Welcome back everyone! Hope all is well with you guys. I wanted to address one of my awesome followers/reviewers on something:

MojoBlack:With the way this story is the lack of lemons is a missed opportunity

You're in luck my friend, because I'm making a Vengeance with lemons. I have already started on the story, but I will not post it until I finish the conclusion of this story. It'll flow better and make sense in my opinion. I have about two more chapters on my end with this story so it should be about 33 chapters, give or take. I never wanted this story to be very long. I have other Hinata story ideas I'd like to pursue. With that said I appreciate all you guys, your follows and reviews. Of course any input you have for fight scenes I'd love to hear it, because I am still working on how I do with writing them.

With that said, lets start the chapter!

"Don't say it."

Ino gave Shikamaru a sharp look as she wore the green flight vest and traditional black ninja pants, they were getting dressed to prepare to report to their units and this was the first time Shikamaru saw her wearing the uniform. She looked like a Konoha kunoichi again.

"Don't say what?" He grinned at her.

"You know what."

"Now why would I not comment on how nice you look in uniform. Seeing you in black all the time reminded me too much of gothic." Ino rolled her eyes at his remark and looked at herself in the mirror. "Shika, if things played out differently and I was in Konoha instead of with Orochimaru, what rank do you think I'd be in right now?" She smiled and gave an airy laugh when Shikamaru hugged her from behind and turned her away from the mirror in her bedroom. She was caught off guard when he leaned in for a long impressionable kiss, when he made to unzip her vest she pulled back and gave him a mock shocked look.

"Nara Shikamaru, are we not to report to our units right now?" Shikamaru succeeded in unzipping her vest and continued to her pants, "Ha, we're going to fight for our lives and to possibly save the world or die trying and you think that I'm concerned over being on time to report to that?"

Ino laughed at this, she was game for possibly the last love session between the two before they met death. She felt that Shikamaru needed to get his mind off the stress anyways. He was an important piece to the village right now and she was sure he had a lot on his plate. She wouldn't be in his unit, she'd in Headquarters along with his father, and that annoyed her somewhat, but she felt okay with knowing that Asuma would be with Shikamaru. Besides, she was taking a position her father would have taken, so she was doing this in his honor.

She would tease him endlessly about the fact the sand kunoichi would be around him closely and he could tell that was another way of her voicing her insecurities, which he addressed and smoothed out as soon as she vocalized it. Ino was a physical person, vocally telling her something wasn't good enough, he always had to show her.

Troublesome as always, but she was his pain in the ass.

A full year has come and passed since Hinata and Ino had come back to the village and shocked everyone that they weren't held captive anymore or dead. It had been six months steady of Hinata and Ino being in the village receiving psychological rehabilitation and training to face Akatsuki and Kabuto.

During this time Shikamaru learned a great deal about the different Ino. She still liked the color purple, she was a good cook but horrible baker, she now thought diets were ridiculous (He was sure this was due to her being starved numerous times by Orochimaru). Her along with Hinata were fixated on working out and training, reason why rehabilitation was always something that bothered them for it was time consuming. Ino still loved flowers and since coming back took over caring for the flowers at the flower shop, still not ready to greet and sell to customers though, which was fine considering a lot of places were closed until further notice due to the war. Ino was still bossy, loud and annoying when she wanted to, but typically she was sarcastic and calculating, less loud and more deadly.

Very, very calculating, so, mix that with her skills and anger issues and you had yourself a real problem when she was upset with you. The worse combination was getting Hinata and Ino together in the same area as Haruno Sakura, too much estrogen in one room for him. While Hinata, would in her annoying nonchalant manner, say she had no problem with Sakura, she also at the same time wouldn't stop Ino from stepping towards the emerald eyed female.

That was a fight Shikamaru wouldn't want to be around for, everything would be ruined.

Ino and Sakura are loud, bold fighters. Firecrackers. Even though the Nara and Yamanaka's were not bred to be smoldering, hard hitting, physical fighters, Ino somehow made it her goal to be one. She still dominated in her family Jutsu lineage, but she picked up in many other different fields also, so he felt when it came to physical strength Sakura might very well have met her perfect opponent. Reason why he felt Ino so often challenged her former green-eyed friend.

