Our Son
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope you all enjoy this chapter because I think it's the one that a lot of people have been waiting for.
Chapter Notation: This is probably not cannon, but I'm introducing a new concept called First Blood in this chapter. I think that it's realistic to believe that Clans would have come up with something like this as a way of settling disputes.
Chapter 4
Sasuke and Hinata were discussing possible locations for their new home, when someone knocked on the door. The eldest Uchiha didn't particularly care of the look of panic on her face when that happened. Sasuke says and gives her a reassuring look before retreating into the kitchen.
Hinata was willing to at least maintain a cordial relationship with him for Seiko's sake, but she hadn't really thought through the consequences of such a decision. The Hyuga woman hadn't pondered how the rest of the village would react to them being "together." For now, he'd be "kind" and just try to avoid being seen. She needed some time to figure out what they were going to do about the public aspect of their relationship and he was willing to give her that.
"Thank you." Hinata whispers to him before heading off to answer the door.
Hinata opens the door and blinks when she saw her team was there. Her entire team. Kurenai Sensei, Kiba, and Shino. They were all standing on her doorstep.
"Hinata, please don't shut the door. We only want to talk." Kurenai says.
She bites her lower lip. The bluenette really didn't want to drag them into her problems, especially not now. Not when Sasuke was currently "hiding" in the kitchen.
"I know that you all just want to help and I appreciate it, but you can't help me." Hinata mumbles.
Kiba sighs. He hated how vulnerable she looked. Hinata looked only a breath or two away from panicking. Damn Hiashi.
He certainly didn't like the fact that Hinata had gotten pregnant by Sasuke Uchiha. The Inuzuka wasn't an idiot though. He knew why. When you were only a few hours away from freezing to death, you'd do just about anything to get warm.
"Hinata, we're your friends. You know that we are just trying to help. It's nice that you are worried about our reputations, but you're more important than what some random villagers think about us. Our real friends will understand." Kiba insists.
Hinata smiles. Kiba could be so sweet when he wanted to be. Part of her wished that she could take them up on their offer. Unfortunately, the bluenette knew that she couldn't.
"I'm sorry. I don't want to put you through that. Please, go." She whispers.
That's when Shino's eyes narrow. One of his insects flies back to him. The insect lover always sent out at least a few of his bugs to search his surroundings. It was standard procedure to him.
Apparently, it was a good thing that he had made it a habit to do this. His insect had just told him that she had spotted Sasuke Uchiha. Shino knew that this ladybug would never lie to him. That meant that Sasuke was here.
"You want us to go, but he's allowed to stay? The man that is responsible for your unpleasant situation can stay, but not your own teammates?" Shino demands in a quiet, seething voice.
Kurenai covers her mouth in shock. Sasuke was here. She didn't know whether that was a good or a bad thing. If the Uchiha was here, that meant he probably knew about Seiko. Most likely, the raven haired ninja knew about the disownment. If that was true, there was a very good chance that Sasuke would try to destroy the Leaf.
"Hinata, is that true? Is he really here?" She whispers.
The young mother gulps. This could get ugly and fast. She had no idea what to do. Shino knew where Sasuke was. It was unlikely that Sasuke knew that he knew though. He wouldn't have any time to get out of there or hide better.
"From the look on her face, I'd say it is true. Hinata, are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Kiba asks in concern.
That did it. Sasuke had exceptional hearing and the apartment really wasn't that big. He wasn't going to let THAT accusation stand! How DARE Kiba accuse him of being abusive to the mother of his child?!
"She's fine. The only people who seem to be upsetting her, are you three." Sasuke says as he strides over to them.
Kiba had never been much of a Sensory Type, but even he could tell that Sasuke's chakra was lashing around him violently. The very air was filled with his fury.
"Sasuke, they were just trying to help." Hinata whispers.
"Oh I know that they were just trying to help. That's why the mutt's still standing." Sasuke hisses and his eyes flash dangerously at the Inuzuka.
Kiba somehow managed to stand his ground. It was a close call though. He knew what Sasuke was capable of. The man had fought alongside Naruto against Madara and lived to tell the tale. If Sasuke wanted to, he could kill him easily.
