Hello, I know I say this all the time, but I'm sorry for the long wait!! *bows* I promise, I'll continue to update, just please be patient. I hope you'll continue to read my story, but for now enjoy this chapter c:

I don't own Naruto or the mentioned charters in my story, Kishimoto is the rightful owner.

Previously:

"M-M-My legs hurt alot" Hinata whimpered. "E-Everthing does" She yelp, feeling a jabbing pain on her shoulder, as soon as she moved her arm.

"I'll go get the anitodes."

Leg's crossed, hands folded; and a cold room.

Time never seemed so long.

Sasuke, with dark circles under his eye's was a unmoving body.

On a simple chair, near a brown desk he watched carefully. His eyes never leaving the sleeping figure placed on a bed with her life on the edge of becoming a mere empty corpse.

A candle light, a silver bell, and a glass of water; decorated the desk as ornaments near Sasuke's right side. The walls bare, and rough as two medication cabinets were clinging to the walls. The only window, foggy and slighlty filled with dust.

The moon ray's, shined on the dark yet lit room.

A cold night was approaching as time flew by. Sasuke was unfazed as the temperature dropped, and kept his usual unreadable expression. Watching and waiting.

White cloths, covered and became an attempt to conserve heat for the white and cold body that laid frozen on the bed. Lifeless, and without color. He watched silently, allowing his eyes to wander towards the sleeping women.

Her breathing, raspy and cut short. Her hair although tangled held a soft appearance. Cold as ice her skin held a yellow tint. Dark circles decorated below her eyes, and her body although firmly developed and filled; looked skinny and fragile.

She was a sleeping body, but not living.

Like a dead body, laying in a coffin.

"She should be waking up" A light voice, belonging to the head nurse of the small hospital called out. A green robe, with white markings becoming the only source of light, besides the fading fire that resigned next to him.

"It's been a week." And it has. A week of nameless details and news filled this room. False claims and unsatisfactory words were only said. Lies, and false hope.

"Her body has yet to fully recover,"

"Her body is in a state of rest,"

"She's making progress,"

"She'll wake up by tomorrow,"

"Give it some time,"

"She's fine,"

"She's alive."

"How many more of those lies will you continue to allow to escape your wretched lips." It was a statement. She knew it, it could be heard by his tone.

Sasuke watched the blonde 'medic', observing her with his prying and dark eyes. The darkness of his orbs, burned through her very last existence.

"It's the truth," She said with little confidence. He could tell by her body language, that the only words that left her mouth were lies. They were false statements, and merely predictions. Nothing was the truth, and nothing held meaning behind her words.

He rised from the chair; the one he was sitting in moments ago.

The blonde medic, otherwise known as Mei, stood next to the lying girl checking her pulse and other 'medical' things. He watched at a close distance, and only backed away when she took two steps back.

"The poison." He pursed his lips, "It has partically left her system but," She stood silent, as her lips quivered. A frown taking a place on her olive face, growing deeper as her head lowered in respect. "It seems, there's been some vital difficulties. "

"Difficulties." He repeated, almost mockingly. Allowing the words to sink on his running mind. He tasted the words on his mouth, letting the problematic words linger on his lips.

"You see-"

"Useless." He moved from his spot, and walked hastily towards Hinata. He uncovered her pale body, tucking his warm hands under her unmoving legs.

'Medics' He snarled. The feeling and belief of their lack of worth grew deeper. They are nothing but beneath consideration. They're worthless, and unworthy of such title.

The medic, eyed his abrupt actions with considerate emotions and with rapid movement's. Immediately moving towards him, and stopping him with her steady hands.

"Your not authorized to-"

"I know her." He simply said. Although he really didn't. He knew absolutely nothing from this bluette kunochi. But, he was given a mission.

"Her current state won't tolerate her-"

"You were all unable to do anything in regards of her state," He spat bitterly. He took her fragile body in his arms, letting the covers fall from her stone-like body. "Don't quickly anticipate I'll do any harm to her"

He carried her body, like an important scroll. With responsibility, and with a gentle hold.

"You'll only be hurting her," She tried to reason.

"I was asked to protect her,"

"By abandoning her only source of treatment " Losing the tranquilty of her tone, she glared openly. "Antidotes, medications, equipments they all reside in this building" She snapped.

Sasuke, tighten his lips in a straight line. "Why the persistence?"

"Because outside these walls, I can't assure you or help corroborate your safety or hers!"

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

The walk pass the tall and everlasting tree's never seemed so long. A wet thickness enveloped Sasuke, and the covered girl in his arms. As he walked with care, making sure the poison wouldn't run deeper inside her body. That was last thing he needed, at a time like this.

