Disclaimer... I do not own Naruto...Never did...Never will...sigh.
Written by... Treina (Angel Crack)

Names.
Nidashi . Old Man (who brought Naurto the chair)
Mujaki . Shino's Dad
Kaiwa . Shino's Mom

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Aishiteru Naruto

Chapter 10- The First Journey

Naruto - Age: four
Hinata- Age: four
Neji- Age: five
Sasuke- Age: four

As both Naruto and the Hokage made their way to the child's new apartment, the Third was pleased to see that the owner had already retired into her own quarters and the key was still behind the counter waiting for him.

"Perfect," he turned to the boy, "come on Naruto, follow me," he grabbed the key and headed up the stars to the second floor.

He watched the numbers that were crudely marked on the doors until he reached number 19 and then proceeded to unlock it, placing Naruto's things on the ground while he did so. Naruto didn't say a word, he was thinking up and re-making his entire escape plan, he briefly wondered how long the Hokage would linger around, in the worst case, until Naruto would fall asleep...he might have to fake sleep.

When the Hokage opened the door and walked in, Naruto followed. The smell of chocolate chip cookies filled the air and the first thing that Naruto laid eyes on, were the cookies sitting on the table with a small note that sat next to them. The Third walked up to the letter and picked it up, reading the small scribble out loud, "I hope you enjoy these cookies and if anything is needed you can find me in room 102," he smiled slightly and folded the note, tucking it into his sleeve.

"Those cookies are for you Naruto, help yourself," he placed the cookies on the small table in the middle of the room and proceeded to unpack the blonde's things in the closet not far from the table.

Naruto watched his every move intently, wanting to know where everything was so that when he went off to look for Nidashi, he could get his things together quickly. He ate two or three cookies before deciding better on the next one, they were a bit too sweet. "Okay Naruto, time for bed," he dressed Naruto in his night clothes and lead him to his bed. Instantly, the blond closed his eyes and for a long while he pretended to sleep and the Third was no fool, he sat in a chair and watched the child until finally, Naruto fell asleep.

xoxoxoxox

When the sun arose the next morning, Naruto was surprised to see that he was the only one in the apartment. He got up and looked around for a bit, when he remembered something, he was supposed to go look for Nidashi last night! Maybe it was fate that led him to fall asleep, maybe if he went last night, something bad could have happened, mainly portraying to that demon fox everyone keeps talking about...

He shrugged his shoulders and walked to the closet, when the blond opened it, he realized it was a lot bigger then he expected. There were two bags hanging in the top right corner and Naruto tried to reach for the smaller one, but he was way too short and wasn't even close.

He frowned, this isn't going to work. He looked around for something that maybe he could stand on. But he saw nothing but the table that the cookies still sat on. A smile caught his lips, it would work perfect.

He dragged the table to the closet and jumped up onto it. He reached for the bag and could only touch the tip of it with his fingers. He jumped and grabbed hold of it, but as he came down with the bag, the entire shelf decided it would join him and soon he was under a pile of boxes and clothes.

He got up and began stuffing some of the clothes into his bag and then walked over to the table and stuffed some cookies in it as well. After looking around for things that he didn't have anyway, he left the apartment, leaving the door open.

As the blond walked happily down the street, stopping sometimes to look at all the goodies shown in the windows, he looked up at the clear blue sky. One thing was for sure, remembering all the rain that took place the day before, he couldn't be happier that it was a nice day. He spent about two hours just wandering around aimlessly, not really paying any attention to where he was going, just enjoying the cool breeze that swept his face.

Soon he found himself in front of the Hyuuga Manor and the gate was spread wide open. He stopped when he heard a familiar voice, it was that Hinata girl and she was laughing, it was a nice sound. Naruto walked through the gate and found himself in a garden, although it was nothing like the gardens at the Aburame residence, the blond couldn't help but remember the image of Kaiwa, covered in flames...

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called, waking Naruto from his small trace, she ran over to him with lightly pink cheeks and Neji arose to follow her.
When she approached him, she noticed the bag on his back, "anou...are you going somewhere?" Just asking made her feel stupid.
"Im looking for Nidashi-san!" Naruto declared.

