Hinata rubbed her eyes in her embarrassment. She couldn't possibly have told him the real truth behind her not wanting to stay. Especially since his voice alone sent shivers down her spine; not to mention the fact the pictures did him absolutely no justice. Hinata saw a flicker of his face in her mind. "Yeah… the pictures make him look bad… and that is saying something…" she said, pink tinting her cheeks as she continued to write. She had begun rewriting what Tsunade's files had said. First-hand experience was much better than what rumors had told. From what she had read of Izuna, he had been a serious young man. Hinata laughed to herself despite her blush. That was nowhere near true from what she had seen.

The more she thought about why she couldn't stay with the Uchiha, the more she realized it was more so because she was too nervous to be around Madara because of her reactions to the simplest things he says or does… Well… there was also the fact that Butsuma tried to kill her after she left their compound. She couldn't forget about that one, he would most likely try and capture her again if he caught her leaving their compound again, but… he could also catch her here and no one would know…

Her thoughts flickered back to the Uchiha and she sighed, Madara seemed to want her to stay at the compound with them, possibly due to the threats that lingered over her head all the time now. She frowned slightly when she thought that over, but a small smile crossed her lips as she thought about how they treated one another. The Uchiha were nothing like the ones she had seen in her own time. Fugaku and Mikoto had been somewhat cold, but somewhat kind all the same.

Hinata knew that she was just being hopeful, but maybe the future Uchiha could be more like this family she had spent time around. They were all happy, despite the dangers lurking around every corner for them. No matter how much she tried, the idea of Sasuke and Itachi having a friendly competition eluded her. She sighed as she wondered how things were fairing in her time. She desperately hoped that Tsunade and the others were ok. She finished writing and closed the book with a sigh.

She stood, stretched, took one last look at the small grove of trees she had sought rest under, and smiled. It was a very calm day to say in the least, the sun was shining and a gentle breeze blew through the trees. Hinata stretched her arms out in front of her, and after a few resounding cracks, she made her way to the civilian village. She dropped her things off in the inn and they all greeted her as she left. She had dropped her armor off along with her duffle bag filled with food, water filled containers, a tatami mat, a thick wool blanket, and clothing/ weapon repair kits.

She had wrapped her ankles up in gauze halfway to her knees along with her arms to her elbow much like Neji had always done; except her fingers were not wrapped up, and neither were her feet. She walked through the woods to gather herbs and things of that nature; poisonous herbs and medicinal ones alike. She could share her medical knowledge with the people of this time, if anything. She had stopped to gather a patch of poisonous berries when a light thunk on the tree behind her caught her attention. She said nothing, but activated Byakugan all the same. "You do know you cannot eat those, right?" a deep, humored voice asked and Hinata placed the berries in a small glass jar she had carried with her. Her fingers trembled lightly in her fear, but she grasped the jar stiffly.

"Tobirama Senju… of what do I owe the pleasure?" Hinata asked softly, without turning around; she refused to let her fear show. "I saw you come into the Senju forest… thought I would say hi…" he said and Hinata sighed and stopped picking the berries. "Are you sure you weren't just hunting me down using your sensory skills?" Hinata asked forcing a façade of bravery, even if only for a moment, and he hesitated. "Ok… so you caught me. But may I ask, what are you doing out here? You've really made my father mad. If he catches you out here…" he droned off.

Hinata looked behind her, not expecting him to be hovering right over her. Her jaw became slack and a deep blush coated her cheeks as her hands began to shake and she stood and made a gap between them; confusing Tobirama. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked and Hinata shook her head rapidly. "No no no… it's just… I just… have personal space issues when it comes to guys…" she said hesitantly and he chuckled and jumped up to a tree branch above her. "So you are the shy type? Then why come out here alone, lady Hyuuga? Don't you need a body guard or something? Women love bodyguards or something… they always have one." He muttered; she caught the slight disgust when he mentioned women needing bodyguards.

She clenched her fists and threw a jar of poisonous berries at him, catching him off guard and knocking him out of the tree. He hit the ground on his rump and looked up at her surprised. As if realizing what she had done, she ran over to him and began apologizing profusely. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me… it's just you said women needed body guards and I just got angry… " she said with a fidget of the fingers. "My name is Hinata by the way…" she said as she moved to help him up, her blush deepening on her cheeks. Tobirama laughed, much to her surprise.

"Goes to show you don't need one. And I really didn't say that women did… I was just saying how they seemed to love having bodyguards. You really are shy then huh?" he asked and she blushed. "A little… I'm sorry… I'm not very good when it comes to dealing with guys, the last guy I liked, I head-butted in the hospital when we were kids…" Hinata said with a blush. Tobirama chuckled and leaned to look at her forehead, moving her bangs from her face. He was about a foot taller than she was so he had to lean close to her to brush the hair from her face. "Ah… I see it. You have a hard head; but you look so soft." He said good-naturedly; tapping her forehead with his knuckles with one hand and scratching his chin with the other.

Hinata dropped everything and squeezed her eyes shut as the heat returned to her face and her mind went blank. The moment he backed away from her she resisted the urge to hide her face in her hands and fall to her knees. He chuckled and ruffled her hair. "H-hey!" she managed to choke out in surprise. He grinned at her. "I see… you get too much attention!" he said and hit his fisted hand against his palm with a nod. She managed to giggle and he smiled.

