I want to apologize for the multiple gaps between chapters, but the older I get, the harder it gets to continue writing, especially fanfiction. However, it is something I enjoy doing and I enjoy talking to my readers as well, so I will continue as long as possible, regardless of the time in between. Though I fear my writing style is fluctuating and becoming rusty at not constantly writing, I will do my best to give the quality you all expect. Though I can't promise to give faster updates, I can at least promise you that I will try. (Starbucks is a very relaxing place to type. I see why many writers use it now.)

I will be using Option 1 for this story in regards to Hinata's development from here on out. I hope I will be able to enter the concept into the story in a way that makes sense with the rest of the story.

Other than that, I'm posting this as an extremely short chapter just to have something posted. I promise my next chapter will make up for this one in both quality and length. So in the mean time, please enjoy the finger food that is this chapter.

Chapter 8: Second Act Scene 2 of the intangible dreams

"It appears as if I've got so much more to learn, Lady Hinata." Neji's voice rung out a bit louder than usual. The only other sound was the spring water flowing through the small clearing that the two Hyuga kin sat in. They were still within the Hyuga compound, in a small forested area set aside for meditation within nature. Neji leaned against a tree while Hinata sat with her legs to her chest on the other side of the tree. She had since calmed down, the emotions that had threatened to flood out of her being locked right back up as if they had never existed.

The older Hyuga had listened to the tale of his younger cousin with a critical eye. His views on fate had been constantly shaken that day, even before the chance meeting with Hinata. Something that happened between his own teammates had shaken Neji, yet, that was a thought for a different time. At the moment, he was still debating how far fate would allow them to bend it. He had pulled Hinata away from Hiashi on a whim. Things were constantly changing around him and he felt like he was being left behind the longer he made excuses.

Now that he knew that his previous way of thinking was wrong, he would put forth more of an effort on trying to see the brighter side of things...at least, that was his plan. He couldn't just up and deny that fate had dealt him and his family a shitty hand. However, he wouldn't let it define his future or who he was from that moment on.

"Neji-nii...do you know I wished I could die? To bring back Uncle Hizashi?" Hinata's voice was dry, having shed all the tears she had to give. Neji paused at her words and a heavy dread entered his stomach.

"No, Hinata-sama, I did not know that. You shouldn't think that like any longer either. My father made a choice to protect his family. To pity him is to bring him dishonor."

Hinata's eyes widened and she looked up at her cousin only to see him gazing towards the sky. She opened her mouth to ask how he knew the truth, but couldn't find her voice. The Hyuga heiress found herself at a loss for words and Neji chuckled as he saw the surprised look on her face. He smirked and closed his eyes, letting out a content sigh.

"I spoke with several of the side branch members who knew the truth. Though I can't betray their trust and tell you their names, they are some who are loyal to your mother and her ways."

Hinata's eyes widened even further, making Neji hold back even more laughter as the look on his younger cousins face was priceless. Neji had only recently learned all he could about his aunt, as well as her relationship with his own parents. Needless to say, Neji was ashamed that he could ever have treated Hinata the way he did when her mother had been one of the most kind people to ever grace the Hyuga clan. She was only dwarfed by the warmth Hinata held within herself.

Hinata's mother was known for treating the side branch with as much kindness and respect as she did the main branch. Many had taken after her, however, it was the Hyuga council that constantly fought her tooth and nail to keep the branches separated. Hiashi's parents, the previous Hyuga patriarch and matriarch were strict on tradition as well and had raised Hiashi to believe such. It was the main reason he had been such a bastard to his children and occasionally his wife.

However, it was also his wife that ultimately changed him. Neji had learned all of this from the few side branch members whom had been close to the previous Hyuga matriarch.

"Just know that the past is over, Hinata-sama. We must worry about the now."

Hinata calmed down and nodded at Neji's words. She leaned back against the tree again and sighed. "Neji-nii, you shouldn't have done what you did. My father will probably have you punished for disobeying him and helping me."

