Naruto's' Pov

I opened up the last of the Hokage diary the he hasn't read which happened to Tsunade-baa-chan. I laugh at her thought about the rookie nine. Of course two members down we don't nine anymore. I stop myself from going down that lane as I keep reading and I can't stop as I read to a date that she gave out this mission to her team. I put the book down and I stare as the last picture taken of Hinata-chan before she never came back. I had my arm around her but I was looking at Sakura-chan and she was smiling at her team. I clenched my fists in anger at that photo. I love it because it was of her but I hated it because it reminded how much of an teme I was to her. When Baa-chan told me Hinata was dead I felt as everything was frozen then I demanded that we go search for her cause there was possibility she could be alive. Of course I saw how her team's corpses came in all mangled and tortured and if it wasn't for Sakura I would have gone fox in the basement of the tower.

I suppose looking back I was selfish, everyone mourned her death, us, the village and the hyuuga's. For the rookie nine she was the one who you could get to no matter what you did she would smile and she'd ease your pain and give you courage. For the village she always helped out in fundraiser and events, she was kind and I was surprised everyone in town knew her by face and name. There was only one person who didn't call her Hinata-chan. But he was a hyuuga so he doesn't count. I'm grateful that they decided to put her grave in the public graveyard so everyone could visit her. I guess they have their moments as I remember Hanabi at her funeral. Every single Hyuuga was there which was very rare but what surprised me was they were crying for her. Hanabi told me that despite of everything the hyuuga's loved her and when she died their hope of change died.

"Naruto!" I look up surprised to see Shikamaru sitting in front of me glaring at me.

"Gomen I was thinking about her." His face softens and I saw pain flash in eyes before they were empty.

"We all feel her absence Naruto but knowing Hinata she wouldn't want you to mope around after."

"Ah, most of us but that teme didn't even cry!"

"Neji? How do we know? I think he took it harder then any of us."

My head flips up in surprise at him and confusion and disbelief at his words.

"When she was around he was warm, well as much as he ever was and he smiled to. You may have not seen it but he protected her more then any of us did. I mean after Hinata-chan's death he hasn't showed any emotions, so much that Tenten couldn't handle and left him."

"Ah isn't Tenten with Kiba now?"

"Hai, they both had their heart broken by hyuuga's so I guess they bonded over that from what I hear. But the fact is Neji is the one I pity. He has nothing left with out her. He knows this so he tries to do what she did in his own way."

"What she do? Neji can't heal."

"That's not what I meant naruto. Hinata-chan never stopped helping people and protecting the weak and Neji's trying to protect the weak but I'm afraid he's going to kill him self doing it. You remember the one mission she was sent to deliver a message but she was two weeks late? We were all in a panic and couldn't find her remember?"

"Hai, she told us a villager asked her to come to her village in sound and heal her granddaughter, she went and ended up being a doctor there for two weeks till-"

"That's right; the one who found her wasn't any of us but Neji. And you know it wasn't because he had the byakugan since other hyuuga's were looking for her to. He knew her and he know how to look for her every time some villager asked her to come to their village or some one tried tricking her into something bad."

"I've never seen Neji more pissed off when he beat the shit out of those bandits for trying to tricking Hinata-chan."

"You see, he was more dependant on her then any of us."

"Ok, I'll admit he protected her and knew her a little better but I refuse to believe that he actually cares for her."

"Oh? Did you ever realize that he only smiled around her? That he was only nice when she was around? That when ever he was praised for something he didn't give a shit but when she said something he bowed and thanked her? How about when he threaten the captain of whatever team she was medic for bodily harm if she comes back hurt? How about that he never hated you till after you started going out with her? Remember how he use to take great pleasure in beating the crap out of you or insulting you after each time

Her? Naruto whether you want to admit or not Neji was in love with Hinata-chan, like Kiba and like you."

"Ah but why did he go out with Tenten?"

"Probably because not to bother Hinata who was worried about him. Maybe he knew that she would never return his feeling so he tried to move on?"

"I guess it doesn't matter anymore does it?"

I picked up her diary and kept reading as Shikamaru talked but one entry had my mind spinning.

"Oi Nara did Hinata-chan ever come from her mission then go back out?" He looked at me weird but the look on my face had him getting up and reading the entry over my shoulder.

"No Tsunade said that Hinata-chan never came back and was thought to be dead. So why would she write this down?" I watched he grabbed the book out of my hands as I put my fist over my beating heart. I saw his face show a great amount of surprise when he looked at me.

"She's alive." I jumped on Shikamaru and hugged him and he hugged me back as jumped up down.

"Do I even want to know why you two are screaming like girls while holding each other?" I look at Sakura before I sweep her up in a kiss before I release her look at her in the face.

