Riley's POV

"Damn now I wish I didn't fight that bastard" I complained as I put on the extra tank top I packed. My body was sore and after fleeing from Orochimaru did Kiba and Akamaru manage to find a cave where our enemies couldn't find us for the time being. "I'm sore as hell"

"That will pass" Kakashi promised. My mate then brought me into his lap and pulled his mask down. He lowered the left strap of my tank top and his lips kissed his mating mark. Afterwards he removed his lips from my shoulder and pulled his mask back up where it belonged. "I really thought I was going to lose you Riley"

I buried my face underneath his chin.

"When I was in Orochimaru's hideout all I focused on was returning to you Kakashi" I began. "I will not disappear from your life after all of the hell you've endured"

I then placed both of my hands onto his face making him look at me.

"I fought Orochimaru for you, for us and I will do so again if necessary"

I then kissed his masked lips while intertwining my left hand into his right. When I pulled away from the Copy ninja after said kiss my beloved was blushing hard.

When we return to Konoha I'll give you something to blush about even more I teased my mate.

We shall see my dragoness Kakashi responded.

The two of us then fell asleep and the others did the same. We left the cave in the morning and continued looking for Guren and her companions. We didn't stop traveling through the trees until Shino asked to stop.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked.

"My bugs can't locate the enemy due to confusion" the insect user explained.

"Hinata think you can use the Byakugan?" I asked the Hyuga.

"I'll try" she responded before she activated her kekkei genkai. However a second later she shook her head before telling us. "I'm seeing reflections of myself and us"

"That's not good" I pointed out.

I think Guren has trapped us my dragon said.

You would be right I agreed.

Suddenly crystal shards came out of nowhere and we had to separate to avoid getting seriously hurt or worse. A flash of movement caught my eye and I was quick to use Sunfyre to block a Guren clone who tried to attack me with her crystal blade on her forearm. I proceeded to use my body weight to push the clone away from me and I leapt out of the tree and landed on the ground with ease.

"So you're the Maiden of Ice and Fire" the clone stated.

"I am and you're the Crystal Style user" I replied.

"So you know about me already I'm flattered" Guren's clone stated. The clone then charged forward and I was able to dodge being stabbed by her crystallized weapon. The two of us exchanged kicks and punches and when the clone shot more crystal shards at me I used a tree for them to be embedded in. If I used my water element my own gift could be used against me.

Suddenly the clone took off and I waited before regrouping with Kakashi, Shino, Akamaru, and Kiba.

"Is everyone alright?" Kakashi inquired.

"Yeah" Kiba responded and Akamaru barked in agreement.

"Where's Hinata?" Kakashi wondered.

"Your little friend is right here" Guren explained appearing before us and a large pink crystal emerged from the ground. Frozen inside was Hinata and Kiba growled along with Akamaru.

"Damn it" Kakashi swore.

"You can say that again" I added.

"Step any closer and your friend dies" Guren threatened.

I wish you could use our element my dragon hissed.

She would only turn our element against us I pointed out.

Suddenly Guren looked up to the sky and I smirked.

"Back up is here" I told the others.

Sure enough Yamato, Sakura, and Sai arrived along with Naruto who was on Gamatatsu's back and Gamakichi next to them.

"Hinata!" Naruto exclaimed seeing the Hyuga in her current prison.

"Naruto we don't want to cause the crystal holding Hinata to break" Kakashi warned.

"Screw that!" Naruto roared before he told Gamatatsu to get ready. A second later Naruto had Gamatatsu unleash their Water Style: Toad Water Pistol at Guren. However Guren turned the water into solid crystal and then she made the crystallized water form into a dragon.

"Move it!" I shouted as the crystallized dragon opened it's mouth and everyone separated to avoid being hit by Guren's attack.

I hid behind some trees with Sakura and Yamato and after forming a strategy did I go assist Kakashi and Yamato. The three of us appeared before the crystal user.

"Let Hinata go and take me as a hostage instead" Kakashi demanded.

"You're an idiot" I scolded my mate.

Guren smirked before Sai's ink bird flew towards her. Guren sent shards of crystals at it and Sai jumped off of the bird before it splattered into ink. Naruto used this moment to his advantage and Gamatatsu used his tongue to pick up the crystal containing Hinata and Guren swore. Once Hinata was safe I used a smoke bomb to make our getaway.

All of us regrouped and Naruto had Gamatatsu carefully place the crystallized Hinata onto the ground. It was going fine until the toad saw a fly and the crystal shattered when it landed on the ground.

"You idiot! You need to quit thinking of food for once!" Gamakichi scolded his brother.

"Kakashi"

My mate turned to see Pakkun standing on a rock behind him. The pug explained that the crystallized bug had been analyzed and even inside the insect it was crystallized. This was bad news for Hinata and Kakashi ordered for some of us to take Hinata back to Konoha when the crystal containing the Hyuga began to crack some more and it wasn't long until the crystal altogether shattered.

Sakura immediately placed her head onto Hinata's chest and reassured us she was alive.

"Thank goodness" Naruto said before getting to Hinata's level and hugged her. Hinata blushed before returning the hug and I mentally squealed in my mind. Naruto eventually pulled away from Hinata so she could speak.

"I emitted my chakra to all of my chakra points before I was trapped" she explained. This meant Guren couldn't crystallize chakra.

"Smart move" Kakashi praised.

"Only the Hyuga clan can pull that move damn girl your family is badass" I added.

Hinata blushed and I winked at her before Kakashi said since their was enough people we should split into two groups. While Sai and Sakura would stay behind with Hinata the rest of us would try and pick up the enemies' trail. Before we left Pakkun and the toad brothers disappeared in clouds of smoke to get some rest.