They will take control of you
And you need to heal the hurt behind your eyes
Fickle words crowding your mind
So sleep, sugar, let your dreams flood in
Like waves of sweet fire, you're safe within
Sasuke quietly closed Hinata's bedroom door behind him. Stifling a yawn he walked down to his room so he could change. It was still early and he could squeeze in at least two hours before everyone else got up for breakfast. Despite it being routine, he would've preferred to stay snuggled next to his girlfriend.
He sleepily grinned as he thought of Hinata who he just left a few seconds ago. Things weren't perfect, far from it. He was in a village he didn't trust, Hinata still bore a seal on her forehead, Kouto was trying to take on more than he should, and his best friend was being aloof with him. But in small moments, when it was just the two of them, it sure felt like bliss.
Hinata still worried about Kouto, their friends, and his well-being. He still worried over everything and especially how she was coping. But despite that, it was starting to feel okay to joke, smile, and just be happy.
He loved the feeling of waking up with Hinata in his arms. He realized that he encroached on her space often but he just loved her presence and the comfort she brought. Hinata never complained but he could notice the relief in her posture when he got out of her bed. Sasuke chuckled at how she would sleepily stretch her arms out and sighed with content when she had the bed to herself.
It took some effort, mostly on his part, to get to this point. They had been here for about three weeks already and it was a bit hard to slightly lower his guard. During their first trip around the village, Sasuke was extremely on edge. He expected to be ambushed at every turn which caused them to cut the outing short when Hinata saw his anxiety. Sasuke felt ashamed and insisted that they try again the next day. It was still difficult to focus on Chojuro as he gave them a tour but holding on to Hinata's hand made it bearable to get through it.
The next hurdle was letting Kouto out of his sight. It was a rule that he was to be accompanied when they were outside of their home. Sasuke knew that he couldn't hover over him at all times but even with another member of Taka with Kouto, Sasuke couldn't sit still until they got home. He often sent a shadow clone to follow them.
His protectiveness was fierce but it was nothing compared to Hinata who initially insisted she be with her son at all times. She dotted over him but even he saw how restless Kouto was getting and was starting to be less polite about reminding her that he wasn't a helpless baby. They had all suffered from cabin fever but he was a child with a lot of energy, being cooped up made him restless.
While he pushed all his worries aside to get some extra hours of sleep in, his nephew was dealing with his own troubles.
Without needing to open his door, Kouto knew that Sasuke had just left his mother's room. He had been doing this since they arrived and it annoyed him. Kouto thought it was insulting that they both thought he was dumb not to notice it. He had been learning from Karin how to sense chakra and Sasuke's was unmistakable.
But despite his resolve to confront them every morning, his indignation faded every time he saw them smile. It made Kouto felt bad that they felt the need to hide their affections because of him. He had seen both of them at their lowest so to see pure joy in their faces, after everything they've been through; it made him rethink a few things.
Did he love his mother? Absolutely.
Did he want her to have a boyfriend? Debatable.
Did he love Sasuke? Of course.
Did he want him to be his mother's boyfriend?
Kouto groaned as he dragged his hands down his face. They were still one big family but the shift in dynamics confused him, he unsure of how to accept it. His mother hadn't treated him any differently nor had Sasuke. But things were definitely not the same anymore.
I guess I could try to be happy for them… But if he messes up again or makes her cry, I'll make him regret it!
He tossed and turned in bed until he heard everyone else start to get up. As they ate breakfast, his gray eyes watched his mother and uncle very carefully. He grimaced whenever he accidentally came across them kissing, no matter how short or innocent they were sometimes, but it was slowly becoming the new normal. He looked at Suigetsu who, in between scarfing down his food, provoked Karin into smacking him, and realized his uncle wasn't the worst his mother could do.
Kouto frowned and pushed back any conversation with Sasuke for later. He got up and took his plate to the sink. "Hey, Mom?"
"Yes, Sweetie?"
"Can Karin and I go to the library?" He asked, hoping he didn't look guilty. "There are some things I want to read on and then she's to help me with my chakra."
Karin smiled smugly at Juugo who she had been competing with over who would take over Kouto's training. Kouto had been struggling with chakra control after his outburst in Konoha and Sasuke was currently focusing on the upcoming negotiations with Konoha. Even Suigetsu wouldn't be helpful until they reached weapons training.
Hinata tried not to show her disappointment. She had been adamantly against training Kouto in shinobi skills but after Sasuke came into their lives, she had changed her view. However it stung that she couldn't help him; Hinata had been one of the best in her class at chakra control but now she couldn't even risk overstimulation.
It had been advised that she not be present at any of her son's training since she could inadvertently be hurt by Kouto's lack of control. Hinata knew they were also worried she'd hurt herself since she was still accidentally activating her Byakugan. There were times that she caught herself but the times she didn't were painful and shameful.
"Sure, just be careful. You remember the quickest route home?"
Kouto nodded.
"And you know where the Mizukage's office is?"
He slightly huffed but nodded.
"And remember-"
"Don't talk to strangers, I know!" Kouto snapped. "Jeez, Mom. I'm not an idiot," he mumbled.
Hinata's eyebrows rose and she tried not to look hurt. "I would never call you that, Sweetheart." She sipped her juice and nibbled on a piece of toast.
Suigetsu dumped his dishes in the sink and subtly nudged Kouto who already regretted his outburst. "Hey Sunshine, I think I'm going to be heading out too. I have personal business to take care of. Do you want me to pick up anything from the store while I'm out?"
Surprised by his consideration, she shook her head. Even Sasuke didn't know what do make out of Suigetsu's comments. Juugo, realizing what his friend was trying to do for the couple, spoke up. "I should accompany you in case trouble arises. After all, we should try to make our stay as pleasant as possible."
"Might take long," Suigetsu replied.
"That's fine with me," Juugo said calmly.
Karin's smirk deepened. "Okay, let's get going Kouto. We have a lot to do today."
