Naruto and its characters © Masashi Kishimoto.

Enjoy. Please comment. And I wish you all a year full of great things.

Chapter 21: Izumi.

For the twelfth time in the day a noisy splash resounded within the clear lake, scaring away a few birds from its nest; the twilight was getting near,and hours had passed without any apparent breakthrough. A few leaves floating on the lake, brown shades and dry air gusts reminded him that autumn had come, and warned him that so would do the winter. Seishin sighed loudly and somehow sweetly, calling her with a patient voice. "Hinata-dono, are you all right? Is there something bothering you?"

"Hmm... I..." she mumbled without facing his cerulean eyes, always so straightforward.

"I can see you fail to concentrate, is there any chance this is related to us being away from Konoha, Hinata-dono?" he put up his usual smile, warm and quiet.

…Perhaps its true... it's been 2 weeks already since the last time we were home, and that time we stayed only long enough to refill our supplies; Hanabi was far from home, Neji-nii´s birthday passed by without me being able to give him his gift... and I didn´t get to see Naruto or any of my friends. Seishin-sensei is practically the only person with whom I had had contact for more than a month and a half… She thought in a beat "It might be" then answered "I apologize if I cause you any troubles for something as simple as this, Seishin-sensei, but... I miss…"

"Who?" He asked narrowing his eyes, yet outlining a comprehensive and friendly gesture.

"Them... all of them" she muttered.

The redhead quickly calculated, carried away by the spell of her sad eyes, an acceptable time-break. After all she had earned it. Anyone who could resist that kind of training deserves a good rest...Especially her…. "We could..."

"No..." Hinata interrupted him almost whispering, lowering her head "that's not necessary. My attention is absent for another reason. Please... let us just continue."

"Hmm... Hinata-dono, if your concentration is poor so it will be the result of the training. So far I think we had done an excellent job. It´s wise to know when to take a break to breath."

"But..."

The redhead´s gestures were always rather formal, but little by little, her female insight was beginning to suggest some change, subtle but undoubtedly present. It was as if the words of her young sensei were moisten with dew, as if his eyes received with pleasure the sun's rays, as if his smiles were born more naturally, as if his elegant body language were unconsciously leaning towards her. But, well, wasn´t that normal? At least, any person with whom Hinata would shared a considerable amount of time, gradually tended to make the same changes - all except her father – maybe because of that, she ignored his almost inaudible sighs, thinking that perhaps he would also have someone waiting at home for him.

"Prepare your things Hinata-dono, we leave at dawn."

"Yes! Thank you!"

It had been 24 days, 14 hours and 32 minutes since he last saw her, but who´s counting?

Naruto walked back to his apartment, with slightly drooping shoulders, arms swaying softly with a pronounced convex curve on his back - hump – an obvious sign that he was drawing himself at home. Covered in sweat and earth, his body had a dozen new and insignificant wounds that would vanish as soon as he stopped paying attention to them. But it didn´t really matter that these scratches, so typical of his extreme-kind-of-training, heal overnight; cover them with clean bandages and the fragrant ointments Hinata gave him at irrational amounts, had become a routine...Hinata... he sighed, suddenly perceiving an itch on his tired legs, more strongly than before. Again, dragged by the centrifugal force of doubt, despite not having any strength left, he reviewed the premises that had hovered in his head for days and days.

Fact number 1: They never announce their departure or return.

Fact number 2: The didn´t send weekly reports on their progress.

Fact number 3: They were always the two of them, and no one else.

Fact number 4: They never talked about their "missions"

What type of mission requires two med-ninjas? It couldn´t be a recognition mission, because they would have to report! The most rational conclusion he came to find was... that their assignment involved many wounded, and many wounded equals danger... and yet...

Fact number 5: they never asked for reinforcements or let him join them.

Naruto was starting to feel very intrigued and eve more irritated by the matter.

