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

Chapter 4

Byakugan Princess

The group of shinobi wasn't a chatty bunch in the morning. They went about their routines, packed up, and after Shikamaru's debrief, were ready to go.

Hinata munched on pieces of crab meat. With help from Sai and Naruto she was able to preserve the remaining meat last night by using fuinjutsu, the shinobi way of storing things away.

According to Sai, the food would remain the same when sealed into the scroll. How they seal it at that exact moment will be how the sealed item would stay. Even temperature. Naruto helped in drawing the seals, explaining how the concept worked. Even how ninja used fuinjutsu to create exploding tags and other types of traps. The concept was similar to inscription and enchanting to Hinata, but an entirely different thing altogether.

Dividing the cooked meat between them — which was heaping amounts — Hinata felt content when each of them, even the distrusting Neji, accepted a scroll of crab meat.

Taking off into the sky, the cool air on Hinata's skin helped make her less groggy. The warmth of Naruto behind her made her very aware of his presence. He had a kind soul, and though he didn't appear dangerous, Hinata could feel that he wasn't someone to mess with. His aura told Hinata everything she needed to know. Under that sunny disposition and behind the smile, Naruto was a fierce warrior who would go out of his way to protect what he believed in and what he cared about.

He knows what he fights for, and he doesn't flaunt his power. He would be the first to step out before us all to take the blows of an enemy.

"You alright?" Naruto asked. "You didn't sleep last night."

Hinata pursed her lips, because he had leaned forward, his chest touching her back and his face next to hers.

"I meditated. It helps when I have a lot on my mind and I'm unable to sleep," Hinata replied.

"So," Naruto scratched his cheek, "What kind of taijutsu do monks use?"

Hinata glanced at him, "Depends on what taijutsu means—"

"Stay focused," Neji shouted over the wind as he swooped closer to them.

Hinata grimaced at him, "We're just talking."

Neji had his eyes on Naruto when he drifted his drawn bird closer. "The enemy can strike at any time. Don't become distracted."

Neji nudged the bird forward and away as Hinata grimaced at him.

"Is he always so serious?"

Naruto smiled. "Don't worry about it, Neji is worried just about your sister."

Hinata looked back at him, "My sister?"

Naruto's eyes widened. "W-Wait, I—"

Abruptly, Hinata spun in the saddle — faced Naruto — letting the quilen free fly. Straddling her legs over his, Naruto stared at her.

"You know?" she asked as her hair drifted around her face. Gesturing to herself, she asked, "You all know who I am? Who I might be?"

Naruto opened his mouth, to shut it and look away from her as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Neji noticed the chakra in your eyes from your byakugan. I don't know the whole story. It'd be better if you ask him," Naruto glanced at her. "He is your family."

"Byakugan," Hinata mumbled. "It doesn't translate."

"What do you mean it doesn't translate?" Naruto asked.

Hinata said, "Some words do not translate correctly through the spell—"

"Oh," Naruto grinned, "I get it! Byakugan." He sat upright, closer to her, "White, as in the color. Then eye. Byakugan." He then pronounced each word, "White, eye."

"White eye . . . That sounds sort of lame."

Naruto chuckled, "Well, the Hyuuga aren't known for creativity."

"Or humor. Hmm." She ran her fingers along the leather on her face. "I call them Deadeyes."

His brows raised, "Deadeyes . . . Why?"

Hinata let her hand down. "It wasn't a moniker I came up with. It's one my enemies gave me."

He frowned and nodded, "I get it." He then grinned, "So, if your enemies call you that, then that means you must be a badass where you're from, ya know!"

"Something like that," Hinata giggled. She then sighed, "So, I have a sister . . . What is she like? Is she older or younger than me?"

"Younger," Naruto said. He scratched his chin, "You should talk to Neji. I don't know much about Hanabi or the Hyuuga Clan. They're kinda tight. They keep to themselves mostly. I only know a little about Byakugan."

"Then tell me what you know, and we will see if my Deadeyes match up," Hinata said as she leaned her elbows back on the quilen's stone mane.

Naruto rubbed his chin thinking, "Well, I know they can see really far but the rages are different, I guess depending on their training. I know they can have a three-hundred-and-sixty degree viewpoint, oh, and have x-ray vision. They also have a family style taijutsu called, juuken, er, gentle, fist. With their Byakugan, they can see our chakra points and they use their chakra with precision strikes to close those points to either immobilize their opponent."

Hinata gently tapped the stone creature. "Xi-Qi, head for the village that's twenty-four klicks ahead. It's fairly large. It might be Toneri's castle."

