A/N:

Hey guys! This chapter was very easy for me to type out (which, like, never happens). I finally got the main obstacle of this story worked out so I can't wait to actually get it down and write it for you guys! I think it'll be maybe 20-25 chapters in total? Depending on how I develop the 9th chapter...we'll cross that bridge when the time comes.

Anyway, I want to clear the air from my last A/N. I'm not mad! Like not at all! Haha, I can see where you'd think I'd be upset but really, I'm okay. I got a few PMs and reviews about it hahah! I was just trying to clarify that Naruto does love Hinata, but he's not in love with her and yes, that's a big difference. Sasuke is actually in love with Hinata, which is why it's so easy for him to offer himself up as a candidate for her hand.

I don't want to give away too much plot (but since y'all are clever and remember everything lol), but in the second chapter when Naruto said "my mind is where I want it but not my heart", it was a BIG clue. I cannot say anything more on the topic other than that, so just think about that line...food for thought.

This chapter has no interaction with SasuHina but the rest of the chapters do because this is where the plot begins to thicken. I've dropped some hints here and there but maybe they've been to subtle? You'll get to see almost everyone scheming lol also I love writing Hana, she's just like me!

I'm sorry there's no SasuHina, but *shrug* I hope you enjoy it all the same!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own NARUTO.


Daybreak

Chapter Seven

Homecoming

Uzumaki Naruto had never been the brightest pupil in the academy, he knew that fact rather well. However, what he lacked in book smarts, he made up in street smarts. Also, he would say that he was sanin level at reading his best friend, Uchiha Sasuke.

Ever since they were little, Naruto had seen right through Sasuke, either by a glance or by a well placed fist to his face. They communicated mainly through violence, but neither seemed to mind much. Their last true fight when they held nothing back was the biggest stress relief of their lives. Of course it was at the cost of their arms, but that was a minor bump in the road. It hardly mattered at the time.

He knew Sasuke's moods like he knew his own. It was obvious when the brooding ex-avenger was annoyed, indifferent or royally pissed beyond belief. Unfortunately, those were the only emotions that Naruto was privy to witness. Only once did his friend look any kind of content, and it wasn't exactly the same kind of happiness that Sakura shared when they all reunited. He didn't even so much as bat an eye when the medic told him they were able to complete his arms reconstruction with no issues. He just patted her head and thanked her in a monotone.

It was unspoken, but Naruto was almost one hundred percent sure that Sasuke was just not someone who could be in a romantic relationship. He was emotionally stunned. Karuma agreed from the back of his mind.

Ocean eyes bounced between his two friends as the long hair of the Hyūga princess continued on her way into the busying city. Honestly, he hadn't meant to ignore his ex-girlfriend but when the Uchiha was around, it seemed like he had tunnel vision. Many commented that was not a good thing to have when it came to the sour teen, but it was brushed aside. Naruto had wanted to speak to her, at least to say hi, but he clammed up immediately when her lavender eyes glanced back to him.

By the time he got his barrings together, he watched her bid them goodbye with a spin on her heel. He felt his shoulders drop with a sigh. The way she hurried to end the conversation spoke volumes of how she was not yet ready to face him. It wasn't like he could blame her. It wasn't in Hinata's nature to confront anyone and he knew very little on how to effectively handle women's emotions. Sakura could attest to that. She had smacked him on the head hard enough when he had told her to simply get over Sasuke.

The way Sasuke's dark eyes were trailing after the Hyūga were definitely questionable, though. He hadn't seen that look in the Uchiha ever. So the gentle way his eyes lowered on the petite female's back as they lost sight of her in the crowd, was enough to get Naruto's attention.

"Why are you looking at Hinata-chan like that?"

Never one to beat around the bush, Naruto eyed his friend warily. The last thing he needed was for Sasuke to focus on Hinata. Not that it was a bad thing, but he was intimidating and could easily overwhelm the poor girl. His violent outbursts even stunned him and Sakura at times. Someone as sweet as Hinata shouldn't have to be on the receiving end of that kind of treatment.

Sasuke caught on to what he was talking about and shot a blank look to the blond. "Just because she is your girlfriend, other men cannot interact with her?"

