Yikes I was late with this one. Whoopsie... Life gets busy.
What are you doing? You're ruining everything you worked for.
"I know."
It's the Hyuuga. Why did you do that?
"…."
Remember that day by the lake as a child? You told yourself never to let anyone in. There is a reason why you did that—to keep things like this from happening.
"She's weak."
She can take care of herself. She's a Konoha ninja. You have to rank up and start your life over… reclaim your rightful place in this village.
"I don't know why… I get this feeling to protect her."
That girl has plenty of people to keep her from harm. It's not your job. I think it's time to distance yourself.
"…."
The next few days were a blur to Uchiha Sasuke. He was in and out of sleep and in his reasoning it was because they had him on medication to keep his pain level down. The explosion was still fresh in his dreams. The last thing he remembered was Kabuto giving him such an evil grin that it only reminded him of one person—Orochimaru.
As if it was a reflex, like fight or flight, he shielded the woman next to him. Why? He wasn't exactly sure. It was something that plagued him ever since he began working alongside her in the library. Hyuuga Hinata was the only person in the entire world that caused him to act outside of his normal logic. The frustration as to why was something he couldn't explain.
Because of her, he was now suffering burns up and down his back and on his legs. There were blurs of Sakura checking in on him and applying a strange cream on his back which always stung enough to wake him from a deep sleep. The voice in his head reminded him over and over again that this was a mistake; a worthless decision that set him back. His own logic was arguing with his conscious which was something that didn't happen often at all.
Sasuke began to resent Hinata, but he was more angry at himself and at the thoughts that popped up in his mind over the past few months of being around her. The time where he helped her reach the top shelf of the bookcase or even the time where she came over to his home to tend to his needs. No. Uchiha Sasuke didn't need anyone. The only thing he needed was himself; he had been doing it for years successfully.
There was nothing else Sasuke thought about between those few days of blurry mornings and the distant voices that discussed his condition. It wasn't like his prior injuries where he was able to be awake and conscious throughout. Medicine had advanced and now they were purposely making him in a drowsy state to keep him somewhat comfortable and to keep him there. Sasuke had a knack for leaving the hospital before he was released, so to ensure that he was being treated properly, there was a heavy dose of drugs pumping through his veins.
It left Sasuke feeling vulnerable and weak. Another frustrating thing was he was constantly lying on his stomach due to the extent of his injuries. It put a kink in his neck, but it was really the least of his worries. It was a sad state for him; there was anger and a feeling of failure that he felt every time he woke up and he even dreamed about it. Maybe he was playing a sick trick on himself and put himself into a genjutsu to get his head straight.
On the fourth day, the voices that used to be distant were clearer. His body didn't feel so heavy with drowsiness and the numbing buzz in his back was replaced with a dull ache. Sasuke cracked open an eye and could see someone standing next to his bed.
"Sasuke, can you hear me?" The voice was firm and familiar. Her. He ignored the Fifth Hokage and instead closed his eye again. Tsunade exhaled gently and brought a finger up to lightly tap on her red lips.
"As a patient and ninja in the care of the Konoha Hospital, I am obligated to inform you of what happened. As you might recall, five days ago you and Hyuuga Hinata were given a mission to deliver scrolls to Kensaku in Nachi."
Sasuke continued to ignore her, although it was helpful that she was putting all the pieces back together for him. After being sedated for so long, his brain felt like mush, and quite frankly he was just exhausted.
"Kabuto murdered Kensaku and posed as him in order to get closer to Hinata. He was unsuccessful in his schemes, but has since vanished. Because of your actions, Hyuuga Hinata was saved and only suffered minor injuries."
There was a silence aside from the hum of the ceiling fan and the dull beeping of the machines. Sasuke pushed his face farther into the pillow and wished she would just leave. A dreamless sleep was all he needed. His mind needed to refresh from this mess he had gotten himself into. The clicks of her heels filled the air and he could hear her sit down in the chair next to his bed.
"Uchiha Sasuke… I know you are awake. I am aware of your condition and how exhausted you are. We will talk tomorrow morning. I have more important things to discuss with you." Her voice was neither condescending nor harsh as it usually was directed towards him. If Sasuke had more energy in his body, he might contemplate what she was talking about but as soon as he heard the door open and shut, Uchiha Sasuke allowed himself to drift back into sleep.
"Alright… your burns are healing up great." Sakura said with a smile as she wiped her hands off. Hinata felt her cheeks go red. Even though they were in the privacy of a hospital room, she was showing too much skin than she was used to. Only wearing a black tank top and shorts, Hinata had gone in for the fourth day to get treatment for the burns she had received.
"Luckily for you, with some chakra and that salve, they should be better in no time," said Sakura as she twisted the lid back onto the jar. Hinata nodded gently as she waited for the salve to dry. True; her injuries were manageable and soon she would able to begin training again.
"I will have to let Hanabi know we are running out." Sakura murmured as she had stood up to return it to the cub board in the room. Ever since Tsunade had taken over as Hokage, she contracted out a deal with the Hyuuga clan for their medical herbs and salves that were specially made from the Hyuuga garden. Hinata remembered as a little girl helping to make the medicines and it brought a small smile to her face.
"I can let her know… I am going to stop by the Hyuuga estate soon." Hinata said through a wince as she slid her jacket back on. Sakura nodded and let her hands rest on her hips.
