Her eyes fluttered open but she quickly shut them as the light from the sun shown through the windows, she stretched her arms up towards the ceiling before letting them fall to her sides...

Hinata's eyes widened at this thought as she quickly got up, her eyes frantically looking around for any sign of Haku but only to find the blankets thrown carelessly to the floor. She felt her heart pounding in her ears but a hopeful smile appeared on her face as she peaked over the bed thinking that mybe he had fallen off as usual but not finding him she checked the other side.

Only to find nothing as well.

She grew worried.

Had they abandoned her? Hinata shook her head at the thought but still couldn't help but think of the worst. Running all around the room of the inn they were currently staying in she was somewhat relieved to find their things still there but where were her sensei and Haku?

Rushing into the bathroom she pushed the shower curtains aside to reveal an empty bathtub, turning to leave she stopped in her tracks and stood there facing the mirror blushing...

Looking at her reflection, aside from her bed hair, lavendar eyes, and blushing face there was a small note placed on her forehead.

Brushing away her earlier embarassment she took the note off and walking out of the bathroom she sat herself on the bed and read it out loud...

"Hina went to a meeting, you and Haku eat whatever is in the fridge but when I get back I promise we'll all go out for something to eat. Both of you be good," she smiled feeling silly for even thinking they'd leave her but she wondered why the note had referred to her and Haku?

She only sighed falling back into the bed, feeling a bit lonely she lazily moved her head to the side but quickly sat up grabbing the note along with her.

Flipping it over she read the backside...

Hina-chan I'm glad you read this but I woke up and sensei was gone! I couldn't believe it when I read his note but when I looked outside he was still there so I followed him, I wanted to wake you up but you were really tired from yesterday's journey so I let you sleep in, isn't that nice of me? So I think I deserve a hug when I get back! I promise I'll be back with sensei so don't worry and also sensei probably forgot to write it down but don't go outside you might get lost

She sweatdropped at the last part...

'You say that but you went outside Haku-nee,' she sighed before sitting by the window, her eyes slowly adjusting to the blinding sun as she looked over the entire village, eagerly awaiting the return of Haku and her sensei.

'I wonder what they're doing right now...'

"You may enter."

Cold brown eyes watched intently as the strangers let themselves in, his eyes going from the tall man before they settled onto the small child. He observed the two as the older one bowed respectfully but was surprised at the lack of movement from the boy.

"Rise," at this Zabuza did as told.

"What is your name boy?" he asked turning his attention to the masked child.

No answer.

"Boy what is your name-"

"Who you are is of no importance to me but I do not take orders from the likes of you...", getting over his shock the Kazekage let out a chilling laugh from behind his desk, leaning back in his chair he grinned, 'what an amusing child. '

"Please forgive him Kazekage-sama, I'm sure he didn't mean anything he said-"

"But I did mean it sensei..."

"Haku," Zabuza gave his pupil a blank stare causing the him to shut up.

With a sigh Zabuza turned to the cloaked man known as the Kazekage once again.

"Please accept my apologies Kazekage-sama, I assure you that his actions won't go without punishment..."

Haku's eyes widened at this but kept his mouth shut as the odd man started to open his mouth and talk again, he frowned.

He had a weird feeling about him the minute they had entered the freezing, unlit room but maybe it was just his imagination?

"There's no need for punishment Momochi-san, I'm sure the boy has learned his lesson. Isn't that right, boy?"

Said boy gave the man a glare at being called boy repeatedly... He knew his name was Haku by now didn't he?

Zabuza sighed, 'Thank Kami there's only one of them here'

The Kazekage gave Haku an amused smile before looking over to the side of his desk and pulling out a thick, messy looking folder from one of the drawers. Dropping it on his desk it made a loud thud from the piles of papers wedged inside, pulling someting out from the file he slid it across the table.

"This is why I sent for you, I need you to do something for me..."

Confused as to what he meant Zabuza walked over to the desk with Haku hot on his heels and taking the paper he quickly looked it over, his brow furrowing as he did so.

"I don't think I understand..." he asked.

Haku stopped hopping up and down in an attempt to get a glance at the paper but with a sigh he looked out the window instead or at least where it should have been without the curtains blocking it...

"I wish Hina-chan were here."

"--gry"

"So hungry."

"I'm hungry," She groaned over and over again as she rolled back and forth on the bed while hugging one of the pillows.

...Grumble grumble grumble...

She threw the pillow at the head of the bed seeing as it didn't do a thing to block the cries of her tummy, she poked her stomach repeatedly. "Please stop..."

