Chapter 3: Erhen's Approval

Reply to some of your reviews. Some!!:

ILoveDennis: You're great. My first reviewer. Thanks a ton.

xxsanerose13- Hi to you too. I understand. I'm going

HelKat- I know but apparently you horrible people like the darkness –laughs evilly-

Sora Tsubasa- I know! I should get arrested for all these cliffhangers!

chakram soldier- I understand completely where your coming from but seriously, I didn't expect fo all of you guys to like it

XxSorenxX- Yup Hinata got her groove on! Rebel Hinata forever!

Reader- Well it'd be boring if I just layed it out for you. Guessing makes things fun

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Nata stared at Naruto, her eyebrows raised underneath the mask. Her attention was flickering from Erhen to Naruto and back again, trying to figure out which of them would move first. Naruto to tear off her mask and realize who she was or Erhen to instinctively attack Naruto…? Nata took a tiny step back, nearly bumping into Tenten and did a very unladylike snort.

"Who's Hinata? I don't know a Hinata. My name is Nata. Can we go please now?" she asked quickly, shifting the ebony staff on her back.

Apparently she didn't answer fast enough. Everyone in the clearing noticed her hesitation and stared at her. Erhen put a tanned hand on Hinata's shoulder and glared at the people around her.

"Excuse me I really don't think this is the time. I thought your village was more important then you thinking one girl is actually another" he said haughtily.

Everyone besides Nata stiffened and glared at Erhen, looking ready to attack. Nata made a soft growling sound and loosened the straps holding her staff in place. Luckily, Tenten had the brains to ease the tension, though her sharp brown eyes never left Erhen's gold ones.

"Yes…Erhen's right. We should go. Come Neji-kun" she said gently, taking the stiff Hyuuga's hand in her smaller one and he instantly relaxed and nodded.

Sakura tried doing to same to Naruto but he jumped in surprise and pulled away. She frowned at him but he nodded and slowly took her hand. As he did this, Nata turned her back and twitched her finger, jumping into the trees. Erhen was instantly after her followed by Tenten, Neji and Naruto. Sakura was surprised Naruto had been so eager to release her hand but quickly followed. Nata and Erhen were a bit farther ahead then the rest of them, whispering feverishly to each other. Naruto, completely ignoring his glaring girlfriend, strained his ears, begging the Kyuubi to help him but with the wind rushing past his ears, only so much could be heard.

"Nata…do…find out…?" a bit of Erhen's question met his ears.

Nata's voice was softer but he did can't the word 'won't'. 'We won't find out what?' thought Naruto a bit darkly. 'That you may be Hinata. Or that your eyes have something that you'd like to hide from us?' He took up a bit more speed, moving ahead of Neji and Tenten. His sharp eyes noticed that Nata's cream bag was loose. He opened his mouth to warn her but a big, shiny, black box flew out and smacked Naruto hard in the chest. He let out a yelp but quickly stuffed the box into his jacket when Nata turned her head back. Erhen slowed down a bit to tighten her bag. Naruto looked down his shirt at the beautiful box pressed against his shirt. He'd examine it tonight, when they were camping. In a sly way, that made him stumble a bit, he managed to stuff Nata's box into his bag and continue running.

Sakura was at his side in an instant, confused. "Naruto-kun? Why did you call Nata, Hinata?" she asked. "I mean, I see the obvious resemblence in their names and I do note that they have the same hair color but she is so bold, strong, blind, confident, beautiful. Nothing like Hinata" she said, not noticing her insult.

For some reason, for just an instant, Naruto hated Sakura deeply. But just as quickly, the feelings were gone. There were several things that had changed about Naruto since Hinata had disappeared, that her disappearance brought on. Naruto's heart became guarded, his mind wiser, his ears sharper. He had learned to protect himself from pain, learned how to hide his feelings like a true shinobi. But it was clear by the purplish outline on the outside of his eyes, the mix of Kyuubi's red eyes and Naruto's blue ones, that he was angry. Naruto sighed.

"Number one, I called her Hinata-chan" he said a bit cruelly, taking pleasure in the twist of jealousy in Sakura's face. "Number two, I know she's hiding something that would change everything. There's just the matter of finding it out. Number three, if you ever insult Hinata-chan ever again, I will make you pay" he threatened, never taking his eyes off the path Nata and Erhen set. Sakura was silent and fell behind a bit.

It's quite amazing how someone can change in but two days. The Kyuubi's grumble shook Naruto's body a bit. "What are you talking about, Fox?" he asked, suddenly curious. Three days ago, you were fawning over Bubbly Gum Head over there now you're threatening her. You humans are quite interesting specimens. The Kyuubi's reply was curt with a touch of amusment. The fox had refused to call Sakura anything but 'Bubbly Gum Head', 'Strawberry Accident' or 'Pinky'. He had recently stolen Pinky from Nata's insult, liking the simplicity of the insult. Naruto smiled slightly, not replying. Naruto had grown close to the Kyuubi, finding his boldness refreshing. While most people would praise Naruto for his good work, the Kyuubi would point out bad parts. When he found it perfect, then he complimented Naruto with nothing more than a nod or 'Eh…could have gotten it right the first time' which made it make him feel better than any hug Sakura could give him, or half smile Kakashi would make.

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10:30 p.m. that night

Erhen paused on a tree banch. Below him was a small clearly covered by an old tree's branches. Its roots pulled up enough to make a hollow in its roots. A safe place to sleep. If two people kept watch ever hour or so, it would be perfect. Nata was beside him a second later, panting slightly but otherwise unnaffected by the long run. They had run, only stopping once or twice since they had left Konoha. Nata panted for a moment while Erhen clicked his tongue in disapproval. She was controlled, up and ready after a few seconds looking ready to run again.

