Neji swore under his breath as they stopped. Kiba and Naruto were both taking in deep breaths beside him. He had been pushing them for a over a week like a slave driver. 9 days ago Neji had gotten the two of them together to go search for Hinata when Hiashi wouldn't do anything about it.
' "If she has gotten herself lost out there in the woods and is to weak to bring herself back to Kohona then she is undeserving on the Hyuuga name."' He had told Neji. Neji was more concerned about Hinata being kidnapped. He knew that she wasn't lost not with her Byakugan as strong as it was these days. No, he knew she was in trouble some where. He had sought out Kiba for his special abilities in smell and hearing. Naruto had over heard the conversation and insisted on going. Neji wasn't exactly mad at his presence or bothered. Naruto was quite the tracker himself but for 8 days they had found nothing! It seemed as if Hinata had simply disappeared which only made Neji push himself harder to try and find her.
"Kiba, are you sure that Akamaru hasn't picked up her scent or a trace of her?" Naruto asked catching his breath. He knew Ino would be highly upset if her best friend never came back. She was already in tears after the second day. Not to mention Ten-Ten…that chick was just scary sometimes.
"Positive if Akamaru would have caught anything remotely like Hinata's scent he would have alerted me the very moment." Kiba said taking a long drink from his canteen.
"We have to keep searching there is no way that Hinata just vanished off the face of the Earth. We'll either find her or who has her." Neji said with a vengeance before Akamaru started to bark loudly. He had caught her scent. It was a day old but that meant she couldn't be far from where they were. With a fiery determination lit the tree of them headed out ignoring the little cabin covered in vines not 50 yards from them where Hinata currently resides taking care of Sasuke.
"Sasuke-san I've noticed that I can't see this place with my Byakugan when I'm outside why is that?" Hinata asked as she sewed Sasuke's clothes that she had ripped earlier in the week back together.
"I have no idea probably who ever built this place put some kind of jutsu on it for that direct purpose." Sasuke said. He was currently in one of his better moods, though it annoyed him how he was actually comfortable being around the Hyuuga girl. He still wanted to hurt the girl though for what she had done to him earlier.
"Oh, I thought maybe it was something that you did before bringing me in here." Hinata said thoughtfully making Sasuke snort at her. She hadn't thought that someone else could have done it but now that she did it was completely logical.
" If it had been my doing stupid girl you wouldn't have been able to block my chakra points because you wouldn't have been able to see them now would you have?" Sasuke asked his voice dripping with sarcasm making Hinata bristle slightly. She hated being insulted in general and it was worse when she didn't deserve it. She mentally told herself to stay calm and not lash out at him before she caused him any real damage so to say.
"I only did that so you would give your body time to actually heal." Hinata told him. "Speaking of which it's time to check up on your wounds." She added getting up to unwrap them. Sasuke never really had anything against this part of the day. Her cool fingers felt marvelous against his skin as she cleaned his almost non-existent wounds. What did bug him though was that his body didn't automatically reject her touching him like it did with everyone else in the world that he had met including an irritating pink hair kunoichi. "I think that it is safe to say that I'll be giving you, your chakra back soon." Hinata said happily interrupting Sasuke's thoughts which he was glad for.
"It's coming from that stupid cabin that we have been ignoring this whole time!" Kiba growled out to the others as they changed course heading towards it.
"What cabin are you talking about mongrel?" Neji asked him irritated. His Byakugan was activated and he couldn't see the cabin making the others look at him like he had gone insane.
"The one right in front of your face that we are heading towards Neji." Naruto yelled at him confused while Kiba glared at him for being called a mongrel. Neji's Byakugan was supposed to be the best in the Hyuuga clan how could he not see it? He was after all the Hyuuga genius. Then having one of his very rare moments of pure intelligence it hit Naruto. Maybe that was the reason he couldn't see it. "Neji! Turn off your Byakugan it is the reason you can't see the cabin." Naruto said going out on a limp. Deactivating his Byakugan with some reluctance Neji was shocked when Naruto was right and he could now see the cabin clearly. Through the window he saw the figure of a person. Without hesitation the three of them burst into the cabin Akamaru being the only one who didn't seeing as he was to big.
Complete shock froze them in place seeing Hinata supporting what appeared to be a bandaged and nude Sasuke with a blanket around his waist.
"Neji?" Hinata asked in surprise not believing her eyes. "Kiba? Naruto?" They were all being scarily quite and still staring at Sasuke who had one arm around Hinata's shoulders. She had been trying to get him repositioned on the bed. Sasuke returned their stare though his wasn't surprised like their's was. His was rather bored.
