AUTHOR'S NOTE

Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites! And I'm really sorry for updating a little late, life just catched up at me. I deeply apologize. Now let's get this over with! ;-)

CHAPTER 4

The room went silent when Hinata entered the room with her cousin Neji. Hinata who didn't have much sleep, was feeling light already.

A few anbus where there beside Sasuke and even Kakashi was invited for the show. Hinata was about to faint from everyone looking at her.

Did Sasuke tell everyone I'm carrying Itachis child? He wouldn't, would he?

"Ah! Hinata chan, gomen! gomen! for summoning you this early in the morning but it seems that the last Uchiha here is very eager to get this over with so come." Tsunade sama was tensed and surely she'll be asking Shizune for her sake after all this.

Hinata stepped forward and swallowed her nerves. Her mind was racing.

"Go on, I'm all ears." Tsunade gestured for Sasuke to speak.

"I'm here to talk about Hinatas child." Sasuke didn't even give her a glance when he talked. Everyone stood and sat straight, it was too quiet. No! Please don't tell anyone!

"Go on I'm listening." The hokage motioned for him to continue.

Hinata could feel her tears already prepared to fall, but she stood her ground and hoped no one noticed. Neji who was quiet, glanced at her with worried eyes.

Everything was about to fall down, and she couldn't even dare herself to talk. Now is not the time to be polite. She had to talk or else everyone will know, only Sasukes words were not the words she expected.

"I'm the father of her child. Our child " Sasuke was serious, he didn't even blink. Gasps were heard, but Kakashi only snorted and crinkled his eyes.

"What do you mean your child? This treacherous man must be lying!" One of the Hyuuga elders spoke. Hiashi was still and his eyes were closed.

Neji didn't speak but his face looked as if he was betrayed. His fist were closed with anger and his veins were showing.

Hinata trembled on the inside, the thought of Sasuke taking responsibility of her child didn't even cross her mind. Why would he lie? What good will it do?

"Please let the Uchiha finish. I want to hear the rest. Why the secrecy Sasuke? And why say it now?" Tsunade was shocked, and intrigued. From all the stories she heard, Sasuke was not the type to even give any woman a second glance and now the man is saying he's going to be a father.

"I had two goals before I left the village. First to kill my Brother Uchiha Itachi, and second to restore the Uchiha Clan…"

How Hinata wanted to curse and cry when he heard him say that.

"..I wanted her to be the next Uchiha matriarch, but I was also a rogue ninja at the time. I told her to keep our relationship a secret, I asked her of the same favor when she got pregnant. It was for her safety, I am the last Uchiha and a lot of people wants to kill me. I needed to make sure that she would be safe until I get back here in Konoha."

Sasuke was lying in the front of everyone's faces but only Hinata knew the truth. Her knees felt so weak.

"And is she safe now? Is that why you came back?" the Hokage asked.

"I killed itachi, so she is safe." Hinata stiffened and she felt tears forming behind her lavender eyes. But held it back, now is not the time to cry. Not in front of everyone. But to hear Itachis name was like a slap upon the back that has been soiling in the sun.

"Hinata is this true? Every word? I need you to be honest, lying to your Hokage is a great crime." Tsunade along with everyone looked at Hinata and waited for her answer, half of Tsunades mind was betting that it was not true, but half of her is also hoping that it is, so that the last Uchiha wouldn't be the last anymore. And the once pride of konoha will stay inside the walls of his village.

Hinata decided to play along, she needed to know what exactly Sasuke was planning. She took a deep breath and spoke.

"Tsunade sama, what Sasuke said is true. I'm sorry for not telling everyone." She bowed her head, trying hard to seem honest and not lying at all.

"And what does the Hyuugas have to say?" Danzo spoke for the first time, his one visible eye were old and scary. But Sasuke seemed to be giving him the look that would make her run to the forest of death.

"Uchiha-san, didn't you think that you should've married her first before you impregnated her? My daughters reputation was tainted, she's our heiress and the village sees her as a whore." Hiashi spoke to Sasuke, his posture was perfect. And his eyes are calculating

"I could marry her anytime. And besides, you've disowned her already. She doesn't have to answer to your clan anymore." Even with Sasukes rudeness, Hiashi seemed to be pleased with him.