"See… I'm not so bad. I can be nice… even though I scared you away the other day…" he said scratching the back of his head apologetically with an ashamed smile. She smiled softly and shook her head and opened her mouth to speak. "So you admit it was you! I told you that you scared her away. It was not me." Hashirama said appearing from the side of a tree. Tobirama deadpanned at his older brother. Hinata stepped away from the two and looked around frantically. Tobirama sensed she was going to try and run, so he decided to try and keep her around a little longer. "Is father near?" Tobirama asked and Hashirama shook his head. "No… Mito-chan ran out here… I came to find her… and found you and lady Hyuuga." Hashirama said. "Hinata." Tobirama said simply. Hinata's head snapped up and her eyes were wide, but she realized she was not the one he was talking to so she cowered closer to the tree. "What?" "Her name is Hinata, not lady Hyuuga." Tobirama said and Hashirama nodded as a red haired woman walked out.

"Ah. There you are Mito-chan!" Hashirama chuckled and Mito smiled. She looked over at Hinata and furrowed her brows. "A Hyuuga girl…" she said, and Hinata smiled at her gently. "Uzumaki-sama." Hinata greeted and Mito blinked. "You know what clan I am from?" she asked surprised. Hinata nodded with a smile that reached her eyes, she was much more comfortable around the Uzumaki than she was with the senju. "I have met an Uzumaki before. She was a child, she led me to the merchant village the other day. Besides, it's a well known fact that you Uzumaki all have lovely red hair." Hinata said and Mito stared at Hinata in shock. "No one likes my hair…except for Hashirama of course, but thank you. That compliment means a lot to me." Mito said and Hinata smiled widely.

She looked up to the sky and sighed. "I'm afraid I must go… I have a feeling I will have someone waiting on me at my inn…" Hinata sighed and bowed to Hashirama and Mito, who returned the polite bow. "Call for either me or Tobirama, should you come back into these woods. My father is not so forgiving with women who reject his kindness." Hashirama said sarcastically. "Arrogance, not kindness; But I wish not to be rude, so I will seek either of you out, preferably Tobirama, since I don't think Lady Mito would be as forgiving if you were hanging around another girl." Hinata giggled and Tobirama smirked.

"Yeah, Hashi-kun wouldn't wanna get the beat down." Tobirama chuckled tauntingly as Hinata walked away. "Tobirama, that's some business you don't want." Mito said in a way too sweet voice, her fist in front of her in a menacing manner. Tobirama grinned then turned to follow after Hinata. "Hey Hinata wait up! I think I may be in danger back here!" he chuckled and Hinata laughed as he hurried to catch up. Hashirama sighed and looked at Mito, who looked at him innocently. "If he could stay that carefree all the time… the world would be a brighter place. That kid… he dreams the same dreams as you, he just doesn't vocalize them." Mito said as she watched the younger make run after the Hyuuga girl.

"Tobirama is strong, he knows it. He also knows there is a time to be serious, and that there is a time to attempt to lighten the mood. Lady Hyuuga… the moment she saw my father, she cowered away; her sword poised in an offensive manner." He said, imitating Hinata's fearful movements and Mito looked at him in confusion. "She seemed so comfortable around you two…" she said. "When I attempted to approach her the other day when father and I had found her, she pinned me against a wall with her blade at my throat. In her other hand was a kunai ready to take my father out. She was like a cornered animal, Mito. If any Senju would have been able to get her comfortable with them… it would be Tobirama." Hashirama said and Mito smiled.

"I think that lady Hinata is the same way, I think she knows the right things to say to diffuse a deadly situation, she is doll-like and adorable to match. She has a subtle beauty that follows her; it draws people in and she knows it. She may not like it, but she knew that if left alone some people would become attached to her." Mito jabbed and Hashirama blinked. "I would never… She is younger than I am…" He said in defense and Mito laughed. She rolled her eyes before something clicked in her mind.

"Oh! I saw her with Lady Aurora the other day. I believe that the Uchiha boys have an interest in her. Maybe she could be the one to diffuse this war." Mito said and Hashirama looked down in thought. "She has an effect on people I have never seen before. An entire civilian village gave her supplies for free, just because she paid for the old man's inn to be repaired from where your father and Tajima fought." Mito said and Hashirama nodded. "In a perfect village, people like her would be needed." He said and Mito smiled. "In a perfect village, you would be leader." Mito said, and a soft smile crossed Hashirama's lips before a sudden sadness took over him.

"In a perfect village, my best friend would still be by my side…"

-:-:-:-

Tobirama caught up to Hinata and he hopped from branch to branch behind her as they talked. "So… have you become the body guard I don't need?" she asked light-heartedly. He dropped to the ground behind her and scratched the back of his neck. "I guess while you are in my father's forest I am." He said and she giggled behind her hand. "So how did you find this place and where are you from?" he asked and Hinata looked down. "I was searching for a place to start over. But everywhere I went… death and hatred…" Hinata said softly, she didn't like lying to him… "I understand if you can't tell me the entire truth…" he said quietly, then he stared up at the stars that had begun to show themselves in the sky.

"There was a reason that your clan was… you know… I couldn't imagine that happening to my clan and me being the last of them…" Tobirama said and Hinata looked over at him. His white hair seemed to be a beacon in the dark, along with his pale skin and defining reddish purple markings. "Ino would be so jealous…." Hinata said softly and he looked at her. "Who is Ino?" he asked and Hinata blushed. "She was my friend, she is a yamanaka." Hinata said and confusion crossed his face. "Is that a clan from where you are from? I have never heard of such a clan…" he said and Hinata nodded.

