The group was on the move, searching for Hinata. It was like the first time, all the people were looking for their beloved friend and comrade. They knew what they were up against but didn't care. Neji was up in the front with Gaara, his Byakugan was on but he didn't see or feel his cousin. Matsuri was catching up to Gaara. He looked back, disgust apparent on his face despite the fact that he had asked her to come.

"I do want to help…I know where their lair is…"

Gaara groaned inwardly. She was connected with them…somehow. What if she was secretly one of them? What if this was a trap? He lightly rubbed the bride of his nose then sighed heavily. Gaara skidded to a stop.

"Show us the way…"

"Hai Gaara-sempai…"

He gave her a deadly cold look. "Don't call me that…don't call me Gaara…you have lost that privilege and should be lucky to be alive…"
Matsuri swallowed hard before moving in front to direct them to the lair. She felt cold stares on her and not just from Gaara, but all eyes. Matsuri would lead them there but trouble was…they wouldn't be there and to the untrained eye it would only be an empty cave and to Gaara this would spell out a trap or a lie and Matsuri would be in trouble.

Hinata lay limp under Itachi's arm, frantic. He glanced down at her so did the blonde one named Deidera.

"Scrawny thing, isn't she?"

"Don't take her for granted, Deidera, she's tougher than she looks," Said Konan.

"Besides, size isn't what matters. This little girl has a lot of power, and Itachi plans to harness it, right?"

Itachi flashed his eyes toward Kisame and nodded.

"Hey, this isn't the way home," Whined Deidera

"We can't go back to our usual head quarters because with Matsuri back on their side she will surely lead them there and we don't need any more trouble…," Alleged Sasori in his usual soft voice.

"Oh so we need to find a new home? Pity I was so fond of that one. How about somewhere near a water fall? Kisame can go swim with is fish friends."

Kisame threw some sharpened scales at Deidera who avoided them.

"Touchy, touchy. Geesh, I was only playing. So how long can she stay immobilized?"

"It only lasts for a while. We must hurry."

"Aye Aye captain," Deidera said with mock seriousness, saluting Itachi.

"You keep on trying his patience with him. You're walking on thin ice, Deidera."

"Oh like your one to talk Toby. Itachi-Sensei told us not to mess with that Naruto kid and you went to him. Are you a glutton for punishment? I think you are. I think you like getting reprimanded and hit around."

Toby separated himself away from Deidera. Hinata stirred, though lightly. She could move her fingers and toes, now she could blink. Each muscle was unlocking for her to move. It was too early, Itachi thought it would hold off for much longer but he underestimated Hinata. She activated her Byakugan, channeled her chakra to her fist and prepared to strike right in the darkened, beating heart in the core of Itachi's body. It was swift, it propelled him forward, blood spilled from his mouth as Hinata used his body for leverage and leapt off from his back to the ground. In a flash a kunai with his blood, poison and her chakra infused on it entered his system.

Kisame fled to Itachi to hold him up. He was badly wounded and the poison was spreading. Kisame's eyes burned with hated into Hinata's. If she wasn't mistaken she saw tears forming in the corners of those unusual eyes. Deidera readied himself to attack but Kisame stopped him.

"No! We have to go help him…the longer we stay here the more the poison will spread."

"Baka! We can't let her get away."

"It's too late…she's already ran away," remarked Sasori

They all looked down. It was true, Hinata was gone. They all helped pick up Itachi and carry him away somewhere safe to heal him. With his condition it was possible that he might not make it.

"How…did…I….let her….get….the better of me….Am I that weak…"

"Itachi don't speak. You need your energy…You're not weak…hold on Itachi."

"Kisame…you fool…the poison has reached…my heart…"

"We can fix you…we can do this..." Kisame looked at Itachi who was laughing now, blood spluttering out of his mouth.

"Are you…afraid of losing me? How….sweet….Kisame…rule one…don't have…a soft heart…or a heart at all…it will kill you…"

"Itachi shut up! The more you talk the more breath abd blood you use up."

Itachi wrapped his hand around Kisame's throat making him lightly choke. "Even on death's door….you will not speak to me with such insolence…or I will drag you into hell with me."

Kisame's eyes softened looking down at Itachi before taking out the poison dagger and inserting it into his heart. "I'd gladly go," He whispered, before they both descended into darkness.

Hinata ran, ran as fast as her slender legs could carry her. She was running on the wind. They would be going to the old secret lair and not find her…Matsuri was in trouble. 'I'm coming…please wait…' Neji halted and looked back.

"I can feel her…she's near."

"In which direction?"

"The opposite."

"So she's not in the direction Matsuri is leading us?"

"Negative."

Gaara turned to Matsuri which angry eyes. "You lied…"
"I never said she'd be there only that…"

Gaara's sand whipped out to pin Matsuri to a tree. "You lied to me…and you tried to kill Hinata…why the hell are you still alive?"

"Gaara!"

They all turned to see Hinata running toward them, tears pouring down her face. "H-Hi…Hi…"

"Don't hurt her! Put her down, please!"

"It's a trap…it's not her…"

"Gaara…this is my cousin, no mistake. How did you escape?"

"Not now, Neji! Please, Please put her down."

Gaara let Matsuri go, his arms trembling. "Matsuri was right to lead you here but the Akatsuki went another way on purpose to avoid you."

"But still….she….your…I…."

"I know..."

Hinata looked at Matsuri then came closer to her. Matsuri cringed when Hinata held out her hand.

"Take my hand, let me help you up."

Matsuri looked up to see Hinata smiling above her, the night stars peering out to make a halo around her head. She looked like an angel. Matsuri took her hand gingerly.

"I forgive you."

"Hinata she…"

"Gaara-kun, we must all learn to forgive and forget…you know this. Matsuri what you did was wrong…but I see you realize that."

"You're not mad?"

"No, of course not. Matsuri, you're like my little sister. I love you very much…Forgive me if I did anything to harm you."

Matsuri shook her head, letting her tears fall. "You didn't…I was just so jealous…It was stupid of me…"

Matsuri clung onto Hinata for dear life. Hinata held Matsuri tight, rubbing her hand down her back, soothing her.

"Shh, shh, it's alright. There, there. It's all over now."

In the Kazekage tower, Matsuri's room laid a tarnished black amulet. The amulet started to crack and under those cracks that lay on the dulled, dark surface was a blinding light. All of the black fell off the amulet to reveal a glowing white surface. Hinata, the one person with the purest, sweetest, kindest and most innocent heart that was ever born to humanity, was able to purify the amulet and to Matsuri's heart.