Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto! I do not get any profit from this fiction. I only write for fun and to improve my creativity.

Chapter Ten

There is something

You must always remember;

You are braver than you believe,

Stronger than you seem,

And smarter than you think.

A.A. Milne

…

Three days later after Hinata's meeting with the elders…

Mirai ran toward her mother excitedly, and Hinata followed behind the energetic child.

"Look kaa-san!" The child said holding a panda plush. "We won!"

"it's very lovely, Mirai-chan." The former shinobi said. "Did Hinata-chan get it for you?"

The small child smiled and nodded at her mother eagerly.

"Did you thank her?" The genjutsu expert said as she took her child in her arms. The child nodded again.

Looking at her former student, Kurenai smiled affectionately. "Thank you, Hinata-chan"

"Ano, it was no problem." She smiled fondly at her former sensei and child. "I like Mirai. She is a sweet little girl."

They walked in silence for a while, enjoying the sight of the newly blossomed Sakura trees. It was the second day of the festival, and Kurenai had come by the compound to see her after learning what had happened to her in her mission. After both, former sensei and student, had walked around the Hyūga compound, Kurenai invited her to go with her and Mirai to the festival, and of course Hinata accepted delighted.

It was just like old times, when Kurenai would invite her on a picnic during the Sakura festival, and they would sit by the trees and enjoy the beautiful sakuras' blossoming. It was much like that now, with the only exception that Mirai wasn't in the picture back then, but Hinata didn't mind the little girl. Kurenai Yūhi was like a mother to her, and her daughter Mirai was very much like a little sister to her.

When her former sensei had asked Hinata what happened in the mission, she couldn't lie to her beloved sensei like she had done with everyone else. Therefore, Hinata told the genjutsu expert the truth of what had happened. However, the former heiress didn't tell the Yūhi about the seal, for she didn't think it necessary to worry the woman.

(Flashback)

They had been walking around the Hyūga compound that afternoon. Kurenai had suggested a little exercise for Mirai would do her good. Besides, the child was incredibly energetic, and needed to burn some of that energy.

Mirai was chasing butterflies as former sensei and student spoke.

"Oh Hinata-chan! I'm so sorry you've carried this weight over your shoulders all alone and for so long." the Yūhi had said hugging the sadden girl sitting next to her. "Why didn't you tell me you were feeling this way?"

"I... I didn't want to be a bother."

"You are never a bother!" She said giving the former heiress a warm smile. "How were you found?"

"U-uchiha Sasuke found m-me and brought me b-back." The young woman looked down at her feet.

"So, the Uchiha brought you back?" Kurenai said pensively. "I would have never guessed."

"I didn't think he would either."

"Did he hurt you, Hinata-chan?" She asked with obvious concern in her voice.

"N-no" Hinata lied quickly. Perhaps too quickly.

The Uchiha had hurt her in more ways than it was possible, but for the most part, he had been civil. Moreover, he had promised her he would help her, and she believed him.

Kurenai noticed the small curve in the former heiress lips. If she didn't know her former student the way she did, she would have missed the small smile.

"Did something happen between you and the Uchiha?" Her sensei inquired breaking her from her reverie.

"Huh?" Hinata looked at the woman with owlish eyes.

"You seemed lost in thought."

"I don't know what you mean, Kurenai-sensei." The Hyūga girl said confused.

"Never mind." The Yūhi smiled fondly at the young girl before her. "Hinata-chan" Kurenai said lifting Hinata's face with her finger to force the girl to look at her. "I want you to know that I am very proud of you; and I don't think you are a coward for trying to stay away from everything that caused you pain. I won't judge you for that."

"You're not disappointed?"

"No." The former shinobi said "However, I wish you had told me you felt that way before making a decision like that." The Yūhi continued. "The situation could have been worse."

(End of flashback)

And worse it was. If her sensei knew about the seal it would break her heart.

"I'm hungry" Mirai told her mother, breaking Hinata from her thoughts.

"Then let's go eat." The former shinobi said. "What would you like to eat?"

"Dango!"

Kurenai looked at her former student. "Are you okay with that, Hinata-chan?"

"That sounds lovely, Kurenai-sensei." She smiled and followed her former sensei and daughter to a dango stand.

Uchiha Sasuke watched as the woman paced from one side to the other, unable to decide what to do with the information.

"I don't know Sasuke-kun, that sounds risky." She said pensively.

He knew it was dangerous, but he couldn't trust anyone else but her with this task. There were many negative things he could say about the young woman before him. She was obnoxious, moody, and clingy, but she was loyal. He knew he could trust her. If she didn't leave him nor betray him when he had being horrible to her, she wouldn't do it now. Sasuke knew she would help him, even if it required a little bit of coaxing from his part.