"I don't mean to pressure you, Hinata-sama, however I am not worried as I believe you can change your father as much as you have shown change in yourself. Indeed you have defied fate by feeling hatred, but I believe it is your duty to destroy fate by changing the entirety of the Hyuga clan with your kind heart. As sappy as that may sound, it is what I truly believe. So I shall take whatever punishment may come with hope to see the future you have in store for us all."

A silence fell between the two, the only sound being the wind whistling gently. It was only broken by the giggles of Hinata. Neji turned a curious gaze only to feel the girls arms wrap around him. Once again Neji stood in place without knowing what to do. The warmth he felt was comforting but he was still far from used to being in such a position. As such, he didn't return the gesture though part of him wanted to.

"Thank you for believing in me Neji-nii. I hope I won't disappoint you." Hinata released him when she knew he would not return the hug. One step at a time she supposed.

"No Hinata-sama. I hope to be able to stand with you from now on, to meet your expectations. I am honored you can forgive me so easily."

Hinata's eyes teared up but she held in her emotions. Of course she was happy to have her cousin back. It was the first step on a road she had always thought just a fading dream. Even the thought of dealing with her father and the council didn't seem that bad anymore.

"If you like, we could also train together sometimes Hinata-sama. I usually train alone when I am not with my team anyway." Neji called, bringing her from her short day dream.

The Hyuga princess gasped and she looked to the sky. "Oh no, I'm supposed to be meeting my team right now! We can talk later Neji-nii!"

Without waiting for a response, Hinata was already halfway to the compound gates before Neji could call for her. The older Hyuga stood with a confused look and simply sighed. With a small smirk he began to take his time getting ready to meet up with his team for the second time that day.

"I look forward to the changes that you bring, Hinata-sama."

The brief talk with Iruka hadn't lasted long, however, Naruto was actually happy that nothing seemed to indicate that the voice in his head had been speaking some form of truth in regards to Mizuki still attempting anything against Iruka. After spending some time with the man, along with Jiraiya, the trio of ninja decided to discuss what they had planned for Naruto in regards to his training. Jiraiya would be entering Mount Myoboku soon to let Ma and Pa know the situation. As Iruka had already finished preparing for the next group of students, even though classes wouldn't start for a few months, it was decided he would start training Naruto first and foremost in the few areas he could.

After their discussions, Naruto decided to head back to his teammates, knowing it would be about time for him and Kakashi to head to the hospital anyway. As strange as things continued to be, he was honestly happy at how everything was progressing for the most part. Yet, through that happiness, the lingering confusion on his visions concerning Hinata, Sakura, and Ino still plagued him. Though it was an after thought now, it was still there.

Sakura's recent visit to his home along with his recent time with Hinata had driven home how much different things were starting to be. It made him wonder if it was his fault Ino was currently in the hospital. But Jiraiya's words echoed in his mind about the domino effect. It wasn't just Naruto's actions that could change the future any longer.

Naruto made it to the training ground to find something he hadn't expected. Sakura was alone, currently halfway up the side of a tree using nothing but her feet.

'What the hell? Kakashi-sensei didn't teach us tree walking until the Wave mission...what happened while I was gone?'

Naruto dropped down into the clearing and watched silently as Sakura still hadn't took notice of him. Quietly approaching the tree she was scaling, he got a good look at her. Her long hair was being pulled by gravity, along with the back flap or her red battle dress. Naruto blushed a bit looking at her taught behind in her usual black spandex shorts. Her arms were outstretched, as if balancing herself.

"Ugh...maybe I should cut my hair..." Sakura mumbled aloud before reaching behind her and grabbing her hair from the base of her neck. She slung it over her shoulder so that it was resting on her front side as she climbed.

"You'd look hotter with it short." Naruto blurted out as a joke without thinking.

