My dearest dears. First, I have to say how thrilled I am that this story has reached over 1000 reviews. I NEVER thought I'd be one of those authors...I feel so fabulous, and so lucky to have the best readers ever. I did want to write a one-shot for the occasion, but I'm so swamped with things going on in my life right now, I simply don't have the time T-T But I'm thinking come X-Mass time, I will write a SasuHina and dedicate it to y'all. Because you are awesome:)

I must apologize for the long wait: things are cray cray at work, AND I'm doing NaNoWriMo. I'm also pleased to announce that as of today, I have original works that have been accepted in four online publications! I don't feel entirely comfortable posting the links here, but if you would like to read my original stuff, just write me a PM or a line in your review and I'll share with you:)

Like I said, I'm doing NaNoWriMo this month, but I'll do my best to update as soon as I can!

Special thanks to Uchiha.s, as always, for beta'ing and catching my weird mistakes:)

Enjoy the next chappy-only 4 more chapters after this!


Chapter Twenty-Eight: Sun Eyes

"Mist? I can't let you go to Mist!" Tsunade exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air.

Hinata's face falls. "II thought that maybe, they could use someone like m-me. I don't want to wait around in the village while Sasuke's in p-prison. And anyway…" Hinata takes a deep breath to steady herself, then meets Tsunade's steely gaze. "I really do want to make a name for myself."

Tsunade sighs as if deflating, and sinks down into a chair. "It's not that. It's just… It's your ocular jutsu," she explains at last. "It's…changed."

"Changed?" Hinata echoes. She knows there's a Sharingan variant stuck in her head, but that should only make her more useful in the field. Tsunade's tone worries her. "What do you mean, changed?"

"Sasuke," Tsunade roars, ignoring Hinata, "get the hell in here. And you," Tsunade says, handing Hinata a cup of black, gooey liquid, "drink this."

It's the vile medicine from before. Hinata downs the liquid as quickly as possible, pinching her nose shut so that she doesn't have to smell it. It burns like hell, but it isn't long before her chakra feels replenished and her pain diminishes.

Sasuke ducks in, his hands shoved into his pockets. He gives Hinata a kind of half-grin before he turns to Tsunade. "What do you want, old hag?" he says, scowling. Despite herself, Hinata smiles. Sasuke really knows how to brighten up the room.

Tsunade cuffs Sasuke on the head. "Uchiha-brat," she growls, "activate your ocular jutsu."

"But"

"Do it," Tsunade orders.

"Tch. Fine." Sasuke closes his eyes. When he opens them again, the wheels of the Sharingan turn slowly.

"Keep going, brat," Tsunade says.

Is it Hinata's imagination, or does Sasuke hesitate before his red eyes glow brighter? While the Sharingan in his right eye remains the same, his left eye fades from red to gold. There are no geometric patterns inlaid on his left iris and no commas; it is solid yellow, bright like a small sun.

"W-what's that?" Hinata gasps, fascinated by Sasuke's golden, pupiless eye.

"Activate your chakra, Hinata," Tsunade orders.

"But"

"Just do it," both Tsunade and Sasuke say at once.

With a nervous smile, Hinata channels her chakra into her eyes, gingerly at first, then with increasing confidence when her chakra pathways don't burn.

Tsunade hands Hinata a mirror. She looks into it with trepidation, and is relieved to see nothing more than her regular, Byakugan-enhanced eyes. Her eyes flicker from the mirror up to Tsunade's expressionless face.

"Keep going," Tsuande says.

Hinata nods before regarding the mirror once more. She gathers more chakra and her eyes turn pink, then blood-red with three whirling commas.

"Keep going," Tsunade insists once more.

Hinata is tired, and her eyes are starting to sting, but her curiosity outweighs her discomfort. She funnels as much chakra as she dares into her eyes

The left eye remains the same, but the right turns into a seamless gold disk. "W-what…?" Hinata mumbles, her mouth agape.

"My thoughts exactly. What is it? I certainly don't know," Tsunade grumbles. "Deactivate your jutsu, both of you. And Hinatasummon the old bitch."

"W-who?"

"Erishiki," both Sasuke and Tsuande snap at once. Shaking her head, Hinata deactivates her eyes and funnels chakra into the tattoo in her arm. There is a popping sound, then a great plume of billowing smoke that fills the room. It makes Hinata's already sore eyes water; she wishes that Erishiki preferred less showy entrances.

"I was wondering when you would call me," is Erishiki's grumpy reply, once the smoke clears.

"Oh, you were wondering, were you?" Tsunade mutters, hands on her hips. "You have some explaining to do, sensei."

Erishiki laughs roughly at that. "I'll tell you anything you want, Tsunade-chan. But firstcan an old woman trouble you for a cup of tea?"

While Tsunade sputters and shouts at her sensei, Hinata gazes at Sasuke, who is leaning against the far wall, his hands stuffed into his pockets. His expression is masked, but his eyes are dark and stormy. Hinata thinks that he looks bemused, and just a touch forlorn. She knows the feeling.

Hinata looks away from Sasuke and down at her hands. She's not quite sure what to think about her new doujutsuit's confusing and unsettling, and it brings up the old, aching questions. Who is she? What is her purpose? Why has she been given a power she isn't even sure she is worthy of?

At least she's not alone in her confusion. In a way, she's happy that she and Sasuke share this experience. They are like two halves of a whole, and not just because of their new doujutsu. It's because they are friends, and something more than friends; because they have shared secrets, and burdens, and strange destinies. Because they have never given up on each other.

