"Um, Naruto-kun, what are you doing?"

Hinata's voice dragged me from my thoughts as I turned my head to look up at her from my position in the ground. Her face was scrunched up into confusion as I was currently lying face down on the ground.

However, I had a perfectly reasonable excuse for my predicament. "I am learning how to take gravity, push it against a wall, and…" I realized what I was going to say. "I mean, I, uh… I'm going to walk on trees."

Hinata didn't look too convinced, but the eight months we had spent together had let her understand that sometimes I just said the weirdest things. It was probably for the best that my first friend was tolerable of my eccentricities.

"Are you talking about the tree-walking control exercise?" Hinata finally queried after making sure to stare at me for an uncomfortable amount of time. Then again, she got really into making eye contact when her Byakugan was off.

Or she was judging me for doing something stupid again. Like the time when she found out I was basically exploding my muscles with Chakra just to increase my basic abilities.

"Yes," I sighed, getting ready for whatever judgement a now four year old can dish out. "I'm talking about that."

She didn't look the least bit convinced as she pointed to my feet. "Your feet are healing fine, then?"

Hinata, the queen of sass… who would've guessed all it took was a traumatic event? Or is this a natural response to our situation?

Right, looking too far into things.

"My feet feel fine." I even wriggled my toes for emphasis, and only winced three times as the healing skin and muscles only tore twice.

"Did you try using less Chakra?"

I gave her the flattest look I could. "Hinata-chan, if I could use less then I would. It's not like I even understand Chakra enough anyways."

"It's okay, Naruto-kun." Hinata plopped down next to me, her glossy eyes staying on mine. "If it makes you feel any better, your skills at navigation are horrible, too."

I don't think I wanted the original fainting-all-the-time Hinata more than now. This new one was pure evil.

However, it was fine. She was just poking fun at me to distract herself from our rather bleak situation. The fact that she was finally talking to me on her own accord was great, too. I was going to be an adult about this, and not rise to her verbal jabs.

"You're just mad because I have such vast knowledge." See, a perfectly adult response.

"You followed some random star for two months!" Hinata countered. It would've been three if she hadn't told me that a North Star doesn't exist here, but I wouldn't tell her that.

"This is ridiculous. We shouldn't be arguing on who did what, and we should be looking for a town or village." I stated, trying not to look like I was changing the subject.

"Yes, and I found one."

"Right, so we should keep- wait, what?"

Hinata was smug. "I found one while you were making your feet explode."

"Huh, well, uh, good work."

Hinata beamed, and somehow I could tell that that was what she wanted to hear. "Do you need help?"

"I'll be fine." I shrugged from my place in the dirt. It was nice talking to someone, again.

Still, getting to the town would be a better use of my time. I suppressed my urge to groan as I stood up on my unsteady legs, and kept my face straight while asking Hinata to lead on.

"Are you sure you're ok, Naruto-kun?"

I smiled at Hinata's concern. "I told you already, I heal fast."

"And yet you're always hurt…" my company mumbled, as if she was talking to herself. I don't know if I was supposed to hear that or not, but I decided to not reply to it.

I didn't even know how to respond to that even if I did. It wasn't like I could just spring it out that I have the monster that destroyed the village in my tummy, and that it also heals my wounds. Wait, could I? Does it even matter if she knows?

I knew it was a secret of some degree, but seriously, it was a horribly kept secret. If even civilians know in a village of literal superpowered ninja, then it's no longer a secret.

I'll just have to tell her whenever I get the chance to, then. Hinata is my friend, after all. Or I think she is. I consider her one, at least.

We walked back to our campsite discussing simple things: what's for dinner? How did you find the town? How did you turn your feet into goo this time? The usual stuff, really.

Packing was a breeze, as well. It turns out that eight months getting lost in the wilderness, and having to hunt your own food had let us get used to living in the woods. While I wouldn't trust myself to find my way through any section of forests, I certainly wouldn't die in the process of finding something.