"WHA?" Just as he expected, Sakura was startled by his appearance. Her arms flailed wildly before she lost her footing and fell with a high pitched 'kyaa!'. The pinkette closed her eyes and prepared for impact, but instead felt herself fall into waiting arms. At the sound of chuckling, the pre-teen opened her eyes and took in the sight of a smirking blue eyed prankster. "Naruto?"

"In the flesh!"

'CRUNCH!' The sound of Naruto's face breaking the earth sounded throughout the clearing as Sakura stood over him with her fist clenched and smoking.

"DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT BAKA!" She shouted with a scowl before turning away with her arms crossed. Naruto sat up while rubbing the back of his head, ignoring the pulsing knot on his head.

"Heh, at least somethings haven't changed..." He chuckled. Sakura hadn't heard and after a small moment, she turned back to him with a somewhat sorry look.

"What are you doing here anyway?" She asked. Naruto cocked an eyebrow.

"I was only going to grab my shuriken and stuff remember? Which reminds me, where are Kakashi-sensei and duck butt?" Naruto still spoke of Sasuke with disdain, knowing the things he had done in the future. Though he thought he wanted to save Sasuke, the more and more he learned of the future made him want to hurt him more than anything.

"Don't talk about Sasuke like that, we're supposed to be a team." Sakura scolded Naruto. The blonde's jaw dropped at Sakura not using 'Sasuke-kun' as well as sticking up for him as a teammate and not as a fangirl. "Anyway, Kakashi-sensei said he needed to talk to Sasuke about something extremely important. He said it was for his ears only."

"So they just left you alone?" Naruto asked, once again feeling that somethings weren't different. Kakashi was still Kakashi at the end of the day.

"Kakashi-sensei told me to work on increasing my chakra reserves and taught me how to tree walk before he left. I've been doing this for about thirty minutes now! I got tired after ten minutes and took a ten minute break before you got here!" Sakura beamed happily at her accomplishments. It wasn't that she had done something she couldn't do before. It was because she did something she wouldn't do before. At any other time she would have given up after succeeding one time or after getting tired once. She pushed herself to keep going past her limits, and the feeling of accomplishing something like that made her feel amazing.

Naruto smiled at Sakura's excitement for training. It was an excitement she usually only showed when talking to or about Sasuke. "That's really cool Sakura-chan! You're going to be an amazing kunoichi someday!"

The pinkette blushed and seemed to smile even brighter at the praise. "Thank you, Naruto."

Sakura let out a satisfied sigh and sat down at the base of the tree she was climbing. "Hey, would you like me to teach you how to climb trees?" She offered.

"...Actually, I already know how Sakura-chan." Naruto called sheepishly. Sakura looked surprised and then skeptical.

"How and when?"

"Uh...easily and years ago..."

Sakura's glare told him she wanted him to explain. Naruto sighed himself and sat down next to the younger girl, once again drawing a small blush from her.

"I taught myself. A lot of the skills I have now came from pulling pranks. It's not just trees, I can walk on water too. I had to learn if I wanted to get away from the people trying to catch me."

"I never knew you could tree climb nor walk on water. How come you didn't do it in the academy?"

"No one ever asked."

Sakura looked down at his words. Even if Naruto had shown what he could do back then, she doubted she would have paid enough attention to him to care anyway. There was so much she didn't know about him, she realized, and that made her stomach drop. The fact that she was starting to develop a crush on him made her realize how far behind she really was. Only because she was crushing on Sasuke without knowing anything about him either. She was starting to wonder how superficial her emotions really were.

Her cheeks tinted when she remembered spending the previous night with him. Though she wanted to, she forced herself not to bring it up. If everything she was starting to feel was real, meaning her crush on Naruto as well as her guilt for how she usually treated him, then she needed to get to know the real him. There was something different about him, ever since the Mizuki event. However, Sakura had a hunch that he was showing a side he had been hiding since even before then.

"Hey Naruto...why do you like ramen so much?" She decided to start with a simple question, one that she honestly wanted to know the answer to, but still simple.

