Author's note:

Here it is, November 22nd. Still homeless. Still trying to write. Still trying to smile.

If there are mistakes, please note that I will eventually go over them and fix them. Doing this from a cell phone isn't too easy. Gotta love Google Docs.

Thank you all for reading. Can't say when I will update again, but good things come to those who wait.

Disclaimer: I did not create Naruto or World of Warcraft, both are under the rights of their respective owners.

Chapter Two

A Lesson in Genjutsu

Snow blanketed the forest where a dark river curved between the white. The sun had just begun to cast light onto the waking world when Hinata landed where Toneri's energy signature was pronounced. The snow and trees were disturbed from a battle that had taken place. There were different sources of energy, glimmers of tapers she could see.

Searching the area with her Deadeyes, Hinata didn't see anything of interest until she saw something hidden beneath the snow. Uncovering it, she found a triangular dagger with a ring on the end, where a cute ninja figurine hung on a string.

"A kunai . . ." Hinata twirled it to then grip it in her hand.

It was well balanced, even with the toy dangling from it. She looked to the horizon, where the tapers of energies shimmered in the morning sunlight. The energy in the kunai was the same as the one that led away and went the same route as Kama's and Toneri's. Tapers of jade, teal, and sky-blue faded into the distance.

Did he take this person too, or did they go willingly?

After slipping the kunai into her hip pouch, Hinata deactivated her Deadeyes. Her stomach rumbled. Rubbing her forehead Hinata sighed. She left hastily, leaving her bags of supplies behind. All she had was her hip pouch and gourd.

Resting her hand on the quilen, Hinata said, "Let's keep going."

Hinata slid on Xi-Qi's saddle and took back to the sky. The air was cold as Hinata tightened her cloak around herself and held back shivers.

The energy tapers winded through a ravine. Toneri's energy thickened near the entrance of a cave. This is where he has his constructs come and go.

Landing before it, Hinata surveyed the entrance. Cautiously she went in. Stalagmites hung from the top as light illuminated by the teal glow of the waters within gave off an eerie, yet enchanting vibe. An odd symbol was carved in the center of the cave's ceiling, one Hinata couldn't translate.

She looked at Xi-Qi. "You wouldn't by chance be able to read that?"

The quilen chuffed.

Hinata nodded and ran her hand over its stone mane. "Didn't think so." She sighed. "Maybe I should've brought Ban-Lu. He is old. He might've had insight to what it may be."

Stars, universes many lightyears away, Ban-Lu abruptly sneezed, waking the mystic tiger from a dead sleep.

Xi-Qi sat, facing the entrance as Hinata went to the ledge of the spring. It was strange. Not only did it block her Deadeyes, it was water, yet not water. It pooled in the palm of her hand, but it wasn't wet. It evaporated, or simply faded once it was pulled from the main source.

"It's not water, but has similar physics to water," she stared into the glow as realization hit her. "This is a portal."

Voices echoed and the presence of others were close by. Xi-Qi remained silent and still, appearing as a statue. A male spoke, his voice very close and words foreign. Multiple footsteps — nearly silent — moved closer. They stopped before the quilen, and one of them must've touched Xi-Qi, as the quilen roared and expanded his jade energy wings.

Hinata quickly went to the quilen resting her hand on its side. There was a group of young adults, all in defensive poses, either adventurers or militants, Hinata wasn't sure.

"Calm down, they may be friendly," said Hinata as the quilen moved before her. She grabbed his reins and looked at the group.