The canine lover was confident in his abilities, but he knew the truth. As much as he hated to admit it, he wouldn't last five seconds against a seriously angry Uchiha. It looked like silence might be his best option.
"Alright, everyone. Calm down." Kurenai says, trying advert a disaster.
"Yes, that would be for the best. There is a baby in this apartment. We have to think of Seiko's safety. So if you must settle your disagreements with violence, I would urge you to take it outside." Neji states.
"I wasn't going to get violent. He only said that because he cares about Hinata. That's why I'm going to let that one slide. But if he ever says anything like that again, I won't be in such a forgiving mood. I would NEVER harm the mother of my child." Sasuke hisses at Kiba.
The canine lover was suddenly reminded of a cobra. Sasuke's entire body was coiled and ready to strike. Kiba knew that was likely to be the only warning he was going to get. Sasuke wasn't joking. He wouldn't hesitate to kill him.
"I guess that wasn't fair. I mean you did go on some Journey of Redemption. You are trying not to be such a jerk." He mutters.
Sasuke twitches. Hinata places her hand on Sasuke's shoulder. Kiba hadn't meant that the way that it sounded. She knew that and she hoped that Sasuke was able to understand that as well.
"I do want to know what gives you the right to just waltz in here, after all this time? Hinata had to go through her pregnancy alone. She had to give birth alone. She was disowned from her Clan. She's suffered horribly for the sake of your son. The only people that she allowed to help her at all were Neji and Hanabi. So what gives you the right to just walk back in here, as if nothing ever happened?!" Shino demands.
Sasuke couldn't control his temper anymore. SMACK. The eldest Uchiha slams Shino against the wall and wraps his hands around the other man's throat.
"I didn't know she was pregnant. If I had known, I would have come back immediately. Trust me, I'm going to deal with her Clan later. Our relationship is none of your concern" Sasuke growls at him.
Shino growls right back at Sasuke. He wasn't going to allow Sasuke to just shove him around and assume that everything was fine. Someone had to stand up to him. Before the insect lover could issue one word of protest though, Sasuke continued on with his speech.
"If she didn't want me here, I would leave. That's HER decision though. Not yours. If you have a problem with that, you are welcome to fight me. Give me a reason, Shino. Just give me a reason to squash you like one of your bugs." Sasuke snarls.
"Sasuke!" Hinata cries out in horror and that's when Seiko started to cry.
The young father blinks when he heard the infant's cry. Immediately, he releases Shino's throat and darts off to the bedroom. He scoops his son up and checks for injuries. He didn't see any physical wounds.
"It's alright." He says and tries rocking him.
Seiko seemed to like it when Hinata did it. Maybe it would work for him as well. That's when Sasuke realized why Seiko had started bawling. He had sensed his chakra. He must be a Sensory Type.
His son had sensed his chakra. Sasuke frowns as he realizes that while the infant had no idea what was going on, he had picked up on Sasuke's rage and it had scared him. No wonder he was crying.
"I'm sorry that I scared you. It's just that your mother has two very stupid teammates." He whispers as he continues rocking Seiko.
Seiko sniffles and looks up at the big person in confusion. He knew that voice. It was the tone big people used when they were trying to calm him down. His experience with that voice had thus far taught him that everything was going to be alright, after someone used that for. So he settles down, except for the occasional hiccup or sniffle.
"That's a good boy." Sasuke says with a smile.
He couldn't help but marvel at the fact that somehow he was partially responsible for creating something so small and innocent. Seiko definitely looked like him, but he apparently took after Hinata in personality. Like his mother, it seemed that he didn't like conflict.
Sasuke found himself grateful for the fact that it looked like Seiko had inherited his looks and not his personality. He didn't want to corrupt something so pure. So innocent and so damn cute.
"Ba ba?" He asks and Sasuke shakes his head in amusement.
"That's the only word you know how to say, isn't it?" The elder Uchiha inquires.
