Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, it's characters, or any aspect of it. It all belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

The Beauty of Power

Chapter 10

What was the purpose of this alliance with Hinata? The answer had been clear to him when he first met the Hyuuga heiress. It was to merely use her as a means to fulfill his boredom, to satisfy the empty feeling of not belonging to a world with no violence. He was not a blood thirsty man as much as it seemed, it was just that all the violence, all the fights had made him feel alive. So, according to what was supposed to be the plan, he was merely going to fight her on a daily basis, not giving a second thought to her well-being. However, this plan started to become tainted by a few things. The first one being that he had agreed to the festival, the second one was that he had allowed her to sleep on him, and the third one was helping her when the crowd got out of control. Not only did his plan for her become tainted, but now, he was touching her.

What was going on with him?

He also liked the way that her cheeks flushed a little red when he touched her.

What was this? Sasuke didn't like anything.

The Uchiha heir could say now, that the alliance that he had first sought out with her had faded away into nothing. No. Now, he found himself interested in something else. He was interested Hinata as a woman. Sasuke was never really attracted to any woman before, so this was new to him.

Furthermore, he couldn't believe that he agreed to accompany the Hyuuga heiress as she made her way towards the voices. The thought of Hinata getting into another bind agitated him, so to make sure that she didn't, he was going with her.

He stared at her back as she moved through the night, she was a frail young woman, and Sasuke could see her thin silhouette through that oversized jacket of hers. The Uchiha heir activated his sharingan, he didn't like the unexpected in any aspects of his life, and that included unanticipated company. The voice became more and more apparent, and it led them to the towns square. Hinata hid behind a building, and the Uchiha heir crossed his arms. She bit her lip, and she smiled at him.

"Thank you, Uchiha-san, for c-coming with me."

"Whatever." The Uchiha heir said, dismissively. "Just get on with this, I'm getting tired." The Hyuuga heiress nodded at him, activating her byakugan, and she snaked her head around the corner.

"There are t-three men with Gakukoru." Hinata informed. "They seem to be in an argument, but I-I can't hear them." She turned back to Sasuke, and the Uchiha heir remained silent.

"I-I need to a get a little closer, I am going to try to g-get behind that building over there." The Hyuuga heiress beckoned to a tall building closer to the four men, and the Uchiha heir gave her a slight nod. He watched her make her way to the other building, directing his attention to the men, but they seemed oblivious to the Hyuuga heiress's eavesdropping.

What idiots.

The Uchiha heir considered to turn back around, and leave the Hyuuga heiress right here in the night. This was not any of his business, and he didn't like sticking his nose in anything that it didn't belong.

But what if she gets seen by these fools?

Don't care. Sasuke thought to himself. She is a shinobi, she can handle herself.

Immediately, he clicked his tongue in annoyance. He was lying to himself. If he truly didn't care, then why would he was standing here at this moment?

Did this prove that he was protective of her? Maybe.

XXXX

Hinata looked at Gakukoru, and he fell to his knees. The three men surrounded him, and they looked, displeased.

"I-I am sorry." Gakukoru muttered, lowly. The Hyuuga heiress pursed her lips, seeing a broken expression on the village head's face, and one of the men spoke.

"You fool." He growled. "How dare you bring those shinobi from Konohagakure here?"

"I didn't, Kishiiro." Gakukoru said, defensively. "I don't know who did."

"This is between this village and us." The second man hissed, and he reached over grabbing the collar of Gakukoru's kimono.

"I know." Gakukoru said, quickly. "The shinobi will be out of here soon, Osugi."

"They better be." The third man warned. He pulled out a naginata, Osugi constricted Gakukoru's arms, and he pointed it to his chest. Gakukoru began to whimper, Hinata's eyes widened in shock, and she began to dread for what to come next. She wanted to intervene, but she didn't want to blow her cover. The Hyuuga heiress pursed her lips, and she reached inside of her pocket, feeling the cold steel of her kunai. If anything else were to progress any further, she would step in.

"Could it be that daughter or son of yours?" The third man asked, curiously. Hinata's eyes widened at the news. The village head had children? She had not seen any signs in that estate that anyone had been living there, why was that?

"No, no, it wouldn't be they wouldn't jeopardize our deal, Taguchiji." Gakukoru fumbled.

"Hmph!" Taguchiji grunted. He didn't seem to be too convinced. "I guess you are right."

"After all, if it wasn't for us, you and your family would be starving with all the rest of the villagers." Osugi explained.

