Kibachow and a SasuHina fan: Don't worry. …I have it all figured out.

This is just a quick update…

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

-o-o-o-

Chapter Twelve

The moon was already above them when Uchiha Itachi decided to stop.

Letting Hinata go from his secure hold, Itachi pulled out a small pouch from a hidden pocket on his Akatsuki cloak. He tossed it to the girl who caught the pouch with trembling hands. The forest winds were extra chilly tonight, and the cold was biting them to the bones.

"Food tablets."

"A-Arigatou." Hinata took two brown pills. It was not real food but it would give her the energy she needs. Plopping it to her mouth, she winced when she swallowed the pills. She was thirsty and her throat was dry…swallowing was just hard and painful. "I hear water…" She said, lolling her head to the side as she listened.

Was she just imagining it?

Activating her byakugan, Hinata breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a river not far from where they stood. "It's a river!" she said with an excited tone, forgetting for a moment that she was talking to her Abductor. "W-we can drink Itachi-san!"

The Uchiha did not say anything, but his eyes were on the girl. There was a glint on her white eyes that he knew he should not be seeing especially if the eyes belong to a captive…a captive who still has unspoken dangers to face.

Hinata was just too…too nice.

The girl looked back at him. "Water…" she said again.

Itachi decided to humor the girl. "Let's go then."

When they reached the said river, Hinata kneeled and began to drink using her hands. Sighing as the cool water eased her dry throat, she began to wash her arms and face. Looking back to the older man behind her, she blinked when she realized that he was just staring at her with those midnight black eyes of his.

"A-ano…the water is cool."

"Hn." The sharingan user's face was unreadable, but Hinata had already accepted the fact Uchiha Itachi's face can never betray any clues to what he was thinking…The man was just really good at hiding his emotions.

Itachi silently cupped the cool water with one hand. Gracefully, he took a drink, throat moving as he swallowed the fresh life giving liquid.

Now it was Hinata's turn to stare.

-o-

Genma began to return some medical supplies back into his pack. Looking at Shino— who was no longer unconscious—he patted him on the back. "You're going to be fine."

Kakashi removed his vest which was matted with dry mud and blood. Tossing it into the grass, the copy ninja poured water from a small canteen into it. "What happened won't please the Kirigakure leader…I'm sure. Mei Terumi is very protective of her people."

"They are a bunch of nins greedy for power." Kiba said with gritted teeth. "They deserve it."

"We just did what we have to do sensei…" Neji's face was grim. Tossing Kiba some painkillers which were from his own pack, he kneeled beside the large dog and tossed a few pills into its big mouth. "They attacked us first, wounding our members."

"Yeah…but a peace treaty was being discussed by the kages…and I'm sure what happened here won't help."

Kiba gingerly touched his own bandaged wounds, wanting to test if the pain killers are really helping. "I don't care about the other villages right now. All I want is to bring Hinata back to safety."

Kakashi shook his silver hair; he has poured some water into it too—trying to wash off the blood that ended up on it. "Akatsuki…they really are a hard bunch to deal with…But right now, we have to make sure that you and Shino are fine…then we can continue on our way. The storm was strong and I'm sure the party that abducted the Hyuga heiress has stopped for shelter…they may be strong, but they are not crazy enough to fight heads on with nature."

Genma nodded. "So even if the attack from kiri nins made us waste our time here…they won't be going too far ahead of us."

The captain flexed his muscled neck. "We have to prepare…I can't assure you that this rescue mission won't be bloody."

-o-o-o-

Hinata caught herself staring.

Itachi caught her too.

Hinata lowered her head, embarrassed that the Uchiha saw her looking at him. She doesn't know why, but she could feel her cheeks heating up. "Ano…" She muttered, feeling kind of stupid for her action. "I need to—oh!"

Hinata's eyes widened in surprise as something cold and wet wrapped around her ankle. Looking down, she saw something slithery looking moving beside her feet. The moon's faint light was not enough to provide her with a better view, so she was not sure what the "thing" was.

