DtecnoKira: Here I go trying the NaruHina again……..

Hinata: DtecnoKira does not own Naruto.

Kiba: Wait you told me that you were switching Hinata's story to an AU. So if this isn't AU….who's doing the AU if it isn't me anymore.

DtecnoKira: No one for now...Sasuke maybe.

Hinata: This story takes place during Shippuden.

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Hinata's Story-Mission: Love

Chapter 1 Here we are

The crimson embers of the campfire glowed dimly in the cold night, but they were enough. Hinata tried not to shiver in the cold; she held her hands as close to the fire as she could. Naruto and Sakura were sleeping peacefully in their tents while Hinata watched the night for any sign of intruders. She was tired but her shift had only just begun.

Alone in the night, it was impossible not to reflect on her situation. She looked up at the twinkling stars in the otherwise empty sky. "Please," she whispered, "Give me the courage to tell him."

Before setting off on this mission, she had made a vow to express her feelings to Naruto. However, even now she had no idea what to say. 'I love you,' was not enough. With so much at stake, how could anyone expect three small words to shoulder such a heavy burden? Those three words alone could never convey the emotions churning in the human heart, could they?

Regardless of what words she would choose in the end, she would say them. Sure, there were thoughts of, 'How will he react? What if he doesn't like me back? What if he starts to grow distant?' But they didn't matter. The yearning was to strong, she had to tell him.

That's why she made the vow.

'I never go back on my word!'

Naruto stirred within his tent, sleepily climbing out. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, looking at Hinata in surprise. "Did you call me?" He asked curiously. When Hinata shook her head no, he simply replied, "I must have been dreaming then, but I could have sworn you said something."

Naruto sat down next to her. "Man, this log is uncomfortable," he said, taking a moment to adjust his position on the bumpy piece of wood. "Oh well, I'm up, I might as well stay here with you."

This pleased Hinata almost as much as the idea that Naruto had been dreaming of her. "So, Naruto," she decided to ask, "What kind of dream were you having?"

"I was having the best dream ever!" He excitedly announced. "I had just become the Hokage, and Ichiraku Ramen made a new dish in my honor. It was the best ramen ever." Naruto smiled just thinking about it. He pumped his fist in the air. "I was eating bowl after bowl and it tasted so good!" Realizing how silly he looked, he put his hand down, lightly brushing against Hinata's arm.

His hand felt warm.

"Naruto," she said, working up the courage, "I love…"

"What's with all the noise?" Screamed Sakura, "Why'd you have to go and wake me up Naruto?" She scrambled out of her tent. "I was having such a nice dream! Sasuke came back to the village and became the Rokudaime. Then he proposed to me. We were about to get married when you had to go and ruin it all!"

"S—sorry Sakura-san," he apologized pleadingly. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Naruto turned back to Hinata, barely remembering that she was in the middle of saying something. "So what was it you were saying?" He asked. "Something about you loving…." The memory, though very recent, was fuzzy and vague.

"I love ramen," Hinata said, chickening out of her confession. "I know you love ramen too, so I was wondering if you brought any." It was a good cover, but she still wished she could have blurted out how she felt. For a fleeting moment, she had the strength of heart to depend on 'I love you.' Her voice had been fully prepared to take flight, but now her wings were clipped. Her heart had wavered, leaving her exactly where she started.

But she hadn't given up.

"Well, I'm going back to sleep," Sakura said with a yawn. "Hinata, why don't you get some rest and let Naruto take over your shift?"

The peace of the night was suddenly broken when Hinata shouted, "Look out," and tackled Naruto to the ground. A large shuriken flew above her head, embedding itself in a tree. Hinata and Naruto both rose to their feet quickly, shifting into a battle formation.

"Thanks, I owe you," said Naruto.

Hinata, Naruto, and Sakura were tense. Someone had just attacked them, but who was it? They waited for their opponent's next move, but nothing came. They were still for over an hour as Hinata scanned the area with her Byakugan. "I don't see anyone she told them."

"They must be planning on waiting until we let our guard down. That's when they'll attack," Sakura theorized. "We can't keep this up forever, but it would be foolish to ignore the threat."

Naruto smiled. "I know where the enemy is," he suddenly announced, throwing his kunai at the shuriken. The dagger simply bounced off the larger weapon.

"You idiot!" Sakura moaned. "Hinata's Byakugan can see the flow of chakra, she'd know if the shuriken was actually a human."

"Oh right, I forgot," he admitted sheepishly.

Before they had time to argue any further, the attacker again attempted to kill them.

This time, he attack was more direct. Thousands of senbon rained from the sky. They were almost impossible to make out in the night sky. The trio of ninja had no way to dodge such a widespread attack, but they knew how to block it.

"Taju Kagebunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto shielded himself and his allied with the help of his clones. The group made it out alive.

"Impressive," said a malevolent voice. "I never expected you to survive the attack. I do hope you'll accept my apologies for making you wait; I do rather love watching my prey squirm about nervously. It was a joy to watch you three tense ninja; you all looked like you were ready to go insane. It was hilarious."

He had long white hair and wore black armor decorated with pictures of silver dragons.. He looked like a demon. "Please forgive me for one more little thing. You see, my master can't have you completing your mission; that would interfere with his plans. So I'm afraid I'll have to kill you."

To Be Continued!

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DtecnoKira: Wow, that was a lot harder than I thought! Please R&R

Hinata: Who is this new villain? Who is the master that he serves? Will I ever confess my love to Naruto? Any advice for this story? Where do you want it to go next?

DtecnoKira: Don't forget to vote in my poll!