The Hunt

When night fell again Naruto got up and headed for his en suite bathroom. Sasuke's words from yesterday still echoed in mind.

"You're going to fight."

Damn right he was going to fight. If the Uchiha bastard was capable of being a Hunter then Naruto could do it to.

"I won't lose to you, teme," he muttered as he climbed out of the shower.

"Talking to yourself?"

Naruto spun around to find Suigetsu's head sticking through the bathroom door.

"What the hell?" he yelled, quickly covering himself with a towel. "Just because you don't need to use a door doesn't mean you don't have to knock!"

Suigetsu cackled evilly still looking Naruto over, "Sasuke sent me," he said conversationally, pulling out of the door as Naruto opened it and walked into his room. "He said you're to meet him in the arena after breakfast."

"Damn bastard giving orders again," muttered Naruto, searching through his new clothes. "Wait... there's an arena?" he asked turning back to Suigetsu who was lazing on his bed.

"You went there yesterday didn't you?"

"That big sparring place?"

"That's the one."

"Ah... right. Hang on if you guys are nocturnal shouldn't you say 'yesternight'?"

Suigetsu let out another short cackle, "Yeah, but then we'd have to call lunch a midnight feast etcetera etcetera and it'd all get too damn confusing."

"It's already damn confusing," Naruto protested. "Anyway do you mind giving me some privacy?" Naruto made shooing gestures at the annoying man.

"Do I have to?" asked Suigetsu with a sly grin.

Naruto fought a blush as Sasuke/Karin's words from yesterday were repeated. He moved quickly, snatching up one of his old converse and throwing it at Suigetsu. But it never made contact as the grinning man sunk down through Naruto's bed and out of sight. Naruto checked quickly under the bed before getting changed.

"These people are so weird," he muttered as he pulled on his boots.

But weird as they were they had been good to him. He was certainly having more fun down here with the crazies than he had been having on the surface. It was just a waiting game now, until his powers came out... if they even did. Despite everything there was still a small part of Naruto that doubted Neji's analysis of him. What if he didn't discover any amazing powers? Then what? Would he be forced to live in poverty amongst normal people again, with the knowledge of the war that was happening under everyone's noses? Naruto knew he wouldn't be able to go back to that life. But perhaps if Ino melted his brain he wouldn't need to worry about the Hunters war. He shuddered at the thought; even Sasuke had admitted he wouldn't wish that on anyone.

In the kitchen he tactfully avoided Lee's generous offer of breakfast and had toast instead. Then he hurried away back into the main labyrinth. After several twists and turns he realised he couldn't remember the path Sasuke had taken yesterday. Panicking slightly he tried to retrace his steps.

Not looking where he was going he turned a corner only to have a short person bounce right off him. She fell back on the floor with a small squeak.

"Oh crap, I'm sorry!" he apologised immediately reaching out a hand to help her up.

As soon as she looked up his continued apology died in his throat. He knew instantly who this must be when pale lilac eyes looked up at him timidly. Naruto helped the girl to her feet and she blushed madly looking anywhere but at him. Her long hair was darker than her cousins and she lacked his confident attitude as she stood before Naruto twiddling with the lilac silk lining of her black velvet cloak. Like her cousin her clothes were of the old wiccan style.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to knock you over," Naruto tried again. "You must be Neji's cousin, right?"

She blushed again and nodded.

"Well it's nice to meet you! I'm Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto extended a friendly hand.

She looked at it for a moment as though afraid it would burn if she touched him. "M-My name is H-Hyuuga H-H-Hinata," she stuttered with a slight bow. "I-It's very n-nice to meet you, N-N-Naruto-kun."

Naruto removed his hand awkwardly and mimicked her bow with less grace than she had managed. "Er, yeah you too. Anyway do you think you could help me out? I need to find the arena."

"H-Hai, f-follow me."

With that she walked past him and turned down the passage opposite to the one he had just come from. She walked quickly looking at the wall on one side of the corridor. They turned down a long passage that Naruto thought he remembered (but then again they all looked the same anyway).

