A/N: Woot! over 100 reviews, that was my goal for the entire story when I posted it. I'm so happy! THANKS EVERYONE! So as promised here is chapter 11 but before you start reading, if you found last chapter confusing I will take a moment to explain.

As I mentioned, the theme of chap.10 was denial. It wasn't that none of their relationship happened because it really did, it's just that since no one knew about it, they found denying it as the best way to cope. They went on with their lives like they didn't know eachother. The scene where Sasuke comes through her window is essentially him saying farewell, it did happen and wasn't just a dream. Just picture it like he went to see Hinata first and then on his way out he encounters Sakura like in the anime. Then about the whole dreaming thing... well... it's open to intepretation I guess... maybe not... I'm not sure. She was kind of re-living her time with Sasuke while unconscious, but when she referred to a nightmare she was referring to the night Sasuke left. I wrote it like that because my sister said I needed a proper way to close the gap between past and present, so when Hinata fainted I took advantage of it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

CHAPTER 11: Time to Move On

Hinata's thoughts were clouded by a blanket of feelings she couldn't quite comprehend. Unfamiliar sensations had swept over her body, feelings of sadness, despair, and anguish. She had only ever felt this way twice in her life; once was when she had ended her friendship with Sasuke and the other was the night he betrayed Konoha. She found it odd though, seeing Sasuke those few days ago in battle sparked different emotions within her, that day she was overwhelmed with anger, disgust, and sympathy for the man he had become. A small part of her wondered if it was her fault he had turned out the way he did.

She had to remind herself that although he had grown to be more detached than he was when she met him, he still didn't harm her, maybe there's some hope for him. It was well known that Konoha's last Uchiha was a traitor and many villagers had adopted the view that he would remain that way, he was a lost cause. Only a select few still had hope that he would accomplish his personal missions and one day return. Those few held the hope that his loyalties still belonged to Konoha, she wouldn't openly admit it but she was one of those few.

Unable to stay in bed any longer, Hinata pulled off her blanket and landed her feet firmly on the floor. She gracefully walked over to her dresser and pulled the top drawer open and rummaged through the neatly folded items for a change of clothes for her morning shower. Retrieving the necessary articles, she placed it on her bed and closed the drawer.

After some careful contemplation, she pulled open the second drawer and ran her hand under one of the piles until she made contact with a hard object. A smile appeared, accentuating her soft delicate features. She pulled it out and ran her soft slender fingers across the cover of the photo album; she had woken up suddenly feeling nostalgic, but her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door. Quickly, she shoved the album underneath her pillow then grabbing the spare change of clothes she hastily opened the door to meet the gaze of her cousin.

"I see you're awake" his face although apathetic still felt warm and comforting.

"Yea, good morning Neji!" she greeted him cheerfully.

"Yea, good morning…" he mumbled; it was clear he hadn't come to greet her "about that teammate of yours umm…"

"Kiba?"

"Yea, him…" Neji expression remained calm and stoic, "did he try anything? Cause if he did, I swear I'll-"

"NO!" she cut him off, "n-no, Kiba would never… errr… he wouldn't hurt me."

"You're too naïve sometimes Hinata"

"Huh? Naïve?" her eyes blinked in confusion, "about what?"

"See, that's exactly what I mean" he yawned then turned to walk away, "I know how guys look at you, just don't be so foolish Hinata. I'm going back to bed, stayed up nearly the whole night cause that stupid dog boy wouldn't leave until you woke up…" he let out a stream of colorful words as he made his way to his bedroom in the branch house.

Hinata continued to blink as she watched her cousin's receding figure, how guys look at me? She felt a warm blush rise to her face before she was snapped back to reality by the voice of her younger sister.

"You want the shower or can I take it first?" Hanabi looked as uninterested in her older sister as she always did, but over the years Hanabi had also grown to respect Hinata and occasionally even asked Hinata to train with her, their relationship could be considered 'sisterly'.

"Y-yea, I want the shower"

"Ok, I'll go take the one on the other side" of course the Hyuuga mansion had multiple washrooms; it was just bothersome to look for one that was free in the early mornings.