That afternoon he had been lucky enough to run into Kiba when Hinata´s smell was approaching. The dog-boy told him she would arrive in just over two hours, enough time to shower and let the evening workout fatigue run down along with the cold water. In those days, training was all the sky-blue-eyes shinobi had to keep his mind out of things; otherwise he would find himself, again and again, reading the same book she left in his hands the last time, despite having finished reading it three days later, or more frequently enlisting those afore-mentioned premises so tormenting and inevitable. He left the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and his mind fixed on the idea of receiving her... at last. He shook his hair like a puppy soaked by the rain, and proceeded to digged in high piles of dirty laundry to find the perfectly clean outfit reserve for situations like this.

Fresh and renewed, he quickly shut the door and left.

.

.

.

.

.

…That damned mangy dog… growled Naruto minutes later …Did he lie to me? It wouldn´t be the first time I have been deceived like this, but... even so, I know I'm not leaving until I have to... almost laughing at himself, the blond took a leaf that the wind blew in his direction while waiting impatiently sitting above the lintel of the main gates... it's hard to do so when there is no way of knowing how long will she stay this time… Far to the horizon, a pair of figures approaching made his heart skip a beat... Hinata? ... Naruto covered his eyes from the sun and tried to sharpen his vision narrowing his eyes; to the distance, there it was the marble figure of our princess, smiling broadly and waving at him. "Hinata!!"

Containing her urgency, she walked slowly side by side with her teacher. Seishin, seeing the noisy ninja ran towards her, took a deep breath and spoke solemnly "You may get ahead if you want to, Hinata-dono"

"Thank you, but no" she declined, her hands knotted in front of her navel, with a slight pink all over them "Everyone fulfills a role in a relationship, and that one belongs to him." she said smiling beautifully, between proud and divinely resigned.

R.e.l.a.t.i.o.n.s.h.i.p… R.e.l.a.t.i.o.n.s.h.i.p.

The terrible word vibrated on Seishin´s ears, along with the loud shouts from the ninja for who he was beginning to feel a bit of... what was it? Jealousy?... No. It was... something different... it was more like…

"Sensei... is something wrong?"

"No." He denied it with a colder tone than he intended to "I'm going to report our progress to the Hokage."

"Hnn" she nodded, fairly familiar to the remarkable change that her sensei experienced each time they arrived to the village.

"For now, there´s no need to unpack. First we´ll listen to what Hokage-sama has to say. I'll take the luggage to the Hyuuga compound" he stretched out his hand to Hinata's bag, brushing lightly her hand in the process "please be careful."

"Thank you, sensei" she smiled, as always.

Seishin fixed his eyes on her, a look that gave off a meaning different than usual. His eyes normally revealed serenity, a confidence that printed on the receiver a deep and sincere curiosity, which provoked in them the desire to answer as quickly and honest as possible. But this look, which Hinata saw only for a split of a second, showed an undeniable and irrepressible eagerness to catch her smile, as if he was considering very seriously got frozen at the time, and live without regret in the future or memory of his past. His sapphire eyes radiated a dim light, but warm... he smiled back, and after a bow, walked away slowly.

The blond was not very good at reading atmospheres, but he couldn´t help but noticed the way Seishin looked at Hinata while saying goodbye. It was... a mixture of love, fear and sadness. It didn´t actually bothered him, but it was rather unsettling. As they passed along the way, both men gave each other an unfriendly look. The wind waved slightly the lose red-hairs that covered his white frame, and exposed, on his timeless frame a motion slightly bitter, sad and defeated. Naruto felt a cold chill ran down his back ... that... gesture... he thought, and then felt a soft breeze coming from her direction.

"I´m back…"she whispered.

"Welcome home..." he replied. Forgetting about her teacher, at less for a while, because just by being in front of her his knees betrayed him and he fell on the ground… am I shaking?...

…Is he trembling? Is he sick or injured?... she thought. "Naruto!"

Surprised and very much embarrassed, he lifted his eyes while standing up to find a slight blush on her cheeks and her white pearls shining in concern. "You call me... Naruto" he smiled delighted.