"Both you and Neji are getting so much better… he was released this morning." Sakura said with a prideful smile. Of course she was in charge of the intensive care unit at the Konoha Hospital so things always seemed to run smoothly. Hinata felt envious of her for many reason, but mainly because there was 'talk around town' about Sakura and Naruto spending their evenings together. She would never let the jealousy show though.
"Y-Yes… I'm glad." Hinata paused and fidgeted with her braided hair. "And… is Sasuke-kun doing better?"
Sakura's smile slowly disappeared as if Hinata had asked a very personal question. It was as if someone asked her of an old lover. She quickly brushed it off and nodded.
"Yes… he doesn't say much as usual. In fact, he hasn't said one word to me since he was admitted." Sakura said her voice taking a slightly bitter tone. Hinata brought up a curled finger to her lips to hide a frown. She hadn't visited him yet. Hinata wasn't sure if she felt right seeing him in the state he was in all because of her weak moment. Or was she even close enough to the Uchiha to warrant herself a visit?
Hinata stood up and pulled on her pair of loose pants and felt much better knowing she was now fully hidden behind the fabric. Ever since she had been released from the hospital, Hinata was spending time at home. Tsunade wouldn't allow her back to work until she saw improvement in her burns, which Hinata was uncomfortable with at first. However, it gave her time to rest and meditate which was refreshing.
"T-Thanks Sakura… see you tomorrow." It was a part of her recovery; the healing chakra and then the healing salve which she could almost apply herself, but Sakura used chakra while putting it on to relieve the pain. Hinata wondered if maybe it would benefit her to become a medical ninja but she knew her father would want her to concentrate on her strength.
The halls at the hospital always seemed so depressing. She remembered visiting Naruto on occasion when he would get himself into trouble; it brought a nostalgic smile to her lips as she walked. Hinata wondered what he was doing… it had been a few weeks since she had seen him. In fact, Hinata hadn't thought of the boy of her dreams for quite some time. She had been busy with the library and Sasuke... Naruto just seemed to slip her mind. All thoughts were put on hold as her feet stopped at Sasuke's room; she had debated on going in several times throughout the week but never did. Hinata frowned and decided maybe now would be a good time since he was awake.
Hinata felt as if she should thank him; not only did he take the full brunt of the blast, but Kabuto was unable to get to her eyes. Ever since Neji had gotten attacked, Hinata couldn't help but wonder… why not just kidnap a Hyuuga? What was so important about physically having the eye? Those were questions that were physically impossible to answer at this point so Hinata could only wonder.
Her small fist knocked gently on the door, but she was not surprised when there was no response. She thought about walking away and ignoring this entire situation but something inside her nature pushed her forward. Hinata opened the door and peeked in. Her eyes softened upon seeing him lying in his bed. Sasuke-kun… Chewing on her lip, she eventually slipped into the room and quietly shut the door behind her.
The soft hum from the ceiling fan was the only sound; he was completely silent so she assumed he was asleep. Hinata slowly walked to the side of Sasuke's bed and her lips formed a thin line. It was as she was approaching a dead body in a coffin so it was slightly unnerving. Sasuke was shirtless and his entire back was adorned in gauze so she couldn't see just how severe the burns were. Her fingertips trailed along the covers before they were brought to her chest. All for me… I've let everything go- my training, my confidence, my strength.
Tears threatened to spill once again from those light eyes. No… A sense of anger surged through her body which fought her weakness. It was a similar feeling after Neji had faced her during the Chuunin exams. He had made a fool of her, and with a little help from an unsuspecting Uzumaki, she was able to lift herself from those thoughts. Somehow she had shriveled back into her former self. Hinata was done relying on others. Naruto wouldn't always be there to inspire her and Neji wouldn't always be there to remind her.
"Sasuke-kun… I-I'm so sorry." She whispered. Slowly sitting in the chair next to the bed, Hinata sat in the darkness of his room just listening to the faint beeping. Several things ran through her mind, but most of all it was guilt.
Hinata knew that he wasn't a person that enjoyed sitting in an old musty basement and organize scrolls. Sasuke wasn't the type that enjoyed the company of a stuttering woman who had lost the most important thing in her life. He deserved better—to be out on missions and living a fulfilling life. After all, his life up to this point hadn't been an easy one. She didn't feel pity; Hinata felt understanding for him.
Her lavender eyes gazed at his blank face as he lay on his stomach. His eyes were closed and he hadn't stirred. Hinata slowly arose from the chair, careful of her own injuries, and gently moved a few locks of hair out of his eyes. She always observed him in the past get frustrated with his hair getting in his way during training although Hinata always secretly thought it was charming…or something along those lines. After a few silent moments, she turned her back and walked slowly back to the door. Hinata would be lying if she said she didn't feel his red Sharingan locked in on her as she left.
It was a feeling she couldn't shake; it wasn't the first time his Sharingan circled on her. Perhaps it was because she could sense it better than most due to her constant meditation and keen sense. Hinata could be in an open field, but feel as if she were in an overcrowded room when his Kekkei Genkai fell upon her. It wasn't something she could really even explain to herself; perhaps she should just be thankful it wasn't the eye of his late brother.