"You need to run more often, Nata-chan" he said, jumping down into the clearing. Nata was right after him.

"I will as soon as we get home Erhen-niisan" Nata replied curtly.

After a few more seconds, Naruto and Neji jumped into the clearing, both still pumping their legs.

"What are you doing?" Nata asked, a slim eyebrow barely visible from under her mask.

Naruto could answer, looking to be in pain, so Neji did. "If we…stop running…we won't…start up…again…" he panted.

Erhen clicked his tongue again. "We're stopping here for the night" he said.

Neji and Naruto grew stiff and fell face down in the grass, groaning deeply to each other instantly. Nata stared at Erhen whose tongue loudly in extreme disapproval. There was a sharp thump from above. Looking up, they saw Tenten and Sakura asleep on the branches on the trees above them. At least Tenten made a effort to get down. The branch that she was unconcious on was closer to the ground. Nata sighed and jumped up to the branch Tenten was on. Erhen went to Sakura. Putting the girls on their backs, they jumped down, ignoring the boys for the moment, and put them down in the tree hollow. Nata was working their sleeping matts out of their bags, and taking their bags off, while Erhen dragged to boys to the hollow. Nata instantly went to work on Neji, getting his bag off and matt out, setting him up. She grunted slightly, not expecting slim Neji to weigh so much and moved onto Naruto. Erhen saw her hands flutter slightly and he sighed.

"Nata go check out the surrounding area, I'll watch the unconcious kids" he said, though he was the same age as Neji and Tenten.

Nata gratefully nodded, dumped her bag on the floor, and left the hollow. Erhen slipped the bag off Naruto shoulders and saw the ebony corner of Nata's jewelry box. Erhen stared at Naruto for a moment, looking from him to the box. Then he sighed slightly, pushing the ebony box deep inside Naruto's bag. He leaned over Naruto, examing his face closely, eyes boring into Naruto's closed eyelids.

Then in a warm whisper that would instantly seduce any girl, he said "I am giving you the chance to fix this broken girl. A brother can only do so much. This is my last mission. Not just with her. This is my last mission in all. I expect you to prove that she is who you think she is, and take care of her. Don't break her. It took a long time to close those wounds but I am leaving the responsibility to heal the scars to you. You seem to effect her more than any boy I have ever met."

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"Oi…Naruto! Wake up, Naruto!"

Naruto groaned and cracked open an eye. By the color of the sky it couldn't be later than midnight. Tenten was shaking his shoulder, her eyes glowing in the dull moonlight. With her hair astray, her eyes glittering, her lips full and soft, Naruto could see in an instant why Neji was in love with this girl. She never treated anyone like they were lower than she was, she was always polite, but strong enough to keep Neji in check.

"What is it Tenten…?" he grunted, pushing himself up on his elbows.

"Its our turn to keep watch. Erhen and Neji had first watch. Now its us. Then its Nata and Sakura and, depending if Erhen has any mercy on us, Erhen and Neji again" she said with a small smile.

Naruto liked this girl. She would be a great wife, a trusting friend, and, if it came to that, a good mother. Naruto nodded and jumped to his feet. His eyes caught the glimmer of Nata's box in his back and tucked it under his arm as he followed. Tenten caught it as well and raised her eyebrows in a silent question. Naruto pretended not to notice.

"I'll watch from the tree okay?" he asked. The weapons mistress nodded and started pacing around the clearing as Naruto jumped into the trees. He sat on a fat branch, were the moonlight was brightest and examined the box.

It was breathtaking. Glimmering black as light bounced off the top, Naruto noticed that there were bird designs on it. On the top, three beautiful mother-of-pearl Egrets were created in mid flap above water with wispy clouds in the background. On the front were four more smaller Egrets with two tiny butterflies. The lock on the box was a heavy, bronze-gold fish. Naruto just stared at it. It was the most beautiful box he had ever seen in his entire life. He ran his fingers over the three birds, sighing. They seemed like they would fly off the box and into the sky at any second.

With gentle fingers, he pushed the heavy fish lock down and the box clicked. Naruto lifted the lid and gasped again, the inside was just a pretty and…musical. Soft music started playing that made Naruto feel so incredibly safe that he just wanted to curl around the box and sleep forever. On the roof of the box was a clear mirror, glinting in the light. Once it was open, Naruto realized it was a jewelry box for it had two layers, each soften with blood red velvet. The top part just held a few expensives rings and a silver watch. On the bottom part were some bracelets, a pearl necklace, and a glass, heart-shaped box. It was pretty plain except it had two golden hands holding a fairly large green jewel. It was way too clear to be emerald. Inside the smaller glass box was a parchement wrapped up tightly. Naruto opened the glass box and took out the parchement. It was a picture actually, though badly damaged. He knew there were four people in it, one, a female he guess, was taller than the others and probably older too. The only thing he could see on the woman was a large swath of black hair. There were three smaller people, one with bushy black hair, one with brown hair and what looked like a small pillow in his or her hands, and one with a cream jacket. Naruto gave up trying to see what the picture was and saw something was rolled up in it. It was a necklace with a chunk of chipped ruby iin the pendant. Just like the one he had given Hinata for her birthday.

Naruto scowled, so immersed in the boxes, the necklace and the picture that he didn't see them coming until it was too late.

Wow…you guys are making me a bit nervous with all these reviews. This really wasn't meant to be a popular fiction, I just felt like writing. Wow…thanks for the reviews though. I love you all. Its still not gonna move very fast unless all you people really pressure me. I'm a Libra. I'm pretty indecisive.

Blackiecatty