Hinata sat on her bed in the medical tent surrounded by the Kohona 12, who had all decided to pay her a visit before they began helping with the village repairs. All that is apart from Naruto who had yet to show his face again since their last awkward encounter.

She had been stuck there for almost a week now and already she had missed so much. Neji had filled her in on Naruto's defeat of Pein and his newfound status as the hero of the village. She couldn't help but feel a rush of pride at hearing that. Naruto had finally gotten what he had longed for for so long - the recognition of the villagers. Now he was closer to his dream than ever.

She also couldn't help but feel a little ashamed as well. She had vowed to get stronger but she had been so easily beaten by Pein and in the end Naruto had freed himself (though how, she still did not know). It had led her to question her own resolve. Sure, she had finally confessed to Naruto but that had been when she thought that she might die and even now she didn't believe she had the courage to hear his answer.

Ino's voice brought her out of her thoughts. '...and then Choji ate them all himself.' she finished with a large sigh. Hinata hadn't heard the rest of the story but she could tell by Ino's exasperated expression that it had been an amusing one (to everyone except Ino, of course) and just the look on her face was enough for her to let out a giggle as everyone laughed while Ino glared at her teammate in remembered irritation and said teammate rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

Neji was the first to stop laughing. 'It's good to hear your laughter again, Hinata-sama. This is the first time I've heard it since you've been here.' he remarked with a small smile on his face. She returned it, touched by her cousin's concern for her happiness.

Sakura looked over at Hinata after hearing Neji's words. 'Speaking of you being here - shouldn't you have been released by now. I mean, you're injuries were bad but not life threatening and I had already healed you mostly before you came here.'

Hinata looked down, avoiding her friends' questioning eyes so that they coudn't see the flash of panic in her own. She had hoped to avoid this line of questioning. Even she herself did not know quite what was going on with her body.

'I-I-...' This wasn't good, her old stutter resurfacing and giving away her anxiousness.

Luckily Ino came to her rescue, whether it was intentional or just to annoy her rival. 'Are you sure you just didn't make a mistake. It wouldn't be the first time.' she said directing a superior glance at the pink-haired kunoichi.

Sakura pursed her lips. Then she folded her arms and took on the same condescending look as Ino. 'Speak for yourself. Unlike some people, I don't make those kinds of mistakes.'

A blush darkened Ino's cheeks. 'Hey, that was one time and it wasn't even my fault!'

'Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say.'

'What was that?'

'You heard me. Ino-pig.'

'Forehead-girl!'

The two girls were now in each others faces and Hinata couldn't help but smile as the boys tried to calm them down. Tenten, however, joined in her mirth. 'Those two haven't changed a bit.'

Hinata smiled up at her friend, then turned back to the arguing pair. 'No, they have.' Both Sakura and Ino were well respected med-nin now and I... The thought dissolved her smile and Tenten seemed to notice the change in her demeaner.

'Well!' she said. 'I think we should get these two out of here before they do something I'll regret.' Hinata agreed, once those two got into a fight it could be very hard to stop them. And this was a hospital, albeit a makeshift one.

Tenten ushered them out and the boys followed, looking relieved at having someone else step in. They all turned back as they reached the entrance of the tent and waved at her. Hinata put on her best smile and waved back, her troubles momentarily forgotten.

As Sakura was being almost pushed out of the medical tent by Tenten, she caught sight of a med-nin that she knew. 'Hikaru-san!' she called out. The man looked over in her direction as Sakura broke free from the group and approached him.

They greeted each other. 'It's been a while, how are you?'

The med-nin shrugged, 'You know.' She did. Sakura could see the dark circles under his eyes and knew that she likely had some of her own. All ninja with medical training had been put to work on the many injuries sustained during the attack.

A sudden thought popped into her head. 'Um... Hikaru-san. You were assigned to Tent C weren't you. When he nodded, she countinued, 'Why is it that Hina-, I mean Hyuuga-san is still there. Her injuries should be fine by now.'

Hikaru looked uncertain, by now the others had joined them and were eagerly listening for his answer.

Sakura noticed the man's hesitation. 'It's okay, you can tell us. We're all just worried that's all.' The med-nin looked around the group. They were all well respected ninja and a few of them he knew from working the hospital. He nodded.

'Well, it happened a few days ago...'

Hinata lay back down on her bed, her mind drifting back to Sakura's question. She couldn't explain it to her. She couldn't even understand it to herself! She thought back to the first time it happened.

#flashback#

Hinata was in the middle of a dream about Naruto when she was violently awoken by a searing pain in her eyes. She screamed. What was happening to her.

As the pain grew worse her cries grew louder. They drew the attention of the med-nin on duty who rushed to her side. Two others came through having heard her from outside.

'What's wrong with her?' one demanded, seemingly the one in charge.

'I-I don't know.' another said, his voice shaking slightly. 'She was sleeping soundly a minute ago then she just started screaming.'

'Don't talk rubbish. Something must have happened!' the leading med-nin said harshly. Through the blinding pain Hinata felt a pang of simpathy for the younger man.

The third med-nin stepped in. This one was a woman. 'Anyway, what we need to do now is relieve the pain.'

The leader grunted in agreement, obviously still dissatisfied. 'You two hold her still and I'll see what I can do.'

The other two complied and Hinata felt her arms and legs, which she hadn't even realised were thrashing, pinned down by unfamiliar mass. She felt someone grasp her face and almost immediately after someone started using a healing jutsu on her eyes.

In a matter of minutes the pain subsided and then disappeared completely. The med-nin released her.

'Try and get some sleep. You're alright now.' The one that healed her said.

But that wasn't true at all she thought as two of them left and the other resumed his duties. For in the midst of her pain driven thrashing, Hinata had caught her reflection in a bearby bedpan and what she saw shook her to the core. Her eyes - still milky lavender - but rippled in a n all too familiar way.

#end of flashback#

Hinata pulled her blanket around her, shivering despite the fact that she wasn't cold. Fortunately there had not been a repeat of that incident but every now and then her eyes would sting.

She closed them. It was still early and she wanted to get a couple more hours of sleep before her next examination. She hoped it went well because she wanted nothing more than to get out of this place.

The young ninja exchanged worried glances as they absorbed what the now departed med-nin had just told them.

'I don't believe it.'

'Poor Hinata!'

Tenten looked at Neji, worry clear in her big, brown eyes. The young Hyuuga also looked troubled. 'Do you think something is wrong with her Byakugan?'

Neji's brow furrowed further. 'I hope not,' he said quietly. 'For Hinata-sama's sake.' Neither he nor Hinata wanted to imagen what would happen if that were the case.