Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Not So Subtle Differences


~Chapter 4~

(Uchiha Clan Party, Part 1)

Warning: Some characters may be out of character, due to having much happier lives than they do in the manga. I try my best to be consistent, but sometimes it just isn't possible.


Flushed with happiness, Hinata looked at the antidote she made for a deadly poison with pride. It had turned out perfectly. She was finding that while she was only adequate when it came to healing people, she was very talented when it came to making ointments and antidotes for poison.

On the way home from training, her mood began to plummet a little when she realized she didn't have anyone to share her newfound talent with. Not her sister, father, cousin or even her boyfriend, because none of them could even remember that she was training to be a medic. She thought it was sad that the only person who ever bothered to ask about it was only an acquaintance.

"Oh there you are…" Mikoto said when she saw her boys enter the house. She could tell they had just finished training and knew they would be starving.

Good, she thought, hoping that food would make her eldest more open to the plans she had for him.

Glancing over at them she noticed Sasuke seemed to be in an abnormally good mood, while Itachi looked to be almost distracted. Doing cartwheels in her mind, she had a pretty good idea of what, or should she say who, was distracting him.

Seeing the thoughtful way their mother was looking at them, both Itachi and Sasuke sat down at the kitchen table with wary movements.

Setting a big plate of succulent food in front of both of them, she sat down at the table casually sipping her tea while they ate.

"So, how did your training go?" She asked cheerfully.

Taking a bite of food, Itachi wondered what torture she had in store for them. Judging by the way she was smiling he knew it probably was going to be something that was extremely tedious.

"What do you want mother?" Sasuke finally asked her bluntly. Like his father, he didn't believe in beating around the bush, he preferred plain speaking. He knew if it was left to his brother, he could play this subtle mental game of cat and mouse with their mother all day if he had to.

Biting back a guilty laugh their mother smiled openly at them. "Relax boys, it is nothing really, I just need a tiny favor."

Itachi rolled his eyes as he has heard that from her before, many times. "What do you want?"

"Well, it's something wonderful actually," she told him dissembling a little. "Our little party for Shisui and his wife has become so large that Aunt Uruchi doesn't have the space for a large party so…"

"No," Itachi told her bluntly. "You cannot have it at my house."

Damn, Mikoto swore to herself while her lips tightened slightly. "Well, what if we have it outside on your lawn? It will be so nice with the dock and the lake behind it..." she asked wistfully.

Itachi just stared at her, his eyes still told her no.

"We wouldn't even have to use your house," Mikoto told him reasonably and her lower lip was beginning to quiver a little.

Watching her eldest son carefully for signs he was weakening she continued on a little desperately, "You know we cannot have it here, because your father can't handle that many people stepping on his lawn."

"He will just have to deal with it," Itachi responded unhelpfully.

Undaunted, Mikoto wasn't about to let all of the scheming she did this morning go to waste. She was about to tell him a couple of solutions when Sasuke stopped her.

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke knew why his brother didn't want to have it near his house. "Itachi, you are just going to have to set traps around your house and your bedroom to keep them out," he told his brother impatiently.

Itachi looked at his mother and knew she wasn't going to give up, and his brother's idea would give him a chance to get rid of some of his fan-girls.

"Fine, you can use my lawn, but the house is off-limits," he told her as he got up from the table.

"Oh, thank you, dear," she told her son as she wrapped her arms around him. As she hugged him she just knew some day he was going to be grateful for all of her meddling.

Over her shoulder Itachi gave his brother a look letting him know he knew exactly what she was up to. He waited patiently for her to release her hold on him so he could go home and start setting up some traps.

Mikoto went to follow him out of the house when Sasuke's voice stopped her. "I know what you are up to Mother."

She went still as tried to assess just how much he knew.

"You are trying to get Itachi to marry Hinata," Sasuke stated in an annoyed voice, heavy with disapproval.

Chuckling knowingly, she should have known her youngest would figure out what she was doing sooner or later.

Alarmed, as a thought passed through her mind, she looked at him with big eyes. "Do you think he suspects what I am doing?"

Sasuke snorted. "Of course Itachi knows what you are doing," he told her flatly. "He's known from the beginning."

Mikoto smiled in delight as she thought of something. "But he is letting me do it, so that means …he is going along with it."

"Whatever," Sasuke told her in a bored voice.

"I need you to do something for me Sasuke, it's really important," Mikoto implored seriously.

Sasuke looked back at her with a feeling of dread.