There were five of them. The closest had pale snowy skin, black hair and eyes, with a band over his forehead with a metal plate with a symbol on it. He wore black garb with chainmail beneath, and had a large scroll that rested horizontal on his back. A woman was a few steps behind him with softly tan skin, pink hair, and jade eyes. There was a purple diamond in the center of her forehead, and she wore red clothing with a similar band with the metal plate holding back her hair. The rest of the group were males. A tall man with black hair pulled up and spiky, his clothes more military than the others with dark slacks and a flak jacket. A man with sunny yellow hair and ocean blue eyes with three whisker-like marks on his cheeks. He too wore a metal band, his on black cloth over his forehead, and he wore black and orange fatigues. Then there was the man in clothes of neutral color — tans and grays — with a headband over his forehead. Long dark-brown hair was tied in a low ponytail, his complexion fair, and he had featureless eyes that almost looked completely white.

His eyes . . . are they like mine? Just the thought of suddenly finding someone like her made her stomach twist with both fear and hope. Quickly, she took a drink from her gourd.

The group had been quiet, observing her. Hinata faced them, brought her right hand into a fist to cover it with her left palm before her, and bowed.

"Greetings, I am Hinata Winterbreeze."

The blond scratched his face and uttered, "Eh?"

The woman tilted her head and said something. It was odd to Hinata. They spoke quickly, their tones low and high. The linguist spell had long worn off, but Hinata would swear some of the words they spoke were familiar. Like she had heard them before, a long time ago.

The woman stepped forward and rested her hand on her chest, "Sakura."

Hinata nodded. Simplicity would be the way to go. She mimicked Sakura's action and said, "Hinata."

"Shikamaru," said the male with the pulled up spiky black hair.

The man with the scroll said, "Sai."

Hinata looked at the man with long brown hair who was staring at her. "Neji."

The blond moved to her and held out his hand covered in bandages. Hinata approached and rested her hand in his and shook it, as he said, "Naruto."

Energy fizzled from him and rushed throughout her. Instantly, her head began to pound with pressure. Flashes of crimson light invaded her sight.

"Interesting," said a gravelly voice.

Hinata tilted her head, "You do know it's common courtesy to ask first before invading someone's mind, right? Let me guess, you're a Naaru?"

"I don't know what that is," replied the voice.

At least there was no pain like when Xe'ra invaded her mind. The pain will come to pass, or something in that sense the Naaru told Hinata. It took a day for it to fully go away.

"Are you an energy being?"

"You could say that," replied the voice.

There was a heaviness from its energy.

"You are an interesting brat . . ." he chuckled. "This will be fun to see unfold. I see now. Ku, ku. Interesting indeed. Things have been boring."

"Who and what are you?" Hinata asked. "Why are you still in my head?"

The hand holding hers released and Naruto stepped back. The energy left too. Naruto looked at his hand then her. Xi-Qi moved before her and roared.

Hinata pulled her mount's reins and said, "Can you at least pretend to be friendly?"

Xi-Qi growled, chipping its stone teeth.

Nudging him away she said, "I should've brought Ban-Lu, no matter how annoying he is. I don't eat that many mana buns." She glanced at her rear, then eyed Xi-Qi, "Right?"

The quilen chuffed and looked away.

"Traitor," Hinata grumbled, to then grasp her gourd.

"What's going on?" Sakura asked.

Quickly, Hinata looked at her, because she understood what Sakura said.

Shikamaru looked between Hinata and Naruto, "What just happened?"

Naruto raised his hands, "It wasn't me." He rubbed the back of his head, "I think Kurama did something." He narrowed his eyes. "He amplified a jutsu that was already on her."

Kurama? Hinata activated her Deadeyes, and drank more of her honey sake. Her eyes widened as she overlooked the group. Their chi lines were very similar to hers; a whole other set of nerves that ran through their bodies. They all had similar chi with variations in colors, except for the blond man, Naruto. His energy was a bright sunny yellow, yet there was a reserve within him of crimson. The more Hinata stared, the more she saw it resembled a fox.

A human demon hunter? No, he still has his eyes, and the fox isn't exactly a demon. It's something else . . .

Hinata tapped her lower lip and deactivated her eyes. "Huh." She focused her visage to the spring. "Interesting. The linguist spell faded hours ago." She looked at the group. "Being able to communicate is crucial, that is—" she paused and looked at them, "if you are all about to raid Toneri's castle too?"

