A voice inside the letter

A stranger at the door, no one knows them better

In darkness comes a storm

You can run all your life, they will follow

Sasuke failed to suppress his groan of irritation as Karin once again asked if they could stop. In all fairness he hadn't consented to her requests and she was getting fed up with his insistence that they continue on, regardless of their lack of sleep.

She frowned at his abrasive behavior. "Sasuke, you're tired. We're tired. Can't we just rest for a few hours?" Suigetsu stretched his neck as if to agree. "We've been going almost nonstop since we left and all we're asking-"

"The faster we get there, the faster we can get home," Sasuke rudely interrupted. They both scowled at him but grumbled under their breath as they dashed onward. He sighed and followed them. Truthfully there were times that he wished they acted like before, following his commands without question. But he also didn't want to lose any of their loyalty or friendships due to his selfishness.

They were a day or so away from getting to their destination and Sasuke figured they could rest for a few days in Aguni while he searched for the right home. Once they arrived at the village's inn, his comrades collapsed on the beds. Sasuke tried to fight his fatigue but eventually succumbed to it and plopped beside Suigetsu before he could hog up the whole bed.

The next day, Sasuke scouted the town on his own while the two enjoyed the sights the fishing town had to offer. He graciously gave Karin, who he had more faith in, money so they could enjoy themselves. They were surprised how effective he was with hunting for the right home. Sasuke had presented them with three choices on the first day and stunned them further by asking for their opinion.

"The one on the beach," Suigetsu mumbled with a mouth full of food. "Sunshine and the little demon will love it."

Refraining from smacking him for the not- so endearing nicknames he gave them, Sasuke turned to a baffled Karin. "Well?"

She pushed her glasses up and blinked. "Um...I don't know. I mean why do you care what we think? You should go with your instinct."

"I did," Sasuke replied. "These three were the best ones I found and need your help picking one. This isn't just for me but for all of us. You guys deserve a home, too. I'm getting one for us and another for you guys. Where would you like to live? And where do you think we should be?"

Her eyes widened and she started to look closer at the photos.

"W-wait! I want the beach house then!" Suigetsu spluttered. "There are too many people that visit the beach, and you need to be secluded from a big crowd."

Karin scrunched her mouth but agreed. "Without seeing it with my own eyes, I think this one is nice and the distance from the center of town is something Hinata will like," She pointed to one photo. "And the one for us...even though you don't have to, I like the one closest to the beach. We'll have you guys over a lot so they'll still enjoy the beach but can still retreat to a safer place."

Sasuke collected the papers and nodded. "Then it's settled. I'll start the process tomorrow and we'll spend a few days at your home so you can sort of get settled in." He rose from his chair, turning his back to them. "And I hope you two and Juugo know how much I appreciate you doing this. It's a small token of my gratitude but I'm glad to have placed my trust in you."

He left them speechless.

.

.

Suigetsu's eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful beach and ran to the water with open arms. "I'm never leaving this place!"

Karin chuckled at his childlike behavior before glancing at Sasuke. The sunset had cast a light on his dark features, making him look softer than usual. "How much did buying the house cost you?"

"Money doesn't matter. Besides, this was good choice. I still have to look over a few documents but Hinata's home should be ready for them soon. The privacy from the rest of the town is perfect and nothing about it really draws any attention," he replied. There was a small smile on his face as he watched the waves. "I hope she likes it. There's this extra room that I want to convert into her personal space. It faces the garden and has a door that leads out-"

Karin stifled a giggle at how excited he was, this was the most excited he had been the entire trip. He frowned and tensed his jaw, not liking being laughed at. "I'm sorry. It's just...kind of cute how much in love you are with her." There was still a bittersweet feeling when she thought of them. Karin had idolized Sasuke and hoped that she could be the one to make him smile. But she couldn't bring herself to hate Hinata, not after getting to know her and seeing how much she had changed him for the better.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and began to walk back. This was not the conversation he wanted to have right now, at least not with her. Karin tugged on his sleeve, causing him to shrug her off. While she had backed off with any claims of love after the war, he felt a stronger urge to draw the line. There was no potential for a relationship between him and Karin, or Sakura. The only person he saw was Hinata and he couldn't risk the opportunity that had opened up. "I'll be at the other house for a bit. I want to check somethings out. I'll see you two for dinner later."

