Thanks to those who commented.

no-maybee-ok: Thanks and I hope the chapter doesn't dissapoint you.

guest: Only a little Naruhina fluff, hope it's enough for you.

kayva (Guest): Me too :)

Chewie Cookies: I know I felt terrible at doing it, but he saved them all.

JThawN: ...Well... I'm sorry. If it's any help I feel horrible at doing this to Kiba and Akamaru.

Arymed: Thank you so much. I hate writing battle scences, so if you thought it was alright that's a real compliment.

Shawdowgirl608: Thanks, I was having a hard time with the scene. About the other characters...I will write about them but probably not as much. Also you were right about the mistake you spottet. Thank you very much.

Most importantly, my thanks go to Writer's Convexity. Thank you so much for betaing the story.

Also I don't own Naruto.

-11-

Hinata didn't remember much of how they got to Kumo. She recalled some blurred lines and she remembered the pain in her body. Most of the time she had been unconscious, but she had heard that Kiba had refused to let anyone other than him touch Akamaru, he had carried the dog all the way despite being on the verge of fainting.

Hinata had woken up only an hour after they had been taken to the hospital. Hanabi had also been mostly aware and was awake as well.

"Thank you Bee-sama. I don't know how or why you've been there, but if you hadn't, we would be dead." Hinata told him quietly.

"I wish I could have been there sooner." Bee had his arms crossed and his brows furrowed. "A sent me to make sure you got here safe. Told me to be your caretaker, told me to pick you up and bring you here without haste. Guess that didn't work out to well. Fool, ya fool."

Hinata smiled sadly. She was glad Bee had been there to save them. Her head felt like it was splitting apart. But her own minor wounds were the least of her worries. "Has Kiba talked yet?"

"Not since we got here. He refused to let me carry his dog, ya hear. Almost broke down twice during the way here, but he wouldn't let me help him, ya hear."

"I wrote Naruto to bring Karui with him. The hawk should arrive there tomorrow. I expect him and her here around lunchtime. I do hope it is ok that he uses Hiraishin to get here."

"I talked to A, and he said considering the circumstances he will allow it, hey. But he doesn't have a seal in Kumo, where will he appear? Fool, ya fool."

Light grey eyes softened as white dainty fingers carefully caressed the marked spot behind her ear.

"I see." Bee chuckled. "I'm glad you are doing better. Don't want Naruto any madder."

"Only scratches and bruises, the few cuts will heal." She shrugged and yawned. Bee left the room quietly as he saw Hinata drift off to sleep.

…

Hanabi leaned her back against the cold white wall as she stared at Kankuro. He was still in hospital, but he had woken up when they arrived a day ago. The messenger hawk she had sent to Gaara should arrive today.

Her head rested against the cold tiles of the hospital walls. She didn't know what to do in such a situation, Kiba was refusing any help and Hinata was mostly fine – like her. With regards to Sakura, Hanabi had decided to stay by Kankuro - if only to make sure he didn't hit on any nurses. Not that he would, Hanabi guessed; Kankuro did seem pretty set on the pinkette, but she felt like she owed it to her friendship with Sakura to make sure Kankuro was fine.

"I'm glad nothing happened to you." Kankuro turned his head and smiled at her. Hanabi looked up, surprised to see him awake.

"You're one to talk. I'm not the one who will be stuck in the hospital for a week." Hanabi told him.

"I hope you told Gaara that I will definitely finish this mission. I'm up and kicking in a week and then we'll go. So you have better not written that I'm unable to guard you for the rest of the journey!"

Hanabi laughed a little. "Don't worry I told him you'll be ready in a week and everything can continue as planned. I figured your pride couldn't take an aborted mission."

"Good."

Silence dominated the room for the next few minutes.

Kankuro's hoarse voice broke the silence. "How's Kiba?"

"Still not talking. Hinata wrote Naruto to bring Karui, they'll probably be here by tomorrow." Hanabi sighed and clenched her fingers around the pendant with the single sand corn in it.

"This will be a problem, won't it?" He elaborated as he met her questioning gaze. "Orochimaru, I mean."

Hanabi gulped. "Yeah…He got away, so he will make a move again. Hopefully next time we'll be prepared then."

Kankuro nodded. He looked at Hanabi about to retort, but when he did he saw how much of a toll the encounter with the Snake Sannin took on her. Her silver eyes were rimmed with darkness of sleepless nights and fear, her brown hair was messy and unruly. She looked more fragile than he had ever seen her. "Are you alright?"

Hanabi looked up in surprise and shifted in her seat. "I'm good." She finally said after moments of silence.

"Mmhh…" Kankuro hummed. "If you say so."

…

"Kazekage-sama! There is an emergency messenger hawk from Hyuga-san."

