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Orochimaru tensed knowing the presence of the Head of Clan mere feet above them. Damn it. The fool. Why would he leave the safety of the Village and risk his death out in the open? No matter I can easily dispose of him if necessary. His eyes turned to Hinata who was fixated on her father above. The hatred in her core manifesting dangerously. They were in for it.

"Hinata we are getting close." He whispered. All their way back she held onto his hand. She seemed unfazed by this and continue to hold on. He shrugged as he couldn't care less of what others thought of the situation. They climbed up the final set of stairs that would put them in the same level as the others. Orochimaru was the first to see a glimpse of the new arrivals. Hinata's father was there as well as two other male Hyuuga adults and a female along with three anbu.

The woman looked away from the conversation. Less than happy about the discussion. As she did so she saw Orochimaru and Hinata emerging from the steps.

As Hinata saw the woman her grip tightened on Orochimaru's hand. "It's Umeko's mother."

Orochimaru saw as the woman's face contorted to absolute rage and raw emotion. In the blink of an eye the woman had closed the distance between them by half. "YOU!"

Without hesitation Hinata jumped in front of Orochimaru, her fists engulfed with chakra. The two Hyuuga's were set on course to clash. The woman looked at the opponent in front of her and almost immediately her gaze softened. "Lady Hinata?" Her disbelief loud enough for everyone to hear.

She attempted to diminish the strength of her attack but Hinata did not. With a graceful sweep Hinata side stepped away from her attack, twisting her body as she retracted her arms. Her power became concentrated and in a flourishing open palm hit she landed her fist on the woman's abdomen. The single contact was like a recoil and sent the woman flying back, her body lacking air from the blow crumbled and skidded down the corridor violently.

"W-wait a minute! Hinata! Hey what's going on?!" Naruto jumped in front of the new group as the woman's actions sent a surge of alert in everyone. Naruto glared seeking answers from the group of Hyuuga. "What's the meaning of attacking us like this?"

"Im sorry Naruto but Hinata must return to the Leaf Village at once!" Hiashi's voice was cold as he stared painfully back at the blonde ninja he had come to respect. "We aren't here to fight we just came for Hinata."

"We'll you sure started with throwing out punches, that to me looks like a fight." Naruto growled.

Sakura looked at the Head of family cautiously. "It's to carry on the exchange with Umeko correct?" Sakura asked uncertainly.

The woman that lay crumbled on the ground began to sob quietly between gasps of pain. "Umeko...".

"You haven't realized it have you Haruno? Umeko isn't coming. There is no exchange. Umeko is dead and her mother here acted out of grief." Hiashi enlightened the group. Kabuto looked away staring off the ground, his face concealed. Team 7 all showed one way of surprise. With Naruto standing stunned, Sakura's eyes widened as her hand stifled a gasp from her mouth, the Uchiha's eyes furrowed in confusion before turning away from Hiashi and eyeing Orochimaru curiously an eye brow raised.

Orochimaru on the other hand continued to step closer to the group his footsteps quiet over the sobs of the mother. "I am sorry for your loss truly I am, however I didn't kill Umeko." Orochimaru's eyes narrowed at Hiashi's as he pierced the Hyuuga's stare.

"Liar! We need to dispose of that serpent NOW! Before he kills another innocent child again!" The woman managed to breathe through sobs as she tried to stand to her feet. They shook violently like a new born fawns as two of the men pulled her up from her arms. Hiashi ignored the woman's words and instead his eyes drifted to his daughters face. This aura was unnerving him. The negativity radiating from her was so misplaced and foreign to him.

He looked at the duo with unfamiliar eyes. His daughter...no...she was not his daughter anymore. The woman who stood behind the serpent man, willing to do anything for him was not his daughter. "Hinata..." His voice cracked as he spoke her name. "Why don't you look alarmed by this news too?" His voice was sad as he spoke. His eyes pained as she listened. Now he listened back, finally he was listening to her...even though it was no use and he was far too late.

"Because I won't pretend anymore." Her response was strong as she remained in locked vision with her father. Her words hummed though the walls around them. Everyone was stiff at her words. No one moved or even breathed. As if time had stopped the group stood there unsure of how to proceed. All except Hinata and Orochimaru.

She went past Orochimaru, leaping in front of him and as she began to make contact with the ground she focused her chakra to her soles. Like a bullet she was propelled to make deadly clash with her father. Hiashi was no fool when it came to combat, his hands ablaze with chakra he snapped into proper stance.

She spun forward as her right leg stuck out, effectively catching her father off guard. He swatted at what he assumed she was going to gentle fist but instead landed a kick directly at his chest. With a sadistic smile she felt a crunch under neath her foot at what was most likely his sternum cracking. A blur to the left of her vision alerted her to one of the anbu. She was completely surrounded.

"Orochimaru go!" Hinata roared. She swiped directly at the anbu's head, the force knocking his mask as she effectively broke bone once again. Using her father's body as a platform she spun her left foot, kicking everyone a distance away.