Coming back to the beautiful woman in front of him he smirked, "Being a couple of hours late won't hurt them."

"A couple of hours?!"

"You are so stubborn."

Hinata, who was securing the straps on her travel bag, looked over her shoulder at Neji and Naruto, who were looking at her. The three of them was outside the Hyuga compound near their personal pond. Neji was looking at her with a raised aggravated eyebrow twitching constantly and Naruto stood aside snickering to himself. She turned to face them and met Neji with an equal aggravated face expression, "I never said I was going to wear the standard Konoha uniform for battle. I like my clothing the way it is, I fight well in this and I feel like my vest can withstand a lot more than the issued green vest. I am not doing this to be difficult."

Neji frowned at this, "Yes, but you were issued the uniform MONTHS ago. You had plenty of time to grow accustomed to it Hinata-sama." Matching his face expression once again Hinata shot a rebuttal back, "I am aware of that BROTHER, but I am saying that I PREFER this uniform because I feel like it suits me better and the material is better. That is all."

The two Hyuga's sent each other silent heated glares and neither one made a motion to step down from the other. Naruto looked at the two and sweat dropped, they could be so stubborn sometimes, "Even that Yamanaka girl is wearing the uniform, I do not see why you cannot just wear the uniform. Do you hate the village you were born in that much?"

Seeing Neji's personal reasons for being upset finally let Hinata let up on her crudeness. Her shoulders relaxed and she looked at him with softer eyes, "Hmm Neji, it has nothing to do with that. I am a Hyuga, even if I do not show it, I have pride for my clan, please understand this. I am proud of where I came from, I see father has changed and maybe over time we will…actually talk on a meaningful level."

At her statement Naruto saw Neji face start to relax, "Now brother, would you rather have me uncomfortable and fight and make a mistake or would you want me to fight with the grace only a true Hyuga could do."

The two were now smiling at one another and Naruto was stuck giving them both a pointed look, seriously Neji was upset because he didn't think she wanted to honor the Hyuga clan? The pride that a Hyuga carried was so fucking heavy he was surprised they didn't suffer from a natural herniated disk.

Regardless, it was nice to see Hinata open up to people other than him, even if her circle just involved Ino, Neji and himself and sometimes Shikamaru if he wasn't constantly frowning at her. He felt that she was trying to understand people a little more, Hinata admitted to having trouble understanding people's emotions sometimes because she suppressed hers so much over the years she didn't really understand when someone was upset by her actions.

Having complete control of her emotions was important when dealing with the curse mark and Hinata admitted that being around Naruto sometimes caused her to not be in control, she felt like when she first came back to the village and made contact with Naruto that was the time that she really started to fall apart.

It was a little comical, her not noticing that all these emotions were due to her old feelings for him resurfacing. What made it so comical was that she was the one confused and he was the one that could see the signs very clear. Reason why he was so patient with her.

Hinata admitted to him all this the night that he stated he would drop out of the selection of being Hokage, he felt that was the first time that they actually had an argument. He actually got angry with her and while it was needed to get his point across he would rather not do it with her anymore.

FLASHBACK

"You know some things never change Hinata, for the life of me I don't know why you think so low of yourself. My dreams for four whole fucking years straight have been you. Seeing you, talking to you, touching you, holding you and doing what we just did! Hokage is important, but you're more important. Choosing you over being Hokage isn't going to put me through some great depression contrary to what so many people may think. You mean everything to me Nata, do I not mean everything to you that you're just willing to leave me here in the village to be some depressed lonely Hokage?!"

Hinata stared at him owlishly, she had never seen him direct such anger towards her. She was taken back that he felt like she was not being considerate of his feelings and that she didn't care for him. She cared, more than what she even thought. It just wasn't coming out like how she wanted it to. She was never a vocal person of her feelings, she always showed it through her actions.

Aggravation was coursing through her, they had so many other things to worry about right now and Naruto wanted to focus on this?! She just wanted to live, in this moment, and being with him made the numbness go away. She just wanted to feel again, why couldn't he just let it slide. When she reached for him he actually smacked her hand away, at that moment the aggravation and anger actually appeared on her face, cracking her porcelain mask.

