Hinata was busy searching for mushrooms, wild vegetables and herbs when she found that wasn't alone. Looking up and around she knew where he was coming from, soon she found her mother's servant Akio come into her sight.

He looked strange, it frightened her, she called out to him. Akio-san, is everything alright?

Akio looked lost in more ways than one, he came closer and closer and more and more she was afraid. Finally he pulled out a knife and she ran! She ran as fast as she could but despite everything he caught up to her and knocked her to the ground.

Fighting him she cried and tried to push him from her, he pushed back and lifted up his knife about ready to plunge it down into her chest...but he stopped.

"Hinata-sama, I am so sorry...your step-mother wants you dead, but I just can't do it. Please, please run away and do not return!"

Hinata did not argue with the man, she didn't care about the here and now she just nodded and ran!

Running into the wilderness she had no idea what was going to happen; either she would just find someone to help her or she'd end up vulture food!

Finally spent she found some bushes to hide in, lying inside she tried to be as quiet as possible, it terrified her knowing that her step-mother wanted her dead and she was so panicked, that she doubted that she could do much to get away from her!

At home another situation was developing. When Hyuuga-sama was unable to summon his daughter he became quite concerned. As much as he knew that his daughter spent time foraging, it should not have prevented her from coming home after a whole night!

However, when he had asked for his daughter to appear and a night later she had still not arrived he began to worry a great deal. He ordered his men, his best men, to go and find her. He would not rest until she came home.

And when she returned he would finally tell her how much she meant to him!

Poor Hinata kept running even after she woke up wet and cold and afraid. She just kept going, even though she knew that she could just seek refuge with Sakura or Tenten, or even Naruto!

But part of her just felt that this was her battle to fight. Knowing that and realizing that she stopped running. She just stopped and knew that she had to turn right around and face everything! She wasn't afraid anymore!

Turning and walking back from where she came she went forward, no longer intimated.

Yes short I know, I'm on it!