Ah! Three months...I'm so sorry! All I can say is school and life got in the way.

As always a GINORMOUS THANK YOU to my ever awesome beta Serious Sam (who's story My Precious People is a must...but I'm sure you already know that) This chapter took a hell of a long time to go through, and I'm just going to go ahead credit him with the whole thing. His ideas helped immensely with the flow of the chapter and just about everything else, so thank you.

And thank you to everyone who reviewed or favorited, this story would not be what it is without your support. For those who reviewed last chapter, I have added thank you's to the bottom of the page and have responded to some! I tried to address any concerns, so please feel free to message me if you have any more or leave a review!

Also quick note: Any secondary pairings will be very vague, as a matter of fact, the only beta pairing that will get some sort of focus in this story will be SasuSaku, but that's because their story is kind of a catalyst for the NaruHina one.

I don't own Naruto...(Am I supposed to be writing this at the beginning of each chapter?) On with the story!

Imbroglio

"I am no longer me."

The words were said with such a pang of regret that Naruto gripped her tighter – so that she would remember that he was here for her…as he'd been for the past two days. Just like he'd wanted to be five years ago.

He opened his mouth to ask exactly what she meant by that, but then her bandaged hands gripped his shirt tighter, her form trembling as she sobbed into his chest. Understanding flooded through him as he felt the desperation in the tears that soaked into his shirt, their coldness permeating his skin and causing him to shiver. And going against his very nature, he bit down on his tongue to keep himself from uttering words that should not be said at the moment. Naruto was at a loss…this woman wreaked havoc on every fiber of his being, and he realized how utterly powerless he was in the face of her every nuance.

And so he waited patiently, because he knew that what she needed in this moment was comfort and release. His hands stayed where they were – protecting her, supporting her – providing a foundation for her to stand on in her grief. And somewhere deep down, he was glad because he had finally gotten to see a part of this woman he had known existed, but had never been given the chance to see.

Hinata was suffocating underneath the weight of her emotions. Each and every one sat metaphorically upon her shoulders...sadness, anger, happiness, fear, helplessness, trust, pride, and…love. They were smothering her, and she needed a way out.

She wondered why she had not yet been torn apart by the sheer frenzy of her feelings, why she hadn't flown apart into the cogs and sprockets of the automaton that she felt she was. And then her position became clear, the strength and warmth of his grip on her. She felt the incredibly powerful bonds of something forged and tempered in the cruelty of life; a golden sphere of warmth forgotten and kept buried for years, yet somehow still existed. Despite her efforts, its flame had never waned or extinguished – on the contrary, it burned brighter than ever – and it was something she found she had missed dearly.

She clenched her teeth, willing the tears away as she lifted her head to look up at him again.

He blanched as he finally caught sight of her face without the impediment of the bandages. The bruises he'd seen on her face the night he'd dug her out of the rubble of the clinic were but a fraction of what they once were, however it was her eyes – those beautiful eyes that had haunted his dreams for years – that angered him the most. The sockets were swollen; the left one had spidery red veins crossing throughout the white, with red dots speckled across the lavender iris while the right was bloodshot, almost fully colored red throughout the orb.

Hinata saw his anger and felt his hold on her grow stronger – not painfully so, perhaps more comforting than anything else. She felt a rush of affection, because of course he would get angry over the injury of one of his comrades. The tears slowed, falling over injured flesh and she felt the harsh sting of the salt in her open wounds.

"What…What happened with Kusano-san, with the attackers?" She asked worriedly, as memories of the fire and screams for help came rushing back to the fore. She squinted, trying to see beyond the makeshift curtains that encircled her bed.

Naruto stiffened. "Kusano? Do you mean Ikki?"

She nodded worriedly. "Did you catch him? What happened?"

He noticed her frantic questions, her body becoming agitated in its movements and he grew worried. "We think he was taken by whoever attacked the village. We were able to capture a couple of their shinobi but none of them have provided any information, or confessed to anything yet."

And as he began talking her eyes slowly, gradually widened as far as their injuries would allow.

"No…no, no, no!" She protested. "You've got it all wrong! He's the one behind everything! Kusano did this!"

Hinata pressed herself upwards; her arms shaking as she extricated herself from his grip and tried to rise. Her limbs, still weak and recovering gave way underneath her dead weight. She would have fallen if Naruto had not been there to catch her, and despite the comfort his touch brought her it couldn't keep at bay that same feeling of uselessness that had arisen that night in the fire.

Instinctively she let the chakra flow to her eyes… seething pain flared in recesses deep within her head, and spots of light – like hundreds of tiny stars – burst across the room in a myriad of bright colors. A ringing filled her ears as she gripped her head, the agony that resulted from her foolish action too much to bear.

"Hinata!" Naruto cried, cradling her against him as he tried to digest her previous statements and curtail her stubbornness.

"It's gone…my Byakugan is gone." She whispered flatly, her voice coming out dry and gravely. Her speaking the words aloud – those of finality, of forced acceptance – made her throat burn like the night she struggled for breath in the clinic. Her head fell forward, her body sagging in utter defeat.

Naruto gaped, refusing to believe that Hinata would accept such a great loss, such an immense blow to her spirit so easily. The Hinata he had known would have fought tooth and nail against something like this. She had stood tall as her cousin's life faded in his arms. And she had risen up, again and again to face an enemy she didn't have even the slightest chance against.

But then her words rang in his head, and he grew lost.

'I am no longer me.'

'He's the one behind everything.'

"No…" He replied. His eyes narrowed with that familiar look of determination.

She looked up, confusion and lingering pain crossing her injured face.

He swept her up gingerly into his arms. She hissed slightly as her body was jostled, the injuries aching despite his gentleness. And then they were through the curtains, past the rows of cots and sick rooms and out into the chilly night. She tensed, hiding her face against his shoulder.

She did not know if it was simply shock from the past few days, the exhaustion from fighting or the long time expectation of this happening but she felt…numb, and a bit befuddled. Or maybe it was simply his nearness and support that made it all slightly more bearable. But she knew that Naruto would not believe, would not stop until he was absolutely sure.

Unbidden,Kusano's words came to mind,

"How many have you lied to, Hinata Hyuuga?"

Still very tired and her body aching all over, she drifted off into warm slumber in his arms.


The same room, the same red drapes, the same bulldog faced Daimyo…She noted that he appeared slightly more weary, his eyes drawn and his face gaunt. A surge of pity rushed through her, because she saw that he was sitting in a very precarious place, his thin frame hunched almost imperceptibly under the pressure of the news.

He laced his fingers together, attempting to appear composed, pragmatic…

She waited, her legs bent in the standard seiza position, her head bowed and the cheap wool of her navy kimono at odds with the finery of the palace. She absently picked at the bright yellow lilies gracing her sleeves, smiling at the hidden meaning. (False and happy) The simple hanhaba obi, red and black in its design was stiff yet supportive. (1) Her hair was swept up into its usual bun, the delicate beauty of her face offset by the simple red of her lips and the lavender of her eyes.

"The first time we met little Hyuuga, I asked what you would do in return for my services."

She stayed silent. The sounds of the autumn festival rang loud and clear, drifting in through the large open windows on the warm wind. The festival was taking place in the month of October, to celebrate the end of the war…and through sheer coincidence, it also happened to be close to his birthday.

"You said anything, so long as I helped set your plans into motion. I listened to your story and your truth." He continued, not ignorant of her discomfort.

She bit her lip, knowing exactly where this was headed. She had promised, and she would pay the consequences. She had sacrificed her playable pieces and had no more collateral to bet, so this had been the next logical step. And so she now became one of those same pieces she had played with and lost, placing herself directly within the subtle games and political intrigue…because after all, what would the game be without a little risk?

"My eldest, Kazuhiko, has grown quite interested in you." His eyes narrowed on the pretty little kunoichi in front of him.

