A/N: Hey, everyone! The A/N at the end is SUPER IMPORTANT. I won't bore you with the details here, but if you follow this story please read the note at the end of the chapter. Now, on to the good stuff:

Your Guardian Angel – Part 2
Chapter 26: Report
"It's hard being left behind. It's hard to be the one who stays." – Audry Niffenegger

"Hmm." The woman hummed, placing her fingers together in front of her lips and looking at the four-man team standing before her. The news with which they'd returned from their mission wasn't exactly what she'd expected. Their mission – pose as an Akatsuki member in order to rendezvous with and gain information from a spy among Orochimaru's subordinates – originally sounded like a risky-enough mission all its own. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately depending on who one might ask, Team Kakashi seemed to have gotten more than they bargained for. Not only had they dealt with the emergence of Naruto's fourth tail, a surprise betrayal on Kabuto's part, an actual run-in with Orochimaru himself, and a temporary insurrection within their own ranks (Sai having initially abandoned them to join Orochimaru in a attempt to assassinate Sasuke on orders from Danzo) but they'd also located Uchiha Sasuke in the process. Furthermore, Team Kakashi reported seeing the missing Hyuuga princess in the Uchiha's custody.

Leave it to Naruto to turn reconnaissance into a pursuit mission, the Hokage thought day had barely begun and already Tsunade could feel a pressure growing behind her eyes.

"So, Orochimaru has two of our village's shinobi in his possession now, does he? We know why Sasuke is there, but Hinata…" The woman sighed and looked down at her desktop. "To think of that snake getting his hands on her…" Thinking of her old teammate wore the woman out. Though they'd been at odds even long before he escaped the village and became a threat, a part of her heart ached for her comrade. Even so, she knew what Orochimaru was capable of and learning he was currently in possession of a Byakugan that wouldn't seal should the user be killed… She shuddered to think of the repercussions.

"Tsunade-sama." Sakura spoke up and the blonde's face lifted to meet the eyes of her apprentice.

"Yes, Sakura?"

"What Yamato-taichou said is true – Sasuke-kun did, um, manhandle her." The pink-haired kunoichi looked uncomfortable relaying that information. Tsunade pitied her – she knew Sakura had feelings for the Uchiha despite their years apart. The interaction had left both her and Naruto visibly stirred up. Regardless, Sakura swallowed her discomfort and continued. "He shocked her, even, and tossed her aside. But there was something else, something that didn't sit quite right with me."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Sakura looked nervously around at her comrades before answering her sensei. "It's that, well, Hinata looked… fine."

Naruto turned on his teammate, his voice rising. "Fine? You call what we saw out there fine? Sasuke chucked her aside like discarded trash. I wouldn't exactly call that 'fine'."

"Would you stop shouting and just listen to me?" The pink-haired kunoichi shot back. "I'm not trying to defend Sasuke's treatment of her, but think about it. She didn't look beaten or even bruised. She looked clean, not at all like some sort of prisoner. And you were in a genjutsu when she rushed into the fray, but surely Yamato-taichou or Sai saw it: Hinata didn't come rushing out shouting for us or for help. She actually… Well, it was like she pushed Sasuke out of the way of Yamato-taichou's attack."

Tsunade turned to the captain and the fourth member of Team Kakashi. "Is this true?"

Sai straightened. "It was difficult to tell from my vantage point. She did rush onto the scene out of no where, and she seemed –"

"Frantic," Yamato finished for him. "She seemed frantic. She did indeed move Sasuke out of the way of my attack, though whether or not her action was intentional or not I cannot say. She stumbled into him, more than pushing him out of the way, and from the very little I saw her actions seemed frenzied and unintentional."

"But her Byakugan was active, didn't you see?" Sakura chimed in again. "If she wanted to be saved, why rush onto the scene like that when she knew before she even arrived that we were there? And why head straight for Sasuke when Yamato-taichou was about to capture him?"

Naruto's disbelief flared again. "Are you seriously suggesting that Hyuuga Hinata is there with Sasuke-teme and those other bastards of her own free will? Neither of us know her particularly well, Sakura-chan, but from what I have seen that doesn't seem like the Hinata I know at all."

"I'm not suggesting anything, Naruto!" Sakura responded, her fingers clenching into fists. "I'm just reporting what I saw, and it doesn't all add up."

"For all we know Orochimaru has messed with her mind and fumbled it all up like with his other experiment-"

"Enough!" Tsunade's voice wasn't a shout, but it was firm enough to stop the bickering teens in their tracks. "Sakura, your information is valuable and will be taken into account. Is there anything else you'd like to include in your mission report?" The four team members stood silently before her. "Sai, as you are a shinobi of Konoha and as your betrayal to Orochimaru was a farce in order to perform an act in service of your village, you have not actually done anything wrong. Even so, acting on orders outside of my command, regardless of who gave them to you, is rebellious behavior. Again, however, by reporting this to me openly you have bypassed any potential punishment. I thank you for your service on this mission, but in the future Uchiha Sasuke is a first-priority capture, not kill. Do I make myself clear?"

"Hai, Hokage-sama." Sai bowed deeply, arms at his sides. "Tsunade-sama, I have a request, if I may." The woman gestured for him to proceed. "I would like, with your permission and the approval of Sakura-san and Naruto-kun, to remain a part of Team Kakashi for the foreseeable future."

"Sai…" Sakura looked at her new teammate.

Tsunade hummed in consideration. "And why do you want to stay with them instead of returning to Danzo?"

