Hinata glanced at Naruto as they walked side by side. The fog was getting ever thicker and colder but Hinata felt comfort at Naruto’s presence, even if she felt like fainting right then and there. She was alone with him. Walking with him, with no one else around. Alone. With Naruto-kun…

“Mm?” Naruto leaned in close to her face. “Is something the matter? You’re so red all of a sudden.”

“N-nothing! I’m just fine!” Hinata squealed backing away. She had been able to smell him from how close he had been. He smelled so nice. “D-do you think we should do something about the fog?”

 “I’ve tried blowing it away with my Rasengan,” Naruto crossed his arms. “I don’t know. There’s something strange about it.”

Hinata blinked. She’s rarely seen Naruto so serious before. It was a bit unnerving.

“You don’t think…”

Hinata stared at Naruto, waiting for him to continue. He turned with a ghastly look on his face.

“This fog was caused by ghosts, do you?!” he said shivers going up and down his body.

Hinata’s mouth curled up in a small smile. “I’m sure it wasn’t caused by ghosts, Naruto-kun,” she reassured.

There was a scuffling behind him and he whipped around to face it. Hinata raised her hands in her normal fighting stance and activated her byuakugan. She had used it earlier and was not surprised that it still didn’t work. She felt Naruto’s back against hers and blushed faintly, but still maintained a calm head.

“Can you see anything?” he asked.

“No, something’s interfering. Everything’s blurry.”

“We know it’s not normal fog then.”

Hinata nodded and slid her foot to the side a bit. The silence was deafening, the lack of movement unsettling. She gulped, their enemy, whoever it was, knew how to play with their senses. Unsureness of when they were going to attack was inching through her head. Teasing into her nerves. Her ears were buzzing, her nose filled with acrid scents. Chakra blared all around them. She didn’t know where to attack first. She was going to die. She was going to die a nobody and a failure. Her knees were shaking. She was going to die forgotten. Death… She was going to die.

“Hinata!” somebody was shaking her shoulders and her eyes met blazing blue. “Snap out of it!”

“N-naruto-kun…”

“The fog is messing with your mind! Don’t let it get to you.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she shook. She’s never been so afraid since the Chunin exams. What was she? A coward? There was never any real danger and she had been shaking like a frightened sheep.

Arms wrapped around her and her eyes widened.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, Hinata,” Naruto whispered. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, datebayo.”

“Naruto… kun,” Hinata’s arms tentatively raised up to hug him back but she caught sight of something in the corner of her eye. She forced Naruto to the side and narrowly dodged what looked to be a whip. It curled around and aimed for Hinata’s back. Naruto pulled Hinata away as it pounced. The ground fractured at the force the whip collided with and it wasted no time attacking the pair again. It zipped around as Naruto pulled Hinata along into the fog.

They darted around trees and boulders, trying desperately to out run whatever it was. Naruto’s grip on Hinata’s hand was tight and she had no choice to follow wherever he led her, not that she wanted to do anything else. Naruto paused in the middle of a clearing not knowing which way to go next, he panted as he glanced around. Hinata, spotting a dark shape to the side, took the lead and pulled Naruto toward it. They reached the cluster of boulders and scurried around it just as the whip caught up. It curled in on itself and twirled around, looking left and right.

Naruto bit his bottom lip and Hinata’s heart was pounding as it got closer. A rock clattered next to them and Hinata felt a hand on her shoulder and one going over her mouth as she was about to gasp. She looked up to see Naruto had pulled her in closer and had made sure she hadn’t gave away their position. He looked over at the whip curling behind the boulders, his chest rising and falling slowly.

Hinata could feel the danger receding and the atmosphere relaxed. Naruto let out a breath and released her. She was a bit disappointed but didn’t say anything.

“What was that?” Naruto panted.

“A jutsu?”

“Maybe, but why couldn’t I fight it? I felt like I couldn’t do anything against it.”

“Me too,” Hinata nodded. “Probably the fog had something to do with it.”

“Hmph!” Naruto crossed his arms and pouted. “Stupid fog, keeping me from beating that thing’s ass.”

Hinata simply gave him a closed eyed smile. “You’ll get it next time.”

“Of course I will!” Naruto said, popping up. “Just you wait!”

That was the Naruto she knew, but Hinata couldn’t help but feel like something was going to go horribly wrong.