"I assure you, Daimyo-sama, to my knowledge I did nothing that would have prompted such attention." She swallowed thickly, because even though Kazuhiko was handsome in his own right; holding a traditional type of beauty with dark hair and expressive eyes, she longed for sun-kissed hair and eyes of sky.

Her hands gripped the hem of her sleeves, because the agony that swept through her at the mere thought of him was simply too much. Why had she stupidly fallen in love with the sun when she knew it was forever beyond her reach?

"I believe you misunderstand, Hinata-san," He drawled, his tone lightening. "This is perfect."

Her eyes were raised, surprised. She squeaked out, "E-excuse me?"

And he chuckled, a mad relief flooding his being as his mind quickly drew a seemingly masterful web, a plan of attack.

"Hinata Hyuuga, I have decided upon my request." He clapped his hands in finality. A pang of regret echoed in his chest where fatherly duty had once reined, but after all this…it was time to take matters into his own hands, to play the dirty politics that his court was so famous for.

"Yes, Daimyo-sama." She choked out, her heart beating against her throat, dreading what was to come.

"You are to make my son become so besotted and enamored with you, that he will be helpless against your charms."

Her jaw dropped and a gasp of disbelief slipped past her lips, as the Daimyo laughed a bit more. She grew agitated, her face heating to a brilliant red and the Daimyo privately exulted, glad that he had such an entertaining little ally on his side.

"And as to my other requests Daimyo-sama?" She pleaded once more, the intricacies of her plan having become so convoluted and varied, that she worried she would lose track of it all.

"When you have become Kazuhiko's fiancée, I will consider them." He replied airily.

She struggled to maintain her composure; the words 'demure' and 'propriety' perched on her tongue. Then she closed her mouth because she realized how pointless it would be to argue.

"Is that not a tad bit presumptuous, Daimyo-sama? Who can say that the Lord will truly fall for…this?" She asked, gesturing vaguely at herself.

"Come now, Hinata-san! Have a bit more faith in yourself! Are you not a shinobi?"

She nodded her assent. And somewhere deep down, she could hear his voice, loud and angered at her surrender.

'A shinobi, not a seductress.' The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. She had never excelled at that aspect of her kunoichi training. She had never had a need to use it, for that matter. Her missions had always been straight forward; track and retrieve. Now it seemed it would be deceive and ensnare.

Besides, she should have been the LAST person tasked with this job. She had no feminine charms. Compared to her friends and the women here in the capital, she was plain and mousy. Her dress was neither flamboyant nor ostentatious. She was not accustomed to make up or particularly skilled in flirtation.

The Daimyo seemed to sense her discomfort and his satisfaction was complete. It was her complete innocence and unawareness of her own appeal – of her own power – that made her such a malleable piece of soft metal. So different was this freshly bloomed Hibiscus to the painted flowers of the court and city, that it made her a perfect candidate for the job.

"Relax little Hyuuga. It is not like you will have to complete the engagement." He said. "Unless it reaches that point…"

She gaped up at him, taken by surprise.

"Kazuhiko's silly little coup will be broken from within, Hyuuga. The fragile butterfly will destroy the spider's web." The Daimyo finished, congratulating himself on such a clever scheme and with that he waved her away, telling her to enjoy the autumn festival.

She saw that he was in no mood to negotiate, and with a muttered adieu and a low bow, she allowed the guards to escort her from his presence.

And as the heavy lacquered doors closed behind her, the sliver of light growing thinner and thinner, Hinata began to wonder what all this was really for. She made her way through the brightly lit streets, the red lanterns casting the festivities in a cheerful light. She averted her eyes, because it reminded her all too painfully of what she had left behind.

Hinata eagerly opened the door to her lonely apartment, for once appreciating the squeaky hinges and simple decor.

She was tired of red silk and heavy finery.


"What do you mean it's gone?" He growled at an exasperated and equally distraught Ino.

"I mean it's damaged beyond repair." She gestured towards the tent that harbored their injured friend. "I don't know why you felt the need to bring her out here, Naruto. She should still be resting in the clinic!"

Naruto ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. He looked back at Shino, who had stayed eerily quiet – well, Shino was always quiet – but this silence seemed unusually oppressive. He could hear the buzzing from Shino's insects getting louder, becoming more agitated as the argument progressed.

"Besides, we need to focus on getting the rest of the story." Ino reasoned. "She said Ikki was behind all this?"

Naruto nodded shakily, running through the options available to him. "I'm going to ask her."

He made to enter the tent, when Ino grabbed his arm, scowling. "She's in no condition to be interrogated, Naruto."

"I'd never do something like that to her, Ino." He corrected himself. "But we need to know!"

Hinata lay inside on a makeshift pallet, her head aching and just barely aware of what was going on. She had woken up to find herself in an unfamiliar room; the scent of Ino's flowery perfume told her that she was in her tent. She was glad he had brought her out here – at least they wouldn't disturb the other patients. She was simply waiting now for the questions to start, but the conversation went on and on….

They were losing time, arguing like this. Her headache was only being made worse by the bantering and bickering, so she decided to take matters into her own hands.

"Stop it!" She called out, her weak voice somehow carrying over their boisterous conversation and the late night construction being performed throughout the wounded village.

Ino's eyes widened, hearing that Hinata had woken up again. She rushed into the tent, a concerned look crossing her face. "Hinata-chan! Are you okay?"

Hinata lifted herself on shaky arms with Ino's help. She looked up as Naruto entered the tent, bending low as he passed through the flap. Her eyes met his in an indefinable look and a pit formed in her stomach.

She then glanced at Shino, guilt sweeping over her in waves as she saw the tension in his stance – something so subtle that it would elude the sight of most others. Despite the length of her absence, it was the intuitiveness forged through being a part of Team 8 which made her inextricably attuned to each member's varying states of mood. And she could plainly see that Shino was worried for her… and just as confused.

And then there was Ino…kind, confident, Ino. Her honesty and brashness could only be matched by Naruto. Hinata hesitantly removed herself from her gentle grip.

"Kusano-san orchestrated the entire thing. He…He said that his employer suggested the idea, and he would find a way to place blame for the attack on the isolationist group."

She paused and swallowed thickly. The others waited with baited breath; her expression and demeanor told them there was something yet to be told, something personal that had transpired during the whole affair.

Hinata closed her swollen lids, chewing her bottom lip in worry and nervousness. She remembered the corpses of those who had fallen, the smoldering remnants of the burning village.

"Why you?" Shino inquired, his voice barely above a whisper. Everyone turned to look at him in surprise.

She flinched. There was no way around it; she couldn't hide behind her lies and half-truths any longer. "He tried to take my eyes, but somehow… he knew they no longer held any value."

And then Ino asked the key question. "That damage…it didn't just happen recently; most of it is years old. What caused it?"

A bittersweet smile crossed her face and she began her tale.

Of how she had spoken to Hisao, brokering a deal in secret that would prevent the branding of Hanabi should she reclaim her title as Heiress. Of how she and Hanabi had fought, and her sister had blindly lashed out at the end, throwing a strike of desperation that had clipped her right temple and caused the initial damage.

She stressed that to this very day, Hanabi had no idea what she'd inadvertently done – and wanted it to remain as such. Only Lady Tsunade had been privy to her injury and the gravity of what it entailed.

She told them that was the reason she'd left to join the Diplomacy Corps, barely hinting at the fragile state of the Hyuuga clan. She purposely left out her buried insecurities and feelings of inadequacy, her stubborn pride, her efforts to approve Naruto's bid to be Hokage and the political intrigue she was heavily wrapped up in. She kept those truths deep within her, praying that they wouldn't notice the story was incomplete and pry any farther beyond that.

