((Author's note: this story is picking up at chapter 356 of the manga, Kabuto's mention in the bar of "what i told you before" references one of his lines in the manga, taking place immediately before this scene, but it seemed such a dull point to pick up a time skip.))

2

"It started out as a simple infusion..." Kabuto said, raising his left arm, letting it fall free from the cloak he had been covering himself in, "But soon, Orochimaru-sama's cells began attacking my body, and tried to take over." Displaying his left arm, covered in snake scales, Kabuto looked to the three shinobi before him, letting his arm fall to his side, the white cloak falling back over it.

Yamato spat, "You're insane."

Hinata couldn't hide her look of sympathy, seeing Kabuto as he was, the left side of his face deformed, the eye bright yellow and snake like. But looking down his neck she saw the deformity seemingly extending below his neckline. What is it like? "Byakugan!" she whispered to herself, trying to stop a tear from welling up in her eye. It's already taken over nearly a third of his body...

"Part of me is doing everything it can to resist," Kabuto said, his voice growing more energized and enthusiastic as he spoke, sounding positively excited by what he was saying. He laughed, both amused, and a little afraid, "I can finally sense the part of me that strives to be better than Orochimaru-sama!"

Naruto scowled, "Hmph, then strive as much as you want in a Konoha prison!" as he rushed at Kabuto, throwing in a few punches. Yamato ran behind him and threw a punch, simultaneously Naruto sent a kick at him. However, the impact they met was just a log, Kabuto had vanished from beneath his robe.

Hinata, who had stayed back, saw the whole thing through her Byakugan, "Behind you!" she called out to her teammates. Naruto and Yamato looked to Kabuto, who was laughing maniacally.

"Hahahaha!" Naruto cursed. "When I am finally strong enough to control Orochimaru-sama's power," Kabuto spoke to them, his voice once again calm and controlled, "I'll return to fight you, Naruto-kun. But you're my secondary target." Kabuto narrowed his eyes a bit and scowled, "First I will have my revenge on Orochimaru-sama's murder, Sasuke-kun..." His lips then turned up in that boyish, friendly smile that was trademark of him, "Until we meet again," and he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Naruto looked pissed, and Yamato just seemed a bit annoyed with it all. Hinata thought back a few months to when she had encountered Kabuto. How he had jumped off the wall, and walked over to her, seeming so tall and elegant at that moment. She didn't like to admit it to herself, but she had run that night over and over again in her mind. Fiddling with details of that moment when he healed her. Never too much, usually, just, a small thing here and there. Having him smile as he healed her arm and chest. Her having the courage to lean over, and kiss him on the cheek. Or even just having the assertiveness to grab his hand, before he left. Sometimes she'd bring him to her room, and hide him. The Fifth would come to visit her, not that the Fifth ever did in real life, but just to make things interesting. Sometimes he was genuinely hidden, other times comically waiting up on the cieling, right above her head. But those were only a few times, usually, she stuck to simple things, like maybe he'd turn and look at her before leaping from the wall. Maybe he would run back, and blow her a kiss, before dashing off again into the forest.

Those fantasies aside, he can't be blamed for wanting to avenge his former lord. And he did heal her twice now, even if it was he who injured her one of those times. But she was the one cornering him. He wasn't really evil, was he? Hinata extended her Byakugan but couldn't find anything, not at her maximum 600 meters. Then again she didn't know where to focus it, he could be anywhere hiding. She twirled with a strand of her long, blue hair, Kabuto...san...

However, quickly after this, an explosion bigger than anything ever seen before ripped open the forest. Later they found it was the work of an Akatsuki member, Hinata couldn't recall his name, but she knew Naruto had battled him when he and his team went to rescue Gaara. After searching for Sasuke, the team rested for the night. He had split his scent up into various paths, quite irritating really. They'd work on it in the morning. Hinata sat around with the rest of the team, Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and the others. She listened to them, but contributed to the conversation rarely. Her years of shyness had left their effect on her. While she could talk if she wanted, she didn't see much point in it. She had gotten along fine without socializing much, why is the future any different from the past? It was just, to tell Naruto...if she could manage that...

At some point Sakura went into a lengthy description of some of the fights from the last Chunin exams for Naruto, who had been off studying with Jiraiya-sama. Hinata, a little bored since she had been there, activated her Byakugan in order to distract herself. She noticed a few people wandering the streets this late at night, but one who was stationary across the street. She was a little curious about what he was doing, it was in the nature of a shy youngster to simply sit back and observe people. Sometimes desiring to be with them, sometimes just curious, but Hinata's Byakugan offered her the greatest extension of this behavior. She noticed the body, the left side seemed somehow...different. Her eyes widen, snapping at attention, her mind racing back to the afternoon. Kabuto-san!

Hinata looked to Naruto and the others, most were talking in small groups, Kikashi was off to the side, reading some new romance novel Hinata couldn't recognize. Shino and Kiba were whispering to each other a bit, though still around the circle with Naruto, Sakura and Hinata. Yamato was observing everyone else but mostly staring out the window. Hinata excused herself from the group, heading outside and down the street towards Kabuto. She focused on him with her Byakugan, he had snapped his head up and saw her almost the instant she had left their lodging, and was doing his best to remain inconspicuous. She smiled to herself triumphantly, That won't hide you from me, Kabuto-san.

Hinata worked her way over to where Kabuto was sitting, and took a seat opposite of him. He looked up at her, his expression rather neutral, but his mouth was curved in a very tiny smile. He pulled the hood over his head a little more towards the center of his face, but then shrugged, knowing it didn't matter with this particular girl.

Hinata eyed him curiously, "Are you following us?"

Kabuto nodded slightly, "Yes, you're quite observant, Hinata-chan."

She turned her head a bit, keeping her eyes focused on him, deactivating her Byakugan, "What for?"

Kabuto looked up at her with a bemused expression, "Isn't it obvious? You're following Sasuke-kun, right? I want him as much as you do." Hinata looked a little worried at the suggestion. Kabuto's expression became a bit more tender, "I'm not interested in fighting Naruto-kun just yet. Not until I have controlled Orochimaru-sama's powers like he has controlled the Kyuubi. But to fight Sasuke-kun...that I wish to do as Yakushi Kabuto, servant of Orochimaru-sama, before I let his memory go, and his new existence into my life."

Hinata seemed a little relieved, but still anxious, "We are trying to get Sasuke back. You would have to fight Naruto if you were to try and kill Sasuke-kun..." she whispered, trailing off in a worried voice.

Kabuto shrugged, "If Naruto-kun will not let me do this honorably, I will fight if I absolutely have to."

Hinata looked up into his exposed, good eye, "You are preoccupied with honor and fairness...aren't you, Kabuto-san?" Kabuto smiled a bit, but didn't answer. Hinata blushed, and looked down at the table they were sitting at, "I...I am grateful you helped me...last time we saw each other."

It was Kabuto's turn to look down at the table, "I wasn't sent to Konohagakure to kill shinobi. I was only getting information on the results of the Chunin exam. Orochimaru-sama was very interested in who the new leaders of Otogakure's enemies would be," he let out a small chuckle, "Orochimaru-sama wasn't exactly welcome after he killed the Third Hokage...someone had to retrieve the information."

Hinata fought through her blush and looked at Kabuto's face. She was glad he wasn't looking at her still, otherwise she would have probably shot her eyes back down at the tabletop, "You've always been a spy, haven't you?"

Kabuto twirled the straw of his drink around a bit, and took a sip before replying, "More or less...I suppose it is odd for a medic-nin to be a spy, but it' always what I've done. Spy on villages, people, though Orochiaru-sama did use me as an ambassador on occaision."

Hinata found herself curious about Kabuto all of a sudden. She remembered when it was apparent he was a Jonin from Otogakure, how everyone felt betrayed by him. At the same time, no one really knew much about him. He was an enigma, and one she at least wanted to know more about. Though, she felt her fantasies pull her away and get the better of her, "And...healing me...those four years ago...was that something to help you disguise yourself?"

Kabuto finally looked at her, his eye seemed very sad to her. It was quiet for what seemed like a long while, and Hinata saw his lips move ever so subtly a few times, like he were trying to speak but was to hesitant to actually begin. Hinata knew the feeling all too well, she got the same way around Naruto, "You remember what I told you earlier today? How nations...villages...they all mean so little to me. How bonds don't exist to me..." Hinata felt her heart sink watching him, his eyes betrayed a deep sadness and longing she had once seen in Naruto's eyes when they were small children, and the same look in Gaara's eyes as well, as she recalled. Kabuto continued, "Well...to be honest...the Rookie Nine...you were the closest thing I had to friends...in a long time. I did..." he stopped, giving a quick exhale in amusement, "I do," he corrected himself, "still care about you all. It pains me to have to fight Sasuke-kun." He looked at his good hand for a while, then up at Hinata, "I have often wondered...what it would have been like...to have been friends with all of you. Genuinely, honest comrades..." his voice trailed off a bit at the end of this, and he sighed softly to himself.

Hinata looked at Kabuto now with a look of sadness, and sympathy for him. All this time...how old was he? Maybe 23? And he been alone for so long, his allegiance never staying in one spot. His life always changing, what was that like? To not feel like you belonged? Hinata often felt inferior to her comrades. She constantly fought her own self doubt, that she was holding Shino and Kiba back. But at the same time, she knew they liked her as much as she liked them, they were almost family to her. And even her estranged cousin Neji was now closer to her than ever before. But, to be like Kabuto, to not have a single friend? No wonder he served Orochimaru, he was the one person who had seemed to genuinely appreciate his abilities. Hinata knew Kabuto had been the second in command of Otogakure under the rogue Sanin, and though Orochimaru probably never liked Kabuto as a person, that might have been the closest thing to a friend he had.

