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Late That Night (2:48 AM) Uzumaki House

Naruto walked into the master bedroom, he could feel the presence of the ANBU around the house. He wasn't sure if that made him feel better or not. His blue orbs drifted over Hinata who was curled fast asleep under the covers. He let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. He walked over to the bathroom turning on the shower. He stripped out of his rumpled clothes dropping them on the floor kicking them over by the door. He stepped into the shower under the scorching water, letting it soak his hair and fall down his back and chest.

Naruto wasn't sure how long he stood there but the water had turned cold. He turned the knob turning it off. He wrapped a towel around his waist. He shaved, cussing as he cut his cheek, whipping the blood on a towel. The wound was healed by the time he looked back in the mirror thanks to the fox's chakra. He changed into a pair of boxers and gray sweatpants.

He gave one lingering last look at Hinata before exiting the room. He walked down the hall to Kari's room. He sat down on her bed, pulling her orange hair ribbon out of his pocket. He ran his fingers over the worn material for the millionth time. He looped the fabric around his wrist tying into a knot. He headed to Rini's room across the hall. "No fucking way," He hissed. The lavender comforter and sheets were crumpled at the foot of the empty bed. This was unreal. There was absolutely no way. He turned on his heel and went to Kyo's room. His heart beating hard against his ribs, the site in front of him knocked the wind out of him. He walked over to the chair on the other side of the room across from the crib.

Kyo was sleeping curled up tightly to his older sister. His back was pressed against her stomach; her arm was wrapped around him fingers interlaced with his rest on his chest. Naruto tried to swallow back the lump that had formed in the back of his throat. What made him think that his other children wouldn't be affected by this? He was so worried about Kari that he had neglected Rini and Kyo. He was a disappointment to all of his children.

Tears streamed down his whiskered cheeks.

Just Beyond the Boarder of Suna

Akamaru barked loudly. "Yeah I smell them too." Kiba saw Shikamaru's questioning look and he smirked showing his canine teeth. "Are old friends came to help us out." They waited for a second before Kankuro and his team stopped in front of them. "Have you guys found anything?"

"No, not a thing." Kankuro sighed, "You?"

"Not much, we followed his sent here. It keeps breaking off though. So we had to guess a bit. It's lost us some serious time. This man had to be one hell of a tracker to cover his path so well." Akamaru barked in agreement.

"Let's go back." Kankuro felt the glares of his Konoha allies. "I know you guys don't want to stop looking but how much longer can you go without stopping?"

Shikamaru sighed, "He's right." All eyes turned to the Nara. "As much as I hate to admit it we don't have much choice. We need to rest and regroup. Not to mention it gets below freezing during the nights here." Shikamaru looked at his brother-in-law. "Do you have a place we can stay?"

XXX

Kiba sighed in frustration, as he turned in his bed. Akamaru whined pushing his white head under his chin trying to comfort his partner. The food that Kiba had eaten was twisting painfully in his gut and had formed a knot. He couldn't seem to find sleep, his mind was still whirling. There was something about this whole situation that was just wrong. Kiba rolled his eyes at himself. There was nothing right about this. A child- an innocent, pure child- had been taken from her house but who knows who to God knows where.

Amaya. Koga. Kaoru.

Just as Kiba was fading into unconsciousness, when it finally hit him. "He's a tracker." Kiba shot out of his bed, startling Akamaru, throwing his shirt over his head as he darted out of his room. He rushed through the hall down to the room that they had eaten in. He threw the door open, it slamming loudly on the wall. Shikamaru was still up looking down at a map of the area, smoking the last cigarette of his second pack of the day. Gaara had been showing him the areas that would be best for hiding someone and where there were dangerous of sandstorms. They both looked up at the Inuzuka."Kiba-?"

"He's a tracker," Kiba repeated. Akamaru walked in behind him, whining.

"Yeah, you already told us." Shikamaru looked at his friend with a mix of concern and annoyance. Kiba was losing it and really need to sleep, it was a good thing that they had decided to stay here for the night.

"No, he's a tracker Shikamaru!" Kiba echoed like a broken record, "We've been assuming that he was trying and succeeding in coving his sent. Akamaru and I should have no problem following his sent. It wasn't long after it happened that we left and it hasn't rained. We should be able to follow his sent easy. Be what can't. The only time it hard to follow a sent is when it old."