"Stop Hinata. You never want to talk things through, you just want me to make you feel good."

"Do I not make you feel good?"

"THAT IS NOT THE POINT HINATA?!" His eyes flashed crimson and Hinata gave an old blush, he was really upset with her. She had never seen the chakra of the Kyuubi be pointed towards her in anger, sure they dib and dabbed a little in their sexual encounters, but never was he angry with her and it came out.

The sick side of her liked it, and this is why she pushes him away.

"You know I get it, that you're still working on yourself and finding yourself. I'm going the extra yard just so you don't have to so we can be with one another. Now you're basically telling me that you want to throw it all away. Why? Because you think I deserve better? I'm no God, so stop putting me up on this ridiculous pedestal…. Or do you think you deserve better?" He said this with hurt, anger and jealousy in his eyes, he was hurt, and he was finding it hard to control himself. He briefly wondered if this was how Hinata felt on a daily, like she just wanted to destroy something because it would make her feel better.

Her fascination with blood made her feel comfortable, and maybe she was contempt with that. Him on the other hand, she was his lust, his sin and made him feel better when he was feeling dark and he wanted her to feel the same for him.

Hinata paused at his accusations and saw the hurt she caused him. She said she would never hurt him.

When she began to open her mouth to speak he interrupted her, "Hinata." She had a shiver go up her back at his malevolent warning voice, basically telling her to be cautious of her next words. "Naruto…please just let me…talk. Something I am not good at; I am sorry about that. I just, don't know how to make this work. I WANT this to work, I want you Naruto…so BADLY. I care so much for you, I always have. I would do anything for you, I would kill a thousand men for you if you told me to. I put you on this high pedestal not because I look to you as some sort of God, but because-"

She stared at his chin when she spoke, not having the bravery to look into his eyes. Naruto leaned towards her and followed her line of vision until they were making eye contact, she smiled at this. He always was comforting, "I love you Naruto."

His eyes widened and a bright smile finally took over his face, "I love you too Hinata." His face than switched to concern when he saw tears coming down her eyes, "Nata, why are you crying?" Hinata looked at him confused for a moment before she wiped her face with one hand and discovered she was indeed crying. Warm tears were falling on a face that was usually cold, and she never even realized it.

She than started to laugh, a light airy laugh, so unlike her.

"You…will be the end of me Uzumaki Naruto. I-I-I…URGH!" Hinata continued to laugh and cry at the same time, belittling herself for her stutter. Naruto went up to embrace her and in the beginning she resisted, she would not let him pull her down onto the bed with him. She relaxed over time and they sat up on his bed in a comforting embrace. Her arms wrapped around him and her face buried in his neck.

"You are such a weakness of mine! I thought it was just Ino, but it's you too! Since I came back and saw YOU. I can't get my mind right, I can't control myself like I use to, things are just so hard. You make me weak and strong at the same time. You make me want to live when I want to die! I want you, but I don't know how to make myself NORMAL for you! How can you become Hokage and live out your dreams with someone that was almost raped, that began to harbor feelings for the man that beat her daily, that killed innocent people and that's just so FUCKING WEIRD!"

Pain, she was in so much pain.

The way she was talking so hysterically, her voice was becoming so raw, he could just feel the pain she was in. Replaying all the words she said in his head he froze, she felt him freeze and he internally cursed at himself for doing that. "Nata?"

"I'm…so…so sorry Naruto. I never wanted to tell you. I was content with taking this to the grave, this being between me, Lady Tsunade and Ino." Naruto pulled away from their embrace and held her face in his hands and let his thumb wipe the tears away, her face held so much grief and anguish. The dark, suicidal thoughts all making sense.

"Did Orochimaru rape you?" She wouldn't make eye contact with him and for this conversation, so she could get through it, was fine with him. "No…I-I" She again got angry with herself for stuttering, she bit her lip hard and gave her wrist a burning twist surely to leave a mark.

