An Unexpected Leader, Chapter III

Konoha, approximately eight years before the present day

Cherry blossoms fluttered through the air, leaving in their wake an indescribable scent. As Naruto and Hinata walked hand-in-hand down the road out of the marriage house, people from all over the village lined either side of them. Behind them trailed several people, all in varying degrees of formal wear- Kiba, Shino, Neji, Kakashi, Kurenai, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato.

As they walked, Kakashi leaned over to Kurenai. "Has it already been six years since those two were genin just out of the Academy?" he whispered.

Kurenai chuckled. "I know the feeling, Kakashi. Still, it's amazing they turned out so normal, given all they've been through."

Kakashi nodded. "It's a shame Sasuke's not here."

"Well, I suppose it can't be helped," Kurenai replied. "He hasn't spoken to anyone since he turned up a week ago in the middle of the night."

Kakashi's face went grave. "He's been holed up in a rented apartment the entire time, yeah. Even Naruto wasn't able to get a single sentence out of him. He just sits there with that blank look on his face. I've got no clue what's wrong…"

Kurenai slowly shook her head. "Well, thinking about it right now won't help anything. We've got to be happy for the two of them."

Kakashi sighed. "You're right, of course," he said. His face abruptly split into a Cheshire cat grin. "How's that?"

Kurenai had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. "You're such an idiot, Kakashi!"

When the group finally made it to the reception hall, Naruto and Hinata sat away from the hustle and bustle of caterers making the final preparations in a hidden hallway. As they sat together on the bench, Naruto kissed Hinata again.

"Can you believe it?" he said, holding up his ring and grinning like a maniac. "We're actually married!"

Hinata smiled and rubbed her eyes, smudging her mascara not for the first time. "I know," she responded, holding up the silver ring embedded with a stunning sapphire. "It's hard to believe, yeah…It feels like this is all just a dream, that I'm going to wake up and be utterly disappointed."

Naruto playfully pinched her cheek. "Well, hey, now you know it's not a dream!"

"Naruto…"

Jolted out of his infatuation with Hinata for the moment, he could only stare at who had called his name.

"Sasuke."Naruto had no clue what else to say. "It's good to see you out of that apartment."

Sasuke was dressed in a simple black shirt with matching pants. "Naruto," he repeated. "I need to talk to you."

He nodded. "Sure, Sasuke. Anything."

Sasuke stared at him for a second, then fell to his knees. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry. I put you and Sakura and Kakashi-sensei through so much pain because I was too blind to see that I had become what I hated. I…I can't stay here. I don't deserve anything even resembling peace. After I talk to Sakura and Kakashi-sensei…I've got to leave."

Naruto looked as though he had just been stabbed. "No!"he exclaimed, putting both hands on Sasuke's shoulders. "You can't! Who do you have out there? Nobody! You can stay here… Your friends are here, Sasuke. They want you to be here, too."

Sasuke didn't look up. "Don't you see, Naruto? That's exactly why I have to leave. I can't face them after what I've done. I don't deserve to call them my friends. I…I have to leave, Naruto."

Naruto blinked. "You might be right, Sasuke. Maybe you don't deserve to call them your friends. But even if you don't deserve to, I don't know a single person out there who wouldn't call themselves a friend of yours. You don't have to earn it, it's a title they'll give to you willingly.

Sasuke slowly looked up at him. "The worst part is…I know that. I know they would. That's why I'm going to stay in contact with you. I'll send a hawk here every other day with a letter attached to it. If you need to talk to me, tie the message to its leg and send it back. I…I need to atone, and I don't know how. I have to find my own redemption." He stood up. "Goodbye, Naruto. And…congratulations."

Before he left, Sasuke smiled sadly and placed a small box beside Naruto. He knew that this was something Sasuke had to do for himself, and the best he could do would be to leave him to it…and let him know that he wasn't alone.

After a minute or two, Hinata touched Naruto's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Naruto-kun…"

He shook his head. "Nah, don't be. Sasuke's got to do it, and…well, he knows where he stands now, and who stands beside him. He'll be back eventually."He kissed her again. "But for now, we've got other things to worry about- like all the guests!"

Naruto stood, taking Hinata by the hand and leading her into the main foyer, where the tables and chairs were, along with the dance floor.

"Hinata!" Kiba shouted, rushing over to greet the two. He grabbed her by the shoulders and put her in a bear hug. "Congratulations, you two!" He took a look at Naruto and laughed. "Well, well. Who'd have thought that the lovable loser from squad 7 would end up a hero and marry my teammate? I guess it goes to show that opposites really do attract."

Naruto gave a mock-wounded look. "I don't know what you mean with the 'loser' bit."

"I have a feeling you do, Naruto, but we'll leave that for now, because Akamaru has something to show you and Hinata!"

Suddenly, the giant white dog sidled up beside Kiba, apparently freshly washed and groomed. Naruto knelt down next to him.

"All right, then, pooch, whatcha got to show me?" he said to the dog.

Akamaru nosed the brown bag that was slung over his chest toward the two. Naruto opened it and looked inside, pulling out a small sculpture of himself and Hinata. It showed him carrying her over the threshold of some unknown house. It was marble grey, and extremely detailed.

"Wow," Naruto said. "This is…amazing, Kiba. Thank you…thank you a lot."

Kiba grinned. "You like it, huh? I thought you might. Had that custom designed just for you two."

Hinata shyly smiled. "Th-thank you, Kiba."

Konoha, present day

Hinata walked home in the fading light, clutching her coat around her. Winter was coming on again- it was her favorite time of year. Again she thought of Naruto, and what exactly he was doing. Did this have anything to do with the visitors that Naruto had told her about? It had to- he was probably looking up something about the Cult of the Fox. She had a feeling that he knew what he was doing, but she couldn't help but worry. As she locked the door of their apartment behind her and threw the keys onto the coffee table, she thought that maybe she could do some research of her own. Where would she start, though? She sank into the warm water and wondered where. Not the village archives- Naruto had that angle covered. Perhaps there was somebody around the village who knew- then it hit her. Hiashi, her father. He knew everything about the village. Perhaps he would know about the Cult, too. As she dressed in a pair of comfortable sleep pants and a blue shirt, she figured she would ask him tomorrow. She slipped into bed and took one last look at the marble sculpture Kiba had given them eight years ago. She turned it over on a whim and looked at the bottom. On it was engraved four letters.

B O T F

She never knew what it had stood for. Kiba said it was probably just a signature of the artist or something. He was probably right. She put the statue back on the night table and finally turned the lamp off. She lay there for a minute or two in the dark.

"Hello, Hinata."

She tried to scream but found her voice choked off.