"Something like that. We're on a rescue mission," Naruto said.

"Hmm," Hinata curtly nodded. "So am I. He abducted my apprentice."

Neji crossed his arms, "Why would he take your apprentice?"

Hinata intoned, "Because I refused to go with him."

"He wanted you?" Neji stepped toward her, "Why?"

Shaking her head, Hinata sighed. "Toneri has me confused for someone else. I'm not from here."

Shikamaru stepped beside Neji and asked, "Where are you from, Hinata?"

"Azeroth."

The group exchanged glances, for Naruto to ask, "Is that a village, or another country?"

"If it is, I haven't heard of it," said Shikamaru. "Where is Azeroth? Across the seas?"

"No," Hinata rested her hand on the quilen's forehead. No reason to hide the truth. "I am from another world. Azeroth is an ocean of stars away . . ." Running her hand down Xi-Qi's face, the quilen dispersed into mist when Hinata dismissed him. She put the jade quilen figurine back into her pouch. "Toneri brought the ship I was on here, because of me. The ship's crew is now my responsibility. I have to find him, get Kama, and make him return us home." She grimaced and took hold of her gourd and sipped. And save your world in the process. I left the port hastily. I should have got a group together instead of coming alone . . .

Looking at the shinobi, Hinata said, "I don't know any of you, and you all don't know me." She glanced at them and devilishly smiled. "I could be an enemy . . . Or you all could be working with Toneri."

Sai smiled, his eyes unemotional, "We are not working with him."

"Like Naruto said, we are here on a rescue mission," said Sakura.

"Well, since we're all going the same way, we can help each other." Hinata toasted them and took a long drink from her gourd. Corking it, she let the gord drop to hang at her side as she intoned, "How exciting."

Shaking his head, Neji said, "Great . . . a drunk."

"Oh please," Hinata rested her hand on her hip. "I am not even tipsy. I'm a monk. I can hold my brews."

Shikamaru crossed his arms as he eyed Hinata, "You're a monk?"

Nodding, Hinata said, "Yes. I specialize in Windwalking, but if needed I can tank or heal. Punching and kicking people I don't like is more fun."

"Tank?" mumbled Naruto.

Shikamaru looked at his hand, to then clench and lower it as he intoned, "We're wasting time. Neji, what do you see at the bottom of the spring?"

Neji gave Hinata a side glance. She watched the veins bulge on his temples and his white eyes became defined.

By the Red Crane . . . is this why I never found anyone back home like me? What Toneri said . . . Is it because I'm actually from here?

So many thoughts bombarded her, but it was all things she would have to figure out later. Kama needed her.

Neji let his own Deadeyes release, returning them to normal. "I can't see past the spring." He scowled, "My Byakugan is distorted."

Byakugan, so that's what he calls it? I wonder if it means something?

"Neat trick." Hinata went to the edge of the spring. "Do you know why you can't see past it, Neji?"

"No," Neji's brow raised, "Do you?"

Removing her cloak, Hinata let it drop to the floor. If anyone came looking for her, it would at least be a clue for them — that is if anyone came looking.

"Yes," Hinata said. She looked from Neji to the others. "It's a portal."

"To another world?" Naruto stared at her.

Shikamaru shook his head and sighed, "Troublesome . . ."

"It could lead to another world," said Hinata, tapping her lower lip. "Or it could be somewhere far away on this world. Back home we use them all the time. You find the right mage and they can get you just about anywhere within seconds. It gets tedious when you have to run, ride or fly everywhere."

"We mostly run," said Sai, still smiling.

"This is such an advanced world, yet so limited . . ." She shook her head. "We should go. Time is of the essence. Last one in, is a hozen," Hinata leaped off the bank and cannonballed into the spring.

