Sasuke let out a long sigh.
He missed his wife. A lot.
He hadn't been home in six months, seventeen days, ten hours, and four minutes because he was on a mission that only the Hokage trusted him with.
Nine years ago, he would have scoffed at his future self. The teen would have berated him for going soft, becoming weak. Falling in love was not a part of His Grand Revenge Scheme.
Whatever, pubescent Sasuke.
Current Sasuke is in a better place; he has stability.
A slight breeze passed and he caught the faint trace of jasmine in the air.
He must have been delirious from the summer heat, jasmine didn't grow near these mountains.
'You know who smells like jasmine?'
Damn. He wanted nothing more than to make a sharp left and take off running back to Konoha. He could technically make it back in four… five days, tops.
Listlessly, he jumped from branch to branch, wishing he was home with Hinata.
They could be cooking, or cuddling, or watching a movie… He would do anything with her.
Thoughts of his wife were interrupted by the snap of a branch.
The hairs on the back of his neck rose and he increased his speed.
Scanning his surroundings, he was trying to pick up on a chakra signature when he was tackled from the side.
They landed on their feet and with her arms linked around Sasuke's waist, she touched her lips to his.
"You're getting rusty, Sasuke."
"I let you do that." A smirk graced his face and he embraced her tighter, planting his face in the crook of her neck and inhaling deeply.
She smelled like jasmine and home. She was home.
"I missed you…" He closed his eyes briefly before they snapped open again. "Wait how did you find me? My location is confidential."
She gently pushed him by the shoulders and held his face in her hands. He hadn't shaved in a while.
"You forget I was an Anbu tracker for six years. And I missed you too… I'm on a mission here myself."
He cocked his head.
"I have a special message for you, Uchiha Sasuke." Her eyes were serious and her tone, grave.
Did something happen within the clan? He knew she was in the process of getting rid of the caged bird seal. Did the idiot Hokage get in some kind of trouble? The dobe would…
Seeing the worry in his face, she couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out of her. She smoothed out the furrow in his brow and kissed his forehead.
"Happy birthday, Sasuke."