Hinata looked down, and held her hand close to her heart, and softly spoke, "I would have been your friend...Kabuto-san...No one should go without a friend..."

Kabuto looked up now, his face no longer the cool, collected poker face he always wore, nor the happy little boy he was. Hinata saw a look of longing, of desperate need in his eyes, even the one that now looked like Orochimaru's. She felt tears well up in her eyes, looking at the missing-nin. Kabuto, for his part, just couldn't control himself. His emotions leaked from his face like water through a cloth, no matter how hard he held them back. Feeling his eyes burn, he let his restraints go, and through his eyes and lips and cheeks, bared his soul to this girl in a way he had never opened up to anyone in his life. His good hand, on the table, clenched into a fist, as he let a tear drop from his good eye and down his chin.

And like two lovers watching the sunset, Hinata was compelled to absorb Kabuto's face. To take in the moment, his face radiating a sad beauty she had never seen before. As if to make room for the beauty she was seeing, tears came down Hinata's face now as well. Her heart felt shattered, and though she shouldn't have, for some reason she too began to feel this pain from her enemy. The intense loneliness coursed throughout her body, causing every muscle to ache, to desire to be touched lovingly by someone, anyone. And with her comrade in this new, unprovoked lonliness sitting across from her, she felt the absolute need to feel him against her. Not for a romantic reason, but more to feel a safe form on her own skin, but touch wasn't enough, she wanted to feel her body touch, then melt into his, and he into her. It was an overhwhelming feeling of need, such a simple need, as to be loved. How this man had shown her, had compelled her heart to feel this way, with his face, was something she couldn't comprehend. She felt, rather than moved, her hand as it placed itself over Kabuto's clenched fist, embracing it, covering it, protecting it with her delicate hand.

Kabuto relaxed his fist, and loosened his fingers, which unconsciously moved to intertwine with hers. Their grip on each other's hand got firmer, and their palms came together. Kabuto felt a small, energy sensation. It wasn't chakra or anything, but it was...like a wire, running up his arm and across his body, from the delicate touch of Hinata's hand, and the supple, smooth skin against the battle-hardened roughness of his own. Their hands followed their momentum and moved up, so that when they came to rest, their entire forearms were connected, and their faces inches from each other.

Hinata was blushing, but she didn't feel awkward at all. She smiled, letting out a small chuckle, and looked down in between herself and Kabuto. Kabuto, also, leaned his head forward a bit, his forehead coming to rest against hers, and he let out a small sigh of happiness. He closed his eyes, and felt his neck relax, leaning forward to nuzzle the soft, blue haired head before him, his head moving up and down several times, a small whimper in his throat, only loud enough for her ears to pick up on.

Hinata took a firm grip on Kabuto's hand, and pulled it up, resting the back of his hand against her cheek. She nuzzled back, before letting go. She pulled her head away from him, "I really need to get back to Naruto and the others..." she said as she began to stand up.

"Wait," he insisted, reaching his hand back up, taking her face in his palm, looking into her eyes tenderly. Slowly, without removing his hand, he stood up, and leaned forward, giving her a gentle kiss on her soft lips. Hinata could feel her heart pounding in her chest, she was afraid Kabuto heard it as well. Her face hot from embarrassment, Hinata stood up and leaned forward into his kiss. She brought her hand up to hold his own, before finally backing away and giving him a slight bow, her body and voice running almost on automatic, "Um...goodnight...Kabuto-san..." before dashing out of the bar and into the street, before running into Kiba.

"Whoa! Hinata! Where were you? You've been gone a long time," he said, grabbing onto her shoulders. Kiba tried peering over his teammate into the bar she had just emerged from.

Hinata felt a small bit of fear, what if Kiba found out? But she turned around, and the table Kabuto had been at was empty, the single drink still sitting there. She looked back at Kiba, still blushing terribly, though she hoped out in the dark of night he wouldn't be able to tell, "Oh, well, I was just...um...getting a drink. I felt a little thirsty," she trailed off in her shy voice.

Kiba sniffed the air a few times, "Why do I..." he inhaled deeply, "Hmm...you haven't noticed anyone suspicious around have you?"

Hinata shook her head quickly, "No...why do you ask?"

Kiba scowled, looking irritated, "I smell Yakushi Kabuto...he must have been right here before..." he gave a curious look at Hinata before shrugging his shoulders and turning back to the inn, "Well, let's get back to the others, we're gonna move out in a couple hours."

Hinata quietly activated her Byakugan, scanning the area for Kabuto. But again, like before, he left no trace whatsoever.

For the first time in a few months, Hinata fell asleep with a huge grin on her face, and her dreams sprang to life with visions, hopes, and fantasies. And though she didn't think of it at the time, it was the first time she didn't try to sleep as close to Naruto as possible.