Hinata eyes widened in surprise, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Were these men response for the famine plaguing the village? There was a dark aura surrounding these men, they didn't look like missing ninja, but looks were deceiving.

"Well, do any of the shinobi from Konohagakure look like they could pose a threat?" Osugi smirked.

"Well." Gakukoru began. "One of the shinobi is their previous Hokage's protégé, and one is a Hyuuga, and…"

"Then, they are a threat." Kishiiro snapped. "It would be wise to not let them in on what is going on here."

"I understand."

How could such a man give away such things about them?

He has seemed so nice. Hinata shook her head of the thought, she knew that he was being pressured into giving this intel.

"How long do you think the food they brought will last?" Osugi inquired.

"It was a carriage that they brought."

"Then, we will have to go and destroy all the food when they leave."

"These are innocent children, they don't deserve to starve." Gakukoru defended. "They have done nothing."

"You and they are all descendants of the Ahumishi, no different for us." Taguchiji hissed. "Your ancestors robbed us our predecessors of our birthright and flourished on it, we are rectifying the situation."

"Your predecessors tried to kill Ahumishi." Gakukoru grimaced at them. "He did what he had to."

"Another word and we burn down all the food we gave you, burn down your home, and let your rot here like the rest." Gakukoru pursed his lips together, nodding in compliance, and the man dropped him to the ground. He yelped in agony, and the men sighed in irritation.

"Look, old man, we will be around here, watching you." Kishiiro stated. "Keep that in mind." And with that, the men were gone, and Gakukoru quietly cried to himself. Hinata wanted to console him, tell him that they would take care of all his worries, but she restrained herself. She need to tell the others about this information. After a few moments, Gakukoru picked himself up from the ground, and headed back towards the estate. Hinata waited to make sure that he was gone, and the Hyuuga heiress walked over to where she had left Sasuke.

XXXX

This man was so weak, allowing himself to be manipulated like that. The Uchiha heir could almost say that he pitied the old fool if it wasn't for his unwillingness to empathize for others. He saw Hinata stroll over to him, and he looked at her, bored.

"I bet, it killed you to see him get handled that way by those men." Sasuke sneered, already knowing the answer.

"I-It did." The Hyuuga heiress admitted. "I have tell the o-others about this, w-we have to help them."

The Uchiha heir could see where this was going, and he knew that this would result in trouble for him.

"It is getting late, I'm leaving."

"I'm so sorry for keeping you out so l-late, Uchiha-san." Hinata apologized. "I s-should start heading back to the e-estate before Gakukoru notices."

The Uchiha heir stopped in his tracks, and he looked at her out the corner of his eye.

"Hey, Hyuuga, don't get yourself killed." Sasuke stated, coolly. He saw a flicker of surprise spread across her face, and then a smile settled on her lips.

"I promise."

"We'll see." Sasuke hissed, lowly, and with that, he disappeared into the night.

XXXX

Hinata made her way back towards Gakukoru's residence, and it seemed that Gakukoru hadn't come back yet. His estate was sill quiet with the sleeping shinobi, the Hyuuga heiress slipped into the bedroom, and Ino, and sakura were sleeping, soundly. Hinata ran the hot bath water, diving into the tub, and she took a quick bath. The bath was the prefect thing to relax Hinata before she went to bed, she collapsed on her matt, and allowed her fatigue overcome her.

-The next morning-

Hinata opened up her eyes to the feel of the sun rays on her face, and she lifted up. She looked around the room to see Sakura, and Ino were getting dressed, and Sakura smiled at her.

"Morning." Sakura chimed. "You must have stayed up late." Hinata rubbed her eyes, snapping herself out of the morning haze, and she got up.

"I-I have to tell you guys something." The Hyuuga heiress said, quickly. "S-so last night, I noticed a small light coming from outside, and I followed it. " I saw Gakukoru talking with three m-men, and these t-three men have been causing the f-famine here."

"What?" Ino asked, surprised as her eyebrows arched. "And the village head allowed this?"

"I-I think he is being manipulated." Hinata speculated. "a-and he told these men about us, each one of us, I-I don't know where these men are, but they promised to be keeping an eye on us."

"Well, we certainly cannot leave now." Sakura fastened her jounin jacket over her body, and Ino nodded at her in agreement.

"We cannot allow these villages to be back at square one, we have to inform the guys about this." The Hyuuga heiress nodded at them, and a knock came at the door.