"I-It's the last d-d-door down here. You s-should hurry, S-Sasuke-kun is looking impatient."

With that she left him, hurrying away quickly with her cloak flying behind her. Naruto shouted a quick "Thanks!" at her retreating back before she was gone.

"Strange girl," he muttered. But then again there was so many strange people in this coven, what was one more?

As he approached the last door of the tunnel he wondered briefly how she had known Sasuke was getting impatient. Surely she hadn't been able to she him? But then he remembered what Sakura had said when he had said the Hyuuga's sensed magick.

"It's not that simple..."

So apparently there was more to Neji and Hinata's powers than he had first thought. As soon as he hurried onto the platform over the arena room Sasuke's voice echoed up to him.

"You sure took you time."

"Teme," Naruto growled as he walked down to the floor. "I got lost! Seriously how the hell do any of you find your way around this maze?!"

Sasuke was standing in the middle of the room. "You will learn to trust your sixth sense in time."

"How the hell does a 'sixth sense' help me not to get lost?!"

"The same way it helped you guess that tarot card. The sixth sense, or the 'undefined sense' gives us a idea of what is right or wrong, if we are in danger, where to strike an enemy, etcetera. The sixth sense is only as strong as the person wishes it to be. It's signals are subtle so we must learn to listen to them."

"Eh? How?"

"Meditation."

"Meditation? Is that why you brought me down here?"

"Yes, it's a relief to know you're not completely stupid."

"Teme! I'm not stupid at all dammit!"

"Whatever Dobe."

Sasuke sat down where he was and gestured for Naruto to sit opposite him. Naruto ground his teeth together and sat on the other side of the circular decoration in the middle of the chamber.

"This chamber is highly charged in magick. Perhaps because of all the fights that have been held here or perhaps because of those old rituals Neji told you about," Sasuke said rolling his eyes. "Whatever the reason, it has always been a spiritually peaceful place which makes it the perfect place to get in touch with your inner self."

Naruto failed to hold back a snigger at that point.

"You think this is funny?" snapped Sasuke incredulously.

"No, I think you're funny, Mr Guru," replied Naruto with a taunting grin.

Sasuke bristled, "Come closer Naruto, I wish to show you something."

Curious, Naruto leaned closer to the Uchiha. Sasuke moved quickly, flicking Naruto hard on the forehead with an electrically charged finger. Naruto let out a cry of surprise and fell backwards rubbing the reddening spot on his forehead.

"Teme! What the hell was that for?!"

"Don't mock me," snarled Sasuke, then he took a deep calming breath. "Now, relax."

"Kind of hard to relax when-" started Naruto.

"Just do it!" growled the Uchiha.

With a huff Naruto crossed his legs again and mimicked Sasuke's peaceful expression as he closed his eyes.

"Now, breath in deeply through your nose... and out again through your mouth," as the Uchiha spoke he demonstrated the simple instructions.

Naruto cracked an eye open to look at Sasuke. The others eyes were closed as he spoke in low calming tones, his deep voice filling the chamber. Naruto took the opportunity to admire Sasuke in the light of the flickering white flames above them. Sasuke's pale skin seemed to glow in the unnatural light and his pitch black hair had taken on a bluish sheen. Suddenly a frown marred the peaceful image of the Hunter before him and Sasuke's eyes snapped open, glaring at Naruto.

"The sixth sense also allows a Hunter to know when someone is watching them, Dobe."

"Stop calling me that!" cried Naruto, his fists clenching by his sides.

"Only when you stop acting like the moron you are!" retorted Sasuke.

"I'm not a moron!" Naruto sprung to his feet.

*

Sasuke felt frustration thread through every vein in his body. This guy was impossible! Every little thing he did seemed to make Sasuke's blood boil.

"You are if you can't see the value of what I'm trying to teach you!" Sasuke was fuming as he shot to his feet. "This is not a GAME!"