Onyx pupils noticed the tense in his jaw as he flexed it before it disappeared completely, but not before he teased, "Since when have you become so possessive?"

The Hokage candidate huffed, arms crossing over his black jacket. "Shut up, bastard. Besides, Hinata-chan and I broke up."

Feigning his surprise with a hitched brow, Sasuke waited for his friend to explain, but when it was evident he didn't want to talk about it, he dropped the subject all together. Since it was still around daybreak, the last Uchiha mentioned that they should spar to get the day started. His shoulder was tense from a week of thinking about Hinata's situation. On top of that, he was honestly expecting to get some kind of letter or message from Kakashi asking about it, but when none came, he began overthinking his decision.

When there was no attempt to reach him, he was sure Naruto had mended the relationship but apparently that was not the case. There would be no reason for her to contact him if they were able to patch up their rocky relationship. He could go about his life as if he hadn't told the Hyūga princess that he would willingly marry her. Even with that thought in mind, the last two weeks of not seeing her had been comprised of his mind reverting back to thinking about her. Just a few days ago, before he ran into Hanabi's team, he had almost tripped on a tree branch when his traitorous mind replayed how cute she looked when those silky locks flowed over her shoulder like a dark waterfall.

Shaking his head to clear it, Sasuke tried (and failed) to focus on whatever the hell Naruto was saying as they continued on their way to the training grounds.

During the spar, both boys seemed to be in their own heads. Too concerned with their own thoughts, they hadn't bothered to cast out their own pre-spar insults. When a punch solidly connected with his forearm, Sasuke wondered why she hadn't sent word for him if her and Naruto split. It's been two weeks, could she have been that busy with other duties in that time?

'Had she found another suitor?'

That question distressed him more than he wanted to admit to himself. He was distracted for a moment as it ran through his head, leaving a small portion of his side open. Naruto wasted no time in sending a kick that way, but he caught his foot easily and flipped the sunny haired teen without another thought.

Surely her clan would want to wed her off as soon as possible. He didn't know much of the Hyūga but he knew they were cold and manipulative, to an extreme that even his clan wasn't quite on when they were alive. He wouldn't be surprised if her engagement to some haughty clan heir was the main gossip topic of the town.

It was probably that Korime heir with that stupid white hair and pretty boy looks. The boy was clearly around their age and also a ninja, which was evident in the way he stood and the quiet way he walked but that only made Sasuke's finger twitch at the thought. Should he so happen to see that boy around, he would invite him to a casually spar...

Just thinking back on the heir that had looked at Hinata like a love sick puppy begging for attention dropped his mood below his normal annoyance. Without much thought on it, his speed increased just enough for Naruto to notice. It was only when a lightning infused punch to the stomach connected, did the blond voice it.

Coughing, Naruto rubbed the muscles of his stomach, "Jeez, Sasuke, and here I thought this was a friendly spar."

Flexing his fingers, Sasuke ignored the sarcasm in his tone, "I lost my head for a second."

Naruto took in his friend's relaxed stance to drop to the grassy floor beneath them. It only took a moment for the socially inept one to follow his example, although the taller of the two sat with his palms holding up him behind his back. Naruto let out a breath. With so many thoughts swirling around in his mind, he was thankful for Sasuke's presence. The Uchiha always had a way about calming him down that could not be replicated.

However, he knew this silence and this was not the time for him to be wallowing around in his own pity party. He had been doing that for the better part of a week already. A few days ago he had gotten a tiny clue on how to help Hinata out of her predicament but he still had so much digging that needed to be done and without a Hyūga helping him, it was near impossible. Blue eyes turned to his brother in all but blood.

"Alright, I give," he sighed loudly. "What's on your genius mind today?"

Sasuke paused in his train of thought for a moment. He really had no intention of telling Naruto anything until he spoke with Hinata about all the details so he simply stayed mute for the time being. Naruto seemed to not be having much of it though, and turned his head to the left, eyes drilling into the his dark-haired friend.

"Is it because of the mission Kakashi-sensei gave you?"