We finished putting everything in our backpacks, and left for the supposed town a few minutes later. Sadly, Hinata's swords had dwindled in numbers, leaving us with only a pitiful seven to use in case of a fight. Though, the decreased number of weapons saved us the trouble of lugging them all through our travels.

I took the time to split myself as we walked, trying to find how I missed an entire town. Normally, I was the one to find things with my cheat ability. However, I had missed quite a few things after I had resolved to finally learn how to use my Chakra without injury.

Using my specter after a while without it was something liberating. The feeling of being weightless and free wasn't what I had thought I missed. It almost drew my attention away from the fact that I couldn't use Chakra anymore, and had to run to catch up to Hinata.

As the forest around us started to peel away to harder sediment and rocky terrain fit with small spurts of green, I found the town that Hinata had seen. Or more, my specter had found it. My invisible self hovered quite a ways above us, watching both our backs along with our destination.

The town itself was rather small, looking like it could only contain a couple hundred people at a time. Walls of mortar and stone were built around a skeletal frame of hard looking brown wood to form the buildings. Their angled roofs were shingled with dark red ceramics that looked like they were made of some type clay. There were shops stocked with food, snacks and refreshments that I had grown used to not having.

My specter moved down to find that there was people meandering around the town, actively conversing in a small marketplace or simply completing some menial task around the town. Children around my and Hinata's age were dancing between adults' legs, laughing, cheering, and happily being children. I listened in to their broken speech, and wild mannerisms.

I began to glance at Hinata, unknowingly.

"Is something wrong, Naruto-kun?" She asked. Her voice was different than the normal children I was also observing. I hadn't noticed until now.

I wasn't a child, nor was Hinata. Not anymore. "It's nothing, Hinata-chan. Come on, I found a hotel that might take us."

"Naruto-kun, you haven't seen the town yet." Hinata stated as if that fact had all the answers to my own words.

"Well, not with my own eyes."

Hinata stared at me for a second before giggling innocently. "You're weird, Naruto-kun."

"And don't you forget it." I smirked, letting my tensions drain. I needed to not dwell on things too long.

It wasn't long till we reached the town, and I began to smell something. Though, it wasn't something that I could really explain as I didn't think I was smelling something physical. Hell, my physical body hadn't noticed a thing as I was scouting out the place, but the smell had come all of a sudden. I had smelled the odd scent from my specter body, of all things.

I had somewhat had an idea on what was happening. It was another sense that I had gained from my specter form after we had killed all those wolves, and my specter's' face gained a slight snout, as if it were a dog. The only thing I could possibly think it being was that I was somehow smelling Chakra.

Where Hinata's was like crackling energy and burning ozone, this one had an earthy scent, almost like freshly cut grass. Or like someone had just been rolling around in mud, and let that mud dry onto them. I found the origin of the scent a second later after following the weak smell to its owner.

He was a man who looked to be in his late thirties. A short cropped shock of blue hair of all things. While asking myself how that even happened, I studied how his eyes had a tinge of blue and green, and how they were also a slit pupil, catlike in their look. His pale skin looked like it had the texture of fish scales.

I felt his walk spoke more about him, though. It was purposeful and silent. Long legs and lean arms strode confidently, and seemed to cross more distance than regular steps should.

If anything, his clothes didn't seem to match the dangerous image I was painting for him. Shorts of blue plaid with many deep pockets took to his long legs and stretched down to just above his knees. His shirt was a simple long sleeve with small pictures of waves along the trims. A large, bulging backpack, much like ours, was held securely on his back, and I could catch that he was carrying something heavy.

Then our eyes met.

It was a subtle interaction that I had only started to develop. I wasn't too proficient in reading people's motives or emotions at a glance like I hoped, but I could use my spiritual Byakugan to cheat a little.

Peering into his chest, I found that his heart was beating rapidly. That could mean too many things: fear, excitement, warriness. Honestly, all of those connotations didn't bode well for us considering our age. Especially when I could see the Chakra beginning to flow into his limbs.

I was so fascinated by how effortlessly he did that that I had nearly forgot to keep track of him. Though, my body tensed up as I caught him moving closer to us.