"Yes… but my clan never had any fights with hers. They never had any fights with any of the clans around them. Except…" Hinata sighed and Tobirama frowned. "The Senju…" he finished, and Hinata nodded. She stared up at the sky as she thought of her uncle. He was off somewhere near the civilian village and was taking shelter in false blindness, just as lady E'lara was. "Please… don't blame me or my brother for what my grandfather did… I mean sure, my father refuses to apologize to you for what his father did, but I will make an apology here and now. I don't wish for our clan to fight with the Uchiha. But if father demands it… you don't disobey. Just as I had no choice but to obey the other day when father led his second assault on you. He's not very forgiving… and… My father wants Izuna and Madara dead. Madara has killed a bunch of my family, but they attempted to kill him first. I don't know what started these clan wars… but I wish they would end." He said and Hinata nodded.

"I understand… if you could change things… I know you would…" Hinata said softly as they entered the civilian village. Tobirama smiled slightly and Hinata stood on her tippy toes and kissed him on the cheek lightly. "Keep your views on peace, if they change… no one will ever know true peace." She said and made her way to the inn. Tobirama nodded and scratched his head nervously. "I hope I can make that promise to you, lady Hyuuga." He chuckled and walked away from the civilian village.

Hinata opened the door to her room and her shoulders slumped when she saw Izuna passed out on her duffle bag, food wrappers all over the floor and her clothing strewn about. Madara walked out of the other room and Hinata squeaked in surprise. "How did you two get in here?" she squeaked, avoiding all eye contact with Madara. Instead she managed a glare at the sleeping Izuna who had eaten her food. "We came to make sure you got home safely." Madara said simply and walked around her and towards the sleeping Izuna.

A swift kick to the side and Izuna was whimpering and holding his side, glaring at his older brother, who offered only a smirk. Hinata whimpered and her knees dropped to the floor. "You come to make sure I get here safely, but you break in and eat my food?" she asked and Izuna looked at her. "We wanted to make sure Butsuma didn't… hurt you… He seemed really angry and the innkeeper said that you openly refused his offer. Plus… you had been attacked after leaving our compound…" Izuna said and Madara nodded. "That man is not one who you wish to make angry. His sons speak of peace, and Butsuma hits them as if they were an enemy… He also has an obvious dislike for you Hinata… so. I would watch out if I were you…" Madara said and Hinata could tell that Madara knew this as the truth.

"So who were you talking to? You seemed kinda chummy with him…" Izuna said and Hinata turned to look at him. "I thought you had been asleep!" she squeaked. "I was…" he chuckled. "I thought I had been dreaming of hearing voices… you were telling him to keep his views on peace and stuff like that… what else did you do, kiss him?" Izuna asked tauntingly, leaning into her face with a smirk. Hinata blushed and shoved him backwards. The deep red blush on her face made him grin. "The only one I know who talks about peace like it is his lifeline is Madara. Are you like Madara with the whole views of peace stuff? If so, I'm all for peace as well." Izuna said and Hinata blushed.

"I would like to go to sleep… please." Hinata said with a blush. Madara swiped the blade from the sheath on her hip and she jumped and turned around. "Madara…" she gasped as he looked over the blade. "Would be you… more interested in the lady's weapon than you are in her." Izuna chuckled. Hinata blushed a deeper shade of red and Madara smirked and placed the blade back in the sheath. "She hasn't done anything to attract my attention in that way, brother. She has earned my respect; you just like a pretty face. Come now, mother wished us home before dark, but it seems we will be a bit late." Madara said and Izuna sighed and waved Hinata good night.

Hinata sighed and hit her sleeping mat face first, burying her face in her blanket with and agitated sigh. "Why… why must all the guys of this time be so… so… Ugh!" she whined and a deep chuckle from behind her made her look up. "Uncle Hizashi!" Hinata exclaimed and an older woman beside him giggled. "Attractive, dearie? Or is the word obnoxious?" the woman asked with a small laugh. "Hinata, Meet Mabui Uzumaki." Hizashi said and Hinata smiled at the red haired woman. "Seems like there are Uzumaki everywhere… I met Mito today." Hinata said and Mabui smiled. "Was she with the Senju boy?" Mabui asked and Hinata nodded.

"I was with Tobirama today…" Hinata said and Hizashi looked surprised. "The second?" he asked and Hinata nodded. "He isn't as scary as his father… he followed me to protect me from his father…" Hinata said and Mabui smiled. "That one is a good one. That Madara is too. Izuna… is a little weird in my opinion, but Aurora raised those boys right. Help keep them safe, would you?" she asked and Hinata nodded. "I saved Lady Aurora from the bandits. She offered me residency in her home." Hinata said and Hizashi nodded. "The Uchiha will be the best allies you could ask for, take up their offer of residency. But do not harm the Senju boys. We need them for the future." Mabui said and Hizashi nodded in agreement.

"Hizashi… you told me of a way to still live after I die in the future… how is that?" Hinata asked and Hizashi studied Hinata. "When what you need to do here is done, you will return to your time. I cannot tell you exactly how you will do it, but the future will not fully change unless you return and force it. There will be a way for you to choose what time you wish to stay. Take that option, unless you wish to stay there in the future. Even then, if you die in the future, you can choose a time in the past where you were, and take over that body, go too far back, and everything you did to fix it, will be erased. If you wish to stay here in this time, you will know when the option makes itself clear. It will be obvious to your heart; because you can either hate it, or love it." Hizashi said and Hinata nodded.

-:-:-:-

Tsunade had noticed the small changes the moment Hinata had left; the other kage had noticed it just as much as Madara had. The fragment of Madara's soul that had come from Tsubaki when he had shattered the blade had shot from him after about an hour. The cracks returned to his skin and armor as, in a bright glow, Tsubaki had reformed using the fragment of his soul. The bells chimed in the wind as everyone glanced at the blade. Shizune had sent in reports of the history reports changing themselves. The moment these things started happening; Tsunade knew it was Hinata.