Just then, a light bulb went off in his head, "ne Hinata-chan, do you want to come"
"What?" She really wasn't sure if she heard him right.
Neji raised an eyebrow, "why would we want to run around the village looking for some old guy"
But Naruto continued as if Neji never uttered a word, "you know this village really good right?"

Hinata nodded, she did run around the village alot, but she got lost more times than not.
"Good! You can be my guide, I need to get to Shino's house," he instructed the shaking girl.
Who was Shino, she had never met anyone with a weird name like that, if she did, she would surely remember.

Neji frowned, "no," he stated bluntly.
They both gave him a questioning look.
"Father and Hiyashi-sama would not approve...we would get in trouble." He stated the obvious and was somewhat offended with the two, who were totally clueless. Was everyone in this world this idiotic?
For a while Naruto stared at the stoic Hyuuga, but then looked back at Hinata, "I even have food!" He slipped the backpack off and shoved it in her face...way too close.

What was up with this kid? This was the second time he rudely ignored him. The young Neji vouched that if it were to happen again, this cat would get a good beating.

Hinata didn't know what to do, her cousin was right about father, he would be furious...but she couldn't even imagine how much fun she would have and the things she would see on their journey. It would be so much more exiting to go on a journey then sit around the house all day and train...or watch people train, it was all very boring to her.

But her as a guide? She wasn't so sure she could trust that...but how would you learn and figure it out without going out there and doing it.
"Well? Will you come? Will you?" Naruto grew anxious from the silence, every minute he stood around, he wasted. And right before Neji was about to repeat his answer, Hinata nodded with a blush.

A smile beamed across Naruto's face and he took hold of Hinata's hand, "lets go"
As the two ran out of the Hyuuga estate, Neji called Hinata's name and she looked back. She shook her head letting him know that there was nothing she could do at this point. Neji frowned and ran after the two, he sighed, "children..."

They all ran for a long time until there sense of direction was completely gone and when Neji began to think that they would all run forever, Naruto stopped and he was finally able to catch up. He had alot of time to think about what he was going to say.

"What are you doing?" The Hyuuga asked, getting both Naruto and Hinata's attention.
"What are you trying to do by dragging the both of us out here! Your father is going to tan my hide!" Naruto looked at the boy with question. Why did this kid always talk like an adult? Was he an adult? He didn't look like it.
"What are you looking at?" Neji glared at the blond.

Naruto walked up close to Neji and Hinata was hoping to the gods that this wouldn't turn into a fight.
"Why do you ask so many questions? Why do you act like all the grown ups? How old are you?" Naruto cocked his head to the side waiting for an answer.
Neji blushed, and looked to the side, "five"
"What?" Naruto wasn't sure which question the Hyuuga was answering.
"Im five!" He snapped and then bit his lip, blushing more. Hinata couldn't help but giggle.

Then he noticed that Naruto wasn't even paying attention to him, which he was half grateful, half irritated about. Neji looked over his shoulder to see what Naruto was looking at and noticed a boy dressed in all black standing behind some tree. Naruto marched right over, remembering the good things that happened when he did the same for Hinata. He spoke in a firm voice.

"Who goes there?" He tried to make it as deep as he could, imitating a voice he had heard on the radio.
"Baka!" The boy answered back and Naruto frowned.
"What!" He asked, not really wanting it to be repeated.
"Baka!" The boy said, in the exact same tone.
Neji couldn't help but intervene, "that's rude," he said in a tone that could automatically put a person below you.
"Why don't you come out?" The Hyuuga said in a mocking gesture.
Hinata preferred to stay back and watch, rather than participate.

The little boy wearing all back stepped out from behind the tree's, but he held a scowl on his face.
Naruto gasped, "hey! I know you!" But then he frowned, remembering how the boy had stuck his tongue out at him.
"What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, curious as to why the boy was spying on them.
"I live here...baka!"

