A DARK MEMORY

She accepts.

And how could she not. She was Hyuga heiress and Lady Hokage. All her life she had been told to follow rules and be mindful of her position.

The request was this: an escort for the Daimyo and his son from Konoha to one of his private estate located at 2 days journey. Simple enough. But why was Naruto being so worried over such a trivial issue was beyond her. It wasn't her first time going on an escort. First after her wedding, yes; first after being pregnant, yes; but not first time in her life. She will be just fine.

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Before leaving, Naruto pressed a small black rectangular box in her hands. It fits right into her hand.

"Naru chan, what…?" She looked at him questioningly. He smiled down at her.

"It's a 'presence box'."

"A what not?"

"A 'presence box'. See this button here, press it." Hinata looked at the box. There was a small black button on the side of it. She pressed it. Nothing happened.

"Nothing happened." She looked at Naruto, who smiled.

"Of course, you won't hear anything. See this device behind my ear. These two are connected." Sure enough, there was a small, black device behind his ear.

"So how does this work?" She squeezed the button and talked into it.

"No, Hina. A Presence box. It reminds me of your presence. See when you press this button the device behind my ear emits a small beep. You won't hear it, it's that quiet. Only the one wearing it can hear it. So, keep on pressing the button and I'll know you are fine. If anything bad happens…"

"God Forbid, Naruto chan! It's my first mission after ages." She pouted, looking into his eyes.

"I know, I know. Still one can never be too careful, eh? If the device stops beeping I'll come for you. You have that kunai I gave you? The one with the engraving in it?" Hinata nods her head and show him the kunai.

"Good. Keep it with you all the time. The minute it stop beeping, I'll come to you, ok?" Hinata nods her head again. Then she rolls her eyes as if thinking something.

"Hmmm, and what about the nights?" Naruto's eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Well… if you want I can always come for…" He raised his eyebrow. Hinata giggled and swatted him playfully in the arm. Then she pouted.

"I'm going to miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you too, honey." Naruto leaned in for a kiss.

"You know what? I don't want to go. Call off the mission." Naruto froze in midair. What! What! WHAT?! He stared at Hinata.

"Are you serious, sweetheart?" Of course, she came before everything in his life. But if he calls off the mission at the last minute… What will the Damiyo think? And the council, they are going to kill him! But Hinata was more important. She was his everything. He gulped.

"Oh hehehe." Seeing his face, Hinata started to giggle. Poor Hokage Hubby. In a tight spot. Naruto looked at her, puzzled.

"What was that? I mean, of course, I can arrange someone else if…"

"Kidding. I was only kidding. It was a joke. Wonder from where it came from? Of course, I have thoroughly thought about it before accepting. And…" she stepped back and bowed to him. "I will not let you down." She looked at him with tears in her eyes. Naruto exhaled deeply. So these were the mood swings part. Oops he better be prepared. One minute she was smiling, the other she had tears? Naruto shuddered. Suddenly, the clocks chimed nine. Time to leave. Naruto pulled Hinata in an embrace, kissed her and told her to be careful. Hinata reminded him all the clean things he wanted was in the dresser, and cooked food for two days in the fridge which she had prepared for him. That was why he loved her so much. She always thought of him.

The carriage carrying the Damiyo and his son rolled out the gates, followed by their servants on their horses. Then Hinata and her anbu partner. (Of course Naruto won't let her go alone. She needs to have a helper with her.) He watched them go. Then he climbed on the gate, and watched until they were out of sight. The guards at the gate watched him with sympathy. Poor Hokage, he's going to be so lonely.

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Hinata was good on her word. The beeps were steady. Sometimes they came in a steady flow, reminding Naruto of .her steady breath when she sleeps. Sometimes they came in furiously; reminding Naruto of their love making. Sometimes it reminds him of soft touch; like when she lightly touches his cheeks counting his fox whiskers. One, two, three. One, two, three. Or when she laughed, or when she called him 'Darling'. But every beep tells him the same thing:

His Hinata was safe.