But Kouto suddenly didn't feel like going. He was under the impression that Suigetsu and Juugo were staying home today, especially after Suigetsu in particular complained the day before about feeling like Kiri shinobi were babysitting them.
He looked at all the adults in the room with suspicion until his eyes fell on his mother. She looked at him with concern but smiled nonetheless. "Have a good time, Kouto."
He walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. "Actually, I can stay if you want. You shouldn't be alone."
Sasuke frowned. "I'll be here."
Kouto turned to look at him stoically. "Still…."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Naruto smiled at Karin, who opened the door, before he walked inside. He nodded at everyone but beamed at the Hyuuga. "Hi, Hinata."
The way he said her voice with a hint of longing irked Sasuke, and Kouto noticed.
"Good morning, Naruto. You're kind of early for our meeting, aren't you?" She asked. Keeping a smile on her face she pointed to the laid out breakfast. "Did you eat already? If not, help yourself to some food. Everyone's pretty much done."
"Thanks!" He took the empty seat across Hinata and groaned with appreciation. "This is good! I bet you made it, right?"
She nodded.
Sasuke coughed, erasing the faint blush on Naruto's cheeks and the dopey grin on his face. The blond cleared his throat. "Right… Um, I brought over some stuff we should go over before we meet with Kakashi."
As he flipped through some documents, the others cleared out the table. Karin pushed Kouto along who was glad that Sasuke wouldn't have his mother completely to himself.
Now alone to deal with the aftermath of the invasion of Konoha, Sasuke scooted his chair closer to Hinata. "So how bad is it?" Sasuke asked looking at his friend's face. Naruto wore his heart on his sleeve and the grim look on his face wasn't very comforting.
"The council is still trying push that Hinata betrayed Konoha by aiding a wanted criminal. They want her imprisoned." Naruto grimaced at Hinata's paling face. "But Kakashi and Shikamaru have been going through old archives and legal stuff. We think their might be a way for Hinata to be pardoned. If she relinquishes all pensions and benefits from her ninja career, formally apologizes, and agrees to probation for at least three years, they'll leave her alone."
"What will my probation entail?" Hinata asked quietly.
Sasuke lightly scoffed causing Naruto to frown at him. He looked optimistically at Hinata. "Well, you won't be allowed to take any missions for any reason, you have to stay monitored by assigned jounin or ANBU depending on how dangerous you're considered."
At this Hinata had to refrain from laughing self-deprecatingly.
"...and have to remain in Konoha," he added quickly.
"They're out of their goddamned minds!" Sasuke erupted.
"Sasuke…" Hinata said.
"Tell Kakashi and all those sons of bitches that if they think for one fucking second-"
"Sasuke, please calm-"
Naruto leaned towards him. "Calm the hell down, Sasuke! This is just an offer they made. We should be thankful that Kakashi and Shikamaru are even helping us after the fucking mess you made!"
"Um… I think Sasuke had a good-" Hinata placed her hand on Naruto's arm.
"Thankful? Are you kidding me? The whole damn village should be on their knees thanking me for not destroying it!" The air around them crackled as Sasuke felt the urge to use chidori on Naruto. "I can do it, you know I can and I will if they come for my family again there will be a massacre like the world has never seen-!"
"Stop!" Hinata stood up and slammed her palms on the table. Her voice echoed and they looked at her. "Sasuke, please don't talk like that. It scares me."
Sasuke looked ashamed but she rubbed his hand comfortingly as she took her seat. "I'm grateful I have you by my side but we need to make smart moves if we want to have a good outcome. No more spilled blood and no more pain if we can help it. Agreed?"
He stiffly nodded and gripped her hand. Naruto thinned his lips and looked away from their joining hands.
"Those terms aren't unreasonable but I can't agree to them. I can't be within the Hyuuga's reach, and I can't protect Kouto right now from other people trying to harm Kouto. He's carrying the sins of his mother and father. I can't see Kouto living in Konoha with this chaos surrounding him." Hinata smiled sadly at Naruto.
"Your clan-"
"She's not a part of that clan anymore," Sasuke briskly interrupted.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "They are not a part of these negotiations. Kakashi doesn't want to involve them in any way since he can only work on behalf of the village. We're going to have to work on this one step at a time. Let's work with the village first and then see what we can do with the Hyuuga."
"So this might be all for nothing," Sasuke surmised. "Great."
"Shut up, Teme." Naruto pulled out some papers and slid them over to Hinata. "Your clan- The Hyuuga still holds a lot of influence. But if Konoha forgives you, then maybe they'll help with the Hyuuga clan and force them to leave you alone. It'll be our best bet."
Hinata slightly frowned; there were a lot of assumptions in Naruto's statement. But somehow she felt hopeful.
"Shikamaru's also been looking into clan traditions," Naruto added. "Apparently there are ways you can detach yourself from a clan. Marriage by itself usually does it." He saw Sasuke look intrigued and tried not to glare at him. "But as you know-"
"The Hyuuga don't follow that tradition. If you have the Byakugan, you belong to them until death," she said. "So I'll always be a Hyuuga."
She thought of the seal on her forehead. I'm forever bound to them.
Naruto reached out and squeezed her hands. "Cheer up, Hinata. In the last letter, Shikamaru said there's something happening in the village that might help us out. He can't say much until he sees us but I feel good about whatever he's gonna tell us. You probably won't be chained to the Hyuuga for long."
Her eyes widened. "Really?"
She smiled at Naruto and Sasuke felt the nasty sensation of jealousy creeping up.
Sasuke grabbed her chin and turned her head to face him. "Even if it falls, you have me." He kissed her, causing Naruto to quickly release her hands. "We'll just hide away and I'll just kill anyone who tries to pull any shit."
Naruto snorted. "You attacked the Hyuuga compound and threatened their lives. Kakashi said that the Aburame are just as pissed off and Tsume has been under ANBU watch since she's been trying to sneak off with packs of dogs to hunt you down. At least three tracker clans want you dead so there's no hiding now!"
