Greetings minna-san! God, I thought I would have loads of time during the holidays but each day is packed with activities. I also have to concentrate on drawing manga too! I just make the hands look awful! Argh! T_T However, I'm still thinking of my stories up on . I had several ideas ready for this chappie but I just couldn't decide on which one. My mom has always called me fickle when it came to my stories. Heh. Sorry for making you guys put up with me but I have finally decided! Thanks for reading! ;) THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED NARUTO SHIPPUDEN YET!!!

P.S. Sirens were three dangerous bird-women, portrayed as seductresses, who lived on an island called Sirenum scopuli. They look like half bird and half woman. Sirens have very seductive bodies and enchanting voices. Their beautiful songs lull men only. Hinata created the Siren jutsu herself if she ever came face to face with a man she couldn't defeat. Her siren is just a normal woman. Hey, water sculpting is hard y'know! ^^

" Do you think it was a good idea to leave so fast, Hinata? " Haku asked.

" No... " Hinata sighed. " I don't know. "

The duo were jumping through tree tops rushing on to find a squad that were facing the most dangerous enemies in the ninja world. The Akatsuki. They had no time, no time at all, yet they rushed on, tensed with a sense of fear and anxiety.

" I think you and Sakura-san could become great friends. " Haku said.

" Really? " Hinata asked, feeling guilty. " Both Naruto and Sakura seemed so sad when I left."

Flashback

" What? Why? " Naruto whined. " What is Granny Tsunade thinking? Sending you off on a mission so soon... "

" I... I'm sorry, Naruto. " Hinata lowered her eyes, seeing the sadness in those aquamarine orbs.

" You have to leave when? " Sakura's forehead creased with worry.

" Now. " Haku answered for her.

" Oh, I was hoping to get to know each other more... " Sakura's voice trailed off.

" Don't worry, Sakura. " Hinata smiled. " I enjoyed it very much when you visited me everyday at the hospital. We have exchanged stories of our lives so far and I do hope we can continue. "

Well, I didn't really tell her about Orochi, the Akatsuki, and Uchiha-san. Hinata thought, sweat-dropping. I only told her about me childhood until I got kidnapped. She didn't ask about anything else. She is kind and she understands that I'll tell her when I want to. But even then... Does that really count as sharing stories of our lives? Maybe I'm being too poetic...

" Hope? " Sakura asked. " Of course we will! You better be warned! "

" You see, I might die... " Hinata murmured. " We might die, right, Haku-nii-san? "

" Yep. "

Sakura and Naruto fell silent.

" No! You can't die! " Naruto grabbed Hinata's shoulders and stared intently into her pale lavender eyes. " You can't die. Make sure that you don't. "

Hinata blushed at the contact. Haku and Sakura stared at Naruto's sudden outburst. Naruto seemed to realise what he had done and quickly let go of Hinata, rubbing the back of his head and laughing nervously. Sakura turned back to both of them.

" I... want you to make a promise to us. Whatever happens... Don't die, got it? " Sakura glared. " Or else, I'll torture you in afterlife and give you hell in Hell. " she cracked her knuckles.

" H-Hai! " Hinata shrunk away from her.

Scary... That one thought ran through Haku's mind for the next five minutes as they left.

End of Flashback

" I feel really guilty. " Hinata's voice trembled. " Not only to make my friends worry... "

" Are you talking about...? " Haku questioned.

Hinata nodded sadly.

Flashback

" H-H-H-H-H- " Kiba merely stammered, pointing at Hinata's figure, sitting on a couch in Kurenai's apartment.

Hinata sweatdropped, And I thought I was the one having speech problems...

" Hinata, you've come back. " Shino commented.

Akamaru's huge body trembled as he barked happily after nudging the Hyuuga.

" Yes, she has. " Kurenai smiled as she hugged her student tightly. " I heard she was alive a few months ago. "

" Sensei?! " Hinata gasped. " Are you...? "

Kurenai blushed and nodded. Then, she whispered a name to Hinata. Hinata's eyes widened with a pleseantly surprised feeling.

" What's wrong? " Shino looked at them.

" Nothing. " Hinata smiled. " It's a women's secret. "

" Going back to the topic, if Hinata was here... Then, why didn't you- " Shino was interrupted.

" Because Hinata told me not to tell you, in case you worried after her day and night. Her presence is unknown to the whole village except for Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, our team, and of course the Hyuuga clan. " Kurenai explained.

" Why didn't we see her at the funeral? " Shino questioned further.

" The funeral of her father? That's because she came and left very early. " Kurenai said. " Tsunade-sama will be annoucing to the village that you're alive soon, right? "

Hinata opened her mouth.

" Shino, ya worthless bastard, hit me! Punch me! Kick me! I need to know that it's not a dream! " Kiba shouted.

Shino calmly proceeded to kick Kiba in the crotch.

" OW! Bloody bug-bastard! Not there! " Kiba growled at him and limped over to Hinata. " God damn it! Don't do this to me! " Kiba turned to Hinata. " I'm extremely glad that you're alive but try to show up earlier! I went to pray at your grave this morning y'know. " He grumbled good-naturedly.

Hinata giggled while Kurenai sweatdropped. Shino thought to himself, Is this really my team mate?

" Let's catch up at Ichiraku's, Hinata! " Kiba enthused. " They have good food there for a cheap price. Whaddaya say, Shino, Kurenai-sensei? "

" An excellent idea coming from that mentally unstable state of yours. " Shino spoke, nonchalantly.