Seiko just coos in response and Sasuke heads to the kitchen, carrying his son in his arms. He'd just have to get him another bottle apparently. Sasuke couldn't believe it, but he found himself somewhat envious of his own son.
The baby had a simple life. All he needed to be happy was his mother and his bottle apparently. It must be nice to only be expected to eat, sleep, and cuddle up to Hinata all day.
"You have absolutely no idea, how lucky you are." Sasuke muses as he gets him another bottle.
Back at the Hyuga Estate, Hiashi was in the process of conducting an Emergency Clan Meeting. He frowns as he realizes he wasn't sure what he was going to say. He knew that he had to warn them, but not how he was going to do it.
"Alright. Is everyone here?" He inquires.
"No, Lord Hiashi. It seems that Neji is missing, but everyone else is here." A Branch Member calls out.
"Damn that boy. Well we shall begin. Someone will simply have to thoroughly brief him later. I am afraid that I have bad news. We may be able to face the greatest threat that our Clan has ever faced." He says.
There was no reason to sugarcoat this. There was no way to soften the blow of what he was about to say. So the Uchiha Patriarch decides that it was probably best just to cut straight to the point.
That got everyone's attention. Hiashi Hyuga was not a man known for being overly dramatic. If he said that a threat was serious, it was. Everyone looked up at their leader more than a little anxiously.
"Sasuke Uchiha has returned to the Leaf Village. He is aware that he has a child by Hinata. That means that he either already knows that she was disowned or is likely going to find out soon. Sasuke is going to want revenge against our Clan. That is why I want all of you to evacuate until this is sorted out. It may very well be the case that this will end by invoking First Blood." He says.
First Blood was an ancient tradition amongst the Clans. Whenever a Clan offended another Clan, they had the option of calling First Blood. This was generally a way to avoid a Clan War, while allowing both Clans to maintain their honor.
"Lord Hiashi, it would be suicide for you to stay behind. What makes you think that he'd follow the rules?" One of the Main House Members demands.
"I am well aware that this may be suicidal, but it is the only way I know of that will protect the Clan. Now, go! This is an order. Take what you need and go to our agreed on evacuation site. I have hopes that I will join you soon and that all of this will have been for naught." He says.
There were some cries of protest, some hushed whispers, and some actual sobs breaking out amongst the Hyugas. They all know what this meant. Hiashi Hyuga was most likely a dead man.
"I SAID GO! My decision is final!" He snaps at them and the Hyugas quickly scurry off to pack.
The concept of First Blood was simple. The offended Clan had the right to invoke it at any time they wanted. Both Clans would choose a "champion." The champions would fight. The fight would end whenever first blood was drawn. Whichever combatant triumphed won the victory for that Clan. Thus any arguments over things like land, marriages, or honor were settled relatively peacefully.
First Blood was a way to extract your pound of flesh and to avoid Clan Wars. It was considered an advantageous practice because over 90% of the time, both combatants lived to tell the tale of their heroic battle. While it was not against the rules to kill someone during First Blood, it was frowned upon.
"This won't end well." He says with a heavy sigh.
Sasuke would likely either attack the Leaf Village or invoke the Right of First Blood. Hiashi wouldn't be able to refuse his challenge. It would be a great stain on his family's name. Honor demanded that he accept any challenges that he received as the Head of his Clan. That meant that there was a very good chance that he would never live to see another birthday.
He highly doubted that Sasuke Uchiha would care that killing during a First Blood Battle was highly frowned on. Hiashi was confident in his abilities as a ninja, but Sasuke was barely human. He was more of a demon than a man.
"Why did it have to be him? Why couldn't she have been trapped in that damn cave with Naruto or Kiba? Why couldn't she have been trapped in that cave with anyone else?!" He asks to the Heavens.
Predictably, he received no response. Hiashi hadn't expected one. He was simply voicing his frustrations at the unfairness of the entire situation.
Meanwhile Team Eight, Hinata, and Neji cautiously follow Sasuke's chakra signature. Everyone but Hinata, was stunned at what they sound. Sasuke was sitting in the kitchen with Seiko in his lap and bottle feeding him.