"Excuse me, ladies, Gakukoru has requested you for breakfast." A servant girl informed on the other side of the door.

"Okay, we will be out in a minute." Hinata began to change, quickly, and she slipped on her sandals.

"So these men do they know everything about us?" Sakura asked, curiously.

"O-only basic stuff." Hinata explained. "But, t-they didn't look like shinobi." I-it seems to be some k-kind of internal c-conflict." The men seem to be funding Gakukoru with the food."

"I see, so that explains it." Once the Hyuuga heiress finished getting dressed, she followed Ino, and Sakura out of the room to the dining area. The sound of Shikamaru's and Kiba's voice could be heard down the hallway. Hinata walked into the dining room, there was a long table with all kinds of fruits, and rolled omelets were on each plate. The elderly village head sat at the end of the table, giving her a smile, and it was odd. It was so different seeing him now than, it was last night.

"Good morning!" Gakukoru beamed. "I hope you girls slept well."

"W-we did." Hinata sat down next to Kiba, and a servant girl came around, pouring her white tea. "Thank you."

"It is no problem."

"You should try the rolled omelet." Kiba suggested. "It is the best that I have ever tasted." Hinata nodded at him, and she took a bite of it.

"So about how long does it take you guys to travel back to Konohagakure?" Gakukoru asked, curiously.

"About three days." Shikamaru informed. "Why?" The Hyuuga heiress could see Shikamaru was thinking hard about something, and she figured that he was able to pick up on the deception of the elderly village head.

"Oh, I was just wondering how long it must have taken you all to get here." Gakukoru defended. The door to the dining room slid open causing everyone to perk up, and a woman and man stood in the doorway. The woman had long brown hair pulled up into a high ponytail. She had on a green kimono adored in pink flowers, and the man had short black hair. He had on a dark blue kimono, and they both had matching brown eyes. Gakukoru's face went white automatically, Hinata knew right away that it must had been his children, and his mouth hung agape.

"W-what are you all doing h-here?" Gakukoru muttered.

"We thought we would come pay you a visit." The young woman smiled at him. "Who are you guests?"

"We are shinobi from Konohagakure." Kiba explained. "We came here to help out with the famine."

"Thank you." The young man explained, and he turned on his heels. "We talk to you outside when you guys are finished." His eyes rested on Gakukoru, and the elderly village head pursed his lips, nodding. They left out of the dining room, there was a heaviness placed in the air, and Ino looked at the Gakukoru.

"Who was that?" she asked, curiously

"No one important." Gakukoru smiled, grimly. "Please continue eating, and excuse me." He got up, Hinata watched him slid the door behind him, and Shikamaru crossed his arms.

"He is hiding something."

"Agreed." Akamaru barked in agreement, and Hinata bit her lip.

"I-I was able to gather s-some information last night when everyone was asleep?"

"You did?" Kiba asked, shocked. "How?" Hinata explained all the events of last night to Shikamaru and Kiba. She had left out the fact that Sasuke was with her, and when she was finished, the pink haired kunoichi stood up.

"Let's find him, and confront him about this." The shinobi got up, walking out of the dining room, and Hinata heard someone arguing. She followed the sounds of the argument with everyone, and it lead them to the back of the residence in the garden. The young man and women seemed to be trying to reason with the elderly village head, but he was shaking his head. Gakukoru caught sight of the shinobi, and they walked up to him.

"We know that you are hiding something." Ino said, bluntly. "What is going on?"

"What are you talking about?" His face became hard.

"I-I heard you last n-night." Hinata informed, and the elderly village head's eyes widened. "Please, I didn't try to pry, I just stumbled across y-you talking with those men."

"So you know." Gakukoru sighed, heavily. "Please, everyone, these are my children, my son Ryuuku, and my daughter Usami."

"Pleased to meet you all." Usami said with a bow. "I am truly happy to see you all here."

"Yes, especially to break the control that those men have over my father." Ryuuku looked at Gakukoru, and then back at them.

"I don't understand." Ino frowned, perplexed. "Is this some kind of war between clans?"

"Sort of." Gakukoru explained. "The two founders of this village were my uncle Ahumishi, and my grandfather, Kisyukoru, and during their rule, this village was highly affluent." However, we were invaded by neighboring villagers who plundered us of everything, and we spun into economic turmoil." My uncle sought to solve the hardship by reaching out to other villages, but my grandfather disagreed." My grandfather thought that the village should try to resolve the problem on their own efforts, by plundering other villages." This caused a rift between the two brothers, and eventually the village split into two. "Those who agreed with my grandfather stayed here, and those who agreed with my uncle went with him."