"Well… we´re alone, aren´t we?" she smirked, and felt like inch by inch, a running shiver ordered her to pounce at him.

"I have the perfect nickname for you!!" he shouted, as if he had suddenly remembered it, with that impulsiveness worthy of a psychiatric evaluation.

"Really?" she asked curious "and which is it?"

"Hime!" Naruto replied proudly.

… Hi… hime?...Is he trying to tell me that he discovered something?... Hinata was speechless... is that a hint?...

Tsunade meditated with her hands covering her mouth, as if that way she could prevent from any external ears to hear their talk. "Are you sure, Seishin-san?"

"I trust her, Hokage-sama"

"That was not my question" she replied with that intrinsic aggressiveness that characterized her "I'm sure Naruto would never do anything that could hurt her, but... it will be difficult to keep him under control. I´ll give him some credit, he has grown up, but..." she paused, as if she was searching for the right words "but still, the idea does not seem appealing to me. Do you think the result will exceed the risks?" she finished that sentence raising her eyebrow in suspicion.

"Hmmm... I think that it will be a valuable contribution" the redhead replied cautiously "lately she seems lost in thoughts. It is possible that Uzumaki-san is more of a help than a hindrance... and also, I understand that the air is his element, right?"

"Yeah…" despite had receiving two reasons of considerable weight, Tsunade found it difficult getting rid of her concerns. On one hand, Naruto was one of the strongest elements in front of any mission, on the other hand, this was about two teenagers who had just discovered the pleasure in sharing their life with another human being on a high and intimate degree... both been always alone, in different ways, but equally hurtful. The novelty always carries the inexperienced to do stupid things. It was thus a bet in which she didn´t see - as a mother without a title that she was - by any angle any chance of a gain, only hazards and risks. Still, she trusted her former battle comrade´s skills, and very reluctantly also saw some potential benefits... after a moment of internal deliberation, she continued as a judge who always leads to justice, though it may hurt "If you think so, Seishin-san, he´s all yours. It's been some time since he had someone to guide his training, so it will be a triple gain. I'll talk to him and make him understand the seriousness of the matter, although I will not give many details. Can you keep the two of them under your barrier´s protection?"

"Undoubtedly. Hinata-chan has also had an effect on my skills." He smiled with an unexpected twinkle in his opaque rubies.

….Hinata-chan?... "Seishin-san... how... how is that going?" Asked the Hokage a little bit uncomfortable, feeling that it was not her place to ask, but to her surprise, she received a response.

"Not so good... Tsunade-san" As always, invoking a more intimate atmosphere to confess his troubles to his older friend, who by chance, happened to be his boss.

"Oh..." the women in her, and not the leader, muttered "so you have more than one reason to add Naruto to the group, right?"

"Yes..." he nodded, not lifting his head "She´s a kid. Despite all...she´s still just a child."

Shino, Kiba and Akamaru found them playing as a couple of kids making each other tickles all over; most of their friends knew that they were in a relationship since earlier that year, but none of them had ever seen them exercising the rights that comes with the label. Naturally they called them from far, waiting for them to return to each own personal space.

"Shino, Kiba, Akamaru! I´m back!"

"Welcome back, Hinata-chan"

Soon, the four of them were on their way to Ichiraku's without even realizing it. It was the logic step when it came to Naruto and Hinata. After a few ramen dishes had piled up on the bar, the night, light and fresh, had fallen over Konoha´s forest. Shino, currently on charge of some administrative responsibilities, informed her that from the rookie 9 the only groups currently present were 8 and 7. True, the kunoichi had no idea how long it would take until the next "mission" but something told her that she would not be able to witness another dusk. "It's time for me to go home..." she muttered more to herself than to the others.

"We´ll walk with you!" Kiba and Naruto yelled at once, while the guy with glasses nodded.

