I am now following a strict update schedule. (took me this long?) I upload on Mondays and possibly Saturday. Thanks for reading this still though and hope you enjoy this chapter!

Yugito's POV

Yugito realized with satisfaction that the snow was beginning to stop. The shouts behind her were fading and it seemed she might actually live through this.

Do you feel them Matatabi? Are they close? Yugito asked.

Yes. But they are far behind, if you keep moving you should lose them. Matatabi replied.

Good.

She had time on her hands then. She let the pack sling off her shoulder and dug through it searching for her dried food. She found a pack of dried beef and ripped it open, she raised it above her head and let the contents slide into her mouth. Running, running, running. I thought I was done with this when Kumo finally made me a jonin. Yugito thought with frustration. She'd been running all night from the Akatsuki and Shimogakure ninja. Kakuzu had found her and Yugito could barely escape. The tentacles came back but this time, she wasn't his only target. He kept grabbing other people in the restaurant. Children, elders, adults. Some of them got away. But the others didn't last long. Yugito shivered at the thought. Are they still chasing me? She wondered looking into the snow-covered forest behind her.

She got up after finishing her water bottle and stuffed the garbage back into her pack. She broke into a sprint, avoiding twigs and trees. Eventually the snow stopped falling and the last remainder of snow had disappeared from the ground. Yugito collapsed on the dirt, bone-tired. She was in a tiny clearing where there were little trees. There were almost no leaves on the ground, a sign she was getting closer to Konoha. The idea excited her. She didn't know what time it was but the sun was high in the air. It was still the beginning of December. The tenth? Or the ninth? She wondered. Cool breezes touched Yugito's sweaty skin and calmed her as she looked up at the sky. It was clear and blue, as usual. Not a cloud in the sky. It wouldn't hurt to relax for a while right? She told herself.

Her eyelids slowly closed over her eyes creating a soothing darkness she longed to stay in forever.

And all of a sudden they snapped open. She looked behind her into the forest. Yugito got to her feet, extending her nails suddenly aware of another presence.

"Don't move." A voice said. Yugito looked to her right and saw nothing but a shiny sharp piece of metal with a blue aura emanating from it. She looked the man over. He was completely dressed in armor with a mask that resembled some sort of horned animal. It looked like a gas mask. Yugito lifted her hands preparing to fight back but with one quick slice her sharp nails had been cut off, leaving normal, blunt ones.

"Like I said, don't move." He said again moving his sword closer to her neck.

Yugito was sure of it now. He's a samurai. She thought.

Naruto's POV

"Naruto," Sakura called, knocking on his door again.

"Go away." Naruto said, his head still on his pillow. He hadn't moved from this spot since last night and he wasn't planning to.

"You can't hide in their forever. Sooner or later you're going to have to face this." She said, this time pounding on the door.

Naruto threw the sheets off of himself. He stumbled to the bathroom feeling sicker than he ever felt before. He hunched over the sink, looking at himself in the mirror. His eyes were half-closed and there were shadows under them. His stomach grumbled in hunger. He looked at his nightstand, a bowl of ramen sitting there from the night before.

He turned away quickly, feeling even more sick. His eyes were watering, making everything blurry. He quickly wiped them away and left the bathroom, walking to the front door. Sakura was still pounding away. His hand closed around the doorknob and he swung it open.

She stood there, her hand raised in the air. It relaxed itself and dropped to her side, "Naruto..."

"What do you want, Sakura?" Naruto asked grimly.

"It...it's time. Everyone's there, they're gonna start it soon. Are you coming?"

"I don't know if I can."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't go there. It'll be too much. Especially when it's all my fault. Everything. I can't look people in the eye with this cloud over my head."

"If you keep thinking like that then it will be your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. She chose to do this. It was her decision. She only wanted to protect the boy she loved."

Sakura stared into Naruto's eyes. Her eyebrows were angled to show her anger. Naruto couldn't take it anymore, "Sakura, what do you want me to do!? Do you understand what I'm saying? I can't do it. I won't. If I do, I'll end up in a darker pit then I'm already in. I get it, you're trying to help me, but I don't want your help. You don't understand, you never will. So leave me alone!"

Naruto slammed the door shut before Sakura could say anything more. He flipped the switch on the wall and the lights came on. His kitchen was a mess. Books and scrolls about ninjutsu and other things were spread across the table. A cup of tea and cake was on the kitchen counter. As were bags full of groceries he never put away. There were papers and pictures scattered across the floor that constantly annoyed Naruto and gave him paper cuts.

