Novocain 2

Summary: Brutal ties to each other caused a lot of pain towards Naruto and Sasuke. So when the time came for when he'd run again the numbness settled in…

I fixed my hair in a pony-tail and smiled. Over the last month before he disappeared on us (talking me and Naruto) I had grown my hair about 5 inches past my shoulders. I thought that within our fixed friendship I and he could maybe rekindle the long relationship we missed. I was happy and could tell he was happy too. But something was wrong; me and Naruto could tell something was wrong. Deep down I kind of figured. But he made me promise not to tell anyone.

Not even remind my conscience of the confession.

AUGH ok so things became difficult, but I could never deny Sasuke even when I knew that it was wrong to keep it to myself. If I would have just told someone, Tsunade even about it, then this day could have been prevented. And I, Naruto, Hinata, and Shikamaru wouldn't be traveling together to the land of Rinanos to retrieve him. We weren't even sure if he was there…just a rumor of a man with duck butt hair and the face of a God. It could be anyone….what am I saying of course that's Sasuke. But why didn't he just cover his trail. He was so good at it before.

Then this had me, Sakura Haruno, thinking 'hey maybe he WANTS us to find him cha!'

So here I am facing Tsunade and content, happy for once. That Sasuke wanted this to happen.

I look to my right and see a silent Naruto. He was fidgeting a habit he held whenever he himself was hiding something. To my left Hinata Hyuuga had slit eyes and was paying close attention to Tsunade. And Shikamaru was dully watching in the silence, bored at the fact no one was saying anything.

"Land of Rinanos…such a superhuman distance in 2 days, thanks to the Anbu we spotted him but all in all. He has to be retrieved, seeing he was on probation already leaving was strictly forbidden…" Tsunade let out a sigh and looked to them. "But seeing he didn't hide himself, it leaves me to suspect that he wants to be found, so this mission I have assigned is going to be for a while. I would like the four of your to watch Sasuke for the remainder of his probation. Send me anything that is suspicious and then from there when it's over we will drag him back. If it may come to that, in all honesty he may just want to live the rest of his life, within knowing where he is he has to assume something right?" It seemed she was talking to herself this time. Shaking her head she looked at us with a smile, and then looked sympathetic at Naruto.

"I hate to ask this of you, but you all seemed the closest to Sasuke and I believe that if he spots any of you guys, then he will stay put and assume you're all passing through."

I then snapped up for a long enough moment to remember the part where we were to watch Sasuke in the land of Rinanos for the remainder of his probation. That's like a year and a half? Wait, it was two years and 8 months left on his probation if I do the math. He was returned when he was 17, probation was for 4 years, He's age now is 19…he'll be 20 in 4 months…damn it. I can't think straight right now with all the noise around me.

Shikamaru mumbled something incoherent, possibly a troublesome. Hinata looked to the right, but it was passed me, it was to Naruto. She sighed, that made me think did she feel overwhelmed. And Naruto didn't even say a word. I looked to Tsunade and finally asked, "Lady Tsunade, how long are we going to be watching Sasuke in this foreign area?" She looked to me and thought for a moment saying lightly, "Two years and eight months…minus the days it takes you to get to Rinanos."

Hinata spoke this time. "Do our families know of this, because you did inform us that we leave immediately after this meeting?"

"You misunderstood Hinata; you will have time to pack and everything I want you all to dispatch around mid-night." And we all nodded at once before walking towards the door.

"Ne Naruto, you stay. I would like to have a word with you."

Before closing the door behind I swear I seen Naruto crying.

When Tsunade ask me to stay I knew she seen me breaking down slowly. I never was so quiet in my entire life. I felt even more obliged when she didn't even say a word to me after everyone else left. I felt so tired. I wanted in all honesty to go to my apartment and sleep until 10 and then pack most of my necessities, leaving Konoha for the years and some change,

What was weird was that I didn't mind that I was going to be away from Konoha for a long time. I was actually relived because I was feeling so constricted here since Sasuke left.

Something slid down my cheek, shit, I was crying and didn't know it. Men shouldn't cry, even when their best friends leave, even when they ask and admit so much to you they don't cry. Even when deep down you know something is still not being said they…men just don't we can't it's so weak. And I built an image enough to not be weak no matter what.

But for some reason (besides my sensei dying) I couldn't hold my tears back. I felt empty, like a very important part of my life decided to leave me behind in the dust, and what clung so tightly to me was the fact that he said he left because he felt unloved. Alone…

Then there was the sting of something I didn't understand, resentment…yes that's what it was. When he said he wanted to leave because he wanted to keep the bloodline moving. Or whatever it may be…

They streamed faster,

I felt arms hug me and pull me to a chest. It was Tsunade; she was holding me…sympathy seeped from her. No empathy for the loss of anything she knew, her best friend (my sensei) died. I know she felt more than I did when she thought of him. I began to hiccup.

