WARNING: This chaptre is not beta, and none of the future ones will be, for my writitng has become to eratic and i dont have the time to beta and to write as much as i can, its getting very dificult to write even thou ideas arent comeing up short as i said i alreadyhave the story from start to finish just cant find myself to write, school, and social life get in the way, so sorry for the grammar errors you are goint to find and if any one wants you cna beta and ill reupload this chapter.
THANK YOU FOR READING AND HOPE YOU ENJOY THISCHAPTER
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. It's his creators' property (Kishimoto Masashi). The only things that are mine are my own made up characters.
To everyone: Thank you for reviewing every one, this chapter is for all of you, thanks and for all who didnt you really should, not just this one, but all the stories you read, reviews really motivate a writter.
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"Hello" speech
Hello Thoughts
Hello Kyuubi
Hello Kyuubi's thoughts
(Hello) Inner Sakura
- -- - - - Scene change
Chapter 23: Broken spirits
The pale skin heiress looked deeply at the words written on the letter. Her eyes unable to turn away from it, each word carefully read once and again, trying to find the significance of this letter, the reason of why did such thing existed. Her eyes closed as her head dropped, she carefully folded the letter placing it in her pocket as she walked away slowly being carefully followed by the white nin dog, whom had become intrigued by Hinata's actions as he followed her a bit concerned for the white eyes princess.
"Hey Hinata" echoed as Kiba appeared waving at Hinata who turned at the sound of her name, she stopped and calmly waited for her dear teammate to arrive, the two stood there talking calmly about the everyday things, missions, friend and if she was enjoying her walks with Akamaru at her side, Hinata responded normally to all of Kibas questions and commented as well, but even still the young beast master saw something odd about his comrade. "Hey Hinata...are you alright?" Kiba calmly asked, not removing his sighs from the pale skin female, who at her friend's words simply raised her head and showed him a smile. "Of course Kiba-kun, why would I be" She said right before she gave her farewells to Kiba and slowly walked away, leaving Kiba a bit preoccupied and a worried Akamaru. Even if you say that Hinata, something doesn't smell right Though Kiba as he saw Hinata walk away from him.
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In the Konoha woods, Jiraiya and the orange clad boy calmly walked away from the village, still remembering the words he had exchanged with the sannin before leaving the village.
I'm sorry Naruto, but we will have to leave with out any one knowing it, and no one can find out on where we are going. No one.
Naruto remembered Jiraiyas cold words as he walked calmly behind him, wondering if what he had done would come back to bite him in the butt, leaving Gamakichi with a letter was a big gamble, because it explained a lot of the situation he was in and what he was planning on doing.
"We are going to the sand right?" Naruto calmly asked, Jiraiya stopped in his tracks and turned to face Naruto, he simply nodded but had a serious face on, "But don't talk about it again Naruto, the tress might have ears and could cause us trouble later on" Said Jiraiya in a cold tone, Naruto quickly got the message and nodded at his sensei's words, but that was all he needed to know for he had mentioned his destinations on the letter, well at least the first one. In this case their destination was the hidden village of the sand.
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Midday had finally arrived and all the village was at full bloom, joy had engulf every one for the day was nothing more than perfect, but alas not all where lucky enough to enjoy this perfect day, for a girl sat alone underneath the shade a tree provided, it was none other than the charismatic kunoichi Ten-ten, and beside here Ten-ten had a small box, on which she had her hand placed, carefully holding it, keeping it safe, even if the day brought happiness, the small girl eyes showed concern and nervousness, for she had been waiting now for what she has felt has been the longest hour of her life, for he was late.
"Naruto…" Mumbles Ten-ten as she holds her knees close to her chest, overcome by her nervousness. Time passed to the point where her eyes began to tear up, for her dear boy hadn't arrived to their especial rendezvous.
From a far a pale skin girl watched carefully, her eyes and face showing her inner feeling, which where no other than sorrow, but these feeling emerged thanks to Ten-ten, who had been watched carefully by her, and now she had witness Ten-tens first tears and that was enough, she couldn't take any more, not caring on what may happened the pale skin girl approached the dark hair girl.