Sai's lips turned up in smile that looked like an unnatural gesture, but the boy's words were genuine. "I've spent much time learning to hide my feelings away, but even in a short amount of time with Naruto-kun and Sakura-san I have come to believe that bonds and feelings are important aspects of who we are. I wish to stay with them, if they'll have me, to continue learning what it is to form those bonds and hopefully regain part of myself in the process."

The blonde woman considered his plea and shrugged. Danzo's practices had always been suspect. Pulling even just one member from his ranks felt like a small victory to Tsunade. Plus, she could see the effect Naruto's optimistic attitude had on Sai already – it was always the same. The hyperactive ninja couldn't help but spread hope wherever he went. Who was she to deny someone the privilege of experiencing Naruto's gift? "I see no problem with it. What do you two think?"

Wide smiles broke out across Sakura and Naruto's faces. "Of course we want him. Sai's part of the team. He can't leave now!" Sai looked at his new teammates and Tsunade couldn't help but feel that his smile grew a little more genuine.

"It's settled, then," she announced. "Sai will remain a part of Team Kakashi henceforth. Sai, you will report to Danzo and tell him as much."

"Hai, Hokage-sama. Arigato."

Tsunade smiled and nodded in his direction. "Moving on, as far as Sasuke and Hinata are concerned, I ask that you do not discuss them or your encounter with them with anyone else until I tell you otherwise. If possible, please even refrain from discussing it amongst yourselves for the time being. Understood?" The four nodded. "Then you're dismissed."

Though he'd been smiling moments before, Naruto's face broke into a frown. "That's it?" he asked, incredulous. "We tell you we've found not one but two missing ninja from our village and we're dismissed? We should be mobilizing a team to retrieve them. We may not be able to convince Sasuke to return with us right now, but surely we should be going after Hinata, right baa-chan?"

Why is it always 'baa-chan'? Tsunade looked at the fiery blonde before her. She loved him, but boy did he test her sometimes. "Naruto, there's more to this situation than meets the eye."

"Our friends are in danger and we need to go get them. What more can there possible be?"

"It's just more delicate than you're giving it credit for, and a few things must be dealt with before we can proceed with any sort of subsequent mission." She saw the drive in his eyes – it was one of the things that she admired about him, but she had to cool him down. "Naruto, I assure you that Sasuke and Hinata's safety and whereabouts are as large a concern to me as they are to you. I want to retrieve them as badly as you do, but I need you to trust me when I say that there are other issues surrounding this information that need dealt with before we can proceed. Besides, even you admit you're not quite on par with Sasuke yet. Rushing in without proper strength and reinforcements could endanger both of the people you wish to save. We have to assess the situation before we can make a move."

"Tsk." Naruto crossed his arms over his chest and turned his face in a scowl.

"Well?" she asked, hoping she'd at least quelled his haste for the moment.

The blonde lifted his head and looked her straight in her eyes. "We're not giving up."

Despite herself, the Fifth Hokage smiled. "Good. Now, dismissed."

When the door shut behind Team Kakashi Tsunade spun in her chair to look out over the village. "Shizune." Though she'd remained quiet through the entire report, the woman's assistant snapped to attention, stopping the absent stroking of the pig she cradled in her arms much to the animal's disappointment. "Send someone to fetch Team Eight."

The dark haired woman hesitated. "Tsunade-sama…" The Hokage raised one, blonde eyebrow. "Shouldn't we inform Hiashi-sama first? He is her father."

Tsunade nodded thoughtfully, peering out over her village. "Yes, Hiashi is her father. But Team Eight is her family."

"If Hiashi-sama finds out he wasn't the first one informed of his daughter's whereabouts…"

"He won't find out, of that you can be certain. This situation is a delicate one, Shizune. As I'm sure you're aware, there were some… concerns regarding Hinata's disappearance and the surrounding circumstances. When the others find out she's been located, emotions and tensions will run high, especially with Kiba being as he is." Tsunade sighed deeply. "Hiashi's emotions are sure to run wild as well, but between his temper and clan politics we have to handle the delivery of this news to him carefully. Even so, I still believe it's only right for Hinata's teammates to know before him." Shizune still looked skeptical. "When we tell Hiashi, we will lie." The Hokage's assistant scrunched her eyebrows together. "Okay, I will lie. Either way, send someone to fetch Kurenai and her students."

"Hai," Shizune conceded, leaving the office and letting the door close behind her with a thud.

"You… Wait, what?"

Tsunade met Kiba's disbelief by calmly restating the news she'd just delivered to Team Eight. "Naruto's team located Hinata during a reconnaissance mission. She's alive and, based on the report given by Team Kakashi, appears to be in good health though her actual condition, both physical and mental, is unknown."

"Well, where the hell is she? Why aren't we forming a retrieval party right now?" Kiba looked incredulous and the large dog at his side barked in agreement.

Just like Naruto, the dog-boy wanted to dive in headfirst before all the cards were even on the table. "The situation is a bit more complicated than we'd like," Tsunade responded, choosing her words carefully. "You see, Hinata currently resides in the care of Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke."

At that piece of news Kurenai crossed the room and sat down in the nearest chair, staring at the floor. Tsunade thought she saw Shino's eyebrows lift behind his dark glasses and even Kiba found himself at a loss for words.

"Team Kakashi left to gather information. By impersonating an Akatsuki member known to be in contact with one of Orochimaru's subordinates, they hoped to gain information both on the organization as well as in regards to Uchiha Sasuke and his whereabouts. They got more than they bargained for in the end and actually followed Orochimaru and his subordinate back to their hideout where they then found Hinata."

"Well why the hell didn't they take her with them?" Kiba was fuming again, his voice getting louder each time he asked a question.

