"Back Home"

by Melody of Perdition, formerly known as Snow Astrum.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, places, techniques, etc. They all belong to Kishimoto-sama.

Thanks to Rose Tiger and GoingGhost, who reviewed the last chapter! I would also like to thank all of those who added "Back Home" to their favorite stories' list! Arigato Gozaimasu!

Chapter 16: Distance

"No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the love of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth." Robert Southey

I can't believe this.

Thought Neji, as he peered through one of the windows that faced the main door of the Hyuuga Compound. In just a couple of hours, two Anbu squads, hidden in the small forest in front of the mansion, kept looking out for any suspects that could threaten his life or any of the Hyuugas.

"Especially you, Neji. You must be the next target. I order you to stay in the Hyuuga Compound. You shall NEVER, and I repeat, NEVER leave the mansion. Do you understand?"

Neji sighed, his eyes showing boredom and exasperation as he gazed at the guardians imposed by the Hokage. Even without the Byakugan, he could see them. After all, he was considered a prodigy among his generation. Still, with his status as the Hyuuga prodigy, he was under house arrest and couldn't do anything to stop Hanabi's murderers. He couldn't even go and search for Hinata, who was who knows where with that stupid Naruto, supposedly on a mission. His mission, as part of the Hyuuga family, was to protect the Head of Clan's daughters. My cousins.

And one of them is dead and the other one could be dead.

He broke his gaze on the Anbu teams and retreated to the training room. Just the thought of Naruto kidnapping his cousin made his want to kick someone's ass.

Especially a knucklehead's ass.

Just as he was about to enter the Hyuuga training room, he found himself face to face with none other than Shikamaru Nara.

"Hyuuga."

"Nara, what are you doing here?"

"It's very troublesome, but I need to ask you something." – said the Chunnin, running a hand through his dark locks. Neji remained silent, as an indication for Shikamaru to continue. The strategist sighed before continuing. – "Is Hinata in danger?"

This question surprised the Hyuuga Jounin. How did he arrive to the same conclusion as the Hokage?

"We believe so."

"Psht, then don't worry about her." – said Shikamaru, before introducing his hands on his pants' pockets and starting walking towards the exit. – "Naruto will surely take care of her."

"How do you know that?" – asked Neji, watching him leave.

"It's too troublesome." - He answered, before leaving in the Hyuuga compound a very confused Neji Hyuuga.

How could it be too troublesome to explain?

The thing is Neji couldn't understand what it meant to be head over heels with someone. Of course, he has a girlfriend at this moment, but he's still the same coldhearted, but not as much as in the Chunnin exams when they were twelve years old, ninja. Shikamaru could only find that kind of crazy love too troublesome, since he felt that way towards a certain kunoichi. But, Neji thought that Shikamaru found everything too troublesome, so he didn't gave the matter a big importance.

What he didn't realize, at that moment, was that Naruto would always protect Hinata because he was irrevocably in love with her.

The crazy things love can make you do.

Sunset was approaching the traveling ninja. He kept jumping from one tree's branch to another with the top speed he could manage. Every 5 minutes he would check on Hinata through his clone's point of view. He softly smiled every time he watched her.

Hehe… She looks even cuter when she's mad.

Ugh, you had to get all lovey-dovey, right? – said a deep voice in Naruto's consciousness. The blonde smiled even more, unconsciously, as he realized his mood was even able to tolerate the Kyuubi's nasty comments. And it's all thanks to Hinata-chan.

And her smile.

And her cooking.

And her shyness.

And her…

Oh, stop it kit! You're making me sick.

Naruto was about to retort to the Kyuubi when he smelled something unusual that was hanging in the air. It was a disgusting smell that was repulsive to his sensitive nose. He stopped in the middle of a clearing, trying to capture the smell so he could be able to trace it.

It might be Akatsuki. Gah! I wish I had Kiba's tracking ability.

Just clear your thoughts from anything and you can manage to have at least half of his ability, kit. Forget your worries, your mate, just for a moment and focus.

Naruto did as he was told, obeying the low-deep voice of the Kyuubi's mentoring. He, painfully, detached himself from Hinata and all the memories they had shared in the past two days. He forgot Sasuke's return, Sakura's happiness after the missing Nin's return, and even his oath to avenge his teacher's death.

Focus, kit. Focus. Send all of your senses to focus only on your nose.