She had a quest — it was time to get back to it. Swimming down into the glowing waters Hinata saw that the first area was shaped like a globe. Entering another cavern the water faded, yet she was able to float within the new area. Juts of stone stuck out, as spheres — moons; some that glowed others that did not — floated around. Staring into one of the glowing moons it brightened and everything around Hinata changed within a heartbeat.

White eyes stared at her set within the face of a young boy . . . One vaguely familiar. His dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and he wore black sparing clothes.

Neji?

He stuck at her, and Hinata blocked. For some reason, in no way did she want to fight, let alone hurt him. Even though they were only sparing, something she enjoyed to do with friends, Hinata didn't want to do now. Her feet stumbled, her body not exactly her own as she went through motions and stances she didn't want, or remembered learning.

What's going on? Why am I so . . . tiny?

He closed in on her, and Hinata struck at him. Child Neji gripped her arm and grappled her to the floor. The match was called, and he helped her up.

A man approached them; his mouth moved, but his voice was silent. Everything around her was silent. Neji's grip on her hand tightened, and her stomach coiled with dread. Had she done something wrong?

Keeping her hand in his, Neji led her away from the dojo and outside to a courtyard.

"I think you did good. You just need to practice more." Neji said as he released her.

Hinata sat on the ledge of the walk.

"I-I don't like practicing taijutsu," her tiny voice said.

Wait . . .

Suddenly, Hinata was no longer trapped within her younger form. Staring at the toddler dressed in her black garbs and her short dark hair — which was surreal to Hinata — she saw herself, at three years old.

This is a memory . . . One I had forgotten? Repressed? Before I was found? What happened? What is going on?

"I d-don't want to be the heir," child Hinata admitted. She looked at Neji. "I wish I-I could trade places with you. You're st-stronger than me."

He tilted his head and softly smiled at her. "Don't worry. When you are in danger, I will lay down my life to protect you."

"Brother Neji," child Hinata murmured.

Stepping back, hand clenched over her chest, Hinata said, "He's my brother?"

"Hinata!"

"Naruto?" She turned to his voice.

He wasn't there and the images around her faded.

"What's going on?"

"Relax your body, Winterbreeze. Clear your mind. Let your spirit expand," Lorewalker Cho's voice echoed.

He walked into her view, but his form was blurred from a thick mist. The black and white furred pandaren walked slowly, his gold and red tabard shifting with his strides. As the Lorewalker circled Hinata, it disturbed the mist.

"Let the dream brew guide you," Lorewalker Cho said.

"Right . . ." Hinata sat in a lotus position, and closed her eyes.

The dream brew disoriented her. Hinata's body was warm and no longer constraied by gravity. Within minutes she was no longer grounded, as if she were floating.

"Clouds stole from the great tree a leaf . . ." Lorewalker Cho said.

Words that still didnt make sense to Hinata made her uneased. The sensation of being carried alarmed her. Hinata couldn't move and something constricted her like she was wrapped or tied up. Salt water was heavy in the air as waves crashh to a shoreline.

Opening her eyes, Hinata couldn't see much. Only pinpricks of moonlight through whatever cloth she was trapped within.

"Hurry," an unknown male said. "They might be waking up by this point and we're still too close."

Another man scoffed. "There was enough sleeping gas to keep that compound sleeping for days. Besides, we're far enough. They'll follow the other team's trail, thinking we'd make a b-line home. They won't think we'd take the sea back. They'll never catch up now. Kid is as good as ours."

"What are they going to do with her?" the other man asked.

"That doesn't matter. We were given a mission, and the technical details aren't our concern."

Hinata squirmed when she was lifted and then set dropped onto a hard surface. The wind howled and waves crashed on to the shore.

"Let's go. The storm is coming and that's our cover."

Lorewalker Cho's voice was altered, as if overlayed with another's as he said, "Lost, displaced — a fate changed and a new path forged."

Time had passed and the storm had been vicious. The two men had not spoken in a long time. Hinata didn't know what was going on. She was hungry, thirsty, and had already soiled herself.