And as she spoke, she saw the growing horror, anger and confusion as it crossed each and every face in a myriad of ways. The pain of her departure – of how it had come about and her reasons behind it – flared anew, but Hinata found it difficult to stop. It was as if a key had been thrust into her heart, a lock forcibly opened and now she was releasing its contents to a rapt, yet unsuspecting audience. Her throat hurt and her body still ached like an abscessed tooth, but there was a certain lightness, along with a plea for vindication in her words.

When she finally finished her tale, her head dropped and she wished for nothing more than to sleep again. The silence stretched on uncomfortably as everyone waited in anticipation for something to break the tension. In the end, Hinata decided that she should be the one to do so, and all she could say was…

"I'm sorry."

Shino finally moved at hearing that, looking at her through darkened sunglasses that hid eyes that reflected hurt and uncertainty. Then without a word, he turned on silent feet to leave. Hinata panicked, scared of truly losing one of her best friends, one of her precious people. Despite the risk to her injuries she lunged forward, her small hand grasping the hem of his jacket.

Shino stilled as he felt the tug, knowing full well what the source was. And maybe once upon a time, a time when he knew the full story – when he knew her – he would have turned around.

"Let me go, Hyuuga-san." He muttered, the buzzing of his insects growing in volume.

The words pierced her heart like the sharpest kunai…and it was in that moment Hinata realized how much pain she'd unknowingly forced upon Naruto by calling him Uzumaki-san that day at training ground four.

Shino shifted uncomfortably; he could feel her large, wounded eyes pleading silently with him. He could feel Ino's look of confusion and pity. And he could sense Naruto's empathy but he refused – absolutely refused – to give into the soft plea.

Because he could not bring himself to believe that this was his best friend, Hinata Hyuuga. The girl he'd known had been kind; she'd believed in teamwork and loved them all. She was someone who, though unsure of herself had always known that she had her teammates to rely on… to trust in… or at least that was what he'd thought.

And right now, he felt useless, as if he'd been nothing but an afterthought in the grand scheme of her plans. She was playing the martyr in a tragic story of heroism, and her dismissal of the bonds that tied them all together wrenched at his very core.

"Shino-kun, please…" She whispered, and he felt the bitterness well up from within. He clenched his teeth, unable to stomach anything further. She was asking for understanding and forgiveness and he was unwilling to provide it.

"Let go. Now." He repeated more firmly, and he hid behind his glasses and the hood of his jacket…he hid like days gone by when he felt like there was no one to acknowledge or accept him. No one who wanted or needed him…

.

"None of us is going to die – understand? We've got each other's backs."

"Hinata, I agree with Kiba. Why do I believe him? Because we are Team Kurenai."

.

Pale fingers ceased their grasping and the canvas of his jacket slid free…purposeless and free, because one of those who had acknowledged him for who and what he was, hadn't believed in him… hadn't thought him capable of helping her… hadn't given a second thought to even asking him…

"More than anyone you know…you should have trusted us, as we would have trusted you. And the reason is because…we were Team Kurenai." He uttered, his voice strangely, heart achingly subdued.

Then he left.

Something within her broke and she slumped forward, her arms hugging herself as she saw the tent flap drift closed with his exit. Naruto and Ino looked on, torn between pity and sorrow, both of them sympathizing with their friend and his characterization of the whole ordeal.

Hinata's head remained bowed, even as she spoke. Her voice was flat, the lilt gone.

"Naruto, please…when you go before the village council, tell them it was Kusano-san. And I beg of you…help them in any way that you can. As Konoha's future Hokage you have the power to do so."

Naruto tensed; his mind whirling at the spectacle of this distraught and defeated woman. She had dropped the honorific, tearing down another barrier between them and yet it left him more confused than before. Behind that, there lay an even more perplexing collection of walls and barriers, a labyrinth of secrets and emotions – and in the center lay the woman he loved, trapped and isolated from the outside world. He watched as her eyes closed in pained silence; her body trembling with uncertainty.

"Please." She implored once more without looking up, her voice quivering.

He hesitated, wanting nothing more than stay right there next to her. He wasn't so dense that he didn't realize her story was incomplete; he wanted to help mend the broken form that huddled before him.

Ino sighed and gave him a firm look. "Get moving. You need to speak to the council right now."

He opened his mouth to protest, his eyes shifting from the scowling Ino to Hinata.

Hinata, who refused to look at him. Hinata, who he did not know.

He ground his teeth and clenched his fists, as the sounds of construction reached his consciousness and he understood that there were far more pressing matters to attend to. A village had just been decimated and decisive action was needed to ensure its continuation. He had made a promise to these people, and he never went back on his word. And so, fighting his desire to remain with the person most precious to him, he nodded once and departed straight for Karin, as he would need her help in gathering the scattered council members.


Naruto entered the room without knocking as he had a habit of doing. He waited for the usual onslaught of insults and admonishments to his manners, but none came. It was then that he took a good look at his would-be predecessor, Tsunade.

The weak sunlight filtered in softly through the windows, the curtains half drawn and the room seeming to darken by the minute. Her head lay in her hands, the variety of papers surrounding her arrayed in such a manner that the information could be scanned quickly. Based on her posture, which insinuated the graveness of the situation, he was surprised to see no sake bottle present.

The vase of white dahlia flowers was knocked over, dripping water onto the polished wooden floor but Tsunade paid it no mind. (Instability) Rather she seemed to be irretrievably lost in the details of one particular paper; a copy of the Land of Fire's most prestigious journalistic work, The Rousoku Journal.

Naruto raised a brow, concerned. It was rare for her to be so…serious, especially after the end of the war.

"Hey, Baa-chan!" He called lightly, trying to get her attention.

She exhaled audibly, her gaze turning quickly to her visitor. Her look very plainly said, 'What do you want?'

He could almost hear the growled out question, the annoyance in her tone without her having to speak. He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to ask. He had come in for his daily Hokage training, which basically meant hours upon hours of logistical nonsense all wrapped up into one huge stack of paperwork.

He sighed, knowing that today would go one of two ways. Either today's 'lesson' would be cancelled and his day was free, or he was about to be schooled in something much more political than he currently wished to be involved with.

Tsuande seemed to be deliberating his fate as her crimson nails tapped against her desk; the paper still clutched in her other hand. Then the noise stopped, and her mouth tightened as she waved him over. She swiftly threw the paper at him, grunting towards the first page headline.

Naruto looked at her incredulously, wondering why she wouldn't just talk. Then he caught sight of the headline:

'73 Die in Local Civilian Uprising in Land of Tea after Death of Beloved Clan Leader'

"Sorrow reigns supreme as this once prosperous village attempts to recover from the wreckage and loss. The once bustling port has been closed to any incoming vessels, as the number of casualties has been estimated to be over one hundred, with thirty additional people still unaccounted for.

Idate Makahiro, a former winner of the region's acclaimed Todoroki Shrine race was just one of dozens who fought against the renegade group, the skirmish happening only minutes after the death of Lord Jirocho Wasabi was announced. A beloved figure in the small country, his death was the final nail in the coffin for proponents of the Land of Tea's trade with the shinobi villages. Those investigating clearly suspect foul play, however there are no leads at this time.

The uprising could not have occurred at a more tumultuous time. On the day prior, the Daimyo and his council had been involved in talks with several ambassadors, including one from Konohagakure and another from Mizugakure, both villages having long standing alliances with the Land of Tea. In addition, the Land of Tea also holds a private contract with the Hyuuga Clan, one of the oldest and most prestigious shinobi clans in the elemental nations.

Both ambassadors played a pivotal role in fighting off the insurrection in an incident that is starting to be called the Lunar Harbor Tea Party. They wished to remain anonymous and were unavailable for comment.

For now, the tiny country will continue limited shipments of its primary export while it determines the best course of action, with tensions still at an all-time high. Others wonder if this is the start of a permanent change in the dynamic between shinobi and civilians, but at this point it's only conjecture. Meanwhile, families are left to grieve in the aftermath of the violence and attempt to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives."

