A Crack In The Mask

Toki: Who's ready for another chapter?

~Naruto~ Meeeeee!

Sasuke: I guess.

Toki: Alright, let's get this show on a road shall we?

Warnings: Jealousy.

Disclaimer: Still working on it...Naruto will be mine!

~Naruto~ Hope you enjoy Chapter 26 of A Crack In The Mask!

~By the way~

●Talking- "ItaNaru"

●Thinking-'ItaNaru'

●Flashback- ***ItaNaru***

●Naruto Mentally Talking- 'ItaNaru'

●Kyuubi/Kurama Talking: 'ItaNaru'

●Kyuubi/Kurama Thinking: (ItaNaru)

Chapter 26: The Sand part. 2

Hinata kept pacing furiously in the room she was sharing with Neji and thankfully he wasn't in the room at the moment talking with his team so she could think straight. She needed to think and the last thing she needed was her cousin distracting her from her thoughts. Was that truly Naruto she saw at the hideout? It had been eating her up for days and she needed answers, now.

Now here she was standing in front of the door which held Hatake Kakashi and unfortunately Uchiha Sasuke.

With a gulp Hinata softly knocked on the door to their room. There was a bunch of talking that sounded like they were arguing, but as soon as they felt her presence everything stopped and quieted down which put Hinata on edge.

"Come in~" Kakashi chirped from inside.

Hinata swallowed heavily before entering inside. She closed the door and quietly gasped at the site of a half naked Kakashi reading his Ichi Ichi Paradise book alongside Sasuke who was on the other side of the bed sharpening his blade, glaring a dangerous glare towards her way. Kakashi lazily looked over at Sasuke before looking back over at Hinata with a smile clearly seen underneath his mask.

"How can I help you miss Hyuga?" Hinata tried her best to ignore Sasuke glare before looking back at Kakashi.

In all honesty she didn't want Sasuke in the room because throughout all this trip she could see just how dangerous the uchiha really was. The way he would snap at people, the way his eyes would quickly change from black to red should his temper rise and more. Uchiha Sasuke was a dangerous character and someone she would never hope to fight in the near future. She understood that Naruto was his best friend and all but how in the whole fucking wide world did Naruto even become so close to someone so opposite of him?

Then again she understood that both have had a terrible past and have been friends since childhood, so she could understand why they had such a great bond from years of being together all the time. Now the hard part was how to get Sasuke out the room without raising any suspicions. She knew there was something between the Uchiha and Kakashi but she wasn't quite sure what. Whatever it was had the Uchiha prince stuck like glue to Kakashi's hips, so this was going to be harder than she thought.

She bit her lip trying to choose her options carefully.

"U-Um...Ka...Kakashi-sensei?" Seeing her facial expression he knew good and well she didn't want Sasuke in the room to discuss whatever it was she wanted to talk to him about and sighed heavily.

"Sasuke, could you leave us?" Sasuke turned to Kakashi with an even deadlier glare then he gave to Hinata that sent shivers down her spine.

"Why should I..." He hissed. The older man sighed once more and stared back with a lazy look of his own, already used to Sasuke's 'dangerous' looks.

"That. That right there is why. You're scaring her." Sasuke scoffed.

"Good. Seems like the princess needs a good scare anyway...If your going to rule a clan as queen someday you better learn to toughen up." He finished, his eyes flashing from black to red, then back to black to give her a warning to leave. Hinata would have cried at that insult if she was her past younger self, but she kept a firm expression on her face and continued to ignore the Uchiha.

"Didn't you say you had somewhere to go to anyway for the evening anyway?" Kakashi eyed his blade then stared back up at him.

"Yea but-"

"Sasuke please-"

"Why-"

"Leave Sas-"

"No-"

"Go." His voice firm and steady this time.

This time his gaze was serious and Sasuke couldn't help but feel a twitch down from below. Kakashi was the only man that he would ever let boss him around like that and probably that only one that could survive his wrath should he attack the person he feels threatening him. Not a second later Sasuke stood up and made his way towards the window. He whispered something to Kakashi that Hinata didn't quite catch before vanishing out the window leaving Hinata and Kakashi alone in the room now.