Naruto cocked an eyebrow at Sakura. "Why wouldn't I like ramen?" He asked incredulously.

Sakura glared at him but her pout just made him chuckle. "I'm being serious. You eat it all the time. It can't be healthy."

Naruto shrugged. "It's not like I love it...well, okay I do love it. But it's more so because of Teuchi and Ayame, the owners of Ichiraku. They've been looking out for me since I was about 5 years old. I stayed with them for about a year before the Hokage got me my own apartment. When Teuchi was first starting his business, we all had to eat nothing but ramen for a while since he wasn't making much money. I kind of just got hooked on it." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, not liking the way the conversation was going. It wasn't a sad memory, actually being one of his happier times in life, but it also made him realize it was his fault Teuchi and Ayame had been ridiculed for an entire year for helping him.

"Why were you staying with the Ichiraku's? If you're an orphan, shouldn't you have been at an orphanage?"

The jinchuriki flinched at the question. Sakura noticed and watched his face harden even more. His smile was gone and his eyes were starting to dim with sadness. "That's...not something I want to talk about right now."

The confidence the bubble gum haired kunoichi had built suddenly faded. However, she was one hundred percent certain now that there was so much she didn't know about the boy next to her. There was such a deep reason for him to simply like ramen...how much more could there be to him?

'I should do the same with Sasuke...' She thought as silence fell between them. Her mind drifted from her two teammates immediately, back onto her short spar with Sasuke and her need to improve as a kunoichi. 'I should keep working on myself first and foremost though...'

Before the silence could become awkward, Sakura stood to her feet and dusted herself off before stretching, drawing her blonde teammates attention. "Hey Naruto, can you help me with something?"

"Uh...sure, what is it?" Naruto asked, standing as well. Sakura turned to him with a sad smile and held out her hand.

"Give me a kunai, please."

Naruto rose an eyebrow in confusion but complied. Sakura took the weapon and turned her back to Naruto. She gripped her hair at the base of her neck again. "Hold my hair right here, Naruto."

The jinchuriki finally understood what Sakura was doing. Nodding, though she wouldn't see it, he held her hair tightly where she asked. Sakura shivered as Naruto's fingers grazed the back of her neck and her own hand. "Okay."

Sakura rose her opposite hand and clasped it over Naruto's own, holding it firmly in place on her hair. With the hand holding the kunai, she brought it up swiftly, severing her long hair. Almost as if slow motion, Sakura turned to face Naruto while still holding his hand clenched around the loose hair in his fist. Naruto blushed at the Sakura that he had come to love as they grew older. The girl whom had claimed to love him as well.

"This is the beginning of a new me, Naruto. I hope we can get along from now on." She said she released his fist, giving him the signal to let go as well. Naruto opened his fist and the many threads of Sakura's pink locks began to blow away in the wind, away from the leaf village.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Haruno Sakura. I hope we can get along as well." Naruto bowed to her, making her blush again. With a confident smile she pumped her fist.

"Yeah! Now it's time to get back to work! I'm gonna be the best kunoichi the leaf's ever seen, believe it!" She shouted. Naruto paled.

"As long as you never say that again."

Inoichi held his head in frustration as he made his way towards the office of the Hokage. One of the few ninja who actually used the front door, the attendant at the desk was startled from her nap at the approach of a shinobi. Inoichi glared at the middle aged woman whom had the grace to blush sheepishly while wiping the drool from her mouth.

"Uh...w-what can I do for you today Yamanaka-sama?" She asked while neatly stacking random papers, as if she had been busy.

"I need to speak with Hokage-sama. It's urgent."

"Y-yes, right away!" The attendant pushed a button on the desk and spoke into a small microphone. "Lord Hokage, Yamanaka Inoichi-sama is here to see you."

A short paused followed before static sounded. "Send him in."