"You!" All three boys said with a variation of hate in their voices. It was clearly directed at Sasuke. Then in a flash three things happened. Naruto was pulling Kiba away from Sasuke who he was currently shaking hard and chocking him at the same time. While Neji had pulled Hinata back away from Sasuke and was guarding her protectively on edge. Sasuke unable to move sat there.
"Hinata are you alright? Did he do anything to you?" They asked a slightly dazed Hinata who was trying to comprehend what had just happened.
"Hai, I'm fine but could you please, Kiba-kun let go of Sasuke-san? His chakra flow is currently cut off and he can't move anyway plus I don't think that you should be choking him." Hinata said softly making Neji and Naruto look at her and Kiba realize that Sasuke indeed wasn't moving and Hinata was correct. Sasuke was however glowering up at Kiba murderously. Kiba let go of Sasuke and headed over to Neji. Naruto now stunned speechless clenched one hand into a fist and his jaw tightened as he and his ex-best friend stared at one another. Pulling his fist back she knocked Sasuke out cold with one punch tears brimming his eyes slightly.
"Teme." He muttered under his breath looking down at Sasuke who was now slumped over on the bed a purple bruise already forming around the side of his face.
"How long has he been here with you Hinata-sama?" Neji asked turning around to look at her with concerned eyes. Hinata took her away from Naruto and the unconscious Sasuke to look up at Neji his question slowly registering in her mind.
"Sasuke-san has been here the entire time. He is the reason I am alive likewise I am the reason his is alive right now." Hinata said making Neji growl inhumanly. He didn't like the fact that, the traitor and murderer had been here the entire time with his sweet little shy innocent cousin.
"You what? You have been here taking care of him for 10 days and didn't think to send word back to Kohona didn't alert anyone about him so we could come and take him back?" Naruto asked outraged at the very idea. His aura slowly started to tint a red color as he looked at her. Neji and Kiba both stepped in front of Hinata protectively as she looked at Naruto with wide eyes. Tsunade had warned them both about something like this happening and that the outcome would be very dangerous for everyone. She hadn't gone into detail but they had taken her warning very seriously.
"Yes, how was I supposed to send any kind of message? I had no way to Naruto-kun. I've been here the entire time making sure Sasuke doesn't do something stupid and go and get his self hurt again." Hinata told Naruto confused as to why he was getting upset the way he was.
"Naruto! Calm down." Neji said with strong authority. "Hinata-sama is right she either had to wait for someone to find her or try to being the Uchiha back herself which she couldn't have done easily, none of us could." Neji added seeing Hinata flinch. Naruto slowly snapped back into reality hearing Neji's words. He was immediately ashamed that he had almost gotten like that in front of Hinata what's worse, he might have harmed her and Ino would have never forgiven him for that. Hinata was Ino's very best friend in the entire world. He also had a sinking feeling that no one else would forgive him including himself.
"Forget it let's just get them both back to Kohona. Tsunade-sama is going to look over Hinata for any....stress problems I figure. Who knows what she'll do with Sasuke." Naruto said ducking his head slightly as all three of them looked at him in shock. Did he think Hinata honestly had brain damage. Neji wanted to kick the boy for even suggesting something like that.
"How far are we from Kohona exactly? We can't be that far considering that Sasuke brought me here while he was hurt though he's strong I doubt he's that strong. Also I noted we're still in the forest so we must be in Kohona territory or at least close." Hinata said as she began to pack her stuff up and what little stuff Sasuke had brought with him. She hadn't dug through it and she wasn't going to let Naruto Neji or Kiba do it.
"We are about a 18 hours away maybe more or less depending on the whether."
Neji told her. They all silently began to prepare for their trip them. Hinata redressed Sasuke seeing as he was still out cold and she wasn't going to make any of the guys do it. She was quite used to doing this anyway being a nurse and a medic nin. She didn't think of Sasuke as a man more like a patient of her she was seeing to at the hospital. She had been treating his wounds after all.
"Okay so we are ready to move out correct?" Neji asked them all taking control of the situation like always. "Kiba, for now it is easiest if we put Sasuke on Akamaru as we travel that way none of us have to carry him." Neji told him. Neither Kiba or Akamaru liked it but they agreed. They remembered the pain they had endured so many years ago to try and bring him back. Some scars just never healed.
"How is Sasuke going to be able to stay on Akamaru Neji-nii if he can't even be awake to hold on?" Hinata asked thinking about it with a curious look crossing her face. Neji scrunched up his face while Kiba and Naruto laughed. He obviously hadn't thought about that in his plan which was funny to the two of them.
