Christmas Break is here! You guys are so nice. Your kind words have really encouraged me. I hope you like the update!

Enjoy!


Chapter 8: In Good Company

Sasuke was reading a book when he heard a knock on the front door. Sasuke noted Sakura's voice from the bathroom telling him to get the door because she was 'putting her face on.' He put the book aside and casually strolled over to his front door with his wounded arm resting in his cast. With his good hand, Sasuke opened the door to find the two expected guests. Hinata was bundled up in her thick coat and scarf. The wool fabric was masking her mouth giving her a cute appearance (although Sasuke would never admit it out loud). Naruto was wearing a slim, black leather jacket with a stylish, checkered scarf wrapped over his shoulders. Naruto had his signature bright smile beaming through the doorway. Sasuke smirked and stepped aside to let them in. "You're late," Sasuke stated simply.

Naruto was unfazed by his remark and threw his arm around Sasuke's shoulders blithely. Naruto was the only person that Sasuke allowed to do that. Even with his injured shoulder, it didn't hurt. "Yeah, but Sakura always takes forever," Naruto chided happily. Hinata silently walked past them as Sasuke closed the door. She went off to find Sakura while Naruto and Sasuke waited in the living area.

When he could hear the girl's voices start a conversation in the next room, Sasuke spoke to Naruto. "How's she been doing lately?" It had been a week since Sasuke had last spoken to Naruto about Hinata's indecisiveness. Naruto's smile softened a bit.

"Good, I think. She opened up to me later in the day that I called you. That was awhile ago." Naruto's declaration was also a realization and he looked at his friend apologetically. "Sorry about that. I've been busy with watching the Club by myself this week." Hinata had gone with Naruto every day that week but ever since she had told her story, she had gotten more and more distant which was the very reason that Naruto had called Sakura the other day. He had asked her if they could get out and have some fun together the following night. Sakura had agreed and then the night had come.

Sasuke sighed and had a defeated expression. "No. I'm sorry. I would have been there this week to help you out but Sakura wouldn't have it. That woman babies the hell out of me." Naruto's smile brightened and he rose out of his seat to clap Sasuke's back merrily.

"Don't worry about it! I've been having loads of fun. They've increased security substantially since your fight. Hopefully, that should prevent any more attacks. The students don't seem bothered by what happened. They're a courageous bunch, after all." Naruto fell back into his chair and his eyes glinted with meekness. "The only downside this week is that I haven't been able to train Hinata at all. I told her to go run the school track to build up her stamina and that's all she's been doing this week. She's still a little slow and could use more stamina, but she's ready for more advanced stuff." Sasuke nodded his understanding and creased his brow in thought.

After a short pause, Sasuke spoke. "I should be able to show up on Monday to help. I won't have to push myself if I show her the water exercise." Naruto nodded vigorously in agreement and was about to say more when the girls entered the room.

Sakura's face was colorful with make-up and Hinata had a soft smile on her face. They must have been talking about something interesting, Naruto thought. He was glad to see Hinata enjoying herself with someone. It was good that she was finding a friend in Sakura, even if it was his ex-girlfriend.

Sakura glided over to Sasuke and kissed him gently. "Ready! Let's go!" Sasuke couldn't help but smile at his wife's enthusiasm. She loved going out and showing him off.

Hinata asked the question that had been on her mind all night. "So, where are we going? Naruto wouldn't say." Naruto smiled sheepishly as Sakura turned around to face Hinata.

"The bar, of course!" Sakura exclaimed joyfully. Hinata still appeared confused so Sasuke helped her.

"It's our friend's bar," the wounded man said. "Most of our other friends from college go there on a regular basis. It's a really nice place. You'll enjoy it." Hinata nodded. She liked Sasuke's explanations. He was probably just as good of a teacher as Naruto was; perhaps better.

