Friday, January 6, 2006

Lost and Found? chapter 1:Losing Hinata
It was a beautiful summer day in Konoha. The birds were all flying, without a care in the world. The flowers were blossoming vastly with no sudden ending. ( Ah, cut the crap! Just get on with the story. Oh wait! I'm the author! )And the ninjas were all fighting in the leaf village's east forest, playing tag.

"Hey! That's no fair, Neji-kun! You used Byakugan on us!" yelled Tenten, who had red marks on her right forearm, her forehead, and her outer thigh. ( If you think about it, Neji does hit a little too hard, even in games )

"Well, uh, excuse me, Miss Sensitive Skin!" replied Neji sarcasticly, having also red slap marks on his cheek, his back, and his ambition.

"Neji-nii-chan! C-couldn't y-you b-b-be a little n-nicer to T-tenten-chan?" asked Hinata. Sakura and Ino nodded dumbly.

"Fine!" Both stared at each other, and looked away furiously, Neji screaming in his head. Why do I always get so soft around her?

"Hinata-chan! Thanks for stopping the ever-so-selfish-and-aroggant-even-more-of-a-bastard-who-I-hate-and-despise-so-much Neji!" Smirked Naruto, who recieved death glares from Neji and giggles from Tenten.

Hinata, being very proud of herself, walked toward and leaned on a tree. Sakura and Ino followed afterwards for a little conversation.

"So, Hinata-chan. How is it between you and Naruto?" Sakura questioned boldly.

"I-I don't r-r-really k-know, S-sakura-chan," she replied gently, afraid of being wrong,"I-I don't k-know if I-I s-should f-f-find a-another c-crush. I r-really like N-naruto-kun, b-but it s-seems l-like e-every d-day h-he drifts t-t-toward other w-women. ( The gang's older now, so I call Hinata a woman and Naruto a man, got it Punk? )

"Well, if ya need any help with finding other men, call me, kay?" winked Ino,"Sakura and I will find perfect matches. One with the exact personality! Well, ja ne!" Even though Sakura and Ino were sworn enemies, they were the best of friends with love-matching.

Hinata's head slowly fell as she watched her only friends walk away, leaving her in deep thought about Ino's offer. Maybe it was time to let go of Naruto and go on to someone else. Kiba, for example, he always loved her for, well, her! She was about to till...

"Hinata-chan!" she looked up to see no one near her. So she ignored it.

Ten minutes later,"Hinata-chan!" she found herself standing up, and pacing around. She thought nobody was looking so she snuck out of the scene and deeper into the forest. But someone was watching...

(Naruto POV)-----------------------

Neji has just stopped chasing me, thankfully. I look around for Sakura, who is talking with Sasuke as usual, and instead see Hinata head towards the forest. Is she crazy? Even though she's a chunin leveled ninja, she still needs somebody to look after her. That somebody is none other than, me!

"Hey Dobe! Where do you think your going?" shouted Sasuke-bastard, completely ignoring Sakura's boring speeches.

"I'm taking a walk, Sasuke-bastard! See you later!" I yell back, running to catch up with Hinata-chan.

Before I leave, I catch a glimpse of everyone else gathering in the middle of the grounds. They'd better not leave me out of anything! And I mean it!

(Normal POV)-----------------------

"Hey Dobe! Where do you think your going?" shouted Sasuke-bastard, completely ignoring Sakura's boring speeches.

"I'm taking a walk, Sasuke-bastard! See you later!" he yells back, running to catch up with Hinata-chan.

After he leaves, the ninjas group together. "Do you think those two will need some help falling in love?" asked Shino. He stared at the direction the soon-to-be couple went towards, as they all did. "No duh? Hinata is the only one who cheered for Naruto, and vice-verca. At least not counting Neji and Sakura, I guess." laughed Ino.

"Well then, why don't we help them with a few challenges of their own?" grinned Gaara evilly. ( yes, Gaara's in here, too! )

"Yes, let's!" cheered Shino and Shikamaru, both chuckling at each other.

"Sasuke, will you do the honor of setting the obstacles?" smirked Kiba. He replied,"No duh, dumbass. Anything that involves Naruto's ass getting kicked, count me in anytime. As long as it doesn't included bikinis and wine, I'm good." He heard the girls wine at his remark. The guys just smirked. Along with him.

(Somewhere in the forest...)-----------------------

Hinata was jumping from tree to tree in search for traces of the voice. She sensed someone or something following her, and slowly grabbed a kunai from her pouch. The next sound, was gonna die...until suddenly...

"Hinata!" She turned around and just threw recklessly at the source. Not knowing it was her crush.

Naruto caught the kunai just in time. ( he's a jounin by the way ) His fingers grasped the object within inches before hitting his chest. He gazed at Hinata in disbelief. Did she hate him or something? He just had to ask.

"Hinata." His voice was for once in his life, a serious tone, which sent shivers down her spine,"Why did you attack me?"

"I-I heard a v-voice b-back in t-the camp. I-I thought I c-could f-follow i-it h-here." her words were strangely disappearing.

"Hai! It's okay!" His face returning to its regular sunny boy grin. Hinata sighed in relief. Phew! I thought he was mad at me!

She nodded, as she quickly turned and continued on, to her quest. He just stared as her back slowly grew smaller. Deciding to head back, he followed his trail, till a ear-piercing scream echoed to his ears.

-----------------------

Hinata! He ran ahead of the others and came back to the spot. ( he really needs to exercise more ) After coming through multiple shrubs and thorns, his knees were bleeding from cuts. But he paid no mind to them. His mind was focused on the Hyuuga heiress.

He kept walking, no longer having the energy to run, and soon spotted the blood spills from Hinata. Fresh blood. She wasn't that far now. But what attacked her? Hinata-chan! Please be safe!