But it was as if none of them were there. His mind was elsewhere. In his mind he could hear her scream and Kisame's laugh. He saw himself running into the forest after the monster and then on top of the rapper named Bee. Punching his face and screaming aloud.

Naruto walked to his bedroom and opened his dresser, pulling out black sweatshirt and his black plaid pants. He put them on and then left his apartment, walking down the stairs and leaving the lobby without saying a thing. As he walked down the road he noticed little people were out today. A lot of shops were closed and had drapes around them so you couldn't see anything. The sun was shining down onto the world, bathing it in light. It looks happy. He thought. Almost. His legs kept on moving, down the path. The destination in his mind was clear, and it brought tears to his eyes.

Without even noticing, Naruto stopped when he hit someone's back. He was brought from his thoughts as he looked up from the ground. It was Neji. The breath went out of Naruto immediately and his hands went out of his pockets. He tried to say something but only grunts came out. Neji stared at Naruto, sorrow in his eyes.

A hand placed itself on Naruto's shoulder sending a chill down his spine. But it was only Lee.

"Are you okay, Naruto?" He asked.

"Could be better." Naruto mumbled in response.

"Naruto, I suggest you keep your distance from the Hyuga Clan for a while. Hiashi won't want you around here for a while." Neji advised. "They're not happy that you let her perish during that battle."

Naruto's features relaxed and he let out a sigh, "Neji...you're not mad at me?"

Neji closed his eyes, "As much as I feel like I should be angry. I understand that it's not your fault. Sometimes we think we have the power to save those we love, but you never really know do you?"

Naruto nodded not wishing to go any further into this conversation, "Do you know what happened to the other guy, Bee?"

"Bee?" Neji wondered

"He's the guy who lead Kisame toward the village and..." Naruto stopped himself from going any further. The tears might come again.

"Interrogation Corps are dealing with him. My uncle said that until he talks, they're not letting him go." Neji explained.

"I'm sure he'll explain himself, Naruto." Lee consoled. Naruto shook off his hand and walked away.

"I hope." Naruto said as he walked toward the growing crowd. Several people dressed in black stood in rows, one behind the other, looking at the center. He spotted several people he knew, Kakashi, Shino, Shikamaru, Choji. They all were here. Well, everyone except Sai. But no one knew where he was, several search parties had gone out to find him. Most of them from Danzo's organization.

Naruto slipped into one of the rows, standing beside Shino. His hood was hiding his face and you could barely see him. He turned and noticed Naruto standing there.

"I wondered if you were coming." He said.

"I thought you would stay at home." Naruto replied.

"I can't. As much as I felt it was necessary for me to stay behind...I couldn't."

"Yeah, I thought that too."

"I owe it to her. I should've been faster but I wasn't. Now Kiba's in the hospital, Akamaru and Hinata are dead, and Sai is nowhere to be found."

"You can't blame yourself, Shino. You're not responsible. You didn't know what was going on. If there's anyone to blame it would be me."

Shino looked straight ahead through his dark glasses and smiled, "You always know how to help. It's an admirable trait. Something Hinata saw in you more than anyone else did."

Naruto stuck his eyes to the ground as he watched a drip of water fall onto the ground. He moved away from Shino, going closer to the center where undoubtedly the body would be. Can I look him in the eye? Can I look at her? Naruto wondered as he got closer. His heart felt like it was being squished against his spine and his ribs. His nausea got worse and his throat began to tighten.

And then he could see.

She looked like she was in a deep sleep. Her hair combed perfectly which acted like a pillow on her back. Her eyes were closed but her chest wasn't rising. She was wearing a white robe that was half black and half white, the symbol of the Hyuga Clan. Her hands were crossed together on her chest and the damage she had sustained in the battle were invisible.

Peaceful, she looks peaceful. Naruto thought as he looked at Hinata. Tears were still flowing down his face continuously and showed no signs of stopping. He didn't care. To his right he could see a woman crying. She had the same blue hair as Hinata but her face was filled with uncontrollable sadness. Next to her was Hiashi Hyuga. He looked at Naruto, resentment in his eyes. It seemed like he was wondering what Naruto would do next. Naruto took his focus back to Hinata. He thought about Sasuke, how it seemed a veil of darkness and revenge had surrounded him. This was why he chose to follow the path he did. All because of his dead clan.

"Hinata," He said. "I swear, I will hunt down Kisame Hoshigaki and kill him. If I can't do that, then I don't deserve to be Hokage."

Han's POV

"This sucks. I'm tired." One of the guards said, yawning.