"It wasn't so simple. Based on the report –"

"She resides there." Shino spoke up, his deep voice resonating from behind his collar. "Those were you're words: 'Hinata currently resides in the care of Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke.' Why did you say it like that? Is she not being held captive?"

Across the room Kurenai looked up at the Hokage, waiting for an answer to her student's question. Tsunade nodded at the boy. Leave it to Shino to pick apart her careful phrasing. "That's one of the things that makes this situation complicated. As I was about to say, based on the report it appears Hinata's status within the ranks of Orochimaru and his subordinates is unknown. The team reported that Sasuke handled her roughly, even electrocuting her with a mild Chidori, tossed her into the dirt, and called her trash. His words even suggested that Orochimaru was using her to perform experiments and would be done with her shortly." At this both Akamaru and Kiba growled, baring their teeth. Tsunade watched the red triangles on Kiba's face twitch. She understood his anger but continued to speak through it, knowing she had to relay all the information before she allowed him to react fully.

"That being said, additional information about their interaction suggests his treatment of her may have been for show and that, though it seems unlikely, she may be there of her own free will."

Kiba's temper spiked again. Tsunade prepared for the same response Naruto gave to Sakura's telling observation. "How can you suggest such a ridi-"

"Kiba." Kurenai spoke for the first time, her voice sharp. The boy drew back, his sensei's reprimand enough to cut his train of thought. Though she remained seated, when she spoke again her voice was all business. "What evidence is there to support that claim, Tsunade-sama?"

The Hokage appreciated the support from the woman. "Hinata arrived during an altercation between all four members of Team Kakashi and Uchiha Sasuke himself. Team Kakashi reports that when Hinata arrived on the scene, her Byakugan was active, meaning she was aware of who was present and what was happening, potentially even before rushing out into the fray. She didn't show herself until Yamato moved to make an attack on Sasuke, and when he did it was Hinata's intervention that appears to have prevented his capture attempt from being successful, though no one on the team can say with certainty that she was intentionally protecting him. Again, based on the information Sasuke relayed, and we have no reason to believe he is lying at this point, it is possible Hinata has been used for experimental purposes and pieces of her, including her mind, may have been altered through that process. Without reclaiming her for ourselves we cannot assess her physical, mental, or emotional state. Regardless, we must proceed as if she is there of her own free will and prepare for her and those she is with to resist any attempt at returning her to the village."

"First Sasuke, then Hinata-chan… that bastard…" Kiba growled under his breath, crossing his arms over his chest.

Kurenai spoke up again. "I suppose that tactic also has something to do with the circumstances surrounding her disappearance?"

The Hokage nodded solemnly. "As I'm sure you all remember, the conditions under which Hinata disappeared were suspect. As you'll recall, the clan speculated that Kumo shinobi were behind her absence, thus prompting the search you three performed. But privately her father believed the evidence suggested Hinata ran away."

"Does Hyuuga-sama know Hinata has been located?" Shino's voice cut deep through the room.

Tsunade shook her head. "Hiashi has not yet been informed. We will be calling him in after this. I believed it was important to inform you all first, seeing as it was you three who took up the search when she went missing."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade acknowledged the jounin with a small nod and a gentle smile before returning to business. "Even so, your knowledge of this affair must be kept secret for the time being until I have relayed the information to Hiashi. Having spent time with Hinata, I'm sure you three have a general understanding of clan politics. Hiashi is to believe he was the first person consulted regarding Team Kakashi's report on his daughter. You three are not to speak of this to anyone, even the members of Team Kakashi should the opportunity arise. At least not until I give you further instruction. Do I make myself understood?"

"Hai," the team replied in unison.

"Then you are dismissed."

Kiba balked. "That's it?" he asked, incredulous. "No game plan?" The parallels between the Inuzuka and Naruto persisted.

"We cannot proceed until Hiashi has been informed," Tsunade told him, understanding his passion but trying to calm him down. "Until then, I ask that you calmly wait for further instruction and refrain from taking anything into your own hands." She gave the dog-boy a stern gaze. Judging by his facial reaction, he didn't like the idea of standing idly by until further notice. Sometimes he reminded her too much of Naruto. It made her fond of the boy, but his incessant enthusiasm left her exasperated.

Regardless of his feelings, Kiba seemed to resign himself to the Hokage's orders and turned to leave the office. "C'mon, Akamaru." The nin-dog followed his partner towards the exit. Shino followed him as well, solemn as always. The pair paused, holding the door open for Kurenai who stood from her chair but didn't move to leave.

"Tsunade-sama," the woman asked, "may I have a word with you in private?"

"Of course," the blonde agreed, wondering what the jounin could possibly wish to discuss. Perhaps she had some insight on how to handle Hinata's father.

Kurenai nodded to her students. "Go on ahead. I'll find you when I'm finished here." The boys hesitated, but nodded and left the office, the door closing behind them.

Naruto and Sakura paced through the village, neither one speaking to each other but both unwilling to leave the other's side. After the last few days, there was nothing too say. Or perhaps too much to say. Regardless, their interaction with Sasuke shook the two up. As much as they were always at odds, Naruto and Sakura shared a common goal, one they'd been thwarted in yet again.

Naruto took a seat on an abandoned park bench. His pink-haired companion joined him, looking at her sandals as if they held the answers to the universe. Laughter from the park down the street echoed through the quiet alley as the pair sat in contemplative silence.

"He was right there," the blonde said after a few moments. His cerulean eyes stared off into the distance, focused on nothing in particular. He looked like he was recalling something painful, something lost. "For fuck's sake, he was right there! I was in physical contact with him and I still couldn't –" Naruto gritted his teeth and looked down.

