Author's Note: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter VIII
The Fight
They travelled for two more days before they had real sign of their target. I never mentioned the name of this a-ranked criminal, but his name is Kamaki. He primarily uses Genjutsu. Though he is considered an A-ranked criminal, he doesn't have good fighting skills considering Taijutsu. Nevertheless, he was very tough to take down.
Hiashi had an idea on how to get the target down without causing too much damage to the forest around them. "Naruto, Hinata you two have the Byakugan so you'll need to use them. Can you use the Gentle Fist technique Naruto?" Naruto nodded. Kamaki was slouching around his camp, clearly drinking sake. Hiashi sent Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura around in a ring. Hiashi was getting in on the action too and he was just waiting for the right moment. That didn't happen in his favor though. Naruto lunged from his spot and landed a hard fist on Kamaki's cheek as Kamaki tried to flee in surprise. It hurt like Hell but Kamaki shrugged it off and started his fight. "What is a pathetic Konoha nin doing coming after me? You won't be able to stop me from getting to your precious village." Naruto rolled his eye. "Oh please, like you don't have enough trouble already dattebayo." Kamaki was caught off guard by this word. That was until he saw three other Konoha nin lunge from their hiding spots. He quickly created a mist concealing Genjutsu and stalked towards Hinata. Naruto was already beside her though and pulled her out of the way of a Kunai being thrown. Kamaki growled in frustration. "You really need to learn how to fight against Byakugan users." Naruto said as he lifted his head band to reveal his Byakugan. "BYAKUGAN!" Hinata followed suite. "BYAKUGAN!" Kamaki was now in a really hard spot. He managed to get a kunai into Sakura, but Hiashi was a difficulty in of himself. Then he realized that the other two were closing in on him. Not wanting them to get closer, Kamaki turned to face them. However Naruto managed to get behind him but he was vulnerable in his position, or so Kamaki thought. As he turned to strike the shadow clone which dispelled. Hinata and Naruto landed two blows. Hinata took out Kamaki's arm while Naruto hit a chakra point on his neck. The result was a quick thudding noise.
"Nicely done you two." As Naruto bound up their criminal. Hinata smiled but something was off, that was too easy of a fight. Sakura finished bandaging herself when she saw a group of men walk into the area. Kamaki woke up and smirked, "you thought you could win? Ha! We outnumber you one hundred to one!" Naruto let a foxy grin loose and he did the shadow clone Jutsu yet again. This time 1000 shadow clones were in the area. All having an activated Byakugan. Kamaki and his company were shocked to say the least, the battle that happened next was nothing but a bloodbath for Naruto.
At one point during the fight, Hinata was fighting off an unusually large criminal. Kamaki had gotten free from his binding and walked towards the unsuspecting Hyūga. Naruto saw this and slammed Kamaki with a Rasengan. The result sent Kamaki flying back into a tree. The pain was unbearable. Naruto closed his eyes only to open them again. This time revealing a blood-red Byakugan and a blazing red eye. "You're not going to live now. You touch her, you learn your lesson." Naruto moved with such violent speed that Kamaki had no time to react when he heart was pierced by a kunai. Naruto turned to the rest of the group of criminals that still remained and roared. Hiashi knew all too well what was happening, Naruto was just getting started. The group, seeing the terrifying death approaching them, turned to flee only it was too late. Three seconds later and the only ones standing were the Konoha nin. Naruto was having a hard time calming down and Hinata came to the rescue. Her hug was all Naruto needed to calm down. Hiashi nodded. "Alright you're ok Naruto?" Naruto nodded. "Alright, let's return home." The group so graciously agreed.
That night Naruto was having trouble sleeping, every time he closed his eyes he saw images of frightened men screaming as he showed no mercy. It was keeping him up. That was until he felt Hinata press her body up against his and wrap her arms around him. He began to doze off and as he did, he had dreams. Dreams of Hinata and him alone in some secluded field. They were smiling, laughing, and holding hands. Those dreams were peaceful. But then he had one dream that seemed too realistic. Naruto felt a heavy burden on his chest like he had just watched his best friend die. Then he a soft hand gently slap him on his cheek. He turned to see Hinata, covered and dirt and sweat with tears in her eyes as she seemed to look into his own. Hinata's eyes were filled with sorrow, but the look she also displayed was one of courage, determination, and love. Not some mere crush, but the love he hoped to see in his wife if he ever got married. Those eyes seemed to burn themselves into his mind.
When he woke up the next day, he found himself gently caressing Hinata's head. He face was buried deep into his chest and he almost didn't want to get up. Hinata was breathing and the sound not to mention the motion of her breathing was comforting. He almost wanted to kiss her on the top of her tiny head. He quickly decided against not wanting the trouble of carrying her. Hinata then took a deep breath, breathing in Naruto's scent which comforted her so much and opened her eyes. She dug her face out of his chest and looked up to see Naruto awake and looking at her. She blushed and promptly fainted. Naruto shook his head, it looked like he was going to have to carry her anyway.