"You can see that far?" Naruto asked.

Hinata nodded and rested her hands behind her head. "I can focus my sight further if needed, like a scope to pinpoint targets up to about thirty-two klicks. I can see everything around me in a three-hundred-and-sixty degree dome, up to twenty-four kilometers. I can see into objects, but I can also see heat signatures, auras, energy signatures, ghost and spirit healers." I can do other things with my eyes, but I think I'll keep those things to myself for now. "Thinking about it now, I would've made an excellent marksman hunter."

He blinked. "You can do all of that with your Deadeyes?"

"I have no reason to lie to you, Naruto. We're allies, and at least one of you should know about some of my capabilities, right?"

A smile creased on his lips, "I want to spar with you!"

"There is a village ahead," Neji announced, his Byakugan active and making him look fierce. "Fifteen klicks ahead."

Hinata sat up, for the other shinobi to close in on them. "Took him long enough—" she grinned at Naruto, "huh?"

"What are you two doing?" Sakura asked, her bird within wing distance.

"Talking," Hinata replied.

Shikamaru focused on Naruto and said, "Your supposed to be—"

"He has been keeping an eye on me," Hinata lifted her legs and spun in the saddle. She took the reins and said, "He is doing an excellent job."

Naruto pouted,"Hey, it's not like that!"

"No offence," Hinata glanced back at him.

"Let's go." Shikamaru shook his head and took the lead.

By the Black Ox, let there be ale or wine or some of this world's saki here. Hinata rubbed her forehead. "I really need a drink."

The village in the distance looked like it was part of the mountain range due to the color of the structures. It was massive, but not to the extent as Stormwind or Ironforge. It was also in shambles. Roofs were missing, buildings collapsed with missing walls. No one had lived there in a long time.

"This isn't what we're looking for. This place is abandoned," Hinata shouted over the wind.

Sai shouted, "It looks centuries old."

"Let's split up and take a closer look," Shikamaru ordered.

Hinata guided Xi-Qi down to the ruins. Once landing, Hinata let the quilen free roam as Naruto and she went into the nearest building. Dust covered the floors, walls, and the little furniture within. It was almost like stepping into a biome that transported her to another place and time.

"There's so much damage," Hinata said as she looked around the room. Heading toward a stairway she said, "This isn't from weather or time either."

From another room, Naruto said, "It almost looks like a battle took place here." He turned to her. "A war?"

Nodding, Hinata intoned, "Possibly."

Heading deeper into the building, Hinata activated her Deadeyes. There wasn't much of interest to her, until she saw the door to a cellar.

Wine? Hopefully? Maybe?

Adjusting her vision, Hinata looked through the walls, to frown. The cellar had been ransacked ages ago with nothing of use within. The other shinobi were scattered throughout the area, and Hinata noticed Neji over on the opposite side. His Byakugan focused on her. Smiling, she threw a peace sign up at him — I am not the enemy, Neji. Stop treating me like one. She stopped the flow of chi in her eyes and returned to the main room.

"There's nothing here. I'm heading back out to see what else we can find." Blocking the light when it beamed in her face, Hinata sighed. "White Tiger, give me strength."

Trees and shrubs were severely overgrown throughout the area. Smut from a fire that burned long ago stained buildings inside and out. Heading up a stairway, Hinata followed to the sound of running water.

There was a fountain overflowing with fresh water. Hinata placed her hands on the ledge and looked into the clear fluid within. Cupping her hands into the cold water, she sipped on it. She retrieved her gourd, rinsed it out, and then filled it with water. Finding a strap of lining cloth in her pouch, she poured water over the cloth to soak it. Water plopped onto the cobblestone ground. Removing the leather strap from her face, Hinata opened the wet cloth and rested it on her face.

The cold momentarily woke her, and felt rejuvenating. There's too much going on at once . . . I'm still trying to process it all . . .

Rinsing the cloth, she wet it again to then run it along the back of her neck.

"Hinata?"

She poured more water onto the cloth, "Over here, Naruto."

"Fresh water."

"Yes, and it's safe to drink," Hinata stepped aside to give him room. "Nice and cold. If you have a canteen this would be the time to refill it."

Sliding the cloth off her face, she rinsed it once more, to then wring it out. The remaining water in the gourd she drank.

"Is that why you wear that over your eyes?" Naruto asked.

Hinata looked at him. "What do you—"

She pursed her lips and touched the line of scars on the left side of her face — four pink jagged lines left from a troll druid that tried to gouge out her magic eyes.

"No, not really." Hinata admitted, "I wear it because a friend gave it to me. The leather is enchanted." She smiled, "And it makes me appear mysterious."

"It does have that effect," said Naruto. He smiled in reminiscence. "My sensei used to wear his heitai-ite slanted over one of his eyes and a mask over the lower half of his face. It made him look cool, and I've always wondered what he looked like beneath the mask. Never did find out." He laughed and propped his arms up, hands resting behind his head. "No matter what we tried, Kakashi-sensei never took off his mask."

"Sounds like a story you'll have to tell me." Tilting her head Hinata said, "So, now that you see what's behind mine, do I meet your expectations? What did you expect?"

Naruto blinked. "I don't know. I wasn't really thinking about it that much. Not until Neji said something."

Nodding, Hinata looked into the water of the fountain. "I see." She then looked at him, "Were you trying to get me to reveal my eyes then?"

Naruto scratched his cheek. "It's shit, ya know." He looked at her, his eyes focused on hers. "If I had a family member that close, I—"

"Would want to know everything, right? Who they are, where they're from, their views, and traditions . . . " Hinata looked back into the fountain and hovered her hand toward her reflection. "There are so many questions with answers within my reach, but what if our views differ?" She pulled her hand back. "How different am I from them? Will our cultures clash?" Moving her hand to her chest, Hinata asked, "Will they even accept me as Hinata Winterbreeze?"

Naruto opened his mouth, to then close it as he stared into the waters pensively. He mumbled, "You're scared of being rejected."

She smirked at him. "You are intuitive."

He turned his head to look at her, "You shouldn't be."

Hinata looked up at him. Naruto stared at her, his brows narrowed, determination set in his eyes.

"If the Hyuuga don't accept you, I, Naruto Uzumaki, do. Konoha is your home Hinata, your family. " Naruto grinned, "I know there will be plenty of others who will accept you as you are, ya know. It's the bonds we make with others that make a family."

"You're right." Hinata softly smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Naruto."

He curtly nodded, "Come on, let's see what else we can scout here and find your sister, Hanabi."

Hinata, flushed, nodded, "I'm with you."

He walked ahead. Watching him, Hinata pursed her lips. He's so positive . . . Flutters tickled her stomach, and Hinata took a moment to gather her bearings. After a deep breath, Hinata straightened the leather band. Staring at it, she sighed. Instead of returning it to her face, she tied it loosely to hang around her neck.

"Hinata?" Naruto called.

She ran in the direction he went. "Coming!"

They searched building after building, finding more evidence that the village had been attacked. Old kunai and throwing stars were on the ground or lodged in the stone. While searching, they talked about random things. The odd weather where they were at and how the false sun mimicked the sun's orbit. Hinata noted how on Azeroth, there were two moons whereas there on Earth, there was only one.

Naruto was completely enthralled when she explained the stances and ways a monk fought and used their chi. Serpent and Crane stances were for Mistweaving — those who converted their chi into healing mist. The tiger stance was for Windwalking — specialist in martial arts. Lastly the ox stance was for Brewmasters — monks able to mitigate and take heavy amounts of damage.

Hinata listened intently when Naruto explained that most ninja used hand seals and their chakra to make their jutsus work. As for jutsu, there are three basic forms. Genjutsu — illusionary techniques that affected the target's senses. Taijutsu — body techniques that utilizes the ninja's own natural abilities and martial arts skills. Ninjutsu — which ranged from a variety of abilities and skills, that were neither of the other two.

The sun had set and they had explored a large portion of the ruins. Hinata finally found a cellar with a single jug of sake. The brew within was ancient with a poignant spicy scent and hot taste. Hinata offered some to Naruto when she filled her gourd, but he didn't want any. Instead, he was hungry.

Naruto had everything needed to cook his favorite food, instant ramen. A burner that worked with a small canister of flammable substance called methanol, and a pot to boil the water.

"Just open it, pour the hot water in, let it sit for three minutes, then it is ready to eat?" Hinata said as she looked at the styrofoam cup she held. "That simple?"

Naruto nodded.

The steam it expelled smelt good, the scent one similar to noodles she grew up eating. Sipping the broth first, Hinata then tried the noodles. She sat up and ate more.

"For something so quick, it is delicious," said Hinata, then slurped up a round of noodles.

Naruto nodded, slurping his own noodles. "Cheap too. Not that price matters much anymore."

Nodding, Hinata said, "I understand that. I had to work hard to make money, though that is frowned upon by some of the monk orders. When I was just beginning to adventure, quests would only pay in copper or silver, and repairs for gear became expensive. At times they weren't enough, so I learned herbalism and alchemy."

"Alchemy?" Naruto questioned, his brows raised as he looked at her.

"It is an art of its own and brings in decent gold. I use herbs I find and other reagents to create flask, oils, elixirs, potions, and even cauldrons that provide different effects. I can also transmute minerals, gems, and elementals, turning them into something different." She gasped. "That reminds me, I have some transmutations on the ship that should be ready by now."

"That sounds cool." Finished with his ramen, Naruto set the cup down and stood. He headed toward a hall and glanced back at her, "I'll be back, nature calls."

Reaching the threshold, he abruptly screamed. He twirled like a ballerina on one foot, his hands on his head, to then run up and along the ceiling. He landed to fall backwards, down a set of stairs.

Quick to her feet, Hinata went to him as he laid on the floor defeated. She tried to hide her smile, but ended up giggling anyway.

"You alright?" She asked.

"Defeated by a damn spiderweb," Nauto sighed.

Reaching out her hand to help him up, Hinata said, "It happens to the best of us."

Naruto sat up, to wince. "Oww." Hinata released him as he sat there and rested his hand on his back. "Damn."

"I got you," said Hinata as he looked up at her.

She channeled her chi for a jade glow to appear at her hands.

Naruto said, "Is that a serpent or crane stance?"

"Serpent," Hinata said. "It is a more steady one-on-one point of healing, whereas the Crane stance is a bit more complicated. It's a more hands-on type of healing, as the more damage I do, the more healing is provided to my allies."

"How does that work?" Naruto asked.

Hinata smiled, "Just as I said it does. Instead of Mistweaving, some call it, Fistweaving."

The jade glow at her hands brightened then expelled from her hands as a jade mist. The healing energies floated through the air to Naruto, surrounding him.

"I haven't seen anyone heal like this before. Usually, Sakura-chan has to be close or touching to heal," Naruto said as he looked at his hands.

"That's interesting," Hinata said as she finished channeling soothing mist— the jade energies evaporating. "Most healing spells are directed at allies from a distance, so that it is harder for enemies to target the healer. It can become overwhelming when you are trying to keep yourself and your allies alive, as healers are often taken out first."

He breathed in as the mist seeped into him, to exhale. He rubbed his back then looked up at Hinata.

"The pain is gone," Naruto hopped up to his feet. He stretched and arched his back. "Like it never happened."

He pulled up his shirt and tried to look at his back. Naruto ended up turning in place.

He's a dork, but he's an adorable dork. Within the moonlight that shined in from the arched window, Hinata saw that his stomach was toned but not defined with muscles, right along with his back and hips.

"Is something going on between you two?" Sai interrupted, startling both Hinata and Naruto.

Naruto's brow raised, "Huh?"

Sai leaned on the windowsill, peering into the darkened room. "You both sat rather close on the way here, have been alone together most of the day, Hinata's eyes are no longer covered, and now you are putting back on your shirt—"

"What the hell, Sai!" Naruto shouted, yanking down his shirt. "I got hurt—"

"Is that the cover you're going with?" Sai asked with a smile.

"I'm gonna kick your—"

Sai put up his hands, still smiling. "I'm joking."

"Bastard, you still need to work on that!" Naruto grouched.

Sai's visage became serious as he said, "We found something. Shikamaru wants us all there to check it out."

Clenching his fist, Naruto nodded. "We'll be right there."

Sai pushed off the sill, and nodded. He stared at Hinata a moment before he stepped back and left. I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

"What's wrong?"

Hinata looked at Naruto and shook her head. "Nothing, Naruto. Let's get your stuff together and go. We shouldn't keep them waiting." She grinned. "Sai may have them thinking I'm trying to seduce you."

Naruto quickly looked at her. "Seduce me? Why would ya want to do that?"

A clueless dork.

The other shinobi were waiting outside the ruins of a temple. A line of pillars led to the entrance of where a massive set of broken doors had rested for ages on the ground. Humanoid statues missing chunks of stone or limbs peered down at her, as the chill of the night brought goose bumps on her skin. She looked at Neji. His eyes were on her, his arms crossed. Sai was smiling as he knelt by the entrance of the temple whereas Shikamaru stood before him looking at his palm. Sakura had taken Naruto to the side and was speaking to him in a hushed tone, yet she had a coy smile on her face the entire time. Hinata stopped before them.

"It's a temple," Hinata said as she gazed about the area.

Shikamaru nodded. "I know it's a drag, but I want us all here when we go in. Keep a lookout for anything that might lead us to our target or clues to where they may be."

