Sunagakure Mission

Angel of Anime

Chapter Two: A Failed Escape and a Rescue Team

As the Hyuuga of the main branch family made her way out of the mouth of the cave, she watched ever so closely Sasuke. If she was caught trying to escape he would kill her, no doubt. Hinata wouldn't question him, not for anything. Sasuke, she believed, was capable of doing many things, even if it meant getting his hands a little red.

Gulping, the fifteen year old thought agitatedly, Okay… I-I can do this. I can! … Oh, just don't fail, Hinata… She took one last look at the small rock shelter and then one last quick look at Sasuke before she concentrated her cautious eyes on where she was heading. But, there was a problem: Uchiha Sasuke was on his way back to the cave!

Mentally screaming, Hinata turned left, then right in alarm. What do I do? Which way should I go? She fretted. If I go back to the cave and tie myself back up then he wouldn't know I tried to run away… but if I keep going there's too much of a chance that he'll recapture me and… and… She shook her head, nodding that thought off. No, I have to be more like Naruto. I have to be strong, take chances. I'll do it! Hinata clenched her fists so tightly in determination that her sharp finger nails were pushed into her skin. Small trickles of thick red liquid rolled down her palm, but she didn't realize it just then. If she focused on anything else, well then she would lose all confidence she'd just mustered up. Okay, just like Naruto!

She leaped high into a tree and as promptly as her famished body would allow her the kunoichi was on her way back home. Hoping with all her might he wouldn't catch onto her trail so soon, Hinata saw that Sasuke had just found that she wasn't where she was supposed to be. She worried that the hostile traitor would find her as quickly as she'd fled, and so increased her speed to the maximum.

It's getting dark; she looked at the sky with fearful eyes. I can't camp, but I'm so tired… and not to mention hungry; but I've got to keep going, or he'll catch up to me soon enough. I hope he doesn't see through my plan…

It's getting dark, thought Sasuke while fallowing the trail of blood, which came to be increasing instead of the opposite. She's probably tired and hungry, but too smart to stop for a break. If I'm right, her plan is to lead me back to the village and have them attack me there. Tch, if that dang girl thinks I'd be stupid enough to fall for such a trick she's got another thing coming.

But, dang! How could I have let her get away from me without even noticing? He complained to himself. When he looked at the ground a second or two later he smirked. Good thing she's leaving me this trail… not that I need it or anything. It just makes things a whole lot dang easier.

Hinata was a half a mile ahead of him, but she didn't know that herself. In order to make her presence a little more difficult to detect, she had shut down her Byakugan. She had to fight her mind not to activate it again, though, to know exactly how close her tracker was to her.

Releasing the grip she'd had until then, Hinata's index finger, on its own accord, moved slightly and she felt thing warm, even though it was near winter and the wind blew bitterly in her face. It was just on her hands that she felt the lukewarm temperature. Reluctant to see what it was, Hinata put a hand in front of her lavender eyes, which widened at the sight: her nails, not quite long but not bitten to its ends, were crimson. Four six-centimeter holes on both hands were oozing even more of the liquidly horror.

D-did I…? Hinata had no time to contemplate over it, but her eyes still kept wide with shock, terror. Lacking the proper gauze at the time, she ripped off a part of her jacket as hastily as she could, trying not to slow her pace too much. That caused a slight shiver and chattering of teeth, and an unsteady wrap of her white sleeves.

Where is that dang girl? Her darn blood stops here, demanded Sasuke 0.5 of a mile later. He wasn't getting any closer to Hinata, nor was Hinata getting any further from him. Both of them had been maintaining their precise speed and range; that was why Hinata was not still playing captive and Sasuke the holder.

Sasuke suddenly sped up, eager to get Hinata before she came into a mile's distance to Konoha. He had to be careful with this girl, even if she seemed pretty stupid, and fainted over very absurd things. In a matter of minutes, he could see Hinata's form; noticing this, the kunoichi glanced back once nervously and then continued desperately. She had to try, had to try for Naruto's sake. If she couldn't do something so simple as to bring Sasuke to the village, then she definitely did not deserve the boy she'd had a crush on for so long. However, exhaustion was beginning to overcome her, and her hand ached, as well as her head and legs. The cold weather was also catching up to her, and she saw each shallow breath coming out of her mouth.