"Am I seeing things or is Sasuke taking care of a baby?" Kiba asks.
"If you are seeing things, then I am as well. I can't believe it either." Shino mutters.
Kurenai just shakes her head in amusement. It was a strange sight to say the least. Then again, perhaps it was to be expected. Sasuke had always wanted to restore his Clan. It was only natural that he would want to take care of any children he sired.
"Sasuke is trying to be a good father. It's complicated, but we are trying to figure out what we are going to do about everything. Please don't pick fights with him." Hinata pleads with her teammates.
"Well he is the father. Under the law, he does have certain legal rights. It's probably best that the two of you try to work something out. Besides, it does seem that he cares for Seiko in his own way. Shino, Kiba, let's go." Kurenai says.
Her two male students look at Kurenai as if she had grown another head. She couldn't honestly expect them to leave Hinata and Seiko here with Sasuke, could she? That was madness. Sasuke Uchiha shouldn't be left alone with their innocent teammate and an infant!
"I suggest you take your Sensei's advice. You know what his temper is like." Neji warns them.
Kiba and Shino frown. It was obvious that neither of them were very happy about the current situation. Unfortunately, they both realized there was very little that they could do about it. Sighing, they say their goodbyes to Hinata and depart with their Sensei.
"Well that went better than expected." Neji muses.
"Neji, I want you to do me a favor." Sasuke says, after Seiko finishes his bottle.
Neji eyes Sasuke warily. He wasn't sure exactly what Sasuke wanted. Unfortunately, he expected that it wouldn't be anything good.
"I may grant that favor, depending on what it is that you are asking of me." He replies diplomatically.
"I want you to watch Seiko. I'm going to have a discussion with his grandfather." The Uchiha says as he gently places Seiko in Neji's arms.
Hinata's eyes widen in horror. She winces as she imagines what Sasuke meant by discussion. Hinata couldn't let him do it. She couldn't let her lover kill her father!
"Sasuke, please don't! You really don't have to. It hurts that I was disowned, but not enough for me to condone you taking his life!" She pleads.
Sasuke sighs and shakes his head. While he would LOVE to rip Hiashi Hyuga limb from limb for what he had done to his family, he was realistic enough to realize that wasn't the smart option. Neji had raised many valid points.
If it were just his life at stake, Sasuke wouldn't have hesitated. He would have slaughtered Hiashi. He wasn't the only one that would have to live with the consequences of his actions though. Anything he did now, would impact Hinata and Seiko. That meant that he couldn't kill Hiashi. It didn't matter how much the man might deserve it, in his eyes.
"I'm not going to murder your father, Hinata. That's why I asked Neji to watch Seiko. I want you to come with me." Sasuke says.
Hinata blinks. Whatever she had been expecting, that wasn't it. Sasuke wanted her to come with him? Maybe that meant he was sincere about not wanting to murder her father.
"Alright. I'll go with you. Please, Neji. Can you watch him?" The young mother begs.
"Yes, of course. I can watch him. Sasuke, you had better keep your word. I don't think that Hinata would want a cold-blooded murderer to be in her son's life. We discussed this matter earlier. I believe you know my views on it." He says.
Sasuke nods. Oh yes, he was aware of Neji's views. He was certainly going to get that punch in. At the VERY least, he deserved a broken nose. Sasuke was trying to be a better person. That didn't mean that he was trying to become a saint. Only a saint could overlook what Hiashi Hyuga had done to his family.
"Hinata, would you prefer to walk or teleport?" Sasuke asks.
"Teleporting might be better." Hinata mumbles and Sasuke takes her hand.
"Alright. Hold on tight." He says as they disappear in a swirl of flames.
Seiko watches with wide eyes. He had never seen that done before. Where did mommy go? Where did the other big person go?
"It's alright. They'll be back soon. Sasuke and Hinata just have to settle things between them and your grandfather." Neji assures him.
Seiko coos at Neji. He liked Long Hair. Long Hair was ALMOST as good as mommy. He wasn't as snuggly though, but he liked him.
