Chapter 1

Hey guys. How are you all doing? I can't believe it's been two years since I last updated this fic. When I started this story, I was very unfamiliar with the whole idea of writing. I had an entire plot figured out but with time I realized that there were too many holes and I couldn't work with it any longer. But you all seemed to like my story so I'm approaching it with a different angle. I hope you guys like it just as much.

Disclaimer : Don't own Naruto.

Excuse my errors.


It was a hot, moist day in August; the sun glaring down all its fury making the cicadas cry out in protest. Her head poked from behind an oak tree, byakugan fixed on the tall walls marred with famous uchiwa insignia, spying. Two guards walked the parameter - south, east and west - while one stood watch at the gates, neither standing nor watching; she noted. "W-what do you see, Hinata-sama?"

The said girl turned to her partner, restless and fidgeting in her spot, a plea danced in her eyes which Hinata pretended to not see. "T-there are three guards in total, including the g-gatekeeper who seems to be asleep. It takes approximately five m-minutes for the other guards to cover one side. The one p-patrolling the west border is covering south too. We a-approach the compound through the forest in west when he turns south and sneak in through the front gates." She punctuated her statement with a smile as if it were the most fool-proof plan in the history of all plans. Her partner begged to differ though.

The heat had forced her hand to abandon her beige jacket but her dark cotton undershirt still clung to her skin. Hinata wondered if the beads of perspiration rolling down her forehead was contribution of the warm weather alone. Never had she been this intimidated by gates before. Or maybe she had, that one time she arrived late at the Hyuuga compound and the punishment that followed, justifying her fear. Yet when her cousin asked her if she was sure, Hinata could only flash a confident smile. "Of course, Akira-san. I wouldn't be doing it if I weren't."

Guilt tugged hard at her conscience for taking advantage of Akira's feelings. The younger girl looked up to her like one did their idol, sparkly eyes and floating hearts. No one would've supported her on this madness but her. And that was what made her consider retreating several times, each time the idea being swatted ruthlessly by Hanabi's feverish face flashing in her mind's eye.

Nothing else would matter then.

The heart of an older sibling is a crazy, crazy thing.

Staying loyal to their plan, the duo lingered in the shadows and waited until the guard disappeared. Their fingers slipped through the familiar hand signs of a henge that replaced the paleness of their eyes with caramel of a Nara's. The two clans allowed unauthorized entry to the other's clan members into their compound and they would use this trust to their advantage.

The wall kept the sun away, two black blobs shifted through the darkness. The gatekeeper was snoring in his chair, much to their relief. Hinata bypassed him to sneak in first and Akira followed.

"Hold it right there."

In so many ways, the sound of his voice reminded Hinata of her fateful duel with Neji. It was like his gentle fist slamming into her ribcage, ripping her heart. Her body turned cold under the sizzling sun, her breath trapped in her lungs. Later, she'd vaguely remember Akira's pale face over the loud swish of blood in her ears. Death stared in their faces, big and scary and dark eyed. Did she really think she could accomplish this without screwing up? With her skills and luck? Stupid, stupid her.

Her father would be so disappointed in her. She doubted he'd ever talk to her again that is saying, if she came out of this alive. She wasn't Hanabi - stronger, smarter Hanabi who snuck into the Uchiha compound every other day. She came no where near. Her luck seemed to have been exhausted getting her through Hanako's eventful pregnancy. The rest was Kami's mercy that had gotten her this far. That too, now, felt like she'd run out of. "Did you really think you could get pass me, huh?"

The man was a giant compared to the two of them, towering over them a good couple of feet. He looked every part menacing, save for the weariness in his eyes. A whimper escaped Akira while Hinata barely managed, "N-n-no s-sir."

"You thought I was asleep, didn't you? Well guess what, I sleep with an eye open."

"W-we're sorry U-uchiha-san."

"A sorry won't do. I'll have to report you two to Fugaku-san who'll decide your punishment."

It was all Akira could take before she broke down and surrendered. "Ple-please don't. We're sorry, Uchiha-san. We-we-we didn't know any better. Please let us go. It won't happen again." She wailed while Hinata stood petrified; mind, body frozen.

The man sighed. "Fine. But don't let me catch you two again without entering your name first or I won't be so forgiving." The two girls followed his finger towards a bulky notebook resting beside his chair on a small table. They exchanged looks before moving to it sheepishly. The gatekeeper plopped down in his chair and was out instantly.

They walked inside on stiff limbs, lost in their thoughts until Akira stopped in her tracks. "Hinata-sama. We should go back."

Hinata eyed her questioningly, "after coming this far?"

"Far? The hard part's just started. Look around you!" They were only a drop in the sea of Uchiha, armed with one of the most deadliest dojutsu. It took only one to get caught. "It's dangerous."

Hinata understood that they were still reeling from the near brush with disaster, standing on trembling limbs now that the effects of adrenaline was ebbing away. How had he not seen through their poor henge, Hinata had no clue. It was, undoubtedly, a rare stroke of good fortune that they shouldn't question and get out of there while they still could. But then...

"Uchiha senbei is the best, nee-chan." She managed through a mouthful. "You have no idea how good it is."

"You're right. It doesn't get any easier from here." A smile touched, grateful and sad. "But I can't go back now. Hanabi's counting on me."

Akira rolled her eyes. "It's just a flu, Hinata-sama."

