AU: Chapter three is here. For those who have read and reviewed I thank you. If you read it and didn't like it hang in there. I have'nt wrote anything in awhile so I'm still figuring things out.

Three years later in Konoho. Naruto's return……

Naruto woke bright and early this morning. Today was the day. Today they would be back in Konoho. Today he was going to ask out the girl who had occupied Naruto's mind since the day Sakura gave him that little talk. He wasn't going to be afraid anymore he was going to be strong. Thoughts of a certain lavender eyed angel had fueled his fire the past three years. She had been his motivation to become stronger. He wanted to ask her out and then use his new found strength to protect her. He was so excited and could barley contain himself. It has been three years since he has seen her. "Man I can't wait. I wonder how much she has changed. She's what fifteen now. I bet she has filled out. Aaaaahhhhggggg." Naruto shakes his head in annoyance. "Damn pervy sage. I'm picking up his bad habits. Well only one thing left in my way from getting home." Naruto looks to sleeping form of Jiraya with an evil smile.

Naruto reaches into his pack and pulls out his cantina. He then stealthily sneaks over to him, quietly removes the top and dumps the water out on his head. Jiraya bolts up out of his sleeping bag looking like he had just been attacked. "Naruto what the fuck."

Naruto looks over at his drenched sensei. "That's what you get for sleeping in on the day we are supposed to get back to Konoho."

Jiraya clenches his fists tight and grits his teeth. Unfortunately for Naruto Jirayas attempts to calm down didn't work and he dashes forward and slams his fist into the boys face. The boy flies for several yards and then poofs out of existence. At a safe distance away laughing his ass off is the real Naruto. Jiraya. Clenches his fists even tighter. "Naruto be patient. The sun isn't even up yet."

Naruto glares daggers at his Sensei. "No pervy sage. You promised we would leave early if I helped you with your research. I've already let you sleep in an hour so we are running late."

Jiraya frowns a bit and realizes he isn't going to win this fight. He then raises his hands in exasperation. "Fine Fine You win. Lets go." Naruto jumps up and down in joy a few time then runs off."

Jiraya watches the boy run off then starts to pack his things while thinks back to a few tidbits of news he never had the nerve our heart to tell the boy. "He has had a hard on for that girl for awhile now. I wonder how he is going to take it."

Naruto and Jiraya finally get to were they can see the gates and Naruto starts to jump with glee and starts to run only to be snagged to a stop by Jiraya. "Naruto listen up. First thing first before you make any other stops we have to go see Tsunade." Naruto nods at him in understanding and runs off.

Naruto races through the streets as fast as he can. To the untrained eye he looks like nothing more than an orange blur. Jiraya on the other hand is taking his time and looks just like he normally would. Naruto runs up the Hokage tower and stops at the door knocking first. When he here's the word enter he flings the door open. "Hey Grandma Tsunade. I'm back."

He stops dead in his tracks seeing the killer glare coming from Tsunade. Tsunadedashes forward and slams her fist down on his head. Leavening a massive bump. Naruto falls to the ground rubbing his bump. "Damn it Naruto. How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that." What Tsunade does next surprises him. She picks him up off the ground, inspects him a bit, then pulls him into a breath taking hug. "Ooohhh Naruto you've grown."

Tsunade releases him from the hug and Naruto gasps for air. "Man Tsunade hear I thought your punch was bad. Now I think I would rather have you mad at me." Tsunade snickers a bit at the comment. Naruto stands up tall and looks at Tsunade with a pleading face. "Grandma Tsunade since you have seen me can I go now I want to see my friends."

Tsunade slams her fist down into Naruto's head again forming another lump. "I told you not to call me that." Tsunade stands back a bit enjoying the poor boys pain. "Now you can leave. Most of my business is with Jiraya. Be back here tomorrow at nine a.m." Naruto waves bye as he dashes for the door. As Naruto exits Jiraya walk in. "Jiraya good to see you. How have you been."

