Whew! New chapter is up and I now find myself not wanting to write anything. Fear not though, cause I've got stuff planned out, I've just been in a bit of a rush with some other projects and work so the next chapter might not be up till the end of next week (or the end of this week coming depending on how you order your week). I just hope I can write it as awesome as I want to.

"Speaking current tense"

"Speaking past tense"

'Thinking current tense'

This is fanfic. I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 3: Dazed and Confused – Part 2

Entering the main hallway, the lights spaced out evenly down the length of the ceiling to provide excellent lighting, Hinata ran until she was in front of the door that led to the holding cells. For a few short breaths she stood there eying the door, Sasuke and Mantis flanking either side of her, both scanning the area for enemies.

The door was like every other door in the hallway. It was plain, its dull surface broken by a simple sign on the door at eye level that read Holding Cells. Hinata knew though that the plain exterior hid nightmares that would no doubt scar her deeply if her fears turned out to be real.

Hinata breathed in slowly seeking to steady herself, then breathed out. The motion was only a seconds but felt like a lifetime. Demons of doubt assaulted her, fears reaching out to drag her down as the gravity of the situation she was in attacked her. Then just as quickly Hinata squashed those fears. She was there for a reason, and nothing would stop her from rescuing him.

Grabbing the door handle, Hinata began to open the door when she felt it. Something was wrong. As the door began to open she knew that she was going the wrong way, the feeling in the pit of her stomach pulling her in the opposite direction.

"This is wrong." Hinata released the door handle like it was on fire, stepping back out into the middle of the hallway.

The silence was deafening as she stood there opposite the door that was her destination, her two teammates regarding her, one with shock though his mask hid his face, the other with shock mixed with annoyance. Then the sound of an explosion from the entrance of the hallway, the cries and screams of battle echoing of the walls of the tunnel, broke the silence of the three man team.

"What do you mean this is wrong?" Mantis was the first to speak between the three. "This is our goal, you said so yourself. Once we make it in we head for this door, which leads to the holding cells, and search for our target. Once we find him we're out of here. So how can this be wrong?" Frustration now edged Mantis's voice as he questioned Hinata in a hushed yet angry tone.

Hinata scowled with annoyance at being questioned, yet was more annoyed with herself as she looked at Mantis. These last few months she had grown to be more assertive, more confident. Yet right now she was unsure of how to proceed. This is wrong she said. So what was right?

"Which way?" This time the Uchiha's question broke her train of thought. Looking to the man who had hurt her fiancé so many times, Hinata noticed the look on his face. It wasn't condescending or filled with annoyance. No, Hinata noticed the Uchiha was looking at her as if waiting to be told which to go like she knew their exact destination. That's when she realised she knew exactly where to go.

The question was so simple, yet it cut through all the doubt, honing Hinata's concentration on the small feeling she had when touching the door handle. Like a switch being turned on, the feeling grew stronger and now pointed Hinata in a firm direction. She knew where to go now.

"We're going to the medical facility. Naruto's there." Hinata gestured for Sasuke to lead the way. "Uchiha, if you will?"

"What about the holding cells?" Interrupting, Mantis pointed at the door to the cells. "This is where we're supposed to go. What if we get to the medical facilities and he's not there? That's means we've gone there as well as Owl's team and wasted what little time we have." Hinata watched as Mantis's shoulders slumped slightly. "I want to rescue Naruto as well, however, we won't get a second chance at this. Putting all our eggs in one basket is a huge gamble considering what's at stake."

"He raises a good point." Hinata turned as the Uchiha spoke again while the point Mantis made sunk in. He was right. If she went to the medical facility like Owl's team planned to and Naruto wasn't there, then they would have wasted all that time. And there was no guarantee that they would be able to make it back to the holding cells. It was a huge gamble.

Hinata was torn between the two choices as seconds went by. She could either follow the mission plan or follow her gut, and the more she thought about, the more she knew the right choice to make. She knew though from the feeling in her body that she had to do this. "We're heading for the medical facility. I know it's strange, but I can feel that Naruto is there."

Mantis was shocked. "You can feel that Naruto is there? Do you hear yourself!? You want to jeopardise this mission because of a feeling!?"

"Yes. It's strange, but I know this is the right choice. So, if you want to, you can stay here to wait for Owl's team, go to the holding cells by yourself, or you can come with me and be useful. Your choice." Hinata's words were hard as she listed the choices to Mantis.

"Alright, alright, I'll go with you. I was just pointing out the mission objectives." Waving his hands quickly in front of his body, Mantis quickly added in a placating tone. "You know, I'll follow you anywhere if it meant I could help Naruto."

Now Hinata was shocked. She couldn't think of what Naruto had done to illicit the loyalty Mantis was displaying. Then she remembered her other teammate. "What about you Uchiha? Do you have a problem with my feelings?"

Both Hinata and Sasuke stared at each other, the gazes locked for what felt like hours, then Sasuke bowed his head slightly. "I'll go wherever you order me to, Lady Hyuuga." Raising his head, Sasuke looked at Hinata. "Far be it for me to judge someone's decisions based on a feeling during a mission."

