Hello everyone. This is my first fan-fic so please be gentle. Let me know what you think in your reviews. Any suggestions would be great. Enjoy

There were clear skies as he looked across the horizon's distance. One would say that it was a perfect day, but why did dread and sorrow scar his brow and call his mind home. Looking down below the evidence was seen across what was once his home. Pulling his knees to closer to his chest he looked at the crater that was at one time known as Konoha. It has been a whole week since he defeated Pain, and the village was slowly rebuilding itself. Tents dotted the outside of the crater that was now being filled in preparation for new buildings. Everyone was putting in a tremendous amount of effort to return their home to its former glory. Naruto sat upon the head of his father, what little was remaining of the Hokage Memorial, and thought about how much suffering the town had been through because he called this place home. Although the village was now safe for the time being, war loomed in the air, and there would soon be conflict again in the lives of the people he held so dear. This time specifically to gain the power of the Kyubi that lived within him. There would be no more chances for his friends. If they died in another invasion, nothing could bring them back again. Inside, Naruto's heart broke, he had finally attained everything he ever wanted. The people that had once shunned him are now calling him a hero. Talk of him becoming the next Hokage spread quickly among the tents, his friends no longer thought of him as a the knucklehead kid that he had been. He even had the love of a girl who had risked her own life to save him in his most dire moment, nearly dying herself. He couldn't do it again, he wouldn't!

Slowly getting to his feet he picked up his bag and looked over the impromptu city. "Well Karuma, are you ready." thinking to himself. In his mind he could feel the Kyubi stir and grumble. With one last look he turned and started walking, leaving his past behind not knowing what the future would hold. All he knew is that he couldn't put those precious to him in danger any more.

Deep in thought Naruto traveled for hours, almost oblivious to the outside world. He thought of what he would do during his battle with Pain and how he would seek a true peace. Just as Pain had sought after power to attain his twisted view of peace, others would to, he would not let anyone stand in front of him when they sought his power just to end up perishing like so many before. His mind thought back to the pervy sage, his father and mother, and even to the Old Man. Each had sacrificed themselves to stop others who would seek power and died for it. Returning to the real world he quickened his pace, wanting to put some distance between him and the village before he stopped for the night. It was then that he felt the presence of someone else that was following him. There was no hostility coming from the person so he assumed it was someone tailing him on Tsunades' orders. He had to lose him so no one would know where he was, attempting to "protect" him.

Not wanting another confrontation he kept moving. No one could outlast his stamina and that was his plan. For two days he traveled at a brisk pace, often moving through the trees to increase his followers' fatigue. On the second night he made camp, lighting a small fire and eating a cup of instant ramen, he settled down. Never once had he let on that he knew someone was following him. A mere few hundred yards from where he laid on his travel mat was the tail. Figuring Naruto had stopped for the night they laid down to recoup from the long journey that was expected to get longer. Shortly after midnight when Naruto had felt that the tracker-nin was asleep, he rose from mat and proceeded to where the follower was resting. Pulling a kunai from his pouch, being careful in case the tracker would attack, he approached. His only plan was to tie the person up so he could no longer be followed, thus resulting in a recovery team pursuing him to.

The tracker was resting at the base of a tree obviously sound asleep from the low rhythmic breathing that came from slumber. In the low moonlight that came through the canopy he could see a slender figure, a kunoichi, wearing dark navy blue cargo pants and a cream colored jacket. Long dark hair with a tint of blue covered half her face and Naruto stopped dead in his tracks. It was Hinata, his eyes must have been playing tricks on him. He brought up his kunai, poked himself in the hand, just to make sure he was not dreaming. To his surprise here she was, asleep with her head resting on a small travel pack she had brought with her. She was one of the main reasons he had decided to leave. After her confession poured from her soft lips while he was at his weakest, he had failed to protect her. He slowly approached her and picked her up, to his delight she did not wake. She must have been exhausted from trying to keep up with him. Much to his surprise as he was walking back to his small camp she nuzzled her head into his chest, with the only sound she made was "Naru-chan".