Jiraya waves to her. "Doing good I guess."

Tsunades face goes from happy to grim. "So have you kept him informed. Have you told him all the news I sent you."

Jiraya walks up to her and lowers his head. "No. I couldn't. After hearing him talk non stop about that Hinata girl I didn't have the heart to tell him."

"Is that all you've kept from him." Tsunade walks back over to her desk and grabs a bottle of Sake.

Jiraya walks over to her desk as well hoping to get some sake for himself. "No. I didn't tell him about Sasuke either. I guess he will find out soon though."

Naruto runs trough the city as fast as he can trying to find any trace of Hinata so far he hasn't had any luck. All of a sudden he is forced to come to a sudden stop and then forced to turn around. At first he is furious about having to stop but is surprised at who he sees. Right in front of him the genius master of shadows himself. Shikamaru Nara. "Naruto Uzimaki. I thought that was you. Think you could get by without saying high to an old friend. Hey Choji, Ino look who it is."

Choji walks up munching down on a bag of chips. Followed shortly bye Ino. Ino smiles wide at the different and better looking Naruto in front of her. "Hey Naruto looking good. How have you been."

Choji finishes off his bag of chips and pulls out another. "And what's got you in such a hurry."

Naruto shoots him a foxy grin. "I'm kinda looking for someone right now so could you please let me go."

Shikamaru smile mischievously. "No. Not until you tell us who you are looking for. Who is it? Sakura I bet."

Naruto drops his foxy grin and draws a little f his red chakra. Just enough to drake out from the shadow. When he is free he takes off running again and turns to wave bye to team nine. "Sorry I can't talk long our tell you who I'm looking for. You'll find out soon though."

The three left behind wide eyed at what he just did. No body should be able to break out of a shadow possession jutsu that easily. Ino then pouts a little . "I wish he was looking for me."

Shikamaru just rolls his eyes. "Troublesome." Choji laughs at the two.

Naruto searched the village of Konoho for hours not stopping to eat or rest. Just searching for the girl of his dreams. "Man I wonder were she is. Maybe she is on a mission. Damn I wish I new were she lived." At that moment something our should I say someone caught Naruto's eye well enough to bring him out of his search for a bit. This person is someone he never expected to see here again. "Was that Sasuke."

As the person rounds the corner sure enough. It's Sasuke. Followed closely by his number one fan girl Sakura. Sasuke gets a good look at Naruto and stops dead in his tracks. The two young share an icy glare for a bit and Sakura decides to break the ice. "Hey Naruto. Good to see you. It's been awhile. How have you been."

Naruto doesn't respond to Sakura but keeps all his attention on Sasuke. "Traitor. What are you doing here."

Sakura feeling the pressure decides to step in between the two. "Naruto. That's no way to greet an old friend. What are you thinking."

Sasuke lightly pushes Sakura out of the way and drops into a fighting stance. "Sakura stay out of the way. Me and the idiot here are going to have a rematch. Lets see who has become the strongest now Naruto."

Naruto follows his lead and drops into a stance of his own. "Let's do it." Then something clicks in his head. Naruto stands back up flashing his foxy grin. "Sorry Sasuke. This is going to have to wait. I'm kinda looking for someone."

Sakura looks at him curiously. "Who would that be Naruto."

"You know who it is Sakura. Remember our talk." Naruto quickly waves good by and runs off.

Sakura stands quietly in thought while Sasuke spouts threats and insults at his blonde rival. "Remember our talk. Who could he mean." Then it hits her a she stiffens noticeably enough for Sasuke to see.

Sasuke turns to her. "Hey Sakura. What's the matter. You look ill."

Sakura blinks a bit to stop tears from forming. "Sasuke Naruto doesn't know about Hinata yet. That's who is trying to find." As she finishes she bolts off after Naruto trying to yell at him to wait. About that time realization sinks in on Sasuke and he even flinches over what's to come.