"I need you to invite Naruto and Hinata; I think you should also bring Sakura too," she told him as she thought of something. Happy she no longer had to be secretive around him, she told him conspiratorially, "I am convinced that Hinata is more in love with the idea or the dream of her with Naruto, than she actually is with him. It is just a matter of time before she realizes she belongs with Itachi…and us."

"Hn, you just want grandchildren from them," he muttered cynically with a glare. Getting up from his chair he complained under his breath. "You better not do this to me down the road."

Overhearing his complaint, Mikoto gave a sad little laugh. "Of course, I am going to do it for you Sasuke. I am your mother; it is my job to see that you are happy."


[Later at Shisui's party…]

As if in slow motion, Itachi slowly glanced over when he felt her presence. His eyes drank in the sight of her and he realized she was becoming more beautiful to him every time he saw her. He wondered how he had never noticed how her quiet, gentle ways seemed to outshine everyone else whenever she was near him.

Taking his eyes off of her, he looked slightly to her right and saw her holding hands with Naruto. His stomach lurched violently as extreme nausea mixed with a strong urge to greet the blonde with something razor sharp in his hands.

Quickly pulling himself together, he realized his mother would be upset with him if he gutted Naruto at her party, so he decided to avoid the couple altogether and mingle dutifully with the other guests.

A few hours later while standing inside the gazebo, Itachi released a bored sigh as he remembered why he always avoided these clan events like the plague. Listening to his Aunt Uruchi as she rattled on endlessly about Shishui's twin boys, and the new baby on the way, he only gave her a quarter of his attention (which was more than enough for him to fulfill his requirements in the conversation). Nodding occasionally when his aunt seemed to expect it, his eyes kept drifting over toward the dock where he saw Naruto and Hinata were talking to Sasuke, Sakura, and a couple of others.

Watching Hinata as she stood silently next to Naruto, he noticed how the blonde idiot dominated the conversation, and never even spoke to Hinata or tried to include her in it. A slight look of distaste passed over his face as he heard snatches of their conversation from all the way in the middle of the yard.

Damn they are loud.

The thought crossed his mind as he watched Naruto and Sakura start arguing back and forth, and he wondered how his brother and Hinata put up with both of them. Glancing back over at his aunt, who hadn't even stopped gossiping long enough to take a breath, he waited until she finally did, and smoothly excused himself.

Feeling edgy and unwilling to deal with anymore of his well-meaning, but extremely annoying relatives, he decided to go inside his house to be alone for a while. He had just started walking on the path toward his house when his older cousin stopped him.

Turning to greet him, he was genuinely glad to see him. Shisui was one of the few people he actually liked being around. His cousin was the very best of men and out of most people he knew he considered it to be an honor to have him as one of his closest friends and relatives.

"Congratulations," Itachi told him sincerely as his older cousin tried to cuff him on the head just like he had always done ever since they were very young.

"Thank you Tachi," Shisui replied with a warm smile. Looking almost smug, he teased his favorite cousin. "Marriage and kids are great; you should try it some time," he boasted with an easy smile.

Itachi face became edgy and more than a little tired as he shot a long a suffering look at him, along with a clear warning to back off. Practically all evening long he has had to listen to the same nonsense about how he should be thinking of getting married… just before one of his relatives would casually mention how they had a daughter or niece who would be absolutely perfect for him.

It was all becoming so tedious…and predictable, like some badly written play; except it wasn't one, it was his life. He just wished they would all leave him alone and let him find a wife, on his own, in his own time.

The teasing look in Shisui's eyes faded as he watched Itachi's face, and knew his reclusive cousin didn't like people meddling into his affairs. However, after watching Itachi throughout the evening, his curiosity had become piqued.

His normally calm and unfailingly polite cousin seemed almost moody and a little irritable. The other thing he noticed that made him very curious to see was that no matter who Itachi was talking to, or where he was standing, his eyes always drifted over toward a certain Hyuuga with long indigo colored tresses.

Hmm, very interesting. Uncle Fugaku was going to be so pissed off when he found out about her.

Smiling secretly to himself and blatantly disregarding his cousin's obvious reluctance to discuss anything about marriage, children, or his personal life, Shisui bravely pressed on. "You know Itachi, you should give the single ladies of Konoha a break and just pick one already," he teased him with false exasperation in his voice.

Breathing out in irritation, Itachi told him, "They don't interest me."

"Really?" His cousin asked him in mock disbelief as he pointed toward the dock. "I've noticed when your eyes glance over towards a certain kunoichi; it's definitely not a lack of interest I see in them.

Unable to stop himself, Itachi's eyes peered over in her direction before he answered him, "She's already taken."

