Life Changing Departure

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Took a break, sorry this chapter is like suppperrr short. I'm having troubles with my laptop. Thank you guys for the encouraging reviews! I feel like I have betrayed you all somehow. –cries in a corner--

"Well isn't this a nice visit. What did I do to deserve an honorable visit from the famous sand siblings?" He leaned against the door facing Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara. Sasuke was beginning to hate unexpected visits, having so many of them would make anyone sick.

"Kankuro left a day earlier than reported so we're leaving now. The sooner we go the faster you can come back." Temari yawned; she and the girls had been fake sleeping last night eavesdropping on Hinata's conversation with Sasuke then afterwards they interrogated the Hyuuga to no end.

"But I haven't even packed yet." Sasuke shuffled through his closet near the entrance to grab some ninja gear. What do I say to Hinata? Well at least I don't have to think of something to do today. His eyes rolled up to look at the ceiling as he contemplated his options.

1. Stay for a while longer and go somewhere with Hinata.

2. Set your problems free by forgetting about the whole thing.

3. Apologize to her and rearrange another meeting after the mission.

4. Figure out why the heck he cares about any of this.

"Do you have a date or something Uchiha?" She tried to sound oblivious to the fact she heard everything the night before. "Be a real man and tell her the real reason, she's nice, she'll forgive you."

"And exactly who are you talking about Temari-san?" He arched a brow; she gulped and retreated her comment. He figured her out, so they were listening. Settling on what the sand kunoichi suggested to do he quickly packed his stuff and said he would meet them at the main gate.

He paced, he wasn't running just taking really big strides at a really fast temp. Okay maybe he was jogging a little but he wouldn't admit it even to himself. He couldn't understand why he had said 'going out' the night before. Was there a real reason to any of it? Or had it just slipped out of his mouth?

Sasuke turned the sharp corner dodging someone who was also 'jogging' or 'sprinting' to their destination. He went another two seconds without looking behind him when his curiosity took over his body in an instant. His eyes turned and locked on with the other person's. He stopped so fast he almost fell.

"Hinata!" "Sasuke!" They stared at each other catching their breaths, people passing them by ignoring them. He regained his composure and stood in front of Hinata, still and quiet.

Sasuke didn't know what to do. Telling her the truth would be the best way and forgetting about the 'going out' would have been best as well. Sasuke waited for her to speak instead of talking first.

She was breathing normal now and ruffled in her jacket pocket to take something out. She bowed and gave him a book. "Yesterday you said we were going out? You meant you and the sand nins right? Well I thought before you go you bring this with you!"

Sasuke sighed, she's just as dense as Naruto, but thank god she did. Putting one hand to his temple massaging it and took the book from her. "Did you get this from my room?"

"Um… Yeah…I went to your house to see you off and opened it with the spare key you gave me. S-Sorry…I just w-went into your room t-to see i-if you were there…" Sighing again he looked between his fingers and stared at her. "I w-wasn't sure i-if you finished r-reading it, I'm s-sure you'll have a lot of f-free time while y-you're in Sunagakure."

"Yeah, I'm sure I will. Well I have to get going." He turned back towards where he came from and passed by Hinata. Clearly confused she hesitated to ask him why he had called out to her earlier. Making a bold move she grabbed his wrist before he could pass completely by her.

"S-Sasuke umm i-isn't there s-something you wanted to t-tell me?" He looked back at her, her grip on him tightening and loosening as her mind battled on whether or not to let him go or not. The wind blew a nice breeze and he answered her.

"Just that…" He turned facing her completely, "that ever since that day that I was released of the curse seal, you were always there. Every single day I keep on running into you." She blushed a little wider.

"Well what I'm trying to say is…" He poked one of her cheeks with a finger. "I'm going to miss seeing…" You. "your silly face." A smoke puff of embarrassment came out of her head.

"Sasuke!" He snickered running towards the front gate where he was to meet the sandies, Hinata close on his tail.

"Hey Sasuke!" Naruto ran besides him, looking back at a fuming Hinata. "Aren't you leaving soon? And why does Hinata look ready to smack you in the head?" Sasuke was so into the little moment he had with Hinata that he ignored Naruto.

They stopped at the gate and Sasuke signed out on a piece of paper in a little hut next to the gate. Two very familiar nin sat idly by waiting for any in or out visitors. Sasuke looked around and saw that only three people came to see the pack off.