The vessel she was in rocked gently, a steady swaying, but her body was compact, small. She was within something that kept her bound and unable to move. It was dark too; cold and the only thing keeping her company was the sound of moving water and creaking wood. She tried to sit up, only she couldn't.

Unable to break free of her cloth prison, Hinata cried. It was all she could do. Eventually, there was a thunk, waves rushed against the thing she was in. A heavy slap of water followed by a rush of water rocked the vessel. The sudden movement caused her to roll and then the motion stopped altogether.

She stopped crying when someone spoke. "What have you brought to us, Shen-Zin Su?"

The cloth she was in moved, and then there was light. She wobbly stood.

Master Sheng Xi stood before her, dressed in faded navy robes with serpent designs and golden filigree clasp. He was large and tall, had silvering white fur, a thin serpent mustache of black, wore a conical straw hat, and had kind brown eyes.

When he lifted her from the burlap sack, Hinata's body tensed. "What are you doing out here alone, little one?"

She looked around to find that he'd taken her out of a rowboat. Her father and mother weren't there. It was just her who was washed ashore, brought to the Wandering Isle on a cold winter's breeze.

"YuDestiny altered, to be renewed. By false decree, the lost princess will return." Lorewalker Cho's voice was now overtaken by another voice, one deep and deranged.

"Hinata," Naruto called, his voice muffled.

She turned trying to find him. She activated her Deadeyes — still nothing. "I can hear you, Naruto, but I can't see you!"

"Do not see me with your magic eyes, Winterbreeze. See me, with your chi."

"Master Jinja?"

She turned, just to watch as a shadowed figure bopped a version of her younger self on the neck — her Deadeyes blind spot — with a wooden sword. Instantly, the younger Hinata grabbed her neck and dropped to her knees.

"Ow!" younger Hinata cried out. She looked to her left, then her right. "I wasn't ready!"

"You should always be ready and on alert, Winterbreeze. I hit your blind spot again, because you are not paying attention." Master Jinja said, a member of the elite shado-pan.

The shadowed figure faded into view and crossed her arms. Her brown and white fur glistened within the moonlight as her long barred tail swished. The pandaren squatted to look younger Hinata in the eyes, given, Jinja only had one eye. Her right was covered with an eye patch.

"If your enemies discover your magic eyes have a weakness, they will exploit it any chance they get. You can do better than this! Only through trial and error can you learn about the magic of your eyes."

Jinja flicked younger Hinata between the eyes and said, "See me with your chi, not your eyes."

Use my chi . . . Releasing her chi from her eyes, Hinata relaxed and closed them. She remembered this training with the shado-pan master. Jinja was the one who helped her see without seeing. And when she began to see with her chi sight, Hinata noticed the others were still close to her. Naruto was next to her, his hand around her wrist. Opening her eyes, Hinata watched the memory continue to play out.

Master Jinja had vanished from younger Hinata's view again. Hinata's younger self was still struggling with the concept of using her chi sight.

"I am sensing with my chi!" younger Hinata said, exasperated.

"No, you are not," said Master Jinja right behind younger Hinata, just for another whack of the Jinja's wood sword to hit her against her back.

"This reminds me of my sage training."

"Huh?" Hinata turned and saw a younger Naruto, sitting in a lotus position. His cheeks began to swell, followed by his arms and chest. Whereas, the adult Naruto stood next to Hinata now, his hand still around her wrist as he watched the scene nostalgically.

WACK!

"Ow, ow, owiee!" younger Naruto whined as he rubbed his head.

A little green toad that had bushy white eyebrows, mohawk, little goatee, and wore a tiny cloak stood before younger Naruto. "Takin' too much nature energy again! Do ya wanna turn inta a frog?"

"It's harder without the oil," pouted younger Naruto.

It was odd to Hinata because the moonlit forest she was in blended at the edges of where the sunlit terrace and ruins of Naruto's area began.