The mission. No, it wasn't about that. Actually, he was a bit on edge about it overall but now was not the time to speak of it to Naruto either. He didn't want to worry the knucklehead until he was able to speak to the Sixth directly. Looking at the rising sun, he was surprised that they hadn't been summoned yet. The day was nearing ten in the morning, hours after he had arrived in the village. Word did not travel slow in Konoha so Kakashi obviously had to know that he was here by now.

When Naruto figured he wasn't about to get an answer, he let the topic go for the time being. His own thoughts crept up to him, forcing him to frown slightly. Without much thought to it, he glanced back at the stone-faced Uchiha. "Sasuke. Can I ask you a question?"

"Was that the question, dobe?"

Ignored. "If you had two options, and both options were...not something you wanted, how would you get out of it?"

Sasuke thought for a quick moment before shrugging nonchalantly, "Find another option."

Naruto frowned deeper, "There's only two options. You can't find another one."

"Make another option or fight my way out." He really hated hypothetical scenarios and questions, especially if they come from Naruto, who was supposed to be the dense one of the two. Looking deeper into things makes everything so complicated.

The effect on the future Hokage was instant. He shot up from his lying position, blue eyes wide as they stared off in front of him. He looked as if he had figured out the meaning to life itself. Sasuke tilted his head while his dark eyes quite literally watched the gears turn in his best friend's head. He supposed whatever he was thinking of must've been something important for him to think so deeply on the subject.

Not really understanding the question or why his answer caused such a reaction, Sasuke waited with a blank gaze as Naruto went through a whirlwind of emotions. Wonderment, thoughtfulness, doubt and finally determination. He seriously considered asking Sakura to do a mental evaluation on the blond the next time he saw the medic.

"Bastard," Naruto said with all the seriousness he seemed to posses in his tall body. "You're a genius."

His chance to say any smart ass comment was cut off by the sudden appearance of Sakura bursting through the training grounds. She was slightly out of breath, but that didn't take away the wide smile on her lips. Both heroes looked toward the last member of their team as she strolled up to their sitting forms. "Sasuke-kun! You're back!"

Pink locks slightly out of her small bun, she breathed out when she was a few feet from the boys, "Kakashi-sensei wishes to see us in his office." Her hands rested on her hips, "Wow, I should take Lee up on those cardio workouts. I'm out of shape."


The loud slamming of wood on concrete shook the once quiet office, letting in two very distinct and loud voices. One had to be deaf to not recognize them as the formidable Team Seven, or rather two of the three original members. Kakashi glanced up from the scroll he was reading, one dark eye blinking at his brash student who beamed at him.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Uzumaki Naruto's voice echoed in the room, "Good thing you called for us because I gotta tell you something! It's impo-"

He was cut off when a gloved hand pushed against his back which in turn launched his body forward, making way for the other two members of his old Genin team. Sakura rolled her jade eyes while coming to a stop in front of the desk, "Idiot. You can't just barge into here like that."

Silently, the last Uchiha slipped his way past his bickering teammates to take a position closest to the wall. Him and Naruto looked a little worse for wear, clothes wrinkled and Earth stained. They both had sweat clinging to their skin and the occasional kunai scratch mark here and there. It hardly surprised him. It was like a ritual that whenever Sasuke came back in the village, he and Naruto would take the time to spar as soon as he got back.

Clearing his throat, the masked nin rolled up the scroll in his hand before addressing his pupils, "Although I'd love to listen to you two banter all day, I actually have a missing for you."

A dark brow rose on an otherwise indifferent face. A mission? For all three of them? Surely, that would be an overkill. Hell, even sending just two of them was a little much so whatever this was, it was important.

Noticing that he had their full attention as well as curiosity, Kakashi continued to explain, "It's for Naruto and Sakura. I want you to rendezvous with Shikamaru and Sai in the Hidden Waterfall Village. There seems to be a raising rebellion on their hands. From Shikamaru's reports, it's getting a little out of hand and much more complicated than we initially anticipated. Hopefully, your presence there will...calm the rebels while dispatching of the ring leader. Shibuki-san wants this done quietly. Leave immediately. You're deadline is three weeks, but I'll extend it four if you can't make it back in time."