Thinking it was better to leave him alone, she sat down and idly drew spirals on the sand. I feel sorry for you. Even though they're your own feelings, you can't express them easily.

Sasuke took the short walk to the large house that was now his and Hinata's. It was unbelievable but knowing what they now shared, this empty building felt more of a home than the barren Uchiha district back in Konoha; this was going to be a completely fresh start for his family.

He closed the door behind him, he walked to the spare room he wanted Hinata to make her own. It didn't have any furniture in it but there was potential for many uses. Was she an artist? If so, he'd watch her as she painted. Did she like to read in her spare time? He'd buy her all the books she wanted. There was still so much he had to learn about her that he couldn't wait to find out. The only things he knew so far had been enough to draw him in but the way she made him feel sealed his unwavering devotion.

Yet it was terrifying to admit it out loud to anyone without fully coming to grips with it himself.

To Sasuke, admitting to be in love meant a lifelong commitment. As an Uchiha, he grew up believing it was all or nothing. His father, as estranged as he was with him, had never hidden his devotion to his mother. Mikoto was the only person who could make the mighty Fugaku bow to her will. Everyone in his clan had been the same, loving whole heartedly and without question. It was probably their blind devotion to the clan that was their undoing even if Sasuke thought things could've been solved differently. Itachi had managed to see past any allegiance to the clan but his love for his brother had also been his undoing. Love had managed to bring so much pain, Sasuke was scared what it held in store for him.

He couldn't be like Naruto who had claimed to be in love with Sakura only to see her as a sister later on. Or be like Sakura who still held out hope he would one day return her affections, missing out on any other prospects such as the kind hearted Lee. People tossed the word so freely that he hadn't known what it meant or felt like; it was why he was so stubborn to admit that he loved Hinata; because once it was out there, it would be irreversible. There would be no taking it back, not that he ever saw himself wanting to, but more importantly there would be no hiding it from anyone who wanted to find a way to harm him.

The feeling of self-preservation was something he struggled to shake off the more time he spent with Kouto and Hinata. The last remnant of his innocence was his heart. Not in the same sense as childhood wonder or naivety, but in regards to experience with being vulnerable. Sasuke had always sheltered himself from emotions that didn't resemble anger or sadness. Yet even then he used them as fuel to get stronger. It scared him to give his heart but gifting it to Hinata didn't rattle him as much as he thought. There were many unknowns ahead but he couldn't see it shattering while in her possession.

His hands trailed the windowsill, feeling the smooth texture, and rested his forehead on the cool glass. Sasuke wanted them here already, settling in their new home. The distance was slightly longer than his trips to Konoha but the sense of longing was stronger now that he had something exciting and new to explore.

Sasuke didn't like leaving Hinata without there being a clear understanding of what he meant. Not only did he think it was cruel to leave her in the dark but now that he was coming to terms with it, Sasuke hated leaving her behind without securing their relationship. What if Ryuu did something that made her second guess Sasuke's worth? Or what if she liked how easily Kouto latched on to Juugo? His eyes were now aware of everyone who could catch her eye. All it took was one moment to slip up and he couldn't have that. Not now.

Hinata was everything he needed; kind, gentle, supporting, funny and strong willed. Sasuke now understood how love could make you weak to their whims. His mother tamed his father and Hinata was doing the same to him. Yet the more he thought about it, the less frightened he became. Maybe it was time to tear down his walls and welcome the warmth and light that was Hinata.

The only thing he could hope for was that they could be left in peace; Sasuke didn't want them to see the man everyone feared. Kouto and Hinata were his priority and they had brought a sense of tranquility to his once chaotic mind. The closer he had become with them, the farther his past seemed.

And he wanted to keep it that way.

.

.

.

They had entered the Land of Earth, struggling to get through the rocky mountain range. Neji questioned how any insects could live in this environment but there were many things he didn't understand about the Aburame or the bugs they cultivated. But he knew understood more than anyone that each clan had their own secrets.

