OK! This story is going to reach it's climax soon I think. Which means it will be about halfway through. I'd like to thank all of those who have read this story and put up with me and my late updates! XP I feel really bad for not updating as fast as I used to but I've got more and more homework piling up for the next year and there's only a few days left of school holidays! Sobz… Well, enjoy this chapter as much as you can, I hope it's better than the last one! ^^ I. Don't. Own. Naruto. So there! ^.^

Three ninja flew silently across the forest. They were searching for something extremely well hidden.

" It's there. " Hinata narrowed her eyes, looking through her activated kekkei genkai.

Haku jumped onto the same branch. Tomoko was on the branch underneath them.

" Orochimaru has a way of hiding his lairs, huh? " Haku murmured. " Hiding them at an angle which is most difficult to find with the normal eye and blocking that particular angle from all directions, as well as blending the secret entrance. It's such a pain. "

" Oh, stop complaining, old man. " Tomoko snapped, though quietly. " Worse than my grandmother. "

Haku scowled at her. Hinata tried her best to stop the burst of giggles that were struggling to come out of her mouth. Haku and Tomoko always argued the moment they saw each other. It was quite fun to watch them with her trademark Hinata-ish smile on her face. But, they had a right to be snappish. It was a whole day when they could finally spot one of Orochimaru's hideouts. Even with Hinata's Byakugan. The Golden Eyes couldn't help, according to Tomoko. The eyes were used for divine purposes, not looking for hideouts.

" What do we do? " Tomoko whispered, ignoring the glares Haku gave her.

" Hm? How about dying? "

The three ninja exploded in a flurry of attacks at the sound of that voice and jumped down to the ground in defensive positions. The ninja calmly walked into sight and lo behold, it was Kabuto. Hinata narrowed her eyes, trying to hide her confusion. The chakra... The chakra that he had... Impossible.

" Kabuto... I smell two chaka types on you. What the hell did you do with yourself? " Tomoko growled dangerously.

Hinata snapped her head to Tomoko. She could see the chakra but she could smell it? However, Tomoko wasn't looking at Hinata. Her normal happy face was replaced by a dark and fierce look. She bared her teeth at Kabuto, making a noise at the back of her throat that sounded very much like a growl. She turned her eyes back to Kabuto who was staring up at them with his infamous smirk glued to his face. The second chakra pathway he had was actually split into several part of his body. Looking closer, she saw the sinister chakra actually morphing and feeding off the Kabuto's normal chakra. Her eyes widened, Byakugan suddenly deactivated. She would've fallen off the tree if not for Haku and Tomoko holding, her back up.

" Ah, so you noticed, Hinata-san. " Kabuto gave a low chuckle.

" Noticed what? " Haku's beautiful orbs narrowed, glaring at the silver haired missing-nin.

" That chakra... " Hinata spoke, voice trembling and looking absolutely mortified. " It's Orochimaru's, isn't it? "

" Hmph, not bad for a weak and pathetic kunoichi like you, Hinata-san. You are correct. " Kabuto pushed up his glasses.

Without her white and black vision of Byakugan, Hinata saw that the body parts that were burning with Orochimaru's chakra were very pale and white, just like Orochimaru's skin.

" That Uchiha actually killed Orochimaru-sama when Orochimaru-sama was trying to take over his body using the forbidden technique and showing his true form. Apparently, his Sharingan turned Orochimaru-sama's body-stealing process against Orochimaru-sama, thus absorbing Orochimaru-sama into his own body. While I merely collected the remaining parts of Orochimaru-sama's body and attached them to me, as they have regenerating powers that will prove useful. " Kabuto told them, said smirk still on his face.

Hinata felt bile rise up to her throat. Who could do such a thing? Tomoko growled again, making her disgust known. Haku still held his senbon needles, waiting. Hinata swallowed and continued to look at Kabuto, thinking of how to attack.

" Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you. " Kabuto chuckled again. " The Sasuke you saw and trained with, is not Sasuke at all. "

Hinata merely looked at him, puzzled.

" All those times... Sasuke was being controlled by me. " An evil look, shaded Kabuto's face. " Come on, telepathy during battle and training? " Kabuto scoffed. " Nonsense. There is no such thing. Even if there was, you would be the last person that Uchiha kid would speak to. All those times, you were letting him into your mind, you were actually letting me gain all the information I needed for Orochimaru-sama. The plan you used to help Naruto and the rest was merely a small part of Orochimaru-sama's masterplan. "

Hinata and Haku stared at him, horror written across their faces. All those times... Hinata thought.

Flashback

" Itachi-sama? " Hinata questioned.

He quickly tried to stab Hinata but she block it with her kunai. As they stood, faces inches apart, Hinata could see immense hate in those red Sharingan eyes...He was Uchiha Sasuke.

" Do not associate me with that hateful killer! " he roared.

" Why? Isn't he your brother? " Hinata whispered.

" Shut up! " Sasuke replied angrily and dove in with his katana.

" Eight Trigrams Palms Rotation. " Hinata announced.