The first to catch on was, unsurprisingly, Sasuke. "He wants you to send Naruto over there to flash around some power?"

All three watched as Kakashi's visible eye crinkled, giving away his amusement. "Exactly." He handed the scroll to over to Sakura, ignoring the pout on the blond's lips.

Not one to forget about her past crush, Sakura side-eyed the raven haired male, "If this mission is just for us two, why did you need to have Sasuke-kun come in too?"

Kakashi felt his smile broaden. "I missed seeing my cute little students all together again."

Groaning at how he was a cheesy old man, Naruto turned on his heel to leave. "I'll be back later, Kakashi-sensei!"

The other two were about to follow his lead when he stopped them yet again. "Oh, Sasuke. I still need your report from your mission."

With a small wave, the pink-haired medic closed the door behind her, much softer than how the blond slammed it open earlier. With a sigh he didn't realize he was holding in, the Uchiha breathed deeply through his nose. Being around those two really drained a person, even if he did miss them while he was traveling. A few hand seals later and a sound barrier was up around them before Kakashi was leaning back in his chair. All traces of humor were wiped clean from his aging face.

"Have you found anything of importance?"

Sasuke blankly looked over his shoulder, out to the blissfully ignorant village that was bursting at the seams with life. He couldn't help his wandering thoughts from drifting back to a certain long haired princess. "Nothing that suggests anything from Kaguya. I've been routinely checking the dimension she is sealed in. There has been no activity as of now."

He chose to leave out the fact that all the tentative peace was starting to make him paranoid. Every day he was waiting for Kaguya to break free of her cage and reek havoc on the world once again. Yet, that never happened. After a particularly horrible nightmare, Sasuke had spent a few days in that dimension, mix-matched eyes focused entirely on the one thing that could quite literally destroy the entire world.

Seemingly expecting that answer, Kakashi felt his shoulders relax a bit. "What of the missing nin in the Land of Hot Water? I had gotten word from Kumo that their nin were back. That was your doing, I assume?"

Recalling the ordeal he had faced after parting ways with Hinata, he couldn't help but sigh again. The Dark Thunder Group was hardly a challenge. Just a misguided (disgruntled) ninja who was dragging Sasuke's name in the mud. Locating the missing nin hadn't taken much effort and defeating those three responsible wasn't a problem either. The fact that this "peace" the Kage held so near and dear to their hearts was teetering on a very thin line made the twenty year old suddenly feel much too old. "The ones responsible were handled and the nin returned to their villages."

Kakashi nodded, absently pulling a blank scroll from Kami only knows where in his cluttered desk. Sasuke was brutally efficient in every task he was given so the Sixth Hokage wasn't totally surprised that he took care of it in less time than any of his other teams he'd sent. "Mhm. Great work. However, you took a few days longer to arrive then scheduled. Got lost on the path of life?" He teased, although he already knew the answer after hearing the report from Hyūga Hanabi and Sarutobi Konohamaru.

A flicker of annoyance flashed on his sculptured features before he crossed his arms over his broad chest. "I ran into Team Konohamaru in the Land of Tea and dispatched a few of those damned rogue ninja that were terrorizing the border. The little squirts were engaged in battle at the time. I'm sure you know that by now."

With a playful smirk that went hidden, he had a feeling that Sasuke could see it much more clearly than he let on, Kakashi dropped the sound barrier jutsu without issue, "How long do you plan to stay this time? You look like you could use the rest, my boy."

Lips frowning at the affectionate nickname, Sasuke pointedly ignored it for now, "Actually, I think I'll be here for a while. Is that place on the west side of the village still unoccupied?"

Not expecting to have his usually hard-headed student agree so readily, one dark eye narrowed as he nodded. "Of course. It's your house. I get the impression you're not staying to further your bond with Naruto, hm? Could it be Sakura finally convinced you to settle down with her, eh, Sasuke?"

Finally, an emotion akin to playfulness lit up the ex-avengers dark eyes while a smirk lifted the side of his lips. There was no harm in telling Kakashi, especially since he'd need him in knocking a few heads of that damned Hyūga clan. "Not Sakura, but you know this kunoichi. Hyūga Hinata."