"Naruto, Sasuke stop him!" Sakura shouted over the commotion. With a quick nod both the boys opposed Orochimaru and with that she spun around facing Hinata.

Orochimaru's eyes were wide as he saw the grace in her fighting. A sneer came across his face as he let her actions sink in. However, there was the matter of the two boys. To fight Narutokun and Sasukekun, I couldn't have asked for a more entertaining battle indeed! But I must focus on my mission. It's a pity Sasuke will have to end up on the opposing team. He obeyed without a word and ran towards them, exit in sight.

"Hinata stop this!" Sakura shrieked as she approached the kunoichi. She focused her strength to her fists. Emerald eyes meet with her traitorous friend. A dark feeling in the pit of her stomach was stinging at her eyes as her vision blurred for a second. "Im sorry." She said through gritted teeth.

With a quick fleck of her bangs, Hinata smiled devilishly. "Are you really? Im not." Hinata charged her 'gentle' fist and leaped to meet Sakura in the air. With a snap she felt a burn in her heel and she was pulled down to the ground by her father. His mouth dripped dark blood as his byakugan glared at her.

Dammit old man! You will pay. Her chakra network was blocked in her leg, eliminating her speed. With a furious tug she managed to free her foot from his grasp and effectively kicked him in the face. Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven! The bodies all crashed on the walls in the narrow corridor.

Sakura quickly focused the chakra to her feet and like a magnet landed on the ceiling. "Hinata this isn't you! Remember yourself please!"

"This is isn't me you say?! Who am I then?! Hinata the gentle kunoichi?! Hinata the weak lamb of the Hyuuga?! HINATA THE WEAK LOVE STRUCK KUNOICHI?!" Hinata's face flushed with rage at the Leaf Kunoichi. How dare she try and refrain her from growing. What was she blind? Couldn't she see the new found strength she had? Didn't she see how much she has grown?! She could fight now, she could help on a completely different level than any of the Rookie 9.

"Why do you still not see me? Why do you refuse to see that I have grown?! That I don't need to be protected anymore?!" Hinata swung at Sakura her chakra palms eager to touch the kunoichi's flesh. To prove that without her chakra strength, she was no more stronger than herself.

For the first time in a long time Sakura felt fear. Through tear blurred eyes she thought at times she was seeing Sasuke again. Another person who was going to leave, this time a dear friend. She felt confused as she dodged all her strikes being careful not to be touched. If she landed even one blow she would be done for.

"Orochimaru you have done enough damage!" Naruto growled. "Ready Sasuke?!" He looked over to the black haired boy to see that Sasuke was bent over, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "Sasuke-?!"

Naruto yelled out as he felt something enter spine quickly before exiting. His body was tense and unable to move. His vision began to fade in and out, blurring dangerously as his own breathing was quivering. He looked behind his back and managed to see spectacles reflecting the little light in the room.

"You shouldn't forget about me, Narutokun."

"K-kabuto...why? I thought you were a changed man."

"Forgive me Naruto. It's nothing personal, but for the sake of everyone and everything I have to. You will understand soon." Kabuto said bitterly letting the two shots drop to the floor.

"S-sasuke..." Naruto managed to breath but it was too late. Sasuke lay unconscious, the drug in full effect. Naruto felt the ground near his face crunch and looked to see pale toes by his face. He looked up at the sneering face of Orochimaru. "Release Hinata. I won't let you take her away."

Orochimaru let out a cackle at the blonde ninja's feeble plea. "My, my Naruto why do you always think I want to take everything away from you? Is that how you see me? Silly boy indeed."

With fading vision Naruto saw as Hinata approached the two men with Sakura unconscious in one hand.

"H-hinata...please..." Naruto mumbled feebly.

Her cold Byakugan lazily looked down at Naruto. "You're still awake? Here then." She tossed Sakura's body at him. "Don't say I kept you two apart." She walked up to Naruto looking at his pained blue eyes. She couldn't take it anymore. With a swift motion, she kicked Naruto and he was no longer hanging on to consciousness.

As she stood straight she began to feel a small panic. Her body was trembling dangerously. Her legs were wobbling violently and as her byakugan receded she saw the world blurred. A cold chill from before re-entered her body as she stood above the bodies that were out cold.

Orochimaru looked to her sympathetically. It is not easy to do what is necessary, even if it is the best solution. "By doing this we are keeping them safe." He re-assured her.

Small restrained spastic twitches managed to betray her. "I know...I don't care...So long as we are okay..." Hinata spoke stiffly.

"Very well." Orochimaru continued to look at Hinata. "Let us leave before any of them wake."

She turned around with tears still streaming from her eyes. "Lead the way."

Kabuto sighed, he looked at Orochimaru from the corner of his eyes rather agitated at his lack of comfort to the girl, then again he didn't want to do the task either.

Its almost over! I want to thank those who have been following this story ; A ;

Please Stay Awesome!