Naruto's eyes widened as he looked up from the article, his heart thudding as he swallowed. "Baa-chan, what's going on?"

She heaved a sigh, suddenly seeming years older than her appearance would suggest.

"Fear is a powerful thing, Naruto. Misunderstanding is even more powerful – stupid, but powerful nonetheless. Our ambassador was trying to help with some of the damage control, but the scope of their abilities was limited at best."

"Let me go!" He said suddenly, vehemently. A crumpling sound was heard and he glanced down, realizing that he had subconsciously crushed the newspaper in his hand. "Ahh…"

She quirked her brow at him, her lips pressed into a thin line as she scrutinized her successor.

It had been a while since he had been so eager to leave the village. After her departure, he had buried himself in his studies, uncharacteristically practical and focused. The relations between civilian and shinobi in the Land of Tea was a fragile thing – certainly something that a fledgling Hokage trainee and greenhorn politician should not be entrusted with. But then again, maybe a show of goodwill – especially with him at its helm – could be just what the situation needed.

She just needed to make sure the ambassador left before he arrived.

She grabbed a parchment of paper, scribbled down a quick note – too quick for Naruto to look at – and rolled up the letter. Then she gave a high, long whistle which was quickly answered by a high pitched cry.

Naruto looked towards the window in surprise as a messenger hawk alighted on the ledge. Tsunade stood and quickly attached the letter to its outstretched leg. She tapped three times on her the window sill, rhythmic and slow.

The bird seemed to understand and took off, its brown wings knocking off several more papers. Without turning to look at him, she collected a few loose sheets.

"You leave tomorrow. Take Yugao, Ino, and Chouji with you."

"Huh? Tomorrow? And why two medical ninja?" He queried.

"Because we need time to get together several supply scrolls with items the village more than likely will need. And you're only there to help. Got it?"

He smiled and nodded enthusiastically. He quickly thanked her, and made his way towards the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked, her voice ominously quiet.

He stilled, turning back to her. "Umm…to pack?"

She smiled and gestured towards the papers on the floor and on the cabinets. "I think not. You have a full day before you leave, so you'll assist me in Hokage duties."

His stomach dropped at the sight of the mess and he groaned. No rest for the weary.


With Naruto and Shino gone, Ino realized the best course of action for Hinata would be sleep. "You should get some rest, Hinata-chan." Ino said sternly, as she gently pushed the listless, brooding girl back onto the pallet.

Hinata snapped out of her reverie as she realized that she was sleeping in Ino's blankets. Filled with even more guilt for inconveniencing her friend, she struggled to sit up.

"No, Ino! I cannot take your bed! I have a spot in the clinic!" Hinata exclaimed, the mere thought of causing any more trouble rousing her to a more energetic state.

Ino almost wanted to laugh at absurd nature of her demand, because this confusing girl was still in some ways the same Hinata she'd grown up with. She gently pushed her down and began a secondary inspection of Hinata's wounds.

Hinata lay on the pallet, her eyes staring up at the dingy, beige ceiling of the tent, following the shadows that flickered across the top. She dimly wished that she could see the sky and absently wondered where Shino was, knowing that he was indeed very angry with her. But her tears had selfishly dried up, having used them on herself so many times tonight, and she had none left to cry for one of her best friends.

And all the while Ino continued to chastise her, as the examination revealed aggravated injuries. Ribs that had been carefully set were bruised anew. Tiny stress fractures along the center of the radial bone of her right arm had now grown bigger due to Hinata's impulsive movements and lunges for angry friends.

"You know, I thought you had better sense than this Hinata-chan." Ino said as she rewrapped the bandages that had fallen askew. "But you're just as bad as the boys."

Hinata looked away guiltily, her hands wringing the hem of her dark shirt. She remained quiet, unable to refute the claim.

"I'm guessing that Shino was the most practical one from your team, then?"

The silence stretched on as Ino continued her ministrations, and after several uncomfortable minutes it proved to be too much for Ino's chatty self. And just like with Naruto, she managed to prod the most sensitive of topics.

"He really cares about you. Naruto, I mean." She said softly.

Hinata's eyes darted towards the girl, and Ino smiled inwardly. 'So she still loves him…'

She continued, ever the poster child for insensitivity. "I mean, he never left your side for the two days you were out. Not even to eat."

A dusting of red appeared beside the fading bruises on Hinata's swollen cheeks and she looked away, unable to maintain her impassive façade.

"He…He does that with everyone." Hinata finally answered.

Frustrated with Hinata's continued efforts of denial, Ino finished resetting the last bandage around her ribs and Hinata winced as Ino seemed to tighten the knot vindictively. Ino then brought her face close and Hinata was forced to look once again. However, she drew back almost imperceptibly as she saw the conviction and certitude reflected in her gaze.

"I wonder who you're trying to convince with that statement. Because let me tell you something – you're the only one who believes it." Ino frowned disapprovingly. "But let's assume for the moment what you say is true. During the two days you were out Naruto held your hand, even during the few hours he slept. He was hoping that you'd feel it and wake up sooner."

Ino sat back and crossed her hands in front of her chest defiantly. "And that's something he wouldn't have done for anyone else."

Ino finished off the treatment with more bandages wrapped around Hinata's eyes. She groaned, disliking the darkness and the thoughts that would accompany it after hearing what Ino had to say. But despite her hesitancy, the darkness did help alleviate her pounding headache.

"Now stop fidgeting and get some sleep." Ino scolded, pulling the covers over a petulant Hinata. Then she left the tent to go find Shino and Naruto to figure out what they would do for the next few days.


Far from the edge of the temporary refugee settlement, a large gathering sat around a burning fire. Sheltered under a copse of trees and guarded by three jounin, they spoke in hushed tones and worried voices. The council – or at least what remained of it – consisted of ten very nervous and uncertain individuals, their forms taut and eyes narrowed. Naruto felt the building pressure as they swallowed his words.

"So you're saying that…Kusano was the one behind these attacks?" asked one of the elders – ironically enough, the same man who'd accused Konoha of ruining Kusa's economy during the first attack many years ago.

Naruto merely nodded sagely, his eyes patient and his stance strong. And even though he was clad in a two day old wrinkled shirt and pants and he appeared to be in desperate need of a good night's sleep, he looked for all the world like a Hokage. The fire at the center of their irregular circle threw the planes of his face into sharp relief, his eyes glittering like sapphires set into stone.

They whispered amongst themselves, unsure just what to believe. One side blamed the isolationists, the other the bridge proponents and their arguments went round in vicious circles, wasting time and energy.

"We have captives, who can possibly confirm this information." He stated and glanced to his right. Everyone quieted as they saw the approaching trio coming towards them from the direction of the village.

Ino Yamanaka appeared, holding a kunai pressed against the neck of a man with odd light green hair. On the other side of the bound prisoner was a very angry Karin Uzumaki, her rough insults grating on their ears as she pushed the man forward.

"He won't talk. Hasn't said a word all this time." Ino muttered. "They're all like this."

The council spoke amongst themselves as the man's head was forcibly lifted, and in the firelight he was revealed to be Hideki Matsumoto. A middle aged member of the council who had been a part of the isolationist faction, Matsumoto had been among the first of the attackers that had been captured.

"Hideki? Why did you betray us?"

"You bastard! We trusted you!"

The cries and the accusations of the members came forth. Curiously enough he made no reaction whatsoever.

Something's off, Naruto. I sense no volition in him, no will or malice. Kurama said, causing Naruto to lift his head at the oddity that had been pointed out.

Genjutsu?

Possibly. Why don't you have the Yamanaka check his mind?

Good idea.

Then with a mental humph, Kurama went back to his slumber and Naruto addressed the stunned council.

"We would like to interrogate him – with your permission, of course." He asked courteously, sensitive to the issue.

