"Genma! Shizune!" Tsunade screamed. "Get down here now!"

Her two helpers barreled into the down almost instantly. Hinata was confused. Not at their arrival but at the speed of their arrival. It was quick. Too quick for her liking.

"What's the problem?" Genma spoke up.

"Wait," Shizune chimed in. "Where's Sasuke?"

"He's gone," Tsunade answered. "He left in the middle of our investigation. I don't know where he went or how long he's been gone. All I know is that we have a fugitive on our hands."

"Lady Tsunade," Hinata said with a shaky voice. "He can't just get up and leave. The jutsu renders him unconscious. He had to have been kidnapped or something."

"She's right," the hokage said to Genma and Shizune. "We're looking for kidnappers or people housing him essentially conspirators. That boy is guilty. If this doesn't say it, I don't know what else will."

"Milady," Shizune said. "I'd like to make a suggestion."

"I'm listening."

"Maybe we need to remove Hinata from the case."

"What?" the younger kunoichi said. "But there's still more to do. There are still too many unresolved questions. I've made too much progress to be kicked off now!"

"She's right kid," Genma said. "It's too dangerous for you. He's already kicked your ass a few times. If you go after him again, he might very well kill you."

"Hinata," Tsunade said. "I understand your plight, but your services are no longer needed."

"Lady Tsunade—"

"You're done! Now go home. You've done enough us."

Hinata stormed out the room, slamming the door behind her. "He's really gone, and there's nothing I can do about it." Tears burned her eyes. She raced down the halls hoping that this will erase the pain piercing her. It didn't. She found the entrance door of the build and sauntered out. Inhaling, she sprinted toward home. She ran faster and faster and faster still. The only result of this was sore legs.

The Hyuuga manor was in eyesight. She was only a hop, skip, and jump away. Moving another step was useless. Her legs felt like rubber beneath her weight, and they could no longer sustain her. She collapsed to her knee where she stood. Tears continued to stream down her cheeks. Her eyes were puffy and red. Only two words described how she felt. Used and useless. "I was nothing more than a puppet to Tsunade. She got an extended break from her job, she got information she could never have obtained by herself, and what do I get? Nothing. That's what. Even worse, I still can't help Sasuke. What good am I to him? I can't even find him."

Hinata hugged herself and sobbed. "Dammit, I love you. Why would you go missing on me? Why would you just leave me? Where are you?" she shrieked.

The lights on the ground from flickered on inside the manor. The door slid open, and Neji strolled out. "Hinata, is that you out there?"

She looked at him. "Yeah. Neji, come get me. I can't bring my legs to carry me insides."

He simply nodded. With a brisk walk, he reached his cousin in no time. He squatted. "Can you grab onto my shoulders?"

"Yeah. I've gotten a piggyback ride in a while," she smiled. She grabbed his shoulders. He, in turn, grabbed one of her legs and hoisted her onto his back then hooked his other arm under her other leg. He started for the door. She rested her head in the crook of his neck. "Nii-san, he's gone."

"Who? Sasuke?"

"Uh huh. He went missing while Tsunade and I were performing the jutsus. I feel terrible. What if he's hurt? What if I never see him again? What do I do?"

"I'm sorry to this, but we have a surprise for you if it's any consolation."

"We?"

"Yes. Myself, Hiashi-sama, Hanabi, Tenten, and Rei."

"I hope it's ice cream."

"It's far better than ice cream, little sister."

"So what is it?"

He hopped up the steps and entered their home. "Can you close the door?"

She did. "That still didn't answer my question."

"It wasn't supposed to," he grinned. "It's upstairs."

Hinata peaked over his shoulder to the stairs. Tenten, Rei, and Hanabi were at the top of them. Hanabi was cradling Rei who was calmly playing with a strand of Hanabi's hair.

"She likes me better, Hinata," Hanabi jeered.

"Stop it," Tenten hissed. "Does she know yet, Neji?"

"Not a clue," he replied.

"Will someone tell me what's going on?" Hinata groaned.

"Patience, big sister," Hanabi said. "Come on up, and you'll see it."

"We're on our way up," Neji called up. He climbed the stairs swiftly but carefully. "Are you ladies coming along?"

"Of course we are," Tenten said. A few giggles escaped from her. "I don't know how much longer I can contain myself."

Neji strolled past his wife and shook his head. The other ladies followed closely behind. They stopped right in front of Hiashi's door. Hinata wriggled out of Neji's hold. She found the strength to stand. "Alright," she began. "I'm too tired and upset to keep playing these games."

The door flung open. The eldest Hyuuga emerged. "What's with all the commotion?"

"Father, what's going on?"

"Oh, you all want me to tell her now?"

"Yes!" They all shouted.

"Shh! Keep your voices down. He has a massive migraine, which I'm partly to blame for. He needs to rest if we have any hope of keeping him sane."

"He?" A glimmer of hope shined in Hinata's eyes. She shoved past her father, and on the bed laid her beloved raven-haired shinobi massaging his temples. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him. It skipped a beat when he looked up and held her gaze.

"Hey there," was all he said to her.

She flung herself on the bad to him and hugged him tightly as if to never let go. "I'm glad to see you're alright. How'd you get here?"

"Ask your family. I had nothing to do with this."

"Guys," she looked out the door. "Did you bring him here?"

"Indeed," Hiashi said. "He'll be safer staying with us than around Tsunade. Besides, we know how much you love this boy."

Hinata's cheeks were seared red. "I don't know what to say except thank you so much."

"If you're going to thank us, you should especially thank Hanabi. Without her alerting us of Tsunade's plan, he'd be dead right now."

"Wait, what plan?"

"She was going to have Sasuke killed after your investigation," Tenten said.

"And if you really want to thank me," Hanabi said. "You'll march over to Shizune-san's office, and finish this paper I now have to write."

"I love you guys," Hinata said complacently.

"Don't get too excited," the Uchiha said. "I'm not sleeping with you. I'm sleeping with your dad."

"What?"

"He's sleeping in your father's room with him," Neji quickly interjected. "Watch your word choice, Uchiha."