He saw Hinata's crestfallen face and cleared his throat. "... Sorry."
"I can do a lot more damage and you know it," Sasuke said tersely. He sensed Hinata becoming discouraged and sighed. "Still, we need backup plans. Naruto, we won't step a foot in Konoha if there's a hint of any legitimate threat against Kouto or Hinata."
"But what about you? Or Karin, Juugo and Suigetsu?" Hinata turned to look at Naruto. "What is Konoha going to do to them?"
"Hiding you doesn't look good for your friends but Konoha has bigger issues to consider. Mostly they're off the hook," Naruto assured her. "Except for Sasuke and that Suigetsu guy...well, like I said, almost everyone wants them executed."
Hinata started to frantically stammer and turned to an indifferent Sasuke. "As usual," he said stoically.
Naruto turned serious. "Sasuke, you attacked the village. Your partner really hurt some innocent people retrieving Hinata from her cell. The riot in the prison-"
"Suigetsu technically didn't kill anyone," Sasuke replied. "He merely created a distraction."
"There's still blood on his hands," Naruto pointed out. "Sakura and Shizune managed to save many lives but he's to blame for the chaos."
"We were merely rescuing Hinata and Kouto after they were abducted by Konoha shinobi," Sasuke explained. "She pleaded with them and they refused to listen. Maybe if they did, things would've gone differently."
Thinking about her team made her heart ache. Their clans were rightly upset and she hoped they didn't hate her. Despite everything that went down, they were her closest friends and many times a better support system than her own clan.
"Naruto, have you gotten word about Shino and Kiba?" she asked quietly. "Are they doing any better?"
Suppressing any feelings of guilt was hard to do when Sasuke saw Hinata look so miserable. He couldn't imagine how she'd feel if he had given into darker intentions.
"Aside from being released from the hospital, there hasn't been much information about their health in the letters. Kakashi said he's been meeting with Shibi and Tsume but he won't say much until we see him," Naruto said. "Look, we all need to really face reality, think about what we can compromise on before we lose everything. Look at these things Shikamaru sent over and talk about it for the next few days until we meet Kakashi to officially start negotiations."
Hinata nodded while Sasuke exhaled deeply with annoyance. They walked him to the door and Hinata pulled him in for a hug. "Thank you, Naruto. We can always trust you to give us hope when it feels pointless."
"Hinata…" Naruto cleared his throat and tried to look awe-inspiring. "We don't give up, right? We don't have to accept anything we think will hurt you. All that matters to me is keeping you and Kouto safe."
"And Sasuke, Karin, Juugo, and-"
"Of course," he insisted. "And we'll figure out the Hyuuga later. If we stopped Madara and Kaguya, this should be a breeze." He quickly kissed her temple and softly rubbed her shoulders. He turned to the Uchiha who had narrowed his eyes into slits. "Teme. See you soon."
Sasuke grunted and they shook hands, their grips getting tighter and tighter. Both subtly rubbed their sore hands after they walked away from each other.
Hinata had already walked back and started to scan over the first couple of pages but it seemed that Naruto took all her optimism with him. The more she read, the more depressed she got. Suddenly she felt Sasuke's arms around her.
He nuzzled his face against her neck. "We can go through it later," he murmured. "Let's just forget all about Konoha and its stupid ninja." He frowned, "Especially loud, annoying, blonde ninjas."
Despite the gravity of the situation that they would face in a matter of days, Hinata couldn't help chuckle. "Be nice."
"I think you're nice enough for both of us," he grumbled and pulled away.
Hinata dropped her jaw. "Sasuke!"
"I'm just saying, you didn't have to hug him."
She pushed the folder away and stifled a giggle; Sasuke pouts exactly like Kouto. "You're cute when you're jealous."
"I prefer to look ugly then." He led her into the living room and pulled her into his lap. She squirmed when his hands trailed up her leg.
"Sasuke!"
He froze, wondering if he being too forward.
"Not here," she whispered playfully. Hinata hopped off his lap and rushed to his room, quickly followed by an eager Sasuke. He kicked his door shut and briskly walked to Hinata.
Sasuke rubbed her thighs, up and down, going higher each time. "You know, seeing how friendly you get with Naruto makes me feel possessive." Hinata gasped when his fingers started to tease her. "I get this feeling like I need to remind you why you chose me."
His other hand grabbed the back of her head and pulled her close, kissing her deeply. Sasuke slid his middle finger between her lower lips. Hinata cried out, allowing him to shove his tongue into her stuttering mouth. She gasped and whimpered into his mouth as he rubbed her clit several times. Her knees buckled a little. She spread her legs a little more, granting him better access.
Hinata grabbed the back of his head and pulled him off of her mouth, quickly moving her lips to his neck. As he continued to finger her, she bit down on his neck.
Sasuke growled, the mixture of pain and pleasure causing him to involuntarily cease his actions. Regaining focus, he resumed to furiously rub her bead and relished in the sounds of her whimpering. Her entire upper body spasmed as her orgasm began, and Hinata leaned against him.
He held her in place until her orgasm had fully stopped. Sasuke knew she was ready for more when her hands fumbled with his pants. He happily helped her out and freed his erection.
Soon the only sounds were his grunts, her cries and shouts, and the slapping of flesh. Both were grateful that they were the only ones in the house, liberating them to express every sensation and feeling as passionate as they wanted.
.
.
Sasuke laid his head on her stomach; both of them were completely spent. He had taken her many times, making the bed a mess as he flipped her into every position he could think of, her body writhing under him in ecstasy.
She hadn't seen him be this aggressive when they made love but she liked it. In the back of her mind she wondered how much jealousy had factored into how intense it was. Hinata twirled a lock of his hair around her finger.
Oh Sasuke, can't you be like this without making me feel guilty?
"Wanna take a bath together?" He asked huskily. "Before the mob comes home?"
"Sure," she smiled and let him lead her to his bathroom.
