Sakura had gone to the village and began spreading the news about Hinata and who she met in the woods every day. Albeit she hadn't heard anything, only the sight of them together was enough for her. At first people didn't trust her word, already knowing of the grudge she had towards the Hyuuga, but when they stopped to think, it was really strange that she went to the forest without books. All the hunters decided to give her a chance, maybe she was right, deciding to follow the woman the next time she went in the woods.

When Hinata returned, she heard the murmurs, but they stopped as soon as people saw her. Then she saw the looks of her sister and cousin. 'Did I do something wrong?' She went through her usual routine till the next day, then she went to the clearing to distract herself, taking wool and a knitting set with her.

The hunters tailed her at a distance, careful to not alert her towards them, otherwise they would lose the beast. They waited when she sat down at an old trunk and began knitting. Hours went by and nothing popped up, she just started a piece of clothing then went home. This fact frustrated the more hotheaded men, who went to the Haruno and chewed her out, telling her to stop spreading lies and venting their anger.

Sasuke had stayed put, mulling over what he knew from legends. He knew that some were exaggerated, but there were some truths within, probably the power to bewitch whoever gazed on its eyes was one of them. It would explain why the Hyuuga hadn't fallen for his looks. 'If I kill it, the spell will be broken.' A smirk twisted his mouth.

Every day at least one hunter went to follow Hinata in hopes of finding the beast, but at the same time their will weakened and the numbers dwindled, convinced that it was one more lie made by spite. In the end of fall and into winter, the only one who still persisted was Naruto, his determination being the only thing that kept him from faltering. "Sakura..."

Kurama had gone far away from the village, hoping that Hinata was alright. He intended to return when winter was halfway through, and being it the start of fall it would take a long time.

He hunted, he explored, he did anything to keep himself occupied. Otherwise he'd start wondering how she was. Whenever he thought of the possibility of her forgetting him, he'd feel like he did in that night, when he almost died. "Kuh-" He ended scaring off the hare he was aiming. 'Why does it hurt?' Usually he calmed down by thinking of her, but when he recalled the times she complained about suitors, he'd bristle up and feel a sharp pain in his chest.

He wasn't the only one in this situation. Hinata also had her own fears, she dreaded the day she went to the clearing in spring and he ended never showing up. She feared that he would disappear from her life, moving to a distant land, where she would never find him.

She became gloomier, worrying her family, as it happened suddenly. But she kept a facade for the outside people. "What's wrong?" They tried to get an answer, but she always found a way to stray from the subject. From what Neji saw, she acted like a widow, but she didn't have a relationship with any man of the village until where he knew. 'Did she get involved with a foreigner?'

While sitting on a cliff, Kurama was gazing at the distance, towards the direction of Hinata's village. He frowned, if he was human their troubles wouldn't even exist. "But if I hadn't turned into a demon, I'd never have had the chance to meet her..." He couldn't decide anymore, was this form a curse or a blessing? For decades he had ignored this, fully accepting what he was, but now? He'd give anything to be with her without fear. He felt a warm liquid running down from his eye. "Fuh... and I thought that I couldn't cry anymore..."

What nobody knew, was that the Eclipse was drawing closer.

"The clock is ticking, hurry up."

I hope you liked it. Read and leave your opinion. I have a special twist planned as well.