His heart dropped at the words and he extended his arms impatiently. Betraying no emotions he ripped the letter opened. He exhaled in relief when his eyes met Hanabi's dainty hand-writing. If she could write she should be ok.

His eyes hardened and his blood ran cold. "Matsuri!"

"Hai, Kazekage-sama." His assistant answered and entered the room.

"Summon the council." He pressed out in a hard voice.

The brunette nodded and disappeared. Gaara picked up the letter, his eyes searching for the one sentence that reassured him. "…. Personally however I am unharmed." He calmed his beating heart and unclenched his hand.

Three hours later the red head sank down in his chair. The council had been shocked to hear about the attack and Orochimaru's plan to disrupt the connections between the villages. After that he had sent a letter to the other four Kages, even though he knew that Naruto was most likely already informed or would receive a hawk shortly. They had to reevaluate their situation and form a plan to take down the snake Sannin.

His eyes romanced the letter again. On the surface the letter was formal and void of all emotions, but being used to her way of phrasing things Gaara had found the deeper meaning in the words.

His head shot up when his door crashed open. "Where is he? He's alright, right? When will he be back? I heard he got hurt, what happened?"

Sea green eyes blinked at light green ones. "Sakura-san, would you be as kind as to explain who you are talking about?"

"Kankuro of course! Is he hurt?" Sakura asked with a shaking voice.

Gaara wasn't sure if it was a good idea to let her know Kankuro was in hospital. She looked ready to kill someone. "He got injured, however, he will be fine within a week."

Sakura clenched her fists and ignored the painful stab in her heart as she pictured Kankuro hurt. "When will he be back?"

"I would presume in about two months?"

"What!? Why isn't he coming back? He got hurt!"

"He can finish the mission and I'm willing to bet that he would refuse to come back."

"I…but…" Sakura gulped. She had been hoping he would be back, so that she could make sure he was fine personally. "Do they need a medic on that mission? I would like to go."

The Kazekage regarded the pink haired medic. He had not been aware that there was some kind of relationship between his brother and Sakura. Hanabi kept mentioning something might be up, it would appear she was right. Gaara understood her desire to see the person she cared about as he himself felt the same way.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible."

"Why not? Kumo is not known for its medic skills, what if they mess up and what if he…"

"Sakura-san, I assure you he is in the best hands and he will be fine." Gaara stated calmly. "I have not been aware you and my brother…"

"NO! It's not… I mean, I am only thinking about this in a professional medic way." Her voice was shaking and he didn't believe her for a minute.

"Everyone else is mostly alright, by the way."

He was almost amused by the way her eyes widen.

"I…I figured…that." A wave of shame washed over her, she had really forgotten about everything else, her sole focus had been Kankuro. She was a horrible friend.

"Kiba's dog, though…he's dead." Gaara continued.

"Akamaru? Oh no - no no. How's Kiba dealing?"

"I'm afraid I have no further information. Only that everyone seems able to continue the mission. I assure you, should I receive more information I will let you know."

"Thank you Gaara."

Sakura left Gaara's office, she didn't feel much better, but still slightly relieved. Her head was still spinning and she somehow felt nauseous. When she had heard that Kankuro's team got attacked she had dropped the clipboard she was holding. She had been shaking so bad, that she had to excuse herself from work. From her coworkers Sakura had heard that everyone seemed to be alright, but Kankuro had been hurt and after that she didn't hear anything else.

She was such an idiot. To think they had almost parted with a fight, Sakura was glad that he had insisted on making up. The medic sat down on the bench to take a deep breath. She liked him more than she had realized. If only he wasn't such a playboy. He would never understand how she felt about him.

However compared to what could have happened to him, to what almost happened, him not reciprocating her feelings was a minor problem. Even if he didn't feel the same way, she didn't want him to disappear.

…

Naruto frowned at the mission report from Shikamaru. That lazy ass - he should really learn to write more than five words. But nevertheless it seemed as if he was making good progress with the Suna council.

The blonde glanced at the clock and groaned. Time was really going by slow without Hinata. Tonight he was invited to eat dinner with Lee and Karin. He had really great friends, he smiled as he thought about it. Ever since Tenten had picked him up that one night, word had seemed to go around and he was spending his evenings with a different friend every day. In a few hours he'd meet Lee and Karin, they asked to cook together. Lee didn't know how to cook for the life of him, but was enthusiastic to try. Naruto already knew it was going to be a disaster, but he was still looking forward to it. Ino and Chouji had taken him to BBQ and Iruka had treated him to ramen the past two days. And then he had been invited to dinner over at Karui's a few days ago, she had insisted to cook.

He didn't have to spend a single evening alone, even if he had wanted to. But the nights were still lonely. Naruto missed Hinata like crazy and reading her letters did not make up for her absence.

"Naruto, we've just received a letter from Hinata." Tenten didn't bother to knock on his door.

"Great!" Naruto jumped up and snatched the letter from her. "It's early this time."