Pen pausing over the parchment, Kakashi felt the shock rip through his body faster than he could recover. Honestly, he had just been teasing the boy and was not expecting an actual answer, much less the name of the girl that he was currently trying to save from the cursed seal. By the time he did eventually get his bearings together, he was once again alone in the office and staring at the space in front of him. He was beginning to think the Hyūga's ex-heiress had a knack for attracting such powerful males to protect her.

First Naruto, then Hiashi (which wasn't a surprise since she was his daughter after all), and now Sasuke?

With a louder than necessary groan, the Sixth let his forehead fall and connect solidly with the hard wood of the desk in front of him. Speaking of Naruto...

"Kakashi-sensei! Are you sleeping? Wake up, you lazy geezer! I've got a plan to help Hinata-chan and I've got to tell you before Sakura-chan gets ready to leave for the mission."

In the back of his mind, the masked nin wondered if this was why Tsunade kept a secret bottle of sake in the bottom drawer.


Earlier that day, in the safety of the Hyūga walls, Hinata breathed a sigh of relief. It was just her luck that she would run into not only Naruto but Sasuke as well. It wasn't as if she was trying to avoid the Uchiha, especially since she was under the impression that he wouldn't be back in the village any time soon, but facing Naruto right now, with her wounds still raw and bleeding, was not something she particularly wanted to do.

In hindsight, she realized how she looked; running away from the inevitable. She couldn't possibly think she could duck and hide from the blond all her life, right? At some point, they would come in contact. Their group of friends ran in the same circles, for god's sake.

Speaking of friends, Kiba and Shino came by the manor a few minutes after she returned to ask her to train with them, which she readily agreed. Any distraction from the impending conversation she would have to have with the last Uchiha was welcomed. They went to the east grounds, which was composed of wider fields usually used by the Jounins. All three easily slid into a competitive spar between them all, switching between attacking and defending.

A few hours later, Hinata laid out on the grass, her head using Akamaru as a pillow while her hair was tied away from her sweaty skin. Glancing to the side, her teammates weren't much better. Kiba had shred his heavy jacket, sweat dragging down his stomach as he sucked all of the water from his second bottle in the last five minutes. Shino was just as affected, though he hid it flawlessly. Besides the sliding of his dark sunglasses from the bridge of his nose, the Aburame heir tried to hide his labored breathing by laying with his arms behind his head.

"Today is hot as hell!" Kiba complained, dumping the rest of the water on his head. Stray droplets managed to get on Hinata's arm.

"It is odd since it is nearly winter," Shino commented, the slight catch in his voice indicating his weariness from their sparring.

"I say," Kiba said with a sly grin that promised trouble. "We sneak into the Nara's land to go in their lake."

Had they been closer in proximity, the other two of Team Eight would've exchanged exasperated looks. Kiba was always getting them in schemes across the village and although they could've just let him do them on his own, they figured he would need some kind of back up if anything went sideways. Unfortunately, half of the time things did not go as planned and they were fleeing the scene of the crime.

Although the Nara Clan was friendly, their land was off-limits to anyone who didn't have express permission to be there. Namely, anyone who wasn't from the clan. Hinata had only been there once, when Ino had dragged her to go wake Shikamaru as they were meeting up with the other rookies for a night out. She wasn't sure that Shino had ever been on the grounds before but Kiba had - quite a few times with some of his older, more rambunctious, cousins.

However, Shino cut those plans off before the brunette could formulate a plan. "I'd rather not have my shadow possesed by the Nara matriarch today."

"Shino, you've got to live a little! Stop being such a stiff! I'm sure Hinata wouldn't mind bending the rules a little bit, right?"

She didn't have a chance to shoot that thought down as Shino cut in, "If Hiashi-sama caught wind of Hinata in the forbidden Nara lands, we wouldn't see her for months."

A small smile pulled on her lips while one of her hands stroked the white fur on the side of the massive ninken. They bickered back and forth, friendly and with no real intention of doing anything to step on the deer clan's toes. She let them go on for a little while before suggesting they go get something to eat since it was nearing lunch. Stomachs growling in agreement, all males (including Akamaru) nearly jumped up, quickly packing away their belongings.