Hinata took her time walking through the streets of Konoha; the healing burns on her arms and legs no longer needed to be wrapped, but they did rub up against her clothes. The sun was shining brightly and the vendors were already busy with customers for the afternoon. It was strange to be on her way to the Hyuuga mansion; Hinata tried to recall the last time she had been there but it was probably for the wedding ceremony for Hanabi.
Neji was home; he asked the Hokage multiple times to be discharged so he could resume his duties at the Hyuuga mansion. His duties were quite different now than they were ten years ago; instead of having to keep an eye on Hinata and Hanabi, he was able to attend clan meetings and have his own input into matters. Hinata also had that opportunity but it seemed silly to her. You cannot lead the clan but you can still give us your opinion. Instead of addressing the issues with her family, she would busy herself with other things like work.
Hinata enjoyed her short walk and being out of the gloomy hospital. It gave her an opportunity to keep her muscles from getting stiff, plus the fresh summer air felt warm on her pale skin. As she walked down a quiet street, her mind wandered from her family, to her job, and of course to the man who sat in the hospital because of her.
"Oy! Hinata." A familiar voice echoed behind her and she turned slightly to be greeted by one large canine and one worried looking Kiba. Hinata laughed gently as Akamaru circled her before licking her hand.
"A-Akamaru! Kiba-kun… You're back from the West." Hinata said with a girlish smile. Kiba, who had caught up, ran a hand through his chocolate brown hair. His tattooed face wasn't the mischievous and grinning face she remembered; his features were serious which made her smile slowly fade.
"I heard you were hurt! What the hell happened?!" Hinata's cheeks warmed at his concern but her gaze focused on the white fur at her side to avoid feeling uncomfortable. Kiba was always such an exclamation mark and he wasn't one to dance around the subject; those were some of the things Hinata found endearing about him. In retrospect, they were two complete opposites but they always made for a great team.
"Oh, I'm fine… really. Just a few s-scrapes." Hinata managed to say, but when she looked up at her team mate, she could already tell he wasn't buying her just brushing it off. Kiba didn't have the book smarts like Shino and he certainly wasn't as quiet either, but there was no fooling those sharp and keen senses he had. Or he was used to her mannerisms and paid very close attention to her.
"Had I have been there… this wouldn't have happened. That Kabuto wouldn't have seen it coming." Kiba muttered bitterly as the warm breeze caused some hair to stick up. Akamaru whined gently while he pushed his cold wet nose into Hinata's palm before she resumed petting him again.
"No. It was my fault." Her voice was firm, which caused his lips to curl downwards. Kiba took a step closer to her and Hinata looked up to see that he was just inches from her face. She wasn't sure what to expect, but the only thing she was certain of was how red her cheeks must be at that point. He then extended his arms and roughly pulled her into a hug. Hinata was too surprised to react so she let him hold her even though she was screaming on the inside to be released.
"You could have...died. You could have been captured. I mean... I always thought Kurenai-sensei prepared us enough for this." His usual loud voice had become soft as he slowly loosened his grip on her. Hinata looked up into Kiba's face to see him staring intently at her. This is was very unlike him; they had been in worse situations.
"Kiba-kun I-"
"I know it's been rough with you losing the clan, but if we need to train more..." His voice trailed off. Hinata let her gaze linger with his for a second longer before she looked away.
He was disappointed in her and she could tell by the words he used, the way he said it, and the look in his eyes. Kiba never meant it as something hurtful, but more as something helpful. Criticism was always a hard pill to swallow for anyone and Hinata had to learn at a young age that it was inevitable in her family. She dug deep and found the courage to look back at the Inuzuka even though she was completely out of her comfort zone.
"I just need to re-prioritize everything." Hinata forced a small smile to reassure Kiba who still had her close to him.
"Is it the Uchiha? Is he giving you a hard time?" Kiba, like Shino, was very protective of her for different reasons. His canine instincts always helped to fuel those feelings. Shino looked at her as a little sister, but Kiba's feeling went a little deeper.
"S-Sasuke-kun? No… It's just me, really." She said her voice as low as a whisper. His eyes scanned her face looking for something else to say, but there wasn't anything else to counter with. Instead he lifted a hand to brush up against her warm cheeks. It sent goose bumps shivering down her spine.
"I've missed ya, Hinata." He finally said with a look of defeat. "I know you said a long time ago that…it wasn't the right time, but… I still…y'know…"
Her heart was beating fast just like it had those few years ago when Kiba sought her out. She could tell her was struggling, as Kiba wasn't a man of his emotions. Her stomach felt like it wouldn't ever settle. She wasn't used to these situations and it felt wrong.
"I still love you, Hinata..." She had always dreamed of hearing those magical words… but he could tell from the way her eyes stared sadly back at him that he was the wrong person saying them. It was just strange to her that even with all the missions, the day-to-day stresses and the risk of dying that he still yearned for her. Even with brushing him aside, he was as stubborn as ever.
"K-Kiba-kun…" Her voice was almost a whisper. His frown remained as his arms returned to his side and he turned away from her. There was an awkward moment of silence and even Akamaru's tail was still. Hinata brought curled fingers to her lips and her heart ached for him. Of course, this was the exact situation she found herself in with Naruto. Hinata never confessed, but it was apparent that the blonde haired man was oblivious to her feelings and would probably always be.