Once he could tell Sasuke was officially gone Kakashi put his book down and put a shirt back on before giving Hinata his full attention.

"So...What can I help you with this evening Hinata?" He smiled from beneath his mask. Hinata blushed at his bare...well defined and built torso before shaking her head from thinking any bad thoughts about Kakashi. Thankful he decided to put a shirt back on.

"Well I..." She had rehearsed this conversation in her head a few times but now that she was actually in front of Kakashi by herself she lost all of her questions and was stuck.

"I take it this is about Naruto correct?" Kakashi gave her a look before resting his face on the palms of his hands.

She nodded her head.

"Well im not Kurenai but...If you need support i'll be there for you." Hinata shook her head which in turn caused Kakashi to stare at her in confusion.

"N-No this i-isn't about comfort Ka...Kakashi-sensei." She stood with her head held high before continuing. "I...well...you...back at the Akatsuki hideout when we infiltrated it...You we-were aware that I was using my Byakugan right?" Kakashi nodded his head. "Well...i-it just so happens that while you were in the hideout you ran into someone...A girl perhaps?" Hinata mentally cheered herself on for not stuttering and getting to the point.

Kakashi stilled.

He should have known someone would have seen he and Naruto's interaction and thankfully it was Hinata out of all people, but what if she had told Neji? But then again if she did and Neji had known of what happened he would have been confronted a long time ago. The damn Hyuga brat was worse than Sasuke. At least Sasuke barely said words, but when the Hyuga brat had something to say he damn sure would get his point across and make it be known to whomever he was yelling at. If it wasn't for his strength, intelligence and his change through the years because of Naruto Kakashi wouldn't even give Neji a second glance.

Almost knowing what was running through the older man's head Hinata mumbled something and shook her head.

"I-I didn't tell anyone else...Only I know..." Kakashi narrowed his eye at her.

"Know what exactly?" Hinata, if she was her old genin self would have quivered under his gaze, but she stood tall and kept a leveled voice.

"I know about your interaction with that person...And I...What I wanna know..." She gulped, the anticipation running through her body as her heart beat faster with each word she spoke as she got closer to the thing she wanted to say. "W-Was...Was that-"

"Yes." Hinata's heart skipped a beat.

"You mean..." Tears swelled up in her eyes.

"That person you saw was Naruto." No use in hiding it now, but he knew for sure Naruto would kill him for telling Hinata. He made a promise to him but he already broke it. Then again he could have lied but the byakugan is too sensitive to try and trick. Someone was bound to find out eventually...

So now here he sat on the bed as he watched the young teenage girl that was known to love Naruto with all her heart find out that Naruto was alive and it almost broke Kakashi's heart when she started to whimper and hold herself. He wasn't really the type to physically comfort people, minus Sasuke, so he decided to get up and hold the crying girl in his arms.

"Shhh...it'll be alright." Hinata didn't hear a word she said, her cries too loud to hear any words right now.

She felt so happy...so happy that the boy she loved with all her heart was still alive and breathing yet she was so angry. So angry that Kakashi knew. So angry that he willingly left with the Akatsuki members. So angry that he looked happy. But right now she needed answers. Why hadn't Kakashi told anyone? Why was he keeping Naruto a secret? What was really going on and just what in the world happened to Naruto?

She gently pushed Kakashi away so she could have some room to breath. Kakashi went into the bathroom and came out with a wet rag. She said her thanks before wiping her face. After that she handed the cloth back and took some deep breaths so she could collect herself. She needed answers and crying definitely wasn't going to give her any.

Kakashi sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her to collect herself before speaking.

"So im sure you have a few questions?" Hinata hesitantly nodded her head.

"I know your thinking, 'why in the world hasn't Kakashi-sensei told anybody?' Am I right?" Again she nodded her head. "Well the answer is simple. He told me not to tell anyone." Her huge white eyes widened.

"But why!?" Kakashi sighed slowly.

"He...It's hard to explain that boy's mindset...I've never been able to understand his actions since he was a child but I can tell you this Hinata. If he thinks what he's doing is right then he is right." She tilted her head as anger bubbled up inside her. What kind of bullshit answer was that? Oh no, she needed to know exactly what was going on now.