She hastily stood up, trying to avoid the slimy creature—which was not really a good idea since she was standing beside a slippery river bank. The earlier pour of heavy rain made the earth around the river soft and unstable under her feet.

The earth suddenly broke under her and Hinata slipped with a startled yelp.

With a loud splash, the heiress felt the surge of cold water and she winced as her head hit something hard. The river was dark and unexpectedly deep, for her feet were still waiting for something to touch. She knew she could just use her chakra to make her float on water, but suddenly, her head was suddenly fuzzy, making it hard to think.

Add to that, her head was really starting to throb, making her see flashy lights.

She started to wiggle, thinking that it would help her mind work properly. It was actually helping, but she stopped when she felt something tugged at her collar, then on her sides…pulling her.

Then she felt herself being hoisted up.

Itachi shook his head, clearing the water from his eyes. He has the heiress by the waist and he let her up on the ground first. There was a dark liquid oozing out of her forehead and he knew that it was blood. He figured that she hit her head on something when she slipped.

Hinata coughed, but her eyes were on the Uchiha who was also dripping wet beside her. He was not wearing his black cloak and she guessed that he pulled it off before diving into the river to pull her out.

"Your head is bleeding." He told her.

Hinata's hand shot to her forehead to feel the warm blood there. "Oh…I hit something hard when I slipped." She pressed both of her hands into the small cut to stop the blood flow. "Must be…a r-rock." She shuddered, feeling the cold air.

Itachi raised himself up and picked his cloak and forehead protector on the moist ground. He dropped them there before diving into the river to avoid all of his clothing from getting wet. Looking back into the shuddering form, he wondered why she was taking everything without complains.

Hinata sighed. Guess she would be spending the night cold and—

Something warm and dry was placed on her shoulders and she tilted her head up just in time to see Itachi placing his dry cloak around her. Then, without a word, he performed a few hand seals which she recognized were for performing elemental jutsus.

She was right, for he blew fire from his mouth, burning a bunch of wood and leaves in front of her. The small fire cast shadows all around them, and Hinata felt relieved that she will be able to dry herself. Glancing at Sasuke's older brother, Hinata realized that he was not wearing his "monster mask" tonight…but his human one.

This is one weird rebel nin…

"Arigatou…I-Itachi-san."

"Tomorrow…we will be reaching one of Akatsuki's hideout." Itachi's dark eyes studied her pale ones. "So do not thank me yet."

-o-o-o-

If he was a human last night, today, Hinata knew that Uchiha Itachi was a monster.

It was already midday when the two stopped at an abandoned house—which was very well hidden because the thick bushes and thorny vines that surrounds it serves as good camouflage.

Only the house was not abandoned.

It was Akatsuki's another hideout.

Looking at the man with her, Hinata swallowed her own fear at what horrors behind those old doors might be waiting for her. Itachi was very silent, and he never looked at her even once since they continued on their way after the little break they have near the river.

The human mask was gone…

Then one of his hands took her arm, pulling her with him as he pushed the door open. Itachi can feel the fear emitting from the girl, but he knew that he can't do anything about it.

He can't afford to blow his cover by showing any kind of concern whatsoever.

It was like with Sasuke all over again. He has to swallow any pity, any concern, or any thoughts that he might want to say or do. He has to pretend that he was the evil one…the traitor…and kill his own emotions without a word.

The girl has her own burden to bear…and he has his own burdens too.

And right now, they have to carry it individually.

They entered the house, and a woman with light violet hair was standing there already, as if she was expecting them. She was wearing her hair short, with a white paper flower just above her ear. She was also wearing a black cloak with a white cloud design just like Itachi.

"Itachi." The woman greeted, face stoic that matches the Uchiha's.

"Konan."

-o-o-o-

Here ends the chapter.

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Until next chap!

-crazygurl12