A/N I expect there to be more interaction between Hinata and Sasuke in the upcoming chapters. I've altered the past of the characters slightly so that will be explained as the story progresses. This is my first Naruto fic so please be kind!

Fallen Sparrow

Chapter Two: How did I get here?

It was an odd feeling to know that you were going to die… to lose complete connection with the current world. His eyes were the last things that she saw… wide, black eyes that were suddenly blending with her surroundings… and she realized in that moment that it was all over… how had she come to be here… to be in this moment with him? It all seemed like a lifetime ago… a brighter lifetime… when death was not even a factor in her mind. When all that mattered was blond hair, blue eyes and a smile that could melt her heart even from a thousand miles away…

One week ago…

"He's gone! He's left the village." Sakura breathed out heavily staring at Narut, and Ino. She had overheard the council… the Hokage making the heartbreaking decision. It was for the good of the village… Even with proof that the young man had been exorcised of his demons, his impromptu departure had stirred doubts and when in doubt action must be taken.

"What?! That teme! After everything I risked to bring him home?!" Naruto screamed. His response was typical, overdramatic laced with underlying concern.

Ino stared at Sakura seeing the pain in her eyes. "What is it? What's wrong?" She could see there was more…

The pink hared girl hesitated if only for a moment her eyes searching Naruto's for what she was about to say. "They're… they're sending out a group… to bring him back... dead or alive."

There was a deafening silence as all three realized the most likely outcome… Sasuke wouldn't be coming back. This was a "Seek and Destroy Mission'. They all knew it. That's what dead or alive meant. They all knew it even if no one wanted to say it.

It was Naruto who turned away first, clenching his fist in anger and frustration. "I'm going to find him… I'm going to bring him home!" He stated. There was no room for argument, no room for debate. Naruto said he would do it and no one questioned it.

"I'm going with you!" Sakura stated. He stopped looked over his shoulder and stared at her.

Ino watched the tension build between them. Naruto fighting some inner battle that only Sakura seemed to understand. "I won't stay behind… not this time! I won't watch the two of you…" She trailed off her words unspoken screamed to him.

His demeanor softened if only for a moment before he nodded. "Fine!" He looked to Ino already knowing her response. It was settled. The three of them would search for Sasuke. They would find him and bring him home.

"Let's meet here at nightfall. We'll leave by the southern pathway." He remarked.

"Demo… how do we… how will we find him? We don't even know what direction to look in."

Naruto stared down at the gash in his left hand… once a paw print. A gift from his friend. "I have his scent… I can track him anywhere." He remarked and then walked away.

The two girls remained alone both watching the blond… his boyish swagger a thing of the past… tragedy had made him stronger… had made him grow-up. He was different… he was becoming a man.

Later…

Throwing in the bare essentials… which of course consisted of 'Instant Ramen' he sighed. Here he was again… how many times would he have to do this?

"As many times as Sasuke needs me to." He answered himself resolutely before snapping the backpack close and heading for the door. He found Hinata on his doorstep, her tan jacket seeming to swallow her whole. Her cheeks were a bright red that could be seen even through the cover of night. Her hands wrapped tightly around the straps of her knapsack while her index fingers desperately tried to make contact.

"N-naruto-kun!" She could smell his scent... it was like honey and wood.

"Hinata-sama?!" He raised a brow not sure what she was doing here at night no less. "What are you doing here?"

She opened her mouth trying to get her words together. She had rehearsed this. She had practiced this a million times since she had overheard the trio. "I did not m-mean to eavesdrop… I p-promise… Na-Naruto-kun… but you are… you a-are going to r-rescue S-sasuke-kun?!"

