in rage. Naruto straightened and readied for his next attack. He did not turn to look at Hinata. He simply stared at the beast and began to ask, "Hinata, are you alright?"

He stopped halfway, angry at himself for asking such a stupid question. Of course she was not alright. She was on fire. Naruto swung his sword around him, creating a small tornado, driving back the flames pressing in on them.

"Damn you, Naruto!" the beast roared as it turned its many tails and ran.

Naruto cursed and thrust out his left arm. The wind followed his hand, and created a tunnel through the white blaze.

"Get out of here, Hinata," he finally said. "I'm doing what I can. I can't have you dying here. So go." With that, he launched himself up into the air, chasing after the beast.

Hinata cried out as he left, yelling, "Don't go!" but it was useless. He had gone, and her wind tunnel of safety wouldn't last forever. She couldn't stand; her legs were too burned, too consumed by the writing white fires, so she half crawled, half dragged herself through the path Naruto had created for her.

The walls of flame pressed in around her as the torrents of wind protecting her began to swirl to a stop, actually feeding the flames as they slowed. It was all but gone as she looked up and saw a black doorway in front of her, the doorframe made from the curling flames around her. The white fire lost it's intensity as it conformed to the doorway's shape, turning from blue to orange, and finally a lifeless black. The structure seemed thin and weak at best, wavering in the heat surrounding it, moving with the ever-cooling flames it seemed to be constructed from.

Hinata tried to force herself to her feet, failed, and fell against the strange door. She expected to catch herself against the door's frame. Instead, she fell through it as it opened, thin as smoke. She hit the ground with painful thud and a cry. The door closed swiftly behind her, blocking out all light.

Hinata simply cried in the blackness. She was both terrified by her inability to understand so much of what was happening, and relieved by the fact that she could feel her hair become wet and salty with her tears, and that her skin was no longer blistered and scorched. She tapped her fingers on the ground, crying with happiness that she didn't hear the unsettling sound of bones clacking.

After a moment, she tried to understand where she was now. The floor was cold, hard, and tiled in small, linoleum squares, but without light there was nothing else she could learn. Hinata slowly dried her tears and stood, shakily at first, then became serious and courageous again, her shoulders set and her senses tingling, itching for new information.

"Byakugan," she mumbled softly. Nothing. Hinata molded her chakra, formed the seals again, and muttered, "Byakugan."

There was no flash of light, no rush of sight. The Byakugan wasn't working. Hinata frantically tried a few more times, but no avail.

"Calm down," she said aloud, clenching her fists in the darkness. "Calm down. Think."

Had she been able to use ANY of her chakra? Hinata tried to remember to the beginning of this misery, starting at the point she passed out fighting Yasukana. She hadn't used any chakra other than when that THING had been controlling her…

Her hands came together in concentration as Hinata closed her eyes and attempted to mold chakra again. No response. It was as if she wasn't doing it right, like she had forgotten how.

Up above her, two soft blue lights slowly turned themselves on, illuminating the darkness. She was in a bathroom, with a few stalls behind her, and a large mirror directly in front of her. Staring back at her with unfeeling eyes was the feral Hinata, her eyes still the disturbing mix of light purple and orange.

"Where am I?!" Hinata yelled angrily at her reflection.

"A bathroom," her double answered. "You are in a bathroom, Hinata."

Hinata looked around. Of course she was in a bathroom. There was nothing special about it, though… Yet she found herself terrified.

The stall door behind her opened, and Naruto exited it, wrapping his arms around Hinata's waist, hugging her close from behind. It was kind. It was gentle. But was it real?

In the mirror, the door burst open, and Naruto leapt out, attacking feverishly, grappling with Hinata's double. They bit one another, clawed at each other, their claws slicing into each other's flesh.

Hinata's Naruto cuddled gently against her, in perfect time with their counterpart combatant's moves. Hinata blushed, watching her horrible reflection, contrasted with the things she felt. It wasn't until she felt Naruto's warm blood drip onto her neck did she notice that every wound inflicted by their reflections wounded her Naruto, left him bleeding without pain.

Hinata turned in his arms, and stared up into his face, her eyes scared. Blood was soaking through his clothes, dripping from his eyes as if he were crying it. But his soft, kind smile remained, even as his lips were cut open.

Hinata stepped back as Naruto closed his eyes and began floating in the air, his arms spread wide. White wings began to emerge from his back, tearing away his shirt, their pure luster bathed in the blue bathroom lights. His chest was smooth, beautiful and innocent in the soft light. A black spiral appeared on his stomach, outlined with a seal. Hinata stared until she heard the glass shatter, and turned to see the Naruto and herself, claws extended, eyes wide and disturbingly catlike.

"We are you," their too-real reflections said as they advanced on them. "You are we. We must become one. We must become whole."

Hinata felt wings burst from her back, tearing away from her hoodie. She floated for a moment, time standing still as she watched hers and Naruto's angelic forms rise a few feet from the ground. Naruto turned his head and looked at Hinata. Slowly, he entwined a few of his fingers with hers as she spread her arms wide.

There was a beastly roar from the ground beneath them, and their feral counterparts pounced and slammed into them. Hinata was dragged to the ground again, the Other biting into her shoulder. Hinata did not cry out as the blood dripped down her flesh and pooled on the ground. Naruto had fared no better. His wings had been torn away, bleeding and broken as the Beastly Naruto atop him had ripped them off, slashing at his chest.

Hinata's double had restlessly sliced off Hinata's wings as well, licking the pool of blood beneath her. Hinata felt the teeth dig into her skin, felt the monster bite into her flesh, tearing chunks away. She was eating her! As barbaric as it was, Hinata offered no resistance. As she was consumed, her consciousness slowly began to switch forms, and awoke within the feeding beast. Before long, she was gazing at her own angelic, fallen body, torn and broken beneath her. She was feeling the blood pump out of the wounds. She tasted her own flesh. And soon, the only thing left would be her heart.

It was over. She was the beast. The beast had consumed her and become her. All that was left was the heart.

She reached for the organ, squeezing it to feel its last few weakened beats, and put it to her lips.

A hand burst through the ground beneath her, the palm slamming into her chest, knocking her backwards, the heart flopping from her claws to the bathroom floor.

"SEAL!"

Hinata's eyes opened, blinded by the bright, white light around them. She wasn't in the bathroom. She wasn't in the forests near Konoha. She was back, back in the real world, feeling real pain and breathing real air. She was alive. She was awake.

Naruto spoke, somewhere behind her, his voice echoing in her battered mind. "Welcome back."

-----------

Author's note: I have reached an all time low ;; I've started chapters with dreams before, but this long?! In all honesty, this chapter was not truly meant to exist. I must tell you, I went through a lot to get this chapter out. I wrote at least four different versions of it. Dead serious. So I hope you enjoy it. I've decided I'm not going to tie myself down to a schedule, seeing as how, whenever I do, I always end up screwing it to hell.

Next order of business. Chapters 9-11 have been re-edited and updated. You may want to go reread them, you may have missed something new.

Lastly, anyone who is a fan of my writing and/or simply want to discuss Apart (or ANYthing) with me should go to http://heart-bound-by-kyubi. for it is my DA site, where I am very active. Trust me, it rocks. Again, I thank all my loyal readers and fans, and anyone who happened to read Apart or any of my other works. Thanks for your support!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. You should also assume I said something witty here.