"Stop it." Naruto kept his hands on her face, but his dark dominating command made her freeze her punishment she was giving herself. "Hinata, I'm not letting this slide. I'll let you take your time and go at your own pace, but I want you to tell me. Did Orochimaru rape you?"

"No. I gave him my virginity willingly." He steeled himself not to give any reaction to anything she was telling him. "I thought I felt for him the same way I felt for you. I was so confused back then. I thought that the beatings, harsh training, and torture was…his way of showing he cared about me. He was so nice to me afterwards, he…touched me lightly and gave me compliments. One day he just…did it, and I let him. Then I let him do it again and again, he was nicer, I thought he loved me. I started to become so loyal to him, sometimes I would even go against Ino when she talked bad about him."

Hinata placed her hands on top of his and closed her eyes, squeezing them shut. As if she was trying to fight her nightmares. She silently was begging him to not shun her away, realizing this was her biggest fear, the reason why she pushed him away so much. She didn't want him to look at her with disgust.

"Lady Tsunade said there is a medical definition for it. It's when the person captive develops a psychological alliance with their captor. Positive feelings for them. She said that my effects from Orochimaru…are bad. My recurring flashbacks probably won't go away ever, my confusion with emotions will take years to adjust. I have lack of feeling for myself, she said that I've always had that due to my childhood upbringing, but now it's ten folds worse. I suffer from aggression, which heightens due to the curse mark. Guilt…is something that eats at me every minute. I have anxiety, believe or not, worse than before, which is kind of funny. I suffer from lack of sleep, Neji has to see to it that I get at least 5 hours, which just guilts me more because he loses sleep now. I'm basically a tainted, whore of a mess."

Naruto said nothing at first, he just pulled her to his bare chest and let her listen to his beating heart. Sometimes when she was at her worse emotionally he would let her lay her head on his chest, and that would calm her down. Just like in those other times, she started to calm down, "Don't ever call yourself those names again Hinata, it won't be a good outcome for you or me."

"Why do you love me so much Naruto?"

"Because you were there for me when others weren't, you believed in me when I didn't believe in myself, and I'm going to be there for you…You know why I love you Hinata, don't go doubting it again."

The two finally laid in the bed in each other's embrace in a comfortable silence and Hinata was content this way, she was content with Naruto's answer back to her and she just felt weights lift off her shoulders. She kept this in and from him for so long, it was weighing her down heavily.

She suddenly felt his charka spike and she was actually concerned; she could feel his rage emerge again, "Kabuto tried to rape you didn't he."

He felt her freeze in his arms, but he still patiently waited for her answer, "Yes. He…slapped me so hard because I told him no, it felt like I was hit head on by a raging bull. That is when he told me Orochimaru just slept with a whore like me because he wants to have children by me and use my children…He then said Orochimaru was going to do the same to Ino when he got his strength back, and that was when I knew I had to kill Orochimaru. I was so lost in those times, everything was so murky, I knew I could defend myself against Kabuto, but it felt so difficult at the time. I felt so vulnerable and weak. Ino, she saved me from Kabuto. She helped me get my mind right again over time."

Naruto stayed silent and once again Hinata soothed him by rubbing circles on his back, placing light kisses on his chest. Like she was begging him to forgive her. All the pieces together, he understood why Tsunade made the decision that she did regarding Ino and Hinata.

"When you find him, make him beg for your mercy… and still kill him."

They continued to hold one another, stepping into a new phase of their relationship, both becoming a life line for one another. "Nata…you're going to be okay. We're going to make this work; it's going to work. I'm never letting you go. Ever."

"Never?" He smiled at her tiny voice and watched her raise her tiny hands and pull out her pinky finger to him. He locked her pinky with his and looked through her eyes to her soul.

"Never."

END FLASHBACK

After that night he would have to say Hinata treated him more than just a comrade with benefits type thing, they were in an actual committed relationship now. Probably the worst time to commit to one another but he wanted it this way. She told him she loved him, and she revealed her darkest secret to him. He loved her the rest of the night after this, neither having gotten more than 3 hours rest, it was a good feeling though. They felt more connected to one another, Naruto just diving deeper into the dark world of Hinata.