Kiba filled the walk with idle chat about his clan's newest litter of puppies, offering them to come over and play with them, so long as Shino kept his flees a good distance of a million kilometers. The two were going back and forth another time when a conversation from two passing female ninjas caught their attention.

"...so I didn't know what to say! Seeing Uchiha Sasuke in real life is much more intimidating than I thought it would be," the taller brunette huffed, arm crossed over her chest.

The smaller blonde looked terrified for a second, "I didn't think he'd be back in the village so soon. They were in the Hokage's office, do you think they were getting a mission?"

The two passed by as the first girl shrugged her tense shoulders. "Who knows? The Hokage favors Team Seven since that was his team and Tsunade-sama had a soft spot for Naruto-san. Wouldn't be surprised if they sent the Uchiha on a mission."

"Give him some credit. He did help us win the war."

"Yeah, the war his own flesh and blood started..."

The rest of their conversation was muted by the bustling noise of the now-awake village around them. Kiba blinked after the two before resuming his carefree walk, arms behind his head. "Sasuke's back, eh? Probably got a little home sick, being on the road and all."

Shino snorted softly, but choose not to comment. He didn't have to voice it, for the other members to understand he thought that notion was ridiculous. Hinata inclined her head slightly to the side, agreeing but thought it would be rude to say much about the topic. Who knows, maybe Sasuke did get lonely by himself all the time? He looked like the type to appreciate the quiet and stillness of solitude, but that was only comforting for so long before it drove a person to madness.

The rest of the day went on without a problem in sight. To avoid any confrontation, with Naruto or Sasuke, Hinata decided to stick to her teammates until later in the evening. If they noticed her behavior, they wisely decided not to question it. After playing with the new litter of puppies at Kiba's house, she didn't realize how late it was until Hana offered for her to stay for dinner. If not for a flashing picture of Hanabi's face, the ex-heiress would've gladly accepted the invitation.

With the sun slowly making its way to the horizon, she couldn't help but wonder what it was that Hanabi wanted to "catch up" with her about. To other people, it would seem she just wanted to make up for those missed days, but Hinata knew her baby sister better than she knew herself. Hanabi only ever said those words, in that order, when there was a matter she wanted to discuss. Trying to think of all the other topics of conversation her sister could want to talk with her about, Hinata drew a blank. Shrugging, she pushed past the gates of the main house. It couldn't be that serious.

With one foot over the threshold of her room, Hinata had a feeling her previous line of thinking was wrong.

Sitting on her bed, legs crossed while her body was draped with one of her favorite casual kimonos on, Hanabi stared out the window to the orange sky. Upon hearing her older sister enter the room, she shifted herself to smile tightly at Hinata. A sinking feeling in her gut appeared as Hanabi tried to smile normally, only to give up with a sigh when it failed a second time.

Shutting the door to give them some semblance of privacy, which was hard to do in a house full of people who could literally see through walls, Hinata sat next to her with a soft look in her moon-like eyes. "Whatever you need to tell me is important, isn't it?" She asked softly, not wanting to assume or offend.

Lips tight, brown hair curled around her shoulder as Hanabi reached out for the pale hand on her shoulder. "Akemi obaa-sama is plotting something. I'm not entirely sure why..."

It took a minute for Hinata to fully grasp what Hanabi was implying, before her mind pulled the memories of what Naruto said to her back, "Yes, I've suspected as such. Naruto-kun...when we broke up, he told me that Obaa-sama told him of the council's decision."

"What?" Hanabi hissed, eyes taking a cold turn. If she wasn't already used to her siblings roller coaster of emotions, Hinata would've been shocked. "She told him? We're forbidden from speaking of these things! Why would she do that?"

The sudden feeling of being tired caused her shoulders to droop, "I think...maybe, she wanted Naruto to propose? That's the only reason I could think of..."

With a renewed burst of energy, Hanabi sprang from the bed to pace back and forth in the large bedroom. Every now and again, she would mumble something to herself, but it was too low for Hinata too hear, even when she strained to do so. After a few minutes of watching her sister zip back and forth like a ping pong, Hinata finally questioned her about it.