Several more hour pass while Naruto searches and Sakura desperately tries to keep up. Finally Naruto comes to a stop frustrated about not having any luck. Shortly after a very winded Sakura catches up. "Hey Sakura do you need something."

Sakura breathes heavily for a bit then straightens up. "Naruto are you deaf or something. I've been chasing you since you left us behind. If I didn't know any better I would swear that you were Lee playing a trick on me."

Naruto laughs a bit at the joke. "I'm sorry Sakura but my minds been real occupied looking for Hinata."

Sakura stiffens a bit at the mention of the but remains calm and collected. "That's what I want to talk to you about." Sakura pauses a bit trying to find the right words then an idea hits her. "Ok Naruto. .Don't ask any questions. In an hour go to our old training ground and stand next to the memorial stone." Without giving him time to question she turns and runs before she could lose control and start crying. Naruto just blankly watches as she runs away. But then without hesitation he turn and runs for the training ground.

About an hour and fifteen minutes have passed since Sakura told him to be here. At first he was overjoyed but then as the time got closer he started to get nervous. He was finally going to see the girl he had fallen in love with. His mind kept trying to come up with an idea of how she changed. How much more beautiful she has become. How much more filled out she is. "Damn Pervy Sage." Then after it started to get past the hour he started to get depressed. What if she didn't like him and wasn't going to show. Then he heard something the shuffling of feet. Naruto started to glance around nervously. Trying to find her. Then he sees something he didn't expect. "Sakura. What are you doing here?"

Sakura slowly walks forward from the tree line with her head held low. She made no attempt to answer his question. Naruto dropped his head down depressed now. "I get it. She didn't want to come so you walked out here to cheer me. I'm such an idiot."

Sakura raised her head so she could look him in the eyes the best she could. "That's not it."

Naruto was starting to get annoyed. It seemed like he was getting messed with. "Well what's up then Sakura were is she. I don't see her any were."

Sakura drops her head down again not able to hold eye contact. "She's already here Naruto. She's right behind you." Sakura pointing at the memorial stone.

Naruto jumped around excitedly looking all round the stone that Sakura had pointed at. When he found nothing he started to get frustrated and aggravated. Then it all fit together when he heard Sakura say "I'm sorry." Naruto's eyes went straight for the stone then he found what he was looking for. Down towards the bottom he saw her name etched into the stone. He froze right there and didn't move an inch for about another hour.

He was finally brought out of his thoughts when he heard Sakura say. "I'm sorry Naruto."

At that point Naruto started freaking out his eyes bulged wide and red chakra started swirling around him. "NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO. I can't believe it. She's not dead. She can't be dead. I didn't even get a chance to tell her how I feel." He then dropped to his hands and knees and started punching the ground hard enough to start leaving small craters. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why does everything have to always go bad for me."

He continued to beat his fist into the ground until he felt a calming hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Sakura there. Naruto's red aura slowly started to fade till it was gone. He staid there for a bit until he calmed down a little. Then he launched to up Sakura and embraced her in a hug. They stood there while he cried on her shoulder for about another hour till Naruto let go and wiped away the rest of his tears. "So tell me Sakura. How did she die?"

Sakura walked over to the stone and kneeled down till she was looking at Hinatas name. "As you can see she died as a hero. It happened about a month after you left for training. Team eight had gone out on a border patrol near the sound country. She wasn't feeling well at the time." Sakura decided to leave out the part about Hiashi not wanting Naruto to kill the man. Even though he deserves it. "They were ambushed and she was severely wounded. She killed a man that was about to finish off Kurenai. Her whole team was out cold. When they woke up she was no were in site. The search went on for a month but we never did find her body."

Naruto stood there for a bit more looking at her name on the stone. "Thanks Sakura. I think I need some time alone."