They enjoyed the quietness as they soaked in the tub. Hinata hummed as she massaged his scalp. It was during moments like this that Sasuke felt completely at peace. There was no one trying to kill him, he didn't feel murderous, he wasn't on guard. And it was all because he had a person that truly loved him and he loved just as hard in return.
Hinata was more than he could've hoped for after everything that happened in his quest for justice. They still had battles to fight but right now, he could pretend that they were the only people in the world.
This would've been our life if we weren't found.
Sasuke tried to keep his mood from darkening and ruining this rare moment.
But we're going to be okay. Hinata and Kouto... They're here and I won't let anyone hurt them again.
Sasuke leaned back against Hinata, between her legs. He idly traced circles on her knees as she finished washing his hair.
"Hinata."
She hummed in response.
"Be honest. How are you feeling about the meeting? Do you think we'll make any progress?"
Hinata sighed, "It's unrealistic to hope that it'd be resolved quickly, mostly because I'm afraid that my clan is going to make it harder for everyone. At least Kakashi is on our side."
Sasuke snorted and she wrapped her arms around him. "He is," Hinata insisted. "I trust him more than my own father to try to keep us safe. And then there's Naruto."
He tensed and she kissed his shoulders. "He's fighting for us, too. There are a few people left that I trust with my son and I have faith in him. Naruto wants the best for us and we desperately need his support. We also need Kakashi, Shikamaru, the Mizukage, and anyone who offers help. We can't fight this battle with brute strength. We need diplomacy and if it means less people get hurt, then I can be more patient. I don't want to cause anyone else any pain."
Sasuke sighed and closed his eyes, letting his body relax against hers. "He still… Naruto still cares for you, more than anyone here. If it wasn't for you, I doubt he'd be fighting as hard," he admitted.
He frowned at thought of his best friend and how he'd been sort of withdrawn. Naruto was present at most meal times but he was rarely alone with him. He was obviously upset over the news of their relationship but was trying to maintain a positive attitude. Despite all the times he wished Naruto had gave him space, this wasn't exactly what he had in mind.
Hinata remained quiet. In some sense, she would always love Naruto but her heart beat for her son first, then Sasuke. Itachi would still be the one that truly got away, the one with the lost future. But even the eldest Uchiha still took precedence over her first love.
"But I love you," she said softly.
Sasuke couldn't help but grin. "I love you, too." He turned his head to kiss her and then rested his head against her shoulder. "And I suppose you're right. I can't rely on just killing all our enemies. I'd be the next Madara since it'd mean wiping out just about the whole world. So I'll try to remain calm at the meeting."
"That's good," she said.
Sasuke heard the uncertainty in her voice. "But in case I start to lose my temper, I'll need to remember what's at stake. So tell me honestly what you want out of this. I want you to tell me your hopes and dreams."
He waited patiently for Hinata to think.
"I want to us to be happy and not hunted," she finally said.
He shook his head. "Tell me what that looks like. Describe it as best as you can."
"I want Kouto to not feel pressured to be a ninja. I want you to not have to kill again for our sake. I want Karin to see Ryuu again. I want Juugo to have a sanctuary he can live in peace. I want Suigetsu… around," she stated.
Sasuke chuckled softly. No one really knew what his aspirations were aside from assembling the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. But judging how he and Chojuro weren't exactly hitting it off, it seemed out of reach.
"But I also feel selfish because deep down I do want my family to accept us. I want to be with my friends, for Shino and Kiba to be in my life again. I miss them and Kurenai sensei. Konoha is still a part of me," Hinata revealed. "I can't forget them."
He exhaled softly as to not show how much he hated hearing that. For Sasuke, it was extremely easy to cut all ties. But Hinata had been deeply rooted in the village before she left. She had people that she still cared for in Konoha and he hated that she felt torn. In a perfect world, she'd be surrounded by all her loved ones.
"What about you?" She asked.
"I want Taka to find their purpose outside of my own needs. I feel like an asshole making them fugitives again. It's obvious Karin feels bitter about Ryuu," he admitted. "I also want Kouto to be free of all these problems…"
Sasuke grunted with frustration. "And I know he didn't want everyone to know but… it's just fucked up that they believe a lie. They all think the village is perfect but the truth needs to be told. I want the truth about Itachi and the Uchiha massacre to be known. I want people to stop taking their anger out on Kouto and know why I'm so fucked up."
"I want Konoha to be held accountable by its people," he whispered. "I don't want to be the only villain anymore."
He was immediately embraced by her and he started feeling better. "You'll always be my hero," she said lovingly. She resumed washing him and hearing Hinata hum, Sasuke started to relax.
He was grateful to have the people that loved him, even if a certain nephew was a bit standoffish. His frown deepened as he thought about Kouto. Sasuke was still expecting him to sabotage their relationship, but so far his nephew was relatively well behaved since they announced their relationship. It was obvious that he was still trying to grasp the fact that they were together but aside from some snide comments or looks, Kouto wasn't making his life any harder.
Still, Sasuke was worried about Kouto forcing his emotions down and eventually snapping like he did at breakfast.
"What's the matter?" Hinata asked. She felt his muscles tense.
"Just more Uchiha jealousy," he replied.
She groaned with annoyance; Hinata was hoping that he wouldn't keep bringing up Naruto's feelings towards her especially after making love and assuring him that she only had eyes for him.
"Not me, Kouto." Sasuke clarified, a bit insulted. "I sort of hoped he would always be that little guy that looked up to me. Now he's keeping his distance and taking out his frustration on you. Maybe he feels like I'm taking you away."
"We just need to show him that he's still the center of our world but also that Mommy can share her love and attention," Hinata said. "I'm lucky to have two special guys in my life now."
His heart swelled with delight.
"Still, I can't wait until it's all settled and he stops hating me so we can go back to being normal. I mean, how will he react when we have kids and -"
Hinata tensed and Sasuke felt his throat close up.
Shit.
The once soothing silence now felt stifling.
