Trials

Gaarazlilmiss

NOTICE!!-For all of you that have never seen the story "Ai?" please go back and find it because it is the first story, and this one will end up making no sense if you haven't read that one first!!

Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto, so be happy…or not… :P

Hello all! I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I had the strongest urge to write a fanfic about other crack pairings, so I did. Look how they turned out. "Beyond Onyx eyes" is actually doing quite well. "No shame" is a little slow since that pairing is quite rare, TobiHina.

Anyhow, here is your long awaited chapter. After this one, Poor Hinata has to face Gaara. What a shame.

Hinata: …

Gaara: …

Gaarazlilmiss: Don't look so speechless!

Gaara: Whatever…

Hinata: I-it's hard to believe this…

Gaarazlilmiss: Well, anyway, enjoy your read!

Chapter 10: Road of Pain

Hinata didn't like what she was doing one bit. She felt sick, she wanted to stop on the side of the road and throw up. Not only was she going to betray the trust between the villages, that was what the festival was meant for, but her friends. Finally getting to the apartment she occupied, she gathered a couple of outfits, some weapons, and food and water. As she packed, she tried to believe that she wasn't really betraying Gaara. Why was she so angry with him in the first place? She'd almost done the same thing, but just thinking about Gaara with ANYONE else, no matter how serious or none-serious it was, she just didn't like it. Her small bag was full now, and she looked around her small apartment one last time. So many nights were spent here alone, feeling so void of any attention, it almost made her sick. Well, this time, she was going to make something of herself, and like she'd vowed so many years ago, when she first fled, show everyone just how strong she really was.

She quickly made her way out the door of her apartment, and locked it as she stealthily ran off into the night.

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Tohoro was fast, Gaara could barely dodge his skilled attacks. He was good at anticipating their moves, it was like he had the Sharingan. Gaara hit a back flip as he landed a decent ways away from Tohoro.

Tohoro glared, looking around at both Sakura and Naruto. "Min, Hiyu…take the girl and the guy over there." he said in a low voice.

"Hai." two voices said, as they made their ways towards the two ninja they'd been designated to.

"Looks like it's me and you…" said Min, who was the girl as she looked directly into Sakura's eyes. Before Sakura knew it, it seemed as though she had passed out.

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What seemed like hours later, Sakura awoke to find herself in pitch blackness.

She sat up, her head throbbing like she'd been hit with something. "What h-happened?" she questioned.

"You were out for a whole 30 seconds and placed into a realm of mine. Don't even think about helping your friends." Min said.

Sakura looked around her and jumped up, alert, and ready.

"Your torture will begin now." she said. "But don't worry. At least you won't die." she said with sick amusement.

Sakura heard a low windy sound, and as it got closer it was a bit too late for Sakura to do anything. She turned around, and a spear of air ripped through her, tearing through her stomach. Sakura gasped in shock as she doubled over and grabbed the area. It stung, and it felt like something was missing out of her. Then another hit her, and another, until Sakura was on the ground struggling to stand back up to defend herself.

"My technique Kutsuu no kaze (Wind of pain)." Min said. "You will be left within one inch of your life, and there is no stopping the pain you will endure." she said. Her voice seemed to grow farther away.

Sakura, even though in such severe pain, had tried to collect information on her current situation. For one, she couldn't see a thing. Also, this had to be the girl that had said there was no escape from the genjutsu from earlier, for they spoke in a feminine voice. It would be foolish to test them, because they might not be bluffing. She certainly didn't seem like it, and when Gaara had stopped her, she figured that she must not be bluffing. On top of that, she was severely injured. She was a medic nin, true, but it took lots of concentration to heal the wounds she'd gained, and getting speared by the Kutsuu no kaze technique again and again, it would be useless. On top of that, she was alone. There was no one to help her, and her enemy was hidden somewhere in the darkness. This was a time when the Byakugan would be most helpful.

"Escape if futile." Min chimed in as Sakura was hit in her left leg with another attack.

Just then, Sakura came up with an idea. It was a bit childish in her opinion, and something she'd really hate, but she'd have to take her chances and bluff her way out of this.

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Naruto looked at Hiyu and Tohoro. Both boys looked like they could care less if they died or not. Something was driving them. "Gaara…" Naruto said as he braced himself to start up his rasengan, "Although I'm positive I'm suppose to be protecting you from harm, I know that you can hold your own." he said. "This mission is to look for Oshimota, correct? If what Sakura said is correct, he is most likely with Hinata. You should go and find her, before something happens that we'll all regret." Naruto said. The blue orb in his hands grew larger. He never took his eyes off his enemies.

Gaara stared at Naruto. He knew Naruto all too well. Once he had his mind set, he wasn't changing it. "…" Gaara said nothing as he studied their two enemies. They didn't seem like too much for Naruto to handle. No challenge was too big for him. "Alright." he said. He jumped off.

Tohoro's eyes widened. "Do you think this is a game!? I am not through with you!" he said as he followed after Gaara.

Gaara looked back at Tohoro. "If you want to play games, fine. Here's one. Sand coffin!" he yelled.

Tohoro jumped in a dodging pattern. Each step he took was near miss. He'd studied his moves!?

Gaara looked shocked. "What?" he asked.

"That's right." Tohoro said with a nasty smirk. "Your sand coffin won't work on me. I would never go into battle with my worst enemy without knowing his attacks." Tohoro said

"You are quite the character…" Gaara said. Standing still and closing his eyes, Gaara teleported away, leaving nothing but gritty sand in his absence.

Tohoro's face was contorted with rage as he screamed out in pure frustration. How could he not remember that?

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Neji watched Miyoko closely as she moved towards them. She was a little on the slow side…her movements were sadly lacking the part that would make her movements inconspicuous. Neji could easily detect where she was aiming for and dodged each attack she threw at him. Tenten came up behind the girl and used a kunai with chain to wrap it around the girl and fling her back through about three trees. The girl finally stopped at one when the speed of her body flying had died down, hitting the back of a large tree, and sliding down to the trunk. She looked up with fire lit eyes as she moved for a more unnoticeable attack.

"There is no way some low life's like yourselves could understand anything, and for that purpose you need some sense knocked into you!" Miyoko spat out at them as she sent a rain of shuriken from above. Tenten dodged each easily, while Neji did rotation to deflect most of the shuriken.

"Oops! Looks like you made a slight mistake!" Miyoko said as she waited for Ten Ten and Neji to almost finish defending themselves. She threw one demon wind at Neji, and the other at Tenten.

Tenten had just dodged the mass load of shuriken when she looked and saw the demon wind heading straight towards her. She dodged, but not in time. The demon wind cut through her, just missing some of the vital organs in her chest.

Neji side flipped out of the way, but in the process of escaping her attack too late, he had the tendons connecting one of his ankles severed. He let out a sharp hiss of pain as he landed in an awkward position.

"I could tell by the looks on your faces that you thought I'd be easy sailing. Sorry to burst your bubble." Miyoko said shrugging as she then reached for her back to get another demon wind. "Don't worry…I have orders not to kill." she said. "Except for one very special person." she said sadistically.

Neji glared at her. "Why exactly are you pin pointing Gaara again?" he asked.

"I said it before, and I'll say it once more. That demon from hell itself killed my friend Tayuuma for no apparent reason!" Miyoko said venomously.

"Back then, I was the youngest person in my level to graduate the academy. It was a new academy, one that the sand Shinobi developed to mimic Konoha's curriculum so that we could become as obedient as Konoha Shinobi, and not so rough around the edges. I wouldn't turn twelve for another 11 and a half months, but I was at the proper level. Everyone doubted me, they said I wouldn't make it, they said I was too young and inexperienced, possibly less mature than the rest of the kids, and I let it get to me. I started doing terribly. I'd skip classes, come way too late, and disrespect my superiors. No one even said terrible things to me after that, they just let me be, letting me be the failure they said I would be. The first person to approach me was Tayuuma. I treated her like dirt at first, and the worse I treated her, the harder she tried to befriend me. We had our moments. She was hot headed too. But she taught me that giving up was not an option. I quickly became her friend, even though I may have been the last one. About 5 months later, we graduated from the academy, and all of us, her other friends, her brother and his friends, and myself were celebrating. SHE WAS ALL OSHIMOTA HAD LEFT!" Miyoko said as some tears Neji and Tenten knew she'd been holding back sprung from her eyes. "And she was all that kept me going. When she died, I lost all my confidence. I was a superb ninja until that. Then I started to hate the person who was responsible, and a raw confidence emerged from me as I realized that revenge would be my drive. Turns out it didn't do me too bad." she said as she wiped her eyes and took on another malicious smirk.

Neji and Tenten stared at her in a bit of shock.

"Revenge is never really the answer…we all should know here in Konoha." Tenten said.

"You're nothing but a bunch of softies!" Miyoko said advancing upon them. "Now that you're almost down and out for the count. I think I'll let you nap for awhile." she said as she put the demon wind back and formed a seal. "Sweet dreams…"

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Hinata had successfully escaped past the many people she saw throughout Konoha. She could have sworn she passed someone's battle grounds…she wondered vaguely who's it might have been. Instead of being an idiot and going up to the gates, Hinata took a stray path, through some trees and up to a cliff overlooking a vast cluster of trees. "He didn't exactly tell me where to meet him." Hinata thought as she overlooked everything. She wanted to look back at Konoha, but she knew there was a big chance that things wouldn't turn out in her favor. If things didn't go smoothly, whether or not she was trying to take down the second most important enemy, she could be banished for life. Who knew…? She could even die. "Where is he..? He said fifteen minutes." Hinata asked herself looking into the starry night.

"Don't worry. We can get going as soon as you want to." said Oshimota from behind her. "You know, I didn't expect you to show. You must really hate him now that you know the truth." he said as he jumped down the cliff.

Hinata was a bit startled. How on earth did he manage to get near her like that without her noticing!? She was a Byakugan user for crying out loud. Maybe that's why her father didn't really like her then. She was just not cut out for…she stopped thinking that right there. Her face was stoic and emotionless again. Hinata followed his lead. "What do you k-know…" she said. Why did she stutter? He wasn't THAT intimidating. Or maybe she was afraid that what she was about to do was the wrong idea…

Oshimota looked behind him to see her. "Hm…I know a lot. The kazekage's business flies around Suna like sand on the breeze. His maids, and attendants could never keep their mouths shut about such situations…not even about you." he said.

Hinata said nothing. She was keeping track of the distance away from Konoha. She wanted to finish this alone. She didn't' want anyone to be too close, close enough to stop her, and she was looking for the perfect terrain. She decided to buy time.

"A spy within your own country, I see…" Hinata said in response. "Why does the elder council member of Suna want Gaara dead?" she asked.

"Because…" Oshimota said. "He is not deserving of the title whatsoever. He has caused the village harm, and no one is comfortable with such a man as their leader, someone who killed all those they loved, no matter how long ago it was." Oshimota said. His face seemed to grow a look of pain for a split second. "And you know something, Hyuuga-san?" he asked without looking at her.

Hinata looked at him curiously, her violet eyebrows scrunching up in confusion.

"The only reason he has the title…" Oshimota said, "Is because he was going to die, when it was easy enough to do so." He said turning to her, an odd, yet evil look etched on his face.

Hinata looked down.

"It's not that you care, right? I mean, you weren't all that special to him-"

"SHUT UP!" Hinata yelled.

Oshimota fell silent as he kept going forward. "Afraid to face the truth?" he asked.

"It's not that." Hinata said. "It's that you don't know…" she said. Then she stopped in a clearing. "And you won't need to." she said lowly.

Oshimota stopped and turned around to face her. "I knew a fake flower like yourself would turn on me…" he said as he prepared to fight.

Hinata said nothing as she silently activated her Byakugan and held her hands in the gentle fist style position.

Oshimota grinned. "Here I come, Hyuuga-san…" he said. In one swift movement, Oshimota was in front of Hinata and sweep kicked.

Hinata jumped back, and landed on a tree. In a graceful movement, Hinata launched herself towards him furiously trying for his vital chakra points.

Oshimota dodged all but one, as one point in his arm was blocked . He winced, but showed no other sign of pain, or discomfort.

"I don't understand why we need such a weakling." he said looking at Hinata in her eyes with a hateful scorn.

Hinata's face twisted into a frown. "I was called weak so many t-times…" she said. "And, I know…I know myself that I am not weak. I would have never made it this far if I were weak. Not everyone has to accept me…ESPECIALLY NOT YOU!!" she said as she launched towards him again, her hands glowing brighter blue.

Oshimota looked riled up by her sudden spark of spunk.

Hinata aimed for him numerous times, but it seemed like he was just too good. He was faster, more reflexive, and more precise than she was altogether. "Can I ask you one thing…?" Oshimota asked as he grabbed one hand that Hinata had thrust at him. The chakra immediately dispersed. The other palm she aimed for his lower stomach was caught by his other hand, which that arm was limp, and in the perfect place to catch it because she'd blocked that one point. "Why would you care? Why fight me…I'm not the true enemy, and you'd have never had to face me if you'd have just said okay in the beginning." he said with a playful smirk.

Hinata hated that smirk. She hated that confidence. She hated that amusement in his voice, and his toying around. Why couldn't even a sand Shinobi take her seriously? Did he think this entire fight was a joke!?

Hinata pushed herself away from him.

She glared at Oshimota furiously. "You think I'm that dumb!? Y-you thought I'd actually do it!" she said forming hand signs as fast as she could. Her anger was apparent.

"No, I didn't, and that is why I have prepared you for this. Don't you see? A good ninja always has a backup plan." he said bracing himself cockily for her attack.

Hinata's palms glowed a reddish-orange color as she charged at him. She knew her hands were burning, and her skin would be scalded at least, but the burning fiery sensation did nothing to her. She knew what she was fighting for. She'd practiced this jutsu for awhile, and finally perfecting it, she vowed she wouldn't use it unless it was absolutely necessary. The jutsu was that powerful.

As much as she hated it, Oshimota dodged with much ease, swaying around each strike.

Hinata was aiming for his shoulder, when she did an unexpected twist and palmed him right in his lower abdomen.

The wind was knocked out of Oshimota as he flew backwards, hitting a tree behind him, and falling to the ground with a blunt thud.

He touched his stomach, feeling the chunk of flesh missing. He could smell his singed flesh.

He stood up shakily, but it seemed he was regenerating somehow.

Hinata looked at him puzzled.

Before she could blink, Hinata could feel the life of her being squeezed out.

"I was saving this technique for someone…" Oshimota said in a dark tone, "but seeing as you have to have some sense squeezed into you, I guess it won't hurt to use a bit of it now." he said.

Hinata opened her mouth as if to scream as the life of her was being crushed.

"You see, I don't think you understand the severity of this mission of ours. You think it's all a game, but you don't even realize, and don't care about anyone but yourself. Selfish brat." he said crushing her more. "I tried being discrete, but that didn't help. So now, I'll ask you once more," he dropped Hinata to the ground, "will you participate?" he asked.

Hinata gasped for air. Her skin was bruised blue and yellow, and her body was aching terribly. It hurt to breathe.

When he received no reply, he dashed over to her, grasping her by her neck and holding her to the air. "Need a little more convincing?" he asked, sand whipping around him like whips.

Hinata's eyes squinted as she was loosing air yet again. Once more, she was dropped to the ground, and she wheezed a little before shakily trying to stand. "I'll…g-get…revenge on…him…myself….but…not for…the likes…or you or….your wretched…elder council member…!" she wheezed out.

Oshimota glared at her. "Stupid kid." he said kicking her over. "You think your silly little technique will stop me? I've practiced this jutsu for years, perfecting it almost to the capability of the Kazekage's." he said.

Hinata said nothing as she glanced up at him.

"And I have no problems testing it out on you. You are nothing to me." he said kicking her again. "Get up. You will come whether you wish to or not. I'll drag you there if I have to." he said.

Hinata stood up and stood in her fighting stance again.

Oshimota looked completely shocked. "What the…?"

"Oshimota Hoga…stop." said a voice.

He turned around and who would be standing there but their own elder council member. "She's not one to give up easily I see…" he said.

Hinata looked at the old man. He was old, true, but she knew from what she saw of the third hokage before his death that age had nothing to do with a ninja. He did wear a headband, and he was in his ninja wear.

"It's perilous to the mission for you to be out here, elder-sama…" Oshimota said, almost ignoring Hinata completely.

"I know that. But you both are too far away for those ninja to do anything." he said. He looked over at Hinata. "You are to come with us. I know everything, but we indeed need your help. There are others kid." he said.

Hinata said nothing as she looked at them both.

"He could be that same killer he was back then, disguising himself with a façade personality. Do you not realize you are risking your entire life over this boy? What if he leaves you one day, hmm? Then what will you do? You would have lost everything for nothing." he said. "And on top of that, for someone foreign to this village. " he finished.

Hinata observed the circumstance. Injured badly, there was no way she could go up against Oshimota, and the old man was a mystery. What she could do was follow…she'd sketch out her plan from there. That all seemed logical. She prayed to kami that Tsunade would understand.

"Well…?" Oshimota asked impatiently.

"I'll c-come with y-you…b-but you….must promise not t-to hurt my f-friends." she said.

Oshimota beamed at her with a satisfied smirk. "I think we can arrange that." he said. "But first…give us all your weapons and allow us to suppress your chakra." he said.

Hinata didn't like this, but what else could she do?

Dropping all her kunai, her pouch full of shurikens, tags, smoke bombs, and allowing the old man to make her chakra dormant, she followed them wearily. "She won't last in the desert like this." said Oshimota.

The elder placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder. She felt relieved suddenly. "What kind of…?" her question trailed off.

"Impressed?" the old man said. "It is a secret technique that medic sand nin practiced. I use to be one of them." he said.

Hinata turned her head. "N-no one said I was impressed with anything you lowlifes can do." she said.

She hoped, really hoped her new plan would work. Maybe it was reckless, but she could at least try.

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I hope this chapter pleased you all. I worked hard on it. Next chapter, GaaraXHinata ANGST!!! Just a warning. I am trying to get to the good GaaHina parts, but…well…you get the drift. I'll enjoy writing this next chapter

Gaara: I hate that word, that category….

Gaarazlilmiss: And the list could go on and on Gaara.

Hinata: It's sad, this story. Will we end up back together Lilmiss-san?

Gaarazilmiss: Who knows. I mean, it is GaaHina…((Sarcastically))

Hinata: ((Sweat drops))

I thank all reviewers! Review please and I appreciate all the reviews I can get!