Hi! Thanks for the reviews!! In this next chapter, it was 4 years after the ninjas of Konoha learned of Hinata's kidnapping. Most of the characters grew a lot and Hinata's friends are already 18-19 years old. I added a fictional setting, the Village of Snow, think Russia meets Japan. I added some fictional characters and about the names, I'm not Japanese so I just have to make do. And Neji and Hinata had gotten really close before her abduction. I added Vision of Escaflowne's theme song as Hinata's favorite song. Disclaimer: I'm just a fan of Naruto!

"The Crane's Song"

CHAPTER 2

Prologue:

Because of Hinata's unexplained disappearance, Team Kurenai was disbanded and the remaining members were sent to other teams as a result. Kiba was sent to Team Guy while Shino was sent to Team Asuma. Although they were sent to other teams because of the incident, Shino and Kiba never forgot their missing team member, Hinata; by going to her engraved tombstone erected in her honor. They would go there before and after a mission, but they never forget to put flowers, yellow carnations, her favorite flower.

To them, it was sign that their dear Hinata was constantly watching over them, looking after them wherever she was. It was the ritual both Shino and Kiba never fail to do. For them, it was the only thing that held the tenuous memory of their precious Hinata. Sometimes, Kurenai-sensei and the other teams would visit her tombstone and talked to her as if she was still there, just listening quietly and patiently. Sometimes, even Sasuke would put little bunches of flowers he would find in Konoha's lush fields.

Perhaps, the only chunin who still didn't visit Hinata's tomb was Neji. Everyone believed him to be too uncaring, too heartless to visit his cousin's tomb. But, alone inside his room, Neji would sometimes whisper, "Why?? Why Hinata? Why did you leave me?" and cry.

Present time:

Team Guy was assigned on a mission to the Village of Snow, a neighboring village whose climate is forever snowing. Team Guy now consists of Neji, Tenten, Lee and Kiba who all wore layers of bulky clothing to ward off the cold. It was a C-ranked mission which was assigned to them by Fifth Hokage. They have to look for a crane that was reported to wreck havoc in the village.

"Nn-Neji… when are we going to reach the village? It's really cold out here and I think there's an incoming blizzard." whispered Tenten. "A little bit further," replied Neji curtly "If you don't want to get stuck in the blizzard you got to move faster." "Hey! How can I help it if the snow is nearly to my waist? I'm not as tall as the rest of you guys, you know." snapped Tenten.

Neji sighed. It was going to be a long trip. They nearly reached the village when suddenly the incoming blizzard quickly died and they heard a keening cry. "Get ready!" barked Neji and all of them quickly assumed their defense positions. Team Guy heard a great flap of wings and a shadow went over them. Astonished, they saw a tall and majestic black crane, gracefully folding her wings and settled in front of them.

Team Guy quickly took inventory of the crane. It really is unusual to see a crane to be so near a village and it's even black. Its eyes were of pale blue in color making it even stranger. Its wings, although black, has some silver threaded into it, making it shimmer. It was a beautiful crane, strange, but still beautiful in some ways. Team Guy could do nothing but stare at it for some time. The crane cocked its head to a side, as if it's also taking a measure of Team Guy.

And as sudden as it came, the black crane spread its wings and took flight. And the blizzard started again, this time with a much stronger force. This sent Team Guy hurrying towards the village where they were met by the village elder, Toka Mizuki. He was the famed Snow Dancer, who utilizes snow as part of his clan's techniques.

"Ah, welcome, Team Guy of Konoha. I have heard much about you. Please come inside, it is much warmer and food is already prepared for your arrival." With this, Toka ushered them into his house, alerting his servants that his visitors already came. As Team Guy settled themselves on the warm futon, Toki began the introductions. "Good evening Team Guy. I am Toka Mizuki and I am the village elder as of now. I will tell you the events that happened as you begin to eat your meal prepared by my twin daughters, Himawari and Sunako. They are great cooks and no one in the village could rival their cooking skills."

After introducing themselves, Team Guy murmured their thanks for the elder's hospitality and started to eat. True to his word, the food is appetizing and enticing to one's palate. The elder began to recount the village's problem. The village's provision of food is starting to dwindle, thanks to an anonymous thief. Although most of the villagers laid traps and such to catch the thief, it still manages to escape.

Sometimes, livestock and some people are also brutally slain. One time, one brave ninja tried to follow the thief but was killed. All they saw near the body was a piece of crane's feather. Because of this, they believed that a crane was responsible for the gruesome things that are happening in the village. As Team Guy slowly absorbed this, a scream outside interrupted their musings.

As Team Guy ran outside to investigate, they saw a girl lying face down on the cold snowy ground, blood seeping like paint from a wound on her chest. As Team Guy ran to help the girl, Toka intercepted them. "Stop now. You cannot save her anymore. She is beyond what we can do. The crane is obviously sending a message." With tears in his eyes, he picked up the girl and carried her to the house.