" Hmph. Chidori Nagashi! (One Thousand Birds Current) "

" You die today, Hyuuga. " Sasuke spoke nonchalantly.

" I don't think so, Uchiha. " Hinata replied, twitching her finger.

" It's a tie then unless you want both our heads to be chopped off. " Hinata said light-heartedly.

" Fine, Hyuuga. " he spat out.

" You'd make a good training partner. " Hinata praised.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

" We shall meet again here, in the next full moon. Next time, I will defeat you. "

" I'm giving it my all then, Uchiha. " Hinata laughed.

" Hn. " was all he said before leaving.

" Oh! Uchiha-san. " Hinata realized as she recognized the chakra signature.

" Do you realize how bloody long I waited? You weren't at the spot we agreed at so I decided to look for you, Hyuuga. " Sasuke emerged from the bushes, speaking coldly.

" Who's there? " Sasuke spoke, drawing his katana.

" Gomen, Uchiha-san. I-I...Um...Ano... " Hinata stammered for the first time in two years, trying to find an excuse.

" Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in your room? " he asked.

" I overheard you cursing. Um...Haku-nii-san and Neji-nii-san says that it's not good to... " her voice trailed off as she looked at her feet.

Sasuke waited.

" To keep all your feelings bottled up inside you. You can tell someone you really trust. Ano...I don't mean me but- "

" Who do I have? " he asked no one in particular, laughing bitterly.

Hinata looked up.

" My whole family was killed, no, slaughtered in one night. This was done by the person whom I trusted most since birth. He will never be forgiven by me. Never. He's a bloodthirsty murderer, that's all. I will kill him to make him pay. I will do anything to achieve it, even if it means to have to train with Orochimaru and give up my body. " Sasuke said, eyes closed.

" I'm-I'm so sorry. " Hinata murmured softly, " Who is he? " she asked, fearing she already knew.

" My brother, Itachi. " Sasuke answered.

Hinata slowly lowered her eyes. Itachi was her teacher. And Sasuke said all of this as if it were just facts of life. His voice didn't show any emotion. At all...

" Uchiha-san? " Hinata began nervously, " Do you- " she gulped, " Do you love your family? "

The teenager was rather thrown off guard by this question. However, he recovered his composure quickly.

" Why do you want to know? " Sasuke questioned her back.

" Because I-I-I- " Hinata mentally slapped herself for stuttering and looked straight into Sasuke's eyes, even though she knew it might bring her certain death, " I care about you! " she squeaked, eyes shut tightly.

Sasuke looked puzzled.

" Uchiha-san doesn't have any friends here, ne? I thought it must be lonesome...It's not fun being alone you know? " Hinata stated with a sad smile, " I never had anyone with me from the start, not even my own family supported me, well, except for Hanabi-chan. Before the Chuunin exams and the time I was kidnapped, Neji-nii-san hated me. I don't think he has stopped but I cared for him. It was unfair the way he got treated just because he was from the Branch family. I tried to talk to him but- "

" Why bother when he hates you? " Sasuke scoffed.

" I didn't need him to like me. I cared for him because I wanted to. It doesn't matter if other people don't like me, I can still care for them and be their friend, ne? " Hinata looked away and fidgeted with her fingers, something she never could stop doing.

" I'll do it. " Sasuke said, his voice devoid of any emotion, " But I don't know about Hyuuga here, even though I can manage them myself. "

" Hyuuga. " Sasuke called.

Hinata jumped and muttered a small 'eep', (she couldn't get rid of that habit either), before turning around.

" Hai? (Yes?) " Hinata answered, recieving another death glare from Karin.

" What're you looking for? " Sasuke asked.

" Uh...Uh...A pot. A pot to boil herbs in. " Hinata replied flabbergasted.

" Why? "

" I wanted to make some of my family's special healing ointment before we go tomorrow but..., " Hinata bit her lip, " I can't find the right pot. Some are to big and some are too small. Some aren't made of the right material. "

Sasuke swiftly went to a hidden cupboard that Hinata had missed and brought out a rather large, pot made out of clay, " Is this OK? "

" Ah... " Hinata breathed still rather stunned by what Sasuke had just done.

Sasuke cleared his throat after Hinata didn't respond to his question for five whole minutes.

" Ah, Hai!! Absolutely!! Arigatou (Thank you), Uchiha-san. " Hinata snapped back to attention, deftly taking the pot from Sasuke.

Just when she was doing that, their fingers lightly touched, causing Hinata to jump, and slightly startling Sasuke.

" You're on. " he smirked and jumped off the tree branch.

Why? he asked her, irritated and slightly confused.

Because they are everything to me...If you destroy them, you destroy me... Hinata answered, sad.

And do I even care? Sasuke stared back at her.

I know not much about you...But I know, you are a good person...Even if you tried to hide it...I-

" Shut up! " Sasuke snarled and thrust his katana at her. Hinata swiftly evaded it.

I've already told you! don't call me a kind person! I am nothing of what you say!! Sasuke roared in his mind at Hinata.