"Im sorry Kakashi-sensei but your going to have to do better than that." Kakashi was surprised by her tone of voice and even more surprised she didn't even stutter so Kakashi knew not to beat around the bush anymore.

"Alright, alright...Since your so serious about this i'll tell you what I know without breaking my promise to him. If you honestly want to know why he choose to run away with the Akatsuki than come running to us is because he's happy and he found something...or rather someone else in life that makes him happy. Someone that makes him whole again." Hinata narrowed her eyes.

"Would that happen to be Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke's o-older brother." Kakashi paused before exhaling, internally cursing having Hinata be the higher watch of the mission.

Curse the Byakugan and it's special powers.

"I...Yes. That man you probably saw with him was Itachi, my former student." Hinata was even more frustrated now.

"But that's his b-best friends older brother th-that killed his whole clan...Why is Naruto...?" Kakashi shook his head.

"Now that, right there is an answer I certainly can't give to you. Like I said I can't understand a thing that goes on through that boys mind, but what I know is that Naruto thinks he's doing the right thing and if he's happy then i'm happy, even though I disapprove of the whole situation." Hinata looked down at her hands. At this rate they were never going to get Naruto back and with all the information she just gained she needed time to think and gain a leveled head again...

"I...I'm going to clear my head for a bit...Thank you for telling me the truth sensei." She gave him a genuine smile that warmed his heart.

"No problem Hinata, but you have to promise me-"

"I swear I won't tell anyone. This will stay between m-me and you." Kakashi nodded his head in approval.

"Good. Now go get something to eat if you already haven't and get some rest alright? I think it's been one hell of a journey for all of us and we need to relax a bit before we're on our toes again." Hinata gave him a nod and bowed before leaving the room.

"Well doesn't this situation keep getting better...Just what the hell have you gotten yourself into Naruto?"

"What a great feast!" Lee cheered as he, Tenten and Neji strolled down the castle of the Kazekage as a team, forming plans while exploring the palace and such.

"Oh yea, im hella stuffed! I haven't had a meal like that since we started the mission...I give props to Gaara's chefs." Tenten licked her lips while rubbing her belly. "Oh and have you guys seen me and Ino's room? It's bigger than anything i've ever seen and so is this place in general! Guess i'll have to give it a...ten outta ten...ha ha get it?" Lee laughed loudly at her joke as Neji rolled his eyes.

"Ha ha good one Tenten!" She winked at her green spandex wearing teammate.

"I try my best."

"Yes, while it was a good meal do not lose focus or get too comfortable here. Let us not forgot why we are here in the first place since the rest of this rescue team have seem to have gotten to cozy while here." He said with hinted anger.

Tenten gave him a gentle pat on the back to sooth him.

"Yea, we get why we're here Neji and none of us have forgotten okay? Naruto is important to all of us and we're gonna find him...I know this mission is stressing you out since Tsunade put you in charge and all but you have to understand that people are only relaxing right now because we've been traveling for almost a month, whether it was to find out about new where abouts or to catch up with other people like the sand siblings." Lee nodded.

"She is right Neji. Right now we are in sand and have the personal help of the Kazekage himself! "He gave a fist pump. "There is no other place I feel more secure than being here and with Gaara's help im am sure we are bound to find Naruto sooner!" Neji stared at the smiling faces of his teammates and couldn't but let out a small smirk. He was blessed to have people like Tenten and Lee in his life.

Speaking of people he hadn't seen Hinata for over an hour...Just where could she be?

The sound of a door quickly opening and shutting followed by the sound of hurried footsteps caught his attention. He turned around just in time to see Hinata race down the hall and out of site.

"Oh no, what is wrong with Hinata Neji?" Lee questioned.

"I...don't know." Not only was he curious as to why she looked so sad, but why was she coming out of Kakashi and Sasuke's room. Now that he actually sensed it, it seemed like Sasuke wasn't even in the room and it was just her and Kakashi the whole time which made him angry. Why was she seeing Kakashi out of all people.

"Maybe she's still ill?" Lee's voice entering his ears again.

