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 Twelve

We need to sit on the rim

Of the well of darkness

And fish for fallen light

With Patience.

Pablo Neruda

…

*Poof*

"What happened!?"

"Was that a…"

"Impossible!"

"Hiashi-sama, what is the meaning of this!?"

To say Hyūga Hiashi was absolutely astounded was an understatement. It wasn't that he hadn't expected something like this to happen, but he didn't think he would actually fall for it, yet he had. He stared at the spot where his daughter ought to be incredulously.

He could hear the elders shouting in the back, like himself, they were in complete and utter shock. Neither of them believed Hinata would be able to pull something like this. He heard the elders frantically give orders to the guards waiting by the door, but he still couldn't move from were he stood.

"Where is she?" An elder asked the young guard.

"She is not in her room." Another guard announced.

"Look for her!" Another elder ordered.

Indeed, it was hard to believe the Hyūga clan had been deceived into believing a clone was the real Hinata. When Hyūga Hiashi had activated his byakugan, he didn't see anything suspicious. He could see Hinata's chakra pathways clearly, and they had looked normal. The clone was exactly like the real woman.

When the clone had vanished, they all stayed quiet, unable to understand what was happening, until one of the elders had announced they had been deceived. Although, the clan leader knew they had to find her, and they most likely would, he felt a sense of proudness. His eldest daughter, the quiet, kind, and weak Hinata had deceived her own father, the clan's leader, into believing her clone was really her. Yes, she was in fact a very clever Kunoichi, and it seemed she was not going down without a fight.

"We must send search parties to look for her, Hiashi-sama." One of the elders shouted.

"And we will" Hiashi announced calmly, after he composed from the shock. "You" He said addressing one of the guards. "Send three parties of three to look for her. Send the most capable shinobis we have on guard."

"Only three?" One of the elders questioned.

"Three will be enough." Hiashi said.

She had been terrified. When the guard had knocked on her door she had stopped in her tracks, unable to think or do anything. The Uchiha had frozen too. After the initial shock, Hinata proceeded with her plan. Forming the seals for the clone no jutsu, she made a replica of herself. She quickly inspected the clone with her Byakugan to make sure the clone's chakra pathways looked identical to hers, before escaping with the last Uchiha. As soon as she finished her inspection, she gave the clone instructions of what to do and left the room through her window, preparing herself to run after the Uchiha.

"Wait" He said.

"We must leave now" She urged him, but he took a few steps toward her.

Nothing in the world could have prepared her for what was to happen next. The only survivor of the Uchiha clan ordered her to hold on to his neck while he scooped her up and carried her with only one arm. At first she refused, telling him that she would follow him, but he wasn't having it. He grabbed her arms and wrapped them around his neck and scooped her up, forcing her to hold on tight to him if she didn't want to fall and making her blush a crimson red.

Mortified at her situation. The former heiress cursed having decided to wear a knee length yukata. If she had known the former avenger was going to carry her bridal style throughout the forest, she would have preferred to wear a long yukata. Trying to hide the increasing blush, Hinata did her best to hide her blushing face from his eyes, but to no avail. She could see him smirking at her dilemma.

"Ano… S-sasuke-san, I c-can walk. You d-don't need to carry m-me." She argued very embarrassed, once they had sprang to the forest.

"You're slow."

"I am not slow." She refuted mildly offended.

"Once we leave the land of fire, I'll put you down."He said with a finality she didn't dare to argue.

It was hopeless, no matter how many times she argued with him that she could walk just fine, he refused to put her down.

"Hyūga, survey the area for other shinobis." He ordered her.

"Hai"

She peered from the Uchiha's shoulder to look behind them, and activating her byakugan, did as he requested. No one was following them, it seemed liker her plan had worked. She had been practicing for months on how to make a clone that it's chakra pathways looked identical to hers. She had practiced every day at night, when the Hyūga clan slept. Ever since the Uchiha had promised her he would help her, she began her practicing her clone no jutsu. Although, she hadn't been hopeful that he would actually help her, she was determine to do her part in case he really did come for her. She had been inspired by Naruto's version of it when he fought Neji at the chunin exams all those years ago.