There was a nice breeze blowing, and distracted by the many issues to be resolved, she looked up at the night sky, a habit she had adopted since an early age following her mother's advice - …Be careful to always look up at the stars... - and she was effortlessly transported to one night at the training lake. She smiled. It was refreshing to see the stars reflected on the water those nights. It gave her the impression that it wasn´t the day´s fatigue that made her stayed out there, after being exposed to all sorts of indescribable pains; the stars reflected in the lake, offered her the change to think that she been there had nothing to do with the exhaustion that hardly allowed her to stand on her knees at the end of the day, but it was her own decision.

The training consisted mainly of 3 parts.

At daybreak, teacher and student rose to meditate just when the first sun-ray´s crossed the crystalline pond, making the most of, in words of the redhead words "the sprout of life" every morning. They sat with their backs straight to the point of a right angle, breathing in harmony, with their legs in a knot right in the middle of the lake. He never told her how long the morning meditation would last, but at the less expected moment, Seishin would attack her, launching suddenly at the princess who usually received one or two knocks before breakfast time. Taijutsu - Hyuuga style mostly, but not always. And thus, the first part finished.

After breakfast, they began a rich variety of exercises that were intended to master the element in turn. Hinata found genius the techniques Seishin used to synchronize each part of her body and made it an extension of the element. From stretching; stabilizing water drops with minimal chakra infusions so it remained suspended on the mid air – which then became, as the difficulty degree increased, something like molded shape-water figures in the air like if the water was mud – sowing seeds and made it bloom faster; manipulate the shape of the three´s roots, branches and trunks; swaying the trees and nature around to her left with her right hand, and to the right with her left hand; swinging on the thinner branches without using nothing but chakra to remain up there; remain static in the strangest positions, normally with no more than the tip of her toe to withstand her whole body. And so on…

The third part of the training always started at seen the first glimpse of the orange sunset on the horizon, under the starlight alone, and by far was her favorite part of the day. In this they mixed their chakra, simultaneously with one or more elements. There were also sparring sessions involved, and sometimes lessons on how to combine the elements for the best. It was at this time, after Seishin had finished healing any injury which they would earned during the day, in which she stayed out there to watch the stars above, until she could feel again her legs. At least at first it was only her legs, later on she had to wait a little longer to regain the sense of touch, and her motor control over arms and legs.

Water and earth didn´t cause her any problems, but for some days, when they started with the new element, the air put her frequently under difficult situations. She ran out of chakra extremely fast, the amount of energy and air in the mixture were often explosive; and unfortunately for her, finding the balance between her essence and the element was clearly unnatural. When Hinata asked Seishin why was it like that, got a simple and concise answer: "You don´t know freedom, freedom doesn´t know you, Hinata-dono" ...Freedom... so many years in the Hyuuga house may have that effect on people. Neji-nii... I wonder if he´s home…. Lost in her mind, the door of the mansion appeared in front of her sooner than she would expected it, and then realized that she hadn´t say a word all the way to her house; she apologized terribly flushed, bowed, and disappeared inside the walls of the compound before anyone could say goodbye... How strange… the three of them thought.

Walking down the street, they found a big, immobile surprise on the middle of the street; a small figure motionless with eyes fixed on the Hyuuga mansion. Somehow she seemed familiar, but it was not until they were two steps away that Shino recognized the girl from that mission near the village of cloud "Izumi-chan!" (Chapters 5, 6 y 7).

The three shinobis called her, and try to draw her attention in many ways, but all was in vain, she simply kept watching, as if she was petrified, towards the Hyuuga house. The blond one at first thought she was under some kind of genjutsu, but after dismiss it and simultaneously receive an order from the Hokage, he decided it was best if Tsunade gave her a look.

With a plan of mutual agreement about the points that were to be reveal and those which they wouldn't even mention, Tsunade called for Naruto, and Seishin went for a little walk.

When the knuckle-head appeared holding a little girl's who appeared to be out of it, the blond woman had a bad feeling.

.

.

.

Finally, after spending the first 10 minutes checking her, the med-ninja couldn't detect the slightest abnormality, except for her lack of response of course; and so, Seishin appeared, true to his word to give the Hokage a few minutes alone with the most-likely, by now, over-enthusiastic ninja.

