Behind The Veil

chapter Ten

Hinata stayed on his mind, a neverending circle of memories. He carved another line in the stone wall, marking the fourth week he has been here, he would have to leave soon. He pulled at his sweat soaked shirt. He was deep in Sunagakure's desert

His hair plastered to his forhead, strands dripping sweat. A sandstorm raged just outside his cave, gifting him a day of resting. Now that he was away from the village, and a day's travel away from any type of human beings he could easily train with Kurama.

Everyday he was forced to rely on Kurama keeping him from going back to the village to retrieve the girl he left behind. Everyday was relentless, he walked through life in a daze. The only time the beautiful princess wasn't on his mind was during the grueling training he took sanctuary in.

'I hope she is alive," The words echoed through is mind, there was no need to talk out loud, hasn't been for the last two months. There was nobody around him. The first month he moved daily, never staying in one place longer, constantly dodging anbu on the lookout for him.

He was thankful for their underestimation of him. But nobody knew how he trained just outside of the village for the last three years. Nobody know what Jiraiya had taught him either.

"You gave your warning to Tsunade before you left, she will be perfectly fine.", Kurama seemed aggitated at Naruto's thoughts. "Two months have come and gone, surely she has awaken. If you are so worried, send a toad."

"No, this is my responsibilty, three more weeks and i'll be done with our training. I'll go to the hidden leaf, take her with me to seek out Gaara. I'll make us a Safe home," He drank down the contents of his canteen, water sliding down his neck, pooling in the dents on his collorbone. "It's my responsibilty."

"Whatever you say boy, Just go to sleep already.", The two have strengthened their bond over the past months.

Naruto stared at the naked wall before him. Eyes boring holes where the talley marks were carved. He bundled his jacket under his head. Three more weeks. Twenty-one more days. Five hundred and four hours.

He frowned, he had too much time on his hands if he was counting down to the hour, darkness pulled at him, his body begging for sleep. Yeah, yeah. He curled his body up against the wall, listening to the sand slamming against the sides of the cave, it lulled him into a dreamless sleep.

***

"Still no sign of him?", Kiba asked as he eased himself onto the grass beside Ino and Shikamaru. Ino gave a small shake of her head.

"He is troubling." Shikamaru mumbled on a yawn, "Always evading that Anbu Tsunade sends out. I hear they lost trail of him last month."

Neji frowned as he unconciously trailed his fingers through Tenten's hair. Her head rested in his lap, her feet in Lee's. She seemingly slept without a care in the word, her body exhausted from constant training.

"Any word on Hinata?", Ino said quietly, the last two months have been weekly updates, never any good news on anything.

"No", was the only repsonse, Neji look annoyed as he mutter the singly syllable. He'd stayed by her side the entire first week in hopes of Naruto returning soon. She knew how much his heir loved the foolish boy.

The only response from her had been the muttering about the boy. Had he even cared about her? He had to of, Right? Or he wouldn't of nearly killed the Uchiha.

"Who knew Naruto would be skilled enough to even avoid encountering Anbu?", Choji said, bafflement obvious on his face. Nobody ecpected Naruto to be strong as he is.

"I hope our young friend remains as healthy as a horse!" Rock lee yelled, throwing a fisted hand in the air in glee. He stilled as Tenten rolled over, earning a glare from Neji.

Kiba gave a contented sigh, his eyes rolling down the hill they all gathered on. His eyes capturing the figure of someone approaching them. A mop of pink hair had a snarl rising up his throat. "Banshee Alert." His voice was rough.

Everyone had been angry at Sakura. Nobody should treat their teamates like that, and she even went as far as running one of them out the village. They all missed Naruto, wouldn't even near Sasuke. He hasn't even been punished for harming the Hyuga princess!

"It's Hinata!" Salura yelled out as she bent at the middle, her hands coming to her knees as she chased her breath. Tenten awoke to her yell just in time to be pulled away by Neji. His white eyes were ride as he raced to the hospital.

His heart sped as he braged into Hinata's room. The sight of her made his knees buckle, a gasp escaping his mouth. Her sunken lavendar eyes stared back at him. He hasn't visited her in weeks, but she didn't look nearly this sickly last time. She was a ghost of her old self. She'd lost weight, her hair was a tangle of waves by her side. Her eyes trailed the group.

"Naruto..." She looked again helplessly, praying she only looked over him even though she knew she could never miss that bright blonde hair, perfect skin, beautiful eyes, she could never look over Naruto.

"He's gone", Neji said bluntly, sparing no room for misunderstandings.

Tears fled down her face now, "Where did he go? Tell me. I need to go get him. Where did he go?" She sobbed as Neji awkwardly patted her hand. She tried to stand, to walk toward Sakura. To demand her to tell where he went. She fell in the process, Kiba rushed to catch her before she could so much as graze the ground. She thrashed in his arms. Her dark hair framed her small body.

Sakura wiped a tear away from her wide green orbs before fleeing the room.