Don't own Naruto .o.o.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Sakura had just finished her shift at the hospital and was heading home, when she noticed the Hyuga heiress sitting on a bench. "Hey Hinata-chan... is something wrong?" as she got closer she noticed something was bothering her purple haired friend.

The other girl didn't notice she had approached until Sakura sat on the bench, "Oh! Sakura-san, I didn't hear you."

"Are you okay Hinata?"

"Yes... why would anything be wrong?" she smiled, but Sakura didn't believe her.

"Did Naruto do something, because if he did I'll-."

"No, no Sakura-san, it wasn't Naruto-kun... it's my father."

'Her father? What did he do?' "Hinata-chan?"

"He... he said I can't see Naruto-kun anymore," the normally quiet girl burst into tears.

"But Hinata-chan, I don't understand, why would he say that now? You and Naruto have been together for over a year and he's never had a problem."

"I don't know, a few of the elders aren't happy that the heir of the clan is dating the boy who has the nine-tailed fox sealed inside of him!" Hinata practically spit the words out like they left a bad taste in her mouth.

"Hinata-chan," the pink haired girl didn't know what to do to help her friend, "Don't they know that Naruto is in training to become the next hokage, doesn't that mean anything?"

"They'll never see him as the hokage, not while I'm the heir of the main branch of the clan."

"Maybe someone needs to set them straight, they can't run you life like that!"

"I can't say anything to them."

"Maybe they'll listen to someone outside of the clan, like Tsunade-sama or another clan leader."

"But the hokage is always so busy and there are no other clans that they will see in the same respect as our own."

"There might be one, I'll see if I can get him to talk to them. Don't worry Hinata-chan, we'll fix this."

"You want me to do what?"

"Please Sasuke-kun, this is for your best friend."

"Sakura."

"Naruto will be devastated if Hinata is taken away from him!"

"You're getting involved in clan affairs that have nothing to do with you. This is between Hinata and the Hyuga elders."

"I can not believe that statement just came out of your mouth... since when have you been on the side with any of the elders of the village. You were ready to kill the council members not even a year ago!"

Sasuke was tired of the screaming match, even though he wasn't the one screaming, and Sakura had begun crying sometime during the fight; he pulled her to his chest to comfort her. "We're fighting over something that doesn't even involve us," he began rubbing her back, trying to calm her.

"It involves us become it involves Naruto, he finally has someone he can care for and they're going to take her away."

"What do you think I can do?"

"Well, they won't listen to Hinata, so we thought maybe they would listen to another clan leader."

"I'm not a clan leader, you need to have a clan in order to be a leader," he stated firmly, not wanting to get on that topic right now.

"That's just a minor detail, you'll have a clan eventually," Sakura blushed realizing what she just said.

"I'll try, but they're not going to listen. Older members of clans are very strict when it comes to the ways of the clan."

"They probably want poor Hinata to marry a boy from the a lower branch in the family," Sakura glared at the thought.

"You can't blame them though, they have the strongest kekkei genkai in the village; continuously marrying outside of the blood will weaken it. Eventually the byakugan wouldn't exist."

"But some times it could be a good thing too! A woman from their clan married outside of the family and the sharingan was born."

"Not a great example, the woman was outcast from the family and the two clans weren't on friendly terms after that; I'm not even sure if the elders would hear me out."

"But you've got to try... for Naruto."

"I'll see if I can speak with them after dinner."

At the mention of dinner, Sakura smiled and kissed him on the cheek, before moving out of his arms and to the kitchen. Once she was finished she moved all the dishes to the small eating area they had, Sasuke joined her and they began to eat. However Sakura was just moving her food around the plate, not really taking any bites.

"Sakura? Is something wrong?"

"I was just thinking that's all."

"You don't have to worry about the Hyuga clan."

"It's not that, it's what you said earlier about the clans not liking to marry outside of themselves."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Well, if your clan was still alive... would we be together?"

Sasuke wasn't hesitate with his response, "No."

'He didn't even try to lie about it,' she tried to keep her tears in check.

"I would have had to marry a girl from the clan to produce full blooded Uchiha children... that would have been brain washed to attack the village, like everyone else. If it wasn't a girl from the clan then it would have been one from a clan close to our strength to create ties with those clans. You aren't from a clan, if it wasn't for being on the same team, I probably would have never noticed you," he saw her tears and he hated what he said, but he wouldn't lie to her.

'Don't cry, he's only telling you the truth and he's right... he never would have noticed me.'

"It wouldn't have been love, I wouldn't have loved her like I do you," he tried to ease her worries.

"Don't kid yourself Sasuke, she would be the mother of your children, there's no way you couldn't love her."

"Let's not talk about this anymore, it didn't happen so don't worry about it," he stood and brought his dishes to the kitchen. When he returned to the room she was still sitting there thinking about what could have been, "Sakura."

"If ... if we did have a child, they are less likely to have the sharingan."