Sasuke and Hinata soon reached the Hyuga Estate. Hinata's heart was pounding. Her lover sounded sincere when he said that he wouldn't kill him. That didn't mean that Sasuke didn't have other tricks up his sleeve though.
"Don't look so scared. I'm not going to lie. It'll be a miracle if he escapes this encounter with no broken bones, but he'll live." Sasuke says as he walks into the Hyuga Estate with Hinata.
That's when Sasuke noticed something. The Hyugas were all scurrying around like bees in a hive. He felt himself smirk. Naruto must have warned him that he was coming. Hiashi had issued an evacuation order.
"Well it looks like they knew that we were coming." He muses.
"You're enjoying this." Hinata mumbles.
"Maybe a little. They deserve to be frightened after what they did to you and Seiko. They abandoned both of you. They abandoned their own blood. I have very little sympathy for them." Sasuke mutters in disgust.
The Hyugas all stare wide eyed at the "couple." Soon screams of terror were heard throughout the gardens. It didn't take long for Hiashi to come out of the house or for him to notice them.
"You arrived more quickly than I would have expected." He says.
"You're smarter than I expected. An evacuation order was the smart play. Unfortunately for you, you're the one that I wanted to see anyway." Sasuke seethes at him.
Hinata felt herself shiver. It was hard to reconcile that cold voice with the man who had been feeding their son only a few moments ago. Sasuke had been so gentle with Seiko and now she was reminded that he was still a very dangerous person. Someone who wouldn't hesitate to kill. She could only hope that he kept his promise.
"I think that you realize a Clan War wouldn't end well for you. There are only two Uchihas left and one of them is a baby. If you attack the Leaf, you will be hunted for the rest of your days. Your issue is with me and no one else." Hiashi says.
"I don't need you to point out the obvious to me, Hiashi. I imagine that you feel like quite the martyr now. If I were to kill you, you would be revered by your Clan because you sacrificed yourself for them. I'm not going to give you a hero's death. I'm also not going to attack the Leaf or start a Clan War. Hyugas aren't like Uchihas. Your sheep. You all follow whoever is head of your Clan without question. You're the one responsible for their suffering." Sasuke hisses at him.
Hinata wanted to protest that label. Her Clan was not made up of sheep, but she remained silent. That might just make things worse.
"Since your Clan is all here, I think that I'm just going to invoke First Blood. You disowned my son. I have the right to defend his honor." The eldest Uchiha states.
Everyone gasps and all eyes were immediately locked on the pair of Patriarchs. First Blood hadn't been invoked for at least a decade. Everyone knew of it, but few spoke of it out loud.
"I accept your challenge. Hinata, stand back. You do not need to get in the middle of this. This is between the two of us." The lavender eyed man states.
"Oh you're worried about her, NOW? Don't make me laugh. You didn't give a damn about her when you disowned her or your grandson. Hiashi Hygua, you don't get to play the role of a concerned father anymore. Don't you dare pretend that you care about her." Sasuke snaps at him.
"Sasuke, father, please. This isn't necessary." Hinata says.
Sasuke sighs. It was VERY necessary. He hated that it upset Hinata, but there was no other choice. He couldn't let this go unaddressed. It was as much for Seiko's sake as for his.
Sasuke realized that if he allowed the Hyugas to pull rank like this now, they would look like the more dominant Clan in the future. That wouldn't be allowed. Before the Massacre, the Uchihas and Hyugas had been considered equals. It was going to stay that way.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. I can't. I won't kill him, but I'm going to punish him." Sasuke mutters as some Hyugas walk out carrying a rather large red banner.
The banner was to signify the Right of First Blood. Essentially, it made it an official challenge. Sasuke smirks and lets them wave the banner for a bit before the fight begins.
Hiashi Hyuga assumes a defensive stance. It was a good stance, but Sasuke wasn't going to have any of it. While Naruto was the one with a clone fetish, Sasuke was more than capable of producing several clones himself. That's exactly what he did.
"CHIDORI! LION'S BARRAGE! DEMON WIND SHURIKEN! FIRE JUTSU: PHOENIX FLOWER STYLE!" Each clone yells out the name of the attack that they were charging at Hiashi with.
