4 months later…

Returning to the Village Hidden In the Leaves had never felt so good to Sasuke. He couldn't believe that for once in his entire fucked up existence, that he could finally be happy. Though deep down he felt a sense of dread. Things had always been taken from him so quickly he had a hard time trusting happiness despite it being in its purest form. Despite his cold facade the Uchiha just had a hard time trusting…..well...life really. It was a game that he never mastered. Sighing in relief when he saw the gates the Uchiha sped through. Wanting to surprise his daughter for being so early he snuck in the house as quietly as he could skipping over the creaky floorboards. Opening the door he was looking for he snuck in.

Sarada was fast asleep, her usually neat black hair splayed on her pillow. She seemed to be in a deep sleep and Sasuke wondered briefly where she got it from. Not Sakura or him so who. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the laughter from his wife. What is she doing up, he thought heading toward the room a little faster than before. Sasuke was a day early but he supposed he could surprise her now rather than in the morning. Smirking at the thought he headed down the hall with a satisfied look on his face.

"Saaaaaakuuuurrrra-chan," a familiar voice said, "Can you please give me a kiss?"

"Only if you give me one first," said the seductive voice that he knew too well.

Sasuke stood in the hallway his balance swaying. He only knew fury, he only felt fury. But he only hoped. Trying to tell himself it was just a joke, he walked over to the door. But instead of playful voices, he heard moans resonating in the room. His vision blackened at the edges and his hearing sharpened. He could only hear the moans and pants of his best friend and wife and the cracking sound that seemed to be the shattering of his pride. If you asked him when his katana became present in his hand, Sasuke wouldn't be able to answer. The Mangekyou Sharingan took place in his eyes and his chakra flooded the room. The pants and moans now stopped, basking the hall in an eerie quiet that would forever haunt the three. Shuffles could be heard, along with the rustling of clothing and the now aware shinobi pair ran into the hall, Sakura dressed in Naruto's huge shirt and Naruto in only his boxers. At the sight of her husband Sakura paused. Her voice came out meek but he heard it.

"Sa-Sa-Sasuke. I-We-w-We-It's not what it looks like." she cried her tears hitting the wood of the Uchiha home.

"Teme we were going to to tell you. I promise we….I just…..I wish you didn't have to find out this way."

No one saw him move. If he weren't Naruto he would have been dead in seconds. Katana aimed right for his friends gut Sasuke charged, his Mangekyou gleaming in the moonlit house, faster than light itself. And if you weren't a shinobi you would've missed the tears that were flowing down his cheeks, the sad glance he shot Sakura, and the call for help that escaped his mouth when he charged. But they didn't miss it. They were Team 7 and they read each other better than any Byakugan user. And they all knew one thing. They broke Sasuke. Broken beyond repair.

The Uchiha lunged at his best friend and the Uzumaki dodged. He fought like an animal trying to kill. He wanted them to know what they did. How they shattered his world. Sakura screams echoed off the wall as she stood in the middle of it all. They were Team Seven again fighting like they did that day on the rooftop. But instead of fighting over power, they were fighting over a woman who had played them both. Naruto slipped when a punch came dangerously close to his face. That was all Sasuke needed. His katana was shiny and ready he walked over to the man he once called his best friend ready to deliver the final blow. Before he could the Sakura blocked his view of Naruto.

"Please Sasuke. Don't kill him. Please. For me."

A roar released from his throat as he raised his katana again this time ready to take both their lives. The blade came down, cutting through the very air itself. A second away from her sk-

"Papa"

The blade froze an inch away from Sakura's throat. Sarada had been up for awhile now the Sasuke noted. Tears were dripping from onyx eyes so similar to his. She gripped a kunai in her hand and her red eyes were alert, looking and taking in every detail. She figured it out, he thought as he noticed the now devastated look on her face. Sasuke lowered his katana knowing that his daughter was making a decision on something important. And he'd be damned if he let Naruto take his child. No way in hell, thought the Uchiha.

"Sarada."

Everyone looked his way.

"If it is your choice to stay with your mother and this idiot-of-a-Hokage then that is your decision. But if you choose to come with me I can't promise too much. But if you trust me," he said extending his hand, "Then take my hand."

Sakura screamed and begged her daughter not to go and then tried to break free of Naruto's grasp. Ignoring her mother's screams Sarada took her father's hand not even looking in her mother's direction.

"Bye mama."

And doing what he was famous for Sasuke Uchiha left leaving his once loving wife in tears on the floor.


Hinata Uzumaki deactivated her Byakugan and collapsed on the floor. Her bare mattress never seemed as cold as it did now. Her wretched sobs could be heard through the walls as her mind broke. She saw it ALL. Every kiss, moan, pant, and thrust, she saw. Hinata screamed now, no doubt that Himawari was awake now. She thought she had snapped. She thought she had endured. She thought that the suffering was over. But now. Now she knew. Hinata had been watching Naruto the whole week, making sure he were faithful. For the second time this week she found herself second-guessing her own thoughts. Maybe Naruto just wants spen time with her, Hinata had thought. It was disturbing to say to the least, how much more trust she had in Naruto than in herself. The Hokage was obviously flirting with Sakura but Hinata tried to brush it off as a friendship. But what she saw today only confirmed her suspicions. Expelling her lunch into her toilet, Hinata began to get up. Her body, her emotions, her heart. They all felt…...numb.

Almost as if someone restarted her whole being. Getting up, she now had only one goal. Raise her kids and get through this no matter how hard it is. No more Naruto bullshit. I can do this by myself. That is final. Feeling better she made her way towards the kitchen. The Uchiha's might come over, she thought as she began to make enough food for a whole orphanage. Rice balls and curry lined the table. Donburi sat on the table along with noodles cooked to perfection. Hinata smiled in triumph at the meal she prepared. And in the middle of it all sat fresh tomatoes straight from her garden. Looking at the empty seats Hinata began to get lost in her thoughts. Boruto would be gone for a few weeks for an exchange program in Suna but she had a feeling she wouldn't have a problem with loneliness anymore.

"DINNER'S READY!"

Himawari rushed down the stairs falling on the way. Eager to help her mom she set up the table all the while putting on a smile that made her heart clench. Kami please let my children achieve happiness, she prayed, clasping her hands together. Make sure they grow and achi- . She cursed, damning the Uchiha's who seemed to be constantly interrupting her prayer.

Smoothing her hair out and clothes Hinata felt strangely nervous as she reached for the handle to the door. Giving herself a quick pep talk Hinata opened the door facing the two sweat-drenched Uchiha's.

"You're just in time for dinner," she said.

Though still numb Hinata felt something new. Something warm. Can I become whole again?


Sarada Uchiha thought she could never hate someone. But she hated them. She hated what they did and she hated how her mom assumed she wouldn't find out. She saw the signs of course but never commented. How dare she….Insult me…...Me and Papa. She was infuriated. But she was also confused. Why would her father take her here? For a brief second, she suspected an affair but quickly dismissed the idea. Ms. Uzumaki loved her husband and she could tell. She was made aware of the fact every time she came over. So why? It didn't make sense and frankly, she didn't care. Her thoughts cleared when she saw the feast on the table. Running had taken a lot of Sarada's energy and she honestly ran out of tears to cry. Wasted water. Sitting at the table she waited for the confirmation to eat before devouring the food on her plate. All that running sure made me hungry, she thought as she dug into her second helping of food. Looking around she realized she wasn't the only one hungry. Her father scarfed down helping after helping, while Himawari ate fast and neat not leaving a scrap on her plate. Hinata ate in her usual dainty way but moved swiftly through her food. When the meal was done, Sarada sighed in relief and was hit with a wave of sleepiness. Looking at the clock on the wall, she realized it was 10:00. Who the hell makes dinner at 10, she wondered as fighting a yawn.

"Himawari," said Hinata

"Yes, Mama."

"Can you take Sarada to the guest bedroom. And may you please bring some covers down for ."

Sarada looked up surprised. She got up to her feet ready to protest but her dad shook his head indicating that all was well. He was a man of few words, her papa was, but she understood. Letting herself be dragged by the little hand and up to her bedroom, Sarada felt slightly more relieved.

Thanks, Ms. Uzumaki


"Sake," Hinata asked already pulling the bottle from the shelf.

"Hn."

Sitting the two cups in front of their owners Hinata poured a generous amount in each one. If they were gonna get drunk they were gonna do it together. Cups emptied and were filled again and as Hinata got more lost in her drunk thoughts, she thought more about the man sitting next to her. They barely knew each other but she knew that she was in a long ride with him. Don't ask her how she knew but she had a hunch. Trying to break the silence Hinata blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Did it shatter?"

"Hn?"

"Your heart. Did it- Did it break when you saw them."

He seemed to be thinking about it and HInata wondered briefly how he couldn't tell.

"Did yours?" he said casting her a curious glance.

"Did yours shatter? Or does the pretty, kind Hyuga smile for everyone," his tone immediately turned cruel, "Did you believe you could fool anyone with that fake smile of yours? Pathetic. Not much to be expe—"

"NO!" she yelled slamming her cup against the table. "Yeah, I fake a smile. But that's so those around me can keep on living instead of worrying about pathetic, little me. Unlike you Uchiha who is too selfish to even consider—"

"Don't flip your compassionate bullshit on me, Hyuga. I know where I stand and I know exactly who I am. You gave your life too someone who you knew would never love you. You fake smiles to make yourself feel better. Someone should've named you different because you don't seem too sunny to me. Don't try to justify your self-loathing as a way to help your friends. This is all about you, isn't it?"

Tears streamed down her face. Hinata knew it was true but she didn't want it to be. She wished she wasn't selfish. She wished she didn't have needs and desires and all those human things. Was this why Naruto left me? She thought sobs now wracking her body. She was a selfish bitter—

"You know you shouldn't beat yourself up for it," he said quietly, "You're a person too. If you want to scream then scream, if want to live then live, it's not that hard. You should do what you want because you can." He was smirking but as quick as it was on his face it was gone. Anger filled his features and suspected it was a look she herself must've worn not too long ago.

"You know, me and you are the same. Naruto stole something from both of us. You may not think it now but you and I are more or less alike."

"Hn. Whatever you say." He was now getting up and walking towards the couch he would be sleeping on.

"How long will you stay?"

"Are you offering me, refuge in your home, Hyuga?"

For some reason she blushed, too embarrassed by the question.

"I'm s-sorry I just assumed—"

"A week," he interrupted, gracing her with a teasing smirk.

A smile, a real one, graced the woman's features and for the first time in a while, she felt like she had a hold on her life.

Before turning off the light switch Hinata spoke.

"Oh and Sasuke-san."

"Hn?"

"Where there are sunny places there is heat. And heat can burn. Sunny places can burn too."

Turning the lights off she cast a backward glance at Sasuke. Maybe it was the dark or her age finally getting to her, but Hinata could've sworn she saw him smile at her.