I am just so inspired I need to post this chapter!

Oh…I suck at present and past tenses so read at your own risk… and don't tell me I didn't warn you.

H.M. Akhlys: You are an angel. That's all I could say…an angel.

To a guest reviewer named Sasuhina fan: Wow…thank you very much. Your words made me smile and honestly…It made me feel good too. It really fueled me up big time.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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Chapter Twenty-Two

"What did you say?" Tsunade almost rose from her chair. "Your sister is in this dilemma because she chose to save the life of her friends before her own. Her actions Hanabi, is an act of a true kunoichi that's loyal to the leaf." Shaking her head, the kage reminded herself that she was talking to a fifteen year old girl. No need to be so loud. "Such strong words for a girl of fifteen."

Hanabi's expression did not falter. She maintained her cool even though she was talking to an angry Hokage. "She placed the well being of her own friends before her own…I understand that. That is so Nee-chan…ever since we were children it's in her personality to care for others…"

"And you think it's a bad thing?" Tsunade asked, sarcasm sour in her voice. "What a good judgement for a future clan leader."

The Hyuga shook her head. "No. That's quite noteworthy…but what she did, Tsunade-sama, is a proof that she doesn't care for her family…for the clan. Yes, she saved the Uchiha and the Haruno…but did she stopped for a minute and wondered what would happen to us, to her family…when she won't return?" For a moment, the young Hanabi's face turned bitter and the pain in it was great. "We love her…but does she love us back enough to choose us first before her friends? I don't think so. My father—our father—blames himself every day. He is a proud man Hokage-sama…and seeing him so low and depressed is more than I can bear. No matter how much I try to ease his pain…I just can't help him. Not to mention that the branch and main houses are now opposing each other because they think my father was lax in his duties as clan head."

Tsunade closed her mouth shut, at loss for words at the moment. Staring at Hanabi's face, she pressed her lips together. She saw that kind of look before…the same fire in her eyes. The only difference was, those eyes were not white. They were pitch black.

"My cousin…the very person Hinata calls her brother, was returning back to his old self—also blaming himself for the failure of the retrieval unit to bring Hinata back in time before the jutsu was placed inside Sasuke." Hanabi continued, her hands now, were gripping the chair's arm rest. "I was left alone to suffer the burden of clan head…even though I have no bloody idea what I was doing because I wasn't train to lead the clan for the first place!...Now, forgive me for my rudeness, Tsunade-sama…" The girl let the words hung into the air. "But may I ask you…how could you say that these words are too strong for a girl of fifteen?"

The Hokage stared at the heiress, head gears running as she tried to understand her pains and the negative effects of Hinata's actions. Somehow, Hanabi reminded her of Sasuke…and it looks like another Sasuke-Itachi relationship was starting…

But now, it's between the Hyuga sisters.

-o-o-o-

Itachi's stoic aura returned the moment they left the village and met with Kisame. For a moment back there, she really thought how similar he was with Sasuke. The way he acts and the way he carries himself without that cool and regalness that always accompanies his movements. One could describe Itachi as the smooth one while Sasuke was more on the rougher side.

But for the first time, she witnessed Itachi's rough side...

Leaving her thoughts, Hinata concentrated on the branches that she was leaping upon. They were back on their way and this time, the pace that the Uchiha has set was a little faster compared to their earlier one. He was silent, and his face was unreadable—well, it was never readable from the start—so she decided not to ask anymore. Itachi was the kind of guy to have reasons for everything that he does.

Reasons…for everything that he does… She unconsciously let the phrase linger a little longer than the rest.

Hinata adjusted her straw hat, tucking her hair inside so it won't bother her as she tree hopped. She was trying to match Kisame's speed for she preferred to match his than Itachi's ridiculously graceful leaps. The man was too smooth in his movements it makes her look like a disorganized kid.

(f) " You looked like a disorganized kid… I can't leave you alone on the training ground like this."

Hinata shook her head. "Y-you can put me down…Sasuke-kun I-Im fine..I really am." Her voice was almost a plea. Her cheeks were beyond warm now and she wondered if she's going to faint anytime soon. The Uchiha was carrying her, and he said they're on their way to his apartment.

To his apartment.

Those words almost triggered her to panic.

She could have wiggled herself free from his hold, but her body's lower half was immobilized after a brief sparring session with Neji… and she can't do anything but to squirm lightly and give verbal protests. She honestly did not ask for this "rescue". She was willing to wait on the training grounds until her chakra flow returns back to normal. Neji's strike was actually minimal and it was just going to mess with her chakra flow for just a few hours.

Until this Uchiha here came out of nowhere and swooped her up like a hawk.

She heard him smirk and she began chewing on her lower lip. Sasuke's slow breathing was quite distracting—especially if one would be so close to his neck and chest like she was. She could feel the continuous rising and falling of his chest and the slow pump of his heartbeat.

Good lord.