He had spoken impulsively and without much thought but the goal of restoring his clan had been in his mind for so long. It had remained even after his final fight with his beloved brother. Only in the direct aftermath of the war did he second guess the validity of it.
Was his clan worth reviving if all they brought was chaos, death and destruction? When he thought he was the only one left, the answer had been a definite 'no' and the tainted legacy would've died with him.
Then he saw Kouto and any negative thoughts he had were erased. The child was the saving grace that restored his hope and the clan's integrity.
It was enough, until he felt it. As soon as he knew that Hinata returned his feelings, the dream of creating his family returned. Hinata was perfect in his eyes and to have a child with her would complete his life. All the pain and misery that the world forced on him at a very young age could remain in the past for good. He wouldn't look back or wallow in misery because he would have more to live for.
But he hadn't factored Hinata's opinion and now he felt like a fool. Her reaction told him enough and although he wasn't upset at her, he couldn't lie and say it didn't hurt.
"We should get out before we get look like prunes."
"Sasuke."
"Or you can stay longer if you want," he said quickly. "Anyways, I think that tomorrow we should all sit down and go over the information Konoha sent. We can decide who will guard Kouto while we meet with them because there's no way he should be present."
"About what you said-"
The water splashed as he started to rise from the tub and wrapped a towel around his waist. "I personally think Karin is the better option-"
"Don't leave." Hinata held on to his arm. "Sasuke, don't ignore me."
He looked down, ashamed that he was afraid to see the judgmental look on her face. Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek, readying for the oncoming emotional blow.
Hinata was conflicted and took a few seconds to gather her thoughts. "I love you. I really do, with all my heart. But I don't want to give you false hope," she said. Her voice cracked with emotion. "It was hard being a single mother, running away from everything. Even with Masao, it didn't feel like I was doing a good enough job. I felt like a failure many times and being a parent brings you a new level of fear you could never understand until you have children of your own. You'd kill for them, do anything to protect them."
Sasuke listened intently. "But I already feel that way," he whispered. And it was true; he'd have no problem killing anyone who hurt Kouto.
Hinata nodded. "I used that instinct as a source of strength because I couldn't just give up. He relies on me to keep him safe and happy. And up until recently I did. I had my kunoichi training to fall back on and could stop a heart with my fingertips."
He shot his head up, realizing what she was getting at. "Hinata…"
"I could protect Kouto back then. I wasn't the strongest but I could do something. Now I'm so weak I can't even be with my baby when he trains. I'm useless, a liability and what kind of mother will I be if I can't even see the danger approaching-"
Sasuke pulled her up from the tub and hugged her. "Stop, you are the strongest person I know. Kouto knows how lucky he is to have you and you are a wonderful mother. I thought the Uchiha were cursed but when I saw you and Kouto, I knew that there was hope for something better."
He smiled at her. "You raised Kouto to be a good person."
"Thank you," she replied. But she then shook her head. "I had help. Without Masao, I'd been lost and a mess. But there's only so much I can do now. I'm not ready to have more children, not until we have a permanent home and we can finally stop running. I tried to give Kouto a good life and now he's been traumatized."
"Yeah, ever since I came into your lives," Sasuke muttered.
Hinata grabbed his hand and squeezed. "No, you made us better too. It'd be nice to expand our family. And we will, when the time is right."
Feeling hopeful, he grinned at her. "I'll try not to let you down and be a good father to them."
"You already are, silly," she said cheerfully. "Kouto is also lucky to have you." Sasuke was stunned and she closed his gaping mouth. "But you shouldn't be so scared of him or else all our kids will walk over you."
He grabbed her towel and wrapped it around her. "Don't feel pressured by what I said. I was just thinking ahead and if it doesn't happen, I'm still grateful to have you and Kouto."
Hinata placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "Just be a bit patient. I've always wanted to be the parent I never got but until I can provide a stable and healthy environment for them, I can't bring another innocent life into this. Kouto doesn't deserve to live like this. I need to fix this mess first."
"And we will," Sasuke insisted. "Whatever life has in store, we'll face it together and keep our family together. I will give you and Kouto a good life."
Feeling better, she smiled. "And when we're done with this, we can get to work on expanding our family without any worries. I've always wanted a large family."
"Little blond haired kids?" Sasuke joked halfheartedly. "Those whiskers might be genetic, you know."
She groaned. "Sasuke…" He looked at her skeptically and she shrugged in defeat. "Okay, I admit it. I loved Naruto since I was a child. It was just natural to think like that in the past."
Sasuke gave a smile that she knew was forced.
"But now I only see children that have your playful smirk, your hair-" She ran her hands through his jet black, wet hair.
"But your nose and cheeks," he said lovingly. Hinata giggled when he poked her left cheek. "Besides, Uzumaki genes will guarantee hot tempered kids. You'd regret giving birth to mini Naruto."
Hinata laughed louder and shook her head. "I'd love all my children. They'd be perfect like Kouto."
Thinking of the smallest Uchiha made Sasuke chuckle. "I'll have to sleep with one eye open if I do get you pregnant."
Her sides began to hurt as she laughed along. "He won't be that bad."
"Hn. We'll see." Sasuke started to rub her body dry with the towel, his movements becoming more sensual. Hinata closed the distance between them, kissing his neck.
He groaned with appreciation. "Maybe we shouldn't be doing these kinds of things if we want to wait to have kids." But his hands continued their actions.
Hinata looked sheepish. "I've thought ahead. I asked Karin to get some pills for me."
"Pills?" Sasuke frowned.
Birth control.
"And where did she get them? Actually, who gave them to her? Have you had them tested for poison? Hinata-"
"The Mizukage's doctor is as trust worthy as we can get here. Mei has given me her word about his abilities and dependability. He's been her doctor before she became Mizukage," Hinata calmly replied.
His eyes hardened and she knew that he still didn't trust anyone outside their circle. "Karin also analyzed them for any poisons and nothing came up." She bit her lower lip. "And I've been taking them after our first time."
Still unconvinced, Sasuke pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Just tell me next time, okay? I want to know what's going. You're my world, Hime."
