I'm sorry I took such a long time to update. Gomen. Uneventful chapter I know...it'll heat up soon...at least in chapter 8.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Pairings: SasukexHinataItachixHanabi NarutoxIno SakuraxShikamaru TentenxKankuro

Enjoy!


Days after cruel Itachi stool my sister away from the throne, I believe I had gone insane. I could feel hysteria creeping up on me, but I knew it was inevitable. It was the most confusion I had ever felt. I was throwing parts of me away that I had since my birth. This was the day that the first clue about my mother's death arrived. This was also the day in which I lost weakness, replacing it with something dark and horrifying.

Hinata sat in her room alone with no lights on. The darkness enveloped the girl and her stomach begged for food, the girl had not come out in days. She could hear their whispers from outside her room, there was no sense of happiness at all. Her father had been declared dead along with her sister. Her sweet, innocent sister who had done nothing wrong. It was not fear or sorrow that haunted the girl, it was guilt which caused her to cry in the dark, ungodly hours with nothing but her hands to comfort her.

Her hand began to bleed, her wounds had not healed yet. The princess refused any sort of medicine whatsoever, it was a punishment for her own weakness. Her eyes stared up at the ceiling the cold wood providing no comfort as she lay down. Hinata's eyes shut and she hugged her own body. There was no telling what kind of thing was happening to Hanabi right now. The paper door slid open to reveal a blonde girl with her eyes red and swollen. "Princess, please don't refuse help anymore."

Hinata just pretended to sleep. Ino approached the girl and took her head into her own lap. The blonde proceeded to stroke the violet hair, gently running her thin fingers through it. "I know we act like we don't care about your sister. We do, it's just that we care about you too." Ino looked at the princess's bloodstained hand and her cerulean eyes began to water. "We all care about you. Please let us help you. I don't want you to hurt anymore." Ino lifted Hinata us and proceeded to walk shakily and slowly towards the door. "Please, no more tears." Ino took the girl into her own room and placed her gently on the soft, luxurious bed. The blonde covered the Hyuuga with the cotton sheets and placed her hand on the girl's cheek. "Please." All this time Ino was pleading the girl not to cry, she was erupting into tears herself.

Ino left the room and slid the door shut. Hinata opened her eyes and closed them again when she could see nothing but darkness. The night was still again and all sounds gone. Her heart beat in the still of night yet there was no feeling in her chest. The girl thought it was too silent and decided to wander around. She could not feel the slightest pain as she stood looking into the mirror. Her pale skin was covered in scratches and mud. Her arms and legs were dripping with the red fluid, but most of it had dried becoming a horrifying brown with a crimson tinge. Her hair was dirty and unruly, somehow this image of herself perplexed the girl. For a moment she felt as if she was looking down on herself from a flying view. She was looking at heartbroken, soulless beauty waiting for her handsome prince who never came.

Hinata slipped back to her senses and walked into the hall her feet making no noise whatsoever. It was as if all her senses had been numbed and something else took her over. Maybe this was the twilight hour that people spoke of, when the world is only just an illusion.

Hinata looked into a room with a faint glowing light. Inside were Temari and Gaara. Temari had her little brother in her arms and the two were sleeping peacefully in the candle illuminated room. Temari looked as if she were shielding her brother from this cruel world taking him with her to a utopia in her imagination that would provide the most welcoming sensations, a world that existed only in fairy tales. Gaara looked quite content his face no longer contorted in a hate filled expression. The girl smiled at the image of her two friends and moved through the empty halls yet again.

The next room she came upon had Shikamaru, Sakura, and Chouji. Chouji was sprawled on the floor surrounded by baskets of food. He took deep breaths and smiled while he slept. Shikamaru was on the floor next to the bed where Sakura was sleeping. He sat up and leaned on the side of the bed for support as he slept. Sakura's pink hair was sprawled upon the equally pink bedding. It was as if they were at a party of some sort and had decided to stay the night. Hinata walked into the room and went into the closet. She pulled out a bunch of blankets and pillows. The girl placed everything on the floor. Quietly the girl tiptoed over to Shikamaru and removed his hair band. She placed a blanket on the boy and smiled warmly. The princess then went over to Chouji placing a pillow under his head and covered the boy in a blanket. She blew out the candles, walking out as silently as she came in.

Again the empty halls greeted her. Yet, she didn't feel alone, she felt as if something was with her providing her with everything she would ever need. She could feel warmth enveloping her as she looked into the next room. Shino was sleeping against the wall, in his lap was Kiba. Kiba had placed his head on Shino's lap with Akamaru safely inside his jacket. Hinata thought about what would happen if they woke up in that position, that way lies chaos. Lee was sprawled on the floor with his bandages undone. Hinata could see the scars on his hands. 'That is the mark of persistence. I suppose he pushes himself to his limit every day.' Hinata looked at the room across the hall and found her cousin with Tenten and Kankuro. Tenten was leaning on Neji's shoulder as she slept and Kankuro was on her lap. Her arms were around Kankuro's head as she leaned into the nook on Neji's neck. Hinata smiled and walked down the hall yet again making a turn.