It was a distraction. While he was busy countering the many different styles, Sasuke sneaks up in his blind spot range. The Hyugas had nearly 360 degree vision thanks to the Byakugan, but they did have a blindspot and that was where Sasuke attacked.
"GENTLE FIST!" Hiashi calls out, but it was no use.
He was being attacked from all sides. Sasuke smirks as he extends his sword and slices into the other man's forehead. It would be painful, but he wasn't cutting deep. Just deep enough to draw blood and leave an engraving.
Sasuke had never really been that artistically inclined. He was no Sai or Deidara, but he could draw a symbol with his sword well enough. The Curse Seal. The very same symbol that the Hyugas used to enslave their Branch Members.
"AHHH!" Hiashi cries out in pain.
That's when one of the Hyugas noticed that their Patriarch was bleeding from the forehead. The red banner is waved once more. The fight was presumably over.
Sasuke hadn't turned Hiashi into a Branch Member of course. He didn't know the technique required to do so. He had merely etched the symbol into his forehead with his blade. It would eventually heal.
"I want to remember that I could have killed you easily. I want you to look in the mirror every day and see the symbol of your Clan and feel powerless. You cast my son aside for the crime of being born. You do the same thing with your Clan. You enslave them based on when they are born and who their parents are. The only reason you are the Clan Head is because you were born a few moments before your brother. I want you to remember that." Sasuke seethes at him.
Hinata breathes a sigh of relief that it appeared to be over. The entire Hyuga Clan was watching with baited breath. None of them knew what was going to happen next.
"Oh and this is for MY son!" Sasuke says as he punches Hiashi hard enough that a sickening crack was heard.
Another Hyuga quickly rushes over to help Hiashi. Sasuke had clearly broken his nose. Thankfully, the Uchiha didn't seem to be in a hurry to intervene.
"You had your Right of First Blood. That makes everything settled between our Clans. I expect that you will not interfere with our Clan again and that we will do likewise." Hiashi says, while clutching his broken nose.
"You're right. I want nothing to do with your Clan. You disown your own far too easily. Seiko is far better off without the lot of you. Your pride cost you the right to see your own grandson. Unless Hinata decides to forgive you and grant you the right to visit him, you are NEVER to speak to him." Sasuke snarls at him.
Hinata winces. Sasuke had kept his word. He hadn't killed Hiashi, but he had humiliated him. She couldn't see how the two would ever reconcile. Her father and her lover despised each other. That put her and Seiko in the middle of what was likely to be a very long feud.
"That is agreeable. Hinata, I can only hope that the child takes after you and not this demon." Hiashi says.
"Don't." Hinata says simply as she glares at her father.
"Don't what?" Hiashi asks in confusion.
Hinata clenches her fists so hard, that she could feel her fingernails digging into the skin. She had never felt so angry in her entire life. How dare Hiashi pass judgment like that? He disowned her and Seiko. He had no right to speak about her son or to insult his father.
"Don't call him a demon. He's not. Sasuke may have done a lot of horrible things, but at least he hasn't abandoned his family. You have. Some might argue that makes you far closer to being a demon than him. One day, I hope that you will come to accept my choices. I want you and Seiko to know each other, but that will not happen as long as you insult his father." She says.
Sasuke blinks. He couldn't believe that Hinata had not only defended him, but against her father. Apparently, neither could the rest of the Hyugas. He heard many loud gasps of shock.
"You've chosen a demon over your family, Hinata. That was not my doing. I had hoped that you would come to your senses. It pains me not to see my grandchild. Sadly, that is the way it has to be. Until I can be assured that Seiko is nothing like his father, he is to stay away from this Clan." Hiashi says.
"What makes you think that OUR son would want anything to do with your treacherous Clan to begin with? Nevermind. Hinata, shall we go home? I believe that we have made our point." Sasuke asks as he offers her his hand.
"I'm sorry that you feel that way father. If you change your mind, you know where you can find me." Hinata says as she takes Sasuke's hand and they teleport off, leaving behind a very stunned Hyuga Clan in their wake.