Hinata nodded at his words. "I'm glad you're both on board, not that you really get a say in the matter. Now since we've wasted enough time already, let's move. Uchiha, since you know the way." Gesturing down the hallway, Hinata waited til Sasuke darted off, then moved into formation behind him while Mantis brought up the rear.

Turning another corner, the three ninjas continued running down the long corridor, their footsteps light as a feathers touch as the sound of battle faded in the distance. They had been down three corridors now since they left the main hallway, and Hinata watched the Uchiha carefully, while keeping an eye out for attacks, as a small sliver of doubt brought to question whether her guide knew where he was going.

When they took the left at the end of the main hallway, Hinata had spared a brief glance back at the door to the holding cells. She was committed now. The first corridor they went down was free of people, however the second was not. Sliding up along the wall, Hinata waited as the Uchiha did a quick scan of the corridor, then quickly relayed the information.

With him, herself and Mantis, the three of them killed the four member team that was placed there to guard the area easily. Hinata would have preferred to dispose of the bodies, but decided to leave the corpses where they fell to save on time and energy, only taking spare weapons that could be found.

Nearing the end of the corridor they were currently in, Hinata moved up against the wall behind the Uchiha as he moved to the end of the wall to survey the next area, while Mantis tapped Hinata on the right shoulder to let her know he was there, watching back down the corridor for enemies.

Sasuke moved back from the edge of the wall and then turned to Hinata and Mantis. Using the Anbu hand signs that he learned years ago as a communication tool he told them what was ahead. Four targets. Two ten metres on left, two more five metres further back on right positioned in a small alcove. All dressed as medical staff. All talking. No hostile movement. Haven't spotted us.

Hinata nodded as the Uchiha finished. Silently she activated her Byakugan and scanned the four people in the corridor. Instantly Hinata was able to see that each was a ninja, various weapons and scrolls stashed on each body, however, they were not dressed as such. The medical attire was all they wore. 'Hmmm... so they're definitely medical staff, but they're also ninjas.'

Byakugan deactivated to conserve energy, Hinata got the attention of Mantis and signed the plan to her teammates. Uchiha, attack two on the left first. Mantis follows with attack on right. I will move after between both to disable. Sasuke and Mantis both nodded, then moved into attack formation, Sasuke at front, Mantis behind and Hinata at the back.

Hinata then tapped Mantis's right shoulder, which he repeated with Sasuke, who then flashed around the corner.

Moving quickly Sasuke launched with blinding speed three kunai at the back of the ninja in front of him. As said ninja ducked, two kunai missing while the third cut into the left shoulder blade of the target, the second ninja moved around the first to launch several kunai at Sasuke. Batting aside the barrage with a held kunai, Sasuke moved into the oncoming ninja and swung, metal meeting flesh as the blade of Sasuke's kunai cut into the ninja's throat. Letting go of the kunai that was still lodged in the ninja's neck due tot he attack, Sasuke threw his body backwards as the first ninja launched a kick at his head.

Following Sasuke around the corner, Mantis launched his own barrage of kunai right after Sasuke did, several of the blades impacting with the wall before the small alcove that his targets were in. One kunai managed to hit a ninja, by luck impacting with the left side of the targets head as he moved out of the alcove into the corridor in order to meet the threat. The ninja instantly fell dead to the ground, the other moving over his dead comrade to engage Mantis.

Hinata was the last around the corner and instantly moved into action. Watching the Uchiha and Mantis engage their targets she quickly moved to the space between the two parties and attacked. Mantis ducked under a neck high swing from his attacker, the kunai cutting through the tips of his hair, then stumbled, his balance forcing him backwards. His opponent never got a chance to capitalise on the opening as Hinata used the exposure created by the swing to stab the man in the heart with two pointed fingers.

As the ninja dropped dead to the ground from her Gentle Fist style, Hinata was already spinning on the spot. Sasuke countered another attack, his right forearm deflecting a straight thrust. Stepping back he kicked out with his left leg into his opponents right shin, then used the brief pause to step in for another attack. Moving in, Sasuke started with a right-hand punch then a left uppercut, the first missing while the second snapped the enemy ninja's head back. Then the ninja fell dead to the ground, Hinata retracting her right arm as she scanned the dead ninja one last time then motioned for Sasuke to continue.

With another corridor clear the three ninja continued on. The next corridor was empty but they knew better. On alert, Sasuke lead Hinata and Mantis to the end of the corridor, then, as he had done every time before, he peered quickly around the corner.

One man was walking away from Sasuke, the movement of the right arm and sound of scribbling showing that the man busy writing something on a clipboard. For several more seconds the man continued down the corridor at a leisurely pace, the battle outside obviously not concerning the man, either because he knew attacking the base was pointless or that whoever was attacking would no doubt leave him alone.

Sasuke stepped out into the hallway keeping to the left side as the man disappeared around the right-hand corner at the end of the corridor. As he slowly moved several metres, his eyes fixed on the last position of the man, Hinata then appeared on the right side of the hallway while Mantis stayed back several metres back from her. She only made it another metre though when Sasuke held up a hand to stop, then signed another message. This is the target.