"Wow, you have a bad mouth!" Neji had never heard of such language used so easily.
"My brother talks that way, but he's on a mission, so im watching the house. Why are you here"
Neji did not like this kid and didn't like his brother any better and right when he was about to answer, Naruto chided in, "were going on a journey to find Nidashi"
"Who?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"Nidashi-san!" Naruto repeated.

Sasuke looked at Neji, Neji shrugged, "who is that?" Sasuke asked, pointing of into the distance where a little girl with blue hair stood and watched.
"Oh, that's Hinata-chan," Naruto waved and Hinata blushed, diverting her eyes to her feet.
Sasuke frowned, "she's weird"
"You don't even know her," Neji crossed his arms, she was the sweetest thing he had ever met, who was this kid?
"Your the one who's weird," Neij smirked at his own comment.
Sasuke glared at the tall kid in white, "well im not the one running around the village getting lost," Sasuke countered and stuck his tongue out.
Neji's eyes widened before he stuck his nose up in the air and grabbed Naruto by the shirt, "lets go."

As Neji began to drag Naruto back up the road, Naruto stopped him, "hold on, I have an idea"
Naruto ran back to the boy who was still standing behind the tree, "come with us"
"What? No...I can't...my brother..." Sasuke was surprised the kid had asked him, was he stupid or something?
"So what! This is a once in a lifetime chance!" Naruto clenched his fist, "im asking you to come on an amazing adventure!" He punched his fist into the air.

Neji's mouth almost dropped at the blonde's request, "we don't even know his name," the Hyuuga pointed out.
"Uchiha Sasuke..." the boy trailed off, "and I will join you on this adventure thing...as long as you can get me back here before dinner, or father will get mad and have brother punish me."

"Your brother doesn't sound very nice," Neji suggested.
"He's the best! You've never even seen him!" Sasuke began to get offended.
"Then he must not be great if I've never seen him"
"Be quiet!" Sasuke yelled, eye's narrowed.
"Or what?" Neji asked with a raised eyebrow.

Sasuke pulled out two shuriken and threw them at the Hyuuga who pulled out his kunai and dodged them. Naruto watched in awe, what were those things they were using? They were so cool looking, and the way they used them, his eyes grew sparkle's as Hinara ran past him toward the two.
"Stop! Please stop!" She pleaded.
Neji stopped and looked Hianta's way for a second before dropping the kunai, standing strait with eyes forward, stoic.
"Please forgive me Hinata-sama."

Everyone except for Hinata had a puzzled look on their face. Hinata smiled gently and walked up to Neji grabbing his hand and both kids stared into each others eyes for a minute before both Neji and Sasuke picked up their weapons and hid them back in their shirts. They all proceeded to walk down the road in silence with content minds, Neji and Hinata still holding hands.

"What's up with them?" Sasuke asked Naruto, yanking a thumb toward Hinata and Neji, who were on the other side of him.
Naruto shrugged his shoulders, "I donno, their weird, you should see their dads"
Hinata, who was on the very end, farthest away from Naruto, bent her head down low with a sad look on her face and let Neji's hand go. Neji frowned, "what's wrong? Are you okay?" Neji asked Hinata, turning his head to her.
"No," Hinata said simply in a low tone, head still down.

They walked for around a half an hour, passing shops and other homes, everything was so big! Naruto ran ahead and turned around toward Hinata, walking backwards, "Hey Hinata, do you know where we are?"

Hinata blushed and looked around, then looked as far as she could see, (which was a great distance considering she was of Hyuuga blood,) "well, I don't really know where we are, but there's a four way intersection up that way, "she pointed strait ahead and everyone looked in the direction she was pointing, squinting their eyes.
"I don't see it," Sasuke commented.
Neji nodded his head, "its there, just to far for you to see"
Sasuke glared at the Hyuuga, not liking the tone of his voice. Actually, he didn't like the kid altogether.