"I guess we'll just have to tie him to Akamaru so he doesn't fall off. It might be a bit awkward for Akamaru at first but it's the only way." Neji finally said. Akamaru growled as did Kiba but began to hoist Sasuke up on Akamaru none the less while Hinata slowly tied him down. Once she was finished Akamaru licked her happily making her giggle. Kiba smirked seeing the pair. Hinata was good with animals she would be his perfect bride ideally if only he could get the courage to tell her how he felt...
"I'm glad that you are safe Hinata and that nothing has happened to you." Kiba said with as much courage as he could possibly muster up. Hinata turned to look at Kiba when he said that and gave him a bright smile that knocked the breath out of him and took him out by surprise.
"Thank you Kiba-kun that is very nice of you. I am also glad to be going home. I need a bath and a long rest." Hinata said making Kiba take notice of her actual state. Her skin had some patches of dirt and there was dark purple circles under her lavender white eyes.
"Hinata if you are tired I'll carry you on the way to Kohona so you can get some sleep. I'm sure that Tsunade will want to see you immediately so this way might be easily on you." Naruto offered over hearing the two of them making Kiba wish that he had offered first. Hinata blushed old feelings rising to the surface quickly making Neji scowl at them. He didn't like that Naruto had this affect on Hinata. Naruto had Ino and didn't know how Hinata felt or well used to feel about him. Neji and Kiba did though.
"I-I couldn't let you do that Naruto-kun." Hinata said softly. "I would only slow you down and well I wouldn't want to be a burden." She added twiddling with her thumbs nervously. Mentally she was mad at herself for acting this way. Naruto waved a dismissive hand at her before picking her up and putting her on his back piggy back style.
"I insist Hinata-chan you go to sleep when you wake up we will be back at Kohona and Ino will be all over you making sure that you are unharmed." Naruto said making Hinata laugh at little at how right he was. Her eyes were already filling heavy.
"I suppose some sleep couldn't hurt anything." She said sinking into Naruto's back and closing her eyes. Briefly she wondered if Sasuke was going to be okay once they got back to Kohona but sleepy was settling in and her mind didn't want to think anymore. Soon the brief hit of Naruto's feet on tree limbs was oblivious to Hinata who snoozed away. Every now and then Neji glanced back at her to see a little smile on her face as she slept. His face softened every time he looked at her but it hardened when he looked at the Uchiha. The traitor was coming back. How would that work out. He didn't even want to think about what Sakura would do. Naruto didn't even want to think about Sasuke being back there. How could he just turn up so close to Kohona like that? What was he thinking! It made Naruto angry and he had to keep his anger in check. He didn't want anything stupid to happen after all. Kiba meanwhile wasn't thinking about anything in particular except for Hinata which led to thoughts he didn't want to have at the moment. He couldn't afford to have was more like it. Neji was Hinata's personal body guard in every aspect. He had frightened many men away from her.
Hinata groaned and woke up hearing voices along with a bright light on her face. She was still on Naruto's back that much she knew for sure. Everyone was talking but she picked out one conversation specifically.
"Do you think he is alright?" A worried voice asked. Hinata barely registered it as Sakura but she wasn't sure.
"Who cares! He's been gone forever Hinata was missing for days you should be more worried about her than him Sakura." Ino's loud brash voice came to Hinata's ear confirming her suspicions as to who the first speaker was.
"I am worried about her Ino pig!" Sakura yelled obviously tearing her attention away from Sasuke. Hinata slowly opened her eyes brightness filling them making her squint.
"If you cared Sakura you wouldn't be standing here now you would be going to wake up Tsunade-sama." Ino said in a deadly voice. Opening her eyes fully Hinata saw she was outside heading towards the Hokage's office. Across from her on Akamaru's back still was Sasuke who was staring at her. Hinata's eyes widened and she blushed closing her eyes and opening them again to make sure she wasn't seeing things. His eyes were open but when Sakura turned back to look at him he shut them again quickly. She sighed and headed towards Tsunade's quickly. Hinata couldn't help but giggle. Everyone stopped talking immediately hearing it. Hinata felt everyone looking at her and she picked her head up.
"Ano, I'm awake." She said as she slid off Naruto's back into a standing position only to be tackled by Ino into a huge hug as the blonde girl cried..
"Hinata-chan I was so worried! I thought you had been hurt." She said. Ten-Ten mean while was trying to pull her off of the smaller girl.