"Pa toad would hit me to keep me from turning into a frog," adult Naruto said, and chucked sadly.

Hinata looked at him and asked, "You began your training when you were young."

"Most ninja do," he replied. He raised his eyebrows. "How old were you? When did you start training as a monk?"

"Three. I was a natural," Hinata frowned. "A prodigy amongst my peers."

Naruto's lips pursed. "Oh."

Shrugging, Hinata said, "Even then, I never liked fighting. I was good at it though. Able to do things that even some of the greatest masters still cannot." She sighed. "I only continued the path of a monk because I wanted to be strong. I needed to be, if I was going to find my family."

Naruto looked at her. "Your family?"

"Thousands of eyes watch from the ruins of a false world." N'zoth's voice now whispered.

Pins and needles raced up Hinata's fingers and through her toes. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she moved a step closer to Naruto.

"What's with the creepy voice?" Naruto asked as he glanced at her.

Shaking her head, Hinata said, "N'zoth, an Old God and a memory I really don't want to remember."

"An Old God," said Naruto.

N'zoth's whisper reverberated through the darkness that closed in, "With stolen eyes, his awakening draws near."

Hinata closed her eyes and said, "I don't want to remember this."

Hinata's heart was thumping wildly; her limbs stiff. Think happy thoughts. Block it out. Silence surrounded them for a moment, and Hinata exhaled. She'd done it. She blocked the—

"The void has embraced you," N'Zoth whispered, his voice deep and uneven. "It is within you."

Shaking her head, Hinata said, "No."

The ground shifted and instead of falling, Naruto pulled her to him. The ground changed within seconds and became hardened flesh. Wiggling appendages slithered amongst the walls. Centered in the rotunda area was a huge bulbous head. Harder spikes and tendrils of tentacles were upon it. A bright yellow orange eye with more smaller ones faced Hinata, as the flesh had ripped open exposing a glowing orange brain or heart, Hinata couldn't tell which.

Naruto stared at N'zoth, "What the hell . . ."

N'zoth bore his eyes at Hinata and said, "I know you . . . And you do not belong here . . ."

Hinata reached to her shoulder for her cloak, Ashjra'kamas, Shroud of Resolve; it wasn't there. Wrathion — the Black Prince — made cloaks for the adventures to combat N'zoth's insanity. Hinata hadn't worn it since the Old God's downfall.

"This isn't real," Hinata said.

Child Neji ran before her, went into a fighting pose and said, "Don't worry. If you're in danger, I will lay my life down to protect you!"

"No!" Hinata shouted as she reached for him, only for Naruto to hold her back.

"This is a dream," Naruto said, forcing Hinata to look at him. "A genjutsu!"

Living infestations — creatures with tentacle legs and thin arms with clawed hands, bulbous stomachs topped with thorns, heads with multiple eyes, and rows of long sharp teeth emerged from the darkness, racing toward them. Creeping and crawling along the ground, the infestations gurgled and hissed. They swarmed child Neji, his scream fading almost instantly when the infestations overtook him."This is a dream right?" Naruto intoned, his eyes wide.

"Your friends won't save you," N'zoth said.

A roar vibrated through the air, and Naruto was struck, his grip ripped away from Hinata by a Faceless One. Its wet muscular form towered over Hinata as its twisted tentacle appendage wrapped around her torso and squeezed. Its octopod face's tendrils flared as it roared in her face. Void tears opened and more aberrations entered into the chamber.

N'zoth said, "You can't even save yourself."

Dark energy, mingled with tentacles shot at Hinata, for Sakura to suddenly faze into view shouting, "Wake up, Hinata! Wake up! You're in a dream!"

Hinata gasped as she sat upright, nearly headbutting Sakura. Looking around the dimly lit area, she noticed they were within a glowing sphere. The others were around them, floating upright within the small void. Most of them looked unconcerned — more annoyed than anything, whereas Naruto looked pale.

