It didn't take very long for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to make it to the docks but noticed there was only one boat left on the docks; Naruto noticed the boatman and walked over, his voice loud and demanding as well, then again he was running out of patience for waiting at the moment.

"Hey you, did a blue haired girl go on that boat?"

Naruto glared at the boatman as he pointed a finger at the boat that was finishing up its boarding; he looked desperate to the boatman and the sudden demands made him nervous, he coughed and adjusted his hat before looking at the three ninja and shaking his head.

"I'm sorry but no girl matching that description is on there and I would know since all passengers check their tickets with me first, I'm sorry" the boatman was about to leave and turn his attention elsewhere when he remembered something, he turned back to the ninja who now looked at him with hope in their eyes.

"Hold on a second, there was another boat that left a while ago, and I think they have a passenger like that, I remember seeing a young girl who seemed very sad to me which is why she stood out, but the boat she got on left an hour ago" the boatman then blew the whistle for the boat to leave and it sailed away, the boatman then left to tend to other duties.

Naruto looked horrified as he stared out at the lake "Oh no, were too late, we missed her" the yellow haired ninja let his head drop heavily and he thought about Hinata, he blamed himself for Hinata's sudden desire to run off and he felt bad. Sakura went over to him, feeling bad for him and leaned down to see his face, she smiled at him and spoke softly.

"Hey, it's okay Naruto, we'll find a way to get to her, don't worry so much okay" she then smiled which cheered Naruto up a bit but then he realized there was no boat to take them to the sand village anymore "But how are we going to reach her you guys?" he looked at them both, hoping they had some ideas because he sure didn't. Sakura was the first to respond, she sighed and put her hands at her hips and pouted "How am I supposed to know? as far I know all the ships are out on the water right now." She tapped her foot and thought about it. Sasuke was the one who got an idea, he had his back turned to his team mates but when he got a idea, he turned to face them.

"We need to go see Tsunade, our village has tiny boats and maybe we can borrow one from her" he looked at the Sakura who nodded with excitement, she knew Sasuke would come up with something.

"Great idea as always Sasuke"

Naruto looked at Sasuke and mumbled under his breath, mad that Sasuke got an idea first and it was a good one, he followed Sasuke and Sakura back into the village to confront grandma Tsunade.

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It was reaching sun and most the ship's patrons were in the dining room, enjoying dinner but Hinata was locked up in her cabin, sitting on her bed and hugging her knees, thinking things over in silence, the only sounds that could be heard right now were the gentle rocking of the ship and Hinata's own inner thoughts.

"If I do join them and they help me get stronger then maybe Naruto will notice me and my father will notice me to. I would be stronger and I can prove it to them, things would be better, right? Then why do I feel so down and will Naruto notice me in a good way? Joining the Akatsuki, I just don't know, I don't want to be a traitor but.."

She leaned up against the back wall of her bed and leaned her head back to gaze at the ceiling, she looked at the knots in the wood of her ceiling and frowned; she was invisible to her village, and the few that did see her didn't even care for her and once again she heard her inner self speak to her.

"Why are you even thinking about this? loyalty to the people that tear you down? Get stronger with the Akatsuki and beat the ones that treat you bad to a pulp and make Naruto yours!"

Hinata winced at her thoughts and fell on her bed, she took her pillow and hugged it tight, trying to ignore the inner Hinata which is what she ended up calling it, and she didn't like it either.

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Deidara sat with Sasori in the dining hall, his face showed annoyance as he watched Tobi act like an idiot at the assortment of sweets sitting in front of him. Deidara turned his attention to the third person sitting at the table, Sasori, they were out of their cloaks and in clothing less conspicuous, they didn't want to make a scene right now. Deidara gave a sly smile to Sasori and leaned back in his chair before speaking.

"Thanks for your help, I need help persuading Hinata, she's close to breaking I know it, all she needs is a final push" he looked at Sasori with his sly grin and Sasori remained expressionless as he took Deidara's words in, he stood up before speaking, his eyes on Deidara.

"I'll see what I can do"

Sasori left out of the dining room quietly, leaving Deidara and Tobi alone again. Deidara smiled confidently as he leaned back in his chair, he looked up at the ceiling and held up a small clay bird.

"A potter could not ask for finer clay then you Hinata, let's see if you withstand Sasori, our little puppet" he then got up and yanked Tobi away from the sweets to go see things unfold, sad he didn't get to have any, tears visible through the eye whole of his mask.

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Hinata who finally came out of her room was now on deck, leaning against the railing and happily looking at the stars, she smiled at them and stuck her hand out as if to touch them from where she was standing, she chuckled to herself as she moved around to where she could lean down the rest her head on her arms.