"How much further do we have to go?" Neji asked Shino as he analyzed the small colony of insects. He used his Byakugan to see if he could sense the Uchiha but there was no sign of him. The Hyuuga began to question the Aburame's effectiveness. The path they had taken hadn't lead through any major villages, signaling that Sasuke was trying to avoid being seen but that could easily be chalked up to him not wanting to draw attention because of his exploits before the war. If he had a resume that even resembled his, Neji wouldn't want to be seen either. He turned to look at Kiba and Akamaru, both of them struggling to find a distinct smell. "Tch. Useless…"

The canine handler snarled at him. "No one said you had to come along, asshole. Me and Shino can do this by ourselves."

"Tell me, Kiba. Have you picked up on his scent yet? I thought that was your only useful skill yet you can't even do that. I might as well have asked Kakashi for one of his hounds instead," Neji scoffed. "At least they'd know when to speak."

Just as Kiba was going to lunge at the stoic Neji, Shino stood up and dashed forward. Both men glared at each other but followed close behind. He said nothing but the speed he was going at signaled how urgent it was.

Shino had noticed the difference in size between this colony and the previous ones before they entered this country. Time was of the essence if the population was any indication and he hoped that Kiba would be able to pick up any scent that would led them to the Uchiha and apparently two companions.

They had said he was traveling with a male and female. Shino had kept this information secret since the description of the woman didn't sound like Hinata and he knew Sasuke had acquaintances from his time away. But the feeling that the Uchiha was hiding something intensified.

.

.

Hinata finished her shower and patted her hair dry with a towel. Juugo had taken Kouto out for a day at the park leaving her alone. There was nothing for her to do since Juugo had taken care of the chores and dinner wouldn't need to be prepared for a few hours. Taking advantage of the opportunity, she decided to meditate; it had been a long time since she had the chance to do so without any interruptions or worrying.

Managing to clear her mind, she took deep breaths; in and out. Suddenly her head turned to the left, Hinata thought she had sensed something. Slowly getting up, she tiptoed to the window. There was a rustling in the trees, heading towards her direction. Blood rushed to her ears as she activated her Byakugan and gasped when she realized who it was.

Thinking quickly, Hinata made a shadow clone who hurried out in search of Juugo and Kouto. There was no time to escape from Neji's Byakugan, Kiba's nose or Shino's kikaichū. Not with the speed they were coming. All she could do was warn Juugo and keep Kouto out of their reach. Hinata knew she was likely to be captured but her son wouldn't, not if she could help it.

But she wouldn't make so easily for them, she had to try. Hinata ran in the opposite direction her clone had headed in and just as she suspected, they followed her. She picked up her pace, taking them farther away from the park where Kouto and Juugo were at.

Off in the distance was a smaller mountain range that she thought could be used to her advantage. But before she could go any further, she saw Neji heading from that direction. How did he-?! She turned to the right but once again there was someone there. She could see that it was Kiba which mean that Akamaru was nearby as well. Her eyes widened and she chastised herself for not noticing it earlier, they were closing in on her.

To make things worse, she hadn't made it very far from her house.

As Kouto played with other children at the park, Juugo sat under a tree. Keeping a close eye on him and everyone that was in the vicinity, he quickly sensed the birds that swooped down near him, chirping. They had seen a small group of shinobi in the village.

Juugo's face turned grim and looked towards the direction they indicated. Shinobi didn't have a reason to be around these lands so it was crucial to see for himself. Hopefully they wouldn't cause them any trouble, but Juugo knew that he would have to do all he could to keep Sasuke's family safe.

Just as he was going to call Kouto over, he saw Hinata running towards him. "Hinata, they say that there are-"

She nodded and blinked quickly. "You have to go now. I have them distracted for now but it's only a matter of time before my chakra runs out."

He looked at her questioningly but shook his head. "I'll divert their attention, you two just run as fast as you can-" Juugo explained.