He laid her down on his sleeping mat, pulled a light blanket from his travel pack and proceeded to cover her up to keep her warm. Once she looked to be settled in Naruto sat against a tree next to Hinata and thought about their childhood together. With all that he learned through his training, he had always been oblivious to Hinata's feelings toward him. He felt like such a loser for not noticing, and had wondered often, after her confession, why she had chosen to fall in love with him. He felt undeserving of such affections due to the fact that he could not protect her while Pain had driven one of his chakra rods through her. The shy little Hinata he had trained with, and was assigned to missions with, had grown strong, for it was when he had lost all his strength did she not only come to his defense, but she had the conviction in her heart to confess to him knowing her own demise.

Replaying the memory in his head of what had transpired during the fight, he saw how Pain had badly beaten her, and with the last ounce of her strength she tried to pull the chakra rods that held him in place. Even as the rod in Pains hand came down and pierced through Hinata, all he could hear in his mind was her repeating declaration, "I love you".

The rays of the morning sun had begun to shine through the trees and splashed across the cream colored complexion of Hinata's face. Slowly stirring from her slumber her dreams faded to give away to her surroundings. To her surprise she could tell she was now lying on the ground and that she was covered by what she hoped was a blanket. Then full realization was coming to her, she had been following Naruto for two days straight before she fell asleep in the nook of a tree. She had been so tired and wondered how long Naruto could travel before he had to rest. With shock she sprang up to a sitting position allowing the blanket to fall to her lap. Looking quickly around her she could see that she was in the small camp that Naruto had made for the night. There was a small dig in where there had been a campfire, a travel pack that was sitting against a rock, and out of the corner of her eye she could see Naruto lying against a tree asleep.

He looks so cute and peaceful and while he sleeps, Hinata thought to herself. She turned toward him and started making her way closer to get a better look at his face. On her hands and knees she slowly inched closer as not to wake him she could only see the right side of his face at the moment. Hinata jumped back in a fright as Naruto's eyes popped open, looking directly at her, as if he was staring directly into her soul.

"Good morning Hinata-San", Naruto said without the slightest hint that he had been sleeping. In truth he had not slept all night. He stayed awake watching over the Hyuga Princess making sure no harm came to her. Thoughts of their childhood danced in his head like a lucid dream. He replayed every moment that he could recall that he spent time with her or that she was near him. Looking back he wondered about how he was so oblivious to the way that she felt toward him. She watched his training matches, went on missions with him, cheering him unconditionally from the sidelines, and even adopted his nindo in her own way. He had decided last night that she had to go back; he would not lose her to the destruction that constantly pursued him. "Did you sleep well?" he finished.

"N-n-naruto, I thought you were sleeping?" Hinata said in a hushed tone feeling the heat rush to her head as her blush returned.

Naruto could only stare at Hinata for a moment as he thought how cute she was when she blushed. Now knowing that all the times she had blushed in the past it was because of her affection for him. It only made her more adorable. Pushing that thought from his head he had to keep focused "I thought I was traveling alone until a few hours after I left. If I would have known it was you I would have stopped right there so you would not have to travel so far back to get home," making sure to add some seriousness his voice. Slowly he got up and retrieved his travel pack, looking back at her he said "Goodbye, Hinata".

A look of dread spread across Hinata's face at the thought of returning to the village. In a bold move she reached out and grabbed Naruto by the hand to stop him. He looked down at her, her other hand was pulled to her face while she looked at the ground. Tears were evident in her eyes as she spoke in a hushed tone "N-n-no."

Steadying himself, he wasn't going to lose his ground "You must Hinata. You cannot come with me. Everywhere I go I am hunted by those that wish to get ahold of the Kyubi's power. That is why Konoha was attacked, they were after me." Naruto looked away quickly, not wanting the shy Hyuga to see the horror on his face at the thought of her being killed because of him.

With determination in her eyes she looked up and steadied herself despite the tears in her eyes, "I will not," the stutter completely gone.