End of Flashback

All those times...? Hinata thought, her heart aching.

" I know what you're thinking, Hyuuga. And it's true. I controlled that Uchiha's actions. The only times I didn't interfere was when he snubbed you and when he fought you. His mind used to have one weakness, his memories of the death of his entire clan. It was easy to manipulate him using that weak spot. " Kabuto laughed. " Mind you, he had no regrets after stabbing you. Do you think he would share his past with you so easily? Do you think he would be so kind to you? Do you think he would consider as a friend? No. Because that's completely out of his character.

You were merely useful to him. A tool and nothing else. Daughter of Hyuuga Hiashi. Known as a weak and pathethic heir to the Hyuuga clan. Hanabi is your sister and Neji was your cousin. He hated you before. You- " Kabuto stopped and avoided some angrily thrown senbon needles. He studied their positions before avoiding another three of them. All of them were aimed at his jugular vein and artery at his neck.

" Well, since he knows that much about you, I think he isn't lying about controlling that Uchiha bastard. " Haku spoke, softly. " But this just gives me a better reason to kill him. "

Hinata didn't say anything, still overcome by the situation. Her eyes were starting to fill with tears. Haku was actually a soft-spoken and mild person. He has his outbursts now and again but all in all he spoke in a pretty soft voice. Seeing Sasuke hurt Hinata like that made him furious and even though he didn't like swearing, he allowed himself to call Sasuke a bastard. Simply because he wanted to. He could be outgoing only with Hinata. Hinata had taught him how to live. She gave him a reason to live with her kindness that accepted him completely. And now, he was going to pay her back. Hinata looked at him, worry in her eyes as she started to take her scroll that contained her puppet. Haku saw her hands trembling. Hinata had no will to fight.

" This is my battle. " Haku told her gently. " So please, stand back. "

" Your battle? You aren't stronger than Hinata-san! You- " Kabuto used his chakra scapel and deflected the oncoming senbon needles.

Haku appeared in front of him and delivered a punch to Kabuto's gut. It was a direct hit.

" I suggest you do a little less talking when you're fighting. " Haku said, his gentle voice cold.

" Get him, Haku! " Tomoko shouted.

Haku's face had a small smile before it changed back to a calm look. Kabuto was thrown a few feet back from him and was still standing. Kabuto lifted his chakra scapel and charged towards Haku. Haku ducked and tried to stab a needle into Kabuto's ankle. Kabuto jumped and cut at Haku's shoulder. This time he didn't miss. That goes for Haku too. When Kabuto cut at Haku, Haku stabbed a needle at Kabuto's arm, rendering it useless. Kabuto switched his scapel to the other hand, unable to find time to unlock his first. He jabbed at Haku once more, getting Haku in the face and cracking his mask. Shocking Kabuto for life, Haku kissed Kabuto on the cheek and jabbed a senbon needle straight to his heart. Just like that, Kabuto died. Tomoko immediately burst out laughing while Hinata fell to her knees, not really believing what she just saw. Haku spat a few times before wiping his mouth and collapsing.

" Haku-nii-san! " Hinata ran to him.

Tomoko followed her. Hinata was inspecting Haku's body for wounds.

" This is bad... " Hinata said, her tears from earlier spilled when more replaced them. " His stomach is punctured. He's suffering from internal bleeding.

" What?! " Tomoko exclaimed.

" I think it happened when Haku-nii-san k-k-kissed Kabuto. Kabuto used some sort of medical ninjutsu to penetrate right through into the stomach. At the same time, Haku plunged his senbon needle into Kabuto's heart. "

Hinata activated her Byakugan, " I need to heal this straight away. He will die today if I don't. " Hinata murmured and called forth for her green chakra.

" Just one question, Hinata-chan. Can a senbon needle like that kill? " Tomoko sat down beside the kneeling Hyuuga.

Hinata shook her head. " No, hurt yes but kill no. He probably would've caused Kabuto a permenant handicap. "

Tomoko grinned. " Take a closer sniff, Hinata-chan. I'm sure it's something you've smelt before. "

Hinata did as she was told. " Poison! " She realized.

" Haku knows his weapons well, so I don't think he would use any ordinary needle. Kabuto's really dead. We have to burn the body now. " Tomoko headed over to it.

" Why? " Hinata asked, voice strained and sweat beading on her forehead.

" Remember what he said? Kabuto had Orochimaru's body parts in him. They can regenerate to save Kabuto. I learned about how Orochimaru can always heal himself when I was spying on him. " Tomoko quickly ran through some hand seals and set the body alight.

There was a scream that erupted from the body and it died away as Tomoko quickly shot blast after blast of flame, burning it completely. Hinata nearly threw up on Haku. Tomoko sat back, trembling a little.

" That was scary... " Tomoko let out a sigh.

Hinata nodded. She swallowed hard and concentrated. Stitch back the organ skin, build the walls of cells and fat, close the wounds... stop the bleeding... create skin cells...

I'M DONE!! YAY! Next chapter will be coming soon I hope! ^^