"Hokage-sama" The redhead called her respectfully, but not hiding his intrigued look.

"Ah… yes, come on in" she sighed, again Naruto had managed to ruin her plans " This is... a girl that team 8 and Naruto protected on mission a few months ago, near the village of the cloud. She seems to be sleepwalking... or under some kind of hypnosis."

Now, let's consider briefly about the situation in which Naruto found himself. The last time he saw Seishin, he noticed a clear hostility on his part, a very strange thing coming out from the redhead who always ignore his stares and disrespectful words. Seishin would usually just smile, and look away, which irritated Naruto the most. But truth be told, it wasn´t that icy stare he gave him which troubled him the most, but... that look of sorrow, loss, bitterness and confusion that followed, that gesture... Naruto knew it well. Sakura had the same one, painted on her frame all the time, a few years ago, when the name Sasuke was mentioned. That gesture was a clear message, even for someone so antipathic and dense like him... that was the face of someone who had lost something very dear. Naruto´s face was serious, expression that was not commonly found on the face of the one who possessed the most contagious smile of all Konoha. As suddenly as a knockout blow, just by hearing the red-head´s voice, his face darkened, surrounded by a murderous aura ...The worst thing is that he´s with her the whole time! Always... always there; if ever I get to know that the reason behind these long absences is because of this bastard, I will rip out his head with my teeth's!... Trying to calm down a bit, he reasoned that the best way to find out why Hinata and Seishin were continuously assigned to that peculiar kind of missions was asking him face to face; with that in mind, Naruto took a deep breath and said "You" looking at Seishin "How is Hinata´s training going?"

"Hinata-hime!!" the little zombie-girl yelled, speaking for the first time, breaking that almost palpable atmosphere that has been formed between the two males.

"Hime (princess)???" Naruto was puzzled "Izumi-chan? Are you okay?"

"Where is Hinata-hime? Where? where? I need to find her!!" she screamed with her hands clasped over her chest, like if she was protecting something very dear.

"What´s with the urgency?" Asked the Hokage with suspicion.

"Its time for her to have the parchment." Answered the girl as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "She 'll need it."

"Parch.. ment?..." muttered Naruto "Why? Why would Hinata need something like that?"

"Because the autumn equinox is approaching and its moon is the one in which she have to reveal it. Hinata, but first I need to talk to her. I need to talk to her! Please! Where's Hinata-hime?"

"Autumn Equinox?" Tsunade murmured "That´s on September 21 if I am not mistaken... there´s 9 days left." The Hokage was shocked "How do you know about Hinata? Who sent you? What does that parchment contents? And why do you call her Hinata-hime?" Tsunade asked with caution.

"That´s a lot of questions…" she sulked "well… because my grandfather scolds me when I called to her "Hinata-oneechan" he told me that the moon eyes princess could not be…" Behind Tsunade there was a very startled, dumbfounded blond, with an interrogation sign all over his face "…Naruto-niichan... why are you making such a strange face?"

Seishin looked squarely at the Hokage who opened her eyes with surprise, took her hand to her forehead as if she were exhausted and after a sigh met Seishin´s blue stare with a clear message "Now we have to tell him all of it..."

Hyuuga´s gardens were her favorite place in the whole compound, for many reasons; the first of all was her mother... she could still remember how she and her mother used to woke up sooner than most of the member of the clan, just to smell the aroma of chrysanthemums, roses, jasmine and mint in a fresh morning, when all the dew evaporates slowly. Another reason why she was so fond of that area was because it was the scenario of her morning´s sparring with Neji; in that remote part of the house that no-one but them used to visit, she could stumble, fell, scream or strike a blow squarely between his ribs without worrying about people comparing their skills. It was just them.