"I will." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. He started to relax and she wrapped her arms around his neck, grinning. "I'm so lucky to have such a strong, handsome, smart and understanding-"
He raised an eyebrow. "What is it now?"
"I was thinking… No one knows how to remove the seal, right? We're at the mercy of the Hyuuga. But what if there was a chance we could talk to someone who has experience with it?" Hinata asked.
Sasuke pulled away and peered down at her, questioningly. "Who?"
His scowl deepened as she smiled nervously at him. "Ao."
"Mei's creepy bodyguard? You want to trust him? No one knows how he stole his Byakugan, what if he tries to take your eyes? Or what if he wants Kouto's, too?!" Sasuke's Sharingan swirled and she felt dizzy looking at it.
Hinata's eyes fluttered and she quickly looked away. Sasuke immediately steadied her. "Hinata, what's wrong?"
"Just turn it off. I can't look at it," Hinata mumbled softly. She pushed him away and kept her gaze on the floor.
Sasuke's dark eye returned and he felt guilty. "I'm sorry. I didn't… I would never put you under a genjutsu. I-"
"It's not you. I know you wouldn't do that to me. It's just the seal," Hinata replied, feeling slightly bitter that her impotence was on display. "Your Sharingan is already so powerful and this condition made it easier for me to be susceptible to fall under its gaze, whether you mean it or not."
Sasuke wrapped another cotton towel around her shoulders. "I hate seeing you like this."
Hinata pressed her head against his chest. "You know what I want to do. I want to find out if he can help."
Despite the alarms going off in his head, he saw her desperate need to get the seal removed. If he had the choice, he'd just drag her father or grandmother here and torture them into giving up everything they knew about the Caged Bird Seal. But he'd just end up make things worse for everyone.
"Okay."
She looked up with slight hesitation, concerned that his eyes would hurt her. It upset him that she had some apprehension looking at him.
What would happen if Kouto with his lack of restrain looked at her with his own Sharingan?
That damned seal!
"But I'll have to be there every time you talk with him. I don't trust him at all," Sasuke emphasized.
Hinata nodded. "He's the closest I'll get to any sort of answer on how to work around this seal. I want to be strong again. I want to protect my baby… or babies."
He chuckled. "You'll be a force to be reckoned with, Hinata." Hinata put on one of his oversized shirts and crawled on his bed, hugging a pillow, hoping to soothe away the lingering effects of her dizzy spell. "Do you want me to turn off the lights?"
"No, but can you just lay with me?" she asked.
Without another word he pulled on a pair of sweats and crawled behind her, hugging her close. Her still wet hair splayed out underneath her, wetting his pillows but he didn't care. It wasn't like he was planning on sleeping here tonight anyways.
.
.
Kouto ran past Karin and up to his room to put his new books away. He was also excited to show his mother and Sasuke the progress he was making under Karin's tutelage. However his enthusiasm dwindled as he searched for Hinata. He glanced out at the small garden in the back before obvious irritation appeared on his face. Concentrating on the surrounding chakra signatures, his suspicion was confirmed much to his dismay.
"Hey Kiddo, do you want me to fix us something to eat? You used a lot of energy today."
"I'm not hungry," he replied.
Karin saw him head to Sasuke's room and was glad that there was no spike in energy coming from there. Satisfied that the young boy wouldn't be mentally scarred, she rummaged through the fridge.
Wait, what if they don't have any clothes on?! Shit!
"Kouto!" Karin harshly whispered as she chased after him.
But he was too far away and quickly opened Sasuke's door. Kouto saw his mother and Sasuke in a loving embrace, sleeping soundly. He wanted to shake them awake, shove his uncle off or squeeze between them. But as he took his first step, he saw how relaxed and calm they looked.
Pushing aside the initial feeling of resentment, he closed the door and walked past a relieved Karin. Kouto headed to his room where he'd try to preoccupy his mind with his books. The young boy decided to let them rest for a while longer.
An hour later, he remained quiet when he heard his mother hurriedly make her way to her room. During dinner, he puffed his chest out as Karin told everyone how he was coming along in his training. Kouto blushed as his mother praised his work ethic but bit back the urge to growl when Sasuke ruffled his hair.
Nothing felt out of the ordinary, which is what he wanted. Deep down, Kouto was anxious to talk privately to his mother and Sasuke. He didn't want Suigetsu to make this more uncomfortable with his jokes. But the other two wouldn't help either; Karin and Juugo were obviously on his side.
He just needed to talk to his mother and uncle.
.
.
Kouto looked up from his book; Sasuke was coming up the stairs. He turned off his lamp and waited by his door. Just as Sasuke opened the door to Hinata's room, Kouto's flew open.
Caught, Sasuke quickly closed Hinata's door. "Hey, what are you doing up?"
"Why are you up?" Kouto patronizingly asked. "Actually, why are you going into my mom's room?"
The tips of Sasuke's ears burned but aside from that his face didn't betray him. "I was just going to talk to her about something."
"Is it the same thing you talk to her about every night?" His nephew asked, crossing his arms.
The silence felt heavy.
"Fine, get in," Sasuke sighed. He opened the door and Hinata looked mortified as Kouto walked in and sat on her bed.
"Why are you sneaking around? Do you guys think I'm stupid or something?" He narrowed his eyes at his uncle. "I thought you guys were going to be honest about everything."
"We want to sleep together-" Sasuke bluntly replied.
"In the same room," Hinata added quickly. Her face burned and she hoped that the moonlight wouldn't show how flustered she felt.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Kouto, we were trying to make it easier for you to accept things. You didn't want our rooms next to each other when we first moved in, and I see how uncomfortable you get when we're affectionate. But I also don't want you to think that you can keep us apart forever."
"T-that's not what I'm trying to do!" Kouto said defensively. He looked at his mother. "I'm not, honest!"
"I know, Kouto," Hinata softly replied. "Maybe we're also allowing it to happen because we're trying not to upset you."