They all assented, for once in complete agreement. Then he nodded towards Ino who swiftly let go of the man, allowing him to collapse onto the floor in a slumped position.

She formed the necessary hand signs then placed one of her hands on the forehead of the prisoner before quietly muttering, "Mind Body Transmission Technique!" The rest of them watched as her gaze fogged over while her body remained standing.

She felt herself slip into the mindscape, as effortlessly as breathing. Ino's eyes widened in horror as she gazed at the poor man's thoughts, bound by what appeared to be crudely molded black branches, dripping muck wherever she "stepped".

It's the same as those plant golems. She noted absently.

She searched, ducking under the branches, until she found what she was looking for. The base of the strange genjutsu, which appeared to be a combination of a crude seal and psychological hurt that seemed rooted in the man's fear of the unknown, along with an intense love for the village he had resided in. She felt guilt and shame, and it became more and more apparent that he was not to blame for his actions. The roots of the genjutsu were thin enough that she could break him free, so she channeled her chakra into her hands and grasped the sickening limbs, pulling them out one by one until their hold on his subconscious crumbled.

And as soon as that was done with, his thought processes started moving once again and the pent up emotions swept over her in waves. She was having a hard time separating his feelings from her own so she quickly left, wanting to stabilize her own mental state before addressing the prisoner.

When she opened her eyes again, she was greeted by the sight of a bewildered group of people, their eyes focused on the man in front of her as he sobbed openly, his wails making anything he attempted to say indiscernible. Ino shook her head, and stepped away for a second, motioning for Naruto to follow. Karin stepped in to mediate, hoping to prevent the council from swarming over the suddenly talkative Hideki.

Out of reach of the firelight, they spoke.

"Naruto. He's not guilty!" She said vehemently. "He was under some weird type of genjutsu. It was crudely applied and weak."

Naruto looked back at the man, his mouth tightening into a frown. "I thought so, but why is he crying?"

"The genjutsu roots itself in your psychological fears – the part of your mind where you're the weakest. He was scared enough to begin with and whoever applied the jutsu knew that. You'd have to be familiar enough with your target to find the source of their insecurities."

Naruto clenched his fist in frustration, because that meant the culprit was more than likely farther away than they initially thought. He wondered how many others had been forced to attack their home because of that bastard.

"He's scared for the village Naruto, and he feels so guilty…" Ino choked out, remembering the weighty emotions she had experienced inside his mind.

"Did you truly take the time to look at their side of things, Naruto-san?"

"She was right." He mumbled as his eyes widened in realization.

Before Ino had time to ask what he meant by that he was off, walking swiftly back towards the gathered group. She followed suit, smoothing down the hem of her dark shirt because she needed something to keep her trembling hands occupied.

By the time they reached the gathering, the council had finally accepted the truth of Kusano's role in the attacks, Hideki's uncharacteristic tears a sincere and saddening clue as to the state of affairs of their tiny village. At a loss as to how to proceed, they had fallen into a despairing silence. The choking sobs from Hideki threaded their way through the occasional conversations, lending themselves to the overall air of misery and hopelessness.

The buzzing of the nighttime insects had Naruto thinking back to Shino and how he'd departed the tent. Naruto had assigned him to guard duty, in order to keep him active, so he should be okay for now.

I beg of you…help them in any way that you can. As Konoha's future Hokage you have the power to do so…Please…

Her voice rang in his head as he moved to the center of the group. Konoha's promise… HIS promise… Hinata's words… they sung in his heart and with one final step, he caught their attention.

"Honored councilmembers, I know…I know things are really hard right now, for all of you. I know the coming days won't be easy, but my promise will not be broken. I…no, Konoha will not abandon you, Kusagakure. Once we get back home, I would like to send a relief squad back here along with some supplies…if that's okay with all of you, of course."

He waited as the silence stretched on.

"But…But we have nothing to offer. Our crops are razed to the ground, our buildings have been destroyed, and our Shinobi force is half of what it was!" cried Kusomoto, the elderly teacher from before. He wrung his hands in despair and the council remained silent, saddened by their inability to accept an alliance with a village that was looking more and more honest.

It had been a place they mistrusted – wrongly so, and they had paid the price for their fear. The threat had come from within, from one of their own – the very head of their ninja force.

"Thank you Uzumaki-san, but I am afraid the conditions of the contract cannot be met. We are sorry." Replied an elderly woman with her hair in a silver braid, the emerald kimono she was dressed in shifting colors in the firelight. The wrinkles in her face deepened with regret and sadness.

Ino and Karin watched inquisitively as Naruto shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, before flashing a large grin and looking around at the expanse of people.

"I think you all misunderstood me. I'm not asking for a contract, and we won't hold you to a stupid debt or anything like that. I'm giving you this help as a friend. That's what friends do for each other, right? They help each other out. I promised that Konoha wouldn't abandon you, and I never go back on a promise. So please, accept our help!"

Their mouths opened wide, gaping at the cheerful demeanor of the man who had already helped save what was left of their village. The one they had not placed any faith in… the one who had been a key fighter in fourth shinobi war… he had come to their rescue in good faith, requiring nothing in return.

Kusomoto smiled; because this was the second time Konoha provided them with someone so willing to help them.

"Naruto-san, thank you…for all your help." said one of the elder's quietly, his head bowed lower than his station would have required. And Naruto being who he was became flustered at such propriety, blurting out denials of praise and waving his hands dismissively, imploring them not to give it another thought.

The council then rang with apologies, each taking their turn to give unending thanks. Naruto and Ino stood sheepishly in front of them and Hideki, who had continued to cry throughout the proceedings actually bowed at Naruto's feet. That was when it all become too much, and Naruto politely requested his leave for the night, since it was late and the moon was already arching towards its zenith.

As they walked back towards their tent Ino sighed, knowing how much paperwork this whole thing would entail once they got back home. Karin walked alongside them, requesting Ino's help with the care of those in the burn unit, seeing as those had been the worst of the injuries.

With a quick nod, Ino turned to Naruto to give him details on Hinata's status. "She's fine for now, and she should be able to move within a day or so. You need to wash up and change your clothes, because you look like hell."

She smacked his shoulder in jest, trying to lighten the mood. "And don't forget to eat, lover boy!"

Ignoring his sputtering protests and the redness in his cheeks, she quickly turned on her heel to catch up with Karin.

Left to his own devices he stayed where he was, just a slight ways away from the light of the campsite. He gazed up through the canopy of the tall trees hoping to see a bit of the sky, but all he could make out were a few hazy stars through the residual smoke.

He missed the stars.


It had been under the cover of a star spangled sky, tucked away in a corner of downtown Konoha. They had been out together, just the two of them and it had happened so suddenly, so sweetly spontaneous. It should have been romantic right? By the description it would seem so, but…

It had been her first kiss, taken in a matter of seconds. Her lips trembled and she licked them with her tongue, as if savoring the lingering taste of miso broth and alcohol, the taste of his mouth on hers. It was an odd combination, but one that was uniquely him. Her blush intensified as she looked up at him, and the moment was broken.

His eyes were glossy and his grin was a sloppy, simpering smile. His face was red – not from their shared kiss, but from the sheer amount of alcohol running through his resilient system at the moment.

"H-hey Hinaaataa-chaaan…." He drawled, shifting his weight to the arm braced against the wall behind her head.

Her nose wrinkled slightly as she caught the bitter whiff of the Land of Fire's famous sake. It had been Jiraiya-sama's favorite, according to the bartender. And suddenly, it all added up in her rapidly deteriorating state of thought. Her processes slowly ground to a halt between Naruto's proximity and his current state of inebriation, and the realization hit her like a bucket of ice water thrown in her face.

Naruto never drank.

Jiraiya-sama's favorite drink was Land of Fire sake.

Today was the anniversary of Jiraiya-sama's death.