"Wait, Toka-sama, we can still save her. She is still breathing. Let us help her." said Neji. "This is the tenth time a villager is slain, my daughter, nonetheless. I am old now; I cannot fight that well anymore. That is why I ask for Konoha's Team Guy for I know that you will help us end this massacre. Please excuse me; I have important matters to attend to." With this, Toka excused himself and began to prepare the funeral of his daughter.

A few hours later…

The whole village attended the funeral. The women openly crying and some men tried to control their anger. Toka began to speak. "Family and friends, today we have gathered here to honor my daughter, Sunako. She was a good daughter, sister and friend. She was a person one can turn to in time of great need and she will not hesitate to lend a helping hand. All of you know that she loves animals the best and they love her in return for her gentleness and kindness. But something evil killed her. She knew it and hated it down to her last breath. Now my friends, let us pray that Sunako will be in peace in the other world and may we find the one who did this atrocity to her."

Neji began to scan the crowd. "Kiba, were you and Akamaru able to detect whatever scent that attack Sunako?" Kiba pondered this over and said "I tried to but the heavy snow prevented me and Akamaru in doing so. Why?" "Hmm… Can you tell me if it is the crane or any other animals that might be there?" Neji asked. "I smelled nothing but the food, the blood and the fresh layer of snow. Nothing else for that matter." replied Kiba.

"Damn! Alright, let's make a sortie. Since all of us are never been here before, we partner. Tenten and Lee, you go together while I go with Kiba. We are going now and we are going to meet here after an hour. I'm going to inform Toka-sama of our plans. Get ready." ordered Neji. Tenten sighed. Always on the go. I still haven't slept yet. But then I guess all of us didn't get much sleep anyway with all this commotion in our hands. "Pay attention to things that seems off to you okay? And remember focus. We are in a territory we hardly know about. We are not in Konoha. Always remember that." warned Neji.

Thirty minutes later…

Neji, with Kiba and Akamaru were trudging deep into the forest when Neji signaled his hands to stop. Kiba and Akamaru immediately stopped walking and were startled to see what Neji was looking at. It was the black crane they saw earlier on their way to the Village of Snow. Its feathers were stained in blood and it was walking very slowly.

Both chunins was slowly walking towards the crane so as not startle it, but due to instinct born of self-preservation, it swiveled its head to look at the chunins and let a high-pitched cry. Suddenly snow began to form around it and the crane disappeared.

Neji and Kiba looked at each other in confusion when suddenly the snowy ground they were standing on suddenly began to vibrate and shake. Both assumed it was an avalanche but the ground under Neji suddenly gave way and he fell deep down. Kiba tried to reach for Neji but he was too far away. Neji hit his head and was unconscious. Kiba and Akamaru also fell but into the other side of the forest.

Much later… Night fall

Neji tried to open his eyes. Small amounts of light blinded his eyes as he tries to figure out what happened. Wait, I'm still alive? How can that be?? He remembers Kiba shouting at him, but he couldn't make out the words. Then he felt something pick him up and went to a place. But where? Neji finally regained enough energy to open his eyes. He was inside a small hut in the outskirts of the village.

He saw the hut on the way to the village and was told by the elder that that particular hut was abandoned long ago but behind the hut was a pathway leading to a hot spring pool. How did I get here? All I remember was my fall. Wait, as Neji began to piece the fragments of memory together. I heard that song, the song Hinata-sama used to sing to me when we were little. Who sang it? How did I get here?

There! I am hearing it again! Where could it be? Who is singing? Thought Neji as he stood up and followed the voice. He walked down the beaten pathway leading to the pool, partially covered with trees while the voice got stronger and clearer. Due to the steam of the pool, Neji at first wasn't able to make out the face of the singer but he could definitely tell the singer was a woman.

Coming closer, Neji spied some blood droplets on the corner of the pool. Is she the killer? Wait, her voice… It is like Hinata-sama's. With mounting nervousness and fear, Neji began to step out of the bushes only to stop cold at what he heard.

nee aishitara daremo ga

konna kodoku ni naru no?

nee kurayami yori mo fukai kurushimi

dakishimeteru no?

nani mo kamo ga futari kagayaku tame

kitto

kimi o kimi o aishiteru

kokoro de mitsumete iru

kimi o kimi o shinjiteru

samui yoru mo

nee koi shite mo dare ni mo itsuka

owari ga kuru no?

nee aozora yori mo sunda

tokimeki sutete shimau no?

kisetsu kawaru no kaze

michi o hashiru zutto

kimi o kimi o aishiteru

kokoro de mitsumete iru

kimi o kimi o shinjiteru

samui yoru mo

tatoe ashita nakushite mo

anata o ushinatte mo

dekiru kagiri no egao de kayagakitai

namida de ima yobi kakeru

yakusoku nado iranai

kimi ga kureta taisetsu na tsuyosa dakara

hitomi de ima yobi kakeru

yakusoku nado iranai

hitomi de ima te o nobasu

samui yoru mo

That song is Hinata-sama's favorite. How dare this imposter sing it! Neji thought angrily. He quickly stepped out of the bushes and said in a rather cold voice, "I never knew that killers could sing like that." The woman gasped loudly, quickly stood up and turned around. Neji's eyes widened and stuttered… "Hinata-sama?"

To be continued…