"Yes maybe...I think im go-" A hand from Tenten stopped him from moving.

"Neji...listen to me." Tenten's voice serious this time.

He gave his full attention to her as she started to speak.

"This is coming from a girl to another girl and I can tell you right now that this whole situation has everybody on their toes, but I think Hinata is one of the ones taking this the hardest out of most of us. She loves Naruto with all her heart and I can't imagine what she's going through right now. Hell, if I lost you and Lee I don't know what I would do..." That stung Neji's heart a bit. Although he held Naruto close to him other than his team and Hinata, it hurt to know she would always put Naruto first before even him.

"Going along with that..." She continued. "I think she just needs some space. I know you wanna go after her and comfort her but that's all you and everyone have been doing and right now I think she just needs sometime to think. Some time to breath. Time to be alone." She finished firmly.

"But-"

"Ah ah, no butts mister. Besides we need to find Gai sensei since he could be doing kami knows what right now..." Lee sparkled as Tenten groaned, the seriousness gone now.

"Ah yesss~ We MUST find Gai sensei and bring him back so we can discuss further team tactics on getting Naruto back." Lee grabbed Neji's left hand.

"But-" Neji tried to protest.

"I said no butts~" Tenten grabbed his other.

"Now just wait a minut-"

"TO THE POWER OF YOUTH!" And in an instant Neji basically flew down the hall in the oh so loving hands of his two teammates and disappeared from further view of the world.

When he deemed himself far enough away from human sight Sasuke pulled out a necklace that was given to him through the time of the Naruto Akatsuki infiltration and put it on. Seconds later he found himself transported into some kind of forest. He looked to his left when he heard a noise from the bushes to see an odd guy in an Akatsuki cloak with and orange mask tumbling out of them.

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched, once again found alone with this annoying man.

***Flashback***

Sasuke was just about to meet up with Kakashi in the hideout, jumping through trees just waiting to get his hands on his brother and destroy him. Then after that he would take Naruto back home where they belong and never let him go...ever.

But that all stopped when a hard kick to the rib cage had him crashing through trees for almost a minute. He skidded onto the forest floor and held his rib cage. It hadn't broken anything thankfully but it certainly would bruise him up later.

"And how exactly do you live up to the name Uchiha yet you couldn't even sense me coming? You definitely are a joke compared to your brother." Sasuke growled at the enemy and started his chidori. He charged forward at the enemy only to phase through him and fall flat on his ass. Just his luck, an enemy that is strong and you can phase through.

"Hmmm...But Tobi see's that you do have potential." Sasuke stared up to see said man now sitting on a tree branch holding a finger under in chin watching him. "Buttt, with some proper training we could fix you up...No more of that silly stuff that you've learned from Orochimaru."

And so he did his research on him as well? Just great.

Next thing he knew the man flew down from the tree and forcefully placed a purple pendant in Sasuke's hand. Sasuke looked down at the shiny jewel in his hand for a couple of minutes before registering what just happened. He looked up at the man named Tobi and wanted to protest but the glowing red eye from underneath his mask sent shivers down his spine and shut him up instantly.

"We don't have much time so listen up~ If you want answers about Naruto then use this necklace I give to you and you will be instantly summoned to me. With the way the situation has turned out your 'friends' aren't going to get Naruto at this rate...or should I say that he will not choose the inconet life of Konoha anymore." Sasuke was confused by that last sentence and looked down at the purple pendant that had an eerie shine to it before looking back up at the man.

"And say, if I so choose to come to you...How does this thing work?" A dark chuckle came from the strange man that sent another round of shivers down Sasuke's spine.

"Simple. You put it on and you will instantly be transported to the location that i'm in." Sasuke scoffed.

"And how do I know I can trust you?"

"Another simple question. You can't." Sasuke glared, sparks flying from his hand. "But then again who can you really trust in this world anyway? That being besides the point, if you want answer's you know what to do." The strange swirled away, leaving Sasuke alone in his thoughts for thee rest of the night.

***End of Flashback***

Sasuke glared at the man only to have that stop once he found himself transported into another place.

And so here he was standing in front of the desk that said man was lounging around behind. The room was dimly lit by candles, something very Orochimaru-like that didn't ease Sasuke one bit.