"Uchiha Sasuke, because you deserted the village, you'll be on probation, and i need you to give information about your whole journey including the death of Uchiha Itachi. For now I think Hinata chan here will be able to keep an eye on you. A few Anbus will check up on you from time to time. You can't get into trouble, and you can't go outside the village for 3 months. For now, I guess you should go." Tsunade finished the whole ordeal, Asking Shizune of her Sake.

Danzo looked pleased with the situation, while the elders seemed unaffected. The Hyuuga elders were a bit shaken but still looked stern, they bowed to the hokage and left.

Hiashi asked Neji to step outside, while he looked at Hinata with worried face.

"Hinata i need you and Uchiha-san here to come over for dinner tomorrow. There is a lot to talk about." He looked at Sasuke and gave him a slight nod and left the Hokages office.

Sasuke turned to her direction and gestured her to come with him. Hinata knew better and nodded, bowing to the Hokage and the other guests. Giving her father and Neji outside a glance before she turned and left the building with Sasuke.

Outside the tower, Hinata kept her distance. She didn't know where they would go, all questions are now scrambled inside her head.

"Hinata where do you live?" Sasuke suddenly asked her. She stiffened, surprised by his voice. Did he really have to call her name without any honorifics?

All the heads of people they were passing by were directed to them, some scared of the Uchiha walking, some surprised, some girls were giggling at the sight of Sasuke then glares at her. It was a good thing that it was still early that the crowd was still small.

"Ano, I've been living in an apartment just a few blocks from here." She didn't feel the need to explain why, because he already knew that she was disowned by her clan.

"We should head there, we can't talk here." Sasuke didn't even spare her a glance when he suddenly touch her back and pulled her closer. Hinata was about to question him why the sudden action, but she didn't have the chance. There in front of them poofed Hatake Kakashi.

"Yo." The Copy Ninja greeted them, his eyes were crinkled. Hinata wondered how he really looked like without the mask. She inwardly shook her head and greeted him as well. But Sasuke doesn't seemed to be pleased to see his former sensei.

"Sorry, sorry for interrupting your reunion but it's been a long time Sasuke. And Hinata-chan! Who knew huh?" She felt Sasukes hand on her back. Cold and deceiving.

"Where is Naruto?" Sasuke finally responded to Kakashi. The familiarity was there.

"Ah, he's on a mission with everyone. I guess they failed because you're already here." The masked man chuckled. Hinata stayed quiet and listened to the conversation.

"What mission? And who is everyone?" Sasuke seemed to be curious too.

"Well minus Hinata-chan here, most of the rookie nine is with him. And their mission is to bring you back. They'll be back soon, considering Hokage-sama already summoned them home and I can't wait to see his reaction when he sees you." Sasuke Snorted and gently pushed her forward, urging her to bid Kakashi goodbye with a bow.

Sasuke was rude, but Kakashi seemed fine by it. He was even waving at them.

I guess as long as his former student is here inside the walls of Konoha he wouldn't mind rudeness.Or maybe he's just used to it.

HINATAS APARTMENT

They entered her apartment and Hinata turned to him, she stood there in silence. Expecting him to talk.

He took his surrounding. The apartment was just the right size. It was simple, there wasn't much to it. It wasn't how he pictured her space, he expected her to have a lot more going on because she was a woman and an heiress. He paid her no mind and walked towards the balcony which had a good view of the Hokages Faces.

He breathe in the same air he did when he was a kid. He had no other choice, the unborn child was his only blood left, Itachis legacy, and family. He had no idea how to start again but he's willing to try for itachis child.

"Uchiha-san, why?" her voices snapped him out of his nostalgic mind and he looked at her. Today she didn't look pregnant, she looked miserable. Yes, she's still beautiful no doubt about that, but her hair was dull, and her eyes were tired almost dead.

Is she becoming this mess because Itachi is gone? Or is it because of me? I caused that didn't I?

"Your child is an Uchiha, there's no need to explain. Keep your distance close to me, remember to always be within my range. I don't trust all this people, especially the elders." He wasn't a fool, he remembered all the revelation of Tobi about Danzo and the Konoha elders. He didn't trust the masked man but he also can't put the possibility aside.