"I am taking precautions." He assured her.

"I know you are, and I trust you." She said "But, it's still dangerous."

"Nothing will happen." He reassured her. "They won't find any of you."

"How are you so sure?" She asked doubtfully.

"I will leave everything ready in the event that something was to happen."

"I don't know…" She sighed.

"It will only be for six months."

"And no more than that, right?"

"No more than that." He promised.

"Is that why you're going to look for Jūgo?" She was finally understanding his plan.

He nodded.

"You do know he gets violent." She warned.

"He won't harm anyone." He promised.

He hated having to repeat himself, but he understood that if he wanted to convince Uzumaki Karin to help him, he had to do it.

"Sasuke-kun you are making my life complicated." She whined.

Sasuke grew impatient as the woman was taking too long to make a decision. It was at times like this he really disliked her.

"Alright, Sasuke-kun." Karin sighed in defeat a moment later. "I guess I don't have a choice but to help you."

"I'll be back with Jūgo in a few days."

"Great…" She muttered. "Won't you stay for the night?" She asked when she noticed he was leaving the hideout with his pack in hand.

"No" He said without stopping to look at her. "I don't have time to waste."

Five days after Hinata came back to the village…

"Kiba-kun" The Hyūga girl offered the boy a onigiri. "I hope you like it. I made them myself."

"Of course I'll like it." The Inuzuka grinned. "Your cooking is the best!"

The former heiress blushed at her friends compliment.

Both, Shino and Kiba, had come for Hinata at the compound that afternoon. They wanted to see how she was doing after she was brought back to the village. They had heard that she had been attacked by rogue nins, but they knew better. Their teammate had tried to run away from home. They didn't mention anything to her, but they knew she was aware that they knew what really happened.

Kiba didn't like to hear the Uchiha was the one responsible for her return. He had asked her if he had hurt her, but she denied the accusations. Surprisingly, she had said the lone survivor had been kind to her. A word neither Shino nor Kiba could associate with the former avenger. He was a genius, a skillful shinobi, Naruto's best friend, but he was not a kind man. They suspected she was trying to protect him.

"So, I heard the Uchiha left the village a week ago." The Inuzuka mentioned casually, studying Hinata's reaction.

"I don't know anything about him, Kiba-kun." She said truthfully. Yes, Sasuke had promised her he would help her, but she didn't know how or when.

"Hinata-chan, I heard he placed you under a genjutsu." Shino stated. "Are you sure he didn't hurt you?"

"If he did, I didn't notice." She said. "I can't remember anything." She sighed. "Besides, Sakura-san made a medical evaluation and said everything was fine."

"I see". Shino said pensively.

"He better not have hurt you!" Kiba shouted and Akamaru barked in agreement.

"He didn't." She said simply. "Could we change the subject now? I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"Sure, Hinata-chan." Kiba looked at Shino, and the bug user nodded in a agreement.

"Thank you Kiba, Shino-kun."

"I got promoted to Jounin." Shino said in an attempt to change the topic.

And just like that, the members of the former team eight talked about their latest achievements. Shino told her he was getting a Genin team next year to instruct, and Kiba told her about his new job as proctor for the next chunin exam. Hinata was happy to hear that her friends were successful shinobis of the Hidden Leaf. Unlike her, they were free to choose what they wanted. She was bound to the clan and whatever they decided with her. Suddenly, she felt a little jealous. Oh how much she wanted to be able to decide for herself like Shino and Kiba did.

Her last job, before she decided to escape the village, was assigned by the elders. She was to help the newest heiress with her duties and responsibilities. She was also assigned to protect her, just like her nii-san had been assigned to protect her. Of course, that did not mean they believed she was a capable shinobi. She was merely there as an escape goat for her little sister. Indeed, her life as a shinobi was dictated by the clan's elders and her father. The most recent example of that was that she would be branded with the seal in a matter of days.

"Arigato, Kiba, Shino-kun." She smiled genuinely. "I've missed you both."

"We've missed you too, Hinata-chan!" Kiba grinned and Shino nodded.

She looked at them, really looked at them for the first time, and she was grateful. She was beyond grateful for having friends like them.

She had done what she was asked. However, her intentions were never to help any of the boys. If she was honest with herself, she didn't trust the lone Uchiha. She knew it was unfair to the young man, but she couldn't trust him with Hinata. After all, he had tried to destroy Konoha, including its people. It's true that the village was saved thanks to both, Naruto and the Uchiha, but that didn't mean she trusted him. Although he had repented for his sins, who was to say he wouldn't lose his mind once more?