Sakura stands and starts to walk back towards Konoho but stops at the tree line and turns to look at Naruto. Naruto kneels down and places his hand on Hinatas name. Tears start flowing freely down his face. Every since Sakura has known him she has never seen him look so broken. Naruto has always been energetic and outgoing. Now he just looks like hell. "Are you sure you'll be all right Naruto?" Naruto doesn't look up. He doesn't answer her. He just continues to stare at the name on the memorial. Sakura continues to watch him for awhile longer. Tears start to form in her eyes. She can't stand seeing her friend so depressed. She decides she will do her best to make him happy again. She then turns and heads back to town.

Naruto stays there and continues to stare at the name on the stone. Memories start to poor his head. He started remembering the times he spent with her. The missions they went on. The regret came. "I should have done more for her. I should have told her how I felt. I wonder if she even liked me. I guess I'll never know. I guess everyone was right. I am an idiot." Hours go by and Naruto never moves. His eyes never look away from the name on the rock. Naruto spent three years dreaming of a future with a girl he thought of as a goddess. On the day that was supposed to be the best day of his life his world came crashing down. Now all he can think of is what's next. Will he ever know happiness again. Will misery be the only thing left for him.

In Suna that night…..

Hinata slowly walks the streets of Suna taking in her surroundings looking for any sign of her prey. So far she hasn't seen any signs. Her informant's should have been dead on about this. "If they lied to me they are dead men." Hinata thinks back to what her informants said. "Well I haven't been there yet. I figure I would have caught them before they made it that far." Hinata walks to her intended destination. Her informants were certain that her targets would be here. Unfortunately, they didn't fill her in on there abilities. At the time she didn't think it relevant. Unlike the old Hinata this one was very confident in her abilities. She believes she can tackle any challenge. Her opponents abilities were of no concern to her.

Just then Hinata hears aloud explosion. She looks over towards the Kazekage's mansion and spots something hovering in the air nearby. The next step is academic for her. She throws her hands up into a familiar set of hand signs. "Byakugan." With her enhanced vision from her blood limit she can easily make out the details of the figure. The figure is a young male with long blonde hair in a pony tail. He wears a long black Cloak with red clouds on it. The man was standing on what looked to be a large oddly colored bird. "Well there's one. Damn! Had to be a flyer. I bet his partner isn't even in the city." Hinata thinks about her situation for a bit trying to think of a way she can get to him. "Hmmm! They want Gara. I'll let him take Gara and then follow him. That should lead me to his partner as well. After that it's just to easy she." A smirk forming on her face.

Hinata stops and watches the battle play out. She see's many more explosions then see's Garamake a massive shield of sand over the village. Not to long after the sand falls and she can see her target fly off. "Time to get to work." Hinata starts running for the gates.

About an hour of running later Hinata comes to a stop. A lone figure stands before her. The man is large. He also wears the Akatsuki cloak. He has red hair and looks rather strange. One look with her Byakugan and Hinata can see that things are not what they seem with this man. The thing in front of her is just a puppet. With his master inside.

The man looks at her some what aggravated. "We capture the Kazekage and they send a woman by herself."

Naturally Hinata takes offense to this but she learned a long time ago to not let her personal feelings interfere with work. Hinata makes her attack swiftly. The man in front of her has no time to react. He barley has time to blink. Hinata strikes for the spot she can tell holds one of his remaining organs. She doesn't even waist time charging her strike with chakra. When her strike connects her hand goes straight through. Sending the shattered remains flying to the ground behind him.

Out of instinct the man swings his arm around aiming for her head but to no avail. Hinata ducks the strike, retracts her arm., then jumps in the air swinging a kick around to his neck. The man again has no time to react. Hinata's speed is almost unbelievable. Especially to those who may have known her back in Konoho. Her kick connects and sends his head flying off to the side. Hinata backs off and gives the man time to escape his puppet. He stands with a big hole in his chest were the container for his heart once was.

The man looks at her with a more alert look and gives an even almost fearful gaze. "You are quiet talented. My name is Sasori. You would be beneficial to our organization. I could talk to my….."

Before he can finish his sentence Hinata rushes forward with blinding speed and delivers a punch to the head. She retracts her arm and Sasori falls over. He hit's the ground hard and remains motionless. "I have no use with Akatsuki. They would only be in my way." Hinata looks to the sky scanning for her other target. Since the fight was short he didn't have time to get far. Hinata starts to head off but soon hears foot steps behind her and people calling for her to stop.

Hinata turns to see a group of Suna ninof about five approach her quickly. The man in front wears a black suit with an odd hood over his head. His face is painted in a strange manner and he carry's something large on his back wrapped in bandages. He approaches and stops before her breathing heavily. There leader looks over quickly. He notices the scratched out leaf symbol on her head band signifying that she is a missing nin immediately. He then observes her face and eyes. The expression on his face says that he finds her to look familiar and he does think so but decides to forget about it and get to business at hand.. "We appreciate the help but I believe we can handle it from here. We have called for reinforcements from Konoho. They will help us if we need it."

Hinata turns her back to the Suna nin. "I'm not here to help you. These Akatsuki members are all I am here for. Now stay out of my way our I won't hesitate to kill you." The suna nin clinch there fist in anger but Hinata gives them no time to react. She quickly heads of in search of her pray.

A few miles away Hinata comes up to a small mountain with a cave entrance in it. Right in front stands her pray. He noticed her on her approach and quickly forms his clay bird. He takes off into the air to what he believes to be a safe distance. Hinata runs up the mount and stops staring up at the man. The man looks down on her an evil smile on his face. "I can see you have defeated Sasori. The fool was worthless anyways. I won't be so easy." He quickly forms some small clay birds and sends it flying her direction.

As it approaches Hinata starts to spin rapidly pushing chakra out of all her chakra points. "Rotation." The clay birds hit her defense and explode. As the smoke clears Hinata can be seen standing unscathed. "You'll haveto try harder than that if you want to live." Deidra gives her his typical arrogant grin. Hinata starts to run through some hand seals. "Fire style. Phoenix flower jutsu." When she finishes she spits out several small fire balls that race towards Deidra at great speed.

Deidra is caught of guard by there speed and is nailed by a few and sent flying off his bird to the ground. He hit's the ground hard and it knocks the breath out of him. He slowly pushes himself up to his hands and knees gasping for air. As he gets his breathing under control he turns his head to look at his attacker.

Hinata walks over to him slowly. "I thought the Akatsuki were supposed to be tough. Well what should I expect. I am fighting the bottom of the pecking order lackeys. Maybe Pain will be more of a challenge."

Deidra looks at her somewhat confused. "How do you know so much about us." While he says this he makes some small hand movements trying to direct his bird.

Hinata smiles wide. "I have really good resources. Also you are fighting a Hyuga. I can see you calling your bird." At this she makes several quick hand signs. She then turns to the direction of the clay bird. "Fire style. Fireball Jutsu." She spits out a fire ball that slams into the bird and destroys it.

Trying to take advantage of the situation Deidra starts to mold more clay. Before he can get to far though Hinata turn draws a kunai and dashes towards him. Before he can even blink She drives the Kunai into his left shoulder. She then knees him in the gut knocking him breathless again. Then with a swift right cross she sends him flying back a good ten feet. Deidra lays on his back griping his shoulder and trying to catch his breath. He looks back at Hinata with fear in his eyes.

Hinata starts to laugh at the site. "Calm down. You look like your going to piss yourself. You thought you were a bad ass and now you are getting the shit kicked out of you by a girl. Hurts your pride doesn't it." Hinata holds out her right hand and chakra starts to form around her fist. "You should feel lucky. Now you get to see one of my original techniques." Around her fist what looks to be a long blade about four foot long starts to form from her hand. "I like to call this my chakra blades."