"Ten-chan…" Was weakly said by the lavender eyed girl, Ten-ten who had began to shed tears was surprised by her, quickly tried to blink away her tears, but it was to no avail, she instead keep her eyes to the floor, evading any kind of contact, she refused to be seen like that it would be a clear sign of weakness on her part, and if she wanted to be accepted as the strongest female ninja she couldn't let any one see her in that state.
"H-hi Hinata-chan…how can I help you" Said Ten-ten forcing herself, trying her best not to let out any whining or whimpering sound.
"Ummm…I…I just…" Said Hinata looking away from Ten-ten, Hinata also tried her best to talk to Ten-ten, but felt very awkward talking to her, "Here Ten-ten…I'm sorry" She said as she gave Ten-ten the rough up letter and quickly ran away from there, with tears also emerging from her clear lavender eyes.
Ten-ten raised her head and watched Hinata leave in a hurry, after which she turned her attention to the letter at her side, she picked up the letter and began to read it slowly, taking in the words, and paragraphs, but the lettered seemed a bit damage, covered with dirt and animal saliva, but she was still able to read most of the letter in her hands. She quickly saw it was from Naruto, for his name was clearly in the beginning. It's from Naruto, I'm glad….but why did Hinata have it? And why did she say she was sorry? With that though flashing in her mind she quickly continued to read the letter now with more caution and anxiousness.
"Naruto…why? WHY!" Ten-ten yelled, as her eyes started to let out a large amount of tears, she crushed the letter, grasping it with all her might as she stood up and ran towards the village.
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Ino and Sakura where calmly walking down the streets of Konoha, happily chitchatting about there day and dreams. "I wish I had enough money for that beautiful dress Ino, it would look so good on me, but since I haven't gotten any missions, my money is pretty low" Sakura wined while Ino simply had a nervous smile, for the blond already had bought that dress for herself, but was a bit scared of the fore-head girl. Aw poor Sakura. You know it looks better on me.
That was until they where harshly interrupted by Ten-ten's arms holding onto Ino's shoulder, "Have any of you seen Hinata or Naruto?" She seriously asked, getting only a no from Ino and Sakura, after which she let go and continued her search. Sakura and Ino exchanged looks, but Sakura became concern at Ten-tens words, she of all people didn't wanted Naruto and Hinata to have time alone, so she said good bye to Ino and went after Ten-ten.
Ten-ten Continued looking for the white skin girl, "Ten-ten!" She heard as she quickly turns a corner and crashed into some one, "Neji?" She responded surprised, lowering her head, evading eye contact. "Ten…ten?' But even trying her best to hide here eyes, she was unable to hide her eyes from Neji. Her eyes? As she been crying? "What's wrong Ten-ten? Why have you been crying?" He asked while holding Ten-ten arms. "Nothing I'm fine, now let me go" She answered as she tried to free herself from the Hyuuga.
Neji didn't believe her words. "Don't lie to me, what happened?" He asked again trying to force Ten-ten to make eye contact with him. "Don't butt in, it has nothing to do with you" She yelled as she slapped Neji's arms away and ran away from him. Neji to a step and was about to go after her, but the step he took was on something, a piece of paper no one would give a second though about leaving there, but for some odd Neji felt completed in taking, and so he did he took the paper and unfolded it.
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In the swing located outside the ninja academy the small ninja Hinata sat, holding tightly to the ropes, as she simply looked at the ground, her eyes showing sorrow and lacking that shine and glimmer that made the Hyuuga family famous.
"Naruto…" She said in a low voice as she sighted letting out her sorrow bit by bit. "What about Naruto?" Ten-ten asked the Hyuuga princess "Ten-chan?" She said back in a low voice, raising her head, seeing the furious Ten-ten. "What do you know about Naruto and how did you ended up with that letter" Said Ten-ten a she franticly started to search for the letter she had put away, but to no avail. I lost it? No? Where did I leave it? She repeated in her mind, until she was interrupted, this time by Hinata.