After a long shower where all her worries were washed away down the drain, she made her way back to her room feeling refreshed and full of energy. She decided to make her bed before going out for training that day, most Hyuuga left their unmade beds to the servants but Hinata always felt better when she was one less bed they would need to fret over.

She fluffed her pillow diligently before placing it down remembering the album she had shoved under it earlier. She picked it up and took a seat on the edge of her bed. She couldn't help but smile at the happy memories all the pictures elicited; pages and pages of her with team eight. There were even a few family pictures with Hanabi and their father, and then there was the one picture with Hanabi's slender arms rung around Neji's neck while he tried to pull her off, Hinata sat close by laughing hysterically at her sister's antics. The three of them really looked like siblings and it was an accurate portrayal of their relationship.

She continued to flip through the numerous pictures, stopping to admire the few she had with Naruto, and those pictures always had someone else in them, usually Sakura, and he always stood much closer to her. Hinata sighed and continued to reminisce as she neared the end of the album. Once she had reached the end, she closed it slowly and got up to put it away but a sudden flash of her dreams from the previous night stopped her dead in her tracks.

Her gaze returned to the album and she sat back down, pulling the back cover open. She tentatively slipped two fingers into the sleeve of the cover and pulled out two pictures she had hidden away. The first picture was one Sasuke had taken of the two of them; his left arm visible on the edge and it was slightly askew where she was nearly cut out. The second photo was one she had taken while he was stuffing his face with a rice ball she had made.

The feelings she had woken with suddenly rushed back and she felt an urge to weep. She could vividly remember the night Sasuke had come to her room and confessed his abhorrence. She could still see his blood red eyes glaring at her and she could still feel the floor beneath her as she cried herself to sleep. Hinata had not completely grasped the true meanings of his words until the next morning when she had been eating breakfast with her family. That morning she received news of Uchiha Sasuke's betrayal.

Her father had been the one to break the news and when he did, he made sure Hinata had heard him. It was like he was proving a point, confirming the notion he was right about the Uchiha all along and she was a fool to ever think anything good of him.

That night was the night Sasuke cut the strings that linked him to Konoha and when he came through her window, it was to say farewell. He cleanly broke off from Hinata with his hateful words, making sure that they would hate each other eternally. She chose to comply and moved on without thinking of him… until now that is. All her affections towards Sasuke were transferred to Naruto who she now believed she loved.

The four entered the lair where the hidden sound village once existed; the tension was thick in the air. They each made their way to their respective quarters, neither one breaking the silence.

Sasuke turned the knob to his room and pushed the door open. He walked over to his bed, placing his sword on the table before lying down. Once his head hit the pillow, he allowed his thoughts to run freely. He had just killed Itachi, what is there left for him to do now?

There was only the revival of his clan left and he did not really know how to go about that. There's Karin, but she's obnoxious and annoying. Then an image of the battle he had with Naruto and Sakura entered his mind. Hinata, he thought, why couldn't I kill her? Actual, I don't kill people to begin with unless they deserve it but I couldn't even hurt her! He let out a frustrated sigh. Suppressing feelings and emotions were his expertise but understanding them was a whole other story.

He felt a slight pang in his heart when tears streamed down her pale face and then the pang intensified when he realized her devotion to Naruto, her will to do anything in her power to save his life even if it meant losing her own. Just then his thoughts were disrupted by a knock on his door and in walked a red headed woman with glasses.

"What do you want Karin?" Sasuke asked with his ever prominent scowl.

Karin did not look happy; she looked like she was on the verge of lashing out at him. "What was that back there?! Why didn't you kill that girl?"

"Why does it matter to you?" he asked coldly.

"Because it'd be easier to get rid of her now and then we won't have to worry about her in the future!"

"She's nothing to worry about Karin, she's weak and she won't cause us trouble" he continued to apathetically stare at the ceiling over his bed.

"Sasuke, tell me what that girl is to you!"

"What do you mean?"