A small satisfied smile crossed Tsunade's lips as a confused glare crossed Madara's face. He didn't seem to like what was happening. The rest of the kage seemed to notice the changes as well and became aware of something of an odd occurrence happening.

Madara stopped flying through jutsu moments earlier and stared at the katana that was jammed into the ground. Madara walked over to the blade and the kage that he had been fighting became weary of him and prepared for him to attack. He reached out towards the hilt of the blade and his fingers brushed over the nine silver bells on the silver and red threads that tied them to the sword. The bells shattered into dust and he dropped his head a bit. "I know where you sent her now…" He said and Tsunade looked him over, clenching her fists. "She is saving us all… the Uchiha… the Senju… This world… She went back to try and create eternal peace in my time, to keep the peace here… but she will fail. They always fail." He said and turned to them.

"The heroes always fail… don't you see?" he asked and Tsunade grit her teeth. "You know nothing of heroes!" she snapped. Madara clenched his jaw and sent a glare her way. "I know nothing of heroes?!" he yelled and Tsunade took a step back, shock crossing her features at his angered outburst. "I tried to end the wars! I tried to save my brothers! I tried to save my mother, but when I tried to save her; bandits killed her and they… they did disgusting things to her before they killed her, a young woman had carried her lifeless, bloodied corpse back to the Uchiha doorstep... can you even imagine something as awful as that? It took that girl to save her! She won't be able to save anyone else! They will all be aware of her now, and she will die! Because the heroes always die!" Madara yelled, his hands fisted at his side.

"Not all heroes die you know…" Tsunade said and he gave her an angered look. "You know nothing! I watched everyone I ever cared for, die! My three younger brothers! My mother! My father! If she managed to save my mother it must have been luck, because anyone who goes against the Senju… they die… they all die." Madara snapped and Tsunade could hear the pain and despair seeping from his voice. The saddened look that crossed her features must have set Madara off once more because he lunged for her once more, with an angered look.

:-:-:-:-:

A knock echoed on Hinata's door, and she jumped lightly, she wasn't expecting anyone… she hadn't been expecting anyone for the past four weeks… she walked over and cracked the door, only to see a grinning Izuna and an exasperated Madara. She opened the door wider and smiled. She had noticed something different with the brothers, but she couldn't quite place it. She felt that their chakra signatures had grown a little more in the past three to four weeks, but that wasn't what had caught her eye.

Her eyes widened a little as she realized that Madara had gotten the slightest bit taller than Izuna, or… maybe it could be that he had always been that much taller and she was only now noticing it… "Madara, Izuna, of what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked and Izuna grinned wider. "Would you like to hang out with us today?" she eyed them both for a minute before she sighed and nodded lightly. "Sure I wasn't doing much today anyways." She said and followed them out of the room.

"So what were you planning to do today?" Madara asked. "Oh, nothing important…" she said and Madara noticed the slight shame in her gaze, but he said nothing as her eyes flickered down and to the side. The nervous tick in her cheek made him wonder why she was withholding things, but he was in no manner her keeper, so her personal matters were her own and therefore none of his business. She was supposed to meet Tobirama today, but she knew if she were to meet with him then the Uchiha before her would get suspicious; even more so than before.

"Um… what exactly does 'hanging out' with you two include?" she asked insecurely and her worries were confirmed when a wicked smirk crossed Madara's lips. "Oh my…" she said softly as the brothers grabbed her by the arms and rushed off. She managed to wave goodbye to the inn keeper, who shook his head in mild humor as she was stolen away by the brothers. The released her arms in the middle of the woods, where you couldn't see past the tiny clearing due to the trees.

"So, what we are doing here is intercepting a Senju 'ambush'." Izuna said, using his fingers to quote the word ambush. Hinata didn't really like the sound of it, she knew the dangers that the Senju were. Butsuma had instilled a desperate gripping fear within her. She watched as the smiling faces she had seen moments ago, became stern and cautious. The change was instantaneous and she noticed it immediately. Their postures became serious and animalistic, like a wolf stalking prey.

They shot up into the trees and she slunk around behind a tree, hearing the footsteps as they passed. She felt Madara's eyes on her, she felt confident that if she were to get into trouble he would assist her. She knew if these men were allowed to go any further they would attack the Uchiha, she couldn't have that. Her fingers silently went into hand signs for her air bullet jutsu. The swift shots of air took out one of the Senju, she knew that this was exactly what the brothers were wanting her to do, assist them.

The rest of the group spun on their heels and pulled their blades. She knew the brothers were watching her every move, watching every step she took; as if watching an intricate dance as her fingertips became a deadly weapon and shut down Senju after Senju. One appeared behind her and she dove and rolled to her fingertips, spinning with her legs out in a similar move that Killer bee used in his own fighting style. She had seen the man fight before during the war and was captivated by the movements the man was able to make despite his size and lack of speed.

Her ankles collided with two Senju's faces and she stopped her spin to jump and use an empty palm on the two she had just taken down. She landed on her feet and bounced back a single step. The Uchiha dropped from their place in the tree with approving looks on their faces. She nodded, but knew the fight wasn't over yet as she crouched and propelled herself in the air to avoid a swirl of tree roots. She was upside down in mid air, staring at the roots that came to a point inches from her face.