Smirking, Sasuke thought, almost got her. He took one last leap and landed on Hinata. It wasn't a very graceful capture, but even so, he'd caught her. Falling on her back, Sasuke was on top of her. She struggled with all her might, only the Uchiha was just too strong for her to get away. It seemed that everything she tried was futile, and so the girl eventually gave up, at least for that moment. She would not be slain by Uchiha Sasuke. She would not.

-X-

Two and a half days later in the Sand village, Temari reported to Gaara that the shinobi sent to their village should've arrived by that time, but hadn't. They'd received word from Konoha that she should arrive in three days time, so she began to wonder after there was no one. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," the blonde looked at the Kazekage, waiting for him to give her an order of what to do.

He responded, "We'll send word to Konoha, and they'll send ninja to search for her." It was a reasonable decision, a good one. There was no need to send shinobi of their own because they weren't informed of who they had sent.

-X-

"It seems that Hyuuga Hinata has not made her way to Suna yet," explained Lady Tsunade. She'd called Naruto, Sakura, and Neji to her office. The former members of Team 7 weren't needed for any other missions, and Guy, Lee, and Tenten were busy with one; so that was why she had called for them.

Sakura voiced, "But didn't she leave three days ago?" The green-eyed female stood between the other two shinobi, concerned for the shy heiress.

Tsunade nodded once. "But according to a message I just received she hasn't arrived yet. That's why I'm sending you three to search for her." Neji's Byakugan was definitely essential to this particular task, and Sakura's strength in case they'd run into any enemies. Naruto was basically free, thought if you thought really hard you could probably find a good reason for him to go besides just being a third person. "I'm assigning Neji team leader. Move out!"

"Yes ma'me!" Sakura replied before following an excited Naruto and solemn Neji out of the building.

-X-

It had been two and a half days since Hinata left for Suna. They've probably noticed that she hadn't gotten there when clearly she should have been there hours ago, so they've probably already sent word to Konoha. If that were true, then she hoped it'd be Naruto that came to find her, so that he'd find Sasuke too. And if that happened, then maybe the rogue ninja would go back to his home and forget about getting revenge for his clan, and make Naruto happy. That was certainly too much to ask for, though.

Sasuke hadn't left the cave they'd been in since she'd tried to escape. Despite her appearance and lack of confidence, the dark haired boy had to admit, his hostage proved to be somewhat intelligent. Or at least she wasn't an idiot like he had first assumed. So far the fair-eyed kunoichi made no moves to get away, which showed two possibilities: one, she was devising another plan. Or two, she was too afraid of what Sasuke might do to her if she did.

But, why hadn't he killed her yet? That question pounded inside her head several times before she finally gave up searching for that answer. She couldn't muster up enough courage to speak to the hard, cold Sasuke and kept her mouth shut most of the time she'd been trapped by him. The only time she did say anything was to tell him that she had to… meet one of her basic needs outside. It was almost too embarrassing to say, and when she had to go late at night, she felt bad for waking him up because, she noted, he looked really peaceful while he slept; like it was the only time he enjoyed anything. Hinata hated to wake him up. But, to top it all off, he always stayed ten feet away from her; even thought she'd be behind a tree and he'd be turned around, she never felt like he wasn't peeking.

Also, when she ate, she would be allowed to have her hands untied, but Sasuke would always stare so intently at her when she did so; that always made her blush deeply. When she finished lunch that day, she got up enough courage to say, "Um, S… Sasuke, w-would you… that is, why did you l-leave the village?" Having spent more than forty-eight hours with the fair-skinned fifteen year old, the Sharingan user had gotten somewhat accustomed to the stammering and her difficulty in getting out her words. But however used to it he was, her flaws still irritated him.