...Grrr...

She sighed giving up and rolling off the bed and onto her feet, she went to the fridge again and opened it. Feeling her mouth water in the process as if the food was staring at her but shaking her head she slammed it closed... Only to open it again and look at the food once more, it all looked so good but it wasn't free and also too expensive and she didn't want to trouble her sensei or Haku any more than she probably already was by traveling with them.

Shutting the fridge door once more she walked to the window and pressed her forehead against the window before quickly pulling it back from how hot it was. Rubbing her burning forehead she squinted her eyes from the sun's rays but then opened them fully upon seeing a small bakery really close by and probably just around the corner. How convenient, she thought happily before running to her backpack and pulling out her small coin sack, she had been saving up her share of money from all the errands Haku and her had done for some of the villagers in the small pitstops they had made on their way to Suna.

Securing the string around her wrist she made her way for the door but as she felt the cold metal of the doorknob her eyes widened slightly in realization, "I can't leave the hotel..." upon realizing this she feel on her rump defeated and still very much hungry...

Looking to the window she wondered, "What would Haku-nee do?"

-

"Wow, everything's so beautiful..." she whispered to herself as she looked at the many different shops and buzzing marketplace after getting away from the small crowd. Everything was the complete opposite of Mist and because of this she almost forgot what it was she went outside for from the excitment of it all but upon smelling newly made pastries taken right out of an oven her stomach decided to remind her loudly.

Rawr...Grumble...grumble...grrrr...

She blushed placing both hands on her stomach, the buzzing of the marketplace stopped completely as everyone grew confused and some somewhat frightened at the loud mysterious sound... Not wanting all eyes to be on her she quickly disappeared into the crowd, hoping to get to her destination without being noticed but unlike in Mist or Konoha, everyone here in Suna had light and sandy shades of hair with lightly tanned skin unlike her dark navy blue hair and pale skin, so she stuck out from everybody else...

But adjusting her mask she focused solely on getting to the bakery and stuffing herself with as many cinnamon rolls she could buy until she was satisfied. She began to smile at the idea, liking every bit of it as she licked her lips and quickened her pace.

-

"I-I'm sorry!..." she squeaked to what seemed like the hundreth person she had bumped into but with a deep breath she pressed her hands against the cool glass that displayed all sorts of delicious looking pastries but spotting the one she was looking for she quickly rushed into the store.

Tired hands laid the dough down to the side at the sound of a bell. "A customer, haven't had those in a while."

"Be there in a sec" putting her hands under cool water she washed off her hands before wiping them on a dry towel, putting a smile on she was disappointed to find no one there. The elderly woman only sighed and adjusted her glasses, "I guess it's just my mind playing with me but I might as well close up for the day then."

"Can I please have a cinnamon roll?"

Rubbing at her eyes the elderly woman wondered if it was her old age getting to her or some kind of joke by some of the kids of Suna again. She could've pondered on more about it but seeing a small pale hand wave to and fro from above the counter she could only sigh in relief, it had only been a customer afterall.

Hinata hopped up and down hopping to maybe see over the counter since she considered use of her kekkei genkai indoors was rude. But to her dismay no one would answer, giving up she slowly made her way...

"You wanted one of these?" her eyes lit up as a kind looking woman appeared from behind the counter, to who she could only nod eagerly to...

-

"Oh no..." Hinata frantically felt through her clothes trying desperately to find her coin pouch, defeated she felt her eyes water and forgetting about everything she took off her mask to wipe at her eyes.

"What's wrong?" asked the old woman who she now knew as Chi, looked at her worriedly before leaving from her spot behind the counter to comfort the heartbroken child.

"All my money...W-was in my coin pouch...A-and I lost it!" she broke out into tears her hands trying their hardest to stop them.

The old lady only looked on with a sincere smile, "Well then it's on the house."

The younger of the two eyes widened and she unknowingly tugged at the woman's dress.

Hinata only recieved a light laugh from her and a pat on the head before she went behind the counter and contined to knead some dough as the shy girl looked on curiously, Chi only gave her a smile and a wink...

"Lady Chi are you sure about this c-cause I don't feel right taking all this...", she looked down at the bag of various pastries she was trying her hardest to hold up, she had only asked for one cinnamon roll...

"Nonsense, I'll be upset if you DON'T take them"

Hinata's eyes widened at this, "Would you really be upset?"

This only made the woman laugh.

"Don't think anymore of it an' go on home, I'm sure your family is very worried about you."