Sakura saw her companion's clenched fists. She felt his frustration to her core. She'd always felt useless next to her teammates. The Uchiha was a natural genius and Naruto, despite his many faults, had a way about him that turned people good and an unrelenting spirit that always seemed to sway desperate situations in his favor. They'd faced hoards of horrible opponents but had survived this far, anyway. Still, in nearly every situation Sakura always felt the other two were constantly running to her rescue. She seemed to be Team Seven's honorary damsel in distress.

When Sasuke ran away, Sakura swore she'd get stronger. She swore she'd be a vital part in bringing him back. And yet when she came face-to-face with him it was as if time froze. Hell, she'd helped defeat an Akatsuki member, for goodness sakes! But her body had no clue how to respond when faced with the powerful presence of Uchiha Sasuke.

Sakura had a soft spot for the raven-haired boy. When she was younger she believed she loved him. Now, however, she wasn't so sure. Could you love someone who'd hurt you so badly? Someone you hadn't spoken to in years? If she was honest with herself, she didn't really know him at all. And yet the power he held over her, the way her heart beat when she'd seen him silhouetted on that cliff top…

The kunoichi sighed. "He was stronger than we expected, Naruto. Not even Yamato-taichou was able to apprehend him. You can't blame yourself."

"Rah!" Naruto slammed his hands into the wooden bench and roared in frustration. "Don't you get it, Sakura? I can blame myself because it's my fault! You weren't there at the Valley of the End. You didn't let him get away. You aren't the one who's let him slip through your fingers more than once." The boy dropped his face into his hands and drug his fingers through his blond locks, his shoulders drooping in defeat. "What kind of person lets their friend get away like that?"

"It's hard to rescue someone who doesn't want to be rescued, Naruto," the pink-haired girl said, trying to comfort her companion. In all reality she was feeling the same things as Naruto, but watching him look so defeated made her own feelings worse. Whether she liked to admit it or not, Naruto's optimism drove her forward and kept her own spirits up. Without his outrageously confident outlook, her own convictions wavered. The doubt began to sink in: What if they couldn't save Sasuke? What if they didn't get to him before Orochimaru took his body? What if they never saw him again? What if they failed?

"It's not just about Sasuke this time, though, Sakura," Naruto said. She could tell how serious her companion took their current predicament by the absence of the affectionate honorific he usually added to her name. The boy lifted his head and Sakura met his eyes. She wished she hadn't – there was only sadness there. "It's about Hinata-chan, too."

"Naruto…"

"I know you have other ideas about why she was there, but the fact of the matter is that that bastard Orochimaru has her. And whether she ran away or not, Hinata-chan doesn't belong there. She belongs here, with her friends and the people who care about her, just like Sasuke does. We let both of them go. We failed."

Sakura looked at her companion. He was right – they had failed, there was no denying that. Neither Sasuke nor Hinata were any closer to returning to Konoha than before their mission. It wasn't just about Team Seven anymore; it was about Team Eight and the Hyuuga family and the rest of their friends. It was about everyone who'd ever been hurt by Orochimaru suffering another loss to his clutches.

Team Kakashi's only female member clenched her fists in determination. "We have to do something, and we will," she declared, her voice steadier than her heart felt. After all the times Naruto pushed her to remain hopeful, now it was her turn. She refused to let her teammate, her friend, doubt his own goals. "You and I will get stronger, and we will get Sasuke-kun back, and Hinata, too, dattebayo!"

The little exclamation spilled from her mouth. Naruto stared at his friend for a moment before his signature grin broke across his face, crinkling the whisker marks on his cheeks. "Dattebayo!" the blonde replied, laughing at Sakura's attempt at humor, even if it was a small dig towards him. It felt good to see him smile and laugh. It made her own heart feel just a tad lighter, even if the absence of their friends hung over them like a storm cloud.

Naruto stood up, reaching his arms behind his neck. "You're right, Sakura-chan. No way Sasuke-teme is going to surpass me! We're just going to have to work even harder to get him back." He offered his teammate a hand to help her stand from the bench. "In the meantime, we should go see if Kakashi-sensei is up for visitors yet. But first, Ichiraku! I'm starving!"

Sakura smiled. Normally she'd hit Naruto over the head or whine, criticizing him for only being able to think of his stomach, even at a time like this. But, she figured, they could both use a little bit of normalcy, and Ichiraku ramen was about as normal as it got. "Last one there buys!" the pink-haired girl shouted, taking off down the alleyway and sprinting around the corner.

Naruto had many faults, but his loyalty was unwavering and his dedication to those he cared for was relentless. He'd saved so many people in so many different ways; it was his turn to be encouraged. Sakura heard her companion yell after her, saying her head start wasn't fair, but there was laughter in his voice. She smiled. His strength was everyone else's strength, it seemed, and Sakura would be there to keep him strong. Naruto would get Sasuke back, and Hinata, too. She believed it with her entire being. They would do it together, no matter what it took.

Tsunade tapped her fingers on the desk and tried to pay attention to the paperwork in front of her. The formalities of being Hokage never were her strong suit, just a necessary evil in her opinion, but the events and information of the day proved to make concentrating extra difficult. Her mind wandered to the stash of sake hidden in her bottom drawer. Surely even Shizune couldn't deny her a drink on a day like this?

Just as she was about to suggest a break to her assistant a knock came at her door. "Enter!" she barked. Her sake would have to wait.