"A fake trail." Shikamaru caught on to his train of thought. "You think he walked this a while ago?"

"It would make sense. Whoever this guy is, he has been planning this for a long time and he plans on not getting caught."

"You think he's near or even in Konoha?" They turned to see Neji standing in the doorway. His face was natural but his eyes betrayed him showing his fear.

The Next Day Uzumaki House (Day 5 of Kari's Kidnapping)

There was loud sequence of pounding on the door. Hinata was just entering the room when it stopped, and the door slammed open. His pale eyes showed that he was a Hyuga, and the cover over his forehead showed that he was a branch member. "Hinata-sama," The man gasped out of breath bowing to the Hyuga heiress.

"Sho, what's wrong?" Hinata concerned voice echoed through the hall. The man looked up at her, his eyes revealed his anger, disbelief, but mostly horror.

XXX

The elders and Hiashi were gathered in the room in the back of the Hyuga compound. "Are we ready to begin?" A male elder asked impatiently.

"Yes," Haishi turned and began walking to the center of the room. His hand hadn't even finished his first handseal when the door was thrown open. A series of pale eyes flew to the intruder. Hinata Hyuga. She looked different. Her posture was stiffer, her lips were pressed together, teeth clenched. Anger was radiating off her body. Haishi had never seen his daughter in such a state. Sure after she had started dating, and then married, the Uzumaki she had more confidence but this was different.

"Father, what are you doing?" The tone of her voice was not loud but stern and disbelieving. Her pale eyes flashed to the boy sitting in the middle of the floor. Symbols drawn in ink were written in a circle around him. Hinata didn't have to ask what was going on, she knew. She just couldn't believe it.

"Daughter, How-" Haishi eyes went over her then toward the branch member, that he couldn't remember the name of, his eyes darkened. "You." He didn't need to say more. The way his voice hardened was enough. He took one threatening step forward.

"Father, please tell me that you weren't planning on put the seal on Kenji." The subtle glance downward before his eyes were back on hers told her everything. She felt indescribable anger coarse through her body like fire. She had never felt such a way. "Kenji is only one!" Hinata voice held the anger and disbelief she felt. Haishi took a step back, startled by her talking to him in such manner.

"Check yourself, Lady Hinata." The man from earlier warned. "You are treading into dangerous waters." Hinata turned, if looks could kill, her Byakugan activating. She turned back to father forcing herself to relax to deactivate her Byakugan.

"This was their idea wasn't it?" Hinata turned back to face them, "This is low, even for the council." Her anger filled eyes never strayed from her father's. "I just can't believe you're going to go through with it without any complaint. Then again you didn't say anything when they did it to your twin brother or Neji. I shouldn't be surprised." Hinata knew that that was a low blow. That she was digging herself into a hole but she couldn't seem to care, nor stop. "It's a wonder how the clan is even still running. I can't believe the branch members have taken it for so long. Oh, that's right you took away their choice. The only reason they're not rising up against you is because of your damn seal. They don't respect you, like you think they do. They hate you. They are just afraid of you."

The council members were steaming. Hiashi was staring incredulously at his daughter. Even Sho, the man who had gotten at her, was staring at her in astonishment. "Haishi control your daughter!" A council woman demanded voice furious. When he didn't say anything on of the other man started talking.

"Your daughter was kidnapped." Hinata turned to the man glaring at him, feeling her stomach drop. "What's to say that Kenji won't be next? They could reveal the secret to the Byakugan."

"I don't believe that's why you're doing this. You are just trying to justify yourselves on kidnapping of my daughter!" Her voice was hard but low. "You are not doing this." The finality in her voice echoed around the room snapping Haishi out of his shock.

"Hinata, I don't know what in the world has gotten into you but I don't like it!" Hinata brought her attention back to her father. She knew she should feel ashamed for the way she acted but she didn't. She was standing up for herself against her father and council. Saying the things that she always wanted to but never could. "We are going to do the seal and you are going to apologize to the council and then we are going to have-"

"No, I'm not going to let you put the seal on Kenji! And I'm not going to apologize. This is wrong!" Hinata turned on her heel and walking over to where Kenji was still sitting, oblivious to what was about to happen, and picking him up. She started walking for the door.