"I still don't know why you're here and doing such things, but I don't trust you." Hinata seemed to understand that he was a man of few words. And nodded at him. She went into the kitchen saying she would prepare lunch for them and her sensei.

He let her words sink in, but everything is still blurry in his mind. Tomorrow it will be a week since he killed Itachi, his big brother. Perhaps she's doing the right thing not trusting him, even he didn't trust himself. But he knew deep inside that his desire to protect her and the child growing inside her belly is genuine.

The thought of having another Uchiha born didn't sound so bad in his ears it was common knowledge the he really wanted to restore the clan. An Uchiha, an innocent one. But for a child to grow up without a father is just another form of cruelty, let alone letting an Uchiha child go through it, it would mean chaos. If the child bears the Sharingan, the elders would tear it apart, push it to its limits and make another Itachi. Itachi was the epitome of a perfect shinobi, too perfect. He doesn't need that. He can't afford that. This is the logical thing to do. Let Hinata sulk, I don't care. As long as they're on my sight.

STREETS OF KONOHA

He walked alongside Hinata when she insisted that she needed to talk to her Sensei, hence the food. It was already noon but the sun was hiding behind clouds. She was quiet, but her face was a like a window to her mind. It was clear that she was deep in thought. Good.

Much to his surprise, Kurenai was also pregnant. But there was no husband on sight. She looked worried but as soon as she recognized Sasuke her face contorted, it made her ugly.

"Is he who i think he is?" Kurenai seemed shaken by his presence but didn't show it. She looked at Hinata expecting her to answer vocally, but she only nodded.

"You're the father. I-i never saw that coming." She tried to force a laugh but it came out like she was hurt. And perhaps she really was.

He saw that Hinata was about to deny her assumption but her nerves got the best of her and Sasuke beat her to it.

"I am." He wasn't in the mood to talk, but Kurenai would most likely get the word out. Without a warning he held Hinatas waist to give emphasis. Hinata took a sharp breath, but smiled at her Sensei and gave her the bento she prepared. She rubbed Kurenais swollen belly and bowed farewell insisting that she needed to go.

Sasuke who was usually rude, nodded at Kurenai, removed his arm from Hinatas waist as soon as they were out of sight. She was weird. It seemed like his touch disgusts her, he wasn't the touchy type. He too hates physical interactions, but he too won't deny that women can't resist him. But Hinata is not just some woman. No. Hinata was an heiress, she grew up breathing in elegance and proper etiquette. And most of all, Hinata was and perhaps the only woman to get Uchiha Itachi to his knees. Yeah, she's not like the others.

They decided to head for the market seeing as he only has the clothes his wearing with him. Hinata was quiet but kept a close distance to him, seeing as people kept giving them weird and shocked glances.

He didn't mind. He grew up surrounded by people staring at him, strangers watching if he's going to fail. But he's learned to keep them away from his mind. Everything they say are just noises, like the wind or the sound of rain falling and hitting the ground. It was natural.

Even Hinata seemed to be the same. After buying all the necessities he needed, he didn't even see her flinch from the whispered words directed to her.

"I bet she was raped by that bastard."

"Poor thing, can't even talk in his presence."

"Fucking whore."

Despite all the words, she remained calm. But he knew, she heard them all. But one thing he didn't want to hear now was the sound of a loud voice. His words are along the lines of "Sasuke" and "Teme".

He almost rolled his eyes when he turned and saw him coming fast. Naruto. His face red, sweat glistening despite the cold wind of the night approaching, but he wore the smile that makes his eyes dissappear. On his back was he assumed the rest of the team that's supposed to bring him back.

"Teme! You fucking bastard! I knew you'd get back, i would've dragged you! But heh, of course you'd come back you're own way!" He seemed out of breath. They must've heard the news from Tsunade just like what Kakashi said and run like hell to get back as soon as possible.

Before he could even respond to the blonde idiot who seemed so happy to see him he heard loud clap of skin to skin.

Everyone turned and saw Hinata clutching her face and looking at Sakura with surprise in her eyes.

Everyone was stunned. Sakura just slapped Hinata.