He looked around the room once more before centering his stare on Tobi.

"Is this some type of game?" Tobi chuckled before lacing his fingers together and staring at the Uchiha with a tilted stare that made Sasuke feel very uneasy.

"You said you had questions right?" Sasuke nodded his head. "And I said I would answer them, so why don't you take a seat over here and ask away~" Sasuke hesitated at first but he was already here so he might as well become a player of the game and follow this man's rules. He settled himself in the seat across from Tobi and tried to stare anywhere but in the creepy man's direction.

"You may ask me to the max seven questions. So was is it you want to know?" His oh too cheerful voice rang through Sasuke's ears, not calming his nerves one bit.

"First of all where is Naruto!?" The man chuckled.

"I thought that might be your first question...And to answer that he's alive and well in the Akatsuki hideout." Sasuke glared.

"I knew that already-"

"Question two boy." His voice turned into something deeper...Something more sinister that sent signals screaming into Sasuke's head to rip the necklace off and leave, but he needed answers and this strange man was willing to give it to him even if he was the enemy.

"Fine. Why is Naruto still alive, why is his demon not extracted out of him?"

"That's two questions...Do you want him dead that badly?" Tobi said in a humorousness manner that made sasuke curse.

"Of course no-" A hand in his face stopped him from going on any further.

"I tease young Uchiha. He has not been extracted because the thing inside of him is needed for another purpose."

"Another purpose..." Sasuke whispered to himself.

"Question four."

"Why did you say something about training me the other night?" Something in the other man's posture twitched and next thing Sasuke knew he was forcefully pinned down to the floor. His back hit the cold hard floor harshly, most likely leaving a bruise. Tobi, who was straddling from above him immediately gave him a quick punch to the face, leaving a instant purple and red mark on his cheek.

"This boy is why I say I want to train you. You are far too weak and Orochimaru nor that disgrace of a man you call sensei taught you nothing. You know absolute zero knowledge on what it means to be a true heir of the Uchiha clan." Sasuke spit out some blood before glaring up at the man with hatred.

"How dare you insult me!" Sasuke hissed and spit blood at up.

Tobi stared down, amused by the young boy's actions and grabbed his face with a tight hold.

"Oh no boy, you're an insult to yourself and if I were you I would watch how you communicate with your elders in the near future." He let go of Sasuke only to painfully twist him around so he could on his stomach, then he twisted his right arm on the verge of breaking it. Nothing but a silent whimper came out from Sasuke as he released him. "Question five." Sasuke sat up, rubbing his now bruised arm and spitting out more blood on the floor.

"Why me...Why did you choose me out of everyone? If im such an embarrassment why would you want to train me?!" He knew he was losing his cool but his temper was getting the best of him...No one but Itachi had made him feel so weak in his entire life.

"Because your brother is a lost cause and you have potential that no one has been able to unlock yet because you lack a proper teacher."

"But why do you hate my brother...?" He knew he had just wasted one of his last two questions but he just had to know what caused someone to hate the his 'caring' older brother.

"Because he is a disgrace and is getting in the way of what I truly seek...He's always been a pest to me but one thing I do admire is his strength and intelligence. He is one of the strongest men I know and if ever we got into a fight i'm not sure who would survive..." Sasuke's eyes widen. This man was already strong enough as it is and he barely lifted a finger to easily overcome him, but to compare himself like that to Itachi...Just what had he been doing all these years?

"Last question and make it good boy."

Well, the man wouldn't tell him where exactly Naruto was and he got somewhat of an explanation why he wanted to train him so only one thing left to ask now.

"When can we begin training." Tobi had never been so pleased to hears words come out of the young Uchiha's mouth

Toki: Team Gai interaction, Kakashi and Hinata finally talking to each other and finally Sasuke and Obito?! Well it's a wrap for the sand chapters so stay tuned for more ItaNaru goodness~

Sasuke: Is there a reason why you always like to embarrass me?

Toki: Because your a jerk.

Sasuke: Fair enough.

~Naruto~ See ya!

Toki: Don't forget to review, love you guys!

Toki OUt O3O