The four of them continued their way until they reached the intersection, this is where Naruto began to get antsy. He began to run around the square looking down each one, "which way should we go?" He kept asking himself.
Hinata tugged on her cousins sleeve to get his attention, "what's wrong"
The Hyuuga girl blushed and stood on her tiptoes to whisper something in his ear. Sasuke diverted his eyes in their direction, but he couldn't make out what she was telling him.

Neji nodded his head and turned on his Byakugan for a moment.

Sasuke took a step back, his heart skipped a beat, what the hell was that?
"We go this way," Neji pointed out in a orderly tone and began walking in that direction, not caring if the two were going to follow or not.
"Wait up!" Naruto called and ran to catch up.
Sasuke wasn't sure what to do, this was getting weirder and weirder, who was that kid? Was he a monster? He had half a mind to turn around and go back home, he wasn't sure if he liked the idea of getting lost with...that thing. The image of the Byakugan was fresh in his mind, as if the kid were here doing it again right in front of him.

Naruto turned around and called to the Uchiha, "come on Sasuke! Hurry up"
Sasuke made up his mind, maybe he should keep an eye on this Hyuuga kid and inform his brother if anything else seemed...weird.

When Sasuke caught up, both Neji and Naruto were standing around and Naruto greeted his arrival.
"Where is Hinata?" Sasuke asked, looking around and not spotting the girl.
"She went to the bathroom," Naruto said non-chalantly.
"Oh..." That was it? That's why that kid made his face look all, weird?
Neji leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed, watching the two with nothing but his stoic expression.

Sasuke half listened to Naruto's talking and half watched Neji, who was watching them both intently, he couldn't help but wonder if the Hyuuga kid knew that he saw him...transform.

Naruto was telling Sasuke of the flower mystery that Neji solved, but how the Hyuuga had somehow got offended and then called him a yellow cat, "I don't look like a cat do I?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke looked Naruto up and down, "yes, you do"
"But im not a cat! Im Naruto!" Naruto crossed his arms and Neji smirked shaking his head.
"So, your not a cat, but you look like one. My brother tells me I remind him of his old pet Snip who was a black cat," Sasuke informed, and both Neji and Naruto couldn't help but laugh.

"Your brother, he, that's so mean," the Hyuuga fell on the ground in a fit of laughter, not able to control himself.
"What kind of name is Snip?" Naruto didn't get what the Hyuuga was talking about, but what kind of name was that for a cat?
Sasuke blushed and looked down, fighting tears of humiliation, "shut up."

Hinata walked out of the rest room and was surprised at the scenario which sat before her, both Naruto and Neji were on the ground in a fit of laughter and Sasuke was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking like he was about to cry, "what's going on"
Sasuke blushed more and tears soon came out, "nothing," he managed to say and then turned around with his back to them all.

Hinata blushed and walked up to the Uchiha, placing a hand on his shoulder she whispered, "I promise I will never laugh at you, no matter what happens...so don't be sad"
Sasuke stiffened his back and his tears stopped instantly. Neji went back to his stoic serious expression and picked himself off of the floor. Naruto's laughing continued for a few more seconds before he picked himself up as well.

"We should get going, it would not be good for a bunch of adults to spot us," Neji pointed out.
Hinata tuned around, "okay," and she took her place next to the Hyuuga's side.
As they all went on their way, Sasuke reluctantly followed.

For a while, their travels were un-disturbed, but fate had taken a wrong turn.
"What are you kids doing out here?" Asked some random Jounnin who just happened to be passing by.
"We are looking for Nidashi-san!" Naruto proclaimed.
"Who?" The Jounnin asked with a raised eye brow, this being the first time he ever heard the name.
"My father sent us to deliver a message to a friend of his, who lives not far from here. This is not the first time, his name is Nidashi," Neji stepped up, if he were to leave this to Naruto, they would all get in some big trouble.
"Oh, well be careful kids," he patted Neji on the head and went on his way.

"Your father and Nidashi are friends?" Naruto asked in amazement, he would have never guessed.
"No, but I couldn't let him know we are wandering around out here"
"Ooohh," Naruto said nodding his head, he wasn't sure, but he thought he understood where Neji was coming from.