"Why the persistence?" The air grew thick, like a fog of lies and unhidden truth. His black orbs, eyed her. He saw through her and her unwavering insistence. He almost permitted a bitter smirk to fall from his dry lips.

"Because outside these walls, I can't assure you or help corroborate your safety or hers!"

There. Those were the words of confirmation. The words that left her lips have been the phrases that he has been wanting to hear, to confirm and verify his suspicions.

He smirked.

"Better yet," He began, his voice colder and much solemn than before. "Why don't you evaluate, why those criminals attempted to assault us in ambush attack?"

After the countless and sleepless nights, that Sasuke Uchiha had to endure; he slowly began to analyze and go over the past events.

It left him feeling, suspicious and disorientated.

He had found it odd that right after their departure, they were instantly attacked. He found it irrational that no one in the damn village bothered to assist an injuried person. No one helped or came to Hinata's aid. No one opened their doors to help the bleeding person on the verge of death, nor did they seemed surprised. It had struck him as bizarre.

She bit her lips surprisingly, as her eyes widen reluctantly.

"You've just admitted your knowledge to the situation, it's too late to turn back now," He remarked. Witnessing her body shift uncomfortably.

A deep sigh escaped her lips. Lowering her head for all the remorse she felt. It swelled her from the inside, like a paper bomb ready to go explode.

She took her shaky hands, and stared with horror. A bitter smile fell upon her face, nodding her head in a slowly and sorrow manner.

"Your right" She agreed. A weight lifted, earning her the serenity she currently lacked.

"Tch." He guessed correct. It seemed like all his beliefs and theories were about to be corresponded.

"T-They aren't good,"

"That's an understandment" He replied harshly, with his bitter tone.

Her shoulder fell,

"Just, take her far away" Her eye's moved towards Hinata. A gleam of sadness lingered, before her face became stoic, serious and full of earnest."There's a village up ahead, about three days away the latest" She confirmed.

Sasuke, placed Hinata's injuried and lifeless figure softly on the ground. Laying her body, under a tall magnolia tree. The green grass, currently wet from last night's rain swayed with the winds currents. Allowing the cool breeze to brush pass him,

His arms, although ached, were warm and weren't numbed from the weight and lack of movement.

It's been a day and a half since their departure, and Sasuke hasn't slept or taken a 'proper' brake.

He didn't mind,

not with all the nightmares that that always seemed to occupy his dreams.

A moment of silence came, washing over them. Then the heavy echos of the pouring rain began. Rain drops falling from the heavy and dull skies onto the roof with harsh strikes was the only sound that overtook the silent atmosphere.

"Who are they?" He didn't hesitate to ask.

Her brown orbs, roamed the room as a form of comfort or as a way to seek answers. Answers that will please the man in front of her, a man with boiling eyes and livid emotions. Although, he didn't really show it. She could almost see him trying not to care, but was failing miserably. He was simply putting up a facade in her eyes. Because she could tell that in one way or another he cared for the injured women in his arms. Even if it was a slight fragment in him.

"I don't have time for your lack of cooperation," Sasuke, annoyingly barked.

"I don't get nothing out of this, if that's what your thinking" She mumbled softly, almost above a low whisper. Her eyes darted uncomfortably away from his frightening gaze. "They want something from you" She continued. "I don't k-know what it is they-"

"Whose they?" Sasuke asked again, questioning the piece's of words she uttered. Carefully observing her with every detail she made or said.

She stiffen.

"T-They," Like a kunnai in her throat, she paused painfully. Wincing after and before any other words could leave her crimson lips. "The Narazumono clan, a group of rogue men that used to belong to the Samurai class." She said softly, letting her voice drop lower and lower. "They seek power, in order to do other bad deeds"

"The Byakugan," He asked. Letting the word of everyone's greed and most wanted object to leave his lips. Although, he knew it wasn't easy to obtain due to curse seals and other complicated measures. So if they knew, did they possibly found a way to obtain her eyes?

She shook her head,

"Your Sharingan" She confirmed his secondary theory. Those words were the answers he knew but needed to be established as the truth.

Raising his hand, he gazed at his palm. Which only advanced upwards to his black and dusky eye's. His fingers caressed his eyelid, feeling his orb behind it. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, make the whole world blind"

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Her skin only grew colder, and her body much rigid. Her pale skin a shade of light yellow, and her body much smaller in his arms. Miles after miles, the seconds continued to grow much crucial.

The sky, the air all signified the upcoming rain drops that'll eventually be falling. Time only grew shorter, as Hinata's body only seemed to unwillingly want to continue on and resign her body to the dark to abyss called death. .

Her body motionless, cold, and hard.

He carried the four bags on his back which only continued to weight him down. Mentally growled upon hearing the small shifting sounds in one open cloth bag.

He could continue to question himself why he decided to bring along the furry and puny bunny, and in the end feel muddled.