"Ino-chan stop it you are going to hurt her hugging her so hard." She said making Ino pull back nodding. Hinata was grateful for it because Ino had been hugging her hard. She turned to say thank you to Ten-Ten but no words came out before she was pelted with a hug from Ten-Ten who said about the same thing that Ino had said. Hinata looked at Kiba and Neji whispering a help as she was squeezed by the weapon's mistress. The two boys pulled the weapons mistress of Hinata which took both of their strength without hurting her.
"Shouldn't we be heading up to see Tsunade-sama?" Hinata asked making everyone start to freak out. "How about Naruto and I go up there while the rest of you go home. Neji tell father if he cares to know that I am safe." Hinata said pulling Sasuke off of Akamaru and on to her back.
"You brought me here." Sasuke whispered into her with hate. "If they decide to kill me I'm not going down without a fight and I will come after you." He whispered again making Hinata shudder a little.
"Hinata-chan you don't have to carry the teme I will." Naruto said getting ready to pull Sasuke off of her back. Kiba and Neji were already heading off in their different directions surprisingly.
"No, Naruto-kun it's okay I should." Hinata said though she didn't know why she should. Naruto shrugged at her. If she wanted to carry him he would let her. "You don't scare me Sasuke-san." Hinata whispered back to him as they headed towards the Hokage's.
"You should be Hyuuga." Sasuke muttered. Hinata's eyes narrowed. She wasn't going to let him threaten her. After all for seven days she had kept him immobilized and she could sure as hell do it again in a heart beat. She would remind him of that later. AS they entered the Hokage's office Hinata heard Shizune gasp and saw Tsunade's eyes widened.
" I didn't want to believe it when Sakura told me but I see that she was correct after all." Tsunade said coming to her senses after a moment.
"You might want a couple of more men in here in a moment Tsunade-sama as of now I have blocked all of his chakra points off but I'm not sure how long it will hold it was over 24 hours ago that I did it." Hinata said putting Sasuke down gently. Tsunade looked at Hinata and waved her hand as 5 anbu members appeared,.
"They are more of them stashed here and there and everyone is on alert." She told Hinata who just nodded.
She knew that Sasuke was listening and knew that he could probably escape regardless of how many men they had.
"Sorry I am late Hokage-sama." Kakashi said appearing out of no where. He looked at Sasuke with shock and surprise. Obviously he hadn't thought that it was true either.
"It is fine Kakashi I just wanted you to be here while we questioned him." Tsunade said as she bound Sasuke with chakra bonds. Hinata watched carefully. "First I would like to know Hinata how it is that you ended up with the Uchiha." She said turning everyone's attention to her. Hinata looked up at her. She couldn't tell them the truth then they would kill him for sure. He had kidnapped her after all.
"He saved my life." Hinata said. She didn't like lying but if she had to, to save a life she would. "Uchiha Itachi attacked me while I was training. I believe Sasuke had been tracking him down and when Itachi attacked me he attacked Itachi. I was knocked out in the process so I'm not sure how the battle went but Sasuke-san saved my life." Hinata said. If Sasuke had told her the truth then Itachi was already dead and it didn't matter. Tsunade's eyes widened and Shizune gasped in shocked.
"And Itachi?" Kakashi asked seeing as how the others were speechless. Hinata turned to look him in his one eye that showed.
"Dead. Sasuke-san killed him." Hinata said everyone's eyes then turned to Sasuke as it donned on them how strong her he had become exactly. Sasuke's eyes were open now
as he looked at them all in return. If he was shocked at Hinata's lie he didn't show it.
"Why would Uchiha Itachi attack you?" Tsunade asked turning back to look at Hinata. Hinata remembered something she had read about him in a bingo book she had found once and her new lie spun from there.
"His eyes, they were causing him trauma and making him blind every time he used his variations of the sharigan. He wanted me to use the Byakugan and see if there was something going on with his chakra. He told me that he was going to make Neji the Hyuuga genius as he put it do it but he would settle for me." Hinata said. Everyone nodded. It made perfect sense to them all. Hinata was shocked at her own lie and how she had done it.
"Well I think from here we need to question him in private." Tsunade said nodding at Kakashi as he and a few anbu grabbed Sasuke and disappeared. "Go with Sakura, Hinata she will see to any wounds that you may have then I suggest you go home and get some rest." Tsunade said as she followed the men out. Sakura's and Hinata's eyes followed them. Sasuke looked back at Hinata briefly but his eyes were emotionless.
Okay So I'm trying to actually capture Sasuke's personality and not make him to OOC Hinata may be OOC though. Tell me what you think n.n