The kiss was forgotten as she reached up to caress his cheek softly and whispered, "It's okay."

And his happy cheer disappeared like fog in the sun. His teeth clenched and his breath hitched. He pushed himself off the wall, her cage gone and his back taut. He turned away from her in his anguish and his emotions were volatile, driven by buried pain and an alcohol induced fog.

Her arms came around to circle him from behind and she leaned her head against his back, unsure of what to do next. She felt him stiffen at the sudden show of affection.

"It's okay. It's okay to remember. It's okay to cry because someone you loved is gone. So cry."

He turned around swiftly, anger flaring in his eyes. "Yooou, you don't know! He was my Godfather and I-I didn't know. He was my master, someone who believed in me! How could you say its o-"

His rant was interrupted by soft lips bumping slightly too hard against his own, his protests swallowed up by the sweet taste of cinnamon rolls. His mind became clouded even further and his heart thumped loudly in his chest, feeling as if it would leap out from the rapid fire barrage of emotions that assailed him.

Hinata's eyes had been clenched shut, however when she felt warm drops against her cheek, she opened them a slit. Naruto had returned her strange kiss, the tears running down his cheeks and his hands buried in her indigo colored hair.

She sighed softly, lingering for a few more seconds before pulling away. She wrapped her arms around him again, and laid her head against his chest.

"It's okay."

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, and she could feel the tears soak through her thin shirt. But she didn't mind. After a few minutes, his trembling had stopped and he inhaled sharply, his voice quiet and slurring.

"I thiink…I love you, Hinata-chaan."

She stiffened, her heart beating as fast his had been and she nearly choked on her words. How was it that even now, when she was leaving in but a few weeks, that he could say something so…precious to her? This would make their goodbye so much more painful…as if it wasn't going to be already without him spouting such a confession so easily.

Then she remembered that he was drunk and would not remember any of this in the morning. She smiled gently, and pulled away from him.

He looked at her adorably confused, looking like a sleepy child. He waited impatiently for a response.

"I love you, Naruto." She smiled resignedly and she grabbed his hand in hers to lead him home. The stars shone brightly and she headed towards them, like a drowning sailor navigating back to shore.

And for a drunken Naruto, the statement seemed to hurt more than it should have, and for a good reason. Because if he had been blessed with his usual clarity, he would have realized that there was one word unsaid in her reciprocation, and it would have made all the difference.

She didn't say 'too'. She didn't believe him.

But a drunken Naruto was an erratic one, and he soon forgot what he wanted to say on the subject, his mind suddenly fixated on the small hand guiding him through the dark, just like the light of a star. As the realization came to him he smiled.

"Heyy…Hina-chaan! You're kind of like the stars!" He said blithely, unaware of the effect of his words.

She stopped suddenly to look back at him, her gaze questioning.

"You're leading meee through the…the night." He slurred matter-of-factly, grinning at his wild comparison. "Always there… even if I can't really see youuu."

Pain lanced through her chest at that, because it was words such as those that would linger and last far beyond her departure from Konoha. So she looked up at the sky with him and asked…

"Do you know which star I am?"

He looked at her as if she was the one who was drunk, and then a thoughtful expression crossed his face. Then he sloppily shook his head in the negative.

"It's better that you don't know." She continued, and he tilted his head again in confusion.

"My star will just be one of the stars, for you. And so you'll love to watch all the stars in the sky, because any one of them might be mine." (1)

She smiled softly, still looking up at the celestial spectacle, thinking that she was being just a little silly with this whole star thing. And she knew she was being just a little selfish, because now when he looked at the stars, he would think of her… just like when she looked at the sun, she would think of him.

That is, if he even remembered this at all.

For some strange reason, it seemed to make complete sense to him, because he nodded, a comically serious expression crossing his face.

It made her laugh, his endearing mannerisms lightening the load on her heart just a little. They headed home, his hand gripping hers tightly, because knew without her, he would be lost.

She had been right – the next day he didn't remember what happened, instead having a horrible hangover to replace all the memories. He couldn't recall stealing her first kiss or his impromptu confession or the stars.

As for Hinata, her first kiss had been taken and her second freely given. And she was happy, because if there was one thing that was absolute in her life, it was her love for him.


Every part ached, every muscle hurt more than ever before. She knew full well how reckless she was being right now…how utterly stupid, stubborn and reckless…but it didn't really matter, because she had already hurt so many. And those thoughts drove her forward, her hands trembling as she clutched at her sore ribs and her throbbing legs trembled.

She blinked in the moonlight, obstinately refusing to squint. She knew that if she did, it would mean a total acceptance of defeat. She told herself many times over the years that this would eventually happen. She thought she had been prepared for what she deemed the inevitable, had been strong enough to accept the yoke of a life without her Byakugan. She had discarded the bandages that had been wrapped around her eyes somewhere between here and the campsite.

Her Konoha headband had been left in her pack, forgotten for the moment.

I'm such a liar.

Her hands brushed against the rough bark of trees, breaking off branches to mark her path. She felt suffocated; the pendant hanging around her neck feeling heavier than ever before. She grew desperate for egress, tossing and turning within the confines of the tent as she remembered Shino's hurt and Naruto's touch. She wanted to see the stars against the ebony black of the sky, the moonlight reflecting off the dew on the leaves, and the mountains that sat solitary in the distance.

The fresh scent of the river signaled to her that she had reached the edge of the village, a place where the foliage ended and the sky opened up in its midnight glory. She panted, tired and with her battered body she attempted to climb up to the tallest branch, the one closest to the sky.

She tried. She failed.

"What do you think you're doing?" Said a voice full of authority; the voice of a Hokage.

She flinched, eyes downcast as she stared at her bruised and scratched hands. She remained silent, feeling like a child all over again, useless and weak.

"You're supposed to be in bed."

"I wanted to see the sky." She replied honestly, her voice small and soft, as if she felt guilty for wanting something for herself.

And then she was lifted into strong arms, her head placed on a firm shoulder and silvery blonde in her line of sight. She stayed still, her body hurting slightly, but he was ever so gentle. Naruto gazed down at his charge, worry and conflict coursing through his being.

Her title reclamation, the revelation of her injury along with her reasons for leaving Konoha…Naruto was many things, but he wasn't so dense as to believe she had told them the entire story. He knew for a fact it was incomplete, and with it came an incomplete picture of who she was – he wanted to reconcile the girl who left with the woman who returned.

He leapt up to the highest branch that would not bend under their weight and a slight breeze blew through them, making the tendrils of her hair dance and glint in the moonlight. She looked up at the sky and saw the brightness of the stars dusted across the inky canvas. The moon was just bright enough to allow them to shine, and a true smile appeared on Hinata's face.

Naruto looked at her, admiring the starry light reflected in her gaze and he asked, "That's the real you, isn't it?"

She did not answer.

He set her down gently where the branch met the trunk of the tree, her back supported to allow her some rest. She continued to look at the sky, a gentle smile on her face.

He grunted as he plopped himself down, inches away from her foot. The branch shook a bit, but no one moved. The peace of the moment was too wonderful to break.

"Shino's upset because you didn't think to ask either him or Kiba for help. Ino's surprised you'd accept a burden like that, and she's feeling guilty about blaming me for it all."

The smile vanished from her face, and the silence stretched on for a bit before she finally spoke up.

"And you?"

He tapped his chin, a thoughtful look crossing face. What could he say? There were so many things to think about, so many emotions to feel. He settled for the simplest.

"I don't trust you."

Her gaze finally dropped from the midnight sky to stare at the trees below them. "I suppose that is fitting, isn't it?"

He turned towards her, eyes earnest and sincere. "I don't trust you, because I don't know you."

She remained silent.

"But when we get back home…"

"Konoha is no longer my home." She replied wearily, interrupting him.

His eyes widened. "What are you…?"