The woman knew it was also unfair to the Uzumaki. The boy was trustworthy, but how could she be sure the Uchiha wasn't manipulating his friend? It was a possibility and a risk she wasn't willing to take.

(Flashback)

"You need my help?" The woman asked surprised, as she held the door open.

She had been cooking when she heard someone knocking at her door. The woman was surprised to learn that her visitors were no other than the Uzumaki and the Uchiha.

"Yes, Kurenai-san" Naruto said pressing his lips into a thin line. "It's very important. Can we please come in?"

She looked at the Uzumaki's companion with doubt, but she figured if the lone Uchiha was here with the Kyūbi vessel, it had to be important.

"Alright, come in." She said opening the door for the young men to come inside. "Would you like tea?"

"No, we won't take you long." This time it was the Uchiha that answered.

"I see." She said closing the door behind her. "Very well then, what's happening?"

"It's Hinata-chan" Naruto said a little nervous. "Sasuke found out that she is going to be sealed."

(End of Flashback)

Because she didn't trust the Uchiha's intention, she had decided to investigate first; after visiting the former heiress two days ago, she realized that everything the Uchiha had told her was, in fact, the truth.

The Uchiha had told Kurenai how he had found Hinata in the forest, and how the former heiress had attacked him when he had told her he would be bringing her back to the village. The former avenger also told the Yūhi about the Hyūga girl not being the heiress of the clan anymore. This piece of information had taken the former shinobi by surprise, if it wasn't because the Uzumaki had confirmed his friend's allegations, Kurenai wouldn't have believed it. However, what shocked the former sensei the most was what the Uchiha told her next. After Sasuke had found Hinata in the cemetery visiting her dead cousin, Hinata had told the former avenger about the seal, and that her clan had decided to brand her with the caged bird seal after she had attempted to escape the village.

All of it seemed unreal. However, when the Yūhi went to visit her former student two days ago, the Hyūga girl had told the former shinobi everything that had happened, and it coincided with the Uchiha's version. However, Hinata never mentioned that she would be branded with the seal, which made sense. It was unlike Hinata to worry others, much less those she loved, so Kurenai had acted as if she didn't know anything of what was to happen to her former student.

Although, the Uchiha had been right about everything, that did not explain why he wanted to help her former student, and that's what worried the Yūhi. However, she knew this was not the time to question the Uchiha's intentions. Hinata was her only concern; so, she would do anything to prevent her from facing the seal.

"Naruto-kun"

"Kurenai-san"

"I did what you told me." She said. "Here's the map of the Hyūga compound."

"Thank you!" Naruto said taking the map from her hands. He grinned in satisfaction. "We will save her, Kurenai-san. Believe it!"

"I trust you both." She smiled at the future Hokage.

The genjutsu expert only hoped he was right. There wasn't anything else she could do, but trust the two young shinobis in charge of saving Hinata from her fate.

Eight days after Hinata came back to the village…

He hadn't masked his chakra, and for that she was grateful. At least she had been able to sense him.

She was sitting under a Sakura tree, reading a book while drinking her favorite tea. Kō was a few feet away from her. She had asked him to give her some space, for she wanted to be alone, and he had complied.

Now, Hinata found herself wanting Kō to prevent the intruder from addressing her. She could feel his presence; he was standing behind her.

"Hinata-chan"

That voice… how could a single voice bring her so much pain. Hinata knew who it belonged to, of course she knew. It was him. The one that had inspired her for many long years to become the best kunoichi she could be. The one who gave her hope and strength… Her hero. Yet, his voice now only brought her pain.

"N-naruto-kun" She whispered. He heard her.

"I came to see you." He paused. "To talk to you."

"Oh" She said.

She was afraid to turn around and face him. She didn't want to know what he thought of her failed attempt at escaping the village. Oh, because there was no doubt that the Uchiha would have told him. Would he be disappointed in her? She often wondered if he would look at her with reproach or even worse… disgust? So, she remained facing the other side and giving him her back.

"I know I'm late…" He said and she froze. "But I think I owe you an answer."

Is he…?

After so many years... Was Naruto finally going to give her an answer? Suddenly, it no longer mattered to her if he did. Perhaps, if he had come to her weeks ago, it would have mattered. Before she had escaped the village; before she had been found; before she had been sentence to be branded. Now that she was to face the seal, she didn't care what he had to say. Nothing he said would save her from her fate. Nothing would take away the pain she would soon endure. Therefore, his answer was meaningless.

