Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, it's characters, or any aspect of it. It all belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

The Beauty of Power

Chapter 4

The sun started to rise over the horizon, the light penetrating through the trees, and a faint breeze blew the raven colored hair of the Uchiha heir. Sasuke Uchiha stood in the forest, and his hand rested on the hilt of his katana. The katana peeked out of the curtain of his cloak, and the cloak blew in the gentle wind. His sharingan was activated, the movement of the animals in the trees were slowed down in front of him, and a smirk played on his lips. He had been waiting long before the sunrise for the arrival of Hyuuga heiress, and Sasuke was growing impatient. He was never fond of patience, often times, Sasuke just took what he wanted right then and there. However, the Uchiha heir realized that he had not given her a specific time as to when they should have their quarrel, but he did that, purposefully. Sasuke wanted to keep the timing ambiguous, but he knew that she wouldn't make him wait for too long. After all, she was born of noble birth, she knew noble customs, and one custom was not to be late to anything. Sasuke would wait for the Hyuuga heiress to arrive even if it took all day, but if she didn't show up. The Uchiha heir would make sure that she would pay for wasting his time.

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Hinata placed a kunai in a pouch on the side of her leg, and she bit her lip. She wasn't quite sure if she should meet Sasuke in the kukoji forest or not, he said that he would stop insulting her once she fought against him, however Hinata had a feeling that he wouldn't hold back. Sure, she had perfected her byakugan, the Hyuuga heiress had even achieved one of the highest techniques for her byakugan, but that wouldn't be enough to stand up against Sasuke's sharingan. If she was going to do this, Hinata would have to try to avoid being caught by those eyes, and make sure that she methodically changed her movements. Furthermore, Hinata would have to make sure that she caught sight of the Uchiha heir's vital chakra points, and deplete them before he resorted to any kinds of special jutsus. However, Hinata detested confrontation with anyone, especially physical conformation, so this was difficult. Hinata walked out of the estate, contemplating these thoughts, and she started to plan out what she would do when she came face to face with him. The Hyuuga heiress would not, immediately fight against him, but instead she would merely try to talk it out their differences. Why must the world always settle their differences with fighting? However, Hinata had a feeling that conversing about it wouldn't solve the problem. The Hyuuga heiress sighed to herself, and she turned the corner. She made sure that no one was following her, and Hinata made her way to the forest. Hinata pushed past the kukoji forest until she caught sight of a figure standing in an opening in the forest, and she made her way, cautiously to the opening.

"Uchiha-san." Sasuke turned around to face her, and she caught sight of his activated sharingan. Hinata bit her lip, and the Uchiha heir began to unsheathe his katana.

"So you came after all." Sasuke stated, coolly. "I was starting to wonder if you could even live up to your Hyuuga name."

"I-I didn't come here to f-fight, Uchiha-san." Hinata held up her hands in front of her, defensively. "I-I just wanted to talk things out."

"Talking?" The Hyuuga heiress could see that this displeased Sasuke, and she was met with an icy visage. "Talk is senseless, I didn't come here to fucking talk to you."

"a-aren't you tried of fighting?" He didn't answer her question, Hinata could tell that he was growing anxious, and he threw off his cloak.

Looks like I am going to have to fight him after all.

Hinata looked at him, she got in a stance and she activated her byakugan. She was taken aback at the amount of chakra that poured out of his body, it emanated from everywhere that she couldn't pinpoint an exact location of his chakra, and she knew this was going to prove to be hard.

"Be careful, Hyuuga, I can see you planning." She gasped at him, his words snapping her out of her thoughts, and Sasuke smirked, evilly. The Hyuuga heiress watched a blue electric flow descend down Sasuke's katana, and he charged towards her.

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Am I tired of fighting?

What kind of fucking question was that supposed to be?

Hell no, I am not tired.

That was the main reason why he even chose to interact with her, why he had decided to possibly strike an alliance with her. It was all for the sole purpose of the fight. Fighting provided the Uchiha heir a distracting from the emptiness within him after the Fourth Shinobi War, the emptiness of not belonging in a new world filled with peace. In addition, he didn't purpose this duel to give the Hyuuga heiress a chance for him to stop deeming her existence, but to see if she was worthy of becoming his ally.

Prove to me, Hyuuga, that you are worthy!

He raised his katana infused with chidori to cut down the Hyuuga heiress, and she turned the opposite way from him.

"I don't w-want to fight, Uchiha-san." Hinata reiterated. "Please."

"Then you will die." Sasuke knew couldn't let her touch him since it would dampen his chakra flow wherever she hit him. He stared at the Hyuuga heiress, awaiting for her next move, and Hinata charged after him. The Uchiha heir as able to follow her movements with ease which gave him an idea as to where she would hit him. Sasuke held up his sword, ready to cut her down, and she avoided him, bending backwards. The katana swiped the air, catching some of her hair, and Sasuke looked at her, coldly.

