AN: and we're on to chapter two! It's short, and I tried to make it longer, but I think it's as good as it is. So do enjoy the next chapter.

I don't own Naruto… I never will

~Road to Ninja~

Endurance

Chapter 2

The Announcement

Rumors of their betrothal had spread like wildfire, and Sasuke had done his best to avoid everyone, even his own teammates simply because he just felt like he'd explode over all the attention. He was briefly reminded of his plan to leave and just wander around the fire country, but Hinata's fear flashed through his mind, and although he loath to admit it, he couldn't really fully dissuade the notion that there is a high possibility of him never coming back.

He had also taken up temporary residence in the Hyuga compound, which he figured was a good thing since neither he, nor Hinata, liked going out much unless it was necessary. Also the fact that not even Naruto would dare visit the compound was a huge bonus for him. He didn't think he could deal with their questions which would only irk him and probably snap at them. He walked through the halls, and was headed to the dojo, when a door slid open only to reveal Hinata.

She was wearing a traditional indoor wear and smiled at him brightly, making him return with a small one of his own, "Are you busy Sasuke-kun?" she asked, a hint of blush forming on her cheeks. He stared at her for a moment before finally shaking his head in reply, "Do you want to accompany me to the pond?" Sasuke quirked his eyebrow at her, before nodding curtly. He was a man of few words, but Hinata didn't mind. After all, there wasn't much she had to say to him.

They walked side by side as they approached the pond and stopped. Hinata breathed in a breath of fresh air, while Sasuke stared blankly at the sight before him. He never thought he'd get to see this place again, and be standing right beside Hinata once more. It was all too surreal. It was like yesterday everything was normal, and today, he woke up and it felt like reality had become a dream. Simple things like why a word had been called 'word', and was he always this silent made its way through his thoughts…

So did a croaking of a frog, and Sasuke's lips turned up for a moment in memory. Hinata laughed silently all of a sudden beside him, and he turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow in silent inquiry, "Nothing." She said, a smile still on her lips, "It's nothing."

"Come now Hina," he mumbled softly, "It's hardly fair you're laughing and I don't have a clue why." She just laughed a little louder this time and began to share how she remembered the night they tried to capture a frog…

Sasuke had been insisting to get Hinata a frog as a present, but little Hinata had not wanted a frog, but Sasuke was too stubborn to listen at the time. When Sasuke managed to find one, he lunged all of a sudden, sliding across the mud as the frog jumped away. Hinata had tried to ask if he way okay but he just threw her a smile and told her with full confidence, "Just watch and learn Hina!"

And so she watched and laughed, but it wasn't until Sasuke's last fumbling did he manage to catch and trap the frog between his two little hands and excitedly made his way to Hinata. Scared at the slimy hoppity creature, Hinata backed away and tripped backward. The frog squirmed and leapt from Sasuke's hands and fell on top of Hinata's head. Of course she did what all little girls did and squealed in mixed fright with a few disgust simply because the frog was slimy and muddy!

Sasuke had laughed at her in delight and the young heiress was fuming and pushed him. Sasuke fell into the mud in shock and Hinata gasped at her misconduct. She immediately went to ask for forgiveness when she felt something soft and wet touch her cheeks. Sasuke had cupped her cheeks with his hands filled with mud, "You're forgiven Hina!" he said and they began throwing mud and snow and everything in between.

"We were so foolish." He mumbled, "Everything was so simple back then." And he crouched down in front of the pond, picking up a stone and threw it at the pond, making it hop a few times before it sunk to the bottom.

"Hmm," she sat right beside him, pick a few grass and threw it to the ground in front of her as well, "We were so innocent back then." She unconsciously leaned her head at his shoulders, "I wish we were still kids."

"You and me both, Hina." He mumbled, letting her lean her head, "You and me both."

The night of the announcement had come, and both Hinata and Sasuke were nervous. They had not been discussing what would happen when they'd get married, and somehow, without talking, they seem to have made a mutual decision…

They'd let nature take its course, and they would rather not plan, because really, when did anything ever follow a plan? And that would have been fine, if not for the endless inquiries about what would happen should they have a child.

Now Sasuke and Hinata were not ignorant and knew how kids were made, but none of them actually would thought about doing it together, despite the fact Sasuke already knew of the engagement long before. Ever since the subject of children were brought up, Sasuke and Hinata could barely look at each other before thoughts turned elsewhere, and so did their gaze.

It had been awkward, and they had found excuses to be too busy so as not to run into each other much, but the engagement party was something they should attend as a unified front as Hiashi had put it. so chucking those inappropriate thoughts of his to the furthest corner of his mind, Sasuke waits patiently for Hinata to finish.