"Should we get going?" The Hyuuga asked, adverting his attention to Sasuke, who seemed to be a little too quiet.
Sasuke nodded his head, but didn't say anything, he wasn't sure what he would say anyway...to a monster like that.
"What's wrong?" Neji asked, "your acting weird"
"No Im not," Sasuke countered, "just cause I don't like to talk to people like you"
"Why not?" Neji asked, not really understanding where this whole thing was going.
Sasuke bit his lip and looked down, "nevermind."

Neji looked down at Hinata and she gave him a pleading look, Neji grimaced.
"Look, im sorry for laughing at you earlier, it was a rude thing to do...can we go now"
"Yeah!" Naruto punched a fist in the air, "lets go find Nidashi!"

The Uchiha felt embarrassed, that monster kid just apologized to him over something he didn't even really care about. What was he trying to do? Make him look like a fool? And that girl, she has something to do with it all, she's some sort of trigger or key to this monster kid. Maybe she controls him? Tons of possibilities flooded the child's mind, each one more extreme than the last. And Naruto remained oblivious, should he keep it that way? Should he find a way to deal with this without involving that weird blond kid?

While Sasuke's mind was filled with these sort of thoughts, the group passed a row of shops and food stalls, here they had alot of fun and any time someone would stop the kids and ask them what they were doing out here, Neji would pull out his message story and Naruto happily let him deal with it while he drooled at some shop window. Everything he saw he would declare that he wanted. And every time, Hinata would blush and wish that she could get it for him. Her father was always giving her money, but she never needed it, now, when she wished that she had it, her pockets were empty and her little piggy bank at home was full.

"Anou...Naruto-kun," she hesitated, not sure what the boy's reaction would be. Naruto continued to walk, evidently not hearing the poor girl.
"Naruto-kun..." she tried again, but still to no avail.
Neji frowned, "Oi! Naruto!" Naruto stopped and turned around to face the Hyuuga.
"Hinata wants to talk to you," the Hyuuga informed and took a step back.

Hinata blushed a bright red, how was she going to ask him now? When everyone was looking! They would all think she was stupid.
"What is it Hinata?" Naruto asked with a smile.
Sasuke and Neji kept their eyes glued on the two of them.
"Well...where do you live?" She asked in a bare whisper.
"What?" Naruto asked, getting closer, Hinata blushed.
"She asked where you live," Neji informed in a loud tone, making Hinata go more red.
"Oh I live up the block from you! I have my own apartment!" He said proudly with a grin.

"No you don't," Sauske said, not believing a word of it, "your too young"
"I am not!" Naruto pouted.
"You live...alone?" Hinata asked, not sure if it was right or not to ask something like that.
"Yep, all by my self!" He answered in the same proud tone.
"And your proud of that?" Neji asked, "don't you get lonely"
"No...im here with you right?" He asked, grinning, he wasn't feeling lonely at all.

Hinata smiled and they were soon out of the shopping strip and in front of a big forest. Actually, Naruto had never seen such huge trees.
"Wow...should we go in there? Maybe Nidashi got lost in the forest..." Naruto suggested.
"I don't think so Naruto," Neji said, shaking his head.
But then they heard something that sounded like yelling.
"Uh, do you think someone is hurt?" Asked Hinata, worried.
"I don't know, lets go check it out!" And Naruto entered the dark forest.
Sasuke didn't like this, that kid expected him to go in there...with that monster and his master the 'sweet' girl? No, no no no.
"Lets go! Stop hanging around!" Naruto yelled from the tree's, Neji turned to Sasuke, "lets go."

Sasuke gulped and stepped forward, one foot at a time, and soon Neji and Hinata were following him. Now he really didn't like the scenario. Naruto jumped out from behind a bush, "BOO!" He yelled and everyone about fell to the ground out of fear.
"Don't do that Naruto!" Sasuke screamed at him, what the hell was he thinking!
Neji glared at the blond, "I will lead"
"No!" screamed Naruto, "Im leading this journey, your just accompanying me. Hinata is the guide, by the way Hinata," Naruto turned to Hinata, "which way was the screaming coming from"
"Uh, I think it was coming from that direction...I think," she wasn't really sure and felt really un-easy, what if she was wrong? What if she gets them all lost?
"I wouldn't worry Hinata-sama," Neji comforted the Hyuuga, "we're already lost, and that wasn't your fault"
"But...how did you kn-" Hinata started.
"You looked worried..." Neji trailed off as they continued to walk in the direction Hinata had pointed out.

"Shhh! Get down!" Naruto whispered and dropped to the ground, everyone followed his actions quickly and Naruto took a peek through the bushes.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked in a bare whisper.
"There's people...and their fighting," Naruto said in a worried tone.
"We should leave...I don't want to be here..." She grabbed hold of Neji's sleeve, but was aiming her advice toward the blond.
"Wow! There amazing!" Naruto said in a louder tone, causing Neji to flinch, "Shh!"

xoxoxoxox

Deep within one of the many Konoha training grounds, a three man gennin team trained hard for the up-coming chunnin exam. They had been at it all day and were now getting restless.

"Wait!" The tallest 12 year old shouted and held up a hand to signal the other two to stop.
"What is it?" The girl who wore low pigtails tied with red ribbons asked, walking up and staring off into the direction the boy was facing.
The third kid who was standing in the back, took out a few kunai.
"I heard something," he pointed to the bushes in front of him and they all slowly approached them with caution.

The third kid pulled his arm back ready to strike whatever it was hiding in those bushes. But a child popped out.
"Stop!" Hinata yelled, eyes clenched tight.
Neji soon stood and shielded her from whatever it was that might hit her.
"There kids!" The girl with red ribbons gasped, "what are you doing out here?"

Naruto popped up from out of the bushes as well, "we are looking for Nidashi-san"
Sasuke soon followed and the tallest gennin laughed, "it looks like we were out-numbered"
"Who is it your looking for?" The girl asked, bending down to the blonde's height.
"Nidashi-san!" Naruto repeated but the girl held blank look on her face, as if her mind was somewhere else.
"Ive never heard of him," the boy in the back stated.
"We need to get to Shino's house," Naruto added.
Neji raised an eyebrow, "I thought we were looking for this Nidashi-san"
"Yeah, but Shino house is at Nidashi-san's house," he clarified, although it didn't do much good, all kids were confused now.

Out of all the kids standing there, Neji could swear that he had heard that name somewhere before. He remembered his father talking about some kid named Shino who was part of some kind of clan...

"Naruto," Neji placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, "tell me more about this Shino," he instructed.
"He has lots of bugs-" and he was about to go on, but Neji interrupted him.
"The Aburame clan!" He cheered out of victory, satisfied at the fact that he figured it out, he turned to the...female.
"We need to get to the Aburame clan estate," he informed.
"Now you need to get to the Aburame estate?" She asked in a doubtful tone.

"Hey, I know where that is, I can take you," the tall gennin informed, pointing a thumb in the direction.
I don't know...what are these kids doing out here anyway?" The last thing she needed today was trouble.

The kid shrugged and began to walk out of the area, "I don't really care, I used to run around all the time as a kid," he turned around to the children, "you coming"
All four nodded and ran up to catch up. Within ten minutes they were out of the training grounds and back in front of the shopping strip, which was now much less busy.

"This way," he instructed and continued to lead the way.
In a way Hinata was relived but she was still worried, could she trust this guy? By the look on her cousins face it seemed that she couldn't. Neji's eyes were glued to the back of the gennin and his face held speculation.
"What's wrong?" Hinata whispered to her cousin.
"I don't trust him..." He bluntly replied, a little too loud.
"I think he's nice!" Naruto proclaimed, way too loud.
Sasuke said nothing and really he didn't care. If that monster kid didn't trust that older kid, then maybe that older kid was a really good person, not like it mattered anyway.

They walked for what seemed like forever and it was a very boring walk. The older boy was much faster on his feet then the four of them and it was all they could do to keep up with him. They had no time to look around and attempt to remember their surroundings or have fun in any way. They didn't notice at first, but slowly, the kid sped up and soon, they were running with all their might in order to keep up.

Neji glared at the boy and then stopped, "Im not moving any further," he declared, and soon, the rest of them stopped.
The gennin turned around "you kids are pretty good! I figured you would stop long time ago"
"What was the meaning of this?" Asked Neji in a somewhat irritated voice.
"Yeah, what was the meaning of this?" Naruto chimed in.

The gennin kid laughed, "the Aburame clan is on the other side of the village, I figured we would make better time if I somehow got you all running. We're half way there, the hospital is just down this road, which is the center of the village"
"And"
"If we are to get there before sunset, we should run..." the gennin trailed off, just now noticing the clear blue eyes of the Hyuuga, "are you of the Hyuuga clan"
Neji nodded, the gennin pointed to Hinata, "and your of Hyuuga blood too"
Hinata blushed, but nodded.

"Does your family know your out here?" Maybe he should have listened to his teammate and stayed out of these kids way, the last thing he needed was to be accused of kidnapping two Hyuuga children. All sorts of images flooded his mind, he had read stories of what the Hyuuga do to those who are found meddling with their affairs.

"My father has sent me to deliver a message to the Aburame household," the Hyuuga's words were clear, un-cut, and his eyes stared right into the gennin's eyes with pure confidence.
"All the way on the other side of the village? And who is this Nidashi guy"
Neji looked at the gennin as if he were insulted, "Nidashi-san is a friend of my father, he resides in the Aburame estate"
The gennin opened his mouth as if to ask another question, "I would advise you to refrain from any more of your questions," the Hyuuga implied, with a deep scowl.
Naruto just blinked, and Sasuke, although no one knew it, was shaking like there was a blizzard going on.

The gennin nodded and turned around, "uh," he turned to Sasuke, "should we run"
What? Why is he asking me! "I don't care"
"Okay," he turned around and began to run, all four followed him, Neji glared at Sasuke's back, didn't he just say that he would not run anymore?
Sasuke could feel the cold stare from someone behind him, and it could only be Neji. Hinata was incapable of such a stare.
This was not good.

For an hour longer they ran, and soon Naruto began to recognize his surroundings, they were close now, very close to the Aburame estate and Naruto couldn't wait to get to Nidashi's house. He could just picture the old man sitting on his porch lazily dozing off.

But sadly, it was getting dark and one would not see who was sitting of his porch since there are no lights, just the moon, if there even be one tonight.
"How are you kids going to get back in the dark?" The gennin asked, slowing down.
"We will be staying with Nidashi," Neji explained, "now hurry, I don't want to linger here until it gets dark," he would never admit it, but the dark was one thing that Neji did not get along with, it terrified him.

The kid shrugged and continued down the road, but this time, at a slow pace. Soon they were standing in front of the huge Aburame gates.
"Well, your here! Should I wait and see you in"
"That's not necessary," the Hyuuga informed and the kid shrugged his shoulders and dashed off back in the direction they came.
"Oi," Naruto turned his head to the Hyuuga, "what does necessary mean"
"Never mind, which way is this Nidashi's house? Does he really live in the Aburame estate?"

Naruto turned his head, "its down there," he pointed down the road, "its over that hill"
Neji nodded and lead the way up the hill, but when they reached the top and looked down onto the other side, it was way too dark to see, just as Naruto had predicted.

"Are you sure its down there?" Sasuke asked, a bit skeptical.
Naruto nodded, but in a way he was disappointed, none of the lights in the house were on, if they were, you would at least be able to see a yellow glow, but there was nothing. It was pitch black.

"I don't want to go..." Hinata whispered to Neji.
"So what are we going to do now?" Neji asked, a bit irritated at the situation.

The image of the Kitsune flashed through Naruto's mind. As much as he hated it, they would have to keep going, they couldn't just stand out here in the dark.

xoxoxoxTo Be Continuedxoxoxox