A/N: A lot of you guys have been begging me to update soon. I think it's only fair to warn you guys that I won't be updating for a loooooong time. Why? My science teacher's a slave driver! We have soooo many things to research and it's like, only the second week of classes! So sorry! Here's chapter 6! Enjoy! BTW: DarkangelHikari, I miss you! Ever since you moved away, I've been down in the doldrums. Oh well, that's life!

Chapter 6:Fear

"Do you think it was…wise to leave him back there?" Lee asked, looking at Neji.

Neji simply looked at him, then straight ahead. "I know he can take care of himself."

"That may be true," Tenten said, "but still…"

"I have faith in him," Neji said. "I know he…"

Suddenly he stopped. He felt a sort of chill pass through him, and he couldn't describe what it meant exactly. He felt like something was…different.

"Neji-kun?" Tenten said, looking at him. "What's wrong?"

Neji looked at her, and she saw worry in his eyes. His seemingly emotionless eyes. "Something's wrong." He said. "I can feel it."

"What?"

He shook his head and looked forward. "I'm not sure, but I think we'd better hurry."

Kurenai looked down at her pale face, trying to control the tears that threatened to spill out.

"Hinata-san…" she murmured, touching her cheek gently. "Please…"

"Hinata." Her father said, coming closer to the bed. "You have to fight. You need to!" His voice seemed angry. "Don't be weak! Fight!"

Kurenai balled her fist, trying to control herself.

"Show me that you have even a small percentage of the strength the Hyuga clan is known for! Fight!"

That did it. Kurenai raised her hand and gave him a backhander he wouldn't soon forget. He looked up at her with shocked eyes. Kurenai knew that hitting one of the nobles from one of the oldest, honorable clans in the village wasn't…proper, but she couldn't help it.

"You cold, heartless, relentless son of a…how you can even manage to talk to your daughter like that is beyond me! You call yourself her father, but you act nothing like it, you stupid, unfeeling…"She trailed off, unable to find a word that was suitable enough to describe.

He held up his hand. "Do not judge people so easily, Kurenai-sensei. I'm not what you think I am."

"No!" She spat out the word, breathing hard, "I know exactly what you are! You are a heartless S.O.B who thinks he knows what's best for his daughter but, in reality, he only cares about the image she's upholding for their clan."

"You're the one who's wrong, Kurenai-sensei." He said, his tone deadly, menacing. "If you looked deeper, you'd know."

"Well, with all do respect, I don't posses the byakugan, so you'll excuse me if I can't look…" she trailed off, looking at his eyes. "deeper…" she murmured, her eyes widening. My God, she thought, so many emotions clouded in those eyes of his. Sadness. Pain. She bit her bottom lip. Guilt. Oh God, I was wrong about him.

"Hyuga-sama…" she began, an apologetic look on her face.

He cut her off with a wave of his hand. Glaring at her, he turned and opened the door, revealing a very startled Neji.

"Hyuga-sama," he said, looking past him, "what's wrong with Hinata-sama?"

"I…she…" he looked away. "She…attempted suicide."

"N-n-nani?" His eyes widened. "How? When? Why?"

"She slashed her wrists just around noon. As to why she did it…" he swallowed, "I don't know."

Neji walked past him towards the bed. He gazed down at her pale face.

Hinata-sama, he thought, narrowing his eyes. I can't believe you'd be so cowardly. I can't believe you'd run away.

"Hinata-sama," he said softly, "I know you can hear me."

She didn't respond. He grasped her hands. "You know I hold a grudge against you, simply because you come from the head family. But grudge or no grudge, it doesn't change the fact that you are my cousin. And whether you choose to believe me or not," he took a deep breath, "I don't want someone close to me to die. Again." A few stray tears ran down his face. "I don't want you to die."

She still did not respond. He placed his hand her chest. After a few seconds, he shook his head.

"Kurenai-sensei," he turned to her. "Her heartbeat is irregular. I think I should inform the Medic Nins."

Kurenai shook her head. "They already warned us that this might happen. They said they couldn't do much for her anymore."

"So," he said, softly yet firmly, "You're telling me that all we're going to do is sit around and watch her die?"