Hearing this Naruto couldn't do anything but look back down at her, the few tears that rolled down her cheeks tugged at his heart. He had left without saying anything to her because he felt that he could not stand to watch himself break her heart when she knew what he was going to do. "I will be hunted. Not just by Tobi, but the other hidden villages also. When I chose to leave I became a missing-nin. I cannot go back again. I also cannot allow you to be hurt or worse, when they find me."

Looking at him standing there she could see the confliction in his eyes. They held worry and fear, then she realized it, he was trying to protect her. She had confessed her long held emotions to him during the battle never expecting him to return her feelings. At that moment she could see the care and concern in his eyes for her. Seeing this served to soften her tone. "I-I can't go back." It was a declaration.

Much to his surprise the words that she said rang in his ears. It wasn't that she wouldn't go back, but that she couldn't. "What do you mean that you can't?"

Hinata looked back toward the ground, a blush rose to her cheeks as she recalled what had happened a few days earlier.

Four Days Earlier

Hinata was returning to the Hyuga compound after her time working at the medical tents that were in the place where the hospital once stood. At her home there were tents spread throughout what remained of the compound. Many of the branch families were busy trying to excavate the ruins of what was once their home. Small buildings were being erected to make life a little more livable until proper houses could be built. She walked into one of the large and majestic looking tents, the one that she would call home until the main house was finished. "Father, I have returned from my assignments."

Her father sat behind a large wooden desk going over paperwork, mostly consisting of requests from the other villagers to help in the rebuild efforts and some from the council for assistance on patrols. Looking up from his work he kept a regal look while he addressed his oldest daughter "Welcome back. Hinata there is something we must discuss. Follow me." Hiashi got up from his desk and proceeded outside of the tent. While Hinata followed he began to talk. "Hinata, in light of recent events there are decisions that we have to make that we may not favor or others will understand at the time. You are my oldest daughter and the heir of the Hyuga clan. You will lead this clan into a glorious and prestigious future, of that I am sure. It is for that reason and the recent losses to the clan that I have made decisions to ensure that our traditions continue." They continued walking for a few moments past rubble piles that looked like they had once been walls that protected their home.

"Yes." Hinata said lowly, as she was trying to predict what her father would say next. For the life of her she was getting confused by what he was saying.

"It is with great happiness that I inform you that I have found you a fiancé. I had to rush things a little but I have been able to speed up the date to one months' time." Hiashi said flatly.

At that moment as the words of her father rang in her head, and then proceeded to shatter her heart, she felt sick unlike anything she had ever felt before. She stood motionless as she felt her world crumbling down around her. Then in the pits of her stomach a fire started. Fear fueled rage came frothing forward to her mind. All she could think of right then and there was the audacity of her father picking a husband for her. After everything she has done and been through, he dare deny her the one thing her heart desired the most, her Naruto-kun. Her head hung low, and in the softest of tones came the only response that would be able to move past her soft lips, "No."

Hiashi stopped at the soft whisper of a response that came from his daughter. Turning around he noted that she had stopped moments ago and was not as close as she was when they were walking, now nearly fifteen feet away. With all the grace of a prince Hiashi walked toward his daughter asking "What did you say Hinata?"

Hinata's nindo drove her forward with a more resolute declaration for her father. Looking up in defiance at her father, she had been through enough but this was one thing she was not backing down "No."

Hiashi stopped at the look in his daughter's eyes, this is going to get messy he thought to himself. "Hinata." He said in his sternest voice. "Be reasonable. You are the next head of the clan. A marriage would help unite the clan after what has happened to the village. The young man from the lower branch.."

"NO! I will not marry anyone that I do not love. Nothing you can say will change my mind", Hinata shouted. All the regality that was normally found in the Hyuga princess was gone. This was her stand, no backing down, she would be heard and her decision would be respected.

Taken aback by his daughter Hiashi looked to quickly defuse the situation. "Ok Hinata, then would you introduce me to this young man that you 'love?'" The taste of the "L" word in his mouth when it concerned his daughter left a bad taste. "Which family branch is he from? Do I already know him by name?"