He should've left it, stranded and unfed. He hated it, like a burning itch. And even more when he had to take care of it and fed it.

He shifted his mind away from the annoying bunny. Looking foward.

Sasuke grew closer yet further. It's been more than ninety miles already, and the last remaining eighty seemed much longer. He would've made more progress if it wasn't for the fact that he had to walk slow to slow down the flow of the poison.

"Here," A bag was handed to Sasuke. The blonde medic smiled bitterly, bowing shamefully. "I'm sorry I wasn't any help, but these are the medications that should at least keep her healthier than she is." She mumbled. "They'll help her on her trip to the other village,"

He took the bag, managing them on his hand.

"She'll need proper assistance. So pace yourself. She really isn't in good shape, her condition will only worsen."

"How bad is it?" Sasuke asked, looking over the body in his arms. Sweat drops beamed, as they rolled down her pale and yellow skin.

"Immensely bad. Her heart complication is keeping her from fully recovering,"

"Heart problems," He repeated, his eye's wandering to Hinata Hyuga, and her unhealthy figure. All made sense, and everything seemed to correspond to her lack of energy. Especially all the times she would rest when she could or run out of breath. But the question that lingered in his mind was,

Did Tsuande know?

Did she know and still asked her to come along?

Why?

Racing questions flood his mind, as he pushed them to the back of mind.

As he continued to walk down the path towards the other village, Sasuke momentarily gazed down. His black orbs, meeting the skinny face of Hinata Hyuga. He saw her face in a better light.

So he was able to watch her closely.

Besides her abnormal skin coloration, he could recall her skin to be a softer and pale yet olive hue. She was light tone, but not extremely white like the sheets wrapped around her.

She always allowed her hair to run smoothly down her back to her petite waist.

She wasn't skinny, but her form was the right size. She had curves, in all the right places.

And her eye's, a symbol of the white moon. They were bright and always filled with warmth. A warmth he lacked.

And in the moment of his admiration and praises he stopped himself mid-way.

Cursing and angrily thinking inside his mind.

"What the hell was that?"

He growled bitterly, holding Hinata in a tight grip as he walked and walked.

With no stops, and no rest.

And slowly time flew by.

Without notice, the sun hid behind the horizon and disappeared from the sky. Being replaced by the big crescent moon. And as the night came, it drifted away.

Then, the morning air enveloped him. The sky became a dark orange and light yellow, with a tint of pink.

It was morning, and similar to every two hours Sasuke made sure to assist Hinata with her medications and antidotes.

The tree's never ceased to disappear as he ventured further down the forest.

If anything, he noticed more flowers appear. Rivers and pretty soon noises were in Sasuke's earning and seeing range.

Then, a smaller village unlike the other one was in his eyesight. People walked and he walked and bit faster. His eye's scanning the area, noticing the pleasant environment.

He seeked help.

///////////////////////////

He walked back and forth. The sounds of silver clashing on the floor brought uncertainty to roam throughout the hallways. It was empty, and he was the only one there.

Anxiety coursed through his unmoving body, as he leaned against a random wall. Screams of worry, filled the room nearby.

His eyes, left the blank wall and moved towards the door just two chair's away.

It's been a little more than three hours, and an everlasting worry formed in the pit of his stomach. He counted the mintues, as he waited and continued to foolishly wait for any news. But in those long mintues and ticking seconds, no news came.

Only medics came, with brood panic.

So he let time pass,

Waiting till the right moment to take action came.

He let his weak and restless legs give in, as his body fell motionless. Exhaustion from proper sleep, finally taking a troll to his body.

His stomach empty, and in need to fill the desires of his rumbling stomach.

With his head against the wall, he let a sigh escape those dry lips of his.

Night fell upon them, as the cold shivery air blew like blades. He held the small and sick body in his arms, tighter and with care. He continued to walk as the everlasting trees were the only sight in this long trail and road to an unknown village.

As he advanced after hours and hours of walking, the air only grew colder, heavier and thicker. The air was moist, aside from its icy and bizzard sensation.

But a few miles east, and off from their orginal trail was a cave. A middle size cave, that he remembered passing by from his previous journey's. He wasted no time as he hurried to the cave.

The body on his arms, shivering and trembling. Either from the cold or her fragile sickness. As he quicken his pace, he made sure to leave no tracks or evidence behind.

"Rogue Samurai's" He whispered.

"S-Sir?" He opened his eye's, the words of a stranger stirring him away from his memory."The patient, has become stable."

"Stable," He repeated, in a low mumble. His voice raspy and deep.

The word familiar to him.

"S-She'll need plenty of rest, and-" He stood up from the cold floor, grabbing their bags and the sleeping bunny.