Naruto marched to Hinata's side and locked his arm around hers. "You sure will. Come on!" Naruto practically dragged Hinata out the front door in his excitement and Sakura followed close behind, lugging Sasuke along in a similar fashion. The crisp, November night chilled Hinata to the bone but she still felt a surge of happiness from Naruto's touch. The lights of the city shone splendidly and they twinkled upon the four night-goers as they descended down to the parking lot, where Naruto's Charger was parked. They all piled in and Naruto started the ignition.

The drive to the destination was pleasant with Sakura telling Hinata all about the bar they were going to and Naruto talking to Sasuke about their karate students' progress that week. Several minutes later, Naruto parked his car into a small side parking lot and the group exited the vehicle. As Hinata stepped out of the car, she took note of the bar they had parked next to. In giant black letters, the bar's sign said: "The Plow". Hinata raised an eyebrow in uncertainty. It was an unusual name but she followed her friends in, regardless.

When Hinata entered the establishment, a feeling of warmth enveloped her from her toes up to the top of her head. It was not just physical warmth either. The bar was furnished with booths and tables of all sizes. The bar was well-lit and wasn't too loud. The customers seemed friendly and good-natured. The walls were filled with hangings and ad posters of different alcohol products. The place wasn't packed but it had a healthy stream of patrons coming in and out. All in all, the bar was affable and inviting. As soon as Naruto had entered, almost every person in the bar greeted and acknowledged the man. Naruto was a popular fellow and it wasn't hard to see why. The man had been blessed with a gift. He could make a person feel welcome and loved almost instantly. As people patted Naruto on the back and offered him drinks, Hinata noticed Sasuke and Sakura had situated themselves at the bar counter. The dark-haired, young lady went to join them and as she got closer, she witnessed a tall, blonde man standing over the counter. The tall man said something to Sakura and she laughed heartily. The man laughed with her and Hinata tried not to laugh too. The man had the most bombastic, hearty, and unique laugh that Hinata had ever heard. It was also deliciously contagious. It made a person want to laugh right along with him. When Hinata had approached the bar, the man directed his attention to her and he grinned genially.

"Hey! Are you with these two?" he asked. The man's voice was loud and jolly. Hinata nodded shyly with a small, polite smile. Sakura stated Hinata's name and her affiliation with them to the man. The man's eyes widened in understanding and he shot Hinata a dazzling smile. "You've picked some great friends, Hinata. I'm Adam. I'm the owner of this bar. These guys were my good friends in college. They're some of the best people I've ever known." Even Sasuke smiled at that statement. "Now then, what can I get you, Hinata? First drink is on me!" Adam, the owner, reminded Hinata of a similar man who owned a ramen shop. She could imagine them being good friends.

Hinata didn't drink much, so she wasn't sure what to get. She decided on something familiar. "Could I just have a glass of Moscato, please?" Adam agreed and went farther down the counter to where the wine bottles were placed. Hinata noted that the couple next to her had already received their drinks. Sasuke was sipping down a pint of dark beer while Sakura nursed a cocktail. Suddenly, Hinata felt the presence of a certain blonde behind her. She felt his hand glide across her arm. Naruto had a glint of cheerfulness in his eye as he put some cash on the bar counter. He gazed at Hinata as she turned to face him. He smirked at her as she gave him a sardonic look.

Hinata was always impressed and flustered by Naruto's antics. The man really knew how to make her heart race. In that moment, she wanted to hug him again. They had only hugged that one time after she had told her story and Hinata had craved more ever since. The whole past week had been a test of her will as she had tried not to practically tackle the handsome man. Not only was he gorgeous, his heart was even more beautiful. Every time he teased her, joked with her, talked to her, or even just looked at her; she would feel a rush of heat in her chest that shot through her entire body. He was the only person that she knew that could do that to her. She loved every second of it. As Hinata felt her face getting red, she tried to think of something to say to Naruto. Fortunately, she heard Adam approaching with her wine glass.