Snorting out in disbelief, Shisui raised his eyebrow at the ludicrous statement Itachi just made. What girl in her right mind would choose that knucklehead, Naruto, over his cousin? He was about to tell him what an ass he was being and he should just go after her, when he heard his wife come up behind him. A look of unholy dread passed over his face just before he turned to greet her.

"Um hi, …Honey…" he said in a falsely cheerful voice, his eyes darted over her pinched face as she held their fussy one year old twin boys.

"Don't you honey me, you baka!" His wife gritted out through clenched teeth. "Where have you been? I have been looking for you everywhere!"

Looking guilty he had been caught running from her, he mumbled, "Oh…I've been around..."

"Whatever," she snapped impatiently, her eyes narrowed menacingly as they told him he was so gonna get it later. "It's your turn to watch the boys."

Shisui's mouth looked mulish as he reluctantly took the babies from her, and watched as she set the diaper bag down by him.

"Make sure you actually watch them this time," she reminded him sharply with a glare just before she stormed off.

At her remark he looked a little sheepish, remembering how the other day he had fallen asleep while watching them and they had gotten into the diaper bag and sprayed baby powder all over the house.

Feeling amused dark eyes on him, he realized he had forgotten all about his cousin standing next to him.

"I think I will remain single a while longer," Itachi told him coolly.

Shisui was about to argue with him when saw his cousin's face suddenly change as he looked toward the path.

Turning around he saw the Hyuuga heiress heading in their direction. Nudging Itachi who was openly staring at her, he mused sarcastically, "Yeah right, you look like you really want to stay single to me."

"Hello Itachi," Hinata said as her warmly lit eyes were softly glued on to the babies in Shisui's arms.

Shisui crowed to himself silently when he heard her call his cousin by his first name. Itachi rarely gave that privilege to anyone outside of the family, and even then, not everyone in the clan was allowed to call him by his name. His cousin was extremely selective about the people he allowed into his inner circle.

"Hinata," Itachi replied with careful politeness knowing his eagle-eyed cousin was watching his every move. Noting the longing in her eyes as she stared at the babies, he introduced her to his cousin.

"Hyuuga Hinata, this is my cousin. Uchiha Shisui and his two sons, Naoki and Shou."

Shisui, never one to miss a golden opportunity when he saw one, decided to relieve himself of watching the boys and help his cousin out all at once. Winking quickly at Itachi, he turned and greeted her with a polite smile on his face.

"Hyuuga-san, it is a pleasure to meet you," he said smoothly above the crying noise one of his sons was making. "Would you like to hold one?"

Hinata made a delighted sound as she eagerly reached out and took one of the babies from him. Cuddling little Naoki next to her, she looked over at his father with lavender eyes that were nearly luminous.

"Arigato Uchiha-san, he is so adorable," she gushed out happily as she gently patted the baby on his back with proficient hands.

Itachi felt a momentary twinge of jealously as he saw the baby pressed against her soft bosom.

Seeing Itachi was a little distracted, Shisui asked Hinata, "You wouldn't mind watching the kids for a few minutes would you?"

"Of course we wouldn't mind," Hinata replied generously for both of them, before Itachi had the chance to tell his cousin to go find somebody else to pass his kids off on.

A triumphant glint passed through Shisui's eyes as he held Shou out to him.

Outmaneuvered by his cousin, a muted look of distaste crossed Itachi's eyes as he reluctantly took the baby from his cousin.

"I will be back in a few minutes," Shisui promised them quickly as he kicked the diaper bag with his foot toward them, and raced back toward his buddies and freedom.

Itachi's body was rigid as he held the baby slightly away from him and eyed him with extreme caution as if the kid was going to explode at any time. Glancing over at Hinata, he saw she had little Naoki completely calm and happy as she rubbed and patted his back. He was impressed, as he saw how the baby was almost asleep.

Trying to imitate what Hinata was doing, Itachi accidentally pounded little Shou on the back too hard and the kid immediately began wailing and screaming at the top of his lungs. Lips tightening with annoyance, and feeling he had met the limits of his patience, Itachi activated his Sharingan and efficiently put the kid to sleep.

Hearing the baby suddenly stop screaming, Hinata looked over at Itachi with soft eyes and an impressed smile on her face. "Wow, you are really good with children," she said complimenting him.

Beginning to thaw a little towards the baby in his arms, Itachi thought he should probably pay him back someday with some special shuriken training when he got older.

"It was nothing," he replied blandly.

Sighing happily, her eyes were glowing as she told him, "I really love children, don't you?"

He was saved from answering when he sensed a hard glare directed at him from behind. Turning around he saw his parents were heading in their direction and his father looked to be less than pleased with his choice of companions.