Hinata, who hadn't left my side or talked at all ever since we got closer to the town, felt me tense up beside her, and slowly reached for the swords she was carrying. The veins around her eyes were bulging as I placed a hand on her arm to hold her back before she went on a insant attack. If we got into a fight here we could risk getting civilians caught up in this.

Whatever this was anyways. I never have been in a standoff, or the Shinobi equivalent to one, but I certainly didn't like where this confrontation was going. I wasn't given an option to back out now that he had walked straight up to us.

"Hello, what brings you two to Iwashibetsu? The name's Itsuki, by the way." The Shinobi said calmly, completely at ease with whatever this situation was. I didn't really like that, nor how he hadn't given us his last name.

Hinata didn't really talk to the man, but she hadn't turned to face him yet. I knew that she could see him through her Byakugan, though. Still, for some reason I felt rather at ease at the potentially deadly confrontation. "Just wanting to rest from our travels, you know. We're all probably really tired, so maybe we should all call it a day?"

"Yes, I am rather tired." The Shinobi said. His eyes were closed and his stance was open, but I felt that I couldn't touch him. "You two be careful of Shinobi; they aren't prevalent here, but those who have a bit of strength are sometimes unreasonable."

"Thank you, Itsuki-san." I said, forcing a smile to my face. My heart was beating through my chest.

"It was nice meeting you two." He smiled as well. It was probably the most genuine smile I had seen from someone else, and if I couldn't see how his Chakra had started pooling into his legs, I probably would've believed that smile.

We both watched him walk away, enter a house and offer words to one one else on his way. He was great at fixing his facial features as well as keeping his voice level, but it seemed he needed help pulling the whole act together.

I honestly didn't know what to think of him. The Shinobi seemed strong, but if he wanted to attack us then it would've come sooner. No, if it was me, then I would attack when I already gave the impression of not attacking.

My specter followed him into his home, and watched as the man shot around his small house, grabbing various pouches and equipment. I felt like I had seen too much when I noticed that he took out a giant hammer and axe that was connected by a flat strip of leather. When he started to watch us from a barely cracked window I felt a chill travel down my spine.

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata whispered from my side. I caught her eyes, and found that there were tears beginning to form. "I'm sorry…"

Right, she was the one who found this town, and now we have a potential enemy staring at us. She felt the same during the time I got really wounded for the both of us. "Don't worry, Hinata-chan. He's not even looking at us right now; probably just some concerned citizen."

I needed to comfort Hinata. I needed to keep an eye on the Shinobi. He probably wouldn't let us just up and leave with how closely he was watching us, so I needed to be calm. However, I doubt he would be expecting me to teleport to him the first time. If he was indeed hostile, then I had one shot to take him out.

I needed to fix this.

We found a hotel that would take us in despite our torn clothes and uncleanliness a little time after we parted from the Shinobi. He was still watching us like a hawk, and I briefly wondered what else he had to do with his life besides watching a pair of children.

I was getting antsy from the situation. The rather rude attitudes of the hotels towards us was also not helping. So what if we didn't smell too good, or looked like we were wearing rags? Can't your cold, dead hearts let two dirty kids in to stay the night away from creepy Shinobi wanting to harvest our organs?

Night fell slowly as both Hinata and I were waiting for the Shinobi to slam through a window or wall at one point. I kept my specter on top of him throughout the day, and noticed he left as soon as the moon hung behind a few clouds.

He was fast. My specter could track him, but I was beginning to have second thoughts about this confrontation. Maybe I had gotten a little cocky from dismantling a pair of weakened and stupid Chūnin. This guy was definitely at least Jōnin, and dangerously cautious. Two things that didn't bode well for four year old, untrained children.

However, I was already going through with this, and I'd imagine Hinata would hate getting kidnapped again. Our swords were littered around the room in easy to reach places for Hinata. My own weapon was held in my hand as I watched the man easily slip past the lady at the front desk after he flashed a few hand signs.

Mind control? No, they had a term for Jutsus that could deliver illusions and the such. Genjutsu. If anything that made him even more dangerous.

There was a knock at the door as we both stilled. I could practically feel how tensed Hinata had become when I placed my hand on her shoulder, and nodded at her, a silent message passing between us.

I cleared my throat a little as I got into a mindset to fight at any time. "I paid some good money for this room; don't break anything on your way in."

The Shinobi didn't react to my words, but he did open the unlocked door. He momentarily stilled as he noticed the swords that surrounded Hinata. His face had no more traces of well placed geniality.

My specter hovered around his neck.

"I guess there is little to hide anymore." He joked, playing a fake smile. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel Hinata getting ready to try and attack the man.

"No, there is not." I stated. "Though, the reason you sought us out probably should be addressed."

The Shinobi snorted at some hidden joke. "Like I would tell you when you're hiding behind a Transformation Jutsu(Henge no Jutsu)."

I blinked. "What?"

"Come on, I'm not some dumb Genin. No kid your physical age has that much Chakra, nor does he simply walk around on a border town with a Hyūga. You're obviously not out to get me, and you're not kidnapping the girl, so that's why I have spared you so far." The Shinobi announced with a smirk as if he had put together the entire situation.

I was busy putting together his words while I thought through this situation. This guy would've killed me if it looked like I was kidnapping Hinata? Is he actually some really nice Shinobi? Is that a possible thing for Shinobi? Wait, I don't have many Shinobi to reference from.

Still, my silence had been going on for awhile, so I should probably address the elephant in the room. "I'm four."

It was the Shinobi's turn to blink, instantly dumbfounded. "What?"

"I think you have found the wrong place to butt into." I finished, motioning towards the door.

"Wait, wait, wait!" The Shinobi exclaimed while raising his hands in the air in a gesture for surrender. "What the hell are two kids doing on a border town? There's no way you're a kid, too; you talk like some wizened old Shinobi!"

"Yes, well, I am four. It was nice meeting you misunderstood Shinobi-san." I quipped, feeling a bit better about the situation. He didn't seem too bad, and anyone who is worried about Hinata cannot be too bad.

I hope I'm not wrong.

"No, no, wait." He disappeared in front of us, and I felt like I was jinxing myself too much as I saw him reappear right next to me. His hand was waving above me, looking to find something. I almost stabbed him by reflex until his hand came down on the top of my head in a soft pat. "Holy shit! You really are short!"

My eye twitched. "Because, I am four."

Hinata supported my words by attacking the man.

The Shinobi let out a high pitched yelp as he caught the sword in her hand. As in he caught it just by clapping his hand together in some impossible movie-type technique before he turned the point towards the floor and pushed the blade through the floorboards, effectivelt getting rid of one of Hinata's swords like it was barely a walk in the park. "Wait, calm down, Hyūga-chan! I surrender!"

Hinata didn't seem to hear him, and I felt like she was a little too startled by how suddenly he moved. She reached back behind her, grabbed another blade and charged him again. The Shinobi wove around the blade in a way that made it seem like it was effortless to him.

"Wow! That was a good thrust, but use a little bit more of your wrist. Try to turn your hips with your slashes more, too!" Then he began to complement and critique Hinata as she tried to kill him.

I felt a headache coming on. Did I even want to fix this anymore?

Sighing, I rematerialized behind him a second later and pumped as much Chakra as I could into a fist before cracking it against his skull. He barely had enough time to register that I had moved, and was suddenly behind him before my fist struck. The man fell over, unconscious a second later, or he was maybe pretending.

I didn't know, really, but he didn't seem like that bad of a person. If his ploy was to make us lose our guards as he faked being unconsciousness then he had another thing coming. Still, I had to stop Hinata from ramming a sword through his body when he was down.

"Hinata-chan, calm down!" I held onto her shaking body as I felt how scared she was. She seriously thought the man was going to kidnap us. "It's okay, he's not going to hurt you. It's okay."

As my trembling companion finally calmed down, I felt that our soon-to-be captive was safe from her metal stabby sticks.

Then a thought came onto me. "Do we have any rope laying around?"