Inside a room Hinata found her best friend. She hid because the girl and boy in the room were awake. They were talking in hushed tones and there was sobbing. Hinata listened in closely to their conversation. "Ino, calm down."

"I can't. Hinata is like a sister to me." A feminine voice replied. "I'm scared."

"Ino, she'll be fine. Just don't worry too much."

"Why? I'm not the one refusing to eat. I'm not the one crying and bleeding. I'm not the one who has lost so much." The voice which belonged to Ino was cracking.

"Look at me." There was a pause. "Ino, you are the one trying everything you can. You are the one who has lost her freedom. You are the one worrying about your best friend. I can't stand to see you like this. I…I don't want you to cry anymore."

"Why? You don't even know me."

"I can't tell you."

"Answer me! Why?" Ino screamed at the top of her lungs. "Why Naruto why?"

"I…I…" His stuttering trailed off.

"You can't even answer me! I'm going to bed and don't bother saying sorry! You don't care!" Hinata saw the light disappear and waited. She could feel the atmosphere calm down. When she peaked inside she saw Ino on the bed with tearstained cheeks. Naruto was brushing a stray hair away from her face.

"Ino, I care. I care. I…I love you." Naruto whispered just loud enough for Hinata to hear. Hinata stepped into the room and sat down on the bed next to Naruto.

"Naruto." The boy looked up at her with red eyes. Hinata gasped and backed away.

"Why can't she understand?" Naruto shook his head. Hinata took his hand into hers.

"She's blinded by sorrow. She'll know when time comes."

"When is that?" Naruto asked his eyes changing back to their normal shade of shocking blue. Hinata placed her hand on his chest.

"When the two hearts finally connect." With this comment the princess stood up and left the room. Hinata felt content, but there was one person she had not seen. She walked down the hall to a room with a dim candle light. It was where her dear sister used to sleep. She pushed the door open and found a boy sleeping on his bed, raven black hair matching the night sky.

Hinata went unto the bed. He was the only one alone on this night. Hinata placed her head on his chest like by the river five years ago. She could hear his heart beating and lifted her head up. This time she didn't see his coal black eyes, the boy was still sleeping. The girl crawled next to Sasuke under the blanket and placed her arm and head on his chest. His arm came up to pull her closer to him. Hinata just melted into the embrace.

A seed of a rose was planted in both our hearts at that moment. The rose, the symbol of passionate, beautiful, truthful, eternal love drawing the most beautiful scene in existence. That's just what would happen when the flower bloomed.

The night didn't seem so empty anymore, it was quite heartwarming. Hinata had found some sort of comfort. Even if she would never find out, Sasuke was awake the whole time and enjoying every minute of holding the girl in his arms. Yet, his heart was breaking again, it hurt him. The pain began to hurt even more when he realized why. Hinata could never be his, he was an avenger, a royal, a shinobi. Royals do not feel. Shinobi are weapons. Avengers have no time for love. It was a shocking truth that needed to be dealt with. He gripped the girl tighter and tried to comfort himself the best he could. It was no use though, her heart was breaking causing his to shatter as well.

Storm clouds gathered in the northern sky. They were a dark charcoal color foretelling a great storm which could uproot life. Hinata snuggled closer into the warmth that was enveloping her. It was soothing and she breathed in smelling the scent of something unknown. When Hinata felt something wrapping around her she snapped her eyes open and looked around. This wasn't her white room, the walls were red. She looked at the curtains, there were black curtains. She looked down at herself, she was in her regular clothing, but there were arms around her. The confused girl glanced up to find The Prince of the South. "Prince Sasuke." Hinata called his name as she pulled away from him.

The boy with pale skin shuddered and turned over on his bed. Hinata was glad he hadn't woken up and quietly slipped out of the bed. She made her way effortlessly into the hall without looking back and looked in rooms along the way. There was on with people talking which she couldn't help but look into. The princess opened the door slightly to see lights and a girl with long brown hair sitting in front of a desk conversing with her brother, Kiba. Hinata tuned into hear their quiet whispers. "Sister, this can't be true! I can't believe this. Why did you have to get involved, did you want this to happen?"