"One glass of Moscato for a beautiful lady," the tall bar owner conveyed buoyantly. Adam observed the money that Naruto had put on the counter and addressed him. "That's quite a tip, man. The usual, I'm guessing?" Adam had already started to prepare a drink for Naruto before he even answered. He placed a mug of hard cider in front of Naruto and he accepted it gratefully. They waved to Adam as they ventured out to find an empty booth.

When they discovered a nice spot, the group of four sat down on the soft, leathery seats. Sakura took a sip from her cocktail and focused on Hinata. "Nice place, isn't it?" Hinata agreed. The people sitting around them were merry and courteous. She felt safe in the bar with her friends and implications of that feeling slowly started to envelop her. Safety was a foreign concept that had started to become familiar to Hinata since she had met Naruto. It was not the only concept she had become more familiar with either. Naruto had smiled at Hinata's fondness of his favorite bar in the city.

Naruto was glad they had come to the bar. Hinata seemed to be in a better mood that night. The whole week had been hard for her and he wished he hadn't been so busy. This weekend, he was going to focus his time on trying to help her. He was glad she had opened up to him but he knew that if she could not grow from that point, then the whole trial would have been meaningless. He had remembered an important topic that he wanted to discuss with the group that night and he faced his best friend.

"Sasuke, do you think that Freddie and his men will counter-strike anytime soon?" Sasuke's cool eyes glowed dimly in the artificial light of the bar at the sudden question. Subtleties and scaffolding were not natural concepts to Naruto and Sasuke was acutely aware of that fact. The question was grim but necessary, so he quickly put aside the abruptness of it and contemplated his answer in a deep fashion.

Sakura was studying his face and she appeared to be doubtful. Sasuke took a deep breath and answered: "I don't know." Naruto was unsatisfied by his answer. However, Sasuke wasn't done. "Although, I do know that they will most undoubtedly attack the school because that's the only place they know you spend time at." Naruto knew that much but he didn't want to acknowledge it. Naruto didn't wish to involve his students so he hoped the school's beefed-up security would be enough.

Naruto looked drained as he sighed. Hinata was looking down at her wine. She seemed to be lacking energy too. Naruto was getting tired from all of the caution and anger being built up. This whole ordeal with the mayor and Hinata's friends was taking a toll on him. He had no idea what he was going to do. He wished that he could just run into the prostitute's dormitory and save all of them but the more he thought about it, the more he knew it wasn't a good idea. There were too many things that could go wrong. There had been a point in Naruto's life where he would have just ran in there without thinking and asked questions later. He used to be unpredictable and would always act out of instinct and impulse. However, that boy was gone now. Naruto was a man now and he had grown from being that fool that never considered the results of his actions. He wanted to be extra careful with this situation because it involved Hinata. He had broken every rule that he had made for himself when concerning women because of her. After Sakura, he had made sure to guard his heart from women and not to get too close to them, but Hinata had definitely changed that.

Naruto aimed his eyes in Sasuke's direction. "We can talk more about this later. We'll figure something out." Sasuke nodded his agreement and took a drink from his beer.

Hinata stared up at Naruto. It looked like she had wanted to say something the entire time they were talking. Her eyes told him that she was struggling on what words she wanted to speak. Finally, she must have found them because her pale pools shined with resolve. "Naruto, I know you mean well but..." She closed her eyes and attempted to finish her sentence. "You should stop. I'm not worth it." Her eyes were bursting with sadness and Naruto's throat clenched. His eyes widened in shock as his memories enveloped his mind. He looked at Sakura. She had a regretful expression and tried not to look at Naruto in the eye. Naruto remembered that Sakura had said those same words to him once.