"I know you can't train yet, but Shino and I are taking a break from missions for a few weeks. We'll be here to keep ya up to par." Kiba's behavior suddenly shifted as if nothing had happened. He turned to glance back at her as his usual grin reappeared. Hinata realized she had stopped breathing and inhaled deeply. Kiba whistled for his canine companion.
"We won't let that freak get the Byakugan. Right, Akamaru?" With a woof and a trot, Akamaru was at his owner's feet. Hinata's eyes softened on Kiba. She was truly blessed with an amazing team and realized her life had been consumed with silly things like fear and sadness. She wasn't totally sure but Hinata felt as if she was standing a little taller than before.
The sound of heels and the sliding of his door awoke him and he groaned inwardly. It was the constant in and out of people that drove him insane. His senses were right that the Fifth Hokage had returned as she had promised the next morning. Sasuke stirred and winced as his burns reminded him to keep still.
"Good morning, Uchiha." Tsunade walked further into his room and inspected the bandages taped loosely on him to keep infection out. Sasuke was silent even though one dark glaring eye watched her. His face was half buried into the pillow and all he wanted to do was stretch. The muscles and nerves in his body weren't used to being still so it was an itch he was yearning to scratch.
"Let's see what we have going on here, eh?" Tsunade brushed away her hair from her eyes and let her hands hover lightly over his bandages. They lit up with the familiar green chakra as she gently pulled the gauze back to reveal somewhat improved burns.
"How long do I need to be here?" It was the first time Sasuke had spoken in at least a week so his voice was scratchy. Tsunade's eyebrows rose slightly and a small smirk spread across her plump lips.
"Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves." She remarked before reaching over to grab a jar of the burn salve. "Now, this is a special salve with healing chakra infused herbs and ingredients from the Hyuuga gardens."
Hyuuga. The name was like poison to him but he remained quiet and without expression. Brick by brick, Sasuke was replacing the walls that had crumbled throughout the past few months. In fact, he decided that it was ever since Itachi's death that he had allowed himself to let the light into the dark room in his mind. That was all about to change.
"This might sting." Tsunade said breaking his thoughts. The salve lit up with green chakra as she applied it gently to his back. Sasuke grit his teeth and tried to ignore the pain. It was definitely not as intense as it had been a few days ago but it was certainly no walk in the park—even for him.
"What did you have to talk to me about?" He hissed as his skin reacted to the medication. The Hokage continued working on his back before wiping her hands off with a towel.
"On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst, what is your pain level?" She asked ignoring him. Sasuke stared at her for several seconds when he realized she wouldn't answer him until he complied with her bullshit medical routine.
"Six." He lied. More like eight. Tsunade pursed her lips and moved down to the backs of his legs which weren't nearly as bad as his back. With the same techniques as before, she removed the old bandages and applied the soothing salve.
"Now, because of the success of your mission and from the good things Hyuuga Hinata said of your progress down in the library, I am promoting you to Chuunin." Tsunade said. Sasuke was surprised at this but he didn't let it show.
"I don't have to participate in the exams?" He asked dryly before cringing with the stinging sensation of his skin. Tsunade shook her head as she walked back to wipe her hands one last time. She grabbed his clip board and flipped through the papers.
"No. This is more or less of me going off of the words of Hinata. I trust her." She looked over the top of the clipboard to study Sasuke's expression. Just as expected, it was blank.
Sasuke had been awake when Hinata entered his room the day before. Ignoring her was his forte and he recalled not caring about her emotions. Now knowing that she was basically the reason for his advancement, it made his stomach feel uneasy with a microscopic feeling of guilt. Those bricks he was trying to put back up were heavier than he thought.
"Good." Sasuke retorted. Tsunade crossed her arms at that reply but she wasn't surprised. With a small sigh, she sat down next to his bed.
"We've got word that Kabuto might be recuperating back in the Sound village, but nothing is for sure." Tsunade said her tone becoming lower. "Now that you are a Chuunin and I somewhat trust you, we can start getting you on missions… when you recover, of course."
Sasuke attempted to use his arms to lift himself off the bed. They were wobbly, but he managed to roll over onto his side. Locks of dark blue hair slipped into his eyes as he looked over at Tsunade, who was still reviewing his charts.
"He is after something to revive Orochimaru." Sasuke muttered, recalling the encounter between him and Kabuto. "He's looking for a scroll."
Tsunade let the papers attached to the clip board flatten and she brought it to a hug against her chest. She knew Orochimaru better than Sasuke did, unfortunately, so this wasn't news to her.
"Is this really Kabuto we're dealing with?" Her eyes stared at him as if challenging his memories. Sasuke allowed his muscles to stretch a bit in this new position and heaved a low sigh.
"When I was looking for Itachi a few years ago, I ran into someone who grew up with Kabuto." There was a dull glint in those dark eyes of his. "They are certain that he is under some kind of spell… everything he has done in the past ten years was completely uncharacteristic. I thought that maybe after Orochimaru's death it would disappear just like my curse mark."
"But it didn't." Tsunade finished his statement for him. She was intrigued by the information he was revealing. She only hoped that he was as trustworthy as Hinata led her to believe. They sat in silence as she thought about their next move.
"This scroll must be infused with a type of chakra only detected by certain Kekkei Genkai. The Byakugan is one of them." She thought aloud.
