Naruto was tossed the floor of a cave, hands and feet bound. He looked around at the two hired ninjas who were looking deeper in the cave. No doubt towards the three escaped criminals.

"We got a hostage like you asked," said one of the ninja.

"Yeah and we didn't even hurt him. He gave himself up to save his little girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"Shut your face brat," spat one of the hired ninja and kicked Naruto in the stomach.

"Now, now the point of a hostage is to keep him alive," came a voice from the back of the cave. Naruto looked up at the man. He recognized him from the picture Tsunade had showed him and Hinata before their mission. His name was Takahiro and was very likely the brains of the entire operation.

Hinata.

Naruto thought back to how this mission had gone so horribly wrong.

"Ok you two you have a mission. These three criminals have escaped from prison in a neighboring country. They've hired us to capture them and if that's not possible to kill them. The three men's names are Takahiro, Souta, and Riku. Now Souta and Riku are not the ones to worry about. They… aren't that smart."

Naruto interrupted, "But Tsunade-baa chan why just me and Hinata?"

Tsunade fixed her gaze on Naruto.

"Hinata's Byakugan is perfectly suited to find hiding people combined with your strength will make it easy to capture these men. Besides we're short-handed right now and I can only send you two."

Not to mention you two have been working increasingly well together lately.

"Now go."

Finding the three men wasn't hard at all with Hinata. They found them cowering in a cave on the border of the two countries.

"Ok Hinata lets go in and beat them up."

"Umm Naruto-kun I think… we should make a strategy. Tsunade-sama did say Takahiro was smart."

"But…"

"I think it would be best Naruto-kun."

"Fine I'll go scout the area," muttered Naruto, secretly angry at Hinata. She never disagreed with him. He knew perfectly well there was no reason to scout the area with Hinata's abilities. Hinata watched him disappear into the trees.

Sorry Naruto-kun. I just don't want you getting hurt.

It didn't take long for Naruto to regret his decision. The sounds of a ninja battle from where had left Hinata reached where he was sulking. Naruto cursed himself as he hurried back to help Hinata. They must have hired ninja to protect them and he left Hinata alone. Naruto quickly found her in a battle with a strange ninja. Naruto grew angrier when he saw Hinata had been hurt. It seemed as if she had been surprised by the ninja. A kunai was still embedded deep in her upper left arm. She wasn't moving it at all. Naruto quickly threw some kunai at the ninja, trying to get him away from Hinata.

"Naruto-kun," panted Hinata. "Is that really you?"

What does she mean is it really me?

"Yes. Are you ok?"

"I'll be…" Hinata trailed off as she fainted.

"Shit," cursed Naruto as he caught her before she hit the ground. Naruto had lost sight of the ninja and Hinata was badly injured. He quickly ran through his options.

Damn it. I don't have a choice.

He reached into his bag and threw some smoke bombs at the ground. After Naruto felt he was a safe distance away from the cave and the ninja, he started looking for a place to treat Hinata's wounds. Luckily, Sakura had taught him some basic first aid. He found a little grove of trees and laid Hinata on the ground. He quickly began bandaging her arm. She had lost a fair amount of blood. After Naruto had finished tending her arm, he sat back and wondered how Hinata could have been hurt so badly. He'd seen her in action a lot before so he knew of Hinata's amazing defensive move, not to mention her Gentle Fist. So how had it happened?

"Hey kid, dozing off isn't a smart thing to do when Kaito and Naoki are on your trail." The ninja Hinata had fought appeared in the grove.

"What makes you think I was dozing off. You aren't that special."

"You dare mock me Kaito?" asked the strange ninja. Naruto took a good look at him. He was only of average build with shoulder length brown hair.

"Don't build yourself up, bastard. You're going to pay for what you did to Hinata." He took a step towards Kaito.

Kaito smiled a wide smile. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"You don't scare me. I could beat you in an instant. Why wouldn't I attack you stupid?"

"Because," came a voice from behind Naruto.

What? How…

Naruto whipped around then froze. Another ninja, presumably Naoki, had a kunai to HInata's throat.

"Get your dirty hands off her!"

"And why would I do that?"

Hinata stirred. "Naruto-kun…"

"Naruto huh? Well Naruto our boss needs a hostage. One he can hold against Konohagakure to give him safety in the village. How 'bout I just take this one here and let Kaito fight you?"

"I'd kill him in a second and come after you!"

Naoki ignored him. "Hey Kaito. I'd rather have the girl than him. She's kind of pretty and we can have some fun with her later."

"Why you…" Naruto started towards Naoki.