Hinata's eyes widened at him in shock, and she pursed her lips. "b-but those men called you a descent of Ahumishi."

"Because I have sided with his ideals." Gakukoru explained. "You see, I have seen what my grandfather's path does to people, my grandmother was a woman who had been taken from a village that my grandfather burned it down." She was forced to bear children for my grandfather, and all of her children were killed in battles that my grandfather engaged it." My mother was just like my grandmother. She was forced to bear children for my father after being taken from a village." But, when I was teenage boy, I ran away to here, and was taken in by my uncle." I was raised here till my adult years, and when I turned twenty-one, my grandfather attacked the village in hopes to reunite the two village." However, his efforts proved to be futile, and my uncle was killed him including all his followers." It was kept a secret that I was my grandfather's descendent when I was made head of this village."

"So how did these men come about?" Kiba asked, curiously. "I thought they were all killed."

"I did too until they appeared a couple of months ago, and began to cause the famine as punishment for what my uncle did." Gakukoru stated and his eyes began to water." they took pity on me knowing my true lineage and agreed that they would keep my family alive, if I didn't interfere in what the villagers were going through." But, I couldn't stand seeing the malnourished villagers, their cries for help, and knowing I couldn't do anything."

"So, who sent us to come help you?"

"I did." Usami admitted. "It was not just to help the villagers, but in hopes that you all can relinquish this stronghold that they have over my father, and this village."

"h-how are they causing the famine?" Hinata asked, shocked. "t-they don't look like shinobi."

"They aren't, but they might as well be, they have taught a lot of what you all know from missing ninja." Ryuuku stated. "They have some kind of control over the earth."

"We will help you." Ino assured. "Do you have to meet with them again?"

"Tonight, but I am sure that they are watching us right now." Gakukoru said, fearfully. "This is why you two should have not come here." He shot a glare at Ryuuku, and Usami.

"We can't stand seeing you like this." Ryuuku defended

"Then, when you meet with him tonight, we will come with you." The pink haired kunoichi planned.

"Thank you, everyone."

"Hmm... yes, thank you very much." A sinister voice came from above, and all their heads snapped up. Hinata gasped as the three men jumped off the top of the roof, and Ryuuku pushed Usami behind him.

"Stay back!" warned Ryuuku. Taguchiji walked up to him, balling up his fists, and he punched him in the stomach as hard as he could. Ryuuku's eyes widened as his mouth opened up, letting out a strangled cry, and he collapsed on the ground. Taguchiji grabbed him, lifting him up over his shoulder, and Kishiiro grabbed Usami. She screamed, frantically, the elderly village head tried to grab her, but the Kishiiro pushed him back on the ground.

"You betrayed us, Gakukoru." Osugi growled. "How dare you."

"P-please give t-them back!" Gakukoru shouted. Hinata reached into the pocket, grabbing a kunai, and she shot it towards the Taguchiji's direction. He deflected it with his naginata, his eyes resting on her and the rest of the shinobi.

"Come any closer, and we will kill them." he assured. "I'm sure you don't want their blood on their hands." He looked back at Gakukoru. "Meet us tonight at the same place, and we will decide then what to do with you and your family." And with last comment, the men took off, and Gakukoru began to burst into tears, hysterical.

"They are going to kill them!" he wailed. "I know they will." Hinata knelt down, touching his shoulder, and he looked up at her.

"I promise that we will get them back." She smiled at him, warmly, and Gakukoru nodded at her.

"How?" the elderly man asked, shocked.

"Hmm" Shikamaru began to calculate. "I'll come up with something."

XXXX

The sound of someone screaming caught the attention of the Uchiha heir, and he tried to try to ignore the noise. However, the screaming continued to persist, Sasuke flinched in agitation, and he groaned himself.

Shut up.

The Uchiha heir started to realize that the screams would not desist, and he headed towards the direction of it. Whoever it was, he would end their annoying disruptions. The noise lead him to an underground cave entrance, it was near the graves of the dead, and Sasuke remained hidden. He immediately recognized the three men from last night, however, they had a young man, and a frantic young woman with them.

"Shut her up." Osugi groaned. Kishiiro threw her to the ground, roughly, and he grabbed the hem of her kimono.