Great I was becoming hysteric. I might as well be a woman. Crying over something as simple as someone leaving, I'd be seeing him soon, I should be alright. Right…

"Naruto-kun its ok…Shh its ok…" I held her back and let myself go in her embrace.

I hugged Neji and bowed to my father as I collected my things and led them to the door. It was currently 9:45 pm and I was becoming anxious.

I combed my hair in front of the life-size mirror and stared. I have grown, mentally mostly because physically I stopped last years on my 18th b-day. I stopped my long crush on Naruto, mostly because I had to.

Let me explain, Naruto I had admired him from afar and I do truly love him. Always will, but as time passed I learned my obsession over the boy was the friendship I longed to have. I never had a chance to be as close as I wanted to be when I was younger, but when I got close, to touch, and to literally be with Naruto. I found myself realizing that the friendship, when I gained it, the relief washed over; the happiness seeped in and as time progressed,

We even dated for a period of time. But…

Sasuke came into play. You must think it strange but it really isn't, the poor boy was obsessed. He yearned for Sasuke's approval and friendship, he longed for him to accept him more than anyone else. So that was when I told him that he needed something more than me. He agreed at that and told me the same; I even told him my previous engagement that was announced when I was 17.

I was to be married to Neji on my 20th birthday. But since this mission has commenced i…we'll have to wait.

I want to help Naruto get Sasuke back; I explained this to Neji in private before I even packed. I just have to help Naruto. Since now I won't be in the way, since now I have won battles. I believe I could help bring Sasuke back to Konoha to my idol and friend Naruto Uzumaki, without a doubt I believed I could do this for him as repayment for the many years he helped me throughout the pain and hurt in my life.

I sigh

He looked so broken in the Hokage's office. I wanted so badly to touch him, embrace him, and tell him it'll be alright. That I was here to support him; great I feel bad now.

Sasuke talked to me the night he left. He told me the reason and made me promise. It's so funny because he said that everyone could see it except him.

Poor Naruto…

**flashback**

"Hinata..." I watched as the pale man walked to me with a small pouch on his back. Quickly realization came to me and I glared at him. "Sasuke, where are you going?"

"I-I have to leave…"He looked so sad his brows furrowed and in anticipation I walked to him till we were nose to nose. "It's for the best…"

"What about Naruto?" I see him cringe and he then laughed. But it sounded so melancholy that I winced at the sound. "He will manage; he needs to learn not to cling to me."

"But…you know he…" He raised a hand to me and leaned down to give a kiss to my forehead, then hugged me. "I just have to Hinata…" I have never had a person look as defeated as he did in front of me now. "You know that…" I whisper.

He shook while whispering something that shocked me to the point of no return. "Sasuke…." He let me go and smiled a bitter smile before placing a finger to his lips and saying 'Shh'. "Promise me…." I shook my head no. "I have to tell him, he wants to hear this, he would want to know."

"Hinata…please"

Defeated and worn like never before I nod, letting it pass my lips "I promise…"

"On your ninja way..." He smirked at my shocked look and I smiled in return. "I swear…on my ninja way I won't tell."

**end**

Snapping out of my gaze I feel arms wrap around me, looking in the mirror I smile as I let my head rest on another. "Nii-san what bring you in here?" He stuck out his tongue. "You need to get out of habit of calling me that, it's weird enough that were related in this arrange marriage."

"Cousins get married all the time."

"Back in the 1700s…its fine though. Comes with the Hyuuga Family name..." I kiss him lightly and stare at him, "I will write the family when I can. Whenever I get the chance to…"

"Stop sounding like you don't want to run off with Naruto and crew for a while. It's like a vacation basically so it'll be fine, you said you'd write and I know your intentions so it's not a big deal." I nod and smile. Neji had become so out of character when he was told of the arrangement. He never really taunted me since Naruto knocked some sense in him but also at the same time he's now more into me. He's trying his best to be understanding, at first when he did it I used to laugh at his attempts and walk away, leaving him un-amused and angered. (Which was very fun on my part) but the more he did it, the more he seemed comfortable with the idea.

So this Neji is what came to be, from time to time he'll be condescending and I'll make fun of him for it, But besides that he was becoming a calm person at heart. Someone that many women in Konoha would love to have, but cannot have.

Neji is mine, as weird as it sounds now. It's true, he's mine and no one can do a damn thing about it.