"I'm sorry Ten-ten, but… I don't where Naruto-kun is…I just gave you the letter because it had your name in it…I don't know where he is or if what the letter said is true…" Said Hinata to Ten-ten. "It's true…there's no other explanation…he was…suppose to meet me today…" Ten-ten said not caring anymore on the fact that their relationship still wasn't public, especially to Hinata and Sakura. "Is that so?..." Whispered Hinata, not loud enough for Ten-ten to hear it thou.
Ten-ten fell to her knees and started to weep incontrollable, "Baka, baka, baka, you promised me you wouldn't leave me" She repeated as she continued to cry uncontrollably, but Hinata found herself unable to comfort Ten-ten for she was crushed as well for as many reasons as her, her feelings where none the less potent, for a river of tears escaped her eyes, for Naruto again had left the village, but even more she felt defeated, Naruto had chosen some one besides her. She had never felt so lonely.
That's not true…it cant be…no it just cant…be…true…Yelled in her mind a pink hair ninja, that had found herself hiding behind a tree, carefully listening to every words the others had said, but unlike the other two, her emotions weren't of sorrow but anger pure anger. It's a LIE she yelled in her mind as she disappeared from the scene with a quick jump.
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"What was so urgent it couldn't wait?" Shikamaru complained as he along with Kiba, Chouji and Lee had been called by Neji to gather as quickly as possible.
"Yeah Neji, what was so urgent?" Kiba added to the conversation, sounding annoyed, for he was looking for Hinata and now stood in front of the wrong Hyuuga. Lee and Chouji also where curios thou they weren't doing anything of great importance.
"Of course it's important, you think I would urge you all to gather if it wasn't?" Commented Neji getting every ones attention, "This is serious, and true I am not kidding" He added causing Shikamaru to raise and eyebrow and the rest to become a bit preoccupied.
Neji look at all of the guys present and took a deep breath, calming himself. "It appears Naruto had left the village" He said shocking everyone present, causing uproar among the kids. "What? You're joking right?" Kiba smirked, not believing Neji's words. "I just said it was serious Kiba, im not joking" Neji responded leaving Kiba shocked. "But after all we went through with Sasuke? But?" Kiba tried to respond. "Naruto-kun would never do such a thing Neji, it's not like him" Lee responded. Neji simply shook his head, signaling that he was wrong. "I would have said the same thing Lee, but he has left and I have proof. "Here" Neji said as he takes out a piece of paper, already extremely damaged missing words and phrases but still readable.
Lee's eyes widen, his expression was that of pure shock, for he couldn't believe it, but he had to, for the letter in front of him told the tall, and Naruto's writing was easy to recognize.
"This must be fake, ill ask Naruto-kun himself" Lee stated as he ran away from the scene leaving all with their own doubts, "Lee is right, we should try to find Naruto, in the worst scenario, if this is real, the Hokage should know, thou we shouldn't tell her yet, if its one of his pranks we'll get in trouble" Shikamaru said as he walked away form the guys in search for his own answers, followed by Chouji who simply nodded to Neji as he left with Shikamaru, leaving only Neji and Kiba.
"Damn him, lets go Akamaru" Kiba yelled as he ran, accompanied by his partner, his fist tight, his own fangs biting his lower lip. That's why Hinata was acting weird, she must have known. He tough the young beast master disappeared with in a large group of people. Only Neji was left, holding the letter tightly, he placed his hand with in his pocket and took out another piece of paper. "What are you trying to do…Naruto" He said as he crushed the piece of paper and placed it in his pocket after which he closed his eyes and calmly walked away from the rally point, heading toward the Hyuuga manor.