Naruto awoke groggily and felt a pulsing wave of pain in his skull. He smelled a greasy, mouthwatering scent that seemed to relieve some of the torment in his head. He rose up from the couch and stumbled towards the source of the scent. Sakura was in the kitchen making breakfast when he walked in. She was wearing one of his baggy T-shirts and her pajama pants. She smiled at him and giggled softly at his appearance. "You're a mess. I knew you drank too much." Naruto smiled wryly and sat at the small dining table next to the kitchen. Naruto had spent the night at Sakura's modest apartment after they had gone to the bar earlier that night. Naruto had tried to out drink Brian again but he was unsuccessful. The large man had drunk more whiskey than Naruto could have looked at. He wanted to vomit from just thinking about it. Sakura had barely drank anything so she had driven his drunk-ass back to her place. He collapsed on the couch and she could only smile at his shenanigans. They had been dating for almost a year and he smiled at her as she brought him a plate of bacon and eggs.

"I'm just glad that it's Sunday. I would never make it to class with this hangover if it was Monday," Naruto said as his face scrunched in forced thought. "I think I have a test on Chaucer tomorrow too." Sakura snickered. She brought her own breakfast plate to the table and they ate in pleasant silence. Naruto chugged a huge glass of water and cleaned his plate. His head felt considerably better after that.

Sakura finished her meal and took the plates to the sink. Naruto trailed behind her and leaned the front of his body against her back as she stood over the faucet. She pouted freely as she attempted to wash the plates. "What are you doing, sweetie?" Naruto kissed her ear and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm holding perfection, of course. Most men only dream of such a thing." Naruto could see her face turn crimson from his remark. He grinned and held her soapy hand. He pressed his body harder against her and she wasn't protesting. Naruto took her silence as an invitation so he turned her around and kissed her passionately. After a few enchanting moments of passion, Naruto separated his lips from hers. He gazed into her soft, emerald eyes. "I love you, Sakura." It was not the first time he had said it but he felt he was being the most honest about his feelings that time. Sakura's eyes widened. She must have felt the sincerity of his words as well. She gently pushed him away and moved a few steps apart from him. Naruto didn't like the doubt that was so obviously etched on her face.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. I know you mean well but...you should stop." Naruto's headache had faded away but he felt a new, sharper pain in his chest. "I'm not worth it." Sakura faced Naruto and her jade-colored eyes pierced painfully into his. Naruto was speechless and he kicked himself for being unable to say anything. He knew that she didn't actually love him and that they were only together because she couldn't have Sasuke. As soon as Sasuke changed his mind about her, she would rush to his side without a second thought. Naruto had nightmares about that and they were becoming more frequent than the ones of Jiraiya's death. Naruto felt so scared and hurt all the time now and this moment only made things worse.

Sakura left the room and Naruto heard her enter the bathroom. Naruto just sat on the couch where he had slept for what seemed like hours. Sakura's words kept ringing in his ears. He just hoped that the pain would dull down soon and Sakura would regret those words. He wished that she would forget about Sasuke and love him. He knew that those things were not going to happen but he still told himself that they would. He was too close to the edge already and one more insane thought would have pushed him over.


Naruto's memory faded and he came back to reality. He had been really hurt by those words years ago and now to have them reiterated brought some of that pain back. However, Naruto could see that Hinata had way more woe in her expression than he ever could. Naruto hadn't even thought about the edge since he had met Hinata. He had found a safe and solid ground to stand on in Hinata. Naruto could only hope that he was bringing Hinata that same stability. Sakura's words had echoed in his mind for so long that one day he knew what he should have said to her. He had been silent from Hinata's proclamation for a few moments already, so he decided to say the words he should have said to Sakura back then.

"Stop lying to yourself," Naruto uttered softly. The sadness in Hinata's eyes turned to surprise and Naruto could see Sakura perk up in his peripheral vision. Naruto wasn't finished there. "You are worth it! In fact, I am so sure that you are worth it that I would die protecting you! If you think that I am lying about that, then you should never believe another word that I say because I have never been more honest!" Naruto's eyes were burning with determination and power. Hinata gaped in silence at his sincere words. The most absurd thing running through Hinata's mind was that she knew that he wasn't lying. She was constantly doubting herself and the people around her, but Naruto never once doubted her. There was no other man on earth like Naruto, she surmised.