"Ah Hinata dear, how are you?" He heard his mother say pleasantly before wrapping both her and the baby in a big hug. "Aww, look who you have with you…little Naoki, isn't he just the sweetest baby ever," she said as she cooed over the little guy.

Seeing his mother had Hinata distracted, and already knowing what his father was going to say to him, Itachi looked over at him and waited for the lecture to come.

"I told you no Hyuugas!" Fugaku whispered predictably with a severe frown on his face. "What are you trying to do Itachi? Commit patricide?" He asked his son snidely trying to manipulate him. "I'd rather commit sepukku, than form an alliance with that arrogant Hyuuga bastard."

Glancing over at the men and seeing Itachi's lips begin to tighten ominously, Mikoto stepped in to distract them before things got really out of control. Lifting her eyes toward heaven, she offered a quick prayer as she reached over and tugged hard on her husband's sleeve. A few seconds later a movement caught her eye, and her face lit up when she saw it was the perfect answer to her prayer.

Thank you Kami!

"Oh Deeaarr, I am afraid someone is sitting on your lawn," she told him with a touch of relief in her voice as she pointed in the direction of their yard.

"What!" Fugaku roared in outrage as he turned to look at them. "Can't they read the damn sign?"

His blood pressure continued to rise when he saw they were actually sitting on his grass and leaning up against his "Keep Off The Grass" sign, and they were kissing. Seeing red (literally) he forgot about yelling at his son, and strode off toward his house.

"Hey you punks! Go find somewhere else to make out, damn it!" He yelled at them as he went out into his garage to make an even bigger sign. "Idiots!"

Slightly disturbed, Hinata giggled nervously as she watched the couple suddenly jump up and scatter from the area. She knew exactly what they were going through and she felt a bit sorry for them. In her mind, Mr. Uchiha was a very scary man.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she patted the baby's back and groaned in horror when little Naoki suddenly burped and vommited out a green projectile that looked a lot like mashed up peas all down the front and the back of her shirt. It was even clumping together in her long hair.

"Eww gross!" Naruto said in a loud disgusted voice as he got closer to them. Behind him Sasuke and Sakura were discussing something that had Sakura looking very pissed off and on the verge of tears.

Hinata stood there in extreme discomfort as she held out the messy baby to Mikoto, who had found a towel in the diaper bag and was wiping him off. Hinata lowered her eyes to the ground as she felt mortified to have people see her like this.

Naruto only made her feel worse when he blithely pointed out to everyone in the area, she was covered in puke that looked like mashed up peas.

"Shut up Naruto!" Sakura yelled as she jumped forward and smacked him on the head. Since she couldn't take out her anger on Sasuke, she chose her usual target to vent on. "You're making her feel bad, you idiot!"

Naruto frowned as he looked over at Hinata, and he couldn't see anything wrong with her besides she was all covered in puke. Shaking his head he disagreed with his team-mate. "No way Sakura, you're wrong. Hinata's just fine, you're just mad because Teme told you to go screw yourself."

Watching them argue out of the corner of his eye, Sasuke silently congratulated himself on a job well done. He had spent the last few hours working on Sakura trying to get her pissed off enough that she would want to leave and take Naruto with her, and give his brother some time alone with Hinata.

"Sasuke!" Mikoto hissed sharply as she smacked him upside the head. "Watch your language."

Her dark Uchiha eyes grew dangerous as she rounded them on Naruto and Sakura. "If the two of you wake up the babies, you will have to deal with me," she gritted out quietly as she stepped between them, her eyes daring them to argue with her.

They immediately shut up and listened to her.

"Good. Naruto - take Sakura home now," she told him firmly and watched as they took off without a glance or word to anyone.

Mikoto hid a satisfied grin, before she turned toward her youngest. "Sasuke, you take Shou from Itachi," she directed him as she took Naoki from Hinata and picked up the diaper bag. "You and I will find Shisui, while Itachi takes Hinata to his house so she can get cleaned up."

Seeing that look on his mother's face, Sasuke, knew not to argue, but he still looked glum as he took the baby from Itachi. "You're welcome brother," he told him quietly with just a trace of resentment in his voice, letting him know he dealt with Naruto and Sakura all evening just to help him out.

Itachi's eyes widened slightly in surprise, seeing his self-centered brother actually did something to help him. It made him realize his little brother was finally beginning to grow up and think about others.

With a small look of approval gracing his eyes, Itachi nodded to him before turning to Hinata. "Come on Hinata, let's get you cleaned up," he told her softly and realized suddenly he must be starting to feel something for her, because even covered in green baby puke - she still looked beautiful to him.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter.