Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in so long! My other NaruHina, 'The Fox and the Hare', has had me very occupied. Poor Hinata… I do pity her….

Un - yeah

Kunoichi - Female ninja

Chapter 8

"Ye have no idea what Kyuubi is, do ye?" Hibiomo asked Hinata.

"I've meet him! He was in Naruto-kun's body last night…."

"Ye saw the sane side. When Naruto touched that Kyuubi stone, he split our little fox-friend in half, one sane, the other… a monster."

Hinata gasped. "She was killed… by a monster."… did Kyuubi-san… kill his mate?!

"So… you do know a good bit."

Hinata looked up to see Kyuubi had gained control of Naruto's body. He rested his hand on Hinata's shoulder.

"But I won't have you go and say in all in the presence of Hyuga-hime."

"Why? Ye ashamed of it?"

Kyuubi's grip tightened on Hinata's shoulder, his anger visible in his scarlet eyes. "Who wouldn't be? I've set hell on millions of villages, ruined lives, and killed someone very dear to me. Her blood is on my claws; who wouldn't be ashamed, Hibiomo?!"

Hibiomo smiled. "Ah know about dat too. Either through me, or ye, Hinata-chan will find out."

Kyuubi growled, erupting into a roar as he launched his claws at the ninja, who disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Kyuubi-san?"

Kyuubi's eyes widened in fear, sliding to the corner of his vision as he turned to face the Hyuga.

"What… was he talking about?"

Kyuubi smiled sadly. "You need not know, Hyuga-hime; not yet."

Blue swirled in his eyes, Naruto's whisker-marks thinning as the teenager regained control. Naruto looked away, sadness in his eyes.

"Sorry… you had to find that out."

Hinata stood up and walked over to Naruto. She reached her hand out, hesitated, but put her pale hand on his cheek, turning him to face her. She examined his face, tracing her thumb over one of the whisker marks. "They're actually kind of cute." she said, bring her hand back to suppress a giggle. Hinata turned to the fallen tent "We'd better clean up."

Naruto reached his hand out, but didn't touch Hinata as the Kunoichi left to tend to the camp.

Hinata….

- (' . ') -

"Hot springs?"

"We just opened, so it's free for the first day!!!" The man exclaimed. His black spiky hair shook as he pointed to the Hot Spring house. His black eyes look away from the two while a smile was plastered on his face.

"Why not?" Naruto said. He looked at Hinata. "You up to a bath?"

Hinata said nothing as her face skipped about six shades of color.

Naruto blushed. "N-n-n-not like that!!!"

"I know… sure." Hinata whispered.

They headed into the building, where two people where waiting for them. A man with wild brown hair and a red kimono bowed beside a blonde-haired woman in a purple kimono. "Welcome!" they both said, looking up. The man wore a white scarf around his face, coving up his nose and mouth, but missing his black, slitted eyes…. The woman had blue, pupiless eyes, her long hair pulled into a ponytail.

"We will take you to your rooms."

The blonde lead Hinata down a hallway. She studied the girl, who seemed to be very nervous.

"Ino?" she inquired. The girl jumped, skidding to a stop.

"You ARE Ino." Hinata said.

"Heh, caught, eh?" she said, turning to Hinata. "Hey girl; long time no see."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm on a mission. But I can't tell you about it." Ino teased.

Hinata looked back. "Were those people… Kiba and Shino?"

"Thank gosh Naruto's stupid." Ino commented. "It is them, but we can't tell you why we're here."

Hinata studied Ino for a moment, but then nodded.

"So." Ino clapped her hands toghether. "The hot spring?"

- (' . ') -

Naruto and the boy walked down the other hallway.

"So… is she your girlfriend?"

Naruto looked at the boy. "Hinata?"

"Ye- Er, is that her name?"

"Yeah."

"Yes, then."

Naruto blushed slightly. "Well… I like her, but we're not going out…"

The boy nodded. Naruto looked at the boy again. "You look awfully familiar…."

The boy tensed; a sweat drop rolling down the side of his face. "Why do you say that?" His scarf caught on a loose nail, pulling away from his face to reveal red triangles tattooed on his cheeks, a fang poking out from his lip. "Crap!!" he cried, covering up is face as he turned away.

Naruto's eyes widened and he pointed an accusing finger at the boy. "K-Kiba!!"

"Busted." Kiba said, looking back at Naruto with an embarrassed smile. "Yo, Naruto."

"Hey." Naruto crossed his arms. "You are you here?"

Kiba laughed nervously. "Well, um, why? That's a good question…." Kiba thought for a moment. "Oh! We're trying to lure an enemy here so we can attack him. The hot spring is just a disguise."

"They why didn't you just come out with that?"

"ER… Because you might have blown our cover!" Kiba exclaimed, sweat streaming down his face.

"… I don't really get it, but okay." Naruto said.

"So…. While you're here, why not enjoy the hot spring?"

- (' . ') -

Hinata walked down the hall, clutching her bathrobe. "These things are always so loose." she muttered. She came upon a door. Hinata looked left and right. "The men's spring must be on the other side of the house…." she mumbled to herslf. Hinata opened the sliding door, shutting it behind her. She removed her bath robe, folding it up and putting it on a shelf. She heard the sliding door behind move and turned around to see Naruto standing in the hot spring doorway- butt naked. Though, Hinata was no better. Their faces (or rather, entire bodies) turned bright red. Naruto slammed shut the sliding door yelling a "SORRY!" once is was closed. Hinata didn't hear him; she had fainted.

- (' . ') -

Naruto took a deep breath. "Okay, here we go." he shut his eyes, only to picture the beautiful body of Hinata. "DAMMIT!" he yelled, dunking his head into the water as to wash away the image. He looked back at the sliding doors.