They were in the medical facility! Hope and fear flared in her mind as Hinata realised how close she was now. And just as quickly it was gone. She needed to remain calm because it wouldn't help if she became a mess now.

Hinata relayed her orders quickly to the Uchiha. You lead. Stay to right. Check doors on your side as I check my side. Hinata then turned to Mantis. Stay behind me. Cover hallway. Turning back to the Uchiha, Hinata nodded and moved up to the first door on the left while Sasuke repeated the motion on the right.

The corridor had seven doors along it walls. Sasuke opened and closed one door, satisfied the room beyond was empty, then moved on to the second of four doors. Hinata moved to the first of three on her side. The door was plain timber painted white, a small bevel running around the edge of it. It the centre of the door at eye level was a simple plaque. A lone number was engraved on it – a two.

Fear and anxiety mixed with nervousness as Hinata grabbed the door handle, then determination forced her to open it.

The room was dark except for the large window that was illuminated by the room on the other side. Hinata moved cautiously up to it, ignoring the idea to turn on the light incase it showed through to the other room. Inside the room was a table covered in blood, several mounds of differing organs scattered about on the wall and ceiling. Whatever it was had exploded Hinata realised. No-one else was in the room so Hinata retreated out of the room, closed the door and moved to the next one as Mantis followed closely behind. Sasuke was moving onto the third door when he spotted Hinata opposite him. She could see by his eyes that he had found nothing good. Whatever was happening here the Uchiha knew nothing about, or he chose to not know about at the time.

The second door was ahead of her now and not wanting to risk an attack Hinata stayed to the side of the door as she tested the door knob. She retracted her hand immediately as she felt a weird sensation run through her finger tips. The feeling was comforting though and Hinata instantly knew this was it. A quick signal to the Uchiha had him on the other side of the door looking at her for instructions as Mantis took up position behind her.

This is the one Hinata signed. Sasuke nodded, a kunai already in hand, while Mantis stepped back and drew several shuriken. The door was unlocked. Turning the handle the door slowly crept open to reveal a room that was dimly lit. I'll go first. You cover with Mantis. Enter if situation changes. Hinata nodded to the Uchiha then stepped through the now open doorway. Hinata did not like the idea of entering the room alone but knew she had to. Plus, she thought, if anything happens the Uchiha would move in as backup. Hinata still didn't trust him but knew she had to if she wanted even a miniscule chance of rescuing Naruto.

Naruto. As Hinata stepped through the threshold her hand let go of the door handle, the door itself slowly starting to swing shut. Her life. The battle outside. The men at her command. The traitor turned ally not three feet away. All of it faded away. Her breath caught in her throat. In the small room on one knee, hands in a loose defensive position, was Naruto.

The need to rush to him, to hold him, was overpowering. Their eyes met and Hinata could see a similar reaction playing in Naruto's eyes. Her body started to heat up. She wanted to kiss him, and though she was ashamed of it given the situation, she wanted to be with him.

Fighting back the feeling, Hinata noted that he looked exhausted if the heavy breathing was any indication. He was dressed in a white overcoat and slightly short pants, seals visible on his body where the clothing did not cover. The look in his eyes was the most worrying though. He had the look of someone dazed and confused. Whatever was done to him had surely messed him up.

"Hina...chan?" The voice that spoke her name was not her Naruto's. It was dry, gravelly, and followed by a harsh cough to clear his throat.

Confusion showed in his eyes, then his head moved from left to right, first in a shaking motion, then in a questioning motion as he scanned the room. Hinata's heart started to break. She could see from his actions that he wasn't sure of where he was.

"Is... is this... a dream?" The look on Naruto's face was almost childlike. The slight tilt of his head to the left. The look of innocence in his eyes. The way he asked the question like he expected her to disappear like she was merely an illusion cast to trap him. Hinata felt like crying at the way he didn't trust what he was seeing. She couldn't though. She had to be strong.

"No, it's not a dream my love." Her words seemed to break some imaginary bond. Naruto's eyes changed immediately as blue locked on white and the situation became apparent. Then he shook his head.

"Sorry Hinata, it seems the drugs I was given are still affecting me more than I thought." Looking up at her, Naruto smiled. "So what's the plan?"

Hinata smiled. "Can you move?"

"If you mean move enough to escape then I'm not sure. But I sure as hell ain't hanging around here, so let's go." Naruto pushed himself up from his kneeling position on the ground, wobbled, then steadied himself. They smiled at each other.

"Let's go." Hinata turned around and pulled the door back further so they could exit. They found him she realised quickly. The mission was only half done but she didn't care. Everything would be alright now that they were together again.

'Don't get ahead of yourself, you've still got a mission to complete you silly girl.' She chided herself as the feeling of elation at finding Naruto threatened to overwhelm her.

Watching as Naruto walked out the door into the corridor, Hinata noticed a wave of relief wash over his body. Then he turned his head to the right and froze. Blue eyes turned to ice, and a deep foreboding feeling swept over her. Naruto was looking at Sasuke.

Reviews, comments, error correction welcome. Thanks for reading.