"Oh well." Sasuke sneered. "It will grow back." He saw a flick of anger spread across Hinata's face, and she tried to hit him in the side. He turned, kicking her in the back, and he saw her wince. The Hyuuga heiress flipped on her feet, she stood in a different stance, the position of the eight gentle fists, and Sasuke look at her, apathetically. However, Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he began to notice what she was doing, and he moved, quickly.

There is no way in hell, I am going to let you deplete my chakra.

Sasuke went to strike her down, she turned the other way, knocking him in the back of his neck, but not depleting the chakra. The Uchiha heir cursed underneath his breath as he stumbled downwards, and his eyes widened. Hinata turned on her heels, appearing beside him, and his lips parted, slightly.

Hmph! That is a nice surprise.

"I got you." The Hyuuga heiress hit his side, Sasuke cursed underneath his breath, and he flipped back away from her. Sasuke could tell that she had only weakened his chakra, but it was nothing serious. However, Sasuke was caught a little off guard by the Hyuuga heiress, she had moved fast, faster than his sharingan. He didn't know how she managed to move like that, but it was definitely more of something he wanted to see. Sasuke charged back at her, and his chidori became brighter enclosing the blade.

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The Hyuuga heiress tried to ignore the stinging pain in the base of her spine that the Uchiha heir had just inflicted, and she held her hands out in front of her, defensively. Hinata could tell that he was serious in every fight, he had the killer intent, and in every fight, Sasuke fought to kill.

Was he going to try to kill her?

Hinata avoided him by bending the opposite way as he went to stab her, but instead Sasuke grabbed her jacket, roughly. She looked at him, shocked, and Sasuke stared at her, coolly. He held his sword up in the air, Hinata gasped, slightly as she slipped out of her jacket, and she moved fast underneath him as he stuck the hollow empty air where she would be. Hinata ducked underneath his arm, hitting the arm that generated the chidori. It immediately stopped, she saw him scowl, and Hinata huffed, heavily. She had on a black V-neck sleeveless top, Hinata felt exposed without her jacket on, and the Hyuuga heiress felt him stare at her. She felt her cheeks grow hot. Her cheeks hot in vulnerability and she was starting to grow weary. However, the Hyuuga heiress knew that if she let her guard down for even a second, Sasuke would take advantage of it, and he would draw her blood.

No, he won't kill me, not if I don't allow him to.

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The black top clung to Hinata's thin silhouette, it was a pleasant change from seeing her in the baggy clothing that hid her frame.

Nice sight to see.

Sasuke tossed the jacket aside, he didn't seem to dwell on the exposed heiress, and he flipped his katana back into his other hand. He charged back after her, Sasuke could tell that his chakra was half gone as a result of being hit by her twice, and he was not going to allow her to do that again. He hissed, angrily at himself, and Hinata pulled out a kunai. She infused the kunai with some of her chakra, sending them his way, and Sasuke knocked them out of the way. However, one managed to cut his cheek, blood trickled down his cheek, it was only a minor slit on his skin, and the Hyuuga heiress charged after him. The two heir charged for one another head on. Sasuke held up his katana, Hinata went to hit him, but he ducked underneath her. It was the same movement that Hinata had just pulled on him, and he balled up his fist. She noticed his clenched fist, Sasuke punched her in the stomach, and he was met with wide pale eyes. The punch was not hard, but he knew it was enough to knock the breath out of her.

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Hinata gasped at the loss of air, but she had another trick up her sleeve, and Hinata jumped away from him. She held her stomach, wincing, slightly, and thanking herself that she didn't eat breakfast. Hinata charged after him, moving as fast as she could, and Sasuke stood there, waiting for her. She could tell that he always waited for his opponent. Hinata acted as if she were going to punch him in the arm, she made sure that he was following her movements, and that was precisely what she wanted. She used her other arm, hoping to hit him, but he turned to avoid the hit. Hinata watched him draw back his other hand with chidori as a murderous glare fell over his face, and Hinata speed up her movements. He tried to punch her in the chest with his chidori infused hand, and Hinata gasped at the sight. Hinata avoided the punch, barely, and she pursed her lips. She turned in the opposite way of his movements, hitting him right in the middle of his back where she noticed his chakra was flowing out, and the chidori disappeared. The Hyuuga heiress heard him growl, lowly, kicking her in the side, and she flipped onto the ground a few feet away from them. Hinata's body trembled, violently, as she held her side, and Hinata curled into a ball. Her body whole body ached especially her back, ribs, stomach, and back. Hinata squeezed her eyes shut, she had shown Sasuke that she wasn't weak, but she wasn't sure if that was enough to convince him.

What do you think of me now?

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The Uchiha heir sheathed his katana, it was no use fighting her any further since he could see that she had enough. He was not going to fight against her when she wasn't in perfect condition. The blows that he afflicted upon her had taken a toll on her small, frail body, but Sasuke didn't care. Yet, she had managed to withstand them, and that was more than what most people could take so he had to give her some credit. Also, there were a couple of surprises that she had managed to spring on him, and it keened the Uchiha's interest. Not many people could surprise him in a fight.

No, she wasn't weak. Her ideals and her kind nature made her weak. Nonetheless, he was not here to debate the value of her morals. As long as she could fight, keep the fights good, then she was not weak. The Hyuuga heiress was rough around the edges, sloppy with her movements, and seeing her laying on the ground made him scowl.

