Strength for Love

Disclaimer: Okay...ummm...I don't own Naruto.

Gomensai!!!! I'm so sorry for waiting so long to update...but I have some new material past Chapter Five now... ' Anyway, we left off with Hinata as a new member of the Akastsuki, and Konoha on a fruitless search misson...But let's skip ahead a few years, shall we?

Chapter 3: Four Years Later

Four long years had passed, and no one had found Hinata. She was now classified as a Missing Ninja. Even though it had been so long, Sasuke stood strong to his vow, he was already going to kill his brother, but now he also had to find Hinata. He was sitting in the Anbu Lounge. He, along with Naruto were now with the Anbu. Sakura, who was now a medical ninja, came prancing up to him, while on her break, "Oh Sauske-kun!"

He didn't feel like having to deal with her today, "What?"

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to-"

"No…"

Then Naruto spoke up, "Come on Sasuke-teme, give her a chance. She's liked you since the Academy days."

"Look dobe, you're only saying that because you have a girlfriend now, and stopped obsessing over Sakura-san."

"So! Karima-chan has nothing to with this! I just think you ought to give Sakura-chan a chance, that's all."

"Come on Sasuke-kun, yes, please just give me a chance," Sakura begged with Naruto's words as a back up.

He stood up; "You're not my type…" he walked out leaving, yet again, a heart-broken Sakura.

"What kind of girl does he like?" she asked, disappointment in her voice, although now she was used to his rejection.

"I know," a voice called from behind.

"What kind?" Naruto asked, recognizing the voice, it was Neji, the Anbu Captain. He walked over and sat down beside Naruto, in Sasuke's spot. "He likes…"

"What? What?" Sakura asked impatiently.

"Well, he liked…Hinata-sama…four years ago."

"What? You don't think that he still likes her do you?" Naruto asked in a 'NO WAY!' tone.

"But I heard she was murdered by Itachi," Sakura added with a jealous smirk on the inside.

"No one knows what happened, the only evidence we had was her bloody wraps and his scent," Neji said as he sighed. "I miss her."

Suddenly Tsunade appeared in front of them with a cloud of smoke and a bit of an annoyed look on her face, "Sakura-chan…what are you doing here? You're not part of the Anbu."

"Forgive me Tsunade-sensei," she rushed out quickly.

Once she was gone, she turned hber attentino to the guys, "All right, Naruto-kun, Neji-san, I know this isn't normal, but I have a serious mission on my hands. I need my best guys for it, that means for you two and Sasuke-san."

He attempted an attack in her stomach, but she quickly blocked it with a twist of her kunai. He backed away, "Good Hinata-chan, very good," he slowly circled her, observing her from head to toe. She had really grown in these fours years, her hair went down to her lower back. During battle, she pulled it into a low ponytail, like Itachi's, but when she was relaxing she let it hang loosely. She wore her ordinary ninja attire, an Akatsuki Gennin training uniform. Very few people knew this, but there was actually an Akatsuki Academy (which she attended) that was hidden with chakra sealing jutsu's to keep unwanted visitors out, such as…well pretty much everyone.

Today would be different; today she would receive her Akatsuki cloak and ring and become a true member of the Akatsuki. She had become very…very close to Itachi. She didn't think of him as a father figure or a brother figure, she had to admit, but she felt something more. He wouldn't admit it, but he felt the same way. "Come at me."

She nodded and quickly charged at him with full force. She slashed at his side, but he disappeared and reappeared behind her. He quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled it behind her, making her drop the kunai. He rested his head on her shoulder, taking in the sweet aroma of her hair and twisted her wrist a bit, hearing her moan. "That's what you get for faltering," he whispered into her. She felt a sudden surge of lust run through her body as he released her.

She quickly snatched the kunai off the ground and leapt out of his reach. She got back into her stance and used her index finger to motion him to come at her.

"Is this a challenge?" Itachi smirked.

"Maybe…" Hinata smirked back; she had gained true confidence and lost her stutter within her four years with Itachi.