Kiba slammed his fist on the wooden table while his sister eyed him with distaste. His sister calmly scratched the back of one of her three dogs' ears, her breath suddenly stopping. "You of all people know that there is nothing I can do unless I am killed. How do you think I feel? I have to marry someone I don't know!" His sister began to shed tears. "I have just been a tool, at least you have a life, at least your princess has friends! I have never been free! Feel no pity for yourself, you were born lucky!"

"Hana," Kiba whispered his gaze softening, "I…I'm just worried."

"Nothing will happen to you, you know that." Hana wiped her tears and her breath began to even out.

"I don't care about what happens to me. I care about Hinata." Kiba told his sister. Hinata who was outside the door began to listen with even more detail. "She is a royal, she's my fiancée. Even if she doesn't love me I'll always be by her side." Hinata began to cry. "If Orochimaru is your husband, who know what will happen." Hinata gasped and ran down the hall panting heavily. Her feet were sore and her arms ached, but she carried on and to the front door pushing it open.

I knew what Orochimaru would do if he took power. He despised me from the day I was born and it rather frightened me that he would be king. Kiba and I were supposed to take over once father was dead so I was confused. Orochimaru was evidence that the devil did exist.

The princess was greeted with the rain, cold and icy water stung her wounds. Hinata didn't care anymore, she was afraid, the fear spread throughout her body as she collapsed. She was sure Orochimaru would execute her as soon as he married Hana. "Mother, I'm sorry. Hanabi, I'm sorry. Father, I'm sorry." Hinata raised her head up to the sky. "Thank you for crying for me. The girl shakily stood up again looking around her, the forests of the North were green with life. The girl shivered and her pale skin began to numb, the rain became nothing more than feathers brushing against her as she walked. Wind blew her hair and Hinata brushed it behind her ears. "I'll make it up to you. I promise. I vow to bring Hanabi back so that maybe you can hear our laughter together, just one more time. I promise to be strong, I will not fail no matter what the cost. Please watch over me." There was a splash heard and Hinata turned around to face Kiba.

"I heard the door slam, what are you doing out here?" Hinata smiled at his words and with her freezing hands held his face as she went on her toes.

"Thank you." The girl looked into his dark eyes. "Thank you for caring. I promise to become strong so you can give your care to someone else." Kiba took her hands away from his face.

"Do you not understand? It's not that easy, I will never stop caring." A grin played on his face as the rain continued to fall. The prince placed his jacket over the girl's small frame. "I'm sure people are just dying to see your smile again." Hinata just smiled even more and walked across the dirt.

"I just hope they forgive me." Hinata told Kiba as she walked into the warm palace. Hinata heard footsteps stop and looked behind her to find Kiba staring at something in front of her. The girl's head turned, her smile vanishing. "King Orochimaru." Hinata did not want to bow, it meant defeat, but if she did not the consequences could prove to be fatal, especially because it was Orochimaru. 'I promised mother I would be strong.'

"Why do you not bow?" Orochimaru asked venom dripping from his voice just like a deadly cobra. His golden eyes sparkled with predatory intent as his pale hand reached out to touch the girl's face. The cold hand was rough, it felt like sandpaper against the princess's skin. "Such ignorance and to think they call you a princess, the perfect bride. You are nothing more than a piece of glass that I could break with one touch. Bow." The hand left Hinata's face.

"I will not bow to you. To think you are the successor of my throne, the one I was to inherit, shameful." Hinata could not believe the words she had just spoken, it sounded wrong, unnatural, cruel. "Do not ever touch me again."

"Princess, my dear, such fire you have." Orochimaru laughed and walked away. The encounter was filled with unknown intentions, there were deep secrets behind the visit, they were things Hinata knew she could not comprehend. Hinata turned her head to face Kiba.

"Kiba…I….just then I-I…" Hinata began to stutter and look down.

Kiba took his hand and lifted her chin up to face him. "Do not ever look down. You belong with your head up high, you are a royal. Not matter what you do, no matter what you say or think, I know you will always find what is right." Hinata gasped and turned around breaking the moment apart.

"We sh-should go see ev-everybo-body else." Hinata turned a familiar shade of scarlet and heard her friend chuckle. A pink wisp was seen then a familiar voice rang through Hinata's ears.

"Princess! What happened? Your hands and legs!" Sakura began to fuss and scream. A very drowsy Temari appeared at the end of the hall rubbing her eyes. Her clothes and hair were a mess, yet there seemed to be an aura of complete peace around her. Then the girl's eyes snapped open as she began to run back down the hall. A shuffle was heard before she returned her brother following her, his red hair obviously ruffled from just getting out of bed.

"Gaara, carry Hinata to the bathroom." Temari ordered as her brother just stood there staring at Hinata. "Do you want her to die?" At this statement Gaara noticeably flinched the boy walked over to Hinata and lifted her up unto his back walking silently to the bathroom. The princess felt some sort of awkward feeling as she was being lifted. It was as if Gaara was reluctant to touch her.

