Chapter Six: Secrets

Hinata and Gaara pulled away from each other, the red-haired teenager still holding the Hyuuga girl's arms. Hinata smiled, and leaned her head against Gaara's chest.

Is this why…Is this why I felt nothing around Naruto…Because I truly love this man?

"!" Hinata realized that they were being watched. She turned toward the brush, to see two people--A black haired teenager with confused eyes, and a blushing blonde-girl exclaiming, "Oh my God they saw us!" Gaara turned toward the two Chuunin, and let go of Hinata. Hinata didn't know what to do. She just stood there--She bowed her head and stared down at her feet. Ino and Shikamaru stared for a second, and then ran away from the sight before them.

Hinata fell to her knees, and placed her face into her hands. "I'm--I'm so sorry, Gaara-kun…" Gaara walked over to her, and kneeled down by her side. "Why are you sorry…?" Hinata looked up to his face. "I…I've just put you higher on their want to get you…Now, I'm going to have to watch them hunt you down, while they hold me back so I can't do anything to help you…" Gaara scowled, and placed a hand on her face. Hinata looked up at him. "Wha…?" Gaara stared into her eyes. "Don't you ever be sorry for something that isn't your fault."

The group still stood in the room from which Hinata had fled. Tsundae frowned, and turned to the others. "I guess it's obvious what we have to do." Kakashi turned to the Hokage. "What do you mean, Tsundae?" The woman turned to Kakashi. "We are going to have to find some way to stop him. There's no cure to destroy a murderer's intentions. We're most likely going to have to ki--!"

"Guys, we found Hinata!"

Everyone turned to the two Chuunin at the door. Ino was still in a state of shock, while Shikamaru glared at her for the sudden outburst. Naruto stepped up to the blonde-Chuunin, interested. "Well! Where was she!" Ino was about to tell them about what had happened, when Shikamaru stopped her. "She--She was just cooling off outside from her strange outburst." The Hokage looked strangely at the boy, and then nodded. "Yes, I can see why--That must have been very strange for her." Tsundae turned to all the Chuunin. "Well, the sensei and I will discuss what we have to do. The rest of you go back to your business." Naruto scowled. "Are you serious! Shouldn't we be tracking him down or something!" Kakashi raised a hand. "Naruto, there are times when you need to be patient, and this is one of them." Naruto grumbled, and left with the other Chuunin as they left the room. As Shikamaru left the room to go mind his own business, Ino grabbed him by the collar and pulled him away from the group.

"What in your right mind were you THINKING!" Shikamaru released himself from Ino's grasp. "Isn't this something that shouldn't be shouted in front of the whole Chuunin group--?" Ino whacked him upside his head. "No, it SHOULDN'T! Don't you see how much of a problem this is!"

Naruto put his hands behind his head, and left the Chuunin group to go down another hallway, when he head voices around the corner. Naruto snuck closer and listened in on Shikamaru and Ino.

Shikamaru cocked his head to the side. "I don't see what problems there is with keeping a secret classified--!" Ino grabbed him irritably by his hair. "Oh, you boys are so thick-headed! We have to tell the Hokage that we saw Hinata and Gaara making out in the clearing--What if he puts Hinata in danger? What if he kills her!"

Naruto took several quiet steps back and shoved a hand in his hair. WHAT did she say! Someone like Gaara fell for someone like Hinata? Hah! Never saw that coming--Aw, what am I doing now? I have to go tell somebody to get Hinata into her senses--I'll go to Neji! He'll know what to do.

Naruto sped down the hallway to find Neji.

Hinata got up from where she had fallen to the ground. She looked around, and sighed. "I might as well go back. I--I have to see my friends." Gaara hesitated for a moment, and nodded. He let go of her. Hinata stood up, regretting leaving the lone figure in the clearing. "I…I will see you, I promise…" Hinata was about to step through the forest, when she ran back to Gaara. The Sand-Chuunin looked up in surprise, and the raven-haired girl threw her arms around Gaara. "..Be safe." The red-haired teenager stared at her for a second, and whispered, "I will, Hinata-sama." Hinata released herself, and ran off into the forest.

Hinata walked up to the entrance of the building to meet up with all her friends, but someone was waiting at the door for her: Hyuuga Neji. "Ah, Neji-niisan! What is it?" Neji looked at her disgustingly. "You love that murderer. Gaara." Hinata stared for a second, not knowing what to say. "…Ino told you, didn't she…?" Neji shook his head. "No, Hinata…Naruto did." Hinata put a hand up to her mouth. Naruto…TOLD him? "He…I…"

Neji took a step toward her. "What is wrong with you? You saw the body of the woman that man tore apart, and you've fallen for him because he did you one good deed--?" Hinata glared up into her cousin's eyes. "Hyuuga Neji! That wasn't just one 'good deed', he saved my life! Gaara-kun…He cares about me!" Neji glared back at her. He turned to walk away, but muttered one last sentence to her. "As your cousin, Hinata, I am saying this now…If he ever comes near you again, I will tear him apart."

Hinata stood, stunned and silent, as Neji walked away from her. She began to cry. I've been betrayed by my own cousin, and even the person I used to love...This is insane.

Later that night:

Hinata sat on the roof of her home, staring out into the forest. She thought silently to herself. She wondered what Gaara was doing--Whether he was safe, or captured, or hurt. Hinata wiped a tear from her eye, and stared back into the horizon. She stood up when she suddenly heard a scream coming from the trees. Hinata climbed down from her roof, and ran straight into the woods.

Hinata looked around for the person in trouble. "Hello! Where are you!" Hinata heard a crash not too far all of a sudden, and ran toward the sound. When she found the source of the screaming, she gasped in horror. A figure with long claws and what seemed to be the shadow of a pair of ears and multiple tails was tearing away at a person, who had been crushed and killed. The figure turned its red eyes at Hinata. Hinata recognized the figure immediately. "….Naruto…"

Naruto stood staring at her. His hair had red-orange streaks in it, and there was an evil, red aura emitting from his body, producing the image of a fox's ears and several long tails. His nails had grown into sharp claws, and fangs gleamed from his mouth. A voice now screamed in his head, just like it did in Gaara's.

Naruto, your body is mine now--I can control you when I want, and make you do my will. And now, I, the Kyuubi, demand you to kill this Hyuuga.

Oh…My…God! Naruto is a killer, Naruto is a killer…Eheheh. Lol. Read on, ppl!