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The beeps have stopped.

They had stopped the next evening. Naruto had decided to stay late that night so he can finish all the paperwork piling up. He doesn't want to go to an empty house.

And he was worried about Hinata.

What could be occupying her so she couldn't press the button? Didn't she know how worried he is? Hinata was never careless.

Something was wrong.

Naruto got up and rushed towards the hospital. He knew he would find Sakura there. He needed to talk to her right now.

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Hinata opened her eyes, and blinked a few times. Her head felt sore and her arms hurt. She looked around her and tried to move. She looked down at her dangling feet.

Dangling…?

She was chained to the wall. No wonder her arms hurt so much. She shook her head and tried to remember how she got there.

All was going smoothly. Hinata has asked her Anbu partner to move in front of the caravan, while she was in the back. She was humming a tune of her favorite song and was trying to press the button with the tune. Hopefully, Naruto will caught the tune, she mused. Suddenly, a huge blast shook the earth. They were ambushed. Hinata heard a cry and then everything went black.

And now she was here.

A voice drew her attention towards the far end of the room. Hinata watched with horror, as a Sound Ninja beat her partner mercilessly. His wails cut through her eyes and she cried as she watched them, unable to do anything. Soon the poor man has fainted. Then, the ninja turned his attention towards her. He walked towards her slowly, shaking the whip he held in his hand. Hinata knew he would not be merciful. She had to act fast. As soon as the man was within her reach, she activated her byakugan, pulled her legs up, mustered all of her chakra in her feet and kicked him squarely on his chest. With an uff he soared backwards and hit his head on the floor. Nothing happened for a while, and then the man sat up and shook his head. He glared towards Hinata with a "WHY YOU...!", then the realization sat in. He got up on his feet and walked towards her, his mouth hanging open.

"Oh shit! Hahahaha! I don't believe my luck! It's you, isn't it? The Hyuga Princess! The one who married that brat Hokage. Hahahaha! Kami can be so kind sometimes!" He was beside himself. Suddenly, her Anbu partner got up and limped towards them. The Sound Ninja turned towards him and there was a flash. Moments later, the Anbu's dead body hit the ground, a kunai sticking from his head. Her captor straightened up, smiling. Then he focused his attention towards her.

"Damn! We are going to have a lot of fun! Let's see what that brat sees in you, shall we?" He approached her.

"Shut Up! Don't call Naruto that, you… you prick!" Hinata spat, all the time trying to loosen her binds. He stops a few steps away from her.

"Ooh, mad are we? Now I can see what so special about you. You are even prettier when angry. Let's see where this blush spread to." He looked pointingly at her breasts.

"Don't you dare, you creep, don't you Dare! I will rip you apart." Her voice was trembling.

"Oh honey, I'll love to see you try!" He, then, put his hand on the expose skin of her arm and ran his hand up and down. Hinata shivered. Slowly, his hand inched towards the expose skin of her stomach. He rubbed the smooth skin of her stomach, and then he punched her hard. Hinata experienced a searing pain, and then it all went black.

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Please god, let her be safe. Please I beg of you. Wait for me Hinata! I'm coming!

He prayed while following her faint chakra signature. Naruto has teleported with Sakura by his Flying Thunder God Technique. He picked up the kunai and looked at the damage in front of them.

They need to find Hinata, fast.

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"RASENGAN!"

With his rasengan Naruto blow apart the wall. Bits of debris flew everywhere. Naruto rushed in, closely followed by Sakura. The scene before his eyes makes him tremble with anger. Hinata, his beloved Hinata, was shackled to the wall, both arms pinned upwards. Her dress was ripped, exposing white skin raptured from places. She was not moving at all. A man was standing in front of her, with a whip in his hand. He was sweating profoundly, as if he was doing a vigorous exercise, a line of blood tickling from his forehead. It doesn't take long for Naruto to see what had happened. But he couldn't move. He stood there, taking the scene in front of him. He was shocked.

"Naruto, what…?" Sakura leapt behind him but stood still when she took in what has happened. She sensed that Naruto was too stunned to move, but they had taken the enemy with surprise too. It was an opportunity she can't miss.

"SHANARO!" she screamed, rushing forward and punched the wall on which Hinata was shackled. Her punch caused the wall to crack, causing the shackles to come loose. She rounded off, kicked the stunned Sound ninja on his stomach, causing him to fly all across the room and hit a wall opposite, and then caught Hinata before she hit the floor. Sakura's cry caused Naruto to come to his senses. He glanced at the ninja, who was still leaning against the wall and ran towards Hinata. Sakura had carefully placed her on the floor and was checking her vitals.

"She is unconscious." She looked up at Naruto. "Naruto we have to get her to hospital. It's just cuts and bruises, Hinata can handle it. I hope her…" Her voice trailed off; when she saw that Hinata was bleeding badly. She puts her hand on Hinata's stomach and gasped. Her worst fears were confirmed. Naruto was looking at her, his heart beating fast. Kami, please no.

"I'm so sorry, Naruto." Sakura said in a quiet voice, tears brimming in her eyes. "So sorry…I…It's… I'm sorry".

"No…" Naruto whispered, cradling Hinata's head in his lap. There were tears in his eyes. "No, it's a mistake. You're mistaken. Hinata, oh Hinata! I'm so sorry, so sorry." He started to sob.

"Naruto…" Sakura rubbed his back. "Please be strong. You have to be strong. For Hinata's sake, please…" She was crying. This shouldn't happen to anybody, especially Naruto. He deserves so much more.

"Why… oh why is this happening to me? Sakura chan what did I do to deserve this? Oh Hinata!" He sobbed, holding Hinata's limp body closer. Just then they heard a groan from behind him. The Sound Ninja was waking up. Sakura, sensing the kyubi chakra, looked at Naruto with fears in her eyes. She puts her hand on his shoulder.

"Naruto, please, control yourself." But Naruto only snarled at her. He placed Hinata gently on the ground and stood up.

He could only see red.

He snapped. Just like he snapped when Pein attacked Hinata, and Naruto thought she died. He flew towards the fallen ninja and grabbed his neck. Then he threw him forcefully on the ground and started pounding the ninja. Every hit which connects made him hit more.

"Naruto kun! Naruto! Stop! Please!" He could hear somebody calling him. He turned to look, and there was Hinata, crawling forward, trying to reach him. Sakura was also looking at him, with worry and fear, holding her. Hinata reached for him, with tears in her eyes.

"It's not you! Please, come back… please!" With this, she collapsed. Naruto looked at his hands, they were covered with blood. With another glance at the dead ninja, he rushed towards Hinata.

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They recovered the Damiyo and his son, locked in a small cell in the upper level of the building, shaken but not hurt. Apparently, they were to be exchanged for the ransom. A team of Anbu cops were called for their escort to the Konoha village, where they will be residing until they recovered from the shock. They also found the looted jewels and money, which was delivered to the Damiyo. Everyone was safe.

Naruto was the only one who lost the most.

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Sakura and Naruto rushed through the main entrance of the hospital. Naruto was carrying Hinata in his arms. The hospital had prepared for her emergency procedure. Soon they all, minus Naruto, disappeared into the surgical room. Moments later, Kiba and Shino joined him both too shocked to say anything much. But their presence made Naruto feel much better.

Later, they shifted her into a room and Sakura reassured him that she was fine.

"She is wrecked emotionally, Naruto. You have to support her and show her you are here for her. She might not be herself for a time being, but Naruto show her that her well-being is what matter most. I know it's difficult for you too. But you have to move forward now, please." She smiled at him sympathetically. Naruto nodded, tears falling from his eyes.

They will come through all this pain, he knows. They have suffered the worst. But they have each other. Naruto felt closer to Hinata than he had ever felt.

With a pained expression, he entered Hinata's room.

They are going to be okay.

END

'The presence box' I know it's pretty lame. But I don't want to give the anything for verbal communication so...

Please review! :)

I don't own Naruto.