"Hinata if you leave now, know that you will be relinquished of your position as the heiress of the Hyuga clan; you will be disowned." Hinata stopped for a moment her hand on the doorknob before opening the door and stepping through it and closing it softly behind her.

She didn't feel a thing as she walked down the narrow hall. She held Kenji close to her chest protectively. She had only made it halfway down the hallway when the door opened. Hinata turned around activating her Byakugan. Sho took a step back holding his hands up. Hinata let out a soft sigh, her eyes changing back.

"Thank you, Lady Hinata." She wasn't sure what he was thanking her for but she nodded none the less. Sho walked in front of her and after a pause she followed out. They walked into the room where Tenten was a couple minutes later. She jumped up to her feet as soon as they walked in. Her brown eyes were glazed and red-rimmed. Hinata had never seen Tenten cry before, but tears were streaming down her pale cheeks.

Tenten took Kenji into her arms and felt more tears run down her cheeks when she saw that his forehead was still bare. She leaned forward kissing it, barring her face in his shoulder rocking him back and forth.

"I think it would be best if you stayed at my house tonight." Hinata murmured softly. Tenten just continued rocking her son.

XXX

It was a little past eight when Naruto got back from the office. He felt a little light headed as he walked into the house from not sleeping. Tenten was asleep on the couch a blanket draped over her body. Naruto was confused brushed it off. Didn't families band together when things went bad? He walked into Kyo's room quietly knowing he was already supposed to be sleeping. He was fast asleep but Kenji was sharing his crib. Kyo was on his back as usual with one of his arms thrown over Kenji who was on his side facing the blue haired boy using his arm as a pillow.

Not wanting to disturb them, he left closing the door behind. He was heading to Rini's room next when he heard noise coming from the master bedroom making him stop short. Something in his gut told him to go in there. Always one to trust his instincts without fail Naruto change course and went to his bedroom instead. Blue eyes landed on the balled form of his wife. Hinata was lying on the bed a pillow pulled tightly to her chest, her arms locked around it tears silently running down her cheeks. "Honey," Naruto sat on the bed behind her, gently brushing her hair way from her cheek. She jerked rolling on her back letting one arm let go off the pillow.

"Naruto." Her eyes were glassy filled with mixed emotions. It broke Naruto's already shattered heart to see it. Hinata pushed herself up dropping the pillow and throwing her arms around Naruto neck tightly in one fast movement. Naruto felt a puff of air leave his chest when she hit into him. When he gained his composure a couple seconds later he wrapped his arms around her. She sobbed into his chest; he rocked her back and forth rubbing her back and running his fingers through her hair, whispering sweet nothings to her trying to calm her down. It didn't seem to help because her sobs seemed to get louder and she was gasping for breath. He tried to pull back, so she could breathe easier without his shirt covering her mouth, but the moment he began to pull away her arms tightened around his neck. He gave up, rubbing her back soothingly, reminding her every so often to breathe.

Rini stood outside her parents door peaking in the crack that they had left it open. She wasn't sure what was going on but she knew it couldn't be good. Though everyone tried to pretend like everything was ok she knew it wasn't. Rini wasn't stupid, she knew that her sister had been kidnapped.

She trudged away from the door and back downstairs, past where Aunt Tenten was sleeping on the couch. She knew that she shouldn't but she had to go outside. The house seemed to be shrinking by the minute. She sighed not caring that she would be in trouble when she got home. She was more like Naruto then most people thought. She opened the door and started walking down the street. She never did notice the ANBU Guard following closely behind her.

Jud liked his position as an ANBU. He had worked for Hokage-sama for years. In those years he had to make hard decision quickly and efficiently. It was life or death. So when he saw Naruto's daughter, one of the family members he was suppose to be protecting, try to sneak out the door he knew he had two options. One he could break up a very private, emotional time in the bedroom between his boss and his wife. Or two he could follow after her. He knew this choose was a tough one. But a quick argument in his mind and not wanting to have to deal with the wrath of the Hokage he quickly came to a decision.

He picked option two.

Rini walked outside the sun was just starting to set and it was beautiful. Rini wasn't sure where she was headed and didn't really care. She knew the streets of Konoha like the back of her hand. She could never get lost. It was cooling off and there was gentle breeze. Not many kids were out and the ones that are where being held by their hands closely to their parents. The village was in a panic.