"And that's going to have to change if you don't want to be babied anymore." Sasuke sat next to him. "Your mother has a lot more patience than I do because I can't go a single night without sleeping next to her. It's nice to dream and not have nightmares."
Kouto arms slowly uncrossed and a look of sympathy appeared on his face. "I guess that's good."
"I'm going to move in first thing tomorrow," Sasuke added. "There's no need to hide anymore since we aren't doing anything wrong."
"No, we aren't," Hinata agreed. "This is wonderful. I feel blessed to have my two favorite guys on the same page."
Reluctantly, Kouto turned his gaze to his mother. Instantly he knew he couldn't deny her any bit of happiness. She smiled at him and he crawled up to her arms so she could hold him. "Mom…" He mumbled. "Just don't do any gross things while I'm around."
Hinata tensed and Sasuke tried not to look to guilty; there were a few times when he'd get frisky and try to get her in the mood.
"Can I sleep here just for tonight, too?" Kouto asked. "Sasuke doesn't have to leave either."
"Of course!" Hinata replied, unknowingly cutting off Sasuke who was reluctant to agree. The bed wasn't big enough for all three to sleep comfortingly so he hoped Kouto would decide to leave. But he had inherited his stubbornness from both sides.
They all huddled close, back to chest with Sasuke bringing up the rear. He was glad that he hadn't been next to his nephew since he was still peeved at his intrusion. Blissfully ignorant of Sasuke's irritation, Kouto kept a firm grip of his mother's arm around him.
"Good night, baby," Hinata said sleepily.
"Good night." Both Sasuke and Kouto had replied.
Kouto turned around in confusion but Hinata kept her eyes closed, hoping that they could just pretend it didn't just happen. Her son narrowed his eyes and huffed, "I'm her baby, weirdo."
Sasuke declined to dignify that with a response.
A few minutes of silence passed.
"Mom, will I still be your favorite if you have more babies?" Kouto whispered to Hinata. "I mean, they might be like him so at least I'll be the cutest."
"Good night, Kouto!" Sasuke called out.
.
.
.
Shino walked behind Kiba's house where his friend was waiting for him. He sat down beside him and they both stared quietly as Tamaki played with Akamaru and a few cats.
"I…"
"I missed you, too," Kiba interrupted. He smiled at Shino who stared back understandingly. "So, what are we going to do? The news about Neji still feels unreal. I mean, do you think it's a good thing?"
Shino shrugged. "I don't know yet. I feel happy for him but selfishly I wonder if it might be a good thing for Hinata too."
Kiba scoffed in disagreement.
"His seal was removed which means that there's hope that Hinata's can too," Shino pointed out. "We just need to find out how exactly it happened."
"But didn't you hear? There are rumors that he's going to try to overthrow the Hyuuga leadership. I'm not their biggest fan and if he hadn't been a fucking asshole when we found Hinata, then I'd be cheering him on." Kiba frowned as he mindlessly pulled on some nearby grass. "Neji being the heir or even clan leader, having control over Hinata and her son… I don't know, man. It doesn't sound very reassuring."
"I have my concerns as well." Shino's eyes focused on the kikaichū that crawled around his hand; his bugs had just recently started acting normal. "Hanabi's keeping me updated on things and although she's not saying it, I know she's nervous about their upcoming fight. I offered to help her get ready when I fully recover but I don't know if we have enough time."
"So then we're just supposed to do nothing?" Kiba asked. "What if she loses?"
"First most we'll need to protect her, for Hinata's sake. It'd devastate her if her little sister is being harmed. She's also the only Hyuuga we can trust," Shino said. "And we'll just need to use all our resources to make it hard for Neji and his grandmother to get to Hinata or Kouto. I'm almost ready to fight again."
"Me too," Kiba said. But he still had some reservations about the extent of his abilities. He was training with Kurenai to overcome genjutsu but wasn't making as much progress as he would've liked. It was frustrating.
"Do you think she's forgiven us?" Kiba asked. "I mean, we put her in a shittier situation."
"I think she knows we honestly thought we were doing the right thing and didn't want her or her son to get hurt. But if she doesn't then we'll just need to try to make it up to her," Shino replied. "And we'll know soon enough. I've talked to my father and we've met with Kakashi a few times. Today we came to an agreement. In exchange for dropping our clan's grievances against the Uchiha, I want to talk to her face to face."
"What?!"
"A grievance is-"
Kiba shoved him. "Yeah, I know! I'm not a dummy, jerk. Anyways, do you think I can do the same?" He asked excitedly. This was the first time he felt like smiling. "I mean, my clan's not noble and uppity like yours but can I at least tag along?"
"I'm not against it." Shino dusted his jacket, trying to ignore the dig at his family. "As heir to my clan, Kakashi was happy to agree probably to lessen his stress. My father wasn't so eager to agree but he respected my decision. The Hokage will inform them when he sees them and I hope that they agree."
Kiba grinned but then looked confused. "I can't believe you've forgiven him, though. Just thinking about that fucker makes my blood boil."
"Truthfully, I won't forgive Sasuke and I still want to hurt him and his friend. But I need to see Hinata again, and to restore our friendship. She made a mistake not trusting us in the beginning. We'll finally talk calmly and find out what she wants. If Hinata wants to stay away, I don't want to force her to come back. That was our mistake. We all made mistakes and suffered because of them."
His friend nodded solemnly in agreement.
"But if she wants to come home, then I'll be more than ready to help her settle in," Shino continued. "I just want to help her however I can."
"Damn, my mom is gonna kill me when I tell her. But I also don't want to make it into an 'us vs Hinata' thing. We're her friends, dammit!" Kiba exclaimed. Feeling optimistic, his face finally broke into a large smile. "And with us by her side, there's no one that can get to her or Kouto."
Tamaki's giggles briefly caught their attention, causing Kiba to turn to look at his girlfriend. He loved her and felt lucky that she had stayed by his side.
"And Sasuke?" Shino asked.