"I'm aware." She bowed. "Thank you for your help, Akira-chan. I won't keep you any longer."

She nodded. "Please be careful." And then she was gone.

So much for sparkly eyes and floating hearts.

Hinata kept her head down as she walked through the compound. Her hair veiled her face. She made sure to keep to the less crowded parts, opting for scarier, silent streets. The fact that Uchiha senbei was located in busier parts of the town didn't help her case, she kept on still.

The smell of brown-sugar and freshly baked bread introduced her to the place. An elderly woman managed it, sweet and smiling. She was pleasantly surprised with the warmth she extended her way, offering her a cup of tea to go with the crackers since it was her first time visiting her shop. Hinata declined with a heavy heart, doubting that she'd have received the same kindness had she known she was a Hyuuga, the heiress at that.

She was really craving a cup of tea.

But the rice crackers in her hand were what really tested her self-control, staring temptingly at her from the bag pressed to her chest. She didn't even realize that she had slowed down, coming to a halt few meters from the exit. Despite being not too big on it, Hinata broke a piece and popped it in her mouth.

It crunched loud under her teeth, attesting for their freshness. Senbei never really tasted like anything to Hinata but she could detect some sort of spice in it that gave it a unique taste. Something like...

"You there, stop."

Hinata turned slowly towards the source of the sound and almost chocked on the mouthful when she identified the owner of the voice. She would've dropped the paper bag had her arms not been frozen. The air, for the second time that day, turned cold around her and she colder.

Shushin no Shisui...

"You're not from around here." He scanned her from head to toe through slitted eyes and finally settled for her face. She could already sense his chakra preparing for a fight and knew instantly that she was doomed. The guy was notorious for his speed, she couldn't outrun him even if she tried. And fighting was never an option to begin with. "Identify yourself."

She opened her mouth to answer but couldn't summon a word. Hinata looked down at the item sitting innocently in arms and wondered how something so simple turned so disastrous. Then again, she was Hinata. Disaster was her middle name. "I-I..."

"Tachibana-san." Another voice rang and Hinata was ready to faint.

Uchiha Itachi jumped down a building to land a few inches from her. His mellow disposition would have confused had her mind been working - one would think to approach a stranger, an intruder, with more caution but he stood beside her relaxed, almost familiar. "You should know better to leave without informing someone first."

"Itachi. You know her?"

"Mother is having her for tea and while she is preparing some snacks, I thought I would show Tachibana-san around town." The older Uchiha eyed him suspiciously. "It would be a shame if she left without a tour of our beautiful compound, especially the Headquarters. It's a work of genius. How else would one contain such powerful criminals in one place? "

Her mouth went dry.

Only her luck would leave her strangled with the two strongest shinobi of Konoha.

Wait for me kaa-san. I'm on my way.

Shisui sighed. "Just don't get yourself in trouble." He offered Hinata a threatening glare before flickering out of sight.

His title does him justice.

She was brought out of her musings by Itachi's voice. "Follow me, please", and she obliged wordlessly. The ease from moments earlier seemed to have abandoned him as he walked with his head held high and his back straight - a true warrior's gait. Despite the circumstances that had lead her there, she didn't mind dying by his hand. It's an honor. He is an admirable shinobi.

"Your sister is better at it than you are." Hinata's head shot to his with wide eyes. He knows? " But is it worth it?" He turned then, looking down at the paper bag in her hands.

Hinata followed his line of sight and nodded. "H-Hanabi-chan l-likes it so I guess."

Something flashed in his eyes, something akin to understanding. "I respect your sense of duty as an older sibling but we are not unaware. Please do not mistake our dismissal for our ignorance." She realized then that they were at gates, that he was letting her go unanswered, that he had accompanied her there to keep her out of trouble in case she ran into another Uchiha. And despite everything she was told about them, of their cruelty and traitorous nature, she wasn't confused. Kindness fitted him well. He had such soft eyes and it contradicted with everything she knew him to be. Because it had been drilled into her mind that kindness was weakness, that if she wished to exceed every other at being a shinobi, she'd have to erase every sign of it from her heart. Yet here he was, Uchiha Itachi, one of the best, delivering her safely to the gates even when their worlds clashed like water and fire. "Please be careful on your way home."

Hinata felt like there should be more, that their goodbye shouldn't be left at a simple instruction escaping his lips thoughtlessly, as sweet as it may be. Why should she be the only one to think back fondly of their encounter? "I-it's a shame." It was as if she saw him pause his thoughts about leaving. "M-my clan will never know w-what they're missing out on." She patted the brown bag in her arms, like an affectionate mother with a child. How many things have they been denied unknowingly because of this dispute between the two clans? Hinata thought just as the words left her mouth.

"Do you wish it were any other way?"

Had she imagined it or was his voice a tad bit deeper just now? Regardless, it did its job wonderfully and she found herself spellbound. "I do now."

His eyes glinted and he struggled with the smile trying to lift the corner of his lip. "I too wonder sometimes what the Hyuuga clan specializes in besides, of course, their juuken."

Her face burned now that the realization of what just transpired set in. She turned quickly with a rushed "good day" and ran away, clutching the bag of senbei to her chest for dear life, nerves a disarray, something tingly stirring in the pit of her stomach. She wouldn't have confused this feeling with embarrassment had she been anyone but her.

And he was left to stare after her retreating back, wishing for things he had never before wished.


Please leave a review if it isn't too much trouble.

Tayyabalaraib.