"It's clear"

"Hn"

"Eeep" She squeaked when she felt the Uchiha shifting her and tightening his arm and hand around her, pressing her even more against him. "W-what are y-you d-doing?" Her face was impossibly red, she feared she'd faint.

"Hold on tight." He ordered. "It's hard enough to hold you with one arm."

The moment he said that, he leaped through the trees at an ungodly speed. Hinata doubted the best Hyūga guard could rival his speed. The words fast fell short to describe the velocity with which he ran. She held his neck as tight as her hands and arms allowed her. After witnessing his speed, she had to agree that, indeed, she was slow. She doubted anyone could rival his speed, other than Naruto.

"I'm going to make a stop." He announced.

The former avenger came to a halt, placing her down for a minute. The only survivor of the Uchiha clan proceeded to summon a bird. After the bird leapt into the sky and disappeared in the distance, he, once again, scooped the former heiress in his arm and sprang through the trees.

"What was that?"

"A signal for Naruto." He said facing the former heiress. "Hold on tight."

"B-but Sasuke-san…"

"We don't have time to waste." He said increasing his velocity.

"H-hai" She complied to the Uchiha's demand out of necessity, unless she wanted to fall to her death. At the speed and height they were, she doubted she'll survive the fall.

The Uzumaki was doing another round when a Hyūga guard came up to him. He knew what they came for. At the same time the Hyūga appeared, the Kyūbi vessel noticed Sasuke's bird on a tree. That meant they had escaped without any problems. Now for the next part of the plan, deceive the Hyūga guards.

"Naruto-san" called the guard.

"Oi!" He said waving at the Hyūga.

"Naruto-san, I'm so glad we found you." The Hyūga said.

"What is it?"

"Is Hinata-sama, she has disappeared again."

"What!? When!?" He asked pretending to be surprised.

"We don't know, but it seems she is trying to leave the village again." The Hyūga explained. "Will you help us find her?"

"Of course! Don't worry about it, we will find her. Believe it!"

Uchiha Sasuke was uncomfortable. If there was something he hated more than the dobe's whining, was physical contact. He had thought of carrying the Hyūga girl like a sack of potatoes on his shoulder; like he had done when he had placed her under a genjutsu to bring her back to the village, but the former heiress had decided to wear a knee length yukata. The Uchiha wasn't a chivalrous man, but even he couldn't put her through such an uncomfortable situation. He remembered the Hyūga as a very conservative woman, one that preferred to hide her figure under floppy clothes. The yukata she wore was, for the most part, a conservative style. If he carried her like he'd wanted, the back of her yukata would rise up exposing her bottom. So here he was, carrying her bridal style. His only consolation was that, she too, felt extremely uncomfortable with the situation.

He glanced at her face, and noticed the crimson color spreading through her cheeks and neck. He couldn't help but to smirk at her reaction. The poor woman did not want to be carried like this, much less, to be touched by him. If it had been one of his many fans, they would be thrilled to be in his arm, and so pressed against him. The former heiress was different, he had known that. She only had eyes for his friend Naruto, and that was fine by him.

"Are we a-almost there?" She whispered causing him to flinch a fraction at the sudden closeness of her voice. He could feel her warm breath fanning over his exposed skin.

Of course, it wasn't her fault she had to adopt the position in which she was now. The Uchiha's speed forced her to hold on tight and keep her body pressed against his; due to this, her face was only inches away from his neck.

"Hn" Was his only response.

He had been running for hours, trying to cover as much distance as possible before resting for the night. If he didn't want the Hyūgas to find them, they needed to leave the Land of Fire tonight, so the lone Uchiha made sure he ran as fast as he could while carrying the former heiress. At least the woman was small and light.

Although, she was looked fragile, the woman was an impressive kunoichi. When Sasuke had heard the guards at her door, he wasn't sure what to do. The only thing that crossed his mind was to grab her and leave as soon as possible before they were found out, and yet this woman had obviously thought of a distraction beforehand. He had doubted her idea at first, for it was more than unlikely those all-seeing-eyes would fall for her plan, but given the fact that they were still running without anyone pursuing them, he figured her plan had worked out well.

"Do you think they fell for your clone?" Came the abrupt question.

It took Hinata a few seconds to understand his question and answer.

"Yes" She sounded hopeful. "It's unlikely they realized it wasn't me until it was too late."

"Too late?"

"I copied my chakra pathways on the clone." She said proud of herself. "So they wouldn't notice until they had sealed the clone and this one had disappeared."

Uchiha Sasuke was impressed. Who would have thought this small frail woman would think of something as clever as that.

"How do you know it'll work?"

"It w-worked before."

He wondered if she had tried it the first time she escaped the village. However, that seemed unlikely. The proud Hyūga clan wouldn't fall for the same trick twice. He decided didn't care as long as it worked.

"Hn" Was all he said, and with that they remained in silence for the rest of the way.

"Very good, Shikamaru" The Sixth Hokage said. "You are learning fast."

"Can I go home now?" The Nara genius asked lazily.

"Not yet, we have a few things to cover before you can go home."

The Hokage had been training Shikamaru to be the next Hokage's advisor. Even though Shikamaru is the laziest out of all the rookie nine, he is exceptionally intelligent and diplomatic, and Naruto will definitely benefit from someone like him beside him.

"This is so troublesome…" He said rolling his eyes.

Hatake Kakashi silently agreed with the young man. However, this had to be done, even when he preferred to be reading his icha icha book. The Sixth Hokage and the young Nara continued with the lesson, until an ANBU appeared at the door.

"Hokage-sama" He says and the copy-nin looked up.

"What is it?" Hatake asked lazily.

"I aplogize for the interruption, but Hiashi-sama and an elder are here." The ANBU informed. "They say it's urgent."

Team seven's former sensei looks mildly confused.

"Alright. Shikamaru, you can go home now. I'll see you tomorrow after noon."

"Hai, Hokage-sama" Says Shikamaru before leaving the Hokage's office in a flash.

Kakashi then proceeds to instruct the ANBU to let them in.

"Hokage-same" The elder addressed Kakashi first. "We are sorry to bother you this late in the night." He said bowing apologetically.

"Hokage-sama" Hiashi bows. "We need your assistance."

The Sixth Hokage observed the two men before him mildly surprised. The fact that one of the elders accompany the clan's leader only meant it had to be a serious matter.

"Very well then, how can I help you?" The Hatake asked.

"It's Hinata, Hokage-sama." Hiashi announced. "She has escaped from the compound once again."

The copy-nin frowned. "Again?"

It seemed unlike the former Heiress to run away twice. Something must have happened for her to escape a second time. What was it? That's precisely what Hatake Kakashi wanted to find out. Last time he spoke to the Hyūga patriarch, he refused to give any information on the matter of her disappearance, but this time he was going to find out what was happening.

"It seems so, yes." The elder said.

"I thought she was constantly guarded?"

"She was, but she was still able to escape." Hiashi answered mildly annoyed.

"Ah" Kakashi scratched his mask-covered face. "Hiashi-sama, I will only ask you one more time." He said staring at the Hyūga impassively. "What's happening with Hinata-chan?"

Before the clan leader could answer his question, the elder had answered. "That is strictly confidential."

"And why is that?" The Hokage asked curiously.

"It's a clan matter."

"I see." Kakashi reclined in his chair. "Very well then, what is it that you want?"

"We need a few search parties, to track my daughter." Hiashi said. "I've sent three parties to track her, but none of them have found her."

"Ah, I see" Kakashi said smiling at the two.

"We need them as soon as possible, Hokage-sama." The elder said.

"I refuse." The copy-nin said nonchalantly.

"What?" The elder asked mildly astonished. Hiashi barely frowned.

"The village of the Hidden Leaf cannot interfere in clan matters, am I right?" The Hokage continued. "This is clearly a clan matter. Therefore, the village cannot help. I refuse to send any of my shinobis to track her down, especially when I am kept in the dark about the details of her disappearance." The sixth Hokage looked them in the eyes, as if daring them to argue with him. Neither men said a word. "However" Kakashi continued. "I will allow your clan to continue your search, but you can only use three teams of three shinobis, no more than that."

"That's ridiculous." The elder said.

"The Hyūga's too are shinobis of the leaf." Kakashi reminded him.

"Very well, Hokage-sama. I accept your conditions." Hiashi said bowing.

"You're okay with his decision?" The elder questioned the patriarch.

"No, but he is the Hokage." With that, Hiashi left the Hokage's office, with a very angered elder following behind him.

Hatake Kakashi waited for both men to leave the tower before sending an ANBU to look for Naruto. Whatever was happening with the former heiress, he knew it was Naruto's doing.

They were only few hours away from leaving the Land of Fire. Soon, the beginning of dawn would be seen in the horizon. Hinata was impossibly exhausted, drifting from consciousness to unconciousness. There were several times she almost fell for closing her eyes a minute too long, earning a few grunts from the Uchiha. She only hoped they would stop soon so she could rest for a couple of hours.

To make matters worse, she was cold. Her legs were exposed to the cool breeze of the morning, and her summer yukata barely covered her from the cool air. To make matters worse, the Uchiha didn't seem to notice her discomfort, even though she had pressed herself against him even more, searching for the warmth his body offered.

"We are almost there, Hyūga." He announced for the first time in hours.

"H-how much l-longer, Sasuke-san?"

The brush of her lips against his neck made him shiver. When did she get this close he hadn't noticed? He had noticed she had been shifting and pressing herself against him more for the past couple of hours, but he didn't expect her to rest her face on the crook of his neck so casually. The sole survivor was becoming more exasperated with the passing hours. Physical contact was not his forte, and that's all she seemed to be looking for. Was she taking advantage of their proximity?

"A few more hours." He answered curtly.

"I'm exhausted."

He felt her lips brushing against his neck once more, and he felt the urge to drop her.

"Shut up." He hissed, unable to hide his discomfort.

This caused the Hyūga to flinch at the hardness of his words, but he couldn't really care. He was doing enough for the Byakugan hime as it was, more than what he'd do for any other person. The former heiress was most likely not doing any of it on purpose, but he didn't like the feeling her closeness was provoking in him.

"Your lips are distracting me." He explained dispassionately.

W-what?" She squeaked.

"They distract me when they brush against my skin." He said taking a glance at the woman in his arm and noticed the blood red color taking over her cheeks. Wide lavender eyes looked at him in disbelief and misery, making him almost smirk.

The Uchiha was making her uncomfortable on purpose. This rude, arrogant, prepotent man was making fun of her situation. Hinata didn't know how to react. The moment he said her lips were distracting him her brain had blanked out. Thinking of the worse, she was mentally preparing herself to defend her honor, even if that meant dying in the attempt. Then he insinuated that she was pressing her lips against his neck on purpose, and her treacherous body betrayed her. She was impossibly crimson red, and she wasn't sure she would last any longer with how embarrassed she felt. Her face was heating quickly, and she feared she would pass out any minute.

How could he be making fun of her? And since when did the Uchiha made jokes? As far as she was concern, the man had no sense of humor, much less any social skills.

"Breathe, Hyūga" She heard him say, and it wasn't until he commanded to breathe that she noticed she had been hyperventilating herself.

Oh how did she want him to put her down already. The Kamis knew she took no pleasure in being held by this man. Without another word, she waited impatiently until she was free from this man's hold.

Author's Note: Hii! Thank you all so much for your reviews and the wonderful support! I had fun reading them all, and I'm so glad you loved the previous chapter. I hope you liked this just as much.

I understand if some of you find Sasuke a little ooc in this chapter, so I wanna apologize for that. After reading the CH a couple of times, I wanted to redo the whole chapter, but I decided against it. I only hope it's not too bad though. This is probably the only time they'll be in such close proximity for a couple chapters, until the 'romance' begins.

Answer to Reviews:

Everyone: I must confess, this was so difficult to write, but it came out exactly how I wanted it. I always knew Hinata would use a clone to escape her horrible fate, from the very beginning, so I am very glad you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it.

Roveme: I understand what you're saying, but all in its due time. I'm not going to leave anything out. All the characters are important to me, and well I want to include them in this story too.

Cheshire Cat: Woo! Thank you, so glad you liked it! It was not my intention to make them look like they were eloping, but glad it came out well. There will be more Team Taka, but my approach will be a little different from most fics. I really hope I make them justice and that yall like what I have in store. Anyway, you'll get to know the answers to all of those questions in the upcoming chapters!

See you guys next week!