The attendant nodded Inoichi in. The elder Yamanaka made his way up the stairs and entered the Hokage's office without knocking. The Hokage stood by his window, looking out over the village with one hand behind his back and pipe in his other.

"What can I do for you Yamanaka-san?" He asked without facing the blonde man. Inoichi could tell he had caught the Hokage at a bad time. He was in deep thought, and judging by his lack of attention to Inoichi, it was not about his daughter.

"Sir, I was stopping by to inquire if you had heard from Ino at all today." Inoichi already knew the answer as the Hokage faced him with a raised eyebrow.

"Your daughter? Unfortunately I can't say I have. Is everything alright?" Hiruzen returned to his desk and gave the Yamanaka patriarch his full attention.

Inoichi spent a few minutes telling the Hokage of Ino's incident at their shop as well as his orders for her to seek out the Hokage. Seeing as that was far over an hour ago, Inoichi knew she should have contacted him by some point. Since she hadn't, Inoichi was far more worried about his daughters well being now that her subconscious was missing all together.

"Inoichi-san, what can you tell me about Ino's state and abilities?" Hiruzen's chin rested on his laced fingers.

"Not much is known about her state, Hokage-sama, as no one in my clan's history has every been able to reproduce the technique willingly. All I know is that she should still be able to enter a persons mind and communicate with them directly."

The third began to ponder what Inoichi was saying. If Ino had been on her way to his office some time ago she could have run into any of them there. But that would not explain why she hadn't contacted him as she was told. Had she just not come to the office to begin with? According to Inoichi, she was ordered to do so and would not dare disobey him. This was a very peculiar situation, one in which the Hokage honestly did not know how to deal with. They were dealing with a clan technique of the Yamanaka, one in which even they had no idea how to utilize.

"I will keep an ear out for information on your daughters spirit, Inoichi-san. In the mean time, please inform her team of what has transpired."

Inoichi looked down. He knew Shikamaru and Chouji were going to take it hard. Ino was like a sister to them. Hell, even Shikaku and Chouza would be worried. He had no doubt Yoshino would be ready to strangle him for letting her god daughter get hurt. Thinking of it all, he sighed. Ino was always troublesome, but this was a new level of trouble. By the end of it all, he hoped she would learn something and come out better because of it.

"By the way, Inoichi-san. Before the incident, had your daughter mention anything about Naruto?" The hokage asked. Inoichi frowned and furrowed his brow.

"No, why do you ask Hokage-sama?"

"Just curious of our two loudest blonde genin. They would make an odd pair, wouldn't you agree?"

Inoichi paled at the thought of Ino and Naruto becoming anything outside of associates. They would have lungs and voices to match that of a Haruno. "I...dread the combination." Inoichi called truthfully. Hiruzen smirked.

"As would the rest of the village. Good luck with your search, Inoichi-san."

"Thank you Lord Hokage." Inoichi bowed before exiting the office.

Ino knew her heart would be thumping in her chest if she had one as a spirit. She was still being held silent by Kushina as she looked outside upon another Yamanka intruder into Naruto's mind. The other Yamanaka looked to be an ANBU, Ino took note of, but something was off about him. For one, why would the ANBU be after Naruto? And what was this Root that Kushina spoke of.

"So it is too late. The nine tailed fox has already escaped it's cell..." The root member spoke silently and calmly, however, even Ino could sense a small bit of fear in his voice. "I have to report this to Lord Danzo immediately..."

'Danzo?' Ino thought, however, it echoed around. Kushina cursed as she remembered Ino couldn't even think silently. Ino immediately attempted to not do anything at all but it was too late. The Yamanka ANBU member was flaring through hand signs while looking towards the house.

"RASENGAN!" Just before the root member could finish his jutsu, a yellow flash appeared behind him and in a flash of blue light, incapacitated him with a rasengan to the back. The root member was sent barreling forward and smashing through the door of the house.