The attendants soon exit and Hinata not long after. When they saw each other, Sasuke and Hinata's cheeks tinted pink. Sasuke because Hinata looked so beautiful on the white kimono littered with sakura blossoms as the design, and Hinata because Sasuke looked at her with such awe that she felt beautiful. Sasuke snapped from his daze and cleared his throat before slightly giving her his arm. She smiled at him gratefully, carefully memorizing the slight tinge of pink that remained on his face…

They arrived together, hand in hand, and made their way towards Hiashi who was placed at the center of the town's square. They would have held it in the Hyuga Compound, but Kakashi insisted it be a public event, seeing as everyone needed something to take their mind off of things.

Sasuke had been positively against the idea, but after added assurances, he finally, if only reluctantly conceded. Once they've arrived Hiashi had given a speech about prosperous unity and traditions, which Sasuke had zoned out. He just took a sip from his cup, watching the villagers around him. The only one who dare to approach him was Kakashi and Naruto, everyone else seemed to steer clear of him. "Sakura?" he asked Naruto who only looked sullen…

"She couldn't make it," Naruto said, "She was too busy in the hospital." Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the statement…

"She's avoiding me then." He said and took another sip. Naruto let out a sigh…

"Can you blame her though?" Naruto asked him, "She's been in love with you for years."

"And what about you?" Sasuke asked, and Naruto stared at him, "Do you blame me?"

"What? I don't know-"

"She's been in love with you for years." Sasuke mumbled, looking at Hinata at the rim of his glass, "And now that I'm back, I've taken her away from you." Naruto followed his gaze and also watched Hinata mingle with the other guests before his grip on his cup tightened, before he loosened it up again…

"She confessed, and I felt so stupid." he mumbled, looking at the night sky, "I figured, after everything, when Neji's death wasn't too fresh anymore, I'd start to court her." He chuckled softly, "But she chose you still, over me." He said and drank all the contents of his cup in one go, "I guess I'll always be dead last huh?"

"Naruto-" Naruto clapped his back, a grin so bright that Sasuke knew it was only a mask…

"Well, I gotta go eat some of those ramen! Your gloominess is quite viral, I don't want to catch a cold by spending too much time around you!" and with that he left Sasuke on his own…

For a moment, Sasuke was left alone until he felt someone take a stand beside him. When he looked up, he couldn't help twitching at the sight of the Hokage, who was now Kakashi, reading his erotic novels. Has the man no decency? He was Hokage now! At least in public, he should keep up appearances. "I know what you're thinking." Kakashi said, still not looking up from his book, "It's not really your fault."

"What is?" Sasuke thought, before realizing he was out of drinks…

"Hinata made her choice when she signed the contract."

"She gave me a choice." He mumbled, "To break it off, but I couldn't." he said, "Even now I'm ruining lives by staying in this village."

"You would have ruined a lot more if you stayed away." Kakashi said, "The other villages will hunt you down, Naruto and Sakura would fight to protect you. And now, I think maybe even Hinata would throw herself into the fray if it meant protecting you." Sasuke looked down, knowing that Kakashi was right, "You can't control everything Sasuke, by now that should have sunk in your brain." Kakashi closed the book and stared at his wayward student…

"Sometimes, the answers to complicated things are so simple." He said, "Ask her, then make a decision, but don't waste this opportunity." And Kakashi walks away. Sasuke ponders about what he said all the more and refills his cup, before spotting Hinata somewhere at the town's square, all alone. He left his cup by the table and approached her, stopping right beside her. She looked at him slightly and gave him a soft smile, before her eyes went to the crowd. Sasuke followed her gaze and saw how she was looking at the rookie nine, with Naruto being an idiot as usual…

"Do you want this?" Sasuke finally asked, "You love him, you don't love me." Sasuke said, "Hinata-"

"Sasuke." She interrupted and looked at him, and Sasuke was silenced at the fact she called him by his name, without any honorifics. She took his hand and faced them together, "Will you marry me?" she asked, and he finds himself in a stupor for the second time that night…

"I, uh, what?" he asks, incredulously. Hinata laughs at his confusion, "Aren't we engaged?" he asked and Hinata tilts her head to the side…

"Are we?"

"Yes." He said and she smiles, before a blush taints her cheeks…

"Good." And it was a quick thing, the way she stood on her tippy toes and just gave him a peck on the lips, but Sasuke was once again at a loss. Noticing how she avoided his stare, yet still held his hands, she was hoping for some kind of response. But Sasuke had nothing to say to that, and faced the crowd. Hinata's face fell as he did so and was about to turn, when she felt something poke her forehead. She looked up and saw Sasuke smirking, though his eyes were trailed to the fireworks above them that just started…

"Hn." Was all he said, and Hinata blushed before happily smiling at him and grabbed his hand and watched the fireworks as well.

Sakura had been contemplating for a while as she sat in an empty stool in the hospital. She had told Naruto she was busy, but the blonde wasn't as oblivious as before…

"I know how you feel Sakura-chan." Naruto says and Sakura looks at him in confusion, "I have been dense, but for a moment, I fell." He admits and Sakura feels empathetic to her friend's distress, "I guess I'm still chasing the girl, but what happens when I know I won't have her ever?" she knows it was a rhetorical question, so she remains silent…

Because what could she say when she feels exactly the same way?

Shaking those thoughts away from her head, she rises from her stool and breathes in deeply. If Naruto could face it with a smile, so could she. So she took off the lab coat, and hung it by the rack before heading towards the town's square. She could hear a countdown happening, and figured the fireworks were about to start. Placing herself by the table of drinks, she looked around to see if she could spot Sasuke…

It wasn't too hard, seeing as he was the only one whose hair stuck out in the back like a duck. She approached, intending to apologize for her distant behavior and for congratulating them, until she saw Hinata give him a peck on the lips. She stopped, and watched as a slight tinge of pink appeared on Sasuke's face. They stared there for a moment, oblivious, until she heard a collective shout, "Blast off!" the fireworks started, but Sakura was watching the engaged couple. Sasuke turned to face the fireworks, before poking Hinata's forehead, smirking as he did so.

Hinata blushed at the gesture, before smiling happily at Sasuke and grabbed his hand and watched the fireworks as well.

It wasn't fair, Sakura thought, she did everything for Sasuke, like how Hinata did everything for Naruto, yet why was it that Hinata seemed to be getting the good end of the stick? Averting her gaze from them, she looked to her left and saw one other person who was not watching the fireworks like her. And judging from Naruto's eyes as they met hers, he's seen them too. And a certain understanding bloomed between them and a new fire rekindled in their friendship…

Only who's to say that fire was a good kind?

Naruto was too busy trying to drown his sorrow in smiles and laughter that he had not expected to witness such a simple act of a couple. Only now did he realize how much Hinata's support for him meant, when he felt his heart break at the sweet gesture, she herself, initiated. Contrary to popular belief, Naruto already had an inkling feeling of how she felt, but he wasn't one to jump to conclusions, after all he'd do the same thing for any other friend of theirs, but he hadn't realize just how much he'd grown to care until that time she almost died for him during Pein's attack.

He saw Sasuke poke her forehead, and saw how she reacted. He felt jealous. Had they known each other before? It wouldn't be too far-fetched, considering that they both came from renowned clans in the Leaf, and for the arrange marriage, surely they've gotten to know each other before…

He hated the feeling in his chest, how he felt vindictive, before he quickly stamped it down…

When a man learns how to love, he must bear the risk of hatred.

Was that not what he was warned about? Turning his head away, he spotted a familiar flash of pink, and saw her also looking at him. And he felt a little better, because someone out there knows at least how he is feeling. Maybe together they can find a way to ease the aches in their chests.

Sasuke's fear, as Hinata has come to realize, didn't stem from being tied down to a village who hated him, and he hated back. No, it stemmed from ruining a chance of happiness and peace to the people he most cared about. So when Sasuke asked her if she wanted this to continue she felt her heart break…

No, she didn't think she could have ever thought of him that way, because she still loved Naruto, but she loved Sasuke too, and every fault of his. She had to choose one, and she had chosen. She had to make him believe that he wasn't destroying everything he's touching, bonded with even. So she asked this time, if he would marry her. She laughs at his confused expression, but she wanted him to know, she was choosing her friend…

Because he needed her more, and Naruto has finally achieved what he always wanted. Naruto she knows could get by without her, but she doesn't think Sasuke has the enough support he needed. She backed out once, she won't leave him again. So when he was still confused, she figured to do a more direct approach.

It was quick, and it wasn't a kiss at all, not really, but Sasuke would know the courage she needed, because he knew her too well, even after all this time.

But Sasuke had turned away, and Hinata felt that maybe, Sasuke really does not want to marry her…

Until she felt something poke her forehead. Looking up, Sasuke was not looking at her, but was watching the fireworks. His two fingers still placed against her forehead, and a slight smirk upon his lips. She remembers this greeting, and couldn't help but feel touched and warmed at the thought…

It was quick, and it wasn't a response at all, not really, but Hinata knew the ways Sasuke would express himself, because she too knew him too well, even after all this time.

And she turned away, and Sasuke felt that maybe, just maybe, they would work out anyway.

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AN: And finals had just finished, and I'm now taking my semester break, so I figured I'd give an update. So let me know what you want to see next and I'll try to see if I can incorporate your ideas and thank you so much for the positive reviews! (and though I read a negative one, thank you because you actually took the time to waste reading my story and even reviewing it)

I love you guys! Mwah! I hoped you enjoyed the story, if you have any comments, you know where to click. Until next time.

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