A small smirk showed in Hinata's small and it was sure to disturb her father. "You may meet him if you wish, and yes you already know him. I am sure everyone in the village knows who he is by now." The looked of befuddlement crossed her dads face. "It is Naruto Uzumaki."

The look of horror was definitive on Hiashi's face, "You could never. It is against the traditions of the clan. You must marry from within the clan. Our bloodline is sacred and must remain pure. I care not if he saved the people from the village. He could save it a hundred times over and I still would not allow it" obviously with a hint of venom in his voice.

Trying to return to a more civilized tone Hinata spoke again, "Traditions be damned, this is one thing I will never yield to. I will be with him if he will have me as his wife." Throwing caution completely out the window she punctuated the point to be sure it would drive home in her father's mind. "I love Naruto-ku.."

Faster than anyone would have been capable of seeing Hiashi went to slap the face of his daughter. Much to his surprise she had easily blocked it with her left arm. Not only that, she had countered with her hand glowing blue from her chakra based attack now sat just under her father's chin. As if in suspended animation her father spoke the last of what she was to hear from him, "If you disobey me in this you will be stripped of your status and marked with the 'Caged Bird' seal.

With no hatred in her voice she lowered her stand and brought her arms back to her side. She turned to walk away looking back at her father she knew would be for the last time, "I love you father. You could try if you like, but the outcome would not be in your favor".

At that moment she walked away and she left her family behind. She knew all too well that she would not be welcome back there. She would be free to make her own decision.

Present

Naruto hadn't talked to Hinata about her confession on the battlefield. His emotions were too raw after defeating Pain and he was becoming tired. He would fight for the ones precious to him, but if he went away then disaster would no longer threaten them. The exhaustion of the continuous battles had worn on him and he just wanted to live without fighting. The lavender eyed Hyuga sat in front of him, her head hung low to hide the deep red blush that covered her face, she had made her declaration again and this time there was no battle for him to concentrate on, they were alone.

An amalgam of emotions swam through Naruto during the story that Hinata was retelling. A fire burned in his chest at the thought of someone else being with Hinata, an emotion he almost didn't expect to be as strong. Fluttering in the pit of his stomach when she had told her father about her emotions for him, emotions that he himself was starting to develop for her. Pride swelled him a great extent as she had stood up to her father. Humility kept him grounded as the realization of what she had given up for him. He could not send her back to the ridicule that she would constantly be the target of from her family.

Hinata was not sure that she was awake at Naruto's actions once she had finished her story. He had reached down and taken her hand, faster than she thought possible he pulled her into an embrace. He did not yell or think ill of her for her decision. It was an embrace that she could have only had in her dreams. A faint was close at hand, fighting the too often urge, she demanded to remain standing being in his arms. She returned it with a gentle squeeze of her own as she wrapped her arms around him. Much to her dismay Naruto pulled away, but another thought had come to her mind, I can't wait till I can do that again.

"Thank you Hinata". He pulled his arms from around her and had enjoyed the hug more than he thought he would. When he pulled away he held something in his hand and slowly turned away from his new travel companion. He bit down on is his thumb and slammed his open palm on the ground. With a puff of smoke a large toad appeared. "Hey Gamakichi, I have a favor to ask."

Looking around, Gamakichi could see no battle and looked at Naruto with a quizzical stare. "What do you need" he said almost afraid to ask.

Naruto looked back at Hinata who now had a dumbfounded look on her face. She really is cute, he thought. He reached up to the back of his head and untied his forehead protector. Hinata noticed then that he already had another one in his hand. Quickly she reached up to her neck just to find out that hers was the one that Naruto had in his hand first. He looked at her with a cheeky grin, and all she could do was smile at the illation she felt as she understood what his plans were. Hinata quickly started to pick up the rest of the camp as Naruto finished his giving his orders to the toad.

After the toad had left to accomplish his mission Hinata and Naruto picked up their packs and walked next together through the forest.