She flipped and landed by the two brothers. "We figured you would get bored with fighting us by now." Izuna sighed and Tobirama glared at him. Hashirama watched Hinata's movements. Her narrowed eyes and saddened flickers showed that she really wished they could do something other than fight all the time…

Hashirama gathered up the fallen shinobi and vanished into the woods, leaving Tobirama to fight the three by himself. Two clones appeared by his sides and he lunged forwards at Hinata, who spun deftly to the right to avoid him. She slapped away every hit he sent her and he seemed to be getting irate, so he grabbed her around the waist and vanished before the eyes of each of the brothers. Madara and Izuna dispelled the clones and ran after where Izuna said Hinata's chakra had faded to.

:-:-:-:-

He dropped Hinata atop the lake and she frowned at him. "Seriously Hinata?" he asked and her eyes drooped in sadness. He watched her posture match the sadness in her eyes. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt… I just want you and the Uchiha to be friends again… if you know what exactly I am, then you know exactly what I can do… if I am here, and not in my own home… then you must know there is something wrong and I am trying to fix the wrong." She said softly, but the hardness of his eyes didn't leave.

"I understand that you are the jumper… and that you can do things that my father wants our clan to do. So what exactly the issue if you have come to this time?" he asked. She watched him carefully for a moment and frowned. "If I tell you, you have to promise to tell no one what you know about me." she said and he narrowed his eyes at her for a moment. "If I promise, you will tell me the truth, not some lie like you're trying to save your family or some crap like that." He said and she nodded.

"I'm here to-" "Hinata tell him nothing, if you do you will never be able to fix it!" Hizashi's voice rang out and Tobirama jumped out of the way just in time to avoid a swift Uzumaki foot to the face. Mabui Uzumaki stood in an offensive stance, challenging the Senju to strike at her. Hizashi urged Hinata to follow him and she ran after him, Mabui soon following after. They led her to this small place hidden behind a waterfall and shoved her past the waterfall and into the cave that resided there. Mabui looked out to make sure no one had followed before she stepped back inside. "You mustn't leave this place for about two weeks Hinata. This place is the Uzumaki falls, this place has healing properties along with strengthening properties. No one knows exactly what the crystalline water of this place holds, but all who are allowed to come here have had extraordinarily swift healing, and we have learned that those with selfish desires that try to train beneath the falls gains nothing from them." Mabui said and tossed the young woman a smile.

"I think you should train here for about two weeks, Hinata." Her uncle said and her eyes snapped over to him in surprise. "U-uncle?" she questioned and a small smile crossed over his lips. "That lovely deep red marking… the one that heals you and speeds up your movements. You know of this marking correct?" he asked and a layer of confusion crossed her face. The confusion seeped off her in waves and Hizashi sighed. "So I'm guessing that's a no then… hmm… well anyways… you can always train your impeccable chakra control to be even more than just that." He said and she blushed.

"My ch-chakra control isn't all that great…" she said softly with a blush. Her uncle laughed whole heartedly. "Your father hasn't told you the truth then?" he asked with a glimmer of mirth in his eyes. "T-truth?" she asked and he smiled once more. "You are far stronger now, than your father has ever been in his forty five years of life. Just goes to show why he always had that stick crammed up his rump." Her uncle laughed once more and Hinata's eyes went wide.

"But… for your own safety, we recommend you stay here… if you leave they will find you…" Mabui said before she and Hinata's uncle vanished from sight. Hinata sighed and sat against the back wall of the cave. She waved her hands and watched with a smile as the waterfall wavered and shifted with every movement her hands made. She sighed and allowed the water to fall just as if had been. She watched their chakra vanish from sight and stood. She was not going to be holding down the fort from behind a waterfall, there was absolutely no way she was going to be forced to do so.

She walked out from the waterfall and a rush of energy shot through her as the water fell over her form. She blinked and watched the glimmering waterfall fall over the cliff side and into the pond below, she activated her Byakugan and her eyes went wide. "This is Katsuyu falls!" she said suddenly and a bright smile crossed her lips. Just as the toads had mount Myoboku, Katsuyu had her own home, although less hidden and somewhat still secluded, she had Katsuyu falls.

She could see the infinitesimal amount of the tiny slugs within the waterfall itself. Hinata smiled and walked back inside the cave. She followed a tiny slug all the way back to the back of the cave, where very little light could reach and she blinked as she saw the area in the back of the cave where there was just the slightest bit of light seeping through. It was a hole the size of the head of a needle, it was only due to her Byakugan that she could see it.

She held her hands up in the sign for tiger, and forced chakra from her fingertips to the wall, which became nonexistent and she passed through. Hinata looked around with a smile. The place was like a paradise for small sluggy creatures. Some had a multitude of different colors, while others were only white. "Hyuuga… you found the entrance." Katsuyu's voice rang out and Hinata nodded and bowed politely. "Yes lady Katsuyu, than you for leading me here." Hinata said with a polite smile.

Katsuyu watched Hinata then slid across the sparkling rocks and through the small stream of water to motion for Hinata to follow with one of her eye stalks. Hinata followed the slug, watching out for smaller slugs as she walked, trying not to step on any of the tiny creatures. "I was informed that you would be coming." The slug said and Hinata followed silently. "Why have you brought me here?" Hinata asked politely. "I have been called upon to heal your chakra system."

Hinata's eyes captured katsuyu's. "My chakra system?" she asked and katsuyu made a noise of affirmation. "Your chakra has been corrupted by something recently and I cannot allow it to continue to be corrupted. "I would advise you to remove the jewel around your neck and crush it, along with the ring you have hidden away on your person." Katsuyu said and Hinata's eyes went wide. "B-but those aren't mine! I-I would be rude to destroy something that was of value to another…" Hinata stammered with saddened eyes.