Exited he sat back down. With impatient fingers he opened the letter. Happily he started reading.

Pure fear gripped him and his heart rate accelerated. The panic driven urge to get there right now was only calmed by Hinata's hand writing assurance that she was still alive.

"Tenten!"

The brunette was in his office not a second later. She gulped down her question when she saw that look on his face.

"Get Karui here. Right now! Tell her to drop everything."

His assistant nodded and dashed out the door. Whatever happened had to be very serious. It didn't take long for her to find the fierce red head. Karui was still in her office.

"Karui, the Hokage wants to see you immediately."

"Sure, just let me finish…"

"Right now!" Tenten urged her. "He said to drop everything."

And that was what Karui did. Her pen fell from her hands and the dark ink spread on her white papers, soiling them in black. "Kiba!" She whispered and without looking back she started to run.

Every part of her body was shaking; she didn't think it was possible for her to run that fast. The thought that something happened to Kiba was too painful to take. Her blood was running cold in her veins and she wanted to wake up and find him next to her.

"Naruto! What happened? What about Kiba?" She didn't even take her breath. Her voice was filled with panic and it cracked.

Two Narutos looked at her with grim faces. The real one took a step closer to her. "Kiba's fine."

"Why am I here then?" Relief flooded through her and left only confusion.

"They got attacked." He grabbed her arm. "Akamaru's dead."

Karui's golden eyes widen and she clenched her hand around his arm. Everything inside her had gone still. She was so in shock that she barely felt herself pulled into the whirlwind that was Hiraishin.

…

Hinata rubbed her eyes, the wound on her head healed well. It had been only a scratch to start with. Today she was only left with a slight headache. She had attempted to talk to Kiba, get him to eat something, but everything seemed to be in vain. He refused to leave Akamaru's side, who had been placed in the forensics department.

She turned with a gasp as she felt a presence behind her. When she saw Naruto with Karui next to her, she felt like crying. He was finally here!

"Kiba?"

Hinata met Karui's eyes. "Forensics department. Down stairs." The red head stormed out before Hinata had finished.

The petite bluenette wasn't able to take another breath before she got pressed up against the wall. Strong warm hands gripped her face and his eyes held hers as if reassuring themselves that she was alive and breathing. He was close, close enough for Hinata to felt his irritated heartbeat resonating in her bones. Slowly his eyes searched her face, the blue orbs fixed one spot on her forehead. The wound was barely visible but Naruto's body tensed. His jaw clenched and his fingers brushed over the spot carefully. His eyes hushed over the rest of her body to make sure there was nothing else. He wasn't able to make out much through her clothes, though.

Naruto's hand caressed her cheek down to her chin. His fingers traced her lips, while the fingers of his other hand twisted in her dark violet locks. Hinata felt trapped by the intensity in his eyes. Finally his lips pressed themselves against hers in a desperate manner. Hinata's knees gave in. Her locked up emotions and the force behind Naruto's kiss freed. And she would have fallen if not for Naruto's tall muscular body that pressed her into the wall.

"I was so scared." Naruto mumbled in her hair.

Hinata was only able to nod. Her eyes filled with tears and she made no attempt to hold them back. She had been terrified and the thought of never seeing him again had scared her. It had scared her just as much as the thought about their deaths causing a war and brining more grief and pain into the world. She had tried to stay strong for as long as she had been able to, but now that Naruto was here she was letting go.

Naruto held her close and broke down, as well. His tears got caught in her hair and the drops shimmered on her dark locks. He had been terrified to lose her.

To see her, taste her, smell her and feel her in his arms made him shake with relief. Her dark hair tangled in his hands and he pulled her up into another kiss.

"Where are you hurt?" His blue eyes bored into her pale lavender ones as his forehead leaned against hers.

"Nowhere, really." Hinata told him but bit her tongue when she saw his stern expression that meant he was not taking this for an answer.

"Hinata, you will tell me about every bruise you have on your body!" He demanded.

"Naruto, I promise I'm fine. We should be more concerned about Kiba." She protested unable to avoid his piercing gaze.

"Ah, that reminds me." Naruto made two more shadow clones who hurried away. "Now, Hinata I mean it!"

"Listen, nothing bad happened to me. You cannot waste your time with such trivial matters. You are the Hokage; you have to get back to Konoha as soon as possible."

Every fiber of Naruto's body boiled at her words. He had been petrified and all he could think about was her and here she was calling her well-being a "trivial matter".

"It's not a trivial matter for me, Hinata." His voice started out low and dangerously calm but his rage soon made him raise his volume. "I don't care if I'm Hokage of not, I got that covered. You are important to me. All my life I wanted to be Hokage, I wanted everyone to recognize me, to see me. I have all of this, and it's great. But all of this means nothing if you're not with me! I have always loved the village and no matter how they treated me, I protected them. I always made the safety of the village my top priority. I don't care if I'm being selfish with this. I love you, and I deserve to be selfish this once. I love you! You're my home, you're my family. Do you have any idea how scared I was? When I heard that someone attacked you…" His fingers dug into the flesh of her arms. "I've never been so scared. I don't know what I would do if I lost you!"