"Mister Sabaku, is something wrong?" Hinata asked. She received no response as Gaara continued to walk. "Do you resent me?" Gaara turned the corner and still the princess received no response. When the two reached the room he gently placed the girl down. Hinata asked him once more, "What is wrong?"

Gaara looked at her and answered, "The blood. Your blood is so amazing." Hinata saw something in his eyes as he approached her eying her hands. She quickly backed up against the wall. Gaara turned around and walked steadily down the hall as if embarrassed, but there was absolutely no trace of emotion on his face or in his voice. Hinata's heart was beating at a fast rate and she could still feel the boy's ragged breath against her neck. The feelings sent chills down her spine, yet it warmed her heart.

Sakura came into the room with supplies in a kit and began to wet a towel. The girl took the towel and placed it on Hinata's leg gently. There was a faint stinging, but most of the feeling in her legs was numbed. Hinata turned her head towards her friend. "I'm sorry." Sakura stopped from her work and looked up.

"You didn't do anything." Sakura replied before continuing her work. Hinata flinched as a sensation ran throughout her leg. Sakura furrowed her eyebrows. "What's this?" Hinata looked down and gasped. There was a huge mark in the shape of a rose in black ink on her leg. The thing was, Hinata did not ever recall getting this tattoo. Sakura wiped it with the wet cloth, it didn't wash off. The two were speechless. Sakura snapped out of her reverie and began to clean Hinata's wounds again. "I'm sure it's nothing. I'll take you to see Tsunade later."

"Are you sure Sakura, I'm sure Tsunade is too busy to get to me. Even though you are her student, she has ill people on her hands." Hinata flinched as Sakura took her arm and began to wipe the blood.

"You are ill." Sakura replied in a snappy fashion as she left to rinse the towel again. Her emerald eyes were clouded and her mind was obviously somewhere else right now. Her hands began to squeeze most of the water out. When she sat back down on the chair she was on before she placed the towel on Hinata's forehead. 'What is this mark?' Her mind flashed an image of the black rose.

Hinata was perplexed, this day seemed to be progressing with a tense atmosphere as it there was something she wasn't told. The girl began to worry and her hands reached down to touch the mark. Her petite hand rubbed the mark. 'This somehow reminds me of something. Something important.' Hinata suddenly felt a rush of pain and cried out. Sakura backed away from the girl frightened and screaming. "Lee! Neji! Someone!"

Hinata's marks had returned, they stung and the marking on her leg also began to glow. Her head began to hurt and swirl as her Byakugan was forcefully activated. Her hair was swirling around. Sakura backed up against the wall. Hinata looked at her friend as she was placed on the ground a frightful aura still around her.

At that moment, I could see through my eyes. Sakura was fear struck screaming hysterically. I couldn't hear anything only the beating of my heart. I felt helpless and my body was acting on its own. In my perspective, I was screaming as hard I as I possibly could, I wanted it to stop. I tried with all my will to make all the pain go away, it stung my hands and legs. Then everything suddenly turned black.

There was the smell of wood and the crumpling of paper. Hinata could clearly make out the voices all around her, she assumed there were only two other people in the room. The girl didn't dare to open her eyes, there was an intense conversation occurring as she pretended to sleep.

"Sakura, I'm telling you, I am positive!" A woman yelled.

"Miss Tsunade, please don't say that." The voice was soft and filled with concern.

"Even if you don't like what I'm saying, it's the truth." There was an audible sigh. "There is a way we might be able to contain it though." Hinata heard silence and the crackling of embers from the fireplace. A rustling was heard, there was some noise that seemed to stand up above all else, it was a soft whimpering. The girl couldn't tell if it was all in her head or not all she knew was that it was like a signal.

"Miss Tsunade, I don't care what it is as long as it will help. What is the success rate?"

"This method has been tested on someone once before, it succeeded. I wouldn't recommend it though. It may cause a transfer of memories, they will be painful memories for Hinata..." The clock in the infirmary rang ten times, chiming deeply echoing.

"I must go now, I will be back here tomorrow morning. Take care." There were quick steps that lead farther and father away until there was no sound.

After Tsunade and Sakura had both left the room Hinata heard the crying now clearly. The voice was someone she knew and it was begging for help. Now Hinata knew what it was, it was a signal that she needed to be strong. It was a signal that she needed to fight. It was a signal that she needed to kill to keep her promises, to save what was left of her heart. It was the signal urging her to move on as she cut her arm with the dagger that would become a tool for the first death she caused. She could hear the signal, the tears of her sister, they created the princess of death known as the Royal Assassin.


Thank you for reading. Have a pleasent day!