The house puffed into smoke as Kushina lost focus on maintaining its shape. She immediately wrapped up the root member up in her red chains before delivering a powerful punch to his face, shattering the mask he wore, be it mental or not. Seeing the person incapacitated, Ino finally spoke up.

"What's going on here? Who is that?" She asked. "You said he was a Yamanaka, but I don't think I've ever seen him before."

The man had dark orange, almost brown, auburn hair. His yellow eyes were darting around at the faces around him, wide in shock.

"You're Fu! Fu Yamanka!" Kushina called. The man's eyes widened even more, however, in the next second, he steeled his face. His gaze fell upon the face of the fourth.

"Who is Fu Yamanka?" Ino asked, annoyed that she still didn't have an answer. Minato stepped forward and held the captured Yamanka's gaze.

"He was just a child last we saw him. A very gifted young man of the Yamanka clan. But you were recruited into Root by Danzo a little before I died, right?"

Being part of Root, the Yamanaka had learned to forgo emotions. Being one of the best as well meant he could show absolutely no give under pressure. However, standing before him was the thought to be long deceased Minato Namikaze, the fourth Hokage, along with the Fiery Habanero Kushina and lastly the darkest presence he had ever felt in the Kyubi. Danzo himself could not put fear into the Yamanka as these three combined presences could. However, even with the sweat falling from his brow, Fu kept his neutral gaze. His mouth was dry from the fear and he couldn't put a rational thought together, but he was not going to show his fear to the people in front of him.

"What is he doing inside Naruto-kun?" Ino asked as she stood alongside the Kyubi. Fu's gaze found the younger Yamanka and she flinched back, slightly hiding behind Kurama's leg.

"The Yamanka heiress?" He wondered aloud. His attention was drawn back towards the real threat of Minato and Kushina as he grunted in pain from the red headed woman tightening her chains around him.

"Pay attention, brat! What are you doing in here? What does Danzo want with Naruto?" She called out menacingly. Fu's fear once again returned, yet it was accompanied by confusion as to how any of this was possible.

"He's not going to talk." Minato calmly stated. "He's been trained into a puppet well. However..."

Minato turned to Ino. "I'll take a wild guess and say you have more control of your abilities in your state than he does. Ino, if you will, please inquire as to what this scum is doing inside of my son." Minato's tone left no room for argument. Ino was slightly confused on what he wanted her to do but began to step forward anyway.

Fu tensed in his bindings and began to sweat even more. He could feel Ino and knew that she wasn't simply using a shintenshin jutsu. She was physically, or at least, spiritually, directly inside of Naruto, whereas Fu was just a conscious. He was still connected to his own body but Kushina's chains were preventing him from leaving. Ino could easily use the connection he had with his own body to enter it through his conscious.

Unfortunately for Fu, Ino could hear everything he was thinking. She smiled deviously, and for the first time, Fu showed fear at someone far weaker than him.

"Looks like I can do something for you Naruto..." Ino whispered as she approached Fu. Standing directly before him, Ino reached down and placed her hand on the intruders head. In a flash of light, Ino was gone.

A/N- Like I said, a short chapter. I do apologize for the drop in quality and length, but I've hit a wall when it comes to writing. I haven't been enjoying it as much as I usually do but I'm finding I just need a change of pace and atmosphere.

Also something that I will be doing are Author Confessions. Just so you all can get a better grasp of who I am and how I write, or just to generally show that I'm not some pompous author who thinks everything I write is gold and you all can kick rocks.

My first confession for now is the fact that I did not know who Fu Yamanka was until someone mentioned the name in a review. I honestly had to go do research on who this person was and slapped my forehead on missing it. I was going to use a random Yamanaka as the Root ninja, but this works out far better, so thank you! It also gives a little more story for Ino with Torune and the fact that she knows of Danzo having a hand within the Yamanaka now.

Other than that, I hope I can get the next chapter up at least within a months time with the length and quality you all have come to expect from me. However, I still can't make any promises. I hope you enjoyed and keep on reading.