"You misunderstand me. I love Konohagakure. It was where I grew up, where my precious ones reside, where I formed my foundation. I love it so fiercely, that I would willingly die for it."

And the small smile returned to her face, along with a slight bitterness added to her tone. But the clarity in her eyes, the unguarded emotion showed the truth.

"So why do you say that it's not your home?" He asked, patiently waiting for her response.

"Because someone like me…cannot call it home."

"Why?" He asked, exasperatingly persistent as always.

She finally turned towards him, a heartbreakingly painful expression on her face. "That is a very long story, and one that I may not be able to tell all of."

Then he was in front of her, so quickly that she had no time to prepare. Her blurry eyesight could not hinder her view of him now, not when his eyes burned a sapphire blue and his nose was mere inches from hers. His eyes narrowed, determination fixated within his gaze.

Her heart beat faster and she could feel the ever present blush creeping up her neck.

His hands gripped her face, tilting it so that she looked directly at him. She could smell his sunshine scent, and it reminded her of days of youth and sun and leaves.

He grew closer, and closer… and when she felt that he would soon make contact the stars went forgotten, because what hope did they have when the sun was shining so brightly in front of her?

Her eyelids felt heavy and she was prompted to close them, the dark leaving her feeling somewhat safer.

There was the warmest sensation of his breath on her forehead, and then his lips pressed against her skin, their touch burning like wildfire. She felt her face flush and the heat found its way south, past her neck until it encircled her heart as for a beautiful, yet torturously brief moment time itself seemed to stop.

"Then tell me one thing, Hinata." The whisper of his words reached her, cracking the carefully crafted shell she had created by choice and necessity upon leaving Konoha years ago. "Just one thing that you've never shared with anyone else. That's all I ask."

He pulled back slightly, his warm breath fanning against her wispy fringe as he did so. Her eyes flew open at that, as round and silver as the moon. A shiver passed through her, as she quite clearly saw the fervency in his gaze, a burning look of confidence.

He tilted his head ever so slightly, as he drew forward and for another maddening second she thought he was going to kiss her…but why would he want to kiss someone like her? A liar drowning herself in secrets and mistakes, a tainted…

"And stop being so melodramatic. It's making you look wrinkled and old."

"E-eh?!"

The sound escaped her before she was aware of it. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth, embarrassed by the undignified squeak and at having been so caught up in his teasing. Her blush reached the red of a blazing sun, and she blinked owlishly as he moved away, a mischievous grin playing at the edges of his chapped lips.

That had been completely unexpected and she felt she would collapse with the rollercoaster of sensations he had imparted in a mere thirty seconds. She became flustered as she struggled to find a proper retort to his ribbing.

"D-don't say things like that! It's not funny!" She squeaked past her hands, muffled annoyance tinging her admonishment.

A grin spread across his face, one so wide that he had to close his eyes just to accommodate it. And he started to laugh uproariously.

She felt it – the unwanted feeling bubbling up in her chest. It was struggling for release, crawling up her throat and then she laughed too.

She laughed until her ribs ached.

Her peals of laughter echoed in the night air, as light as the distant stars and he joined right in, a strange sort of humor filling them both. The stars seemed to twinkle right along with them, as if joining in on their odd moment and Naruto was at a loss, his heart thudding as his feelings overwhelmed him.

She was smiling again, and if only for a few more minutes, he wished that she could stay like this. Her mask was off because he had been able to catch her off guard, however within the space of a few moments he knew it would be on again, steel doors shut and expressionless eyes colored flat lavender.

But for now her eyes twinkled and the stars were out.

Beautiful.

His laughter faded as he continued to stare at her, admiring the delicacy of her features, the pleasing curve of her nose as it crinkled in mirth. He inhaled sharply as his gaze fell on her lips, joyfully parted and red as a newly budded rose.

"Naruto?" She asked when he stopped laughing, her brows furrowed in concern. She shifted uncomfortably, because the way he was looking at her was as if he were searching, trying to dig through every layer she had amassed over the years, to find something. What that something was, she did not know.

He started, flushing slightly as he realized he had been caught staring. He blinked quickly to gather his thoughts and grinned sheepishly. His hand instinctively went to rub the back of his neck in embarrassment, a gesture so uniquely Naruto, that the she felt a nostalgic familiarity.

"Uhhh, sorry! I was just thinking!" He said a little too quickly.

"About what, if you do not mind my asking?" She prodded, a wry smile twisting her lips.

'About me?' came the stupidly, hopeful thought…silly and unneeded, she imagined herself pounding that particular idea to a pulp, knowing everything he had done had been in jest. The feeling was bittersweet as she failed miserably.

His expression brightened and he stretched his calloused fingers to trace a particular patch of stars. The lights dusted the inky canvas, cold and distant pinpricks of brilliance, and each one telling a story if one was willing to look.

"Star mapping!" He said with glee, his hand dropping back to his lap. "Ah look!…it seems like poor Hikoboshi is getting farther away from Orihime-sama…and Kaeru-san is jumping to the west. He'll be back in about…uh four and a half months, give or take. But the poor guy will be upside down…" (2)

Hinata's eyes widened, turning towards him. "H-how did…?"

He turned back to look at the sky, a contemplative expression crossing his face. "I started years ago, you know? I was looking for a particular one and it just kind of went on from there. It's kind of cool too, because each star has a story to it."

'And so you'll love to watch all the stars in the sky, because any one of them might be mine.'

Panic raced through her for a minute, because there was no way, there was just no way that he would remember that night and everything that had occurred…he'd never said anything to her in the days that followed that would have given rise to even the possibility of such a thought. And yet, she couldn't help but wonder if chance and fate might have conspired against her; keeping such an important piece of knowledge hidden, since her decision to leave the village may have been nothing more than an afterthought if he'd recalled his declaration of love to her.

But throughout the denials and the hypothetical conclusions permeating her mind, one made its way to the forefront of her swirling tempest of thoughts…

'Maybe…Maybe he was thinking about me.'

He trailed off when he noticed she wasn't looking at him or the starlit sky anymore, but instead staring unfocused at the myriad of surrounding trees. Night was giving way to dawn, the moon lowering past the rolling hills in the distance, transforming ebony black to various shades of purple, yellow and…orange.

"Hinata, I know it's hard. You've got all these burdens, but somehow you feel that carrying them on your own will make you strong, or that asking for help makes you weak. But you've got it wrong – it's having friends to share those burdens with you, to help you carry them when they get too heavy that truly makes you strong."

The barest of smiles appeared on his face, one that was honest and unassuming. He wanted to help her so badly, but forcing her to accept his offer would only cause her to recede back within herself, pushing everyone away… pushing HIM away…

"Please, Hinata. Start here – share one burden with me. Just one. Lighten the load you've got on your shoulders. Let someone help you. Let ME help you." His eyes pleaded with her. "Please."

He could see the wheels turning in her head, her lips trembling with what she wanted to say and struggling with just where she should start. The air between them grew tense as the stress of the request threaded itself through her every muscle and tendon. She looked cornered, and that had not been his intention at all.

Then she sighed, her eyes filled with fear...and she reached into the folds of her dark shirt to pull out the pendant, the ruby inside the delicate golden flame shining dimly in the cold light of the stars.

It hung in her slim fingers, innocent and pretty. But the way she stared at it, it was as if it was a paper bomb, ready to be detonated at any second and she was counting down the time until it happened.

"I thought that I would have more freedom as an ambassador, but the bonds I had made in Konoha, the ones most precious to me bound me even more strongly than I ever imagined. So much so, that I sacrificed the very freedom I had left to gain."

Naruto's brow furrowed, confused as to what she meant.

She tilted her head, her expression darkening slightly. "In order to keep safe the dreams of one I loved, I made myself the servant of a man who had the power to do so. And because of that, I…I found myself engaged to the Daimyo's son."