"He can fall on his sword for all I care," he replied blissfully. "Hopefully over and over and over and over…"
.
.
"Do you have everything?" Shizune asked.
Shikamaru rolled his shoulders and holstered his pack over them. "Yeah, I double checked myself."
Kakashi's assistant smiled, knowing that he was much more reliable than their boss. Lately however, the Hokage had been more irritable and quick to snap. Everyone knew that the situation was serious and he had to tread the waters carefully. Setting aside the physical damages, he was balancing the concerns of the villagers, the council's pressures, and the rising political tension.
"I'll hold down the fort until he returns so make sure he doesn't stress out too much, okay?" She asked.
"Of course."
But he knew that it was impossible not to worry about the village and its people. Personally he was hesitant to leave especially after Ino went into labor prematurely. The stress had been too much for her but thankfully they had safely delivered Inojin. Seeing Sai and Ino fawn over their son made him think about his own life. Leaving the new parents was easier when he remembered that Choji was on hand; he was taking his role as godfather just as serious as Shikamaru did with Mirai.
However despite the good outcome, Shikamaru couldn't help but feel bitter towards Sasuke in particular. His actions had a ripple effect and it affected the people he cared about. Remaining calm when he saw his smug face would be incredibly hard.
Just as he was going to knock on Kakashi's door, it opened. Hanabi Hyuuga briefly acknowledged his presence with a nod as she walked away.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Kakashi said uncharacteristically. He hastily stuffed a scroll into a bag and handed it to one of his ANBU guards.
"Should we worry about the Hyuuga?" Shikamaru asked as Kakashi put on his hat.
"We should always worry about them," Kakashi said cryptically. He then grinned cheerfully at Shikamaru. "But right now, we'll focus on the reason why I'm headed for an early grave."
"I guess we should be off," he replied.
They traveled swiftly towards Kiri, both hoping their first encounter with Sasuke wouldn't end violently.
.
.
.
Aoi walked away from the grisly scene. It hadn't taken long for his audible genjutsu to cause his target to butcher his younger brother without hesitation. Despite the cries of the child, the young man stuck him down until his screams were silenced. Then he just stood there, an empty shell, waiting for Aoi's next command.
The green haired man simply walked away. But the experiment wasn't done; they needed to see how long his target would be under the effects. In the initial trials, civilian victims remained under his illusions. It was a bit insulting considering that it was near impossible for them to escape any form of genjutsu under their own power. However Orochimaru wanted to make sure that he hadn't squandered the gifts he gave him so he grudgingly complied.
After a few trials, they started kidnapping shinobi from various villages making sure not to leave an obvious pattern. The genin were easy enough but now he had moved on to chunin level ninja. Nori relished in his initial failures and crackled like the red haired witch he considered her.
Yet with his latest trial being this successful, Aoi felt confident he was ready. He headed towards Orochimaru's laboratory. He bowed and remained bent at the knee until he was addressed by his master.
"Have you failed this soon already?" Orochimaru asked.
"No, Master."
"Are you sure?" The sannin chuckled mockingly, "It's much too soon to see if you succeeded."
"Master, I assure you I'm ready for my mission. I can guarantee that I will secure the assets and-"
Orochimaru sighed dramatically and crossed his arms. "Your eagerness is admirable but I'm afraid that we aren't going to rush into Sasuke's den just to satisfy your ego. My plan will proceed when all the pieces are in place. Do you understand?"
Aoi shook in fear as his voice grew colder and more sinister. "My apologies, Master. I was merely trying to show you that I'm grateful that you chose me for such an important mission. I'll continue to work until you deem the time ready."
"Correct answer."
Aoi scrambled away, trying to avoid Nori's mocking gaze.
"Master, as much as I enjoyed seeing the failure be put in his place, why are we postponing our attack? We don't need Aoi. Send me and a few of my men and we will grab the child," Nori insisted. "Please."
Despite being one of his favorites, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at her proclamation. "I'm honored to have so many of my subjects ready to make my dreams come true. However while Sasuke and his family doesn't have any real protection, we will wait. While the child is the main target, the Hyuuga woman still has her uses despite the unfortunate news that she has been sealed."
Nori remained confused.
"It's a blessing that the Uchiha bloodline didn't end with Sasuke. The Uchiha child is a rarity, one that cannot be harmed in any way. But if something happens to him or his Sharingan, then my dreams die with him. However with the Hyuuga having taken a liking to Uchiha men, I have more specimens," he said ominously.
"She's expecting?" Nori asked in disbelief.
"She will be soon enough," Orochimaru smirked. "My eyes on the ground have assured me of their frequent coitus but they'll be helped along to assure pregnancy. And when it's time, I'll be swift to obtain my deserved treasures."
"Then what's the use of Aoi if he can barely control a Chunin?" Nori questioned.
Orochimaru chuckled. "I was infuriated to hear of her sealing but it's a blessing in disguise. When I control the mother, I'll also have full control the children. I get word that the time is right, you and Aoi will have your chance to show how grateful you are to be my subjects."
Nori nodded; she was anticipating a fight with the escaped experiments and wondered who she'd face off with. After all, no one knew their greatest weaknesses better than the man that nurtured their gifts.
The sannin dismissed the woman. He kept the perverse smirk on his face as he thought of the insider he had in Kiri and couldn't wait to break Sasuke. Unbeknownst to his own ninja, Orochimaru was working on an integral part of the planned assault. Sasuke was incredibly powerful but emotionally unstable and no one knew how to manipulate the Uchiha more than the Snake Sannin.
AN: It's been a hot minute since my last update, hasn't it? So yeah, New Year same me. LOL, I'm laid back as hell so it takes a lot to rile me up. But tbh, it reeks of pretentiousness when someone tells me they're unfollowing this story. I don't owe you anything and you don't owe me an explanation (psst, I don't care to know why). You do you and I'll do me. K? Awesome!
Guys! We're almost to a major shakeup and I can't wait. What's up must come down, and it might go down in the next chapter…