He stared at her a moment. He nodded after a moment. He didn't expect her to stop him, not that she could. When she saw him nod she swallowed hard. She had to be strong. She had to be courageous. She had to show him that she was worth noticing. With a deep breath she took a leap of faith and practically shouted. "IWANTTOCOMEWITHYOU!" Once the words were out of her mouth she felt herself clam up and her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

Scratching the back of his head he stared at her for a moment not sure of what to make of her impromptu request. It was so unlike her. "Hinata… I really don't think that this is the kind of thing you should be involved with. This will be dangerous… and well I don't want anything to happen to you. I won't be able to protect you if something should happen." He remarked. He watched her nod slowly bending her head to hide her disappointment. "Hey… when I come back we can go eat Ramen!" He suggested trying to brighten her mood.

"Hai…" She stated softly.

"I have to go or I'll be late. Good-bye Hinita." He stated beginning to walk around her. He got about three feet away when her voice made him stop.

"I… I d-don't w-want to be protected!" She remarked.

He looked over his shoulder. Her head was still bowed, her hands by her side now clenched into tight fists.

"I am a n-ninja. I c-can help! I w-will be strong!" Her head came up and she turned to look him in the eye.

"Hinata!" Her name left his lips on a breath.

"I do not w-want Naruto-k-kun to protect me. I do not want a-anyone to s-save me. I can save myself. I know I can help… I'm c-coming with you!"

He stared at her not sure where this new strong woman had come from but unable to keep the smile from his face. Walking up to her he nodded. "Glad to have you on my team!" Reaching out he placed a hand on her shoulder to show his gratitude and watched as she simply fainted from contact… Raising his eyebrows in shock he called to her. "Hinata! Hinata! This isn't funny! We have to go! Hinata… Hinata…HINATA!"

The screams that rang in her ears were now fading. Distant words echoing in the back of her mind making her struggle for better audio. Lips moving without her knowledge trying to answer her friend… "Naruto-kun… Naruto-kun… I found… him."

The rogues that were chasing Sasuke only found Hinata lying in her own blood.

"What the hell happened?" One of them asked looking down upon the Heiress as he spoke to his comrade.

"I didn't see her. I had him! I had the traitor and she jumped in the way." He stated looking to the open clearing just ahead of them. "I know he's out there. I can still smell him."

" Teme!" Muttered the leader and no one knew whether he was referring to the traitor or his own teammate. "We have to get her back to the village. We have to get a medical Nin… if she dies we're done." He remarked.

All four faces looked from one to the other. Regardless of the reasons why Hinata had chosen to throw herself in the line of fire the fact remained that she was highborn and that meant she answered to no one but the Hokage herself. As wrong as she may be there would be a penalty should her life end this day by their hands and they all knew it.

With nimble hands she was raised and placed in his arms. Turning he stopped if only for a moment, barely looking over his shoulder. "This isn't over… Traitor!" He whispered and knew that Sasuke could hear him.

Sasuke watched them take her away and heard her rescuer's warning which in the moment meant nothing to him. Perched high above them in a nearby tree, one hand gripping the thick branch above his head while the other wrapped itself around his upper body trying to ward off the pain from what had to be a broken rib, maybe even two. He had run… for the moment anyway. It wouldn't do either of them any good should he be captured now.

'Run Sasuke… run for… Naruto...'

Her voice resounded in his ears creating conflict where there once was certainty. He had made up his mind that the village that he had been brought up in was no longer home. Men like him didn't have homes… they were wanderers. His purpose had been fulfilled. He had killed his brother… battled his demon and had come out on the other side. He had done what he believed he was meant to do…

So then why did he feel as though he were missing something?

'… run for Naruto…'

He felt himself scoff at the blond boy's name and felt a sardonic smirk come to his lips. It would be just like his 'friend' to make him doubt the one sure thing he had left, and the girl… how did she fit into all this? Why would she risk her life for him? Why had she been willing to die when they had never spoken before?

Glancing over his shoulder he watched the sun begin to sink into the open horizon marking his freedom slowly slipping away. All he had to do was turn his back on them… that's what he had been doing anyway. Just turn around and do like she asked and… and…

'…run… run…'

Swallowing hard he made his decision…