"The other is the Sharingan." He said. Those words sent goose bumps down her back but she didn't let him see her vulnerability. The only two people left with the Sharingan were Sasuke…and Kakashi. Just knowing what might happen if Kabuto got his hands on the Sharingan was slightly nauseating.
"Kabuto knows better—neither you nor Kakashi would cooperate and it would be too risky for him to attack." Tsunade said slowly. Sasuke's lack of response seemed to agree with her.
"The jutsu he used to keep 80% of his chakra at the western border will have him resting for a while. I think at this point it is in our best interest to recuperate ourselves and learn a bit more about what spell he might be under." If they could figure out a way to break the spell before Kabuto got to the scroll, then it would solve their problems.
Tsunade stood up from her chair and picked up the jar of ointment. She looked at it for a moment before tossing it to Sasuke, who caught it with a surprise.d look The Hokage smiled at him and then turned to exit the room.
"You're free to go. Keep your burns free of bandages so air can help it heal and apply that salve twice a day. If you need assistance to get it on your back, I'm sure Sakura would be more than happy to help." Normally, she would have kept anyone there another day or so, but he was anxious to leave. If he was smart, he would wait a little longer. His skin was still sensitive, but with the help of the salve and the healing chakra it was fast on track to being healed up within a week or so.
He watched her slide the door open and left him all to himself. Sasuke let his weight fall over onto his stomach and he heaved a somewhat satisfied sigh. He was ready to get back on track.
Within a month, Uchiha Sasuke was feeling 100% better. His burns had healed completely; although there was some scarring on his back, it didn't seem to bother him. It was a major setback having to spend his days stretching his muscles and doing light exercises instead of the normal work outs and training sessions he was accustomed to. Now that he didn't have to go to the library any longer, Sasuke took that month off to recover and regain his strength back.
Before Sasuke was old enough to enter the Academy, his mother had him participate in yoga-like stances to help build his core for the rigorous activities he would be doing. At the time, he thought it was humiliating and silly. Sasuke remembered trying to come up with excuses to get out of the sessions, but in the end it benefitted him. Anytime he was too injured to go through his normal routine, he would recall back to what his mother taught him.
Now that he was healed up, Sasuke finally decided to take up Naruto's offer and train alongside him. The first few times it was frustrating; Naruto had improved greatly since he had been up against him. It reminded Sasuke of when they were competing for bragging rights as young adults. Once Sasuke got back into the rhythm of everything, it was as if he hadn't suffered any injuries to begin with.
"Hey Sasuke!" Naruto gleefully called out as he landed on his feet. Twirling the kunai knife on his finger, he grinned before wiping his nose on his sleeve. Sasuke also landed a few feet away and tilted his head until a soft popping noise was heard.
The wind helped to blow back sweaty locks of hair as Sasuke caught his breath. Both men refused to let the other one up another so it made for a tough workout which he hadn't done in quite some time. Naruto's features flattened as he realized he was being ignored.
"Sasukeeeee." A small pout was forming on his lips. "Ramen!"
"No," grunted Sasuke before unsheathing his sword and pointing it at the jinchuriki. "Another round."
An intense growl erupted through the training grounds and Naruto rubbed his stomach embarrassingly. Sasuke gave his eyes a slight roll before turning away. Had the thought of alcohol not been on the brain, he would have continued his training alone.
Strangely enough, he hadn't had much chance to think about sake as he was recovering. His thoughts were constantly moving mainly to keep a certain person out his mind. Sasuke used to be impatient as a child always wanting to be ahead of the game. As a man, he understood that patience was a virtue and it took dedication to recover as quickly as he did. Tsunade had been pleased by his progress.
"Fine," said Sasuke as his sword slipped back into its holder behind him. Naruto grinned before flinging the kunai at a target on the tree.
"Alright!" The day had whittled away to the evening time; they had spent several hours practicing their close combat on each other. Naruto was risking his life by sneaking out of the Hokage building without telling Tsunade but she was aware—as long as it was keeping the peace with the Uchiha and he was getting his work done, she didn't seem to mind.
Their steps weren't in synch as they walked down the streets of the village; Naruto was quick paced and full of energy while Sasuke was more consistent with patience. There was a feeling of content throughout his days however there was also a void in his life. That feeling wasn't anything new and he often blamed his loneliness on the absence of his family.
"Sooo, what's it like to be a Chuunin now?" Naruto asked with a slight sarcastic tone. Sasuke shrugged his shoulders without a care.
"I'm just waiting for Tsunade to assign me a mission." His voice was cool and smooth.
"Oh yeah. Don't have to be cooped up in the basement anymore, huh?" Naruto said thoughtfully, and then crossed his arms behind his head. "How's Hinata? Guess I haven't seen her much lately."
"I wouldn't know." It was a truthful statement. He wasn't around her any longer and didn't plan to be in the future. There was work to be done. Although he would never admit that he had visited the library a few weeks ago. Sasuke was curious on the spell that Kabuto might be under and he remembered seeing several documents over that subject. Hinata wasn't down there—someone else was. He didn't bother asking if he could check out the books nor did he question where she was. There was a slight feeling of curiosity as to Hinata's whereabouts but Sasuke forced himself not to think any further of it.