"Lady Tsunade." A man in a black, white, and red mask resembling a cat came into her office and knelt before her desk, the door swinging behind him.

"What is it?" she asked, peering at the ANBU ninja over her tented hands.

The man lifted his masked face. "We've received intelligence that the group Akatsuki remobilized in a serious way."

"Akatsuki?" the Hokage repeated. Orochimaru and Akatsuki on the same day? As if it could get any worse.

The ANBU nodded. "They seem to be moving in two-man groups. We feared after the abduction of the Kazekage-sama that they are hunting jinchuuriki, but those fears have yet to be confirmed. We will report back the moment we know more."

After the mission debriefing from Team Kakashi, the news about Akatsuki wasn't exactly cheery. And she still had to deal with Hiashi. The Hokage suppressed a sigh and the urge to break out her sake stash right on the spot. "Anything else?" the Fifth Hokage asked, already exhausted for the day. The man shook his head. "Good job on the report. You're dismissed." The cat ANBU nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Once he was gone, Tsunade laid her head down on her desk, using the pile of paperwork she'd previously been reviewing as a temporary pillow. TonTon snorted to her left. "Tsunade-sama…" Shizune started, speaking gently to try and console her mentor. The woman knew there was a lot of information to take in for one day, and information that required subsequent action, no less.

"Spare me, Shizune," the Hokage mumbled, face still buried in paperwork. Her hand twitched for her bottom drawer, reaching for the handle. Just a little comfort to get through the rest of her day…

Knock, knock, knock!

Tsunade composed herself and sat up, taking a deep breath for whatever news she was about to get now. With her luck there was probably an oncoming invasion or something. "Enter!" she ordered again. The door swung open upon her command to reveal Hyuuga Hiashi.

Not quite the village-wide invasion she'd predicted, but a struggle nonetheless. Honestly, depending on the man's mood she might prefer handling a full-blown assault over dealing with the Hyuuga clan leader. Tsunade yearned for a shot.

"Lord Hiashi," she greeted him formally.

"Hokage-sama." The man bowed in return. "You summoned me?"

"I did. Please close the door behind you. I have some sensitive information I wish to discuss."

The man's hard-lined face turned curious but he did as he was instructed and came to stand before the woman's desk. "What is it you wish to discuss, Lady Hokage?"

Tsunade, having given quite a bit a thought as to how to deliver the information, decided the best way to do so was to get straight to the point. "I received intelligence earlier today regarding the whereabouts of your eldest daughter, Hyuuga Hinata."

The woman, having dealt with Hiashi before, found him to be a difficult man to read. She knew him to be both cold-hearted and cruel as well as considerate and fiercely protective. It was always a gamble – she never knew if she'd be dealing with the man who killed to protect his daughter or the man who disowned that same child and tossed her aside. When Hinata disappeared, Hiashi's temper flared. Though publically the clan expressed concern that Kumogakure shinobi had once again attempted to kidnap the girl, privately the details of Hinata's absence left the clan leader to believe she'd run off – "a traitor to the Hyuuga name and the village of Konoha" he called her. That particular interaction left a bad taste in Tsunade's mouth and her emotions were on edge as she waited for his response to the news.

"I see…" To her surprise, Hiashi's response was tame. "And where is she, exactly?"

Prompted to continue and with no immediate threat of a temper tantrum, Tsunade proceeded in relaying the same news she'd given to Hinata's teammates. "Team Kakashi located her during their last mission in pursuit of Uchiha Sasuke."

"She's with the Uchiha boy?"

Tsunade nodded. "The simple answer is yes. That being said, she is with Orochimaru as well. Her status at that location, whether captive or voluntary inmate, is unknown. Based on Team Kakashi's information there is a possibility Orochimaru has used Hinata for experimental purposes. Therefore, in moving forward with a retrieval mission, I've decided to treat her as if she is a dangerous threat and an unwilling retrieval subject."

Hiashi nodded solemnly. The Hokage tried to read his body language but found herself unable to decipher what the man was thinking. His next question surprised her. "Has her team been informed?"

"No," Tsunade lied smoothly. TonTon snorted loudly and the Hokage's eyebrow twitched. Hiashi sent the pig a sideways glance as Shizune frantically whispered to the animal to calm it down. "We thought it best that you, as both her father and the head of her clan, be informed first," Tsunade said, drawing the attention back to herself.

Again, Hiashi nodded in acknowledgement. "I appreciate your consideration, Hokage-sama. Still, Kurenai-san and the others should be informed immediately. They formed the original search party, did they not?"

Hiashi's concern with Team Eight's involvement puzzled Tsunade, but she humored the man anyway. "Team Eight will be sent for immediately following this discussion."

The man nodded in approval. "With your permission, I'd like to inform my nephew and daughter myself. When a rescue team is formed, I'm sure Neji will wish to participate."

"Of course," Tsunade conceded.

"Lady Hokage, I know that my treatment of my eldest daughter has not always been seen as favorable among other members of the village. I am also aware that my reaction to her disappearance last spring probably did not leave you with a particularly favorable impression in regards to my demeanor and my feelings towards Hinata. My conduct at that time was… unacceptable, to say the least." The Hokage watched as Lord Hiashi swallowed his pride. At least he was honest with himself, and not just others. "I admit that these last few months I have had time to reflect on my behavior and am not proud to concede that, in regard to Hinata, I allowed others to influence my dedication to her and failed to be either a mentor or a father. Regardless of whether or not she ran away or she was abducted, Hinata is my daughter and, despite what my past actions may suggest, she is precious to me. I cannot stand the thought of her in the hands of someone such as Orochimaru." Hiashi took a deep breath. "Given the opportunity, I wish her to be released into my custody upon her return."

Tsunade wasn't sure what she expected from the head of the Hyuuga clan, but this certainly wasn't it. She looked the man up and down, considering his request. In the past, the man had shown little regard or concern for Hinata's life. To put him in a position where her life was potentially in his hands, especially after his outburst following her disappearance, caused Tsunade to hesitate. However, he was her father and the leader of her clan. He did, no matter how poorly earned, have a right to custody over her if and when the time came.

"You have my permission, Hiashi-sama. You will be informed the moment we have enough information to pursue and a team is compiled, as well as if and when she is returned to us."

The man bowed deeply. "Arigato, Hokage-sama. I assume everything in the village's power is being done to gather intelligence so we can, in fact, go after my daughter?"

Hiashi's concern continued to take Tsunade off guard, but she was glad to deal with the protective father over the slanderous clan leader any day. "Of course," she assured him. "You have my word."

"Then I shall patiently await further instruction." The two exchanged formal goodbyes. The moment the door closed behind Hiashi, Tsunade sagged in her chair.

"That was… Unexpected," Shizune offered.

The Hokage nodded and sighed, her pigtails nearly touching the floor as she slumped lower in her chair. "To say the least. Oh, Shizune, we do have our hands full, don't we?" She reached a hand out for her bottom drawer.

Shizune's foot kicked out, knocking the drawer back into place. Tsunade looked up at her assistant. "You have a lot on your plate right now. You need a clear mind." The look in Shizune's eyes was scolding as she stared down at her sensei.

The blonde felt the visual reprimand and sighed again, picking herself up. "Fine," she conceded. Her assistant smiled and removed her foot. "But once I get through this pile of paperwork, I'm having a drink."

"Ruu-ah!" Kiba buried another kunai in the center of a crudely painted target. His teammate stood leaning against a nearby tree, hands in his pockets and hood casting a dark shadow over his face. Akamaru paced nervously back and forth, feeding off Kiba's anxious energy.

The dog-boy looked at Shino and growled. "How can you just stand there like nothing is wrong? It's driving me crazy. Aren't you at all upset about this?"

"Of course," Shino replied. "I wish to get Hinata back as much as you."

"Then why aren't we already out searching for her?" Akamaru barked in agreement.

"We cannot take action without the approval, consent, and instruction of both our sensei and our Hokage. What is more, we lack the numbers for a complete team."

Kiba bared his teeth, his sharp canines appearing menacing. He clenched his fists, knuckles turning white. "Yeah, well, Hokage or not Tsunade-sama doesn't know Hinata-chan like we do. She's out there in the hands of that bastard Orochimaru and that skeeze Sasuke... Who knows what those sickos are doing to her! If she's out there, we should be out there, too! She's our teammate, Shino, and I won't just sit back and do nothing."

"I, too, am upset by this situation. Hinata is important to me as well. But your temper will not get her back." Kiba, having spent years interpreting Shino-speak heard the offense and hurt in his comrade's stoic cadence and unclenched his fists. He was right, as usual: criticizing others wasn't going to rescue Hinata. "Additionally, I am not doing nothing, as you suggested. I am waiting on instructions from our superiors, and you should too."

"I guess... But even Kurenai-sensei acted weird about it. She's been behaving strange lately anyway, and she smells kind of different, but I figured she just going through some… I don't know – lady stuff. But it's even weirder than that. I mean, today when Tsunade-sama told us about Hinata she barely said anything at all. Don't you think that's a little odd?"

"We never were the most conventional group, though, were we?"

Kiba's head whipped around. Kurenai had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He'd been so caught up in his frustration he hadn't even smelled her coming. "Did you talk to Tsunade-sama? When are we leaving?"

Kurenai smiled at her student's passion. "Why don't we all sit down?"

"Kurenai-sensei, that's not an answer. Hinata-"

"Kiba!" The woman's voice went from motherly suggestion to a snap in an instant. The boy closed his mouth. "I am well aware of Hinata's current predicament, but we have a lot to talk about. So, take a seat."

Kiba sat leaning against the tree he'd recently riddled with kunai, Akamaru curling up at his side. Kurenai and Shino sat as well, the four creating a small circle. The jounin looked at her students in turn. "First, I want to iterate that I understand the frustration and anxiety you two are feeling right now. Hinata's disappearance was a shock to all of us, and these last six months –"

"Seven," Kiba interjected.

"I'm sorry?"

"Seven," he said again. "You said these last six months, but Hinata-chan has been gone for seven. She disappeared in March, remember?"

Kurenai stared at her student. Kiba's brash and cocky attitude often overshadowed his sensitive side. It made her heart hurt to hear the thought he'd put into Hinata's disappearance, how it so obviously weighed on him. "Of course. As I was saying, I know Hinata's absence has been difficult, especially considering the circumstances under which she left and our coming up empty-handed in our search of Kumo. Despite the evidence suggesting otherwise, it was difficult to consider the possibility that Hinata, like Sasuke, chose to run away. And, while there are any number of possible explanations as to why her money and her mission gear disappeared with her, I have spent these last several months attempting to digest the idea that Hinata may have chosen to leave us, whatever her reasons."