Her clone shook her head sadly. "No, they've locked in on my position." Juugo looked around frantically but she grasped his chin to look at her. Realization dawned on him and he let out a shaky breath. Hinata nodded, knowing he knew she wasn't really with them. "I can't outrun them but I don't think they've pinpointed the two of you. Juugo you need to take Kouto far away from here-"

"Hinata, I can't do that! Are you just going to give up after all we've done?! Sasuke will-"

She grabbed his arms, pleadingly. "It's too late! I'm already losing enough chakra as it is and need to prepare for a fight if I have to so you have to go. Sasuke and I both agreed that Kouto's safety mattered above everything else and that includes me. They won't know to look for him so you should be okay for now. Just please keep him safe. Leave the village and send word to Sasuke. I won't be able to return but-"

"Mommy, I'm not going without you!" Kouto cried out. He had overheard them talking. Hinata looked around, seeing a few people glancing in their direction. She pulled them away from any prying eyes into a small clearing. He yelped as Juugo picked him up.

"Baby, listen to me," Hinata cried. "You need to go and hide with Juugo. I can't go with you and I'm so sorry for failing you-"

"No! You promised that you'd take me wherever you went! You can't leave me!" He argued, kicking at Juugo's sides to be let go. Kouto had seen the fear in his mother's eyes, something he had only seen when they first met Sasuke. "I...I'll hate you forever if you leave me!"

Hinata grabbed his face and frowned at him. "Then hate me. But just do this for me, please!"

Kouto was stunned at the despair in her eyes. "N-no mommy, you can't..."

She smiled sadly at him and kissed his forehead. "No one can know you're my son or who your father is. If they do, they might do bad things to you. Don't tell anyone but remember that I love you so much. Baby, never forget that."

Without another word, the clone dissipated and Kouto reached out to grab at nothing. Juugo started running, trying to quell the hurt in his chest as Kouto screamed for his mother.

.

.

Neji had trouble breathing once he saw her with his own eyes. His Byakugan confirmed it was her but seeing his precious cousin a mere few feet away from him felt unreal. So many years, so many questions but all he wanted to do was hold on to her and never let go. Six years had changed her appearance, but nothing too drastic where he wouldn't recognize her.

Hinata still had her beautiful long hair, her face was still soft. She was still Hinata. He moved quickly towards her but his relief was short lived as he picked up on her posture and facial expression. She looked like a cornered animal. He approached more slowly and carefully, his hands up to show he meant no harm. "Hinata…it's me, Neji." It sounded stupid but he didn't like the fear in her eyes.

What happened to you? Who took you away?

He took a step forward only for her to walk backwards in a defensive position; it infuriated him that Hinata was scared of him. "I'm here to take you home-"

"Please, I can't-" Her voice was still gentle. "I-I…"

Suddenly Kiba ran ahead and before Neji could warn him to stop, engulfed her in his arms. "It's you! It's really you! Oh God, Hinata we thought…" Kiba tightened his hold and buried his nose in her hair, engraving her scent in his mind. His shoulders shook as he sobbed. "You're alive! I never gave up...I never gave up."

Hinata felt her resolve crumble as one of her best friend's cried. She couldn't pretend to be unaffected; slowly her arms wrapped around his back. "I'm so sorry, Kiba," Hinata whispered. He sniffed and pulled away, shaking his head. "I didn't mean-"

"There's no reason to apologize, Hinata. You're alive...that feels so good to say." He chuckled and wiped his eyes. He pulled her to his chest protectively as Neji approached. Kiba's eyes narrowed, still untrusting of the Hyuuga.

"Hinata…" Neji said softly.

She rested her head against Kiba's strong chest. "I'm sorry, Neji. I'm just scared."

"I'm not going to hurt you," he replied. "Why would you even think I would?" Neji reached out and she hesitantly pulled away from Kiba. Once she was in his arms, Neji kissed her temple and murmured assurances of her safety. While not one to show his affection, he couldn't help but express how much he missed Hinata. Right now, nothing else mattered; they could figure everything out later. Neji just wanted to keep her right here, in his arms.

"Neji…" Hinata whispered. "I can't go back."

Even Kiba frowned at her words.

"Please don't make me go back," she looked down as he pulled away and searched her face for any clues. "I left for a reason and I can't return."

.

.

Juugo suddenly stopped in his tracks and let Kouto down. "Hide. Now."

Kouto scampered into a bush, covering his mouth to stay quiet. He wasn't dumb; he knew that someone was after his mother and possibly him. But he didn't know the reason. What did mommy do? What did I do?