"Those items belonged to Okami. She was corrupted, Hinata… she had lost her way. Trust me." Katsuyu said and Hinata's eyes went wide. "W-wait… how would you know about that woman?" Hinata asked and Katsuyu stopped moving and turned to look at Hinata. "I was the one who made sure she was killed. Harsh I know… but… when a summon is betrayed by their summoner, certain things must come to pass, that is why Okami died, I revoked my gift of the sage mode, thus revoking my gift of healing." Katsuyu said, her voice was saddened but held a cruel edge to it.

Hinata was trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Katsuyu had just admitted to killing her own summoner, Hinata had never once thought about summoning a creature of any sort; but now she was definitely going to be wary of whatever creature she signed a contract with. Katsuyu turned back around and slid across a pathway leading to a wall that appeared to be made of melted wax. Katsuyu spit acid onto the wall and it melted away to reveal three huge scrolls.

Hinata's eyes went wide as she realized what two of those scrolls were. The crow summoning scroll and the slug summoning scroll, the last was a healing scroll. "Hyuuga-san." Katsuyu's voice startled her and she turned to watch the slug, who was crawling across the ground towards her. Hinata tried her hardest not to shiver as the slug split in half and slimed her way up Hinata's back. Hinata resisted the urge to scream when kaysuyu began to probe at her chakra system.

Hinata's eyes rolled up and the oncoming darkness sealed her fate.

:-:-:-:

Izuna was beginning to fret, seeing as it had been days since Hinata had been taken by Tobirama, and there was absolutely no sign of the opal eyed teen anywhere. Madara grabbed his brother by the sleeve of his shirt and they returned home. "But Madara, what if she is hurt somewhere?" Izuna snapped and Madara sighed. "She's fine. If she were not, we would have that Hyuuga man breathing down our necks for our involvement in her disappearance. Anyways, the Senju have still been attacking us AND asking where we are hiding her, so obviously they don't have her. I believe she will be just fine." Madara said with a roll of the eyes.

They entered the gates of their compound and Aurora watched them with evil eyes. Madara blinked and backtracked a few steps. "Mother? Are you quite alright?" he asked and she looked away from him, her evil glare focused out the window now. Madara and Izuna began to walk once more, but froze when their mother's icy voice caught them in their tracks. "It has been five days since the sweet little Hyuuga girl vanished." She said and they blinked and turned to face her.

"What exactly do you plan on doing to find her, since for the past five days you two have done nothing but act like buffoons instead of actual searching?" Aurora asked, but her icy glare was pinning Madara in his place. "You know… I think you are actually the reason she hasn't been found yet… with you flaunting your chakra and stomping through the woods all the time. Are you trying to ignore the fact that she was taken on YOUR watch?" Aurora hissed and Madara fumbled over his words.

"You should be ashamed… but I guess that is where your father has come in handy." She sighed, warmth emanating from her being now instead of the fierce chill that had overtaken her. Madara blinked at the swift change in her mood. "You are going on patrol tonight, your father wants to capture a few of the Senju lesser clan folk… and… persuade them into telling us what happened to her." Aurora said and the warmth vanished as the word 'persuade' left her mouth; but as soon as the word had been said the warmth returned to the room.

Madara and Izuna swiftly made their way back to their rooms, hiding from their currently unstable worrywart of a mother. "Hey Madara?" Izuna called after a few hours of doing nothing but laying on his bed in the dark. Madara looked across the hall to where his younger brother was sitting up on his bed, watching his older sibling in a contemplative silence. "Yes, Izuna?" Madara asked and Izuna frowned. "Do you actually thin Hinata-chan is alright?" Izuna asked and Madara eyed the armor beneath his fingertips for a moment.

Thinking over what exactly he was going to say with a serious look on his features, he set the armor to the side. "Of course, Izuna. Of course I think she is alright." He said and Izuna watched him as he pulled his black civilian shirt over his head and toss it across the room, only to replace it with a fishnet sleeveless shirt and a tighter long sleeved black shirt. "You don't seem to be finished with that thought, brother." Izuna said seriously as he mimicked Madara and pulled on a fishnet shirt as well, although his was a long sleeved one.

"Of course not. It is not her I am worried about lately." Madara said and Izuna flashed him a curious glance as his older brother clasped his armor into place. "It is father, isn't it? You're worried something may happen to him?" Izuna asked with a saddened glint in his onyx eyes. "You always seem to be able to read me so well…" Madara sighed and Izuna frowned, he hadn't wanted to be right this once, because whenever Madara had a bad feeling about something… the bad feeling was usually a sign that whoever he was worried about should have stayed indoors…

"Should we tell father of your feeling?" Izuna asked as he strapped his small blade to his back. "No, you know how father is… he won't listen to it in the slightest." Madara sighed and strapped his fan to his back, his scythe within his grasp. Izuna's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to comment on how Madara never carried those unless he thought the fight to end up a brutal mess, but Madara's eyes flashed red with a half glance at his younger brother.

Izuna was at a loss of words, his older brother had never looked at him with such a look of anger in that manner. "Tonight, we do not harm the Senju… we kill all who oppose us tonight." Madara's voice was overflowing with rage, Izuna had no idea what had managed to spur such a rage within the older male; but he wanted nothing to do with anything that meant being on the receiving end of said anger. Izuna repressed his fearful shiver until his older brother was out of sight.

The strength that radiated off his brother… it was unmatched… Izuna repressed a prideful glint in his eyes. He supposed that tonight would be the night Madara would prove to father that he was worthy of clan head.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Tajima awaited his son's arrival. Madara was the first to show, Izuna moments later. "Let's go." Madara said before he could and Tajima raised a brow. He couldn't understand the sudden leader like persona that had consumed his eldest. Tajima raised a brow at Izuna who shrugged. He shrugged the attitude his eldest held off, for the moment, maybe it was a phase. Tajima lunged to catch up with his eldest as they reached the clearing between the Senju land and the Uchiha land. Madara stood and his chakra flared, drawing the attention of any nearby shinobi.

"Madara, what is the meaning of this?" Hashirama asked as he landed, his father and brother landing beside him not long after. "You know damn well what I am here for." Madara snapped and Butsuma raised a brow. He shoved Hashirama out of the way and watched as Madara's expression revealed absolutely none of the thoughts behind his eyes. A wicked smirk crossed Butsuma's lips and a loud haughty laugh escaped him. "He's searching for the Hyuuga whore!" Butsuma laughed as his clan mates made their arrival.

"You see, Uchiha… women are not meant to fight alongside men, that particular woman has no backbone. She refuses to kill even a single member of my clan, as you have already noticed. There is a reason women were created, Madara… as breeders. The only thing they are good for is cleaning, breeding, and whatever else men decide they should do." Butsuma said and Izuna watched as Madara's hand fisted at his side. "But… as sad as it may have seemed, I had another use for that particular Hyuuga. She was horrid to look at, and disgusting to the ears as well… but those opalescent orbs she called eyes? I needed those you see… so, the moment I had gotten my fingers on them I would have taken them…" he said and Madara's teeth grit loudly.

"But… my plans seem to be done for at the moment… seeing as the girl has vanished and there was this awful particularly dead smell emanating from the last place she was seen." Butsuma sighed and Izuna's eyes went wide in anger. He lunged forwards but the fan Madara held slammed into him roughly. The look that Madara's eyes held was one of anger, hatred, and utter rage. His nose was wrinkled in his anger, his lips twitching up into a sneer. Seeing how angry the words he was spouting made Madara, Butsuma decided to continue to speak. "There was this disgustingly rotted corpse there too, seems as if animals got to her. But the eyes were completely gone… so I have no idea where those eyes are. Maybe some poor unfortunate bastard stole them and a clan member from my family will find him… I so dearly need those eyes of hers." Butsuma sighed and rubbed the side of his face in a false pout.

Hashirama and Tobirama could do nothing but stare at their father's back with widened eyes, shock and disgust coating their features. The fact that those looks had crossed the Senju brother's features seemed to set the Uchiha brothers off. Both Izuna and Madara lunged at Butsuma with their Sharingan eyes filled with rage. "Lies!" Izuna yelled, his voice cracking with his anger as his blade came down on an unsuspecting Butsuma. Butsuma seemed surprised at the speed the younger brother moved.

His eyes narrowed as he blocked the blade with his own and punched the younger brother in the stomach. He jumped out of the way of Madara's blade and landed in a crouched position across the way. Butsuma reached into his pocket and pulled out a small shining object that he had more than once seen Hinata staring at longingly. It was a small half heart locket with a name inscribed into its surface. Hinata had more than once explained to the Uchiha brothers that her friend Ino had given her the locket, her friend having held the other half of the set with Hinata's name etched into the surface of it.

The brothers froze for a moment… then released pained yells as they held their heads. "You bastard!" they roared and both of them lunged for the Senju clan head. Madara pulled his scythe and with eyes blazing in a new pattern, the brothers took out their rage on the Senju man. The brothers had grown quite accustomed to the quiet woman's company, so the sudden realization that they would never see her again set them off in every sort of bad way.

Butsuma was barely fast enough to avoid the Uchiha brother's advances. Hashirama shook his head to clear his mind of the sickening things his father spoke of, knowing that there was only a half truth to what he had said. That had not been Hinata's corpse, but that of another Hyuuga woman. Hashirama's roots sprung up from the ground and rushed at Madara and Izuna, slowing their onslaught significantly. Tobirama jumped in and managed to land a swift kick to Izuna's face.

Tajima lunged for Butsuma once both of his sons were preoccupied with the Senju man's sons. The clashing of their blades was nothing compared to the hell storm brewing between the Senju boys and his own sons. Their fighting was on a whole new caliber now. Tajima's eyes went wide as his blade was ripped from his grasp and thrown across the clearing by a swift collision of Butsuma's blade. The Senju man smirked a wicked smirk and lunged at Tajima.

Tajima continued to jump backwards, avoiding each stab of Butsuma's blade deftly. Tajima cursed when his back collided with the tree. Butsuma seemed even more amused at this, and aimed another stab at the Uchiha man who tucked and rolled away from Butsuma's blade. Butsuma cursed and attempted to yank his blade from the tree's bark, but failed to do so and just chased after Tajima once more. The two clan patriarchs were engaged in a battle of wits as each dodged the hit of the other.

Butsuma's eyes caught sight of the blade the Uchiha male had lost grip of earlier. He dove for the blade and the moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt he spun and lunged at the Uchiha man, only for a huge scroll to knock him down and another landed on him and knocked the wind out of him. He shoved the scroll off of him to see a familiar face. "Damn it all…" he cursed as she held both scrolls by the ends. She was panting heavily and the moment the Uchiha brothers caught sight of her, she smiled.

All anger left their blaring red eyes, their eyes reverted back to the simplistic black orbs and they held relieved looks.

"Hinata-chan… you're safe…"

:-:-:-:-:-:

Hinata's eyes fluttered open and she managed a weak glare at the sun. Her eyes landed on the twinkling waterfall in the side of her vision. It was barely there in her peripheral, but she turned her head and blinked at the waterfall slowly, not quite understanding what had actually happened. Her gaze landed on two brightly colored scrolls beside her. One was red black and white, while the other was green, blue, and an off white color. Written upon the blue and green scroll was a delicate signature of 'Katsuyu'. Hinata smiled and pulled herself up into a sitting position.

On the other scroll was the name 'Karui'. Hinata had heard the name before, but the only thing that registered in her mind of that particular name was a woman of the cloud, Karui, who seemed to have a particular interest in Choji. Hinata unfurled the scroll titled Karui and pursed her lips as she read over the previous contracted summoners, there were very few it seemed… she tied Karui's scroll shut once more and hefted the scroll up, obviously surprised by the fact that she had over hefted and was sent tumbling forwards.

"Lighter than you think huh?" a small black bird snickered at her and she watched the crow with confused eyes. "Birds had aerated bones, enabling flight, thus we have conformed the lightness into our scroll. The name's Tora. I'm here to explain your mission from Katsuyu." The bird said as Hinata walked over and gathered up the slug scroll. She listened intently to the bird's every word. "So y-you're telling me… that I have to find a way to give this scroll to Hashirama without being seen as a traitor by the Uchiha?" she asked and the bird released a squawk of laughter.

"haha, it will be easier than you think." The bird croaked then vanished in a poof. Hinata sighed then tied the scrolls to her back. She began at a slow pace but the more she ventured into the woods around the Katsuyu falls, the more she could feel the chakra. Such angry chakra… she had never felt such hatred infused chakra in her life. Despite how far away it felt like it was, she knew that someone with that much anger and hatred… the civilians could most likely feel the rage as well.

Hinata took to the trees and made her way to the site of the rapidly increasing hatred. There was so much anger emanating off of this one area, she doubted that the civilians could ignore it; there was just too much rage to be able to ignore it. she spun out of the way of a tree branch that she hadn't seen until it was nearly too late. She was focused on the chakra signature. She grimaced as she felt the killing intent pressing down on her as she made her way in that direction.

Something big was going on and she had to figure out what it was before it was too late. She activated her Byakugan and her eyes went wide as she caught sight of Tajima. He was unarmed and currently trying to avoid the Senju clan head. She continued to scan over the sight, taking in every detail of what was going on… Madara and Izuna seemed to be the cause of the intense KI that still pressed down on her form. Hashirama and Tobirama seemed to be handling themselves alright against the enraged brothers…

She briefly wondered what exactly extracted such rage from the Uchiha brothers, but her thoughts flew to Tajima, who was in a heap of trouble now, Butsuma had caught sight of the discarded blade. The moment Butsuma grasped the blade, Hinata was already in action. Karui's scroll collided with the Senju head, catching him off guard and sending him sprawling to the ground. Hinata appeared over head and threw the much heavier slug scroll, down upon the Senju man.

She landed a few feet away, Karui's scroll in hand, and caught Katsuyu's scroll. She allowed the scroll to hit the ground beside her feet, but she still held onto the centers of each scroll. She refused to allow the actual scrolls to touch the dirt, it would be disrespectful to the creatures she had promised to keep safe. She felt blaring eyes burning into the back of her head and she turned and offered a smile at the Uchiha brothers, whose chakra diminished harmlessly.

Her heart was racing from the run she had just endured, and the weight of Katsuyu's scroll. She was tired, panting, and she felt a sheen of sweat beading on her forehead. Katsuyu's scroll was not something you wanted to have to run with. Tajima regained his footing and was busy catching his breath as well. She turned to see Madara and Izuna making their way over to her. "Hinata-chan…" Izuna called out and she smiled at him despite her exhaustion.

"You're safe…" Madara said and her eyes fluttered in confusion at the tone of his voice. "Of course I'm safe…" she said softly and her eyes prickled at the feelings she was overwhelmed with. Shame, anger, betrayal… "Did y-you think I could not handle m-myself?" she asked softly, her bangs blocking out their view of her eyes. "Am I not s-strong enough to go out and a-about on my own?" she asked, her voice still soft, but hurt. Madara frowned and held out his arm to halt Izuna's movements.

"That's not at all what they were saying, Hinata-chan…" Tajima called out once he had regained his composure. "We were informed that your corpse had been discovered and someone had stolen your eyes. So, if it is of any consolation what so ever… Madara and Izuna were admittedly distraught by the knowledge of your demise." Tajima said and Hinata's eyes went wide. "M-my demise?!" she stammered and a glint of silver caught her eyes.

Her eyes flickered over to Butsuma and her eyes went wide, the man was spinning her precious friendship necklace as if it were a token of victory. She frowned. "I s-see…" she said softly, then she lunged for him; catching him off guard. Her fingers grasped at the metal trinket in his grasp and he blinked in surprise. He was only caught in surprise long enough for her to snatch it, then he snapped out of it and turned to grab her, but she jumped forwards onto her hands then sent both of her feet into his face right before she sent her feet back over her head and landed in a crouch and took off running.

Madara blinked at the Senju who stared at him angrily, then he chased after her, his father, and his brother. He was not going to be left behind in a useless fight since there was nothing to fight over at the very moment but the fact that Hinata had planted both of her feet right into Butsuma's face. Everyone knew that this was not going to end well since Butsuma was insistent upon having her eyes. Madara wondered if Hinata knew exactly why Butsuma was actually after her…