I am such an idiot.

I never realized how many readers have been with me and keeping up with my errors and stuff like that since my first story…and then suddenly, I bailed on them… I have been so unfair. (Thank you for the readers who slapped me with that fact.) I'm so sorry…Riceballxlover and Kibachow was right. I should continue and improve on the way. I should not be discouraged by simple flares…for they are also constructive criticism..The review from readers really made my heart melt. I never knew that there a lot who likes my story…with the grammar mistakes and all.

Oh…Cathyscloud...thank you for the encouragement! And thank you for a lot of readers who are so nice and wasted their precious time just to pm me.

I'm back…with my NARUTO Spirit burning bright! Forget I ever posted that chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

-o-o-o-

Chapter Thirty One

Kisame watched from a distance as a blur of blue and black made its way into the forest. He was careful not to be too visible and not to be too near—in case Hinata might use the Byakugan and find out that he was following her.

Well…that they are following her.

"Pein will have our heads if he knew that we disobeyed his orders…" He grumbled while scratching his head. "Never in my life did I think that I'm going to disobey the organization I pledged myself into."

Itachi smirked. "I did not ask you to come. You did so voluntarily."

It was the truth. Itachi was on his own when he accidentally saw the shark-like man following his trail. Good thing he sensed his chakra signature before he could release his chidori—Itachi thought that he was some kind of stalker and was planning on taking him down without second thoughts.

"Itachi…she's going to get herself in a lot of problems if we can't get her out of this right now." Kisame said, and his face was serious. "Pein will attack the leaf first if he can get hold of that book…and to be the one to retrieve it, Hinata will never forgive herself if that happens. I know her enough to see that. Even if she's Akatsuki…her heart lies within her village."

"How long will you go to save her?" Itachi asked coolly, his eyes distant as he waited for his partner's answer.

"Long enough to keep her safe…but not enough to leave Akatsuki. I love her as a sister…she has changed my entire life morals when she came into our midst…but I have to continue my role on Akatsuki. I am pledged into the organization."

The Uchiha nodded. "Then it is time to return her to the village of Konoha."

"You are one crazy Uchiha…Pein would just order us to kidnap her again...We can't just weave a lie."

"There's going to be a unit from the leaf…with the intention of getting the book too." Itachi did not mention how he came to posses that kind of information, but it seems that Kisame was not interested in knowing since he just nodded his head thoughtfully. "We can bring them to her…"

"Your lovers…are you willing to do that? And will she?"

"She has no choice…"

"And what will happen to us then?"

"Pretend…that we don't care."

Hinata wiped the sweat from her brow as she checked the sun above her head. Basing her guess on her shadow, she estimated the time to be noon. The heat was a little intense for her and she can't help but feel her vision was turning a little fuzzy.

As she wandered a few meters more, she thanked Kami when she saw a small spring. It was cool and trees surround the place everywhere. Stripping her cloak, she kneeled beside the spring bank and slaps some water into her face.

It was cool and refreshing.

Itachi…

(f) Her eyes widened in surprise as the Uchiha pressed his cool lips on hers. Surely there was no need to act like lovers when there were no people around? It was unusual for Itachi to act this way…he was always so cool and stoic. Slowly, Hinata raised her hands and wedged it between them—in an attempt to break the contact. It just feels odd to be kissing Sasuke's older brother. Sure, their first kiss was understandable but this time…it's just plain weird and surprising.

Itachi breaks the kiss in order to stare at her white orbs. "I have to do that…"

"W-why?" She lowered her voice. "Is someone watching us?"

"No one is watching us."

"Then…why?"

"I want to."

Maybe it was because of the surprise and bewilderment that Hinata failed to move herself from the circle of the Akatsuki's arms. She never really has the guts to look into his eyes before—but because he continued to stare into her eyes, she can't help but stare into his too.

Weirdly, she doesn't have the power to remove her gaze from his dark ones…It was like some gravity that pulls her to him.

"I-Itachi-san…" She murmured, feeling her face turning hot. "(f)

Hinata sighed.

It was so unfortunate for the Uchiha to be trapped inside a web of lies and deception just to be able to protect the village that he loves…and to protect his brother that wants nothing but to kill him.