Carefully he leaned towards an opening in the bush, losing hope as Juugo ran away. His first thought and fear was that he was leaving him alone to deal with the bad people. But seconds later, another figure came from the shadows and hurried after him. Kouto whimpered; he felt waves of menacing aura surrounding that man.

Shino had found the small house near where the last colony settled. While Neji and Kiba had chased after Hinata, his insects had led him to where one of the other inhabitants currently was. He sensed the man was a shinobi and knew he couldn't let him go. Not when he could be the man who was responsible or partly responsible for keeping Hinata away. He felt his kikaichū stir uncontrollably, Shino was going to lose control but he didn't care. He would get his answers from this man one way or another.

Juugo hoped Kouto was farther away for this, but he'd just have to try to be careful. He didn't want to hurt Kouto if he fully succumbed to his rage. He felt his arm start to transform and he shot out to impale the shinobi Hinata warned him about.

Barely dodging it, Shino returned the favor with a swarm of kikaichū. It became apparent that this man could perform long distance attacks so he had to subdue him quickly.

Kouto's heart pounded harshly against his chest. Is Juugo okay? Maybe he defeated that man. Fear kept him paralyzed; he didn't know if he should go after him. Suddenly there was a monstrous scream that thundered throughout the woods. Kouto covered his ears with his small hands and squeezed his eyes shut. What kind of animal makes that noise?!

A large object crashed into a nearby tree and Kouto scampered out of his spot to see what it was. "J-J-Juugo...?" Kouto gasped as the creature raised his head. It looked like him but not entirely. His left eye was black and his skin was much darker. His body looked like it was smashed together with a monster's and the small boy slowly retreated.

"Run!" Juugo roared. His voice sent chills down his spine and Kouto legs felt like rubber. He shakily started to run away, looking back to see something start to cover Juugo's body. It looked like bugs and his screams of pains only terrified him even further and he began to hyperventilate.

Kouto fell, tripping on a tree root. He hurried to hide behind the tree, thinking someone had seen him. Slowly looking back, Kouto covered his mouth in an attempt to stifle his whimpers and looked away. Juugo's form had been terrifying but this bug man was scarier because he was able to take him down. And right now he stood calmly as the bugs slowly engulfed his protector.

The young boy rubbed his eyes furiously; they hurt and not just from the crying. There was another roar from Juugo and Kouto felt relieved that he was still alive. However he knew he couldn't help, his uncle trusted Juugo and he would have faith in him too that he could handle this.

Kouto tried to make his getaway as quiet as possible. Alone, he didn't know what to do. Are these the people mommy was scared of? As the monsters fought, Kouto ran back home. His mother was likely fighting people like this and needed help. There was no doubt in his mind when it came to his mother, he would protect her and succeed because he had been training for this moment.

Shino glanced in the direction Kouto had left. This threat had been subdued and while he had immense chakra reserves, it only meant more food for his kikaichū. He calmly walked away as the kikaichū started to feast on the large man. He wouldn't die quickly because he hadn't offered any answers yet, however Shino had another feeling that whoever tried to hide from him right now could be useful as well.

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.

Trying to bite back any judgement until he heard everything, Neji listened as Hinata explained her reason for leaving.

"I wasn't going to win that fight, Neji. And I didn't want to be branded with the seal," she lied. Hinata closed her eyes, not wanting to see his disappointment. Just as she expected, he wasn't pleased.

"So you ran away from home because you were scared of being sealed?" He struggled out. Neji felt betrayed; she gave him nothing but empty promises to change the clan. To think he had faith in her…

He clenched his fist and Kiba stood protectively in front of Hinata. "Do you have any idea what we went through after you left?! We didn't know if someone kidnapped you, if you were dead...How stupid…no, selfish can you be?!"

His breathing quickened as she looked down at the ground; fury filled his body. "How could you do this to us?" Do you know how much you hurt me?! "Do you know how devastated you left Hanabi? She had to grow up so much in such a short time because not only did she have to deal with your supposed death, but also thrust into the title she never really wanted."

"I'm sorry," she pathetically repeated.