"The Old Lady has been busy lately. She's had several ANBU head up to the Village of the Hidden Sound." Naruto's voice had gotten somewhat serious as they walked.
"And?"
"Not a single trace." Naruto responded glumly. "I keep tellin' her to send me up there. I bet I could find the sonuvabitch!"
"Kabuto is in hiding. Not even the ANBU can track him." This was a conversation that was hushed, but it didn't seem to matter as Naruto's attention was fixated on the ramen stand in sight. He rubbed his hands together and increased his pace.
"The only thing on my mind is a nice steamy bowl of ramen!" He declared before plopping down at a seat. "Oyyy! The usual, please!"
Sasuke's upper lip curled in slight disgust at Naruto's love for ramen. He had been to his apartment once before—nothing but packaged noodles. The same could be said for Sasuke's attachment to the bottle of sake that was set before him at the booth. It could also be a problem but for now, he sipped away on the sweet alcohol while Naruto slurped his ramen.
It didn't take long for the affects to kick in but Sasuke was always good at keeping it hidden. It was an amazing feeling as it radiated through his body relaxing his aching muscles and soothing the slight pounding in his head.
Naruto yawned obnoxiously and pushed the empty bowl forward. The food and heavy training that day might be sending him to bed earlier than usual.
"Alright I'm outta here!" Naruto reached into his pocket for his old and tattered frog billfold to produce some cash. Sasuke eyed him as he swallowed the last bit of his sake.
"It's early." Even though the blonde haired man annoyed the piss out of him, it was nice to have company while he drank. Sasuke wouldn't ever admit it but their friendship had been rekindled. Naruto stood up and stretched.
"Nyeh, I know. I told Sakura-chan I would stop by on my way home." He said then sniffed groggily. Sasuke's eyebrow raised ever so slightly at that statement then looked away in disinterest. Naruto crossed his arms just waiting for Sasuke to probe further. Sasuke didn't. Instead he also threw some money on the counter and stood up to leave.
"H-Hey! I mean, we're kind of dating y'know!" Naruto stammered as Sasuke promptly walked away. He wasn't interested in love stories, especially the ones that involved those two idiots. It had been pretty obvious from the start that Sakura would eventually get over her crush for Sasuke and move onto the next best thing—Naruto.
Love was too much work. It required effort on both ends and he didn't have the time to mess with it. Even with all the patience Sasuke learned to build up, a relationship was too finicky. In Naruto's case, instead of going home and going to bed, he would have to go over to Sakura's apartment to listen to her stories of the day. Sasuke groaned lightly to himself just at the thought of listening to her bitch and moan.
With pink cheeks, Sasuke walked slowly throughout the darkening village. He didn't want to go home yet—no, no. He was still craving that sweet alcohol that made everything feel nice. The night was young and the same bar he almost destroyed those few months ago just so happened to be open to his left.
No one seemed to recognize him as he pushed the entrance door open. In fact, it was rather crowded, which was perfect. He could find himself an empty corner to sip and enjoy without having anyone question him. As he made his way through the bar a familiar voice caught his attention.
"I hate crowds," groaned a wary Shikamaru who sat at a table. Kiba swallowed his sake and shrugged his shoulders.
"It's my damn birthday. Stop complaining." He said with a playful grin. Sasuke slowly sat down at a table across the room and was able to recognize everyone. Inuzuka Kiba, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji and… Hyuuga Hinata. His eyes locked on to her subconsciously. Not much had changed about her that he could see; her long hair was still in a braid that sat lazily on her shoulder and she still fidgeted uncomfortably. It was just like the first time he saw her back in this bar—she looked and must have felt out of place.
"Hinata! Here, try this." Kiba said as he leaned over to hand her a saucer cup of sake. Hinata hesitated before smiling politely.
"O-Oh, no that's okay, really—"
"Ahhh c'mon!"
"It's very sweet." Chouji pointed out as he sniffed his own cup before taking a sip. Shikamaru leaned back lazily in his chair and heaved a heavy sigh. He wasn't one that liked to lose his sharpness through alcohol or cigarettes. Besides, Shikamaru figured he had gotten enough second hand smoke from the late Asuma. Kiba raised his eyebrowss at her as he awaited a response.
"I'm fine, really." She assured him again. Kiba shrugged and downed the sake himself. His cheeks were pink even though it was hard to tell with the tribal red tattoos.
Hinata really wasn't the type of person that enjoyed the bar scene, but it was for Kiba's birthday so agreed only on that reason. She silently wished that Shino had come along to keep Kiba under control, but he wasn't a drinker and disliked crowds.
As if a cold breeze had blasted past her, she brought her hands up to rub her arms. There was a nostalgic feeling that overtook her suddenly and Hinata got the feeling someone was watching her. Like a moth to a lantern, her gaze met with Uchiha Sasuke's who sat across the room. His expression was hard to read but he was sipping away just like everyone else in the bar.
His glare was icy. Hinata finally pulled her eyes away from him and tried to concentrate on the loud debate between Kiba and Chouji about who could out eat one another who. Hinata folded her hands in front of her on the table and frowned. She wasn't going to let Sasuke make her squirm… she was better than that. She stood up suddenly which silenced both Chouji and Kiba.