"Take me to her," With those words said, he let her take the first step. And she did, after she furiously blushed. Tucking a strand of her short brown hair behind her pierced ear.

She walked in front, Sasuke following closely behind.

It was a small building, nothing to fancy or nice just the right size. Walking pass two turns and through one long hallway, Sasuke and the Nurse attending Hinata were in front of the door faster than they noticed.

"She's still-"

He didn't bother to listen, as he made his way inside. Almost slamming the door open,

The room reeked, the smell of medication and high doses of antibiotics was given away. The room white and silent.

"She's asleep" Sasuke, with the bunny in his hands took a step foward only to be stopped abruptly. He turned.

"T-The bunny can't be-" Sasuke happily shoved the small and sleeping creature in the nurse arms. She shockingly took the animal, as he turned away. Indifferent with what happen to the bunny.

The nurse puzzled, opened her mouth to speak but was instantly shut down.

"Leave me alone, with her" It was a cold statement, and she felt unsettled. But nevertheless, left. With the bunny in her arms as she closed the door behind her.

His eyes never left her unmoving body, as he came closer to her unawaken figure. His eye's unconsciously moved to her chest as he notice it rise up and down, but with difficulty. "She's alive," He breathed in. Unaware of the tension and anxiety he was feeling.

He stood next to her bed, watching her carefully.

The cave, was moist yet warm. A foggy presence was embraced, as they moved deeper inside the cave. Which only became darker, and colder.

Once inside the deepest and safest part of the cave, Sasuke set Hinata on the ground. Careful and gently, as he wrapped her shivering body with the blanket covering her form.

He stood up, dropping their bags.

Her teeth chattering, and he watched as he body trembled.

Sasuke given in to his body's gestures, he walked outside the cave.

There was trees around, so looking for wood, by cutting down trees was easy.

So with enough wood for the night, Sasuke made his way back inside. Returning to Hinata, as he set up a fire with the gathered wood in his arms.

The fire enlighten a warmth around the cave, and Sasuke took Hinata and brought her closer the hot fire. Setting a small 'bed' for her.

She was still shivering,

He bend down to her level, moving the back of hand to rest upon her forehead.

It was hot, and drops of sweat slowly formed.

"A fever" He removed his hand, and without hesitation took his brown poncho off. Wrapping it around Hinata. He made sure to handle her with care, as he took a step back once he covered her securely.

He brought his hand towards her pale forehead,

It was warm, slightly cold. But not burning hot. He removed his hand, "It went down," He mumled lowly, taking a seat on a empty chair.

He was still, and remained unmoved until a different medic came in.

The man smiled towards Sasuke, as he advanced to Hinata's figure. He took notes, and touched her forehead as Sasuke did before.

"If she awakens," He jot down something in his clipboard. "Ask a medic for assistance"

Sasuke didn't respond back, nor turned his way.

He watched, and waited as the medic left without another word.

And those long and silent mintues turned to cold hours. And those cold hours turned to lifeless days,

He couldn't recall the last time he ate a warm meal, or had a decent amount of sleep. Just the usual three hours or less but nothing above that range.

Medics came in and out,

But his motivation and the sudden information gathered earned him a leap of excitement.

After hours of thinking, like he has done previously Sasuke came took realize many things.

What exactly was Tsuande up to?

He remained settled on the unwelcoming chair rather then heading off to finish the 'mission' assigned to him and Hinata Hyuga.

He had thought of leaving to finish their assignment but something always stopped him from doing so.

He'll admit, he hadn't caught on or found their 'mission' to hold any significance until the attack was held and mysterious information came to the surface.

But as of now, he can conclude the real urgency and importance of this 'mission'; it was close to the level of bait. From the start, the scroll held no 'importance' but they did. They were sent as bait for a deeper and higher influence .

He chuckled dryly.

This mission, is nothing but a mere inconsequential and petty distraction.

"An overconsumption of time," However, a question is left lingering. Was there a worth and value for his and Hinata's life, and was an injury considered. A real injury could and may overlap the 'real' mission. So was that a miscalculation from Tsuande herself, or was the discoloration and impairment of Hinata Hyuga a mistake.

Was it a risk the Hokage took, or a simple omission?

He turned, gazing thoughtfully at the unwell kunochi.

"Such a fool," He mumbled. His voice husky and dry. Raspy and short sounds coming from Hinata, as they echoed the room.

He stare blankly. "If this is a distraction, what is the real mission and what importance does it hold?"

He sighed. Took a breath, and blinked once.

Gazing at Hinata, he walked to her. Touched her cheeks, and with tight lips, poked her forehead.

"Wake up, that's an order Hyuga"

So how was it?? I hope you liked it very much. Well don't forget to Vote for the chapter, leave one of your lovely Comments behind, and any Feedback's/Review's are welcomed! ((: