"He's where?!"

"In juvenile lock-up."

"Why?!"

"Naruto Uzumaki was convicted with the involvement of killing Hidan. He and Itachi Uchiha must serve a life sentence."

"No..." Hinata squeezed her eyes shut, "I don't care if Hidan's still alive or dead, I don't want that for them!"

"I'm sorry, Miss." The receptionist at the front desk of the station apologized, "you can visit them, if you'd like."

"No, not today... I... Have things I need to do."

"Alright."

Hinata slipped her hands into her pockets and walked away. She wasn't ready to accept the truth that Naruto would be in prison all his life.

"Hey, is that you Hinata?"

She lifted her head to see none other than Naruto's parents, "Ah! Mrs. Uzumaki!"

"Oh, please, just call me Kushina, no need to be so formal..." The red-head blushed and waved her off.

"So..." Minato smiled, "you went in to visit Naruto?"

"No... I just now learned that he was taken in."

"Ah... I was ready to go straight to that kid and demand explanation, you know? But, Sasuke came to us first, and he explained the situation."

Hinata looked at them with disbelief, "how can you be so calm, though?"

"Because Sasuke told us Naruto had a plan for being there, and that he knew how to get him out."

"Does he?" Hinata smiled to herself, "thank you so much! I need to go to school now, but I really hope I can come visit him after with Sakura and Sasuke!"

"Alright, have a good day at school!" Kushina called as Hinata ran off.

_______________________

"Hinata, can we talk for a sec?"

"Sure."

After school, Hinata followed Sasuke to an empty classroom, "where's Sakura?"

"She's out with Ino doing, I don't know." Sasuke replied quickly, "anyways, I need to tell you about Naruto."

"I know, I heard already." Hinata crossed her arms, "why didn't you guys tell me earlier?"

"We didn't want to stress you out." Sasuke explained, "well, since you know already, did you want to come with Sakura and I to go see him?"

"Yes! Of course!"

"Okay, let's go find Sakura and go to the station as soon as we can."

Hinata followed Sasuke out and went to find Sakura and Ino hanging up flyers, "what's going on here?"

"Ah! Hinata! Long time no see!" Ino smiled, "we're just hanging up flyers for the school prom. You're going, aren't you?"

Hinata rubbed her elbow and looked away, "probably not..."

Ino was confused for a few moments, "what happened to Hidan? Or what about Naru--"

Sakura coughed loudly and elbowed Ino's gut... Hard, "Uhhh, she's busy that night."

"Really?"

Sakura lowered her voice and clenched her fist, "yes, now why don't you just shut up for now, Ino?"

"Okay, okay." Ino waved them off, "I'll see you guys later, then?"

"Yeah." Sasuke nodded, "we're off to the mall."

"Okay! I'll be sure to tell Karin where you are." Ino winked.

"You've got to be kidding me..." Sakura groaned.

"Sure." Sasuke smiled as he grabbed Sakura's and Hinata's arms, dragging them away from Ino, "at least she'll go there wandering around the mall looking for me than following us to the police station."

"Haha, sly." Sakura chuckled, "so Hinata found out?"

"Yeah." Hinata looked away, "I don't believe it... Why would he do that?"

"We don't know..." Sakura sighed, then turned to look at Sasuke, who didn't react. She peered her eyes at him, then nudged him, "right?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Mhm." Sakura rolled her eyes, "come on, Hinata. We should bring him something."

"Sakura, I don't think they'll let you give him anything..."

"Well, Sasuke, you never know."

"Let's just go."

The three drove down to the police station, just five minutes away. They signed in, then waited and watched from the spectator side of the glass. Within minutes, the door opened, and the three of them stood up in anticipation when Naruto walked in on the other side of the glass.

"Naruto!"

"Naruto, are you okay?"

"Calm down, calm down, I'm fine." Naruto gave the girls a reassuring smile, putting them at ease.

"Naruto..." Hinata spoke, "why?"

"I had a reason coming here, don't worry." Naruto explained, "there's no telling how long it might be until
I get outta here."

"Just tell me why you're here, why you're like this..."

"I can't tell you that, Hinata." Naruto smiled sadly, "please don't make this harder..."

"Make what harder? Isn't it hard enough?" Hinata gripped the glass as tears filled her eyes.

"It's... Complicated. This whole mission I gave myself just got a whole lot more complicated." At the mention of the word, Sasuke rose a brow, "I'm... Being sent out."

Sakura slammed her hand on the table, "you're what?!"

"You're kidding." Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"Naruto, no, that's not true! That can't be true!" Hinata denied.

"I'm sorry, guys. I don't know why really. But later today, they're transferring me and Itachi overseas to Germany."

"Germany?! Why the hell--"

"Itachi, too?" Sasuke cut Sakura off, "why?!"

"We weren't told. But until further notice, we're being transferred."

The four were silent for a few more moments, until Hinata's sniffles started becoming a tad more prominent against the silence.

"N-Naruto..."

"Hinata, I know it's all going to be okay. Just trust me."

Hinata wiped her eyes and looked into his blue ones. She stared into their vividness and saw his faith in her. If he can depend on her, she told herself she needs to depend on him, too. She smiled and nodded with confidence, "I trust you."

He nodded with relief, "thank you."

"Just promise me you get out before prom."

Naruto rose his eyebrows, "prom? Already?"

"Yeah." Sakura chuckled, "we three'll be pissed if you don't come next week. It'd be a great way to celebrate a victory against Hidan."

Naruto chuckled a little, but regained all seriousness, "we haven't won against him just yet... Hinata's name is still out there. It's permanent, we can't celebrate at prom if everyone there is going to harass her..."

Hinata shook her head, "no, Naruto, I don't care what people say, I just want to be with all of you."

"Hinata, I just want the best for you. I don't want you getting hurt. Again."

"Time's up."

The four turned as the guards walked up to Naruto and waited for him to get up.

"Wait, please, Naruto..."

"Sorry, Hinata." Naruto stood up, "oh wait. Sasuke." He gestured for Sasuke to come over, then he slipped a folded piece of paper through the slit in the glass, "you'll need this."

Sasuke nodded in understanding, "thanks."

Naruto sent a last smile to them as he walked off and disappeared behind the metal door.