Kiba pushed Neji back as he advanced on her. "Back off. I knew your stupid clan was the reason for all this. If you guys hadn't pushed her, she wouldn't have left!" As much as he was relieved to find her, Kiba was also furious. Hinata had abandoned us because she was scared of losing her title? He agreed that it was selfish and a cowardly move but he wouldn't admit out loud.

The two postured themselves ready for a fight and Hinata realized that her intuition was right; she was better off a ghost than coming back. She stood between them, facing her furious cousin. "Stop! I take full responsibility for this but I can't go back. I won't."

"Then you aren't taking responsibility," he spat back at her. "You are coming home… even if I have to drag you back myself."

His Byakugan activated and she sadly stared into his eyes. "Please, I'm begging you. Don't do this."

Kiba was at a crossroads. Helping Neji meant that he would betray his best friend but taking Hinata's side would only be short lived because he'd still want her to come back to Konoha.

"All this time I thought you were stronger than what they gave you credit for. Not coming back with us only proves their claims," Neji sneered.

"Then let them think of me as a weakling." Hinata summoned a clone and the two got into a defensive stance as Neji curled his lip.

"So be it."

They darted forward, palms meeting with blue sparks. Each hit looking like flashes of lightning.

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Kouto had barely made it to the clearing near his house when the door opened. He lingered in the bushes as he watched a man with long brown hair walk out. In his hands were papers of some sort but Kouto couldn't make anything out. Once he was gone, he tiptoed closer to a window. "Mama?" he whispered. But his fears were confirmed when he peeked inside his home and saw that it was empty.

The only thing he could think of was to follow the stranger from a distance. He might lead him to his mother and while he didn't know what to do afterwards, that was his only goal. Kouto didn't have to wait long as he heard rumbles and violent whirling sounds. It echoed throughout the area, the intensity fighting nearby wildlife from their habitats.

He watched with a mixture of shock and horror as his mother and her clone fought against the brown haired man that was just in his house. Upon closer inspection, the man looked just like his mother and Kouto wondered if she knew him. Kouto turned his head at the sound of leaves crunching, his heart dropping at the sight of a large beast. He had never seen a wolf in these woods and quietly but quickly scurried away.

Hinata's Byakugan flickered and she couldn't concentrate on anything but Neji's onslaught of attacks. Never before had she truly regretted ignoring her shinobi training. Yet in all her years of training, she could never beat Neji. Trying anything now was just suicide. "Ah!"

He had struck her elbow joint, sending painful shockwaves that rippled down to her fingertips. The chakra flow to her left arm was done, rendering it useless. A gleam of metal caught her eye and she failed to dodge the kunai in time.

Her son flinched when she cried out in pain again. Hinata grabbed at her left shoulder, trying to stop the bleeding. The amount of red on her clothes terrified him and Kouto yelled out as the man continued to strike his mother. His small hands shook and he started to cry. Why am I so pathetic?! Grandpa...Momma! Where are you, Sasuke?! He walked backwards until he felt the muzzle of the wolf like creature.

Akamaru barked to alert Kiba of the bystander, scaring the child even further. Kiba hurried over and looked at the quivering boy. What is he doing out here? He looked back at where the Hyuugas were fighting, feeling anxious. "Get away, kid. Go home or you'll get hurt." Kiba winced as Hinata cried out again; he would stop it before it got too far. He didn't think Neji would kill her, only incapacitate her. But he wished Hinata didn't put up a fight and just gave up already.

The child looked in the same direction and ran towards the battle. "Wait!"

Kouto quickly made the hand seals, casting a large stream of fire to separate the man from his mother. The torrent inferno was large enough to incinerate the area but Neji quickly protected himself and Hinata from it with a rotation. With heavily lidded eyes, Hinata looked to find the source of the fire and choked back a sob. No! He's supposed to be far from here! With what little energy she had left, Hinata stood up and tried to return his attention to her.

Before she could fully form her right fist into lion shaped chakra, Neji threw her roughly against a tree and she crumpled to the ground. Furious at how his mother was being brutalized, Kouto's Sharingan began to flicker. He took a deep breath, quickly summoning another fireball. His eyes gleamed with joy at the assumption that he had incinerated her attacker. But when the smoke cleared, Kouto let out a gasp of shock. Neji coldly looked at him and rushed forward, Kouto quickly got his fists up to protect himself. His Sharingan receded, hiding his Uchiha blood to the Hyuuga prodigy.

"S-Stop! Please Neji!" Hinata cried out. "Don't hurt the kid! I give up, I'll go peacefully now. Just let him go, he has nothing to do with this. I won't let anyone else get hurt for my decision."

Her cousin eyed her suspiciously. There had been a fire in her eyes when she fought him but now she looked completely defeated. "Who is this boy?" Neji grabbed Kouto's upper arm painfully, causing Kiba to scowl at him.

"What are you doing?! We're just here to take Hinata home and she's just agreed to it. Are you always such an asshole?" Kiba retorted. "He's just a kid. Are you going to hurt him because he almost burned your hair? Just let him go. His parents are probably worried."

Hinata weakly pushed against the tree trunk to stand up, fighting against her instinct to rush over and pull her son away from Neji. "Yes, they will be. He's just a boy I know from the village."

Neji's clone walked up and dissipated after handing him what he found in the house she had fled from. Memories rushed and Kouto yelped with the tightening grip. "Really?" He pulled something out, Kiba and Hinata braced themselves but were surprised to see it was a photo. Much to her relief it was of Masao and Kouto, but she was weary of being too hopeful. "Then why did you have this in your house?"

"K-k...Koichi's mother died during childbirth. The old man in the photo wasn't in good health and allowed me to live with them if I helped raise his grandson. That's it," Hinata lied. "I just look after him sometimes."

Believe me! Please, believe me!

Kouto's heart was breaking. Why would she say all those lies? Momma…

Hinata inhaled sharply when he pulled another out. Neji looked at the photo, his blood boiling at the smiling faces. His clone had smashed the frame against the wall and pulled it out, causing it to crinkle. As much as he wanted to rip it into pieces, it knew it'd be enough evidence to convict the Uchiha for his treachery.

"The boy is also coming to Konoha," Neji glared at Kiba who frowned in confusion.

"I'm not kidnapping anyone, Neji!"

Neji flung other photographs at his feet; some were of her holding an infant in her arms. She looks so happy...

Kiba slowly turned to Hinata who shook her head and deep down he also didn't want to believe it. He took a deep breath before looking down at the trembling boy. His hair didn't resemble Hinata's; this 'Koichi' had short dark locks that fell flat against his scalp. But more reassuringly, were his dark grey eyes. It can't be... He doesn't have the Byakugan. He's not… Kiba tried to ignore any facial features that resembled Hinata's. "She said she was taking care of the kid for someone else..."

The male Hyuuga shoved the photograph he saved for last in his face and Kiba shakily took it as he recognized one of the people in it; Sasuke was sitting beside the boy in their custody and they were smiling. The longer he looked at it, the angrier he got. Was this what Sasuke was hiding?! How long did he know...? He felt like ripping Sasuke's throat out

Neji peered down at the boy. "He taught you that, didn't he? I know that jutsu and he wouldn't train a mere village boy. There's something special about you…You share something with him. Blood perhaps?"

Hinata choked back a sob and fell to her knees. "No, you have to believe me…" She looked imploringly at Kiba but he was seething with rage.

Is this his son or hers? Or both?! Akamaru whined as he picked up on his master's anguish and fury.

"They're both coming home," Neji stated coldly. "And the Uchiha will pay for his crime."

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AN: Sorry to disappoint anyone who wanted a happy reunion. Fair warning: It will get darker in the next chapter and I will be using a cliché plot device later, which was always in the original outline. I love dragging out the drama.

I apologize for not describing Kouto as best I can. I just imagined him looking strikingly like Itachi did when he was a kid, without the stress lines or dark eyes; so basically Itachi with shorter hair and lighter colored eyes. Sorry to disappoint with a shorter chapter but I felt like it was a good ending. If I added more, I'd struggle for ages on how to end the chapter properly with everything comes directly after this.

Thanks for all the favorites, follows and reviews. You guys keep me going when I'm stuck. You're much more valuable than you might think!