Looking around, she saw that the Uchiha chose the path that leads into the forest. Somehow, she was relieved that he won't be using the main street. People would surely see them. Her teammates might see them. Sakura-chan might see them…

Or worse…Naruto-kun might see them.

"Hey Teme! Dattebayo!" A voice called and Hinata's eyes almost dropped from their sockets. She knew that voice anywhere. And even though she was always happy to hear it… she figured that this moment was not a very good time for him to show up.

Sasuke stopped from his tracks and turned around. Naruto was running to them, hands waiving and mouth formed in a wide grin. "I saw you and I wo—"His electric blue eyes fell on his best friend's life-sized cargo. "What the…

Hinata let out a squeak.

Naruto just looks like Sasuke have done a crime. "Holy shit…what are you going to do with Hinata-chan?" He pointed at the Uchiha accusingly. "Neji was looking for her just now! By the name of Kami…did you kidnapped her?" Running to the girl, Naruto grabbed her—not knowing that she's paralyzed from waist down. "You perver—"

Sasuke pushed the Uzumaki's hand away. "Hands off Naruto."

"N-Naruto-kun…" Hinata stuttered. "I can't move from the waist down…I sparred earlier so my chakra pathways were blocked. It w-would be just for a few hours though."

"Oh…"

"And Sasuke-kun's helping me." She finished, wanting to clarify things before the blonde jumped into conclusions. Naruto was a little lot more like Kiba—and both are very impulsive.

Sasuke smirked. The girl was blushing and she was not looking straight at Naruto while she's talking to him. Any idiot could see that she likes him. "Hinata's staying with me until she recovers." He said the words rather gruffly.

"Nah…Hinata can go with me. I'm bored…she can keep me company until she recovers." The Uzumaki grinned, liking the idea. It was lonely at his shabby apartment and the heiress was quite good company. "Right Hina-chan? I have plenty of cup noodles there. We can eat together and spend the afternoon since I have no duties to the Hokage today!" He spread his arms. "I can carry her Teme."

"Naru—"Hinata opened her mouth, a little bit overwhelmed at Naruto's invitation.

"Forget it Dobe." The Uchiha turned around before Hinata could finish her answer. He crouched a bit in preparation for a high jump. "She's not some plaything that you can borrow when you're bored."

Naruto crossed his arms. "I don't treat her as a plaything, I treat her as a friend…and I want to take care of her too." There's a hint of irritation on his voice. Sasuke was starting to annoy him with his high and mighty talk. What's wrong with this baka? He really wanted to share his cup noodles with the Hyuga heiress for she was very generous in sharing her wonderful herbal concoctions with him.

But Sasuke was acting like a guard dog.

"You're not his boyfriend." Naruto said indignantly and he saw Hinata flinch.

The Uchiha's eyes narrowed. "But I got her first. Deal with it." (f)

"Itachi…" Kisame's voice cut through Hinata's thoughts, making the Hyuga wonder how long has she been drifting out.

"I know." The Uchiha who was a few steps ahead of them stopped.

Hinata looked confused. She was too deep inside her own mind that she was not able to cope up with whatever the two Akatsuki's were talking about. Kisame looked weary, but then he grinned, revealing sharp pointed teeth. His easy going aura was becoming more…deadly.

It gave Hinata shivers.

"Kisame-Niisan, what—"She was about to ask, still puzzled.

The shark man chuckled. "Damn…they are good at masking their chakra signatures. It took me longer than usual to detect them. Whatever…they seem like good company." Flexing his neck, he pulled out Samehada with pure blood lust in his marble-like eyes. "This looks fun."

"Kisame." It was Itachi's cool voice. "Bring Hinata with you and use the other way, she must stay out of the fight if possible. Pein doesn't want her to engage in anything yet."

Hinata looked around, her questions now answered just by listening. Sure enough, she spotted two mask nins perched on a tree a few meters away from where they stood. Their stances were tense—as if they were also surprised that they saw Akatsuki roaming in this lands.

The leaves were hindering her vision, so she activated her Byakugan in order to see and identify what village those two Anbu belongs to. Veins popping at the sides of her eyes, she looked at them. Maybe they belong to Kiri?—since the mist was just nearby and the town was actually the boundary –

Hinata blanched as she suddenly froze like ice. Eyes still glued at the two Anbu nins, her shoulders began to shake. Her Byakugan doesn't lie…though she was praying that it would.

"Neji-Niisan…Shino-kun." A low whisper erupts from her lips as she recognized the two shinobi behind the mask.

-o-o-o-

Here ends the chapter. I was planning to add a few more scenes but something came up and suddenly my mind was elsewhere…and when I'm distracted, I tend to write stupid things…really stupid things.

But I would love it if you could take time and review… (Pretty please?) It fuels me up to write…I hope it's not too much to ask? : )

Shout outs to: xHinaLovex and Fher34

See you until next chap!

-crazygurl12