"It's just so...odd," was her confused reply.

Hanabi never ceased her pacing while she mulled her thoughts. She didn't know what to believe. Her Aunt Haru had mentioned that their grandmother knew that Uchiha Sasuke was interested in Hinata, going so far as to actually tell her. How much of this was true, and how much was a rumor, was still iffy in Hanabi's mind. When they had arrived at the gates, she hadn't been expecting Hinata to be there as well, but she was not one to throw away a perfectly good opportunity when she saw it. As soon as Sasuke had seen her big sister, his eyes had not ventured away until forced to by Naruto.

To say her teenage curiosity had awakened, was an understatement. Especially when she saw Hinata's reaction to the last Uchiha. Wide eyed and blushing, Hinata locked her gaze on him just as quickly as his eyes sought hers. Did they like each other or something?

That couldn't be it. At least not for Hinata, who had been sulking around the compound when she wasn't training after being dumped by the Uzumaki. No, Hinata's feelings for Naruto were too strong for her to have even bothered turning her gaze to his best friend. So that left the Uchiha. It was possible that he did hold some kind of romantic feelings for her...

Had Sasuke confessed his undying love for her? While that thought amused Hanabi to no end, it was doubtful at best. Judging by how stoic and borderline anti-social he is, there was no way in Hell or Heaven that he would do such a thing. Though, the mental image of the indestructible Uchiha blushing and stuttering to her clueless older sister nearly caused her to snort with laughter.

Her feet picked up their speed when she recalled what her Aunt Haru was saying again. Their devious grandmother had manipulated Naruto by telling him of Hinata's situation, in order for him to marry her?

That sounded logically correct. However, she had seen the old hag around the compound earlier today. She was practically skipping around like a schoolgirl when the younger Hyūga girls were giggling that Uchiha Sasuke was back. Surely, she wouldn't be so happy when her plan to get Naruto to propose fell through the cracks, right? What was the point of Akemi discovering his feelings if she wasn't going to use it to her advantage?

'Unless, it was never about Naruto to begin with...'

Coming to a dead halt, standing a few feet in front of a now worried Hinata, the heiress felt a sigh leave her lips. Was that why the council refused to acknowledge the other noble clans of Team Eight? To somehow get Hinata to wind up with the Uchiha? Aunt Haru had mentioned that Obaa-sama wanted some kind of control over the ex-avenger and his powerful genes. What better way than for a main branch female to tie herself to him through marriage?

Looking at all the evidence now, it was painfully obvious what her grandmother was thinking.

And, should Naruto have actually agreed and married Hinata, he is going to be Hokage someday. There was no doubt about that. Having a clan as cunning and underhanded as the Hyūga so deeply intertwined in the politics of the village was something the old bat would lick her lips at. If nothing else, the Hyūga could throw around that they were family with Uzumaki Naruto, one of the most powerful ninja to ever grace the Earth, the next Hokage and the hero of the world.

Either choice was beneficial to them. Akemi knew that.

She had planned this.

Hanabi was absolutely disgusted.

So caught up in her bubbling rage, the younger sister merely blinked when a pale hand waved in front of her narrowed eyes. Before she could ask what was going on in her head, Hanabi beat her to it, "Since you and Naruto-san broke up, the only noble clan option you have to stay in the village is the Uchiha Clan, correct?"

Seemingly confused by such a sudden question, Hinata nodded with a hesitant blush. "Yes..."

A thin brow hitched on her smooth face, "You're not actually considering marrying him, are you?"

When the blush only intensified, Hanabi couldn't help but contemplate once again. Was Aunt Haru right about Sasuke having genuine feelings for Hinata? Had he told Hinata?

Hinata suddenly felt the need to defend herself, although that did nothing to wash away the embarrassment, "Well, it's the only way to stay in the village and avoid the seal...Sasuke-kun is hardly in the village for long stretches of time anyway. It'll be like...having a roommate every few weeks." She hurriedly trailed off with a nonchalant shrug which the young heiress was trying to process with rapid blinks.