As his shout echoed through the chamber the air fizzed and began to get impossibly heavy with wild magick, pressing down on, but at the same time, elevating Sasuke.

"Meditation is an important part of controlling the demonic energies! If you don't learn to control this power you will die and I will most likely be the one to kill you!"

Sasuke's voice was magnified inside the chamber as electrical currents skittered over his skin. He could feel the anger boiling up inside him, burning every nerve within his body. These powerful emotions begged to be released... no they demanded to be released. He wouldn't have a choice in the matter!

Sasuke saw through sharpened vision that Naruto was backing away. Those blue eyes were wide in shock and fear.

"Y-your eyes...!" stuttered Naruto as he stumbled backwards.

'Yessss...' thought Sasuke. 'My eyes!'

His eyes burned but yet they saw every small detail. He could smell the fear radiating from Naruto. Sasuke spread his arms wide, electricity pulsing through him, wild magicks singing to his blood. He felt so... alive! It had been too long since he'd felt this kind of power!

He advanced slowly on Naruto who had fallen to the floor. He would show this idiotic boy what it meant to be powerful!

*

Then someone was standing before Sasuke, barring his path. Sasuke swung at the man planning to knock him out of the way with one powerful strike. But Neji caught his arm and the pent up lightening there disappeared.

Naruto watched as the Hyuuga pressed his palm flat to Sasuke's chest. Neji's long hair was lifted by the energy crackling through the strands and his white eyes glowed with the same light produced by the flames hanging above them.

The Uchiha cried out in pain and anger as Neji pushed him to the floor. Sasuke continued to struggle even as the electrical currents disappeared from his skin. From behind Naruto ran Hinata. As Neji restrained Sasuke, Hinata pressed her fingertips to his temples, a look of concentration on her face. Naruto stared in shock as her eyes also began to glow, but unlike Neji her hair remained flat.

After a minute or so the Uchiha stopped struggling and Naruto soon saw Sasuke's eyes return to their normal colour. Neji climbed off of the drained Uchiha with a sigh of relief and Hinata gently brushed Sasuke's hair from his eyes before standing.

Naruto quickly knelt beside the Uchiha as Neji straightened. Sasuke's eyes where blank as he stared at the fire above him. Naruto would have thought he was dead, if he hadn't been panting, the raven's skin was ashen and pale and his eyes held no life.

"What did you do to him?" Naruto asked turning to glance between the Hyuuga cousins whose eyes were still glowing.

Neji sighed as he ran a hand through his hair which still sparked angrily. "We absorbed his demonic energies."

"D-Don't worry, he'll b-be okay after he s-sleeps," explained Hinata.

"But what was wrong with him? He just changed, it was like he wasn't even himself anymore, and his eyes... they glowed red!" Naruto shivered.

Hinata looked awkward and glanced at Neji to answer. "I think you should ask him that."

"But-"

"Look, Naruto, Sasuke just needs to rest. He will explain it to you later... he will have to. For now would you mind getting him back to his room? I'd do it myself but I need to discharge my hair first; I'll give people static shocks if I touch them like this. Absorbing Sasuke's electricity always does this to me," Neji explained with a wry smile.

Naruto glanced back at Sasuke who's breathing had finally slowed.

"Yeah I'll get him back to his room," then he looked at Hinata. "Why isn't your hair all charged like Neji's?"

"I-I didn't absorb as m-much energy as N-Neji-niisan," she stuttered, looking away shyly.

"Hinata-sama only absorbed a small amount of energy from certain points within his brain whereas I had to diffuse all that electric."

Naruto nodded, "But why are your eyes still glowing?"

"They'll stop in a while, though mine will take longer than Hinata-sama's since I gained more demonic energy which needs to be neutralised. Anyway you should get him to bed, he won't be conscious for very long," said Neji, nodding at Sasuke.

Naruto nodded and approached the Uchiha. He knelt down at Sasuke's side again.

"Sasuke, can you walk?" he asked softly, touching the others hand.

He was surprised by the temperature of Sasuke's skin; he was completely frozen!