After one minute, Naruto opened his eyes and focused on following the trail he could actually see of the smell's origin. He continued running at top speed, until he reached a big fire that had been made with a fire ninjutsu. In the middle of the burning flames, he could see a decaying corpse. Something's wrong. No one was around the area, so he got closer, only to drop down on his knees, next to the cadaver.

Hinata was right.

Everything was wrong.

Chouji's burning corpse was printed with Akatsuki's signature.

Just hand in the Kyuubi and we'll leave the Village alone.

"You were right, Hinata-chan." – said one of Naruto's clones. I looked at the one that had spoken, feeling the way color drained from my face. I felt I was about to hear bad news. Unconsciously, my hand rested on my chest, in front of where my heart is, in form of a prayer.

Please, don't let anything go wrong, God. I ask you to protect everyone who's important to me.

I was barely able to manage to choke out my question: "W-What h-happened?"

"I…" – the clone sighed, clearly noticing the way I stuttered. I guessed Naruto-kun was backing out on telling me. I looked down at the floor, before the clone continued: "I… I found Chouji."

"Chouji?! How is he? Is he ok?"

A moment of silence, before he answered: "He's dead, Hinata-chan."

Dead. Dead. Dead.

Suddenly, everything blacked out for me.

It's my fault. I'm not there to help them. If I was there… - I kept listening to my voice in the middle of the darkness that had appeared before me.

If you were there, you would've ended up dead.– said a deep, unapproving voice I knew so well. Tears started forming on my eyes, I could feel them, but I wasn't able to remove them. I didn't want him to see me crying. I didn't want him to see how weak I was at the moment.

You're always and will always be weak, Hinata. I know I made the right choice when I decided to make Hanabi the heiress.

I kept crying, trying to hug myself as I usually did after facing my father's disgusted face when I failed during a mission. But I couldn't. I couldn't even comfort myself. I was alone and unable to move. I couldn't feel anything but the agonizing pain of being unable to do something. I felt weak.

You are weak, Hinata. Admit it.

No, no, no! That's not true. I'm stronger than I used to be. I'm a Chunnin.

My father's voice cackled, before answering with the same voice he had used before: It doesn't matter if you're a Chunnin. You're still weak and will always be weaker than your little sister. You'll always be a lot weaker than Neji, a branch member. You can't even give him a proper fight. You are on your knees after five minutes. You're weak, Hinata, and that doesn't meet up with the standards of how strong my daughters should be. You don't deserve to be called a Hyuuga. You're a failure to our family.

I felt as if I was drowning in the middle of that darkness. I couldn't stop it from happening. Part of me, didn't want to stop myself from drowning. I was about to embrace Death, when a loud, worried voice I knew so well talked to me:

Hinata-chan! Wake up. You're all I have. Please, I need you.

Naruto-kun…

Come on, Hinata-chan! You're stronger than that! Keep fighting.

You're right, Naruto-kun. Thank you.

I opened my eyes only to see two deep azure pools full of worry. I smiled at him, before whispering: "I'm all right, Naruto-kun. Be careful."

Again, Naruto-kun had saved me. It was my turn to save him.

What I didn't know at that moment was that love could make me do stupid mistakes.

"What?! Leave? Why?" – Sakura anxiously asked to her silent lover. He kept caressing her and carrying her on his lap. He hadn't said anything after he had declared they should leave. He kept confusing her. Just when I thought we were finally understanding each other.

You can't assure that just by having sex with him, you know.

We didn't have sex! We did love. It's different.

Sure, sure.

"I correct myself."

"Huh?"

"I have to go back." – He declared, leaving Sakura completely confused. She reproduced his words over and over in her head. What about me?

"What's the matter, Sasuke-kun? Something happened, right?"

He remained silent for a while, before answering: "Itachi is in Konoha."

"But… But I thought…" – Sakura was about to retort, but was interrupted by his deep, menacing voice.

"Just because I had sex with you, doesn't mean I no longer want to revenge my family's death."

Sakura flinched and looked at the fire. She climbed off his lap and gazed at the cloudy landscape that could be seen from the outside of the cave they were hiding in. Sasuke sighed before appearing behind her and hugging her from her waist, leaning her upper body on his torso.

"I'm… I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't mean to say it that way. It's just…"

"I know… Avenging your clan is still your priority."

A moment of silence passed by, before she continued: "What about me?"

Sasuke kissed her cheek and tightened his hold on her. "You should continue searching for Hinata and Naruto. I feel they're very close from this spot. You must finish our mission."

"But… your brother is searching Naruto. It wouldn't be wise to return with that knucklehead if your brother and the other Akatsuki members are in Konoha."