Naruto grabbed Hinata's hand and squeezed it lovingly. His expression had changed to a kind, heartwarming smile. "I will find a way to help you. I promise that as long as you are with me, I will protect and care for you with everything I have." Naruto's proclamation was strong and unfaltering. Hinata had been dazed by his words and her cheeks were rosy. She found herself to be emotionally fuzzy and wondered if it was the wine. She attempted to say something to Naruto in protest but she discovered that she was being persuaded by his words; a common scenario that she was always having with him. She simply nodded, instead.

Sakura stared wide-eyed with her mouth open in shock. Sasuke blinked in astonishment but still remained stoic enough to the point of seeming unaffected, unless you knew him. Sakura suddenly remembered that Sasuke had said something similar to her once. She thought back to a past memory, similar to what a blonde man had done a few moments ago.


Sakura had been crying into her pillow since she had woken up that morning. The sun had already passed its apex and the afternoon had come. The sun's rays had disappeared from her bedroom window some time ago and she only hoped her pain would disappear with it. She had broken up with Naruto last night and his face and words were still fresh in her mind. His expression had so much agony and his protests carried so much misery that she had cried right in front of him. She knew that she had done the right thing by sitting down with him and telling him alone. However, no matter how she could have said it, she knew that his response was going to be unbearable. Unfortunately, she had been right.

She had tried to call her best friend and co-worker, Ino, but she realized that she didn't want to talk to anybody. She left a message on her friend's phone and collapsed onto her bed. Sakura cried. She had cared for Naruto so much and had felt everything but real love for him. Her heart just didn't have room for two men. She had been hurting Naruto more by being with him and she wished that she had seen that before she dated him. She probably always knew but she didn't care at the time. She just wanted someone to actually look at her and appreciate her. Naruto had always done that and she had made him suffer for it. She couldn't be with a man that she didn't love any longer. No one could blame her for that and Naruto certainly didn't. Sakura felt horrible about the break-up and she found herself all alone again. The only man that could possibly take the pain away was...suddenly, Sakura heard a knock on her apartment door. It must have been Ino, she thought.

Sakura wiped away her tears and trudged to her door. As she opened her door, Sakura wished that she had cleaned herself up a bit because the man of her dreams was standing before her. Sasuke smiled softly. He gently lifted his hand and erased a remnant of a tear on her cheek. "I heard what happened." His words were sweet and calm, like a wind passing through a field of flowers. "I came to help." Sasuke put his hands around her face, he leaned in, and kissed her. Sakura's eyes felt like they were going to pop out from the sheer amazement she was feeling. Sasuke was kissing her, she screamed into her head.

Finally, Sasuke broke away from her and his dark, onyx eyes bore into her gentle, olive ones. Sakura could only utter one word: "Why?"

Sasuke stroked a strand of hair that had broken free from the confines of her soft and beautiful, pink haircut. "Because I thought Naruto was the one you loved. I was going to confess to you a long time ago, but Naruto beat me to it." There was true emotion in Sasuke's tone and face. Something that was extremely rare. "You had thought that I never loved you and that was my fault. I talked to Naruto this morning and he told me everything. I'm so sorry that I put you two through all of this."

Sakura brushed her hand through his jet-black locks and shook her head. "No, Sasuke. It's OK. It's my fault too but it's OK now. I won't let you go, Sasuke. I've loved you for so long and I will forever. I need you, Sasuke. Please stay with me." Sakura had said all those words in one breath. She probably sounded crazy and illogical but she was happy. It didn't matter. Sasuke kissed again and stated the words she would never forget. They were words that she would associate with true love for the rest of her life.

"I promise that as long as you are with me, I will protect and care for you with everything I have. I love you, Sakura." Sakura beamed at him and she felt tears run down her face again. She thought that she had spent all of them that day but that wasn't the case. Much like her tears, she found new feelings and a new reality waiting before her. She was going to love this man and venture out into her world with him by her side. She had never been more filled with joy and, in that moment, pain was a foreign feeling to her and Sasuke was all she felt.