"They're so beautiful tonight"

Hinata smiled and was thankful for this peace she was given, glad she wasn't bothered by those people again, she sighed.

"It's so romantic, I wish Naruto was here"

Hinata frowned and grew distant and cold at the mention of Naruto, she then played back what he said about her during the exams and it made her frown more, she buried her face in her arms, letting the cold steel of the bars touch her forehead

Hinata was like this for a few minutes until she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, she lifted her head to see a young man with short red hair, his face showed little emotion as she looked at him, she tilted her head and spoke in her shy quiet voice.

"Who are you?"

She looked at him and for some reason, his features reminded her vaguely of a doll, his skin was smooth and the star lights shone on his face, it made him look charming; he walked over and stood next to her.

"My name is Sasori, I take it you're Hinata, the one with the unique jutsu" he looked her over and then turned his attention to the stars, he then changed his expression to show mock concern. "What seems to be troubling you?" he watched as Hinata let her head drop and her hair fell in front of her face.

"I..just have a lot on my mind right now is all." by the way he talked to her at first she deduced he was with Deidara and Tobi, she tried to play it cool but she sighed "A boy I like doesn't notice me and my family is ashamed of me…I'm invisible to my village" she had her head down thinking about her home when she felt a finger touch her cheek, it surprised Hinata, she looked up to see Sasori poking her cheek, he stopped after four times and went back to how he was standing before.

"Funny, you're not invisible to me.."

Hinata touched her cheek and blushed lightly, looking at Sasori who was looking away and leaning against the railing, she was tempted to ask something but she stopped and looked down, she thought about Konoha, her family and friends a bit more until Sasori's voice broke her thought.

"As for love, I never understood it, the heart is an organ I could do without, why give it to someone who clearly does not accept it" he sighed and looked back at her, she saw her face show sadness, she was unsure. Hinata tapped her fingers together and blushed, thinking about Naruto and his smile.

"Because he was just like me, overlooked, treated badly, and misunderstood…my father is ashamed by me, my brother wants to get rid of me, I'm so alone and he knew how I felt so.." she clutched her jacket where her heart was located, she trembled, not wanting to cry in front of him "It hurts…everything hurts" she started to let a single cold tear roll down her cheek.

Sasori caught the tear with his finger and leaned against the railing of the boat again, he crossed his arms and looked at Hinata sternly before speaking.

"Then come with the Akatsuki…we will show you get rid of painful emotions like love and compassion...we won't let your heart hurt anymore…and we can harness your strength and show them how wrong they are about you and take revenge on those who hurt you."

Sasori's piercing eyes looked into hers; Hinata stood in silence, thinking about everything one final time as she looked out at the ocean, she wanted to be strong, to gain the approval of her peers and family who ignored her, she looked down and spoke in a quiet hushed voice, she shook a little from the wind and from the look she was getting from Sasori.

"Okay…I'll do it"

The moment Hinata finished her sentence Deidara walked out from his spot and Tobi followed closely behind, Deidara had another sly smile on his face trying to guise it as a genuine smile.

"So you've decided?" he looked at Hinata who had doubt and fear in her eyes, he placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder.

"Poor girl, we'll make sure you never feel pain again, forget about the sand village, we'll dock in the next port and then we can begin your new life" he hugged her close and for once Hinata felt wanted and needed, it was the feeling she wanted all along, a place where she felt like she belonged.

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Naruto paddled as quickly as he could, moaning between rows, he finally let out an annoyed moan and mumbled to others who were just as exhausted from working a row boat for what felt like hours. Sakura sighed and looked at Naruto with a annoyed look on her face, he rebutted with his own annoyed glance.

"Think she could of gave us a better boat?!" he groaned as he kept rowing; Sakura sighed and finally spoke up, looking at him past Sasuke who was in the center of the boat and tired of them both.

"Shut up Naruto, this is only boat available on such short notice, be thankful Tsunade lent us this one" she paddled with all her strength with the others, she checked her compass which was sitting next to her and sighed "Were going in the right direction at least" she looked at the moon for a moment as it as dark now. Sasuke stopped rowing and pulled something out of his blue shirt, it was a map of the area and laid it down in the boat for all three of them to see "We should hit a small island by morning, that is where the boat supposed to dock, then a buggy to make it through the sand and to the sand village, if we can catch them before they leave on the buggy then we have her"

Naruto was ignoring Sasuke much to his annoyance and he kept rowing, he had a look of concern on his face.

"Don't worry Hinata, we're coming and when I get there then I'll tell you how I really feel"

Will The gang make it in time to help Hinata?

What will happen to Hinata?

Tune in next time on Akatsuki Hinata