It was unlikely that the Uchiha would be able to do something to save her from her fate. She was bound to face the seal, and there was no one who could help her. Not even Naruto could help her now. Yes, she had accepted her fate. In only three days she would be branded the caged bird seal.

"Indeed, you're late." Her cold words surprised even herself. She had never spoken to Naruto in such a way.

"I'm sorry." He said taking a deep breath. "I didn't want to hurt you. I… I wanted to spare you the pain."

Something almost like fire burned inside of her. "And you didn't think you'd hurt me more by not saying anything?" She snapped and clenched her fists. "I waited… I hoped… All I asked for was your honesty!"

She was trembling now. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and turned around to face him. Hinata had never thought she'd find what she saw. A contorted expression stared back at her; blue eyes filled with sorrow and pain refused to meet her eyes. The Uzumaki looked broken. She could see the guilt written all over his face, and she felt a pang of pain in her heart. He wasn't even looking at her; his shoulders were slumped; he didn't look like himself. Like the happy-go-lucky she always admired and loved, and that knowledge broke her resolve.

She had wanted to yell at him, to curse him out, to take all of her frustrations on him, but she couldn't. There was no need to, he was already hurting. But why? For her? Suddenly, she knew. Oh, she knew why he felt so guilty. He, too, knew.

"It's not your fault…" She began to say, but he cut her off.

"Don't try to apologize." He looked up at her, and she could finally see the extent in which he was hurting. It pained her to see him like this. "We both know it is." He attempted a small smile.

"But it isn't." And it wasn't. She had made a decision to run away from the village. She knew what would happen if she was found. She knew what the clan would do to her for her betrayal.

Neither of them said anything for a while, they only stared at one another. Unable to stand the silence, Hinata excused herself for the day, but he called her name.

"I m-must go." She said. "So, if that's all y-you wanted to s-say…"

"Hinata-chan" He said again softly. "I won't let them seal you."

"I…"

"Sasuke told me." He explained. "Do not worry, Hinata-chan. We won't let them hurt you."

"N-naruto-kun…" She gasped. Wide lavender eyes looked at determined blue eyes.

"I promised Neji I would protect you, and I will." He said and this time he came closer to her. She could feel his warm breath fanning on her face, and her heart skipped a beat. "Sasuke will come for you before that happens. He won't fail, believe him... believe me." He whispered with such conviction she found herself believing him.

He had meant for her and only her to hear it. The Uzumaki knew Kō was keeping an eye on her, and most likely was ordered to be watchful that she didn't try anything to escape.

"Pack the essentials. He will be here on the eleventh day after sunset." He said in a low voice. "He will come get you."

She wasn't sure if to laugh or cry. Naruto was giving her hope. The hope she so desperately needed; the one she had lost with the passing days. If he said that the Uchiha would help her, then he would. There was no room for doubt. Naruto didn't lie.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun." She whispered lowering her head to shield the tears filling her eyes.

"Take care, Hinata-chan." She heard him say before he left.

The last Uchiha made a final round around the hideout, making sure that everything was in order. Going through his mental checklist, he made sure there was enough provisions for two months. After he had done his inspection, he gave instructions to the members of team Taka on what to do in case of emergency, and on what to expect about their new guest. Once he was certain they had understood, he readied himself to depart.

"I'll be back in a few days."

Jūgo nodded in understanding.

"Suigetsu will be here when you come back." The Uzumaki girl said. "We'll see you soon, Sasuke-kun."

"Hn"

With a curt nod, the Uchiha left to the village of the Hidden Leaf. He only had three days left to get to the village, so he had to hurry if he didn't want to be late. Taking out the map Naruto had sent him a day ago, he looked at it one more time with his sharingan activated. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes, or else things would get complicated. The least he wanted to do was to fight a bunch of Hyūgas; that would only make his mission more difficult.

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your wonderful support! Thank you all so much for the reviews, follows, and favorites, they always inspire me to continue this story, and to give my best.

Important: The Sakura Festival mentioned in a previous chapter and this one is an idea I got from the Hanami festival in Japan (cherry blossom festival). The festival is pretty much like the one in Japan, but instead of lasting a whole month (or more), this one only lasts 7 days. I didn't go into details too much because I don't want to say something that could be taken offensively or that could be wrong. I hope you like this chapter!

ANNOUNCEMENT: I won't be updating next week. I'm so sorry guys! - I need some time to organize my ideas for future chapters. From now on, you'll see a lot of sasuhina goodness! I hope you don't hate me for taking this break, but I want things to be perfect.

Answer to Review:

All I can say to all of you, is to wait. I think you'll enjoy what I have planned for this story. Again, thank you so much for the support and your wonderful reviews. Keep them coming!

See you in two weeks guys!