"Don't say that." Kurenai said, glaring at him. "She isn't going to die. I know she isn't."

Neji simply looked away. After a few moments, he said, "We'd better tell Kakashi-sensei to go and fetch Naruto. He should know."

Kurenai nodded, got up and left.

As she wandered down the halls, she remembered what she had said just a few moments ago. "She isn't going to die. I know she isn't."

Hopeful words, Kurenai. She thought. Too bad you, yourself, don't believe them.

"Trying to commit suicide, Gaara?"

Gaara's rolled his eyes and turned slowly in his chair.

"You're early." He said.

Sasuke shrugged and closed the door. "I finished early."

"It's all set, then?" Gaara asked, half-hoping that Sasuke would say 'no'. Despite how much he wanted to please his father, he didn't want the plan to go underway. He didn't want to endanger anyone anymore.

"Yeah, yeah, it's ready." Sasuke said impatiently. "Just tell me when."

"4 days from now." Gaara said, looking down at the blood stained knife. "It'll be a new moon on that day, so there won't be any light."

"Right." Sasuke whipped around. "I'm outta here."

"Just one question." Gaara said softly. Sasuke paused, his hand on the doorknob.

"How are you going to lure him there?"

Sasuke smirked. This guy's pretty dense. I thought it was obvious. At least, to a cold-blooded killer like him. "Obviously. I'm going to attack his weakness."

"Which would be?"

"The Hyuga kid. You know, Hinata."

"Oh." Gaara looked away. A fewseconds passed, then, "Is that…necessary?"

"What?"

"Using her as bait, I mean. We don't have to put an innocent life on the line, do we?"

Sasuke looked at him in surprise. Then he smirked again. Well, he's unpredictable. At first, you'd think he couldn't care less about the procedure as long as the plan was fulfilled. Looks like he does have a heart under there. Heh.

"Don't tell me you've gotten softer, Gaara." He raised an eyebrow. "The Gaara I knew wouldn't say anything. He'd just nod his head and dismiss me."

"Well," Gaara said, trying to keep his voice under control. "Do whatever you want to do. I'm just giving you a warning." He turned his back to him. "Do not attack his heart. It will only give him strength."

Sasuke let out a soft chuckle. "Right. I'll keep that in mind when I'm standing over their dead bodies." He left.

Gaara watched the door slowly close behind Sasuke's back, cutting off the light and plunging the room into darkness again.

He's a fool, Gaara thought, absentmindedly playing around with the knife. He really thinks that will work. It won't. I should know. I made the same mistake.

He wandered over to the mirror. He couldn't see himself clearly, due to the darkness around it him.

"Love is the spirit of protecting and devoting yourself to someone" Yashimaru's words went back to him.

"When a person fights to protect someone, then true strength has been achieved." Hokage-sama said that, he thought, clutching the knife blade tightly. It cut a fresh wound on his hand, yet he didn't notice.

"Sasuke," he said softly, holding up the knife, pointing it towards the mirror. "It won't work. You'll only make him stronger. It won't work."

He plunged the knife into the mirror, listening in satisfaction to the sound of the breaking glass. He looked at his reflection again. Broken. Dirty. Confusing.

That's exactly how I feel.

Naruto flopped down on the grass, leaning against a tree. Five hours of non-stop searching was really taking its toll on him. He reached into his pack and took out his jug of water.

For all I know, the little punk's on his way to the next village, the Sound. I really should make my way there. He took a long swig of water and set the jug down.

Why should I bother? He thought bitterly. If he already got a head start, he could be halfway there already. I'd just be wasting time trying to catch up with him. It would be better if I just head back to the village and ask the other genin for help. He sighed. I guess I was wrong. I can't do it alone.

Suddenly, he jerked up. What the heck is wrong with me? He thought shaking his head. I never used to think that way! Never!

Then the memory came rushing back. By the riverside, under the full moon. Hinata was in front of him, talking softly, arms in front, as if trying to shield herself from the whole world. He heard her speak again.

Mizuki-sama felt the urge to be acknowledged as well…

No wonder I've changed. He thought, biting his lower lip until it bled. I've had too many disappointments. More than I can endure.

"Naruto!"

Naruto jerked up once more. In front of him was Kakashi. Masked, as usual.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto scrambled to his feet. "What the heck are you doing here?"