"Don't be so down. This job is great! I mean think about it, we're being told to guard a prisoner. What if he's someone important? We'll be the guys who kept him in line." The other guard said, sounding ecstatic.

"Yeah but Tumuka will get all the credit like she always does. That bitch is evil, I tell ya." The first guard said.

"Maybe your right. But still, at least people we know will always remember who we were!"

Han walked up to them as quietly as he could. The injuries he got caused him to be weaker and breathe out more heavily but he tried to keep himself as steady and calm as he could. He then rushed up to the first guard and closed his hands around his neck. He squeezed, crushing it and ending the guards life. He dropped him and looked at the other guard. All his excitement had drained away, becoming fear.

"How do I get out of here?" Han asked.

"I...I..." The guard tried to say. Han sighed and picked him up by the collar, the sword he was holding fell to the ground.

"How do I get out of here?" He repeated, sounding more serious.

"T-take a right! Then he have to go straight and keep making lefts! Then there'll be a whole crowd of guys like me you have to get through. But the exit will lead into the village." The guard quickly said.

"What can I take to avoid the guards?" Han questioned.

"I don't know! I'm only a guard. I have a wife and kids! Don't do this man, please!"

Han brought his face closer to his, staring deep into his eyes, "Say again?"

"The filter system! Take the filter system okay!? If you just go straight and take a left you'll get to the filter system where we purify all of our water. It's then cycled throughout the village and goes into the tree. If you go through one of the exit pipes then it'll lead you right into the village! Now please let me go!"

The guard was crying and taking quick breaths. Han punched the guard in the gut and dropped him. He slumped over, unconscious. Han looked straight ahead. There was a hall he could take that lead to a left turn. Several doors were on the rock walls, howls and shouts were coming from inside. Han looked at one of the signs on the wall. Prison Cells and Interrogation Room. He thought. He looked at the doors and had an insane idea.

Han looked at the doors and chuckled, "Why don't I bring some friends along with me?"

Gaara's POV

Gaara groaned, holding his pounding head and looking around. His vision was blurry but it cleared in seconds. He was lying on the ground in a dark cave. Some sort of statue was in the cave, it's hands rose from the ground while it's mouth was open wide. He got to his feet, feeling sick and pained all over. He remembered fighting the Akatsuki member Deidara but everything else was a blur.

"He's awake. Deidara, I thought you said he was half-dead." A voice said.

"I did! I mean...he's supposed to be. When I found him he barely had a pulse so I just carried him here. What did you want me to do, hm!?"

"We can't begin the reverse sealing unless he's unconscious. If he's alive it'll be harder to retrieve Shukaku."

Gaara was immediately alert. He got to his feet realizing his gourd was gone. But Gaara wasn't defenseless at least. Whoever was there, they were planning to steal Shukaku from him. The thought of being freed from Shukaku was insane. He couldn't see it happening. After all those years of pain I am Kazekage. I could be free of this monster once and for all and not have to worry about losing control or anything. He thought. A simple choice.

"Hm? It looks like the Kazekage is going to attack." Deidara said.

"He won't. I see the look on your face, One-Tail. If you let us take care of you, then you won't ever have to worry about this monster inside of you again." The other voice said seductively. "Just lay down and sleep. Then it'll all be over."

Gaara gritted his teeth and took a deep breath.

With confidence, he spoke, "No. I will not give him up to the likes of you. Not even he deserves to be in the care of you ruthless people."

Two shapes moved in the darkness, coming toward him. He could finally see them. Deidara was smiling, his blonde hair leaning back and no longer in a ponytail. His eyes were wild and filled with curiousity. His partner on the other hand Gaara recognized immediately. His straight red hair and emotionless expression was something Kankuro talked about repeatedly.

"You're Sasori of the Red Sand." Gaara said.

"So you know about me, huh. I'd expect no less of the Kazekage." Sasori responded. He rolled his sleeve down revealing strange markings. He smiled when he tapped it. A plume of smoke erupted from his arm, Deidara stepping away.

"I'll let Sasori take the stage this time. Just call me if you need me, my man." Deidara said.

Blue strings suddenly shot from Sasori's fingers and connected with some sort of puppet that was still hidden in the smoke.

As it cleared Gaara took in what he was seeing. Sasori had made a copy of the Third Kazekage in puppet form. It's spiky black hair reached its shoulders where a brown cloak covered the rest of his body.

"Are you ready to be beaten by your own predecessor, jinchuuriki?" Sasori laughed. "This ought to be fun."