"Ah Ah Ah Naruto," warned Naoki pressing his kunai slightly into Hinata's neck. A little trickle of blood ran from the line left there. Naruto stopped, cursing himself and these ninja.

What can I do? I just can't let them take Hinata? I need…

"Wait," called Naruto.

"Why should we?"

"If you want a hostage fine, I will go willingly with you if you swear to leave her here. And I swear if I find out you go back on your word no place in this world will keep you safe from me. Dattebayo!"

"Still I'd rather have the girl…"

"Wait Naoki. We just need one hostage. If we can get one without spending too much energy that's fine with me."

Naoki glared at Kaito before sighing.

"It's always the easy way with you."

Meanwhile Hinata had started to wake up.

"Naruto-kun… what's going on?"

"Shut up bitch," said Naoki and calmly kicked her in her injured arm. Stars exploded in Hinata's vision as the pain pulled her in the world of black once again.

"HINATA!! You bastard!" Naruto ran towards Naoki. He felt a jolt and cursed himself again. He forgot about Kaito. As he fell into unconsciousness he only had one thought.

I'm sorry Hinata.

Takahiro's voice brought him back to the present.

"How did you get him to give himself up?"

Kaito started. "He came here with a girl. They had an argument of some kind and he ran off. I transformed into him and went back to the girl. I apologized and she bought it."

That was why she asked me if it was really me. They attacked her in my form before.

This thought made Naruto even angrier.

Naoki continued. "It would appear she loves him although I don't think he's realized it."

"What do you mean Hinata loves me? That's ridiculous! We're just friends," scoffed Naruto even though his mind was racing.

Could she be in love with me? She's always been there for me. It would explain why she was fooled so easily… Could it be possible?

"This kid really is an idiot. Will Konohagakure give you what you want for just him?" asked Naoki.

"Show him to me," commanded Takahiro. Kaito grabbed the back of Naruto's jacket and raised him up to show Takahiro.

"You idiots!!" exploded Takahiro. Kaito dropped Naruto from surprise.

"What is it?"

"Konoha won't give us what we want now! That brat is the demon fox! Of all the people to capture, it had to be him!"

"Wait this kid is the demon fox that attacked konoha all those years ago?" put in Naoki.

"Yes he's worthless as leverage. That village is probably looking for a way to get rid of him."

Naruto did not like the direction this conversation had taken.

Why do they always call me the demon fox? I just hold him. It isn't my fault.

Takahiro wasn't happy. He was pacing trying to figure out what to do.

"You said there was a girl with him right?"

"Yeah, he gave himself up on our word we wouldn't touch her.

"Go get her."

Naruto began struggling at his words.

"What? You swore, you swore you wouldn't touch her!"

"Too bad demon. You aren't worth anything," snapped Takahiro. He turned to the other two criminals.

"Souta, Riku go get her."

"NOO!" erupted Naruto. It was his fault Hinata got hurt, now they were going after her again. He snapped the ropes that bound him. He ran after Souta and Riku. From the mission report he knew they weren't smart or much a problem. Takahiro was the mastermind and the hired ninja proved that these two didn't provide enough power to protect Takahiro. A few well placed punches and they were down for the count. He turned back towards Takahiro, who stepped behind Naoki and Kaito.

"Why are you just standing there? Kaito, kill him."

"Fine. Ok kid, we got our fight. What makes you think you can beat me so easily?"

"This. Kage bunshin no jutsu!"

Five other Narutos appeared. While four of the bunshins kept Kaito busy the other one helped build a swirling ball of chakra in the real Naruto's palm. Kaito had just finished with the last of the other bunshins. He turned to see a puff of smoke of the last clone disappearing and Naruto charging toward him.

"Now you die! Rasengan!!"

Naruto's jutsu hit the mark. Kaito was hurled into the back of the cave. His impact caused a minor rock slide that buried his body. However, Naruto had forgotten about Naoki. As Naruto turned he saw a dozen kunai leave the ninja's hands. He had nothing to defend himself with and not enough time to dodge a vital hit. Naruto stared helplessly at his death coming ever closer.

Hey guys here it is. I have quite a few more chapters written, but I'm stuck right now. So while the next couple are written the end isn't.

Just a small note about my writing style. A couple reviews have told me to put more detail into my stories so I started thinking about why there isn't that much detail but a bunch of dialouge in my stories. I realized that when I get an idea for a story I can see it in my head like it's actually happening. Then I just write down what I see sort of like a screenplay. Just the dialouge feelings and basic details nothing too extravagent. I've tried putting in more detail but I think it sounds forced and takes away from my story. So I'm sorry about the lack of detail. I will start working on it but for now I'm keeping my style the same. Thanks for reading.