" What?! " Kiba raged. " Take that back, you bug freak! "

" Let's go, Hinata. " Kurenai smiled.

" Gomenasai, minna-san. (I'm sorry, everyone.) But, I can't stay here a minute longer. I've got to finish up some things outside from Konoha. "

" What?! " Kiba exclaimed. " They can't send you on a mission so damn fast! "

Akamaru whined. He understood Hinata was leaving.

" No, this mission is something no one but Haku-nii-san can follow me on. It's something secret and dangerous. I don't want you to be involved in this. " Hinata spoke with steely determination.

" But- "

" I understand, Hinata. " Kurenai smiled fondly at her. " Go, now. You have grown. "

" Sensei?! " Kiba whirled at his teacher.

" Thank you... " Hinata breathed. " Where is he? " Hinata smiled mischeviously.

Kurenai blushed slightly then grew solemn, " He's on a mission that engages in combat with the Akatsuki. "

Hinata's mind blew over with shock. A billion questions popped into it as she struggled to maintain her happy and calm demeanor.

" By the way, who the hell is this Haku? " Kiba frowned.

" I'll explain to everyone if I come back. " Hinata said breathlessly. " I've got to go. Thank you for being there for me, minna-san (everyone). " With a puff a smoke, she and Haku (who was sitting on the rooftop) were gone.

End of Flashback

" They've done so much for me, I feel as if I don't deserve it, Haku-nii-san. " Hinata sighed.

" Hey, don't get so worked up over it, Hinata. " Haku patted her shoulder. " Doing that will only distract you enough to get killed, not that I mean any offence to your friends and your teacher. "

" I know. " Hinata smiled.

" Besides, the best way- " Haku suddenly flung a kunai into the trees.

A shadow leaped out from the trees and landed on the ground in front of them. Hinata was startled but quickly followed Haku as he jumped down opposite of the stranger.

" Speak! Who are you? " Haku ordered.

As the shadow walked into the sunlight that was breaking through masses of leaves in the forest, they saw it was a girl of their age. The girl had a big grin on her face with brown hair and equally sparkling brown eyes. The hitai-ite or head band tied to her forearm was not slashed and had the symbol of a note. Hinata reached up to her own head band at her neck and gulped.

" You're a sound ninja? Are you working with Orochimaru? " Hinata asked.

" Well, everybody does assume that at first but no. I have my own mind. " the girl grinned back at her.

" How do you know we can trust you? " Haku narrowed his eyes.

" So sorry. I thought at first you were a girl. " she bowed at him.

" That's besides the matter! " Haku stomped his feet.

" I guess I have to gain your trust little by little. " the brunette sighed. " Can you let me follow you, Hinata-san, Haku-san? "

" Our names! " Haku exclaimed. " How did you- "

" I heard from behind when I was following you. You only noticed after you said them. " the girl continued.

" You can follow us. " Hinata smiled at her.

" Great! Can I call you Hinata-chan then? " the girl said.

" H-Hinata! You're agreeing so easily?! " Haku asked.

" I don't see any evil in her eyes or hear any maliciousness from her voice. You should know by now, Haku. People who are bad normally have a different tone to it. " Hinata reproached her best friend.

" I never noticed. " Haku complained.

" That's because you have the Golden Eyes! " the girl hugged Hinata, nearly killing her in the process.

" How did- " Haku was interrupted again.

" I studied lots about all the clans in the world in the records of the library in my village. I came to know the Hyuuga clan from there. It was an ancient manuscript that told the whole story about the Hyuuga clan. It said that Hyuugas' who have the Golden Eyes can tell the diffrence between an evil person and a good one. I didn't know when or how people used it but that one second, I saw your eyes flash golden, Hinata-chan! " the girl released Hinata from the death grip. " That was so cool! "

" The Hyuuga clan is in Konoha. Why would something like that be all the way in the Hidden Village of Sound? " Haku asked, still suspicious.

" Because! I am Shadow's niece, Rai Tomoko! Ta-daa! " she twirled. " I was sent by my uncle to follow you! In order to protect you better, I studied the Hyuuga clan history. Though really, you're much better than me in fighting. "

" Shadow...? " Haku frowned.

Hinata's mouth would've dropped if it weren't for her jaw holding it up. Tomoko?! Shadow's niece?! This was a bit too much for the brain to take.

" Oh... " was all Hinata could say. She recovered. " OK, then. You definitely have my complete trust, Tomoko-chan. " Hinata smiled.

" I trust your conclusion, Hinata. Only yours. " Haku emphasized.

" Thanks, Hinata-chan! Thanks, Haku-san! " Tomoko grinned.

" We have to go. We still need to stop the Akatsuki from- " Hinata started.

" If you're talking about the platoon with the greatest strategist in Konoha. It's too late. It was too late the minute you set out of the village gates. " Tomoko's expression took a much more serious and mature expression, making her look about thirty but in reality, she was only fifteen.

Hinata and Haku looked at her in horror.

" I can lead you to them. The Akatsuki have gone now. " Tomoko suggested.

" Please. " Hinata whispered.

Tomoko nodded and jumped onto a tree branch before sprinting off. Hinata and Haku followed her, this time with feelings of dread. What were they going to see...?

I'm done! I'm so, so, so, sorry to all of my readers who have taken the time to actually read this story. I have been just so busy lately. I want to thank you all again for reading, reviewing, favouriting and alerting my story! My gratitude is high. Thank you!!! Try to put up with me until the story ends! ^^