Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but I own this situation and it just keeps kickin more and more ass
CHAPTER 10 The Mysterious Village of the Morning StarHinata regained consciousness on Temari's back. She opened her pale lavender eyes slowly and gazed around a bit. Sakura, who staggering along beside Temari, noticed Hinata's awakening.
"How are you feeling, Hinata-san?" she asked in a weary voice. Shikamaru, Neji, Temari, and Sasuke all turned to look at her. She blushed heavily under the pressure of the looks and closed her eyes again.
"I'm… fine Sakura-san…what happened to me…?" She opened her eyes once more and looked at the others. Neji was carrying Tenten on his back (With some embarrassment, Hinata thought, noting the pink twinge on his cheeks). "That's right…I followed Tenten-chan and Shikamaru-kun into the forest. Then Tenten fought that thing and was knocked out. I finished it barely and…What happened to Naruto-kun?!" she screamed as her eyes fell upon the limp form on Sasuke's back.
Temari flinched. "Do you mind not trying to wake the dead while my ears are right here?" she asked, her voice laden with sarcasm. Hinata blushed and hopped down from Temari's back, only to fall to her knees when her legs buckled from the impact. Shikamaru and Sakura were over her in a minute.
"You alright?" asked the jonin with the black ponytail. Hinata just nodded and mumbled something about needing to be able to support herself. She stood up shakily and hobbled along with Sakura.
"Hey, Raito?" she asked to seemingly no one.
What is it Hinata? the spirit of Light responded.
"What… what caused me to be this weak? That creature, the one in charge of the fire familiars, did it's scream do this?" she asked weakly.
Possibly. Personally, I think you body is still adapting to the power of Light, which has bonded to your chakra. Bringing it out will be difficult at first, but your body will adapt. Some comply faster than others, like Shikamaru and Sasuke are able to use their powers with their jutsu already.
Hinata sighed and continued her limping gait. Eventually, her legs became used to walking again, as did Sakura's, and the two were walking fine. Turning to Sakura, She asked, "What happened to Naruto-kun?"
Sakura just sighed. "Well," She began, "After we finished off the familiars, he and Neji went off in pursuit of you three. Evidently, the summoner behind the water familiars was engulfed by a giant water golem of some kind. It had both you and Tenten. Neji came back to get us because he couldn't do anything about it, since his element is water as well. When we got there, the golem was gone; the summoner was out for the count and died right after… And Naruto stayed conscious until we got there and Neji hit him in the neck with a jyuuken for resting on your shoulder."
Hinata blushed. Naruto-kun…on my shoulder? Then realization dawned upon her and she was furious. Neji-niisan hit him in the neck with… that could have seriously hurt him! She walked her way next to Neji and chopped him on the neck, causing him to instantly fall to the ground, which in turn caused Tenten to wake up and tumble off as well.
"Wheeeee…" she said. She had a glazed over look and she might have even seemed drunk, if she had had any alcohol. She lay there sprawled out, next to Neji with a drunken grin upon her face. "Heeeeey… Neji!" she yelled and jumped at him. "I wanna ride the roller coaster again! Lemme get on your back… pleeeeeease?" she said holding her hands out and grabbing the air, like a little child asking to be picked up.
Everyone stared at her. She'll be fine soon enough, said Daichi in an amused tone. She took a strange scream from that creature point-blank. The frequency addled her brain and has caused her loss of balance… Granted it isn't the most desirable position, but its pretty funny to watch, he said as everyone watched Tenten playing with Neji's hair and hiding behind it like a curtain.
The group marched on and there was still no reaction from Naruto and Tenten remained childlike. Noon passed, and soon nightfall was upon them. They set up camp in an alcove of trees off the main road so that they would go unnoticed by any other travelers.
Tenten had fallen back to sleep claiming that it was "nap time," and she dozed lightly near the tent that the other girls had set up for themselves. Neji stood nearby keeping an eye on her. The others huddled around the campfire that Sakura had started with a small burst of flame from her hand.