There was more public display of affection between the two as well. Normally she would wait until she was alone with Naruto to talk more relaxed and touch him in certain manners, but now she was comfortable to hold his hand in front of Neji and anyone else. Naruto took pride in this, Ino would tease along with Shikamaru (Ino more on a friendlier vibe than Shikamaru), Sasuke stayed indifferent, but happy for his friend and Sakura was still very cautious of Hinata but was happy to see the young Hyuga was starting to melt from her cold exterior.

"Naruto, Hinata-sama and I have to get moving to report to our units. You will be with Sasuke, am I correct?" Naruto blinked back to current times and looked at Neji, "Yeah I'm with Teme, for the best I guess." He chuckled at his own joke and watched as the two Hyuga's in front of him looked at him with blank ghostly stares. He scratched the back of his head and started to laugh awkwardly, Hinata than gave him a small smile and closed her eyes.

"I will walk you to your unit with Uchiha-san, is that fine with you Naruto?" He smiled at her and motioned for them to leave, Neji watched the two walk off and let out a grin, "Took you long enough to get her back you dunce."

As the two walked along the trail Hinata leaned on to Naruto, resting her head on his shoulder and overall taking in the peace of the walk. Naruto made no reaction to this other than smiling.

"You two are gonna make me puke." Setting his sights on Shikamaru and Ino, Naruto frowned at the other blond, "Always a pleasure to see you Ino." Said person gave a big grin back, "Oi Hinata, I see you are being a little rebel and choosing against wearing what the Hokage has given us." Ino arched a brow at Hinata and smiled at her friend, who seemed to not find the situation a big deal. "Was it mandatory, I missed the memo of that." Hinata said this while tapping her chin appearing to be in thought causing Ino to laugh, Naruto grinned at the two and Shikamaru held a frown. Ino elbowed the grumpy man in the chest and he grimaced while looking at her, "What? She knew it was mandatory."

"This is why I don't take you anywhere."

"Yes Ino, it has no reason to do with the fact that you can't go anywhere."

"ANYWAYS. Hime, Shikamaru was just taking me to headquarters. We'll start organizing and running operations close to midnight, if I hear anything about Kabuto's weird ass before you I'll send the information your way." Hinata nodded at this and looked at Shikamaru, "I trust you two will find your way back to each other when chaos really starts to happen, take care of Ino please Shikamaru." The shadow user looked at Hinata before tilting his head, "Was that even necessary to say? Why would I not…you take care of yourself Hinata. Seriously, not just because of Ino either." Hinata gave a small smile at this.

"You're late." Naruto frowned at Sasuke and Kakashi, "WELL, when you told me the time to be here you didn't EXACTLY include the location you fucking prick."

"You're a shinobi, you should have found a way to get the information yourself. I shouldn't have to do everything for you."

"You were literally TOLD to tell me this information!" Naruto and Sasuke continued to bicker and Kakashi made his way over to Hinata, "You two complement each other very well. I am happy for you two Hinata, you make Naruto happy." Hinata continued to look at the two young men bicker between one another before she spoke in a low voice, "Naruto is in good hands with Uchiha-san and you. I trust Naruto is in good hands. I trust that you… I trust that if Naruto couldn't do something you would do it for his own good."

Kakashi looked at Hinata with a raised brow, "What would that be Ms. Hyuga?" Hinata watched the victorious face Naruto had as he held Sasuke in a secure headlock and smiled at her, she returned the smile back, "If I lose myself again and turn on Naruto, I trust that you would defend him. I trust that you would do whatever it would be necessary to stop me." Kakashi paused and looked at Hinata, observing the way she looked at his former student, he smiled under his mask and Hinata gave him a confused look at his crinkled eyes.

"My, my Lady Hinata, that won't be necessary. I don't think you realize just how strong you are now."

That's it for this chapter, hope you guys enjoyed it! Hinata is not out of the woods yet, but her and Naruto are officially a thing now. No more running away for Hinata. I always felt like whoever Shikamaru is with they would be an established settled couple, an old couple lol. Well let me know how you guys feel about it and I'll see you next Thursday!