Disclaimer: I do not on Naruto.

chapter THREE

There was so much screaming. Loud and shrill, then some sort of battle cry, Hinata was so confused.

In her confusion, she turned away from the man and out of his grasp in search of the door they had come through so she could get a glimpse of what was happening. Was it some sort of new Festival tradition she just wasn't aware of?

Hinata turned back to the man but he was gone. His mask, slightly torn and on the floor, was the only sign that he had been there at all.

For a moment Hinata was overwhelmed by a feeling of abandonment, but the screams and harsh voices distracted her from her ponderings. There was something horrible wrong occurring. What could possibly be happening? All the towns' people are drunk and happy by now, there's no way a revolt is occurring.

Hinata moved closer to the, now partly shattered, door they had entered through, hoping to have an idea of what she should do and if she should seek out her family. At the high-pitched wail of "Pirates!" Hinata froze in her spot.

Oh no. No no no no no. This couldn't be happening, not now. Having the war be backed up into their harbor would have been better than pirates on their land. There was no one to defend them thanks to the war and the pirates were merciless, they had nothing to gain by sparing someone's life or taking someone captive. Everyone was just a piece of meat in the way of what they wanted.

At least, that's what Hinata assumed after what had happened to her mother, but it was best not to think about that at the moment.

As soon as her mind cleared, Hinata realized the smell of smoke and the sound of gun fire was becoming increasingly strong. Knowing that she needed to find somewhere safe now, or else she'd be dead within minutes, Hinata tossed off her heels, hoisted up her skirts, and ran.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Once she'd found her way out of the Haruno's estate, Hinata could see hostile men pouring in through the entrance. Thanking the gods that she had made it out in time, Hinata ran to where she believed the carriages had been left to wait, in hopes of finding her family.

She ran along the estate's wrought iron tipped stone walls, hoping she could find a place to climb over and get out on the street. After what felt like an eternity, Hinata found a tree that she knew she could climb, thanks to her time with Neji as a child, she could climb like no one else. It was her best way to escape someone she knew she couldn't beat.

Her first try wasn't very successful.

Her dress was far too heavy and her hands and feet no longer had the calluses they had in her childhood. The life of a lady had truly made her soft. Hinata almost felt like laughing at that as her mind raced on. She would be the person to die because they were too rich and highborn to be able to defend themselves.

The thought flitted by before she let it consume her.

Looking frantically around her, Hinata saw people running down the estate's main stone way and towards the gates, many being gutted or taken to the ground, she tried not to think about what was happening to them. Her mind wandered despite her.

Glancing down at her dress, Hinata made a decision. Beauty was inconvenient when your life was on the line, and death was not a luxury she could afford.

Within seconds she was tearing through the fabric like it was butter, ripping along the seams. Before she let it register, Hinata tore the first garment that made her beautiful until she was free of the bodice and found herself in nothing but her corset and shift. If her life weren't in danger she would have felt utterly humiliated.

Struggling to forget everything that was happening around her, Hinata quickly shimmied up the tree, trying to convince herself that she was a child again, with Neji jumping up and down at the bottom of the tree, hollering for her to "come down this instance."

Once Hinata found herself equal with the wall, she climbed one branch higher so she could gain leverage to carefully set herself down, as quickly as possible, in between the wrought iron spikes atop the stone walls. As she leaned over the edge to see where she might jump down with the best chance of survival, Hinata could hear running footsteps and angry shouts coming up behind her.

And in her panic, she leapt, not even noticing where it was she would fall.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Hinata didn't know whether to feel thankful or horrified. She'd landed straight into a heap of foul garbage. She was absolutely positive that she didn't want to even think about what she was currently laying in. For a moment she thought about just staying there where, surely, no one would find her. But the image of her family waiting for her had her jumping to her feet and running again.

Within seconds she was running down the cobblestone path again, heading towards where she supposed the carriage would be.

As she rounded a corner, they were upon her.

The pirates were everywhere! Was that even possible? How many people could there be on one boat? For a moment she thought about doing the math, but had to duck before another man came at her and tried to snatch her up. In her panic she fell to the ground, scraping her hands and knees and covering herself and her linens further in mud.

Again she was reached for but she scrambled away across the ground, a mess of hands and feet.

