CHAPTER 2

SORRRYY! I apologize, it's just that I am going to be a VERY slow uploader for this story… it's just that I'm concentrating on finishing my other fic before I end up ditching it just to do this one… but, I'm trying, and I hope I'll get there soonn… hope… so sorry in advance…

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.(Man I haven't done these in a while… whoops, if you don't see a disclaimer on one of my chapters, it means I forgot, but NONE OF IT BELONGS TO ME… as you already know… )

**DEMON COUPLE**

**DEMON COUPLE**

The first thing Naruto did when he returned to Konoha was search out the Hyuuga compound. As he trudged towards the compound he ran into Neji.

"Hey, Naruto. How are you feeling?" Neji asked, slightly concerned.

Naruto sighed, "Alright I guess. I just really wasn't expecting this. And I miss her y'know?"

Neji nodded in agreement, "I take it you know why she left?" He asked.

Naruto nodded "She told me in the letter. So you know too?"

"Yes, I do know about her… tenant. I also know about yours. I don't think about you any differently because of it though. All jounin are told as they need to know just in case something happens. But Hinata's was new to me. I would never have expected it. Only the Hyuuga elders knew about it before she left." Neji explained.

Naruto was a little shocked at that, "Did she know about me?" He asked.

Neji shook his head, "No I don't think so. She wouldn't have acted any different if she did though. That's Hinata for you. She's sees people on the inside other than on the outside. Her kindness was overwhelming and she didn't deserve this."

Naruto let out an unsteady breath, "I know. Before she left, she told me. That she had feelings for me. I didn't know what to think, but while I was training I figured out a few things. And now… she's gone, just when I find someone who l-loves me. They disappear." He blinked his tears back, refusing to let them fall.

Neji sighed, "What are you going to do?"

"Give those Hyuuga bastards a piece of my mind!" Naruto growled, Roki barking in agreement.

Neji sighed, this wasn't going to turn out too well, "Wait, Naruto! Before you storm in there, you really need to think this thing through. Talk it out with someone so your rage isn't controlling you. Just don't go running in there expecting answers and beating people up."

Naruto sighed, "But who will I talk to? No-one knows what I'm going through."

You've talked to me, we've both decided to destroy the Hyuuga, what more is there to it? Roki growled in annoyance.

I don't think he means you, Roki. Naruto thought back.

"Talk to someone who cares. Someone you are close to." Neji walked off.

I care. So it's decided. Let's go!

Naruto ignored him, Who cares? Well, Hinata cares. And she's MISSING! I can't talk to anyone, they don't know about the Kyuubi, or Hinata's bijuu. Naruto thought with a sigh and walked off towards his apartment, an unhappy fox by his side.

**DEMON COUPLE**

"Hey, Naruto! You're back! How are you doing? Learn anything new?" Naruto heard the voice of his old teacher, Iruka while he was on his way home.

"Yeah." Naruto sighed, "I guess."

Iruka looked to Naruto with a confused expression on his face, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Naruto actually smiled after hearing that. He could always talk to Iruka. "Yes, I would like that."

"Ramen?" Iruka smiled.

Naruto's eyes sparkled, "Definitely."

**DEMON COUPLE**

Naruto and Iruka had just ordered their ramen after a brief greeting with Teuchi and Ayame the people that worked at Itchiraku, the ramen stand.

Iruka and Naruto were seated at the far end of the stand, so they could speak in private without anyone else listening in to their conversation. Roki was keeping lookout so no-one would intrude, he knew Naruto needed to talk about this and was hoping Iruka would know something else about the Hyuuga's disappearance.

"So what's on your mind, Naruto?" Iruka asked, concerned.

Naruto sighed loudly, "I heard that Hinata left the village about three years ago…"

Iruka sighed unhappily, he heard about that, "She had a lot of talent. Just none of those Hyuuga elders knew how to appreciate it."

"Damn right! She has killed three Akatsuki members! I just… wish she never left." Naruto said, depressed again.

"She was a kind young kunoichi. I could tell she was destined for great things when she was in the academy. She was a kind soul, the only one of your age that didn't laugh at you. I could tell she knew you were hurting. I was surprised she was hurting too. She was good at hiding it to make others feel better." Iruka sighed sadly.

"I saw her, before I left." Naruto admitted, "She came up to me before I walked out Konoha gates. She said good luck and… and confessed to me. I don't know what to do, Iruka. I just found a girl who actually likes me, and while I was gone… I-I think I actually fell for her. I wanted badly to get back to Konoha and see her again. But she isn't here. And I don't know what to do!"

Iruka patted Naruto on the back comfortingly, saddened at the distraught expression on his face. Hinata and Naruto would've made a great couple. He knew that for a fact from the way they acted around each other in the academy, and, truthfully, he was determined that they would become a couple in the future. But he guessed things don't work that way.