Kiba looked at the ground and picked at the dirt absently with one hand while petting Akamaru with the other. Even Shino appeared more solemn than usual. Accepting that Hinata may not want to be found was a difficult idea to swallow for all of them and being unable to locate her left a particularly harsh sting. Their entire team consisted of tracking specialists, and not so much as a whisper of her since she left. No one, especially her teammates, wanted to believe the girl would abandon the life she'd built in Konoha. And yet, the longer Kurenai thought on it, the more it seemed the most possible reality. Hinata was a skilled kunoichi, no longer a defenseless little girl, and certainly capable of fighting off kidnappers (or at least causing enough of a stir at their attempt to alert others to her predicament). Plus, if she truly didn't wish to be followed or found, no one was better equipped to cover their tracks than the Hyuuga girl.

While Hinata had grown into herself during their years together, Kurenai remembered the few weeks before her disappearing act: her quiet demeanor resurfaced, her lack of enthusiasm during practice, her distracted gazes and neglectful eating habits. The memories dropped a painful weight in the jounin's chest. While she only witnessed pieces of the odd behavior, having been separated from the group once they all graduated to chunin, Kiba and Shino both reported their observations to her with growing concern. Kurenai offered to talk to the girl, taking her out to dinner where she barely spoke or ate, offering little information. The jounin backed off at that point. Hinata always approached her in the end when she needed to talk. But this time was different. This time her precious female student had simply vanished. Perhaps if she just pushed harder, if she made Hinata tell her what was wrong, then maybe…

Kurenai shook her head, ridding her mind of the thoughts that plagued her over the last seven months. Now she knew how Kakashi must feel, having lost a student of his own.

"I want to go after Hinata as much as you two do, but it's not as simple as just taking off and heading for her last known location. We've been at war with Orochimaru for years now, and this is the first any of our intelligence has led us to one of his hideouts. We know from information obtained during Team Kakashi's reconnaissance mission that Orochimaru uses more than one location. Now that Konoha has discovered one of them, the chance of him and or his
subordinates returning to occupy that particular location is nearly nonexistent. They're also sure to have other cronies lying in wait for any Konoha shinobi who may take it upon themselves to infiltrate it." She looked sternly at Kiba, giving him a warning with her eyes. The boy nodded gruffly, showing he understood even if he didn't agree.

"That being said, while we now know that Hinata is in Orochimaru's custody, we don't actually know where she is. Orochimaru and his subordinates are highly dangerous, S-ranked criminals. They're not to be taken lightly, and now that they've evacuated their Kusagakure location, they've vanished from our radar again. We cannot effectively launch a retrieval without further intelligence and a better understanding of what we're up against."

"What?" Kiba was irate again. "First of all, that's bullshit. Naruto and his team have fought Orochimaru and Akatsuki multiple times, and they're still alive. We can fucking handle it!"

"Kiba -" Kurenai tried to calm her student but this time to no avail. He barreled over her, his voice gaining volume as he spoke.

"Secondly, it's taken years for anyone to locate that Orochimaru bastard and Team Kakashi did it by accident! You cannot really be asking us to sit tight until the ANBU or some other random group stumbles upon another one of their hideouts. How long are you willing to leave Hinata out there with those fuckers?"

"Kiba, language!" Kurenai warned.

"Fuck language!" The boy was on his feet now, pacing angrily. "You heard what Lady Tsunade said! If Orochimaru is using her for any of his sick experiments he could decide he's done with her any day - and you know what happens after that? She's dead, that's what! And where were we in the meantime? Sitting back like a bunch of worthless assholes."

Kiba's chest heaved with heavy, forceful breaths as he clenched his fists and stared at Kurenai. Akamaru whimpered at his human's outburst. Shino's gaze shifted ever so slightly between his sensei and his comrade, seeing who would break first, and was surprised to see tears welling in the woman's red eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet, pleading. "Kiba…"

The dog-boy must have seen the tears, too, because he plopped down hard on the ground and slumped forward. "I'm sorry, Kurenai-sensei," he apologized, his voice significantly calmer than a moment before. "It's just, when I think of either of those slime-balls getting their hands on Hinata-chan I just…" He shook his head as if he wanted to get the mental images out of his mind.

Kurenai took a deep, shaky breath. "I know, Kiba. I truly understand. And I appreciate your zeal – I know you care greatly for Hinata. We all do. But we have to face reality as well, and the reality is we don't have enough information or man power to go charging after her right now."

"I concur. We will need to find a replacement for Hinata and you, Sensei, before we can proceed." Shino spoke for the first time since the woman had joined them. The jounin's red eyes widened for a moment before she laughed quietly to herself.

"I should've known you'd know already."

"Yes. My bugs detected the change in your hormone balance weeks ago. We've known for some time."

Kiba looked back and forth between his teammate and his teacher. "What the heck are you two talking about?"

"I'm surprised you don't know as well, Kiba, with that nose of yours."

"Figured what out? What am I missing?"

"Kiba, I'm pregnant."

The red triangles on the boy's face stretched as his mouth fell open. "You're… that explains why you've smelled different lately." The news shouldn't have taken Kiba by surprise – animals were quite sensitive to fluctuations in hormones. Some people believed dogs and cats could detect a pregnancy before the mother even knew for herself. Then Kurenai remembered that her feisty student knew exactly when Hinata left. Was he counting the days? The hours? With a missing teammate weighing upon him, the woman found she couldn't blame Kiba for not putting two and two together – his mind was clearly somewhere else.

Kurenai laughed and smiled despite herself. "I suppose so. I wanted to tell you two soon, but Asuma and I agreed to keep it between us as long as we could before telling our teams and families. I'm not even sure his team knows yet. We haven't discussed when we should break the news. I certainly didn't anticipate telling the two of you under such emotional circumstances, but I feel that the current situation calls for it as, when a retrieval team is formed, I will not be able to go with you all in search of Hinata." She rested her hand gently on her stomach. Both boys stared at her with defeated expressions. "I wish with all my heart I could be a part of that team, should it depart in the near future, but I'll have to leave it to you two to ensure whoever goes does everything possible to find and retrieve Hinata."

