~Time skip – The Battle Between Sasuke and Naruto at the Valley of the End~

There was a sudden lull as Naruto looked upon the man who had taken his heart. It was the first time he had seen him since the avenger left him…since that night. Naruto placed a hand over his stomach. He heard Kyuubi purr gently. He had to tell Sasuke…he had to tell him that his clan repopulation was happening sooner than he anticipated.

"Sasuke! Why are you doing this?" He cried out. If it wasn't for the narrowing of red Sharingan eyes, Naruto would have thought the wind carried his words away. With speed Naruto didn't know the other boy possessed, Sasuke jumped the barrier between the statues they were standing on. He was inches from Naruto's face.

"This is my life." He hissed. "I took what I wanted from you, and today is the day I break our bond for good. Bonds will only make me weak!" He drew his fist back, preparing to punch the blond in the stomach. Naruto's eyes grew wide with fear. Everything slowed down, as Naruto reached out to grab Sasuke's fist.

"No! I'm PREGNANT!" He shrieked.

There was utter silence. Sasuke was frozen, his eyes blank, and unblinking. Naruto hung his head, fists clenched at his side. A million thoughts rushed through his head, and many of them were bad. What if Sasuke hated him now? What if he wanted nothing to do with him or his child? What if he had decided that that night was a mistake…

"How." The word was forced between scowling lips. Naruto only shut his eyes, his fists clenching tighter. Sasuke took a menacing step forward. "How."

Naruto jumped, not making eye contact with the other boy.

"Kyuubi…he created a womb with his chakra…he wanted to give us a reason to be…to stay…he…DAMN IT, SASUKE! I'm pregnant with you child! How is that not enough for you?" He lifted his head, blue eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"You're lying. This is a ploy by Konoha to get me to stay. You told them, didn't you. You little whore. You told them how I fucked you. And they devised this plan to get me to come back. The prospect of reviving my clan. You disgust me." There was spite in his words, and hate in his eyes. He turned, and walked away.

Naruto, shocked and defeated, let him go. Very uncharacteristic. Something was definitely wrong.

~Around the same time, back at Hinata's cottage~

She loved having Naruto living with her. She was never lonely now, and never short on laughter. Despite the situation he found himself in, Naruto never ceased his joking. She was having the time of her life now, and she hoped it never went away.

But when nightfall came, and things settled down, and she retreated to her bedroom for the night, her mind ran away from her. All she could picture were those tortured red eyes. All she could hear was that strained voice.

'I fled and every day, every second of every day since then, I have been aching and rotting inside. With no will…no purpose…'

And now that Naruto was off on his mission, she was alone, and all she thought of was Uchiha Itachi. She rolled over underneath her covers, pulling them up to her chin. She didn't know why he was always on her mind after that day. She just couldn't put her finger on the feelings she was having. It was almost as if he had turned her entire life upside down. She wanted to see him again, that much was certain. She reached out to touch the necklace she had hanging on the post of her bed. She had picked it up from the spot on the futon were Itachi had been sitting. He'd left it behind, and she'd taken it.

It quite possibly could be bait. She was rational enough to realize this. It could be a ploy. A bomb. A tracking device. But then again, it could also be a memento. A token to remind her that it'd actually happened. That she had actually been held…been confided in…by an S-rank criminal. And she'd enjoyed it. Oh, if only her father knew. If only he knew of the disgrace she was bringing to her clan. She smiled at the thought. She held the necklace up to the dim candle light. Three metal circles, spread out along it's chain. It was beautiful, but delicate. She fastened it around her neck, running her fingers along it once it was on her.

"My necklace." Came the odd voice.

Hinata screamed, whipping around to see the man she'd been day dreaming about for the past few months. His eyes weren't red now, but a deep black. His hair was still matted, his face slightly dirty. He still looked regal though. Hinata blushed deeply.

"G-Gomen…I…" She stuttered. He merely blinked.

"You can keep it. I did leave it behind." He looked around, almost like he was confused as to why he was even there. Hinata was staring at him with wide eyes.

"Did you change your mind about k-killing me, Itachi-san?" She was frozen on her bed.

To see Itachi smile was the single most amazing moment in Hinata's young life.

"No. I wanted to see you. Hyuuga-san…" He bowed his head. "You had such…conviction concerning my innocence." He approached her. "May I sit?"

Hinata relaxed, realizing that she wasn't going to be killed. She nodded, making room on her tiny futon for him to sit. He did so gingerly, and she leaned closer to him. Almost as if pushed by an unseen force, Itachi put his arm around the Hyuuga. She sighed, and started to giggle. He looked down at her, raising an eyebrow questioningly. She covered her mouth with her hand.

"It's just…if my father could see me now. On his property, cozying up with an Uchiha. Even if you hadn't been forced to…do those horrible things…he would still be infuriated. He's such…such an asshole. Pardon my language." She blinked. "Oh, I've never talked that way…G-Gomen!"

Itachi smirked. Then he leaned forward, and kissed the girl. Before she could respond…he was gone again. But resting there, where he had been sitting, was a small metal ring with a red center and the kanji for 'scarlet'. She slipped in onto her finger.