He looked up when Naruto continued, "It sucks, you know. If I knew how she felt about me sooner, she might still be here. We would be together and I would've found a way to stop the Hyuuga from putting her in the branch family. She's like me Iruka! She's a Jinchuuriki! She doesn't know about mine, but I know she'll accept me! It's just not fair." Naruto couldn't hold back the tears now, he hadn't let his tears fall out all day, but now as he was speaking his thoughts aloud, pouring his heart out, he couldn't hold the tears back any longer.

"I know. It isn't fair." Iruka agreed, "Hinata would've accepted you Naruto. Even if she didn't have a bijuu in her, that's just the way she is. But she's gone. And she's not coming back to Konoha. The Hyuuga made sure of that. But even in the academy it was obvious she had feelings for you, Naruto. She won't demolish those feelings, ever." Iruka admitted, he knew it wasn't what Naruto wanted to hear, but he needed to know that she wasn't coming back, "You just need to be strong. Like she is being strong now. If you can't be strong for yourself, be strong for her. She will always care for you, especially you."

"I know. She told me she'll always love me before I left. But I love her! I really do! And I want her by my side!" Naruto complained. "I'll do anything for that! She's away from her home, alone. I know what that's like! And it isn't a good feeling, being alone. I don't want anyone to feel like that, especially her. I love her."

"There is a chance you'll find her again…" Iruka said comfortingly, intentionally not mentioning the fact that she probably wouldn't return with him to Konoha.

Naruto shook his head, "No, Iruka. It's not a chance. I will find her again. It's a promise. And I always keep my promises." He vowed, clutching his wolf necklace with his left hand. He intended to keep that promise.

**DEMON COUPLE**

Talking with Iruka really helped Naruto. He was now lying on his bed in his apartment, staring at the roof with a small smile on his face with Roki curled up at his feet. I'll become Hokage. And when that happens, I'll stop this madness in the Hyuuga clan. Then she will be able to return. Believe it!

I still think we should massacre the Hyuuga. They're too arrogant for my tastes. Roki put in his two cents.

Naruto chucked at his accomplice. You're the most arrogant thing I know! There is not a day that goes by that I don't hear about your 'unbeatable' power and how you would be able to destroy the world if you wanted to. Naruto sighed audibly, closing his eyes and letting sleep take him.

**DEMON COUPLE**

(A/N. Sakura is a bitch in this fic, okay? I have just decided that someone has to be evil, and she was chosen at random. Ino is just following along to whatever she says. Ino will actually be good in a few minutes :))

A few days later…

"What's with all this secrecy around Hinata's disappearance?" Sakura Haruno complained to her best friend, Ino Yamanaka.

Ino shrugged, "I'm not sure, I was told that she left because her family treated her badly and were going to send her off to Kumo because they'd pay for her Byakugan." She said confidently, she knew all about the gossip in Konoha.

Sakura sighed loudly, "That is a rumour. Why would they possibly do that? They don't want others knowing the Byakugan secrets!" Sakura pointed out the obvious.

Ino was confused, "Oh, yeah. You're right. Then why did she run away?"

"I think she's a traitor." Sakura said stubbornly. "I never really liked her. She's probably just taking the cowards way out and leaving Konoha."

Ino looked to her friend, even more confused now, "But Sasuke left Konoha too, and you don't call him a traitor."

"Sasuke would never do something like that! It's probably some secret mission so he can infiltrate Orochimaru's base because he's so strong and talented only he can do it." Sakura decided, all dreamy eyed. Ino had her doubts about that, but didn't dare contradict her.

"But hasn't Hinata killed three Akatsuki members? And isn't she S rank? I read that about her in the bingo book." Ino wondered.

Sakura sighed at her best friends hopelessness, "That is obviously incorrect. You remember Hinata, don't you? She's a bad ninja! She really sucks! She would never be able to kill an Akatsuki member!"

"Okay." Ino nodded, taking all this knew information in, "Then we gotta figure out why she left!"

Sakura just nodded in agreement, "And I know who will know."

"Who?"

Sakura smiled, "The only person who was able to read that letter today. Naruto."

**DEMON COUPLE**

Naruto was walking around town, avoiding thoughts about the Hyuuga so he wouldn't head over there and demand answers. But that was getting extremely difficult with Roki thinking up ideas how to torture the Hyuuga which, in turn was running through his head.

He smiled when he saw Shikamaru and Choji standing out the front of a BBQ restaurant, just what he needed to get his mind off of things.

"SHIKAMARU! CHOJI!" Naruto yelled, running up to his two friends.

"Hey Naruto." Choji smiled.

"How are you? I heard you were pretty upset the other day." Shikamaru said, giving Naruto a knowing look.

Naruto nodded, "a little better, but I just have to get my mind off of things, so would you mind if I joined you?"

"Come on then! The more the merrier!" Choji said with a smile as he led the way into the BBQ shop.

Five minutes later they were all seated at one of the booths of the shop, "I heard that Sakura and Ino were looking for you." Choji said as they started eating.

Naruto gave them a confused look, "What would they want me for?"

Shikamaru sighed, "I'm not sure, probably something troublesome."

"To you, everything's troublesome." Choji sighed, "Is there anything untroublesome?"

Shikamaru smirked, "Of course, cloud watching."

Naruto laughed, "I don't see what's so great about clouds. They bore me. All they do is float around all day."

Shikamaru was about to reply when they heard a voice being yelled at them, "NARUTO! WE WERE LOOKING FOR YOU!" and Sakura was running straight for them with Ino by her side.

"What is it guys?" Naruto asked.

"We want to know about Hinata!" Sakura demanded.

Naruto's face visibly darkened, "What about her?" He asked suspiciously.

"We want to know why that traitor left the villa-" Sakura started but was interrupted by Naruto.

"She is not a traitor, got that? She didn't leave the village to befriend the enemy like someone I know! So don't accuse her of it!" Naruto said harshly, Roki growling at her in agreement.

Shikamaru was watching this confrontation with one eyebrow raised, he was slightly confused as to why Naruto was so protective over Hinata. He knew why Hinata left, he figured it all out a while ago and he knew about the Kyuubi but wouldn't have guessed Naruto had feelings for the girl.

Sakura fumed, "What's your problem? I just want to know what happened to her! Why are you so protective!"

Protective. The word echoed through Naruto's head. He was protective because he loved her dammit! He was protective because Sakura was accusing her of something she didn't or wouldn't ever do! "I'm protective because she's my friend!" That would have to do.

"But why won't you tell us! We need to know!" Sakura complained.

"You don't need to know anything!"

"I'll go on a date with you if you tell me…" She tried.

"No. I don't want to go on a date with you." Naruto growled.

Sakura was shocked, "But you've always wanted to go on a date with me."

"Not anymore. Not for a long time." Naruto disagreed.

Sakura was starting to get angry now, "Why not?"

"Because I don't like you like that." Naruto answered simply.

"Fine! Pig, we're leaving." Sakura said and started to storm off.

Ino looked to Shikamaru, Choji and Naruto and wanted to stay with them. She didn't like how mean Sakura was being, "Sorry, forehead, I'm staying with these guys."

Sakura just harrumphed and continued walking off when Ino took a seat next to Choji, "Sorry guys." Ino apologised, "Sakura has being really mean lately."

"I noticed." Naruto sighed.

Shikamaru finally decided to say what was on his mind. "You like her, don't you?"

Naruto's eyes widened, "Who? Sakura? No way!"

"Not Sakura. Hinata." Shikamaru said.

Naruto sighed loudly, blushing a little bit, "Is it that obvious?"

"Not really, you're just really protective of her." Shikamaru explained.

"I just didn't like how Sakura was talking about her. She didn't deserve it."

Choji tried lightening up the mood, "Don't worry about it, Naruto! At least you're not still going after Sakura! And you still might see her again, I did!"

"You saw her?" Naruto's interest was piqued.

"Yeah. I was on a mission with these guys." He gestured to Shikamaru and Ino before continuing, "She saved my life. We were ambushed by some missing nin, but she wasn't one of them. It was just after a fight we already had so we were all pretty low on chakra. I didn't notice one get behind me and I would've been dead if she didn't appear and push me out the way. She said a brief hello, and if she didn't stutter I wouldn't have known it was her. She told us to leave and she handled it." Choji summarised.

"What did she look like?" Naruto asked.

Choji smiled at Naruto, "Well, she was wearing blue contacts so people wouldn't see she had the Byakugan and she's grown her hair out. She still had her bangs but the rest of her hair reached her waist. She wasn't much taller than I remembered her, but she had grown a lot."

Naruto nodded, taking all this new information in, "Thanks guys. I really needed to hear that she was okay. She still looks after Konoha even though she's a missing nin." He smiled slightly.

"She was really pretty too!" Ino piped up, "Although I reckon her lavender eyes suit her better."

Shikamaru smiled and patted Naruto on the back, "Don't worry about her, she is strong enough to look after herself."

Naruto nodded, "I know."

**DEMON COUPLE**

That's it. Well, I can't say when the next one will be out, maybe soon, maybe not… I'll get there eventually… but I'll tell you guys now… I AM NOT GIVING UP ON THIS FIC! It's just sort of on hold… but sometimes I have ideas that just pop into my head, and I'll write them down, so this story is DEFINITELY not dead… hope you are enjoying it.

:) TaZ xx