Even though he never really admitted it, Naruto had a liking to Hinata. Right now, he wanted to slay whoever or whatever was attempting to attack her. I mean, she was his only supporter during the battle with Neji, even though he was her cousin, and all.

While in his reverie, another scream came from Hinata. Naruto wouldn't loose her this time. He suddenly recovered his energy and ran towards her. Once he was out into the clearing, there was Hinata, unconscious, bleeding, and about to be eaten by a wolf pack.

"Let Hinata go!" Naruto commanded, getting into a fighting stance, ready for anything. The wolves looked like demons, with hatred and aggression staining their ruby eyes. Each wolf had a kanji mark on its forehead. Most of them were death and anger. They just ignored Naruto and went on to Hinata.

"Tch, alright, but don't say I didn't warn you. Bunshin no Justsu!" Twenty clones appeared and blended with the background.

Two clones per wolf. The leader was for the original Naruto. "How dare you attack Hinata-chan!" He shifted his eyes toward the girl, who looked helpless.

The leader spoke irritatingly,"We can't help attacking the smaller kind. We need food and she just happen to be on our 'Today's Menu'. I'm Rae Malein, leader of the dark wolves." She spoke with pride and aggitation,"If you want the girl, then we'll make a deal."

Naruto glanced at Hinata, and thought about this. What was she about to say? Was it worth it? Hinata, the love of his life was going to die either way if he did something. But he was willing to try.

"What's the deal?"

Malein smirked at his question. Giving him a quick answer,"You have to give me a gift." She saw his face turn into worry."You have to give me a single kiss, to keep this girl." She closed her eyes waiting for him. He placed a quick kiss on her lips.

"N-naruto-k-kun," Hinata whimpered, feeling betrayed. The shy girl had awoken at the wrong time. She had seen her forever crush kiss another woman. "H-Hinata." He was nowhere near confident enough to explain what had happened.

She turned and ran away from the clearing. He didn't make an attempt to move. He felt ashamed of his actions. He glared at Malein, who also looked scared. "Look what you've done!"

"This will help," she pulled out a bottle with pink fluid inside it. A strange light pink aura surrounding it,"This potion will make her fall in love with you. But be careful how you give it to her, the effects depend on how you give it to her."

She handed him the potion, and disappeared through a cloud of smoke. Naruto just stared at the small glass, wondering if Hinata would ever forgive him. Hinata-chan. I'm sorr-

-----------------------

"Naruto!" Everyone was looking for him. In the rush to save Hinata, the sky had already turned dark. He sluggishly walked to the group.

"Naruto! Where's Hinata-sama? She was gone for a while." said Kiba nervously. He replied sheepishly,"Yea, I saw her. She was heading home," They all saw his disappointment over something, but didn't ask about it.

They went their seperate ways, and headed home. Naruto instead, heading towards Hinata's apartment. ( she lives in an apartment now. Live with it! ) He knocked on her door, only to come face-to-face with Neji instead.

"Naruto? What are you doing here?" Neji was kind of in a hurry. He kept glaring at Naruto.

"I wanted to apologize to Hinata about something in the forest. Why are you here?" Neji's eyes started to tear.

"She's not here. I can't find her anywhere. I called everyone to help me, but no one knows where she's been."

"S-She's missing?" Naruto tried to sound pretty surprised. Hinata, I didn't think you'd go this far.

"She left a letter in her room, and it says she saw something in the forest that made her leave. What the hell did you do to her?"

"Where's the letter?" Neji handed him, well actually, more like threw to him, the letter.

-----------------------

It read:

12/22/05

Dear whoever is concerned,

My absence is nothing to be afraid of. I've only gone to live somewhere else and will not come back soon. I am hoping to become stronger within my years of training, and become more confident with my actions. From what I've come to see, a certain person showed me something very unforgivable in the forest yesterday.

If he should try and find me, he will have no such luck. I've hidden my awareness carefully. Not even Sasuke-kun could detect it. Hanabi can have my title until I return, and Neji can criticize my home as much as he wants. But Naruto must stay away from me as much as possible when I return.

When you read this letter, it will already be in my room. However I have taken a few of my belongings with me. My most precious things. Most of them at least. My disappearing act will not trouble anyone I hope. My movements can go on to years. So please do no burden yourselves with my findings.

Naruto, please keep this letter with Neji and Hiashi-sama. I will be back soon, I hope. Please stay safe.

Hinata

-----------------------

Naruto dropped the letter right on her porch. He couldn't bear what it said. She left without warning. She ran away from him. Out of everyone to hate him, and run away, it had to be her. Hinata Hyuuga.

Naruto ran to his apartment and straight to his room. He grabbed two bags, without Hinata-chan by his side, he had to leave for personal reasons. He was going to train somewhere isolated and become stronger like Hinata. That way he could protect her if she ever forgave him. ( most likely yes )

He grabbed five pairs of clothes, a toothbrush, toothpaste, an extra pair of shoes, a towel, one tent, $600,000 in his wallet, a couple of kunais, a medium-sized sword, one shuriken, and one ticket to Zohar, the land on the other side of Konoha.

So here was Naruto, a broken-hearted man with every intention of finding Hinata on a one way boat. But what he didn't know was that he was near her more than he knew. But he didn't find that out until later. Naruto closed his eyes, he smelled a familiar auroma. Vanilla and Jasmine. Hinata's scent was everywhere. Had she been here before? He looked around, but didn't see her.

Suddenly, a gust of wind made larger waves and rocked the boat a bit. A woman in front of Naruto lost her baseball hat to the wind. He looked at the woman with curious eyes. Once he saw her face, his eyes widened. There was Hinata in her training outfit, sailing away from Konoha.

"Hinata!" She heard her name, and quickly turned towards the source. "N-naruto-kun?"

...tbc...