Naruto, since he was the best buddy of Sasuke. Hinata, she saw the pack off since they did have a mission to defeat who ever it was trying to kidnap her. And Shikamaru was there seeing Temari off.

"When do you think you're going to return to the village, Sasuke?" Naruto gave him a tough jab into Sasuke's shoulder as a sign of 'this is what buddies do to each other.' Sasuke returned the gesture and gave a 'this is what I do to my buddies' kick.

He sighed while Naruto got up from the ground dusting off the foot print on his orange jacket. "Don't know, who knows how long it will take. I'd say with careful studies it would take a month to figure everything the enemy ninja are planning and to make them stop as well."

"A month??? What about your birthday party? I was hoping to hit the bars or something. Right Hinata-chan?" She shrugged and gave a nervous smile. Sasuke knew that she probably couldn't hold her liquor. She didn't have any at the ball party so he could only assume.

"Well there are going to be plenty of parties Naruto, just go to one of those." Picking up the bag that was leaning against his leg he set it tight on his back. Naruto gave one last jab into Sasuke, but this time instead of standing there like an idiot he jetted 10 meters away from Sasuke and yelled a good bye.

Sasuke being Sasuke couldn't let him get away with it. So like usual he gave Naruto his punishment. With quick speed he ran past Hinata and back again in split seconds. Naruto retreated to the Ramen stand that wasn't too far from him and got an ice pack.

Sasuke now alone with Hinata and with some time to spare since Temari and Shikamaru were talking crack to each other. Sasuke gave Hinata some advice that would affect the Hyuuga for a long time.

"Hinata become stronger, you don't want to be a burden to everyone do you? Go on a trip or journey or something, change yourself for the better. But the next time I see you. You better be stronger by then." Sasuke was trying to be nice, in a twisted sort of way, left on these words.

Hinata couldn't believe it, those were the only words he had to say to her? She thought on them deeply and took note on it. The next time Sasuke Uchiha sees her she would be a changed person.

Having arrived at Suna an hour before he had relaxed into his bed. Three days have gone by. His face emotionless and cold that had just begun to crack due to Hinata's warmth would only become harder and even more cold as the month would slowly go by.

He took out the book Hinata had lent him. He finished reading it during their breaks while traveling here.

The witch had loved the knight ever since she saw him enter the forest. She had met him before you see, but never realized how much she truly loved him. She knew of the bandit and princess's love for each other. In order for the knight not to get hurt she placed that spell on him to never be able to talk to her again.

That may have caused the knight to hate her, but she would rather have that then his heart breaking into little pieces. The knight soon found out that the newly found bandit/fool and the new outgoing princess were to be married. He withdrew in his manor to be the lonely knight.

He found out that the witch was trying to protect him as well. He went in search for the witch to find that she was just as lonely as he was. Slowly...but surely they began to create feelings for one another. He realized that he loved the witch and was going to say so one fateful night.

She waited for him to speak near a moonlit river. He was unable to speak, he had waited so long to say any feelings of love to his love. The cold witch being as bitter as she was renowned for gradually began to understand why he did not speak to her anymore. The spell she had casted was not merely for him and the princess. It was for him and the one he loved.

She could never cry tears of joy, but she showed a true genuine smile to the knight. Who showed a warm smile to the witch as well. They lived happily ever after in the forest that showed the full moon and the night forever. For they were their own sunny place.

The End.

Sasuke actually read the whole thing without gagging on the sweet parts. Like most people he tried putting actually people he knew as the characters in the book. The whole things was obvious to tell who was who. Of course the foreign bandit and fool was Naruto, and the new outgoing princess must be Hinata, although she's not that outgoing. The lonely knight must have been himself and the knight-obsessed witch must be Sakura. He shivered at the thought of being with Sakura his whole life.

He recalculated everything in his head again making sure everything made sense.

Narutobandit

Hinataprincess

Sasukeknight

Sakurawitch

Everything looked in order and he was quite proud of himself for thinking of such a plan. But even this heart melting story won't stop the coldness that would creep into Sasuke's heart the next month he would be gone from Konoha.

Hinata made plans on her own, disguising herself as Sasuke and going into Sasuke-mode whenever she had to go out. She made arrangements for something as well with the hokage. She wanted to get stronger, she didn't want to be a burden, she wanted to change!

And so the month's time soon to wear off...and it was almost the end of July...