"Stop scrambling li'le g'rl! Just come 'ere!" One of the men shouted, leaping over the other to reach for her.

Hinata lurched away once more and fell onto a body, a man who'd obviously just been killed by the pirates attacking her now. Gulping down the panic, and bile, that was rising up in her, Hinata tried to ignore the blood that was covering her fingers as she searched the man for the weapon he had used to defend himself.

As she fell to the other dead man's other side, she fell upon his empty gone and the rapier that was at his side. Lifting the gun up quickly, she fumbled with it and quickly realized that it was empty, and tossed it aside to reach for the rapier at his side.

Quick as a heartbeat she was on her feet and holding the rapier steady in her grasp, ready to strike the men in front of her. For a moment she hesitated, unsure of whether or not she actually remembered all of her lessons from when she was a child, but then that hesitance was gone as quickly as it had come.

A man jumped forward to attack once more, and Hinata gutted him with a flick of her wrist. As the man fell, and before another could attack, Hinata turned away and ran, deciding to find another way towards the carriages.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Hinata slid up and down the streets, trying to reach the family carriage so they could escape to the manor and defend themselves, but it seemed everywhere she turned there was someone ready to attack or some other obstacle. Homes were burning down, women and children were screaming, men were dying left and right, and it felt like this was lasting a life time, when really it had been less than twenty minutes since the mysterious man who she was dancing with told her to stay put.

When Hinata finally came up upon the line of carriages that were parked after coming up to the Haruno's party, she stumbled in horror. She had not expected to find so many of the footmen lying dead with their carriages stolen. The part that really horrified her was that the pirates had no use for a horse or buggy, meaning the town's people did this.

Hinata found herself remembering Neji saying something about what war and panic does to them, something about monsters and the horrors of war.

Running down the line, Hinata searched for the carriage she had spent so much of her life getting in and out of, for weddings, parties, and funerals, it was strange that this was how she would be leaving a party. That'd be something to think about later though.

With a start, Hinata found the carriage at the end of the street, her family standing outside of it, obviously waiting for her. For a moment she was filled with relief, but then she another thought struck her.

I could leave right now and save all of us so much pain. They'd think I was dead and then I'd be free…from everything.

Hinata watched her family for a moment or two from a distance, watched them argue about whether or not to leave. Watched them as they decided it was best to get into the carriage and drive off to the manor and come back for her. "Maybe Hinata's already there!" Hanabi had argued with tears streaming down her face.

Then Hinata watched as her family left her. Heading down the cobblestone path and bouncing away as the horses cantered off into the distance.

A part of her wondered of she'd ever see them again.

The other part of her decided it was best not to ever, and she knew she would never regret this.

That was when she turned and left, heading back towards the burning town.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Captain Sasuke could never say that he enjoyed or hated these pillages. He never felt inclined either way. They were a way to raise the men's morale and gain quite a bit of money in the process, plus, he had some spies to pick up in the process, so it was worth it.

Still, a part of him felt bad for the girl he had danced with. She seemed so miserable and like she didn't really even know what life was like yet. But, she was clearly rich, and he had told her to stay there, so if she left then she had it coming to her.

This had been a good night to attack; the moon was full and next to no one was actually in their homes. Plus, there was the fact that the ships that were normally stationed here were recently taken out to battle, with their replacement unfortunately late to arrive.

Sasuke smiled. It had been a great day for the crew when they realized what ship they had intercepted, and what message they were carrying northward. That had solidified their attack date. They had been meaning to come on land soon, and the fact that most men were taken out to see made it perfect. Of course, some higher up puffy chested officers were sure to be around, but none would have their weapons on them due to the celebrations. It was their way.

Weapons just weren't to be associated with times that were supposed to be merry.

So, Sasuke and his crew struck, hard and quick.

They were sure to gain much from this attack, not just money and information, but they would most assuredly gain respect amongst other pirates, he'd be that much closer to his goal.

He was Captain Sasuke Uchiha of The Avenger, and he would have his vengeance, no matter what the cost.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for all the reviews and follows and favorites and just oh my goodness! I was so surprised! Thank you so much everyone for all the support! I don't even know how to express how much that meant to me! Thank you so much!

Please review if you have any comments, questions, concerns, or advice. It would be much appreciated!