"Hinata?" Kiba watched her brush her shirt off and walk through the crowd of people all the way to Sasuke's table. Hinata felt as if her heart could beat out of her chest at any minute and for a split second she thought about just turning around and leaving. She wasn't a confrontational person, but there was something she had been meaning to give him for a while. Sasuke sat hunched over his cup and ignored her as she approached his table.
He was very drunk, but it wasn't being shown in his mannerisms. If anyone could be a professional drunk then he might just be that. Hinata didn't expect him to acknowledge her so she figured she would make it quick. Reaching into the pack on her thigh, she pulled out something and then set it in front of him.
Sasuke downed the rest of the liquid in his cup before paying it any attention. Much to his surprise, it was a photograph of his family. His eyebrows furrowed and he picked it up almost angrily. How did she get this!? It was a confusing situation because he had never seen the photograph before in his life. Sasuke's fingertips glided over his parents before stopping on himself. He was young; maybe three years old and he was smiling. Something inside his brain clicked as he studied it further… He remembered taking this picture after romping around in the forest. Sasuke could even see his skinned knees from when he had fallen.
A memory flashed in his mind of fighting back tears as he leaped through the trees. Something had upset him... something that had to do with an old friend. He looked up to interrogate her, but she was already gone. Sasuke looked around seeing that Hinata had left entirely. He stood up quickly with a surge of anger pumping through his veins. Sasuke didn't know why he was angry. Maybe it was because he was drunk or it was because she had a piece of his life tucked away in her pocket without even saying a damn word to him.
Sasuke shoved people out of his way and then burst out of the bar to see Hinata walking down the street. Gritting his teeth, he reached into his pack to grab a kunai. Sasuke ran and jumped to throw it at her. He expected her to dodge it or squeak with fear, but much to his surprise she was quick to deflect his kunai with two chakra infused shuriken.
He glared at her hiding his astonishment on how fast she was to counterattack. Sasuke frowned and grabbed another kunai in his pack and charged at her in the empty street. Hinata jumped back and quickly grabbed her own kunai before his blade could reach her. The alcohol in his system made it hard to be as swift as he normally was as she was meeting every blow and even pushing him backwards a bit.
The sake wouldn't completely take away his keen eye. Sasuke was able to dodge her kunai and reach around to grab her wrist holding the weapon. He twisted it enough that her legs buckled and she fell to the ground. Sasuke threw his kunai down and within seconds the blade of his sword was pointed at her.
"Where did you get this?" Sasuke's voice was slightly wary as his stomach was beginning to feel a bit nauseous from the sudden activity. Hinata rubbed her wrist and her head remained lowered. She was quiet for a moment considering her options. There was no need to fight him.
"I won't ask again." He growled.
"I-It was in a book." Her voice was quiet. Sasuke's glare didn't falter but it peeked his curiosity.
"What book?"
"It was… a book on the history of the Uchiha clan." Hinata dared to look up at the blade that was just inches from her head, but her lavender eyes focused directly in his own dark eyes. Sasuke could only stare at her as he began to feel dizzy and nauseous.
"Sasuke-kun… our clans fought for many years." She whispered. He thought back to the hit that was put on the Hyuuga leader and his daughter. Sasuke could easily take her out right then and there. It would at least be something he could do for his fallen clan. But it wouldn't justify a damn thing. He wondered what her father would do if she had died. Would he even care? Sasuke knew that her father and his father were similar—they just wanted to be the best which in turn meant so did their children.
He put his sword back in his sheath behind him and stumbled forward. Sasuke fell to his knees and promptly threw up next to her. Hinata frowned and crawled over to his side. She gently patted his back but he pushed her away. They sat in silence for a few seconds while he caught his breath.
"I never got the chance to thank you." She whispered. Sasuke ignored her and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. Hinata wouldn't admit it but she had missed Sasuke in that month away from him. She couldn't explain it to herself. There was a reason why Hinata would miss Naruto—because she admired him. She even knew why she would miss Shino because he was her team mate and had been for ten years. But Hinata didn't know why she missed Sasuke—he was mean, distant and unpredictable.
"You weren't at the library." He suddenly said. The tone of that statement was strangely low compared to his usual monotone growls. Sasuke was incredibly drunk; the voice in his head wasn't around to tell him no. It wasn't there to tell him to keep building that wall. Hinata glanced over at him and then stared down at her hands in her lap.
"Tsunade-sama let me take some time off." Sasuke tried to stand up but only fell back down to his knees. Hinata nudged herself under his arm pit to help him up. She would have done it for anyone—Kiba, Naruto and yes even the Uchiha.
"Get off." He muttered angrily, but made no attempt to push her off this time. Hinata was able to get him to his feet and he could hardly function even with her help. After not having alcohol for such a long time made it more effective and it seemed to hit him like a ton of bricks. Everything was blurry and as Hinata led him back towards the direction of his loft, she could hear him muttering strange things that she associated with his family.
It was something that was oddly overlooked about Sasuke, but it was also something he was known for. His family was brutally murdered by his own flesh and blood, but no one ever considered his own personal feelings on it. He was constantly a blank slate void of any expression other than the occasional irritable glare.
Hinata found it difficult to basically carry his dead weight as he was damn near passed out, but she could see the light at the end of the tunnel as his loft finally came into view. The entire way there she thought that maybe this would make up for him protecting her all the time. She recalled pleading with Tsunade to promote him to Jounin because he was clearly at that level if not better. Much to her dismay, he was only given the Chuunin rank, but it was better than nothing.