"If you don't stop, we'll slit your throat." He warned. The young woman nodded at him, and she stopped her disruptive behavior. Sasuke rubbed his temples, and he turned on his heels. Whatever was going on, was not his problem.

"What are we going to do about the shinobi?" Osugi inquired. The Uchiha heir stopped in his tracks, his sharingan automatically activated, and he pursed his lips.

"If they interfere, we will kill them." Kishiiro chuckled. "Are you not willing to try for your revenge?"

"I am." Osugi growled. "But expect there to be quite a fight."

"Well..." Taguchiji pulled out his naginata. "We shall see tonight." He grabbed the woman, throwing her into the cave, and a smirk spread across his face. The Uchiha heir's eyes narrowed, and his hand rested on the hilt of his katana.

Yes, indeed we shall.

XXXX

The place where Gakukoru agreed to meet the men was near the unmarked grave of Kisyukoru, and the elderly village head stood in front of it. The Hyuuga heiress stood behind a tree, the moonlight lit up the night, casting an eerie glow over where they were, and she pressed her lips.

"I hope this works." Ino said, coolly.

"I-I am sure that it will." Hinata smiled at her. The men started to come into light, and they had Usami and Ryuuku tied up.

"The sight look familiar?" Osugi asked, icily. "This is where your father died at."

"I know this, I have visited this place often."

"Have you?" Kishiiro asked, questioningly. "Then why abandon him?"

"I didn't, he abandoned what we stood for." Gakukoru defended.

"That is bullshit." Taguchiji growled. Taguchiji pushed Usami and Ryuuku to the ground.

"Don't hurt them!" Gakukoru pleaded.

"An eye for an eye, Gakukoru, we gave you a chance, and you blew it." Kishiiro beckoned to Taguchiji, Taguchiji pulled out his naginata ready to bring the blade down on them, and Akamaru lunged for him. At that moment, the shinobi from Konoha made their presence known, and Hinata ran towards Taguchiji. She activated her byakugan, Taguchiji grinned at her, and a dark chakra began to pour of his body. Her eyes widened in shock, he charged towards her, and pulled shuriken out of his pocket. He threw them towards her, Hinata spun on her heels, deflecting them, and he went to punch her. She ducked down, avoiding the blow, and she jabbed his side with her hand. The Hyuuga heiress watched the chakra flow dampen, slightly, and Taguchiji growled at her. He took his naginata, trying to stab her, and she bent the other way, avoiding it. Hinata kept her eyes on Taguchiji, he became agitated when he realized that he couldn't stab her, and she began to use her Gentle Fists. With each stab, Hinata began to deplete his chakra, and Taguchiji roared in anger. He grabbed her wrist as she tried to deliver the final blow, the Hyuuga heiress gasped at him, and he took out a kunai. She noticed that the kunai dripped with a purple liquid, and she knew it was poison.

"Perceptive woman, I see." He chuckled. "This poison spreads through the movement of the body including involuntary movements such as your heart beat, your body will be tainted with this in a matter of seconds." Hinata gasped at him, and she began to pull away. She wanted to scream, but Hinata felt her throat dry up.

"I thought I told you not to get yourself killed." A voice hissed. The Hyuuga heiress saw a dark figure appear in front of her, and she was met with red eyes.

"Sasuke-san."

XXXX

The Uchiha heir saw Taguchiji looked at him, baffled, and he stabbed him through the chest. Taguchi staggered backwards, blood pouring from the wound, and Sasuke looked at him, unemotionally.

"You asshole!" Taguchiji shouted. Sasuke remained silent, Taguchiji picked up his naginata, and he swung it at the Uchiha heir. The Uchiha heir deflected it with ease as his hand electrified with the bright blue flow of chidori, Taguchiji looked at him, shocked, and he struck the same wound in his chest. The Uchiha heir deepened the wound, Taguchiji looked at him, shocked, and then a smirk crept across his face.

"What is so amusing?" Sasuke asked. "Death?"

"That." Taguchiji muttered with his last breath. "And that someone like you would make any effort to save some woman." The Uchiha heir growled as death overcame Taguchiji, and he slumped against him.

"Don't act as if you know me." Sasuke pushed him off of him, and he stared into Taguchiji's half-opened eyes. "And you are wrong in one area." The Uchiha heir averted his gaze to Hinata who looked at him with parted lips. "She is not some woman."

Please review the story, I would greatly appreciate it, and I hope you all enjoyed it as there will be more to come- FireGladiator.