There were two things Hanabi took from that spiel. One, Hinata had thought about this in depth and even had points to back up her decision, which sounded like she had made up her mind on marrying the Uchiha a long time ago. She must've been thinking about this outcome for a good amount of time already. Pearly-gray eyes narrowed suspiciously. She was withholding information, wasn't she?!

The second point was..."Sasuke-kun? Since when are you on such a familiar term with the Uchiha?" Peachy lips curled into a teasing smirk while she watched as the pale skin on her sister's face instantly bloomed into a bright scarlet color. "Oh, I get it. You're in love with him! From Naruto-san to Uchiha-san? You're picking the best of the best! I'm proud, sis!"

Hands frantically trying to wave away the obvious perverted thoughts in her baby sister's overactive imagination, Hinata stuttered her denial, "H-Hanabi! N-No, it's not- it's not what you think! When we bumped into each other on my last mission, we...sort of were traveling together so we ended up talking about the whole thin-"

"How absolutely scandalous!" Hanabi laughed while the eldest groaned, hands covering the hot skin of her face. The tension that was previously over both their shoulders lifted slightly. It was nice to joke around with her sister from time to time. Seeing how flustered Hinata was getting, she decided to tone it down a notch. Wouldn't want her to have a spontaneously combustion or anything. "Alright fine, you ended up telling Uchiha-san about the council marrying you off? You know that you can't speak of it, unless it is to your betrothed, right?"

Looking a little miffed, Hinata took a deep breath before beginning, "I didn't tell him. He-He found the scroll with all the clan heir's on it. It's not hard to piece together...and then-then we ended up talking about Naruto-kun and how he was...avoiding me. I was so distraught and- well, Sasuke offered me advice and..."

Not known for her patience, even if it did come to her sister, the younger Hyūga sister pressed on with a mischievous glint in her pupils, "And confessed his undying love for you?"

"N-No, Hanabi!"

The brunette teen huffed, arms crossing across her chest. "Okay, so what else? There has to be more to this than you're letting on."

Hinata felt the heat return to her cheeks almost tenfold and had to suppress the need to point her fingers together like she did as a child. Why was saying the events of two weeks ago so embarrassing? It wasn't such a big deal! He was helping her out, a friend in need! There wasn't anything more to it! A fluttering in her stomach went widely ignored as she refused to listen to it.

A breath left her slightly parted lips, "He said he would...that he would help me, if Naruto-kun broke up with me..."

Almost identical eyes gazed blankly at her while Hanabi sat down on the bed next to her. "What the hell kind of help would he be to- oh. OH!" The tall Chunin shot up from her spot as if it burned her skin, startling the other in the process. "He said he would marry you?!"

Her exclamation was slightly muffled as a slim palm slid to her lips and pushed her to lay flat on her back. Hinata sat on her stomach, both hands covering her loud-mouth little sister from saying anything more. She would've laughed at the situation if Hinata didn't look so panicked.

"Must you be so loud?" Hinata whispered her displeasure before freeing the Chunin, although she kept her weight planted on her. Just in case. "It's barely dinner time. People are up and around. They could hear you."

Pearly eyes rolled in her head. "No one is listening in, nee-chan. So, you going to take Uchiha-san up on his offer?"

When the answer immediately popped into her head, Hinata hesitated. Not because she didn't expect it, but because she wondered why she didn't feel the horrible sinking feeling in her gut. If she had to guess, it could be because Sasuke was a friend and him helping her out made her much more self-assured that she was making the right choice in the long run. After a few years time (and after Hanabi got rid of the caged bird seal once and for all), they could always divorce and she could go about her life like it never even happened. With that in mind, she made a mental note to bring that up to the Uchiha the next time they saw each other.

Although more confident in her answer, Hinata still needed to speak with Sasuke before she made any rash decisions. She wasn't even sure if the offer was still on the table, since they hadn't spoken to each other since back at the gate. "We have a lot to discuss so I don't want to make any plans without talking to him first."

Hanabi smiled gently at her, "Spoken like a true matriarch."

When Hinata flashed a lopsided smile back to her, the heiress knew what she had to do next. Taiyo and her would have to spy on the Uchiha to find out if these rumors of his romantic interest were true. Briefly, she wondered what their father would think about this new development.