Sakura let me borrow her car since I don't have mines yet. I drove according to memory and was beyond happy to see the familiar gates of the Uzumaki resident. The security guard took one look at me with wide eyes and let me through without a single word.

Naruto said Van lived with his sister and niece in a house a little ways away from the main house. I drove passed Naruto's modern house to spot the smaller version of his house a little ways down. I'm praying to all the skies that Valerie is out and Magnolia is in school because I don't want them witnessing what is about to happen.

Stopping the car right in front of the house, all the anger I had honed up inside me didn't make me back track or even think twice about what I was about to get myself into. I rang the doorbell three times in the row and tapped my foot impatiently. I was about to go ring again when the locks started clicking.

Right when the door swung open, right when I registered that it was Van, my palm collided with his check right away.

Van didn't even look shock at my action. So he knew this was going to happen yet he did it anyway?

"It's funny how fast you assume it's me," he said, coldly. Not the same warm Van I looked up to for help or the friendly face that always made me laugh when necessary.

This was a face of somebody I have never met.

"Shut up!" I snapped at him. "What did you want to get from this? From humiliating Naruto and me, huh? Satisfaction? Or revenge because I chose to love him and not you? And here you say you love me when you wouldn't hesitate a moment longer if you had the upper hand on Naruto."

His warm eyes turned dark at my words. The man's hand shot out and grabbed my wrist, "I do love you. I've always loved you but you're always out looking for a way to get hurt! You never appreciated me or all I've done for you so what I'm doing now, doesn't ever match the pain you've caused me in the past!"

"I know I've hurt you beyond any measure and I'm sorry for that," I growled. "But you have to understand! I don't love you the way you love me and I never will! But that doesn't mean I don't love you as a friend, as someone I need in my life; as someone I still want in my life! You're still important to me, Van! Even if I don't want you to be anything more than just a friend."

Van's face faltered at that. I could feel his hand loosening up a bit at my words. I meant every word. I might not be romantically interested in Van and I know I'm being selfish by asking him to continue on being my friend but he's just that important to me. I can't continue on without him.

"Oh, you better not be falling for this Vanny," a snake-like voice made my skin crawl as it sounded behind me.

The man's eyes hardened again but this time not from my conversation but from whoever is behind me.

A cold tip touched my back, sending chills beyond chills down my back. The cold metal, I don't need to look at it to know what it is.

A gun.

And the man holding it is ordering Van around, "She took the bait so take her inside now, Vanny boy."

"But I don't -"

The man clicked the gun once, "You better listen."

What the hell did I get myself into?

~~~~~~~~~

Inside, Van tied me down to one of his dining chairs without looking at my eyes once. But he didn't have to to let me know that the ropes are loose enough for me to break free and escape when needed.

But first, I needed to know who Van was associating with and why. I highly doubt it's to get revenge on Naruto and me because Van would probably just drink that off.

The man with the gun finally came into view. My throat dried up completely at the sight of him. The familiar long black hair, the snake-eyes contacts, and the thick purple eyeliner gave him away.

Orochimaru, the world's most wanted criminal. The FBI and CIA are willing to give a gigantic reward for the capture of him. What really makes my skin crawl is that he's also from Konoha and was once of the strongest councilmen of our government. Until he wanted to take complete control and turn Japan into a dictatorship so he murdered everybody of the council at that time. They were able to drive him out but he continued on, becoming the most wanted head of the world.

And I have the number of an FBI agent right now, too.

My curisioity got the better of me again. Why was Van associated with Orochimaru in the first place? Now I'm certain it's only blackmail but Van must've done something big for Orochimaru to have blackmailed him into doing this to me.

"Ah, Dr. Lee it's such a pleasure to see you here," that damn voice.

"Kabuto!" my eyes searched the whole kitchen for him.

The said doctor came into view, carrying a butcher knife in hand. He was playing with the edge. I stiffen then. Our normal arguments in the ER, I could go as far as I wanted with insults.

Today, I need to keep them down.

"Now, you must be wondering why you're here," he smiled. "Well, let's just say I haven't been very fond of you at all."

"I got that much," I glanced from him to Orochimaru who left the scene, bored probably. I heard the TV turn on. Van stood in the shadow behind me so I wasn't able to see how he's responding to this.

"You see," Kabuto looked at the blade, sickeningly. "My life was going along so well that I never thought it would changed when a child doctor would enter and ruin that for me. I built, a reputation that I had to uphold so damn well yet you ruined it all. You made me seem like I'm a villian to the public because I had to follow protocol of the hospital."

He smirked, "So let's not let you continue saving people. What use of you as a doctor if you don't have arms."

I didn't panic, I know I could handle this man; even if he did have a a knife on me. The training I did beforehand, let's just say it's meant for these situations. So as Kabuto raised his knife, I was battle ready.

Unfortunately, somebody didn't know this.

A flash of blonde hair caught me off guard. Kabuto was surprised as well but it was too late. The knife dug itself into the person's right arm, cutting it clean off. Blood sprawled everywhere as the person screeched in pain and collapse on the floor in pain.

"NARUTO!" I screamed, not caring about the situation any longer. I ripped my arms from the ropes and bent down to the man, gaping in utter pain. The amount of blood he lost is not going to save him.

Kabuto, now a person who lost his sanity, went in to slash the knife again. But my anger for him is beyond any measure. I could take his head if I wanted with my bare hands and I will, especially with Naruto barely hanging onto life.

But somebody beat me to it.

Van dug a kitchen knife right into Kabuto's chest. The doctor gaped, the pain on his face far beyond anything anybody should ever handle.

"You rot in hell," Van growled and pulled the knife downward.

As Kabuto staggered backwards, he made one last look at me, his eyes painted with despire, hatred, before falling over.

I never forgot that look.

A click of gun suddenly sounded. All of us completely forgotten the most dangerous man in the room.

Orochimaru didn't look the least bit dazed with Kabuto's death. He just held me at gun point. Van didn't move, afraid any movement would trigger the criminal's hand on the trigger.

"Your father, little girl," he started. "Nearly caught me that one year not too long ago but boy was he lucky I escaped. I think, a situation like this was similar. Your father at gunpoint as your mother was lying on the floor dying such as your beloved president right now."

My mother? No, but my father told me she died of cancer?!

"You were still just a babe then," he chuckled. "Sleeping soundlessly in the room next door without knowing."

Mother...

"Now it's your turn," Orochimaru clicked the gun again. "Let's end the Hyuga's bloodline now shall we?"

Naruto tried to get up but I held him down with my hands on his chest.

"Hinata!" my lover gasped.

I cupped his face, "My fight, my battle. Don't get involved, alright?"

"But you-"

I cut him off with a kiss, "I love you, so much Naruto. So please, whatever happens today, don't forget me."

"Time's up girly," Orochimaru snarled.

Another click. And then a gunshot.