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Already in the Hyuuga manor, Hinata sat on her bed, her bedroom windows and door closed, completely separating her form the outside worlds, leaving her alone with her thoughts and sorrow, her secrets and wishes. Why did I did it? She said to herself has she took out a piece of paper. The piece of paper read;
I will be at the sand in 6 days…I don't know if you can make it, but if you go I now we still have a future together…if you don't I will know what you are feeling…Good bye…and what ever you choose…just be happy Ten-ten
As she finishes reading the piece one more time, she crushed it and threw it into a nearby trash can, not even thinking twice about doing so. "I'm sorry Ten-ten, but I can't just give up now…not after all that happened between me and Sakura-chan…I'm sorry but I cant give up is my nindo…"
After Saying those words to herself, Hinata began to cry cradling her tearful face with her hands, trying her best to stop the tears from flowing, but to no avail, as she felt confused for all that and happened, she still loved the orange clad boy, but felt angered toward Ten-ten and didn't felt bad for what she had done, in fact she felt a bit relieved by her actions, but still her tears where created by all the emotions. But her tears where not ignored, as she was watched from the other side of her bedroom door, by Neji, who's hand just stopped inches away from the door, almost calling for Hinata, but a small whimper caught his attention, and after seeing Hinata burst into tears he had all the evidence he needed, thou they had lived together for so long, he had never seen her cry that way, not even when she was moved aside by Hanabi's birth.
Naruto! Neji cursed as he fisted his hand tightly and ran towards the manors, front door.
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In the streets of Konoha, Lee quickly moved form one area to another, eagerly looking for the pink hair girl that would clear up all these mysteries around Naruto. Lee asked every one he saw for Sakura, even though pink hair was something the Konoha people have seen; it still wasn't a common one.
"Excuse me sir, miss, have any of you seen a pink hair girl?" Lee asked, too every one that found themselves in front of the Konoha genin, and Lee continued this for some time, that is until he head this. "Oh yeah, I have seen a pink hair girl, but she had a extremely wide forehead along with it…is she the one you are looking for" The old lady said, getting and energetic, yeah form Lee accompanied form his good guy pose.
Lee followed the old lady's words, run toward the west gate, the one facing the hidden village of the sand, Lee jumped on top of the Konoha wall, seeing out of the village and by a stroke of luck, and he was able to spot Sakura nearby the main gate, as if looking for an opportunity to leave the village. Sakura-san. He thought as he jumped down and approached Sakura.
"Sakura-san" Sakura heard she turned and saw Lee standing behind her; she forced a smile, placed her hands behind her and moved her head slightly to the left, giving the impression of a nice girl. Lee couldn't stop the blush from appearing and the words cute invade his mind, but he knew that wasn't the right time for that, so he shook his head getting a grip on himself and lifted his right fist.
"Sakura-san, have you seen Naruto-kun?" His words caused Sakura's smile to dissipate, but only for a second, as she quickly forced herself to smile once again, but that split second was more than enough for Lee, who understood why her smiled vanished. "No, I haven't seen him Lee-san" She said to him, but Lee already knew the answer, Naruto had left and Sakura knew, that's why she was sad, and he was starting to wonder what Sakura was doing so close to the gates. "I see…so what are you doing here Sakura-san?" He asked looking at Sakura. Who simply looked away, and looked at the gate. "Just looking around" She said trying to sound innocently, but Lee even though she didn't say anything related to Naruto he knew why she was here, but didn't knew what she was planning. "Well Sakura-san I have to keep looking for Naruto-kun…I promise you I will find him" Lee said giving Sakura his extra especial good guy pose, Lee's words caused Sakura eyes to widen, she knew that was something more for her than for Lee's good, after his pose Lee left leaving Sakura who's eyes started to tear up, wondering why she always ended up being helped and how will she ever manage to help others instead.
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Ten-ten sat in a bench near the Konoha plaza, there; she simple saw the people pass, her faced frozen with a serious look, her tomboyish smile no where in site, she sat there thinking on what happened, on why things turned out like this, on why bad things happen in the world.
"Are you okay?" Someone asked Ten-ten, the poor girl looked up at the source of the words, and saw a small skinny boy; the boy had his hands in his pockets, a chuuning vest covering his torso and his hair in a pony tail.
"Shikamaru?" She said, getting a simple nod from the young boy who repeated his question, confusing Ten-ten for they had never spoken one on one before, she simply gathered her breath and answered. "I'm…ok I guess…" She said with a straight face, not even smiling or anything. Shimara raised and eyebrow, not believing a single of her words, he simply looked a way and mumbled something under his breath.
"Shikamaru. Why do bad things happen?" Ten-ten asked out of no where. Shikamaru immediately knew why she asked such a thing, but Shikamaru has never been very skilled with women. "I guess they have to happen to some one" He said causing a smile on Ten-ten, but it was a sad smile, "Is that so?" She simply said as she looked to the ground. Shikamaru swallowed and began to fell a little guilty, mumbling how women tend to bring him trouble. "Don't worry…just don't do anything stupid…ill make sure everything turns out fine" After saying that to Ten-ten, Shikamaru simple taped the top of her head, and walked away leaving her confused, but a bit at ease by his words.
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"That's impossible! There's no way Naruto would abandon the village, I don't like that kind of prank so get out" Damn it, how did they found out about this, I had everything planes so carefully so Naruto and Jiraiya would banish from the earth, damn it this can ruin everything if they find out to train he can be traced…but what to do if I say he left the village I would have to report him as a missing nin and he can be traced as well… Tsunade thought as she yelled to the genins that had gathered in her office.
Tsunade sat behind her desk, a vein pounding on her forehead, Shizune to her right, in front of the window holding Tonton, a nervous look on her face, for she was one of the few that knew the details of the situation and was watching how Tsunades carefully laid plan was being shattered a by a group of kids, which where all friends of Naruto. Shikamaru, Lee, Chouji and Kiba were the kids that were giving her trouble.
"Its no joke Tsunade-sama…Naruto has left the village, Sakura as confirmed this to e and we should do something about it…" Lee said. "We have to find out why that idiot left, something must have happened" Kiba added to Lee's words.
"I'll begin and investigation and see if this is true, but I doubt this is true, ill get back to you kids in a few days and see what happens" I have to think, I need some time and ill come up with something that will ease this kids and still make Naruto's where a bout a mystery.
"WE CANT WAIT THAT LONG!" Kiba yelled interrupting Tsunades thoughts, this angered Tsunade, and made everyone fall silent.
Shikamaru placed his hand in front of Kiba, trying to calm him and stop him from making things worse. "I'm sorry Tsunade-sama, Kiba is just worried for Naruto, and we all are actually. I don't agree with your plan of action either, it would take to long to actually do something, and knowing Naruto he only would have left so suddenly if something had happen, something that would make him leave with out telling any of us" Shikamaru said, perfectly explaining his point of view.
Tsunade was being pushed by the genins, she had to stop them, to buy herself some time. "Even if it's odd for him to do such thing, we can't let it pass him as one of his pranks, and be have to follow protocol" She said as she stood up and walked toward the genis. "Ok then, the sooner you leave the sooner I can do the appropriate paperwork" She said as she pushed Shikamaru toward the door.
As she pushed the genin back, the door was suddenly opened, Neji entered holding in his hand the letter, even thou just bit and pieces where all that was left of it. He walked toward the Hokage and handed her the letter, not saying a words and not taking his eyes off hers. Tsunade took the letter and began to read it carefully. Damn you Naruto…She cursed as she read it, her plans ruined by the blond genin, this lettered completely ruined her plans, or did it.
"Isee…Looks like what you said is true…Shikanaru…gathered the genins you can and head out after Naruto..its a S-Rank mission…now go" She said as All the Genisn ran out except for Neji who stood there looking into Tsunades eyes, He stood there for a few seconds after which he walked out of the office after the others.
Shizune and Tsunade where left alone in the office, Tsunade still reading the letter, Shizune walked up, standing at Tsunades side. "What are we going to do Tsundae-sama?" Shizune asked petting Tonton. A smiled formed on Tsunades lips.
Stunade simple closed her eyes and continued smiling. "Jiraiya is with Naruto, so there's no way they will find him, and this might be for the better" She said as she crushed the letter.
END CHAPTER