"Then I accept," he quickly charged at her as she leapt high into the air, landing on the wall of nearby building. She channeled chakra to her feet to keep her balance on the wall as she quickly leapt towards him. He merely stepped to the side; she landed on bent knees with her knuckles on the ground. She regained her composure and tried a sweep kick under his feet, but he moved back. He quickly pulled out a kunai himself at tried to slice her back. She spun to his surprise. He hadn't expected this; even more to both of their surprise, her kunai actually made contact with his face. Where a small slit began to ooze blood. "You actually…win this time…" They would spar like these at least two to three times a day, and the winner was the first one to draw blood from the other.

She smirked, "I suppose that means I'm worthy of my Akatsuki cloak," she approached him and took her finger and wiped away the blood, licking it off her finger, savoring the rustic flavor in her mouth. 'Oh Kami!' Itachi screamed in his mind as he watched this oddly arousing scene.

He quickly regained his composure before she noticed, "You haven't even taken a life as an Akatsuki, and already you have a taste for blood."

"I suppose I take after you," she smiled.

Itachi began to walk off, ignoring her comment, then stopped and turned his head a bit, "Don't you want your Akatsuki cloak?"

"Oh! I almost forgot, thanks," she said as she ran up to him and they continued on into the building.

Hinata stood on the auditorium stage as Akatsuki members sat in the audience. On each side of her stood Kisame and Itachi. Kisame was there because he was Itachi's partner, of course. The Akatsuki leader began his speech, "Today is a day of reckoning. One of our very own pupils of four years has recently turned twenty two. With the consent of her sensei, she will receive her Akatsuki cloak, showing that she now is eligible of becoming a true Akatsuki member. She isn't just any rookie, she was trained solely by Itachi Uchiha," the crowd gasped as some began to whisper and a low uproar began. Everyone knew that she was there eating lunch and making friends, they thought that she was just taking normal Akatsuki classes, but she was actually learning everything from Itachi, and him alone. She was a special breed, she had a blood limit and not many had that. The leader grabbed a folded cloak from a silk, red pillow.

He walked in front of her; bowed to her and handed her the cloak, she bowed in return. "Thank you Leader-sama." (No one knew his real name.)

She turned to her sensei; it was traditional that as her sensei, he would be the one to put the cloak on her. He took hold of the cloak unfolding it and slowly draped it around her shoulders. She slid her arms into the sleeves and swiftly buttoned it up, full of pride. The audience clapped. As the four of them left the stage, Hinata wrapped her arms around Itachi's shoulders "Itachi-sensei! Thank you!"

He gave a hearty, but short smile, "You deserve it."

Kisame had noticed how close they had gotten over the past few years, and he knew that it wasn't any sensei-pupil relationship either. "We ought to celebrate!"

The Leader stood behind them, "Well, hold off for that celebration," he said almost coldly. "If you recall, I said 'eligible'. To truly become an Akatsuki member, you have to pass one final mission. With the limited assistance of your sensei."

"Won't Kisame-chan be with us?" she asked curiously.

"No, he has a mission he has to attend to, himself. Anyway, you have this mission," he handed her a scroll, bowed and left with Kisame.

She unraveled the scroll and read it; "It looks like the Mizukage made a trip to Konoha to make peace and is leaving with protectors from Konoha. I'm supposed to murder the Mizukage, and…frame Konoha…" she was silent.

"Hinata-chan…don't let any feelings for that village get in the way. The Akatsuki has made a temporary pact with the Land of Earth, the enemies of The Lands of Fire and Water."

"Yes, but…"

"I thought you severed your ties with Konoha," he said sternly.

"I thought I did…" she slowly rolled the scroll back up.

"So that's it… fours years of intense training just to pass up your only chance to become an Akatsuki member?" his voice held anger and annoyance.

"No… I…will complete this mission, sensei," she clutched the scroll tightly as she looked down, her bangs shadowing her eyes.

Does Hinata really have the heart to frame Konoha? Find out in Chapter Four! 3 Oh and don't forget to R&R, kay!!!