"No time to explain!" He said, grabbing him by the arm. "There's an emergency!"

"What?" Naruto pulled free. "What do you mean 'emergency'?"

"It's Hinata. She…she…let's just say she's in the hospital."

"Damn!" He exclaimed. "Why? How?"

"Like I said, there's no time to explain."

"I'm not budging until you tell me why she's in the hospital!"

"This is no time for your hardheadedness!"

"The sooner you tell me, the sooner we can get a move on!"

Kakashi turned his back to him and counted to 3. Still not looking at him, he said softly, "She tried to commit suicide!"

Silence passed. Kakashi turned around to look at him.

"Naruto…?"

His face was pretty much cast in shadows, so it was hard to see his reaction.

"Kakashi-sensei." He said softly. "Lead the way."

Kakashi nodded. He grasped him by the arm again and, in seconds, the vanished.

Sasuke jumped down from the tree. Darn it! He thought angrily, punching the tree next to him and causing it to fall down. If she dies, it'll affect the entire plan! I could use Sakura-chan. After all, Naruto did have a crush on her before, but…I don't think I can. He shook his head. Don't think that! It doesn't matter who I use! He shoved his hands in his pockets and walking back towards the village. Gaara would have to be informed about the slight change in plans. After a few seconds, he slowed down. But then, he thought, that would put her in danger too.

"Hinata!" Naruto pushed the door open. Inside, Neji and his uncle looked at him briefly, then back to Hinata's limp form.

Naruto stood stock-still, not moving from the doorway.

He's probably in shock. Neji thought, looking at him from the corner of his eye.

Without a word, Naruto turned and ran from the run.

"Naruto!" Kurenai and Kakashi yelled at the same time, dashing out the door. They looked in both directions.

"Where the heck did he go?" Kurenai asked, looking at Kakashi.

"I think the better question is: Why did he go?"

Neji walked up to both of them. "I can see where he went," Neji said, veins bulging from the side of his head, near his eyes. "I'll go get him."

Kakashi and Kurenai nodded. Without a word, Neji dashed down the hall.

In moments, he caught up with him.

"Naruto." He grabbed him by the arm. "What's wrong with you?"

"I can't go back there." Naruto said breathlessly. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to see her, lying there, so…" he trailed off and looked away.

Neji felt anger rising. "Don't you get it?" He said fiercely. "She's in coma! Of course she'd just be lying there, limp! Why is that such a problem? You have to go back there. Hinata was your friend, wasn't she?"

"That wasn't Hinata!" Naruto exploded. "That was some shell! The real Hinata is..." He shook his head. "Never mind. Just let me go."

"Finish the sentence!" Neji yelled.

"I said, let me go!"

"I can't believe you!" Neji said, glaring at him. "I know you're in shock, but why is it affecting you so much? You've seen her unconscious before!"

"Because this time, she did it herself!" Naruto said, trying to jerk away. "She ran away! She took the coward's way out! And I can't bear to look at her and think that she willingly decided to leave everything behind! To leave me!" He stopped, realizing he had said too much. He looked away from Neji. In a much quieter voice, he said, "That's not the Hinata I know. So where is she, Neji? Where's Hinata? Answer me that. Then maybe I'll come back."

He managed to jerk fee from Neji's grasp. He started to walk away.

"I don't know where she is." Neji said softly. Naruto didn't bother to turn around.

"But I do know that you're the only one who can bring her back."

This time he stopped. Neji continued. "You probably don't know this yet, but she left a message for you. She wrote it just before she collapsed."

"You mean," Naruto turned around. "She was thinking of me before she…?"

Neji simply nodded. "The very thought of you gave her strength. Please," he looked at him squarely in the eyes. "you know she's a fighter. Why can't you stay by her side and fight along with her?"

Naruto didn't say anything. Finaly, he looked up and smiled. "Arigatou, Neji." He walked past him, going back to Hinata's hospital room.

Neji didn't make any effort to follow him. He didn't have to. He left the hospital and walked towards the forest. The usual place.

He stood next to the tree and waited. After a few minutes, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned.

"You're late," he said, narrowing his eyes. "Gaara."