"Sakura, you saw our kids. The boys have it, yeah we don't know if Setsumi did yet because she isn't trained. But for Setoru to be a chunin at 11, they have to be strong. Your chakra control and strength, my speed and sharingan... they will be stronger than any full blooded Uchiha that would have lived. Now, let's focus on helping Dobe," he smiled, kissing her on the cheek. She smiled at his caring gesture, then took her plates to the kitchen to clean the rest. "I'm going to the Hyuga compound, I shouldn't be long," he walked passed the kitchen, heading for the door.

"Sasuke-kun! Thank you!"

It didn't take long to reach the grand Hyuga compound, nor did it take much effort to get onto the grounds. Of course the guards watching the entrance assumed the last Uchiha was probably here to talk to Neji. He approached the main house, planning on speaking to the head of the clan, seeing if he can reason with the man to speak with their elders. He found Hiashi and Neji in the courtyard training with their tai-jutsu, and Hinata was sitting on the porch watching. Both men stopped their training when they sensed Sasuke at the end of the yard.

"Uchiha?" Neji was confused at seeing the other man there so late at night. Hinata blushed realizing why he was there.

"Hyuga-san... may I speak with you?"

Neji looked to his uncle, knowing the sharingan user wasn't talking to him.

"I shall ask what this discussion pertains too?" the older Hyuga glared, not liking this late visit from, whom he considered... the traitor of leaf.

"A matter has been brought to my attention that should be discussed privately."

"What matter involves the sole member of the Uchiha clan and the Hyuga clan?"

Sasuke glared, growing tired of talking with this man, "One that I will not discuss out here."

The Hyuga glared, trying to match the annoyed look of the younger man, he bit back his pride, "Neji, Hinata... go inside." The girl didn't waste a second and entered the house. Neji looked at Sasuke, wanting to know what was going on, but his uncle's stern gaze told him to go inside. "What do you need to discuss?"

"I was informed that the elders of your clan are planning to break up your daughter's relationship with Uzumaki Naruto," he tired to be as formal as possible, trying to show the class he was brought up with, but it was weird calling the Dobe by his name.

"That matter does not involve you Uchiha! Memebers of other clans should not know of our affairs, who told you!?"

"That is none of your concern, but this discussion effects people I am close to; I will not allow it! Is there a logical reason, other then the nine-tailed fox's involvement, to break them up? Your clan may think he's unworthy, but he is next in line for the position of hokage, he is an honorable shinobi and has never betrayed this village. I don't know another worthy enough for the Hyuga heiress!"

"You're one to talk about loyalties, betraying the village and joining the ranks of our worst threat. Being listed in the black ops bingo book, joining Akatsuki and helping with the planning of Konoha's destruction. The only reason you still breathe is because Lady Tsunade's apprentice begged the council for your life and Naruto threatened to let the beast free. The elders are thinking of Hinata's safety, we have let them be together for far too long!"

"If Hinata is taken from him, the fox will come out whether Naruto wishes it or not... and leave my future wife out of this."

"You plan on trying to restore a dead clan? I knew that girl had motive the moment she became Lady Tsunade's lackey, but that's what is expected from a rouge shinobi." (Note: Hiashi's version of rouge is not a person who abandons their village, like Sasuke did. He's referring to a ninja who doesn't come from a clan... like Sakura.)

"Don't speak of her that way," the sharingan bled through his black eyes.

"You dare threat the Hyuga clan boy?"

"I'll take out the clan, that way they won't have to worry about tradition and who their heiress is with," Sasuke could sense the guards he passed earlier approaching. Not wishing to be sent to jail again, and upsetting Sakura, he disappeared just as they entered the yard.

"You did what!? Sasuke you were suppose to reason with them not start a war!" Sakura dropped down on the couch next to her boyfriend with a sigh.

"I told you it was useless, they are stubborn."

"I believe most men are," she smiled, giving him a chaste kiss, "But that's one of the traits I love about you."

The next morning Sakura spotted Hinata at the hospital. She raced over to her and immediately began apologizing for Sasuke's behavior the previous day. The Hyuga girl insisted it was alright and told her how Sasuke stood up for his girlfriend to her father. She also told her that she had made the decision to give up her title to be with Naruto.

"Hinata, are you sure?"

"Yes, I love Naruto-kun, I want to be with him."

"But, won't you be outcast from the clan, I don't think Naruto would want that."

"I won't be... Neji wouldn't let that happen."

"Neji-san?"

"I passed the title to him. I get to be with Naruto-kun and he can be with Tenten-chan, the elders don't have a problem with whom he chose to marry. And now that I'm not the next clan leader, they are allowing me to stay with Naruto-kun!"

Sakura smiled, seeing how happy her friend was compared to yesterday. And she was glad she could help, "I'm very happy for you Hinata-chan.

Note: This chapter took place a few days after the first, so it's still july, before sasuke's birthday. Just so you can get a timeline of what's happing.

Special Thanks to: (This is no special order)
SakuraRoxMySox
kattylin
DeadBlossoms456
SasuSakuFan Jo-chan