"Don't bother," said Neji. "The lights are on but nobodies home. You'll need to carry him."

Naruto took a deep breath and slipped his arms underneath Sasuke's cold body. He really hoped the Uchiha wasn't aware of his surroundings or Sasuke would undoubtedly be pissed off later.

As he reached the stone steps he heard Neji speak in a soft voice, "Mind giving me a hand with this?"

Naruto glanced back to see the Hyuuga's sitting in the same position he and Sasuke had been in. He watched as Hinata pressed one hand to the floor letting Neji put his right hand over it, then Neji put his left hand on the floor and Hinata placed hers over his. The two Hyuuga Hunters then looked each other in the eyes and channelled the electricity from Neji's hair into their hands and then into the floor.

Naruto turned away before they realised he was watching, somehow the ritual just seemed... sacred and Naruto didn't want to intrude.

Naruto found it surprisingly easy to carry Sasuke, the Uchiha wasn't very heavy at all. As he stepped into the labyrinth he took a deep breath. He wouldn't get lost this time. He walked through the maze of tunnels, slowly becoming more familiar with their twists and turns. But just when he was beginning to feel more confident he reached another junction.

"Dammit," he cursed softly.

Sasuke shifted at the noise, his head coming to rest on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto blushed as the Uchiha's breath ghosted over his neck. It would be useful to have the Uchiha awake as a guide right about now. But he didn't really want to wake Sasuke; Neji had said he needed rest and besides the Uchiha was much more pleasant when he wasn't conscious.

So Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath and tried listening to this sixth sense that he was supposed to have. Then he looked right and left. Neither felt right.

Naruto looked down at Sasuke, sleeping peacefully. 'Come on Sasuke, which way do we go?' he thought at the Uchiha. Then he looked left and right again. 'Random guess time... we go left!'

He continued down the left hand passage and repeated the process at the next junction he came too. Naruto turned a corner and had to stop himself from cheering in triumph.

"Nice sixth sense work bastard," he muttered to Sasuke who just continued to breath softly.

They entered Sasuke's room and Naruto lay him gently on the bed. Once he'd pulled off Sasuke's heavy boots he pulled the covers over the sleeping Hunter.

Naruto looked around. This was only the second time he'd been inside the Uchiha's room and the first time he'd been able to appreciate how similar it was to his. There were a few subtle differences though, for example the bookshelf near the desk which was full of heavy volumes, dull with age. Naruto crossed the room quietly and ran his fingers over the tomes. He wondered if Sasuke actually read them, they looked really boring.

Once he had explored the Uchiha's room some more he returned to Sasuke's side. He didn't know why he was still hanging around. He didn't need to be here but... he didn't want to leave. Naruto gently ran his fingers over Sasuke's pale cheek, he was still cold but he didn't look like he was dead anymore. He pulled his hand away when Sasuke turned his head towards his fingers.

'I should go, the bastard will probably be in an awful mood when he wakes up.'

Naruto started to walk away but a strangled noise from the bed halted his steps. Sasuke's head was thrown to the other side and his brow was furrowed in pain. Naruto instinctively took hold of the Uchiha's cold hand. He rubbed his thumb over the back of Sasuke's murmuring calming words to the other. After a moment Sasuke seemed to settle down.

Naruto let go all the while whispering that he wouldn't leave. Instead he moved to the love-seat at the end of Sasuke's bed shaking his head lightly as he rested his chin on his arms so that he could look over the back of the seat and watch over Sasuke. He didn't know why he was doing this. Sasuke was a powerful guy, he could take care of his own nightmares.

Perhaps it was because of what had happened tonight; he had seen a scary side of the Uchiha. When Sasuke's eyes had glowed Naruto had felt scared of him for the first time since he'd met him. But it wasn't because of the power Sasuke had displayed, no, Naruto already knew he was powerful. It was because of what he had seen in the Hunters eyes, that wild power and uncontained bloodlust.

Sasuke hadn't been in control.