Avoiding her question, he replied, "Why do you mumble and fumble over words?" His pitch was goaded but the thought he had earlier remained: her stutter was adorable, as adorable as her soft voice and shaded cheeks were. But Sasuke wouldn't admit that even to himself; when it occasionally crossed his mind, he made sure to deny it.

"O-oh…" Hinata whispered, lowering her eyes. "I… I'm so-sorry if I w-was intruding, but…" If she mentioned the ninja on her mind, she was fearful that Sasuke would become irate. And underestimating an irate shinobi was not by any means a good idea.

He growled, turning his head to face the outside, "You're thinking of that dobe, Naruto, aren't you?" He recalled when she'd spoken his name in her sleep. She undoubtedly bore some connection to him. Sasuke made no threatening signs, remaining motionless, and Hinata didn't respond. After a long, long moment the Uchiha answered her previous query. "It was for power, strength. I have to do something that no one else can do."

Now Hinata was staring fully at the onyx-eyed boy, who hadn't moved since his last statement. All she could think was, for power? That's why he left? Of course, it wasn't that she cared for him; it was Naruto that was on her mind. "You hurt him…" Her tone was low and all traces of shyness were replaced with anger and pain, for him, the host of the Kyuubi. "You hurt Naruto, and for what, power? Your best friend is desperately pursuing you, while you seem to hate him!"

"Naruto is a fool." His arm rested on his propped up knee as he stated the words calmly, but still with a certain edge. "He pursues me, wanting to 'save' me, while I pursue my brother's death." The last words had dryness in them that Hinata couldn't ignore. Each word the rogue ninja spoke brought down her confidence level, but even so, she would continue her rant to Sasuke no matter what; that was what she told herself anyway.

Raising her voice as much as she could, the innocent little Hinata cursed him. "Bastard!" Sasuke was surprised, internally, that she'd said that. He didn't know her, but what he did know didn't suggest at all that the kunoichi would say anything like that, so foul. But she did, and more. "Naruto really admires and looks up to you like an older brother, but you don't even care. He wants you back because he adores you and wants you to be happy. I don't understand why you don't want that. If Naruto felt that way about me, I---" Interrupted by Sasuke's bone-chilling laugh, Hinata was embarrassed as she realized what she was saying, and what she was going to say next. Glad she was stopped, she mumbled, "W-wha…" She wanted to ask what was so funny, but fear and shock had overcome her and she was speechless.

-X-

"I wonder what could've happened to Hinata, anyway," stated Sakura in thought. They'd all stopped to rest and have a quick bite; by now it was lunch time, a little past noon. She was sitting on a stump, nibbling on the first dango on her stick.

Naruto looked puzzled at the pink-haired kunoichi. "What do you mean?" he inquired, seeming agitated as they rested. He was standing up, his pack on his shoulders, and Neji was on his feet as well; though he didn't look as motivated as Naruto. The brunette did care about what happened to Hinata, but unlike Naruto, did not allow his emotions to block his senses. Most of the time he didn't, that is.

"Well, she's not exactly the type to be beaten so easily. If she was attacked by someone, instead of being delayed by some sand storm, this person would've had to be a strong opponent. Hinata's no weakling, you know," Sakura explained to the blond, whose head was tilted in a confused manner.

Neji suddenly voiced, "We'll continue on now." Leaping into the nearest branch he activated his Byakugan. Naruto and Sakura followed suit.

-X-

"That dobe is such an idiot," Sasuke vaguely declared to the baffled kunoichi. He still wasn't looking at her, but she could just feel his eyes on her figure. It felt like he was looking for something, but what? She couldn't ask. Her confidence rush had already passed by, much too far for her to call it back. Hinata was beginning to feel more uncomfortable than before, and wished she would be able to put one of the escape plans into motion; Sasuke simply wouldn't look away from her and give her the chance she needed. The only thing she could do was wait, but the thought of spending any more time with the insane Uchiha was far too overwhelming.