Hinata smiled sadly before nodding and placing her mask back in place she quickly waved goodbye to the kind woman before heading back to the inn, "Haku-nee and Zabuza sensei are my family now."

"Right?" she had never really thought of it before but now that she was, she thought of everything they had done for her...

The clothes she was wearing were made especially for her, even with it's similarity to Haku's it was much better than the usual garb her father would tell her to wear to uphold the Hyuuga tradition. And Zabuza treated her just as he did Haku and he also trained her with patience, to her they were the closest to a family she ever had, other than her late mother.

Smiling to herself she quickened her pace, wanting even more to see who she considered the two most important people in her life.

But it wasn't as easy with all the people and the heavy bag she was carrying.

She constantly had to squirm and squeeze her way out of the buzzing crowds, she had thought that it being in the afternoon that the number of people would have died down and would be heading home like she was but it turned out to be the exact opposite...

As the shops we're about to close for the day there were even more people trying to finish up their errands before then. Making her way through several people she finally found an area completely free of people but as she got a better look around she noticed the crowd had cleared a way for someone...

'Did I do something wrong?' she thought subconsciously as she looked frantically from side to side.

"Monster, go back wherever you came from!"

"Freak!"

"Demon child, leave us be!"

"You don't belong here!"

Clutching the bag closer to her she felt her body quake and her eyes pouring with tears, the harsh words of the crowd booming in her ears. But she couldn't move as the sight of the cold strares and sneers of the villagers was etched into her mind.

Even as they began to pick up rocks and pebbles to throw, her feet still refused to move.

What had she done to deserve this?

Was it because she was different?

Did they not like her because of her blood line?

All sorts of questions continued to pop into her head, confused as to why they would say such things. But she didn't have time to think as the villagers decided then to start throwing rocks, she didn't even have time to flinch as they flew.

With her eyes shut she prepared herself for the oncoming pain but it never came...

"Excuse me."

She opened her eyes but not because of the lack of pain or the hissing of sand.

But because someone had spoken to her...

They had a quiet voice barely audible almost like her's...

But upon opening her eyes, they were met with the same sight she had seen before when she had closed them. Disappointed she couldn't help but ask herself, "Who was tha-" only to be caught off by the villagers' loud insults, only then did she remember her situation and her eyes once again started to water...

"Hey you! Kid get out of the way, you'll get hurt there!" came a voice from the side, scaring her and confusing her even more.

"A-are you talking to me?", she asked a little loudly and pointed to herself, only for them to answer back, "Yes, who else would I be referring to?!"

But she hadn't heard as she spotted a red headed boy to her right being pelleted with all sorts of things, only for a wall of sand to appear and prevent the objects from hitting him, he was unharmed, not a scratch on him thanks to the sand yet... he was crying as he continued to walk.

He had been the one who spoke to her earlier.

He was the one the villagers were shouting at, the one the villagers' anger was directed to, the one who was getting things thrown at him...

Him not her...

He was the boy the villagers had been referring to.

The monster...

The freak...

The Demon child...

He was only about her age and already so many disliked him. No they despised him, she felt her insides turn as her anger shown on her face only for it to disappear and be replaced with sad look.

"A monster", she whispered to herself.

And just when she thought her tears had finnaly stopped her eyes once again began to spill with tears...

"He must be hurting inside" she hiccuped as she tried to stop the tears.

"It hurts...", he cried to himself as he squeezed the fabric of his shawl just above where his heart was.

As the tapping of the rocks continued to hit his shield with no sign as to when they would ever stop... It was okay though.

He deserved it.

He wanted this.

If it wasn't for the sand then he would have welcomed the pain.

If only to feel some form of contact or feeling.

-

Hinata used the back of her hand to brush her tears away, only for it to come back tenfold when she felt its warmth caress her cheek once again when her eyes fell on the boy's back.

She subconsciousy fisted her hands as she willed her stubborn feet to move...

'No one should ever be treated this way...'

Clutching the bag to her she trailed behind the boy.

Stopping the barrage of rocks from coming but earning herself looks of disgust and disbelief but she didn't care...

Sorry for not updating sooner but with school and homework, I can never find the time anymore. Summer is coming up though and school ends next week for me but lol guess what? I have summer school! Well anyways with this update I hope you guys could forgive me... Ahem anyways, yay so Team Zabuza is in Suna but for what reason? Oh and who is the mysterious red headed child, could it be... Kankurou!?! Well you've gotta read to find out! Until the next chapter then, bai!