She was playing nervously with a little package, wrapped in green paper, between her flawless hands; Hinata sincerely hope her silent calls would reach him. She suspected that the quiet ninja was not only able to read assertively her body language – not that it was that much of a challenge for him, he knew her for so long now – but, he could hear her even if she didn´t make any sound, even when they were apart. Yes, most of our princess´s charms were after all related to her instincts, her imagination and her great ingenuity. A strong bond has been formed between them in the past few years, that´s a fact, and although Hinata had never figured out its origin, the possessor of a petrifying gaze once said to her with a soft voice "It's the tangled thread between a protector and the protected", then smiled imperceptibly to anyone who was not her.

Now, Hanabi was in the dojo, training. His father in his office, and Seishin was not home. She didn´t expect a warm welcome, but neither did she want to be by herself all night. She had been sitting in the same spot for two hours before she decided to use her last resort: her servants. Hinata avoided as much as she could to exercise her privileges as a member of the elite, not to mention as the heir of the clan, but that night was simply not a night to be alone at home. Although she regretted it as soon as the messenger walked away down the hall, it was already too late. Soon, the package in her hands had wrinkles everywhere, due to her constant and almost rough touch.

"Hinata-sama ... you called?" She heard behind her shoulder.

"Neji-nii…"

"Is something wrong?" He asked with an inexpressive voice, in which only she could have hear a curiosity note.

Hinata quickly stood up and turned on her heels to offer him the package she had, with a bow. He looked at her surprised until he heard her saying with her hands still extended "Sorry I wasn´t here on your birthday, Neji-nii"

A genuine and gentle smile appeared as soon as it was gone, and again his face turned back to be lifeless. "Thank you, Hinata-sama… may I open it?"

"Yes!" She smiled at him warmly "I hope you like it…"

He found two rows of six little ointment jars labeled according to type of injury. Neji smiled touched… This is so like her... and before he could speak, she interrupted him "There's more... at the bottom of the box".

He stretched his hand to discovered a necklace made out of silk with a pendant shaped like a half moon surrounded by 6 stars, 3 black and 3 white on a blue-night background, he glanced at her with questioning eyes, and the princess declared, somehow embarrassed, "It is... an amulet to keep you safe... to be honest it worries me a little being away for so long because... you're a great shinobi, but... sometimes you don´t take good care of your body, so... I give you as a gift that amulet with my prayers on it, my mother used to tell me... that it will always keep me safe..." out of it, wrapped in memories, Hinata evoked those afternoons which her mother devoted to embroidered on each one of her kimonos that symbol with so much dedication, so much love... so much care, whispering in her ear …Be careful to always look up at the stars... What a beautiful night... she though, and whispered almost unconsciously "The starry sky is exceptionally bright today, don´t you think, Neji-nii?"

He nodded, while putting on the necklace, and smiled confident "Indeed"

"Would you spar with me for a little while, Neji-nii?"

"Of course I would, Hinata-sama".

How long can someone hold his jaw open before feeling it getting dumb?

Naruto was searching on the Hokage's face a glimpse of mischievousness, which would reveal that the story was a joke and, that soon enough she would make fun of him for always being so gullible and simple-minded. But… in fact ... the only thing one could read on the blonde's frame was an increscent concern, so much like Seishin.

Izumi gave a fairly clear summary about the whole situation, as much as can be expected from a girl of her age, and maybe even a little more. After some time she managed to convince the skeptic's ninjas that his grandfather was in fact part of the "judges", and that her mission was only to deliver the scroll to Hinata when she were ready.

"Izumi-chan" the Hokage spoke after searching in her childish frame something out of place, and not finding any sign of guilt or slyness "What do we have to do?"

"Well... my grandpa told me: `Hinata-hime has to sacrifice her innocence`"

"Hinata has to do what?!!!!" they all screamed.

Naruto blushed from head to toe, and Seishin, against his will, set his eyes on the blond with the biggest severity and a murderous flame while asked him "Is it something that Hinata-dono not longer posses?"

"I... I..." Naruto began to feel dizzy just when heard a much more terrible voice rise above his head.

"Narutoooo what did you do to her?" A vein jumped across Hokage´s forehead, who was beginning to crack her fists

"Nothing, Nooothing!! We haven´t done ANYTHIIIING !!!!!"