I wonder what he meant by that, speculated Hinata, trying to push the frightful scream that was building up in her throat. She couldn't figure why Sasuke just wouldn't kill her, no matter how much she contemplated over it. When she asked him before, he merely gave her the statement, 'I didn't feel like it,' but how long couldn't he not 'feel like it'? At this point, Hinata couldn't help but want him to take her life, rob her of her breath, or make sure she'd never see another morning again! However, there was that regretful feeling she always had after seeing Naruto and not telling him that she really, really liked him. She couldn't get rid of that, and if she didn't, she wouldn't be able to truly pass on. Therefore, asking Sasuke to kill her wasn't an option; and also, he probably wouldn't do something like that because someone requested it. He wasn't that kind of person, she didn't think.

-X-

They'd been moving for an hour and a half now, until Neji, who was in the lead, suddenly halted. Before Naruto could interrogate him, and before Sakura could even guess why he stopped three branches ahead, he said, "She's there." His eyes were focused on a cave thirty or more yards away. It was easy enough for the Hyuuga to see, but the knuckle-head of the group impatiently held his hand over his forehead, a gesture to shade his blue eyes, and squinted.

"Huh? Are you sure? Where is she?" he rapidly probed.

Neji paid no attention to his foolish behavior and went to the grassy ground. "We'll rest before going," he informed them. Sakura didn't ask him why; she assumed there were a lot of enemies, so they had to be ready to face them all. Naruto, on the other hand…

"What? But why? If Hinata's right ahead of us, then we could go get her!" He swung his arms around rashly, defiantly, as he argued. Like Sakura, he'd jumped off the branch he was standing on and stood in front of the sixteen year old. Sakura punched him in the arm and sent him flying into a tree.

Ignoring Naruto's groaning, she said, "So how many are there?" She was referring to the shinobi by the cave, of course. Neji responded, saying that there was just one man. "Wait, only one? Then why are we waiting around here? I can handle one ninja!" She punched the air eagerly, but when Neji told her the identity of that one person, her enthusiasm and Naruto's ignorance fully disappeared.

"Sasuke's got Hinata?!" shouted the Genin. Neji nodded, his back to the two. A silent minute passed and Naruto grinned. "All right, now's my chance to get Sasuke back!" He was as excited as ever, telling himself that this time he wouldn't fail. It was only Sasuke, so that meant neither Orochimaru nor Kabuto were there. Things couldn't have been better for them! "Let's go!"

When he began running ahead, and no one else went after him, he queried, "Hey, hey, what's wrong? Don't you want to get Sasuke, Sakura?" Naruto didn't bother asking Neji because he already knew he probably didn't care. Finding Hinata was the objective, and to him, that was all that mattered. The boy learned that when they were given that mission in the Star village.

"Naruto…" Sakura sounded worried, and perhaps there was a hint of fear in her voice as well. She was remembering their first encounter with Sasuke, only months ago. He would've killed all of them if it weren't for Orochimaru stopping him, but that was only because they proved useful to them; they acted as Orochimaru's pawns as well. 'Eliminate two more Akatsuki members,' he had said. "Naruto, maybe we should let Neji go first."

"What are you talking about, Sakura? You want Sasuke back, too, don't you?" he burst.

She averted her eyes to the left. Neji was looking at her. "Well, of course I do, but… last time…" Blinking back tears, she didn't trust her voice, so she simply shook her head, biting her bottom lip. Naruto calmed himself.

"Sakura…" he said softly. Then, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, he hollered, "I promised, I'll bring Sasuke back to the village no matter what!" Sakura gave a gentle smile and Neji's face hardened.

"It didn't appear as though he was going to kill her," he stated out of nowhere. "If we hurry, then he won't get the chance." The other two nodded determinedly.

"All right!" they exclaimed in unison.

A/n: I don't know about this chapter… do you like it? I hope so :) Well thanks for reading, and the review (if you review)!

Oh, and I know Hinata may be a little out of character, but she was bound to explode -or something- with Sasuke and all. Mhm, I hope she's okay...

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto… how unfair is that?