Author's notes: WOW! Who would have thought I'd be gone for so long? A lot of things happened these past few months.. so I decided to leave fanfic writing and concentrate to reality first... but since it's start of vacation for me... I can be back again! :)

I'm sorry for taking up a long time before updating again... really... I feel bad for those who read this even when I've not updated this for months...

Well... I must thank HikariForever reading and reviewing this story.. and to the others as well... :) I'm glad someone still reads this.. Thank you very much to everyone who reads, reviews, follows, puts this story to their favorites and what not and for following or putting me to their favorites (or both)! I love you all! :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing... Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto.


Chapter 52: Caged

Hinata walked towards Mirage's temporary house in Konoha. She clutched her jacket tighter around her body as the cold win came blowing in and snow kept falling down. The streets were crowded as men, women and children enjoy the first fall of snow.

'This could have been a great night.' Hinata thought to herself but quickly pushed away the penetrating nostalgia.

As she grew nearer the Guest Village, people become lesser and lesser until she was alone. Just then a hurrying figure bumped her.

"Sorry…" the figure murmured without even sparing her a glance. The person immediately rushed away from her.

'Temari?' Hinata asked herself. She felt confuse and intrigued as she saw Temari braving the winds towards, what Hinata can only guess, the direction of Konoha gates. She pitied the young woman as Temari's luggage kept knocking out of her grasps.

'Why would she be hurrying? Did something happen in Suna?' Hinata wondered. She kept wondering why the mature and brilliant strategist of Suna was acting that was but couldn't come up with an answer. In the end, she just thought it was futile to think of something she wasn't even involved in. She continued her way home when Temari was out of sight again.

When she reached her destination, Hinata was so confused as to why a lot of ANBU was around the area; with their agitated expression and their hurried steps. Hinata guessed they were searching for something. She muttered profanities as she turned towards the path to the backdoor.

Hinata wasn't really disguised; not that she thought she would need to. Maybe the reason why these ANBU cannot detect Hinata was because she was out of Konoha for so long, no one can really remember much about her; not that she made any lasting impression.

Because it was cold outside, Hinata was weaing a turtle neck and pants, over her clothes was a very long black jacket that covers most of her. She was also wearing a cap. No, Hinata was definitely not in a disguise. But she was certainly making the ANBU's directive of finding her a hard job, not that she was aware of that.

As Hinata stepped inside, she was surprised to see brown eyes staring shocked at her.

"Tenten? What are you doing here?" Hinata asked. But Tenten only continue to gape at her. When Tenten finally snap out of her shock, Hinata saw the worry in her old friend's eyes. The weapon mistress urgently and nervously started to shoo Hinata away.

Hinata grew more confuse. She felt a string of tremor and she knew something was up. She glanced around as she saw Lee trying to calm the feud between Ayame and some ANBU. She also saw a glimpse of Choji trying to still the nervous-looking Teuchi and Ren. She quickly scanned for Sai but found him nowhere. She didn't realize Tenten was already beside her.

"Get out of here." Tenten said in an urgent manner. Hinata peered questioningly at the woman.

"You will get in trouble. I don't know what happened to Naruto but he ordered us all to arrest Mirage. I don't want to arrest you Hinata." Tenten said, her brown eyes begging Hinata to leave.

Hinata felt something stirred inside her. She was touched that Tenten still cared for her. But she could not just leave Mirage. Mirage is her family.

"It seems you found the last one of Mirage before the Hikage comes. Good work Tenten." A cold voice slithered through the room before Hinata could even say something to Tenten. Tenten looked alarmed.

"Sasuke… I don't really think it's right to arrest them. What have they done to deserve this? You don't really want to arrest either, don't you Sasuke?" Tenten argued.

"Enough Tenten. We have talked about this before, this is Hokage's orders. One should not question the Hokage." But Hinata could also see the darkening of Sasuke's face. Clearly, the raven-haired man doesn't want to arrest Mirage either.

"Where have you been Eris-san?" Sasuke directed his question to Hinata. But Hinata remained silent. He continued firmly, "I hope you weren't planning on running away again. Our Hokage clearly wants you to stay, and stay you shall be."

XxXxX

Naruto furiously signed another paper. Stacks by stacks, the ANBU delivered more papers from Sakura to his office. It was clear that Sakura wants Naruto occupied. But Naruto needs to see what's happening with Mirage now, ASAP.

After his heated discussion with Yamato, Naruto furiously signed so many papers that he finished one stack in no time. But the ANBU guarding him gave him more which made Naruto more irritated. If this continues, he would surely lose his mind. He was trying so hard to escape. Luckily, he saw an open window. (1)

"Yes! An escape route! Now all I need is to slip out without getting caught." Naruto thought. He racked his brains for any ideas but found none. He became more frustrated and desperate. He really needs to slip out, NOW.

And then he saw it. Naruto smiled to himself. He wasn't called the master of pranks when he isn't mischievous enough to be one.

XxXxX

"Leave us alone. I will personally guard Eris-san while we wait for Hokage-sama." Sasuke declared. Tenten and the others left. It was just the two of them now.

"Tell me Sasuke. Why would Naruto want me now?" Hinata asked with an accusing tone.

"I have no idea. All I know is that Naruto values you and his friendship with you. I suggest you should too. You, of all people, should know how it is to be underappreciated." Sasuke nonchalantly said.

"Why should I? It's not like he appreciated me when I was here. The only ones that really matters to him are you and Sakura." Then Hinata smirked wider. "Looks like it's true, huh?"

"What's true?" Sasuke asked a little irritated.

"That one can only appreciate something once it's gone. What do you think?"

"I…" Sasuke hesitated. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"She has always been there for you, hasn't she? She risked her life for you, followed you everywhere, begged you to stay here in Konoha, wanted only what's the best for you. She loved you so much."

"Shut up! I don't want to hear anything about this." Sasuke said.

"She gave you everything she can offer, but what did you do? Did you ever appreciate her? Did you, Sasuke?"

"I said enough!"

"After so many years of ignoring her efforts, you thought she would still be the same, don't you Sasuke? Too bad, she isn't the same old pink-haired girl anymore."

"Shut up."

"Too bad, now that you start noticing her she doesn't reciprocate the feelings anymore."

"Enough…"

"It's just too bad that the girl, who would once do anything for you, doesn't even give you a glance."

"Please… stop…"

"Too bad, Sakura doesn't love the high and mighty Sasuke anymore. Too bad, huh? Sasuke-kun?" Sasuke looked at Hinata with understanding and mocking eyes.

"Are you really the Hinata I knew? How did you become like this?" Sasuke laughed, "Never mind that, I think I knew how and why but I have to ask. Are you even really talking about Sakura or yourself? Huh, Hinata-chan?" Hinta growled.

"Hinata… what does Sasuke mean?" both Hinata and Sasuke looked at the doorway with surprised expression.


A/N: Thank you for reading an reviewing! :)

I know... it's not enough but... well... I've been gone for quite some time and I just lost all my feelings for this story or for writing stories in general.. sigh...

Hope my desire for writing will be back to me again... so we can all enjoy a good read... :)