"Hinata-chan is alive, for some reason granny lied to us!" She smiled and joined in the squealing.

"What the hell?" I look at Ino but Sakura screams it out first.

"Hinata-chan's alive!" She looks surprised before her and Sakura start squealing. By the time were done we have Sakura,Ino, Kiba, Tenten,Chouji and I hugging in a group.

"Oi calm down!" We look at Shikamaru whose eye brows are furrowed and there's something in his eyes.

"Crap, I know that look that means there's bad news." He looks at us with grave eyes before he sighs and sits in the Hokage chair as we crowd around him like children.'

"Hinata-chan asked Hokage-sama to tell everyone she's dead." I stood back in shock, was it because of me?

'I know that look on everyone's face and it had nothing to do with any of us. She left the village because he felt after losing her eyes that this village would be better off with out her."

"Her sight? Those bastards went after her eyes like they got to Neji but she wasn't as lucky."

"No, the opposite actually, it was Neji who was the unlucky one."

"What re you talking about Neji's sight was a little damaged, all he had to do was train in order to get back his sight." I looked at Tenten who glared at Shikamaru who looked down at the book not meting our eyes.

"Hinata-chan saw what happened to Neji when she went to find Hokage-sama, she felt that Neji need his sight more then she did so before Hokage told anyone and before Neji woke she implanted Hinata-chan's eyes into Neji not telling anyone about it. Days later she left the village not saying anything."

"It's not true." I turned to see Neji looking at us with anger and I couldn't help but looking to his lavender tinted eyes and picture her.

"It is. I was the guard that day." I looked to see Shino standing behind Neji.

"You bastard why didn't you tell me?" I watched as Kiba lunged at Shino but was stopped easily by Neji who threw him to the ground.

"The important thing is she's alive, we need to find her before the war gets dangerous and we can't leave as freely as now."

We all looked at Chouji who was the only person who had recovered from the last bit of info and had spoken the important part.

"Does it say where she is?"

"No, it says that Hokage hand picked the Kazekage's apprentice to escort her."

"Matsuri! Listen we'll create a team here and now that will hunt her down and bring her back." I watched as everyone stepped forward at once but I closed my eyes trying to think and hold back the urge to let everyone go including me.

"Three, I can only afford three. Shino, Sai and Chouji."

"Sai hasn't even met Hinata-chan!"

"That's my decision now leave it. Chouji you're the leader and I must stress the importance of this mission."

I looked at Chouji and at Shino as they nodded and left while the others burned death glares at me.

"Need I remind you there is war starting and everyone in this room is too emotionally unstable for this mission which is why I chose those three. You will have to wait just like me so out and let me be."

They popped out and filed out accordingly but as I took back the journal and read what Shikamaru I understood why he paraphrased. She had put her feelings of guilt and her anger into it. But as I looked at the pages I saw the ink smudged of tear drops and I wonder where Tsunade-baa-chan went after I took over but some how I didn't think I'll ever know.

Suna

Gaara's Pov

I sat down in my desk looked tiredly at the three Kohona nin in front of me wonder what bad news was coming my way.

"Ah, what is it that you wanted to tell me."

"We would like to borrow your apprentice for a mission.' I looked at Chouji like he was crazy before my sister spoke up.

"Matsuri is young, sure she's stronger then the others but we won't risk her in what ever harebrain scheme your Hokage has cooked up!"

"We need the information she has, we'll protect her we promise."

"What information could she possibly have that would warrant three anbu to need?" I looked at them when Shino spoke he sent my world spinning.

"She knows where Hinata hyuuga who is alive is."

"Temari call her here now." She jumps at my voice because she's apparently shocked as I am at the news.

"What proof do you have?"

I didn't believe it, how could I? I mean why would Hinata leave her village and fake her death? I looked at the newly arrived Matsuri who looked nervous because of the Kohona anbu.

"Matsuri do you know where Hinata hyuuga is?"

"I've never even met an hyuuga before sensei." I felt anger at the anbu who gave me hope that the girl I had a crush on and maybe even loved was still alive.

"Matsuri-san did you escort a blind lady?" Blind no, it can't be, I refuse.

"Oh Hai! She was my first assignment. She saved my life when we were attack by bandits and she inspired me to become like her!"

"Like her?" I asked but already knew the answer.

"She was the type of who person who would protect others at all cost because she can't sit and watch people get hurt." My heart triples its pace at that description and I know it's her even when she describers her blue hair, pale skin, soft smile.

"Gaara-sama may we borrow your apprentice?"

"Hai." I say it with out thinking because I want to see her again and have her smile at me.

"Eh? What would an anbu want with me?"

"Matsuri-chan we have to find that lady and you're the only person who can help us find her. It mean a lot to everyone in Kohona if you went with us."

"Hai."