Sasuke had made soup with various herbs that they had found around the campsite. A minty, yet salty smell rose from the pot. Hinata knelt next to Sakura who was giving Naruto a once over with a medical jutsu infused with flame chakra.
Naruto-kun… Hinata thought. She curled up, bringing her knees to her chest. Sakura looked over at her and sighed.
"He'll be fine. He just needs some time to recover his chakra. It was dangerously low, like he used some incredibly dangerous jutsu or something," she announced. Everyone turned to look at her with a small smile or some other reaction. It was the best news they'd had all day.
Temari got up taking her mug with her, saying, "I'm tired. We've been walking since before dawn to avoid any familiars or summoners. Not to mention carrying wounded so I'm gonna take a rest."
Everyone nodded or said good night and Temari and Neji took Tenten into the girl's tent as well to get her some shelter. Shikamaru left to go to sleep a few minutes later. Sakura turned in as well and so did Neji. Just Hinata, Sasuke, and the unconscious Naruto remained.
Sasuke sighed and just scratched his head. "Oy, Hinata," he said. Hinata looked at the sullen, brooding ninja. "Since you're a girl maybe you can help me out with something."
Hinata just looked at him knowingly. "Sakura-san starting to annoy you?"
"Actually," he muttered, "it's just the opposite. She doesn't bug me anymore. I like the attention I get from her. It makes me feel…"
"Loved?" asked Hinata quietly.
Sasuke was silent. He stared into the fire for a few moments. "Love, huh?" he said. He stood up and went through a few hand signs. He then inhaled and held his hand like he did for a fire jutsu. He breathed out and many small crystals flew out and hung in the air. He waved his hands, almost as if conducting an orchestra, and the crystals all flew underneath Naruto and lifted his body into the air. The then pointed to the fire and the crystals suffocated it, putting it out of existence. Sasuke beckoned and the lift of ice and it flew towards him as he walked to the boy's tent.
"Well, Hinata, I didn't understand what was going on with me and Sakura, so what's your excuse with this dobe?" he asked as he opened the tent and drew himself and Naruto inside.
Hinata was taken aback. As she watched Sasuke's back vanish into the darkness of the tent she thought to herself. What is holding me back? I've changed from when I've first gotten out of the academy. I'm stronger. I can almost fight Neji-niisan evenly now! But am I afraid of getting my feelings hurt?
Then, out of the darkness, five ninja leapt from the bushes. And surrounded Hinata. They all had a white dove emblazoned across their chests. She leapt from here reverie and drew her bow out in a flash of light and readied an arrow.
The ninja knelt down to her. Raito, she thought, what's going on?
If I had to guess, I'd say that they are worshippers of Light.
Hinata was about to ask what Raito meant when one of the kneeling ninja spoke up. "Hinata-sama! We've been asked by our leader, Gozen no Raito-sama, to escort you to the Village of the Morning Sun. May we ask that you comply? Or else, we may have to take certain…liberties with your friends."
Hinata glanced at the tents and saw similarly clad ninja flashing through hand signs outside of them. Instantly, a shining barrier of light surrounded each of the tents and both barriers were condensing slowly. Hinata's eyes widened. Naruto-kun!
"Well Hinata-sama," said the ninja, putting specific sarcastic emphasis on the sama, "will you come with us? Or would you like to watch your friends get crushed?"
Hinata gritted her teeth and nodded. She walked with the ninjas to the edge of the encampment and watched as the dissipated the barriers. Looking back, she blinked once and let a single tear fall.
Naruto-kun, Neji-niisan, everyone…I'm so sorry.
Ending note: How was it? Everybody like it? Want more? THEN REVIEW!!!!
WITHOUT AT LEAST 5 REVIEWS THERE WILL BE NO UPDATE
With that said I bid you all adieu and wish you all a good day