"S-Sasuke-kun…" Hinata managed to whisper through the strain of holding him up. His eyebrows furrowed a bit and a low groan escaped his lips. She heaved a small sigh and hoisted him up to enter the door to his loft. It was incredibly dark in the living area and Sasuke's limp body wasn't helping.
"Sasuke-kun… wake up." She murmured and he stirred enough to support his own weight again.
"What are you doing?" He slurred and resisted against her. She let go and he stumbled back to his knees. Hinata couldn't see where he had fallen because of the darkness so she stood there unsure of what to do. She never really dealt with someone this intoxicated. She knelt down and fumbled around until she was able to sit next to him.
"You could have been killed." He said bitterly while holding himself up with the palms of his hands. Hinata's frown couldn't be seen, but she knew that even Uchiha Sasuke had been disappointed in her that day they fought Kabuto.
"I-I know," said Hinata quietly. Sasuke sat up a bit and looked over in her direction.
"No. We could have killed you." His words weren't making sense and Hinata just figured that he was making things up in his drunken state. Hinata reached out to help him up to feet, but he shoved her away. Any other person would have thrown their hands up in the air and left him to sleep on the floor. Hinata was motherly by nature and would feel more at ease if he was at least in bed.
"Sasuke-kun," she said. "Don't you have to be up early to meet Naruto-kun for training?" Sasuke shrugged his shoulders and tried to get up. Hinata was there to awkwardly help him get to his feet. He had stopped pushing her away as exhaustion overcame his body. Sasuke just wanted to get to sleep. There were too many 'things' squirming around in his brain from the death of his clan, to the constant battle of his conscious and the lust arising from the woman who was helping him into his bedroom.
Between the darkness and the drunken Sasuke, Hinata felt the bed up against her knee sooner than she expected. The weight distribution was thrown off by this and they both tumbled onto the unmade bed. A horrific feeling arose in her stomach as she realized the outcome of this situation and she scrambled to get back to her feet. Sasuke reached out and grabbed her wrist to keep her there.
"Don't." He growled and forcefully pulled her close to him. This time it was Hinata to resist against him.
"N-No… Sasuke-kun." She squeaked into his chest, but his arms were stronger than her. Her cheeks were warm and the entire thing was causing a panic inside her mind. After a few seconds, which felt like an eternity, she stopped resisting. That familiar scent she recalled smelling on him entered her nose and it somewhat calmed her. Sasuke's cheek rested on the top of her head and his grip tightened.
This reminded her of when Kiba pulled her into a hug a few weeks prior. It felt wrong to be in his arms; he was just a good friend and a comrade. She didn't want to cross those lines because of her feelings for Naruto. It was strangely comfortable being within Sasuke's grasp and it didn't feel...wrong.
Sasuke was still somewhat conscious but his mind was spinning. The urge to kiss her came up, but he knew she wasn't just some girl. She wasn't the type of girl to just sleep around… in fact Hinata was probably still a virgin. His own cheeks got hot just thinking about it. She was innocent… too innocent. Even though he noticed a slight increase in her confidence, she would never be the type of girl he would want to sleep with.
The alcohol had done terrifying things. It temporarily tore down those walls he built up. He knew those walls were interchangeable. They hid the old Sasuke, the little boy he used to be. They kept him from living a normal life and keeping good relationships with people. Even with the time and distance apart from the woman in his arms, her soft touch always seemed to soothe that rocky surface he showed.
Sasuke knew that in the morning the walls would be back up. The loneliness would be swept under the rug. He would return to pushing people away. He would be the lone Uchiha with little to nothing left. But at this point in time, he didn't want to listen to that voice in his head. The alcohol, the years of holding himself up, and the pure sadness he never addressed were taking a toll on the man.
"Sasuke-kun." Her voice was muffled into his chest. He stirred gently but his grip on her remained.
"Nn." He was trying to concentrate on passing out and not the rampant feelings and the lustful thoughts.
"I-I should probably go." He was quiet and didn't move for such a long time that Hinata wondered if he had fallen asleep. Sasuke finally released her and she rolled onto her back before sitting up. He crawled up to the top of the bed to let his head rest on the pillow and he didn't say anything more.
Hinata let her hands rest on her pink and warm cheeks as she tried to collect herself. His warmth and touch left a strange void feeling in her and she glanced back at the outline of his body next to her. If she wasn't so shy, she would have curled up next to him and given in to her own sleepiness, but Hinata was scared of her own feelings. She quickly got up and found her way back to the front door of his loft. With the door shut behind her, Hinata leaned up against it and breathed a sigh. It wasn't a sigh of relief but more of a frustrated sigh.
This was challenging her feelings on the blonde haired man in her dreams. Hinata wasn't prepared to tell herself that she might be falling for the Uchiha. It seemed silly but there was a voice in the back of her mind that wasn't laughing. As Hinata walked home, she began to address her feelings towards Sasuke even further. They were muddled and not very clear but there was something there. There was always something there ever since they met as young children. She had never thought much of it before but maybe that was why she missed him so much. There wasn't a day that passed she didn't think of him. In a weak and girlish moment, Hinata wondered if he had thought of her too. That thought was dismissed, however, as she continued home.