She must have left by now. He thought to himself. Naruto grabbed his robe and tied it around his waist. He slid the door slight open, only to see the naked back of Hinata. "Shit." he muttered, a light blush crawling across his cheeks. He kept his eyes looking forward as he reached over her unconscious body, grabbing her robe. Naruto laid it over her body. He gently shook her. "Hinata." he whispered. She opened her eyes, rolling slightly to look up at Naruto. Unfortunately, that caused the robe to fall off her, leaving her exposed. Naruto's face went beat red as he stared for a moment; then turned his head the other way, getting up and marching to the hall door. "Sorry." he muttered before exiting the room. Hinata realized what had happened and, yet again, passed out.

- (' . ') -

"KIBA!!"

The dog-boy jumped, looking back as Naruto slammed his sliding door back, breathing heavily as he glared at the tattoo-faced teen.

"This hot spring is a MIXED BATH?!"

Kiba looked at Naruto like he had lost his mind.

Naruto walked up to Kiba, stopping inching before him. He threw his hand back in the direction of the hot spring. "I JUST SAW HINATA COME IN THERE NAKED!!" he yelled. Kiba stuck his pinky in his ear, twisting it as he looked one-eyed at Naruto.

"I have ears you know."

"Kiba, do I look like I give a damn right now?"

"Not particularly."

"KIBA!"

"You must have missed the sign. It would have said 'females' if Hinata came in. She's not as stupid as you to walk into the wrong bath."

Naruto glared at Kiba. "Alright then, let's see."

- (' . ') -

Hinata opened her white eyes, blinking them as her vision cleared. "Where am I?"

"Told you." a voice said from outside.

Kiba…?

"B-b-b-b-but there wasn't a sign there before! Look, I'll show y-"

Hinata looked up to see the door slide back and a blonde stick his head in. He flushed and jerked his head back, slamming the sliding door. "Maybe I won't."

Hinata's head again registered the resent happenings and she struggled not to faint once more.

"The steam will clear my head…." she muttered, grabbing a shelf and pulling herself up. Hinata wrapped a towel around her body as she stumbled to the door separating the hot spring from the house, pulling it open with a gasp.

"Hibiomo."

- (' . ') -

"You liked it."

"No I didn't."

"You liked it."

"No I didn't."

"You liked it."

"No I didn't."

"You liked it."

"No I didn't."

"C'mon, you know you liked it."

"No, I didn't."

Kiba laughed as Naruto grew ever redder, looking away from his laughing friend.

THUD

They stopped.

"What was that?"

"Hinata probably fainted."

Naruto looked back.

"Are you sure?"

"C'mon , man, what else could it be?"

Naruto turned around and headed back to the hot spring.

"What, you wanna see some more?"

Naruto pulled the door open and headed in. "Hinata's not in here."

"What are you doing?!" Hinata exclaimed, her voice from outside.

Naruto rushed over to the hot spring door, which was open. He turned to find Hibiomo pinning Hinata against the wall, holding her chin up as he studied her eyes.

"Get away from her!" Naruto yelled, throwing a punch at Hibiomo. He leapt out of the way, landing on the hot spring fence.

"I got what I wanted. She is not Tsu's reincarnation." and he left in a puff of smoke.

"Tsu…?" Naruto looked to Hinata. Or rather, Kyuubi did, his eyes hopeful as he studied Hinata. He sighed and shook his head. "I thought so too, at first, but you do not carry her scent."

"… I'm sorry."

Kyuubi smiled. "There's no need for that; you are you, Tsu is Tsu." Kyuubi looked up. "I just can't let go of her."

Hinata walked up and grabbed his sleeve. "I think…"

Kyuubi looked down.

"I think that it's not that you can't let go; you're just lonely."

Kyuubi smiled and pressed the back of his hand to Hinata's cheek. "But, I'm not alone anymore, am I?"

Hinata smiled back as Kyuubi slid back, leaving Naruto back in command. A look of worry held his eyes has his hand remained against Hinata's cheek.

Not alone…?

- (' . ') -

Hinata and Naruto waved back at their friends as they set back out on the road. They leapt into the trees, traveling back to the river.

"… Hinata?"

"Un?"

"… What…." Naruto looked uncomfortable. "Do you…." He gritted his teeth.

I can't ask it.

Hinata cocked her head at Naruto. "What is it, Naruto-kun?"

He shook his. "Nothing."

A state of uneasiness settled between the two, following them to the river, haunting the presence of each other. They ate their meal in silence. Hinata pitched the tent, looking over at Naruto, who was watching the river, deep in thought..

Why is he so silent? she watched as his eyes drooped and fell backwards, but caught a tree and pulled himself back up. But something was different….

"Kyuubi-san?"

The body turned around to reveal Hinata was right, Kyuubi was in control.

"Do you know what's wrong with Naruto?"

"No… he won't tell me. It's in his deep thoughts, so I can't hear it, either."

Hinata said nothing, worry coating her face as she finished putting up the tent.

Kyuubi took her chin to face him toward him. "Do not fret; Hyuga-hime, he'll tell you eventually."

Hinata nodded and gave him a small smile before crawling into the tent for her sleep. Kyuubi walked over to the river and sat beside it.

"I know you're there, Hibiomo."

A chuckle was heard as the ninja emerged. "Evenin', Kyu-kun."

Kyuubi raised an eyebrow. "I'm now a -kun, am I?"

Hibiomo chuckled. "Ye all seem the think Ah'm an enemy."

"You're not?"

"Rather… a man after his own personal gain… mostly."

"Oh?"

Hibiomo shook his head. "You have things you wish to hide, so have I." and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Hibiomo… what is he after? Kyuubi head back to the camp, just to make sure it wasn't Hinata.