They passed more broken statues, along with a large bell where incense and candles would have been placed near the opening of the main building. Hinata stopped there and looked at it. As the others ventured further into the ruins, she took a moment to reflect. Finding an old candle, Hinata lit it, said a prayer, and rested it within one of the holes of the stone bell. Briskly, she made her way into the temple.

Shikamaru's voice echoed out from the inner chamber. "There's an inscription here, written in old writing."

Naruto asked, "What does it say?"

"Ancient oath. Crossing the path of humanity, like all else. The fist of the reborn moon, the Tenseigan, will destroy mankind."

Sakura asked, "What does that mean?"

"Maybe this Tenseigan is what's making the moon move," Shikamaru said.

"So Kakashi-sensei was right. Hanabi's abduction and the moon are somehow connected," Sakura said as she looked at Shikamaru.

Shikamaru said, "Well, his hunches are always on target unfortunately. Do you see anything else, Neji?"

The interior of the temple had roots growing down from the ceilings, all dimly illuminated by Shikamaru's lantern as he stood before a bas relief of a circular object with a lotus pattern within when Hinata entered. Neji's Byakugan was active, to then release as he shook his head.

"I see nothing else."

Hinata moved before the carving in the wall and stared up at it. The more she looked at it, the more the image looked like a massive sun that rested over a kingdom. Goosebumps dotted along her skin as a voice entered her mind.

"Byakugan Princess."

Me? Are you talking to me? Hinata looked over at Neji. Did he not hear the voice too?

"I have been waiting for you."

The ground shook, dirt and dust fell from overhead. Sakura hopped away from the bas relief when dust billowed out, and an unseen door opened within the floor.

"What the hell," Naruto murmured.

Sai asked, "So, who's going into the mysterious dark hole first?"

Shikamaru shook his head and went down, lantern before him with the others following. The chamber below ground was massive and had been sealed for ages. Within was rows upon rows of terracotta mounds with an obelisk behind each one. Some mounds were preserved, as others had been broken open.

"What is this place?" Sakura asked.

"It's a crypt," Hinata said. "These are graves."

Naruto looked at her and asked, "You don't see any ghosts, right?"

"There's no such thing as ghosts, Naruto," Sakura deadpanned.

Hinata looked at her and said, "Ghosts exist." She then looked at Naruto and said, "I see none here. Actually, I haven't seen any at all anywhere here." Tapping her chin she said, "I don't even recall seeing any spirit healers here either."

Within the darkness, a figure approached. Hinata said nothing as she watched them lumber closer.

"Two Byakugans," a male said when he reached the outskirts of the lamplight.

Long disheveled faded brown hair moved with the dead man's steps, as his robe was old, decaying, and moth-eaten. Clean cut facial hair was along his pale long face.

"I sense them."

Neji shifted into a defensive stance, along with the other shinobi as Hinata kept still and watched the undead move closer.

"There are two . . . but only one I seek," the dead man said as he stepped into the light. "Byakugan Princess."

Hinata stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I am not sure if I am the one you truly seek."

"You are the Byakugan Princess." The undead's eyes opened, revealing empty sockets. "You must stop him." It groaned as it dropped to its knees. The undead's mouth then opened, expanded, and gaped open as an orb of glowing pale lavender energy appeared within. The orb grew in size as the undead's mouth became disjointed, until the sphere released from its mouth and floated in the air. It hovered a moment, to brighten, until it became blinding.

Visions flashed through her mind. A golden sphere with the lotus flower symbol was upon a pillar as an army stood before it. The sphere brightened with light, to cast a beam of violet purple light. There were explosions, destruction, and death . . . Too much, all at once, for her to even decipher. Hinata's knees went weak, along with her arms. Her body buckled as her eyes rolled and she fell forward. It's a weapon.

"Hinata!" Naruto shouted, catching her. "What did you do to her?!"

The orb retreated back to the undead and seeped into its chest as he said, "The Tenseigan . . . has been—" The dead man's head detached and fell from his body. "Revived." The rest of his body crumpled in on itself, as it said, "It must be . . . stopped, or Otsutsuki will . . ."

"Naruto, get her out of here," Shikamaru ordered.

When he lifted her, Hinata's stomach roiled. Naruto carried her gently and quickly out of the crypt. She managed to grab his jacket to get his attention.

"It's . . . It's a weapon," Hinata intoned.

"What?" Naruto asked as he glanced at her.

"The Tenseigan. It's a weapon."

She activated her Deadeyes, stared him in his eyes, and let him see the visions she saw.