Deidra tries to scramble to his feet and run. Unfortunately as soon as soon as he reaches his feet Hinata rushes him again. As quick as before Hinata swipes down across Deidra's right shoulder. The chakra blade cuts through like a hot knife through butter. Deidra's arm drops to the ground. Hinata then swings her left arm around and drives her elbow right into the bridge of his nose. Blood spills from his nose as Deidra falls to the ground yet again.

Hinata stands over her opponent. A truly sadistic smile spread across her face. She looks down on Deidra and laughs at the site. Tears start to form in Deidra's as his eyes start to tear up because of his broken nose and the realization that he is probably about to die. Hinata finally manages to calm her self down. "Your pathetic. An S ranked missing nin my ass. Well you can stop crying now because today is your lucky day." Deidralooks up at her fear still plastered across his face. "You get to live. I need you to deliver a message to your buddies. Tell them that they are being hunted by the Angel of Death. Also remember next time I see you I will kill you now get out of my sight."

Deidra wastes no time. He quickly gets up and runs . He forms another bird from clay and hops on it . Shortly after he is out of sight. Hinata watches him leave then continues to stare off into the horizon. After a few minutes she hears foot steps approaching. She turns to see the sand nin that were following her.

The sand nin grab Gara and head back to Suna except for there leader. There leader walk over to Hinata and bows in respect. Hinata stands there with her arms crossed unconcerned. The man raises up and starts to speak. "My name is Kankuro. I am the brother of Gara the Kazekage. We appreciate your help and I would like to ask you to return to Suna so we can show you our gratitude." Hinata continues to stand there quietly. Kankuro looks her over trying to figure out why she looks familiar. "Excuse me for asking but have we met before. You look familiar."

Hinata quickly approaches Kankuro grabs him by his collar and lifts him up off the ground. She glares at him with a look that shows she is ready to kill if need be. "My name is the Angel of Death now listen to me real careful. If anyone from Konoho comes here you can tell them that I am a missing nin from there but if you tell them any description besides my name I will return and kill you and your family. Men, women and children. Do I make myself clear?" Kankuro nods nervously. "Good. Now inform all your men that saw me about what I said. The same applies to them. Also tell them not to feel safe because they were wearing masks. I can see through there disguises."

After this Hinata sets Kankuro down and turns to walk off. Kankuro watches her walk off. He then turn and heads back for Suna in a hurry to report to his men what he was told.

Konoho the next morning……….

Team seven stands at attention in front of Tsunades desk minus one. Tsunade cracks her knuckles in annoyance. "Were the hell is Naruto? It's ten already. I told him to be here at nine. Looks like I'm going to have to break his habit like I did to you Kakashi." She gives Kakashi a deadly glare causing him to shudder a bit. She then turns her gaze to Sasuke. As normal he stands there with his typical emotionless expression. She then looks over to Sakura. Sakura is looking down at the floor with an obviously unhappy expression. "Sakura do you know were he is?" Sakura keeps her gaze at the floor and remains quiet. "Sakura if you know something then speak up."

Sakura slowly lifts her gaze to Tsunade. "I'm not sure but I have an idea were he may be." Tsunade stays quiet and waits for Sakura to continue. "He found out about." Sakura paused a little reflecting back on the events of the following day. "About Hinata. I showed him her name on the memorial stone. He may still be there."

Every looked down with sympathy. They all now the situation and all but one there knows what it is like to lose someone you love. Tsunade looks back up at the three nin in front of her. "Well I am sorry for him but I still need him for this mission. I need one of you to go get him."

With out even waiting or saying anything Sasuke turns and walks for the door. Sakura turns to him. "Sasuke. Do you think this is a good idea. He still may have hard felling against you."

Sasuke doesn't look back or even break stride. "It'll be fine. Besides I need to talk to him anyways." As he exit's the door the others watch him go. Then turn to look at each other. No words needed to be said. They could all see the sympathy for Naruto in each others eyes. They just hope Naruto will pull trough and go back to his normal self soon.

AU: Well hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell me what you think. Good bad I don't care. Critisizem helps a person improve.