Sasuke…Itachi…

But why was she suddenly connected with the Uchiha brothers? Why can't she take them both of them off her head? She knew something was going on between her and the younger brother back in Konoha…she just needs to remember what and how deep that connection was.

And how about Uchiha Itachi? What's the real deal between them? Their relationship is a pretense right?

It's all so complex it makes her head ache.

Suddenly, the female Akatsuki tensed and pulled out from her deep thoughts. Wheeling around, she grabs a kunai from the pouched on her leg and prepared to throw. She felt something or someone was watching her…she was sure of it.

-o-o-o-

Sasuke saw Naruto grope for the branch but failed to take hold of it. The idiot was trying to match Kakashi's pace and was trying so hard not to be in match with him that he was becoming reckless in his leaps. With a fast movement, Sasuke grabbed the Uzumaki's arm just in time to save him from falling.

Well, Naruto could have been fine without his help—he has the Kyubi and his own skill to save himself anyway—but what Sasuke did was more of an impulse.

His friend was falling—and his Shinobi nature told him to save his friend…even if he was an idiot.

"Er…thanks." Naruto grumbled as he averted his eyes from the Uchiha.

"Watch where you feet lands." Sasuke said gruffly as he continued his stride. Ahead of them, he saw Kakashi tilt his head to the side and his eyes were on them. The older jounin looks amused…Kakashi really gets a knack with things like this—especially when it was one of his plans to settle their dispute.

It made Sasuke smirk.

"Y-yeah." The Uzumaki scratched his head, following behind the track of his best friend.

"Hn."

"Teme…I'm sorry for attacking you." The blonde suddenly blurted out. "I'm just jealous…you know that I like Sakura-chan since the start and I can't—"

"I know that."

Naruto glanced at his ex-teammate. Sasuke was shaking his head and his lips were curled upwards. "You're such an idiot Naruto."

"Teme…"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

One week later.

Hinata opened her eyes.

"Hinata-sama!" She was suddenly wrapped by a strong pair of arms. Blinking, the Hyuga tried to focus her attention to the person that was holding her so tight. Her senses were also filled with the smell of medicine and herbs it makes her a little bit dizzy. In a small part of her mind, she wondered why she was lying on some sort of soft material. For her, it felt different and weird. She was so used to lying on the cold ground and hard wood that the sudden comfort only gave her uneasiness.

"Neji-Nii?" She whispered upon recognizing the relieved face. She was still a little uncertain of what she was seeing and for a moment, she thought that she was just hallucinating. What was her Nii-san doing here?

No…It can't be…

"Hinata!" Another voice burst out and Hinata can't help but close her eyes when another pair of arms took her.

"S-Shino-kun…?" She whispered, feeling the moving bugs inside the Aburame. It has been a year since she was able to touch her teammate like this. In normal days, she would have been ecstatic at seeing them. But right now, she was just confused. "Where am I?"

"I'm so relieved that you're awake now…" Kiba's voice said behind her. "You have been unconscious for days…You're back with us now Hinata. You are back in Konoha."

-o-o-o-

Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade ran her fingers on an old tattered hard bound book. "This book belongs to my uncle…Tobirama Senju. Konoha's second Hokage."

Itachi's eyes were set. He said nothing as he watches the only remaining sanin flicked a few pages and then read a few words. "I remember his handwriting…" Tsunade muttered as she shook her head. Amazed at the idea that book was still preserved. "Won't Akatsuki suspect you about this?"

"They don't know that the book really exists. I told them that the information about such book was not true."

"Hm." The blonde kage frowned. "How about the Hyuga?"

"They believe that she has been taken back by Konohan Shinobis against her will." The Uchiha said coolly, his voice showing no hints of emotion whatsoever. "I planted the evidence myself…they have no choice but to believe."

"Thank you for returning her back Itachi. She's fine now…I received news that she woke up from the dojutsu you made a few hours ago. She's now in the comfort of her friends and family."

"She deserves it."

"Yes…She does."

-o-o-o-

Here ends the chapter.

Thank you for the wonderful readers who are very supportive.

-crazygurl12