Takuya paid for a few vegetables his mother need for dinner. He usually hated running errands but being the oldest, he often had to when his dad was away on missions. But today was different, today he had volunteered, almost begged to go. The last five days at least one of his parents were with him and his siblings at all times. "You should hurry home Takuya, with that man on the loose." The woman who owned the market told him handing him his change. Takuya just nodded at the woman, he wanted to roll his eyes but he knew if his mom was there and she saw him what she'd do. He rubbed the back of his head unconsciously.

"Thanks ma'am." He took the change and shoved it in his pants pocket. He walked around the corner and did a double take. On the other side of the nearly empty street sat a young girl with short light blue hair, sitting on a bench by herself just staring off into space. He walked closer to her. No there was no doubt in his mind, that was Rini and her parents were nowhere in sight. "Rini," He called out walking towards her. She jumped, startled turning to face him.

"Takuya, w-what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question. You shouldn't be out here alone." She looked down guiltily before her pale eyes shifted around the street before going back to his.

"You're here by yourself." She stated.

"I'm older than you," He stated plainly, "Do your parents even know where you are?" She looked down her bangs shielding her eyes. "I didn't think so." He sighed, shifting the grocery bag from one hand to the other. "Come on, I'll take you home." She didn't move from the bench.

"Aren't the stars beautiful tonight?" Rini ignored his previous statement, leaning back and staring up at the sky. He didn't know what to say to that, so he stayed quiet. His eyes flickered up to the sky. He had to admit that it was quite a sight. The sky was clear not a cloud in sight and the stars seemed to burn brighter than ever tonight than ever. Then again he never really paid attention to the stars before. "Kari loves the stars. She could stare at them for hours. I never really saw anything special about them before. There always there you know? Now whenever I look up at them I just wonder if she's somewhere looking at them too." Takuya watched her eyes glisten with moisture. "What do you think?" He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"I-I…" For one of the first times he was at a loss for words. He could answer any question his teacher asked him. But this one, this one wasn't an equation he had to figure out or a code he had to decipher. It was an emotional, thing.

Rini let a soft sob escape from her lips as tears ran down her cheeks. "Don't cry." Takuya panicked. What was he suppose to do now? He sat down the grocery bag on the sidewalk awkwardly patting her shoulder. "I'm sure she'll be fine." Even as he said the words he knew that the likelihood of her still being alive was unlikely. They were learning about kidnapping in his class now. The satitsitic for coming home safely weren't good but she didn't need to know that. But she didn't seem to believe him either, more tears running down her cheeks.

"Mom and daddy are worried, and daddy's barely home anymore. Mommy, Aunt Tenten, and grandpa got into a fight today and it was bad. Everything is wrong. It's not fair; I just want my sister back. Then everything can go back to normal. Everything will be alright again." She pulled her legs up to her chest burring her face into them crying. Takuya pause for a moment.

"Well at least," Rini looked up at Takuya. "The best are looking for her. Uncle Kiba, Shino, Neji, they are great trackers and Shikamaru is the best strategist in the village." Tears still fell down her face but a glint of hope was back in her pale eyes. "You haven't learned about the last Shinobi War yet but our parents were in it. They were amazing Shinobi! If anyone can find her, they can."

"Really?" She wiped her eye, and he removed his hand awkwardly from her shoulder. He nodded. "I didn't know that. Mom and daddy never told me." She said turning to face him on the bench, where he was now perched next to her.

"Yeah my mom and dad never did either. I learned it in the Academy. I asked my dad about it once…He doesn't talk about it." He looked down at the sidewalk then back up, it was getting dark. The street lamps were turning on. "Come on I'll take you home." This time she nodded, sliding off the bench. He walked over and picked the grocery bag up sliding it on his wrist shoving his hands in his pockets. They walked back to the Uzumaki house in silence. Once they got there he paused. "There you go. Maybe Uncle Naruto hasn't notice you left yet." He offered.

"Yeah," She turned the doorknob and Takuya turned to walk back to his house. "Wait, Takuya!" He paused turning slightly. She rushed over to him stopping a step away from him. "Thank you." She threw her arms around him hugging him. Before he had a chance to do anything she had pulled away from him, smiled and rush back into her house closing the door behind her. He stood there for a moment before rolling his eyes.

"Girls,"

I've had in my head for SO long I was so happy to write it (even if it did take forever!)

I love that last line, but hey that's just me.