Sakura's face became flushed with the memory of that day. She clutched Sasuke's hand and stroked it lovingly. Sasuke smiled and allowed her to continue. Seeing Naruto's feelings for Hinata had made Sakura appreciate her feelings for Sasuke. Naruto had always been good at making people remember important memories that should never be forgotten. Sakura was beyond grateful for that quality of his. As Sakura looked at Hinata, she concluded that Hinata enjoyed that quality too.

Hinata had finally gotten control of her brain and responded to Naruto's heartfelt words. "I can't make that same promise, Naruto," she declared. Naruto's eyes softened and he seemed to have expected that answer. "But I do believe you. I know that you will keep your promise too." Naruto nodded vigorously. He really would. "Just give me more time, OK? I still need to think about all of this. When the time comes, I would ask that you respect my decision, OK?"

Naruto's expression was bursting with reluctance but after a long pause, he agreed. "OK. As long as it doesn't interfere with my protection of you, I will respect it." Hinata smiled and turned away from him. Hinata suddenly noticed the couple across from her. She had forgotten about them and she could feel her face heat up from embarrassment. Sakura was smiling at her and gave her a wink. Sasuke smirked and nodded to her. Naruto didn't seem to notice the two and guzzled down the rest of his cider. He smiled brightly at his friends and he beckoned a waitress over. He asked for refills for all four of them and she left to get them.

Sasuke stared at Naruto. "Naruto, do you think Hinata should have more alcohol? She doesn't seem used to it." Hinata's face had been feeling hot quite often that night and it darkened in color at Sasuke's remark. Naruto just grinned.

"She's fine. She can handle two glasses of wine, right Hinata?" Hinata nodded her head dubiously. She was already feeling a slight buzz from the first one but she wasn't going to back down now. She barely felt anything, she told herself. The waitress returned with the refills and the group drank heartily.

About an hour later, Hinata finished her fourth glass of wine and she could definitely feel the affects now. Her entire head was swimming and she felt like she was on a cloud. Naruto seemed perfectly fine and so did Sasuke. However, Sakura was probably in a worse state than Hinata.

Sakura was currently trying to take Sasuke's shirt off and he was politely trying to stop her. She kept protesting and slurring her words. She had been saying very provocative and seductive statements for the last ten minutes and Sasuke appeared to be at his wit's end. Hinata could see the temptation and embarrassment in his eyes as he tried to push his wife away. She wasn't giving up though, that woman would get what she wanted. Finally, Sasuke gave in and stood up from his booth.

"I'm going to call a cab. Drive safe, OK? Night." Sasuke grabbed his drunk wife and they rushed outside in a burst of wind. Naruto smiled mordantly. He turned to his intoxicated companion and she returned the smile back at him.

Hinata was having trouble controlling herself, as well. "They're going to have fun when they get home. I'm a little jealous, to be honest." Hinata tried really hard not to slur her words and was partly successful. Naruto grinned sheepishly with a faint surge of heat forming along his nose at that statement. A few minutes later, Hinata was asleep next to him and he asked the waitress for his bill. Naruto paid the bill and waved goodbye to Adam and his friends that were still in the bar. Naruto carried Hinata out to his car and laid her down in the backseat. Naruto judged he was cognizant enough to drive, even though he greatly discouraged such actions. As the blonde sat down in the driver's seat, he realized that he might have been a little jealous of his friends too.


I'm so glad that I have time to focus on this story now. I'm going to try to work hard and bring you guys quick updates. I really hope I don't regret those words. Please, let me know if you like what I'm doing. If I'm good or bad, I would love to here what you guys have to say. You guys have been super supportive and I appreciate everyone that has read this story thus far. Thank you all so much! Take care.

-CM