Her voice broke near the end, choking on the very words. It was one thing to know it...she had bided her time, pushing it to the back of her mind like some easily forgotten bad dream as she continued her work. But to say it out loud, especially to the one she had done it all for, made it all too real. She could feel the pendant, hot against her skin as she held it.

Time was winding down...a precious commodity slipping in between her fingers, like sand through an hourglass.

She looked up apologetically towards the stunned man sitting so near her. His jaw dropped, and his sapphire blue eyes had widened until all the white could be seen around them.

"H-Hinata...do you love this guy? The…The Daimyo's son?" His voice quaked in fear; his heart lurched fearing the answer. Because if it was yes, then he had already lost her before he found her. There would be no chance to get to know her again, no chance to tell her how he felt.

"No! But…But if I don't keep up my end of the bargain, I will have to marry...him." She explained, face shadowed by heavy bangs.

His hands gripped the branch too hard and he could feel splinters beginning to form. What a mess she had gotten herself into – and wrapped up with the Daimyo no less. He took a deep breath to steady himself, and forced another grin.

"We'll figure a way out of this. I promise." He said vehemently, earnestness permeating every syllable.

She didn't look at him, didn't answer him and whether it was his desperation or her own despair that prompted him he reached for her, grasping her slim shoulders a little too forcefully.

The sheer quickness of his movement caused her head to snap up and she was forced to look at him once more. Her eyes widened and her heart raced again, her hair whipping across her face.

"I promise you, Hinata. Somehow, we'll find a way to fix this. And we'll do it together." He said with all the import of a Naruto promise, and those who knew him realized they were never given lightly. He would see this thing through to the end. He would find a solution and save the day like the great hero he was, where the best anyone else could ever hope for was a divine miracle.

She could only stare, emotions warring with hitched breath, because he said these things so easily. And she realized what he was doing – he was giving her a chance to start over, to begin anew. She wanted so badly to be a part of their lives again – to regain their trust…his trust.

'Why is it that you can still make me feel like this? Why can't you just let me go?'

She wanted to scream, to pound her fists in frustration because her desires were at such odds with one another, as if her heart and mind were playing a never ending match of keep-away and the ball was her emotional wellbeing. She had been fine without this, without him dredging up every memory, every feeling she thought she had long buried. She been calm and composed – a voice of logic and reason.

Now she was this…this…tangled, needlessly, complicated ball of feelings and she hated it. He was reaching in deep, and she knew her defenses…the layers of impassiveness born from years of immersion in the pools of political intrigue…would not be enough to fend him off any longer. Not when he was so earnest and sweet, so determined to unlock her cage, both personal and circumstantial. And with him were sure to follow the rest of the people she had hurt and left behind.

'I don't want this. Please don't make me fall in love again.'

'Can I come back home?'

Contrary, contradictory words bounced around in her head, leaving her hopeless. All she could do was nod mutely, her emotions still in a tangle. The stars had offered no help – how could they when they were as scattered as she was?

She was minutely aware of the sheer warmth emanating from his hands on her shoulders, and his fervent grip. She winced slightly, her lower lip trembling as the emotions she'd fought so hard to repress were smashing against her psyche like waves against a rocky shore. She closed her eyes and the tears began to fall as the import of the moment, along with her injuries and lack of rest finally caught up to her.

He stopped when he noticed her tears. His hands flailed uselessly about, apologizing for something completely unknown to him and the tree branch shook with his anxiety, as Hinata's sobs grew louder and more erratic.

The smell of sunshine on leaves filled her senses, and warmth surrounded her once more as she was pulled into an awkward embrace, his hand hesitantly rubbing her back in a soothing rhythm.

"Hinata! I'm sorry, I was just trying to…I mean, I wanted to…aww, maaan!" He stumbled over his words, his eloquence gone for the time being.

And as she buried her face in his shirt, she could not help but smile through the tears as she listened to his panicked queries.

"Thank you, Naruto...kun." She mumbled softly, the honorific finally fluttering back home like a bird come to roost; gently and ever so naturally.

He stopped talking and smiled softly, his heart thudding at her murmured thanks.

They stayed for a bit longer, Hinata finally succumbing to a much needed rest as the moon surrendered to the dawn of a new day. Naruto picked her up and headed back to camp, Hinata sound asleep with her head resting in the crook of his neck. He turned slightly and buried his nose in her silky indigo hair.

He pressed a gentle kiss to the crown of her head, the future complicated and uncertain. But for now, it was enough that she was here, in his arms – and there was hope.

The scent of Hibiscus wafted around them, and for the first time in a long while, he wasn't so confused.


A/N: Anyone notice the star and traveler connections? Navigation by celestial bodies seems to be the theme for the last part in its entirety.

Slight call back/connection to Chapter 7 "To Stand on One's Own"- the stars reminded him of her! Also call back from chapter 10, Reunion- Poor Shino

Plus I think Hinata's reached her emotional limit at this point…no more crying please. Listen to Naruto!

Imbroglio- an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation. (I guess the chapter title applies to all of the situations going on right now… be it personal, political or a mix.)

1-Hanhaba obi- a half, width informal obi that can be folded and tucked in many ways in order to create a color effect- one of the simplest to use, it is popular for yukata and does not need padding, or extra strings

2-The quote is derived from The Little Prince, my favorite book. "All men have the stars," he answered, "but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems. For my businessman they were wealth. But all these stars are silent. You-you alone-will have the stars as no one else has them-"

3-Naruto is referring to the story of the Tanabata festival, wherein the two lovers he mentioned could only meet on the 7th month of the year in summer. Because right now they're in fall, the respective stars are moving farther apart. Kaeru-san is a frog constellation that has no folklore related.

(Well, I made one up, but it didn't fit in the context of their conversation.)

RECOMMENDATIONS: AYRMED JUST UPDATED LOVE'S NEVER EASY! Also I stumbled upon a story called Princess of Konoha by BloodRed13, it's very new but seems like it has a lot of potential! I love the first few chapters already with a very cute little Naruto. It's an AU. If it sounds like your cup of tea, go ahead and R&R

and LAST BUT NOT LEAST

THANK YOU'S

And an infinite amount of thank you's and love to anyone who follows, followed, favorited and reviewed. I love all of you and can I just give a big Welcome to new readers; gummy b3ars, kandita (Lol, sorry for the surprises), cathyscloud9, Guest, chanchan (also, welcome to Transparent Chronology and I love your reviews, insightful), shirogane soul (sorry for all the flashbacks...but keep in mind two story's are being told at the same time; five years is a very long time and a lot has happened), Sandstorm 3D (Gaah! Thank you so much!), karen (there will be more craziness..), little pans (I quite like your own writing style, your use of first person is something I admire and that I find very difficult), Guest (You joined in at the right time for an update!)

And of course another round of infinite thank you's and big hugs to older reviewers, Ayrmed (WHO HAS JUST UPDATED Love's Never Easy, GO READ NOW.)

Serious Sam, xXYour DoomXx (Ahh, yeah...the dating thing bothers me too, but dating does not always entail sleeping with, remember that. But thank you for always reviewing, I love you!), anonymousP (I love you so much AnonP-chan!), hinataellis (Hinata is selfless, but it is to the point where it's become a fatal flaw, repercussions are coming her way so be prepared for that), TL (just how many pieces she's given away has yet to be determined...ah the pendant will be clarified a bit in this chapter!), Guest (Thank you for that! Circumstances being what they are, I apologize for the drama...but let's see if things can brighten up a bit after this chapter. Also, the kit thing is something I picked from other fanfics, but I didn't use it in this chapter, so yay!), Verazao (kiss), Chewie Cookies (you're just plain awesome friend!), narujordanna (update again :)), kenni no 1 (more secrets!), The Open Eyed Dreamer (gaah! we will try and rescue your poor heart...at least a little.), Murriah (don't cry, smile!) and thank you for the encouragement).