Rubbing her head, Hinata said, "That was trippy."

Sakura sighed and said, "Genjutsu can do that to you."

Hinata rubbed her hand on her forehead, "Genjutsu?"

"This is a trap set by the enemy. This one was a powerful illusionary technique," said Shikamaru. "It's a good thing Sakura has a high resistance to them, otherwise we could all still be caught within it. Come on, let's keep moving. Avoid the glowing moons."

Grabbing her gourd, Hinata drank. As she rested a moment to recover, Shikamaru took the lead.

"You were harder to wake up than Naruto," Sakura said as she overlooked Hinata. She smiled, "That's saying something." Looking Hinata in her covered eyes, Sakura asked, "Are you okay, Hinata?"

Nodding, then taking another sip of sake, Hinata said, "I'm good to go."

Sakura curtly nodded, then followed the rest of her team. Quickly, Hinata caught up with them.

"So, genjutsu is a form of illusionary spells that can make you relive memories and nightmares?"

Sai smiled, "Or pleasant dreams. I was quite happy with my brother." He set his focus on Sakura. "I appreciate you interrupted my time with him."

Though Sai smiled, Hinata heard the sarcasm.

"This entire area is a trap set by the enemy," said Neji as he leapt from one dim moon to another.

Shikamaru said, "It traps the intruders in a genjutsu, shutting them away in a world of memories."

"Impressive," said Hinata as she kept pace with the shinobi. "It's designed as a prison that uses our memories as a cage." She glanced at Sakura. "Good thing you're resistant to them."

"Yeah. There's no telling how long we'd been trapped there," said Shikamaru.

Avoiding the glowing moons, they traveled quickly using the unlit rocky spheres to travel lower into whatever dimension they were traversing. Observing the ninja, Hinata noticed they used their chi — or chakra as they called it — similarly to how she could. Though Hinata didn't have the same training as the shinobi, she could keep up and use her chi similarly.

Shikamaru stopped when they reached another spring of glowing waters.

"Another spring," Sai crouched, looking down into the false waters.

Looking at Neji, Shikamaru asked, "Same thing as the first?"

Deactivating his Byakugan, Neji nodded. "Yes, still distorted." He looked at Hinata. "Another portal?"

"I'd say," Hinata replied. She looked around the area. "I'm not an expert in these things, but I'd say that this is like a dimension between ports." She looked at the others, "Like a depot, or staging area." she shrugged. "Who knows for sure."

"So we don't know what we're going into," said Shikamaru. "We need to be ready for a fight."

He dived forward.

Sakura and Sai followed as they said, "Rodger," in unison. Neji was silent as he dropped after them.

Hinata moved forward; Naruto halted her by placing his hand before her.

"Wait."

Looking at him Hinata tilted her head, "What's up?"

"Are you okay?"

Though he couldn't tell with the band over her eyes, Hinata stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"Are you okay? You looked . . ." he looked away from her and rubbed the back of his neck with his bandaged hand. "You looked scared. When in the genjutsu." He returned his gaze to her. "That thing . . . was it—"

"N'zoth is very real," said Hinata. "Or I should say, was. I was with a group of others who raided that monster's lair, a place that exists within another dimension, and defeated him." She looked to the spring. "We should get going, Naruto."

"Yeah."

He turned away and started to the ledge. Before he jumped, Hinata said, "Hey, Naruto."

He looked back at her.

"After all this is over, I will tell you my stories, if you tell me yours."

He grinned at her, "You're on."

Then, Naruto jumped and was gone. Hinata stood there for a moment, letting the flutters in her stomach settle. Naruto's smile . . . it made her shiver.

Letting out a long deep sigh Hinata tsked at herself and shook her head. "Damn. I definitely have a type. Blond hair, blue eyes, and sweet charming smiles. I'd say you'd have competition, my King, but I'm nothing more than just another girl." She sighed, "Pretty sure you and Wrathion have a thing going on any—"

"Hinata."