"She's clearly not just any girl, you look at her differently" Karin seethed, "you don't even look at me like that!"

"I don't know what you're talking, she's just another stupid, weak, and annoying girl" Sasuke stated, evidently frustrated at where the conversation had progressed.

"But-" she was cut off by a loud crash coming from somewhere within the lair.

"Great, what is it now…" Sasuke grabbed his sword and left the room.

The two walked through the halls towards the sounds. In the middle of the lair was a partially transformed Juugo and an unnaturally buff looking Suigetsu.

Suigetsu swung his merciless sword at Juugo who ducked and managed to kick out Suigetsu legs beneath. Juugo then proceeded to punch Suigetsu in the face once he had fallen to the ground. Suigetsu's face splattered into water as Juugo's fist collided with it. Rematerializing a few seconds later, Suigetsu kicked Juugo off.

"Ha! Is that the best you got?" Suigetsu asked mockingly.

"You're strong! I'll have fun killing you!" Juugo cackled.

"Kill me? I'd like to see you try!"

They both charged at each other, Suigetsu wielding Momochi Zabuza's sword high above his head ready to bring it down while Juugo's transformed arm hung high, ready to block the shot.

"If they keep this up the place is going to collapse!" Karin shouted worriedly, but I hope they kill each other then it'd just be me and Sasuke, she thought inwardly.

"You two stop that now" Sasuke commanded, moving to stand between them "if you continue I will have to kill you."

They both stopped and stepped away, Juugo's curse markings receded and his transformed arm returned back to normal.

"Shit Sasuke, that's some intense murderous intent, you really were going to kill us huh?" Suigetsu laughed nervously.

"Hm. Sorry Suigetsu, I didn't mean to harm you" Juugo apologized for his sudden rampage.

"Nothing to apologize for, you didn't even mark me" Suigetsu grinned, "anyway, I was thinking Sasuke since you've killed Itachi and I've got Kisame's sword, what's left for Hebi?"

"If what you're asking is to leave, you're free to go" Sasuke stated walking away from the two combatants.

"Sweet, I gotta get the other swords" Suigetsu said happily, grabbing a water bottle off the floor and taking slurps of it, "I'll be going then! It's been swell, we should do it again sometime" he walked down the long clay hallways, chuckling with every step.

"You two are free to leave as well if that is what you wish" Sasuke referred to the remaining members of Hebi.

"I can't leave your side, I can't control myself" Juugo stated downtrodden.

"Karin, the enzyme that causes the curse seal transformation, can you somehow isolate and eliminate it?" Sasuke asked the now stunned red head.

"What? Why would you want me to cure him?" she was shocked at the sudden compassion exhibited by the Uchiha.

"He came to Orochimaru for a cure and he deserves that" Sasuke turned his gaze away from Juugo to look attentively at Karin, "can you cure him?"

"ahh… y-yea, I just need some time, a couple weeks probably if you can wait Juugo"

"I've waited years, a couple more weeks will be nothing" he said before retreating to his room, "Thank you Sasuke."

"I guess I'll get to work on that cure" Karin sighed and trudged off in the opposite direction, the sooner I get the cure done, the sooner I get to be alone with Sasuke.

A/N: This was a transitional chapter so not a whole lot happened. It starts off where chapter 4 left off for Hinata and for Sasuke it continues off chapter 1, so they're both 16 again. Just a little insight into the fic; there will be a total of three story arcs. The first arc ended with chapter 10 and this chapter starts the second arc. In regards to my pre-written chapters, I'm almost finished writing the second arc.

Since it gets pretty anti-climatic for now, I'll go to posting weekly because if I run out of pre-written chapters then writing will become like a chore for me. I enjoy writing when I feel motivated but at the same time I want to keep chapters coming out at regular intervals. Expect chapter 12 in a week or so, it's titled: Paths Run Parallel.

Oh and I got rid of Suigetsu... I know most people like him and most Hebi related stories favour him over Juugo but this fic favours Juugo, he plays an important role.

Anyway, enough of my blabbering! I hope you enjoyed, please review!