Wide lavender eyes stared up at him. Hinata had no idea how affected Naruto was. Her arms slung around his neck and she whispered in his ear. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm so sorry."

He held her close again and nodded. The blond let her take a step back. "Alright, every bruise, you said?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes, but now I've decided that I want to see for myself." He took a step closer to her and his fingers found the first bottom of her white blouse.

Hinata blushed. "Is that really necessary?"

Naruto nodded with no humor and proceeded to unbutton her shirt. He was halfway done when his expression hardened. Countless bruises and sore spots covered her collar bone and chest. The rest of the cloth fell opened and he slid it off of her, letting it pool around their feet.

"I'll kill him." He forced out and traced some of her deep effusions of blood ghostly. "What happened there?"

Hinata followed his gaze to her shoulder. "I failed to avoid one of his Fire Jutsus."

He nodded grimly.

Hinata didn't say anything. She knew that Naruto would calm down eventually; he had learned that revenge was never a good path to take.

Naruto clenched his teeth and stared at the dark blue or purple marks tarnishing his beautiful girlfriend's smooth white skin. He had stripped her down to her underwear but for the first time he felt no desire washing over him. His eyes narrowed as he noticed deep cuts on her tights. Orochimaru was going down; he was going to make sure of it.

His fingers fisted in her hair and he pulled her up to meet him in a deep kiss.

…

Hanabi got almost knocked over when she opened the door to the first floor. Karui brushed past her without even noticing her. The brunette was glad to know that finally someone would snap Kiba out of his depression. Naruto must just have arrived. Hanabi turned around again; she had no plans to interrupt her sister. She had something to take care of.

The sound of her fingers against the wooden door made her heart rate pick up. This had not been the plan, but Kiba would not be able to talk to the Raikage anytime soon, and since her relationship with Gaara was the cause of all the trouble, she had to take responsibility. Everyone else had better things to do, currently she was of no use, other than to do what they came here to do.

After introducing herself to the secretary, she was immediately invited to the Raikage's office. She had met the intimating man only once - after they had been attacked and he had visited them in the hospital. Bee had handled any other official contact.

"Hyuga-san, I'm glad to see you well." The deep voice of A resonated through her nervous body and Hanabi straightened up her back.

"Raikage-sama, I wanted to thank you. You saved our lives by sending your brother and providing us with the needed medical treatment."

"Of course! That goes without saying. If a foreign diplomat lost his life on our territory, I can only imagine the uproar. As it was intended by that snake."

Hanabi nodded and took the offered seat.

"But I assume that is not why you're here Hyuga-san?"

Hanabi smiled at the dark skinned man holding the position of the Raikage. "You are correct, Raikage-sama. The reason we asked for this meeting has yet to be addressed and despite the circumstances it is a matter of importance for all the nations."

She handed him the scroll and the Raikage read over it. He put the scroll down and looked back at the pale eyed woman with an expressionless look. The Raikage was met with the same look on her face.

"I see. The proposal is indeed interesting. What exactly is it you want me to do?"

Hanabi nailed him with her eyes. "We would want you to support the proposal and bring it forward also in the council of Kumo."

The Raikage kept her gaze, "I see."

Hanabi smiled, but didn't back away from the staring contest. "I am sure you do realize what Kumo would gain from it."

"Please enlighten me."

"Raikage-sama, three floors below us, one of the former teammates of your brothers team is trying to get her boyfriend to deal with the death of his beloved companion. Said man is, and I'm sure you already know that, a member of the biggest and one of the most influential clans in Konoha."

"The Inuzuka? I have heard that they are fooling around."

Cold silver eyes drilled themselves in his skull. "I do not think you understand the connection between them. They are in a serious committed relationship."

"Even so, should their relationship not last, then Kumo will have no advantages from an agreement like that."

"I see." Hanabi stood up. "You might just think this over. Kiba Inuzuka is in no condition to talk to you, so we may postpone it to a time when he is able to explain himself."

…

Things had not turned out the way he had wanted them to. By now he should be in the possession of the Byakugan and the five nations should have started to declare war, but the appearance of the Jinchurriki had crossed his plans. Orochimaru clicked his tongue.

At least it hadn't been for nothing, he picked up one of the scrolls he had taken from the Hyuga sister's. Up until now, he hadn't found anything new or interesting, but… it appeared that was about to change.

His lips stretched into a smile. If what he hold in his hands wasn't the key to victory, then he didn't know what was. And he knew exactly how to use it.

Well, let me know what you think.