"I know. You just find them and accompany them to accomplish their personal mission."

"But, it might take months."

"And in those months the Village will be able to recover from the attack." – He said, before pulling away from her, to be able to put on his jacket and grab his katana.

"Sasuke-kun…" – Sakura whispered, standing in the entrance of the cave, in the same position the raven haired ninja had left her.

"I love you, Sakura." – Sasuke said, before kissing her passionately on the lips and running at full speed towards the Village. But I must first kill Itachi so I can be sure you're safe.

"I love you too, Sasuke-kun…" – she whispered to no one, but herself. The emotive moment was interrupted by the loud voice in her head:

I told you. It was sex, not love.

Go to hell.

Naruto ran as fast as he could until he reached the main gates of the Village. He entered without stopping to salute the ninjas that were guarding the entrance. He kept running until he reached the Hokage's office, where a tired Hokage was drinking away all of her worries with sake. When he pushed the door open, Tsuande looked up at him with anger on her eyes, until she realized it was him. Her eyes changed from anger to… worry, maybe?

"Naruto, when did you…"

The blonde interrupted her with his serious stare, still panting from the long run he made. When he recovered his breath and she noticed Naruto's attitude, he told her what he had found on the forest on his way back to the Village. Chouji…

When he finished, there was a moment of silence in which he expected her to start yelling out orders to Shizune, who was just outside the office. Instead, she looked through the big windows behind her desk and heavily sighed. He swore he heard her say "I'm too old for this", but he didn't ask her anything. She really is old. I can see the deep wrinkles on her face.

"Obaa-chan?"

"Gai and Hanabi Hyuuga also appeared dead, with a message resembling the one you found on Chouji."

"Gai-sensei? Hinata-chan's sister?" – asked Naruto, a clear puzzled look adorned his face, especially his deep, azure eyes.

Tsunade turned her chair to be able to look at him, before proceeding:

"Naruto, they're clearly after you. They're using all the people you know to lure you to them."

"I know, but why Hinata-chan's sister?"

"Because their most important target, aside from you, is Hinata. They know she's your weakness. They know you would follow them if her life depended on it."

Naruto gaped at her. Just by loving her, she was in danger?

"Right now, we even have Neji and the whole Hyuuga clan under surveillance. We are worried for their safety, especially those closely linked to Hinata. I know she's important to you, Naruto, but we must protect her…"

"Don't worry. She's under, what you could, call house arrest, Obaa-chan." – smirked Naruto.

Tsunade was about to say something when the door wildly opened and there, in the entrance of the office, was the blonde's best friend and rival, panting heavily with sweat running down his cheeks.

"Sasuke!" – yelled Naruto, clearly glad of seeing his friend in the critical situation the Village was under.

He smirked with his Uchiha arrogance and stood up next to the blonde. The Hokage stared at them, before standing up from her chair and crossing her arms beneath her breasts. "Well, this will be interesting. You're back to avenge your clan, right?" – She asked the Uchiha, who nodded in response. – "Good, what we've got to do now is…"

"Shit!" – yelled the blonde so suddenly. The Hokage and the Avenger stared at him, full of curiosity, before he explained: "Hinata escaped! She's on her way."

"Damn it, how do you know, Naruto?" – asked Tsunade.

"My clones disappeared. She must have taken them down. Gee, my girlfriend is really strong." – said Naruto, worry filling his voice while he ran his hand through his golden locks. I will have to take care from her from now on. But I should've expected it… Damn it, I should've taken precautions.

"Then that means Sakura is also on her way." – said Sasuke, in a deep, pissed voice.

"Why you say that, teme?"

"Because their orders, Naruto, were to track you down and bring you back, along with Kiba." – She answered for the Uchiha, before sighing and drinking what was left in the bottle of sake. – "Well, this really changes things."

Both of the young ninjas showed their worry for their loved ones. Sasuke kept whispering obscene words to no one in particular, while the blonde kept looking down at the floor, finding his feet more interesting than anything else. They sure are a weird pair.

Oh, Jiraiya, I wish you could see how they've grown. I wish you could see how the new generation takes the world in their hands.

Well, another chapter for you guys! I can't stop thanking all of you for keeping up with me and my story. I hope you liked this chapter and I expect to hear from you through your reviews or, if you want, you can even pm!

Thanks for keeping up with me. Please keep reading and reviewing!

Yours,

Melody of Perdition.

Formerly known as Snow Astrum.