Get the fuck up.

Sasuke walked up to Hinata, and he growled to himself. "Hyuuga." There was no response from the young heiress, the Uchiha heir stopped behind her, and she looked up at him. Her eyes were glossy as if she were fighting back tears, and Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I didn't even hit you hard."

"I-I'm fine." Hinata gave him a kind smile, she waved her hand, dismissively, and she rolled onto her back. Just need an little rest."

"Hmph!" Sasuke grunted. He knelt down next to her, and he studied her. "You can't possibly be in that much pain." Hinata looked at him, quietly, and she shook her head.

"I told you, I-I didn't want to fight, Uchiha-san." Hinata murmured. "tell me, p-please, will you stop insulting me now?"

Yes, I will stop insulting you. You have proven to be a worthy ally.

"Yes, I will." Sasuke hissed. "Now, get up, before I change my mind."

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Hinata nodded at him, lifting up, and a sharp pain in her stomach caught her. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, and she looked up at him. There scratches on her face from where she had hit the ground.

"what k-kind of fighting w-was this?"

"The kind you get when you are not affiliated with a village." said Sasuke, coolly. "The kind of training that would keep you surviving in the real world."

"I thought you were g-going to kill me." There was a silence exchanged between them, and Hinata searched his face.

"No, I won't kill you." Sasuke assured. The Hyuuga heiress looked at him, skeptically, and she pursed her lips.

"You say that."

"I said that I wouldn't" Sasuke hissed, angrily. "That should be enough validation" Sasuke stood up, extending his hand out to her, and Hinata's lips parted, slightly. He deactivated his sharingan, and Sasuke stood up, extending his hand. "Get up, Hinata."

It was the first time he had used her name, it sent chills down her spine, and she stared at him. His pallid skin illuminated in the sunlight, his slanted onyx color eyes juxtaposed with his raven dark hair. It was no wonder that all those years ago, so many women found him to be attractive. He was a very handsome man, but he was dangerous.

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her up onto her feet, and The Hyuuga heiress stumbled forward. She fell into him, pressing herself up against him as she felt her cheeks flush red, quickly, and Sasuke pushed her away, quickly almost as if she had burned him.

"S-sorry!" Hinata stammered, breathlessly. Sasuke glared at her, turning on his heels, and Hinata hit herself against her forehead with her hand as she knew that was a stupid thing to do. She hated her clumsiness, and she saw the small cut on his face.

"Uchiha-san." Hinata gasped, concerned.

"What?" The Uchiha heir exasperated.

"your face is c-cut, allow me to p-please fix it for you." Hinata reached out towards him, she watched him instinctively flinch away from her, and she was met with a murderous glare.

"Don't touch me ever, Hyuuga, its fine." Hinata nodded at her, withdrawing her hand, and she stared at the ground.

Was he afraid for others to touch him?

"You should really leave the jacket off." Hinata couldn't see his face only his back, but she looked at him, confused.

Was that a compliment? There was a rustling in the bushes, a familiar chakra came in the air, and Hinata's eyes widened in shock.

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"Hey, Hinata, I figured that you would be training here in the forest and decided to join you…" Kiba's voice trailed off, and he caught sight of Hinata's scratches on her face. His eyes narrowed, quickly, and he looked at Sasuke. Sasuke stared back at him, coldly, and Kiba frowned at him. "You bastard, what did you do!" Kiba whistled for Akamaru, Akamaru jumped out of the bushes, and he growled at Sasuke.

"N-no, Kiba." Kiba saw Hinata walk in between Sasuke and Akamaru. "Please, Uchiha-san, and I were s-sparring."

Sparring? You have more scratches on your face than he does? That hardly characterizes as a spar.

"Hinata, he is dangerous." Kiba warned. "He could have killed you, we all know that his bloodlust is unquenchable even in a friendly spar."

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"I'm fine." Hinata assured. "I was trying t-to make Uchiha-san feel more a-at home."

"Is that what happened, Uchiha?" Kiba asked, skeptically. Sasuke remained quiet, he walked over to his cloak, and he began to fasten it on his neck.

"I'm going, Hinata, three is a bit of a crowd." The Uchiha heir sneered. Kiba looked at him, angrily, and Sasuke tossed Hinata's jacket over to her. She caught her jacket, looking at him, shocked, and the Uchiha pushed past her. He knocked her shoulder, causing her to stumble backwards, and she saw Kiba ball up his fists.

"Watch where you are going, asshole!" He walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, and she smiled at him.

"Are you okay?" Kiba asked, curiously. Hinata nodded at him, Sasuke stopped before he left the opening of the forest, and he looked at her out the corner of his eye.

"See you around, Hyuuga." She stared at him as he disappeared in the forest, and Hinata knew that she had not seen the last of him. No, in fact, the Hyuuga heiress had a feeling that she would see him more than ever before.

Please review the story, I would greatly appreciate it, and I hope you all enjoyed it as there will be more to come- FireGladiator.