Kurenai looked at her students in turn and felt the weight of Hinata's absence upon all of them. She moved her hand across her stomach and thought of the child growing there. When she learned she was pregnant, she wanted nothing more than to tell the members of Team Eight, but her excitement quickly fell when she remembered Hinata would not be there to share in the celebration. Kurenai tried to convince herself it was selfish to feel less joyful because of the girl's absence, but she truly did want to share the news with her beloved students – all of them. The jounin had the privilege of helping encourage and raise Hinata into a strong and kind woman. The possibility that her female pupil may never get the opportunity to share that spirit with her son or daughter ate at the jounin more than she wanted to admit, especially to herself.

Biting back tears, Kurenai cleared her throat. "That being said," the woman continued, her heart pounding a little bit after relaying her news, "there's much to do and take into account before any action can be pursued. And, as much as I know you both hate it, I am asking you to wait patiently and do as you're told in the meantime."

"Hai!" The boys nodded in unison. Akamaru barked. Kurenai smiled wistfully, a sadness washing over. She could almost hear Hinata's delicate voice join in with the deeper tones of her male teammates. Hinata, Kurenai wondered, where are you?

"Guh!" Hinata coughed and hit the ground hard. She reached up and touched her cheek, feeling the bite of Sasuke's sword. A trickle of blood ran down her face and across her lips. Hinata tasted metal.

The girl stood, brushing her cheek with the back of her hand and facing her opponent with a glint of fierce determination in her eye. "I keep telling you," Sasuke warned, "you'll never win if I don't hold back."

Hinata's fists glowed blue as she channeled her chakra into them. "Don't tell me what I can and can't do." The girl rushed at him again, grunting in frustration as he dodged her attack, moving almost too quickly for her to keep up. Gotta move faster. The Hyuuga girl spun on her heel and feigned towards him, the chakra around her fists glowing brighter and shifting form as she did so. She ached against the weights on her ankles and wrists, willing herself to push harder. Even as she raced forward, Hinata watched Sasuke's feet, paying careful attention. His weight shifted right.

Got him.

Before Sasuke even began moving, Hinata was on a collision course. The boy seemed to sense her movement with his Sharingan as he quickly redirected his path. Hinata, however, was already on him. Her fist clipped his right shoulder, toppling him off his trajectory the slightest bit – just enough for her to make a move. The girl moved in closer, her hands moving rapidly as she jabbed, aiming for his vitals. Sasuke swatted away most of her blows, dodging her hands and leaping backward at the same time. As long as she could keep his hands busy, he could dodge but couldn't perform any jutsu to counter.

The chakra flares around Hinata's wrists expanded, each loosely taking on an undefined shape. A blow made contact with the inside of Sasuke's arm. The boy, momentarily unable to block, leapt into the air in a flash. Hinata tried to track him using her Byakugan, but his movement was still too rapid for her to detect. The boy appeared behind her suddenly, his shoulders just stretching out from behind her blind spot.

Before Hinata could react she felt the cold steel of Sasuke's sword pressed against the nape of her neck. "Match." Hinata raised her hands in surrender and the blue glow around them receded, leaving the two in the half-light of candle glow before she released her Byakugan as well and plunged herself into total darkness.

"It seems that new jutsu is coming along nicely. It still doesn't quite have a shape, but to pursue and continue to shape your chakra as you jabbed takes significant skill," the boy praised his companion, sheathing his sword and stepping around Hinata. "A few more weeks with the weights and you might be able to catch me." Sasuke reached out and stroked the already-healing wound with his thumb, lightly caressing Hinata's cheek. "Does it hurt?" he asked.

Hinata felt his calloused fingertips against her skin. Her face grew hot beneath them. "I'm going to get hurt sometime." A non-answer, but a response nonetheless.

Sasuke let out a soft breath. "Yes. Yes you are."

A/N: So, as promised, after a three month hiatus YGA is back in action. I didn't quite write as much as I wanted the last few months due to some personal stress and issues that prevented me from working on it like I would've liked, but I'm excited to get it back underway nonetheless.

Secondly, and this is the SUPER IMPORTANT PART, so please read. As I was writing the new material it became very obvious to me that since I started this story 8 years ago, I have matured quite a bit which means my writing, my language, and the themes I choose to explore are also more mature. That being said, I gave this quite a bit of thought and to keep in accordance with fanfiction guidelines, Part 2 of Your Guardian Angel will be posted under my profile as a separate story, that way Part 1 can remain rated "T" for teen but people won't be sifting through 30+ chapters and the more mature content will be rated appropriately to comply with the website ratings guide. Plus, I feel like once a story reaches over a certain number of words it can be intimidating. I know that posting Part 2 as a separate story probably seems obnoxious, but I really feel like it's the best thing to do and I hope it won't deter you all from continuing to read.

All that said, I hope you liked this first chapter of Part 2 and that you feel it was worth the wait. It probably wasn't as much SasuHina as y'all would've liked, but I wanted to get into the heads of a few other characters since I introduced them into the fray at the end of Part 1. I think getting all the different vantage points is interesting, especially as the story moves forward and the characters from different locations collide. I'm going to be returning to posting a chapter every 2 weeks and plan to hold myself to that schedule unless unexpected circumstances get in my way. I'm excited about where the story is going and hope you all are, too! Thank you all so much again for sticking with me, even through my hiatus. Much love - Kinsey.