With that thought, Hinata looks up at Sasuke and cracks a smile. Sasuke holds her gaze for a long time, speaking to her without words. At last, he grins. The darkness in his eyes lifts, like the sun bursting through the clouds. Hinata knows that he understands, and her smile widens.

He saunters over to her bedside and sits down, taking her hand in his. His skin is hot, radiating warmth into her cold fingers. Her pulse quickens. She licks her dry lips, and Sasuke chuckles low in his throat. Hinata looks away from his smoldering eyes, hoping that he does not notice her raging blush.

Suddenly, the moment is broken: Erishiki looms over Hinata, her face inches away. Hinata gives a strangled yelp and presses back against her pillows. Erishiki's beady eyes glare down at Hinata, scrutinizing her, and Hinata feels cold sweat beading the back of her neck. She only remembers to breathe when Sasuke gives her hand a squeeze.

"I see no problem with the hatchling going to Mist," Erishiki mutters at last. Hinata blinks. She had forgotten that anyone besides herself and Sasuke were in the room, and for a moment, she isn't sure what Tsunade and Erishiki are talking about.

"You see no problem with Hinata going to Mist?" Tsunade asks in disbelief. "Even though she has a brand new, unheard of"

"Nonsense. I'm the one who put that jutsu there. It's the next evolution of the Sharingan," Erishiki counters, unperturbed. "The Mangekyo was a freak accidentbad programming on my account. This is what the Sharingan was supposed to turn into."

"And what, pray tell, does it do?" Tsunade snaps.

Erishiki smiles widely, and Hinata is stunned. She wonderswas this all an elaborate set-up? How long did Erishiki know this was going to happen? Before Hinata can ask, Erishiki, her eyes half-lidded, goes on to explain.

"I'll tell you want they can't do. They have a built-in mechanism that prevents anyone from resurrecting the dead, themselves included. There's also no burning black hellfire that can't be put outthat's been nixed, too. What it can do is build the ultimate defense...among other things," she adds, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Hinata-chan, activate your jutsu."

Though Hinata is tired, she complies. She is beyond curious. Once her golden eye is active, Erishiki commands, "All right. Tsunade, hit her with all you've got."

Tsunade gives Erishiki a quizzical stare. "Are you sure?"

The sorceress snorts. "Do it."

Tsunade shrugs, then reels back her glowing fist. Hinata winces, but stifles the urge to hide her face behind her hands. Tsunade's fist lunges forward slowly, slowly, before it comes to a stop about a foot away from Hinata's face. It is as if Tsunade's hands are caught in invisible molasses.

"Impressive," Tsunade says, pulling back and massaging her hand. "What else can it do?"

"Uchiha-brat," Erishiki bellows, "activate."

Sasuke grunts. His eyes flash red, then gold.

"Good. Now Sasuke-brat, stand with Hinata-chan. That's a good boy," Erishiki calls, ignoring Sasuke's scathing look. Hinata feels like she and Sasuke are posing for an awkward family photograph. "Now Tsunade, try hitting Hinata again."

Tsunade nods and draws back her fist. Time slows once more as Tsunade's fist moves forwardonly this time, when Tsunade's fist stops in the middle of the air, her chakra fizzles and sputters like water on a hot stove. Tsunade is left panting, drained of her chakra.

"That's one hell of a jutsu," Tsunade mutters, sinking down into a seat, her face pale and pinched. "Thanks for the warning, sensei."

"Any time," the tortoise replies dryly. "Deactivate your jutsu now, children. Tsunade, I don't see any reason why the hatchling can't go to Mist. Time away from the villagetime away from the Uchiha-bratwill do her good. She might even learn a thing or two about her new jutsu."

Tsunade exhales hotly and runs a hand through her hair. "I don't know, senseiwhat about her clan? They'll never let her go!"

Erishiki laughs, a hoarse, grating sound. "Oh Tsunade, you lack imagination. I have a plan. Nothing would please me more than for Hinata to go on this mission. Though I might request that the hatchling come to me first, just for a weekcan't hurt to get a little training in first, right Hinata-chan?"

"Right," Hinata mutters weakly. She's not sure of what she's just gotten herself into. But when she looks up into Sasuke's warm, glinting eyes, she regains her smile. "Right!" Hinata says, this time with determination.


Hinata is sitting in an over-sized armchair in Naruto's office, her feet wiggling impatiently in the plush carpet. It's amazing how much can change in just one week, she thinks, leaning over the Hokage's desk. Her eyes skim paper work that she already knows by heart.

"So there we have it, Hokage-sama," Tsunade calls. "Just sign here, here, and…here."

Naruto grins ear-to-ear as he signs. "Oh boy Hinata-chan, your father is going to be so pissed."

Hinata colors, but only shrugs in response. "That's not my concern anymore," she says. "With your permission, Hokage-sama, I'd like to leave now for my mission."

"Wait!" Naruto shouts. "First, I want to give you the teleport sealjust in case anything happens out there. Can't let one of my best friends walk out of here without a backup plan!"

Hinata really blushes now, for more reasons than one. "But Naruto-k-kun, the H-hiraishin seal"

"Well, unless you don't want it," Naruto babbles, "but you know, if you do, I'd be really, really happy to give you oneyou know? 'Cause it's the least I could do, after everything…"

"S-sure," Hinata stutters at last, taken aback by Naruto's offer. "That would be f-fine."

Naruto gives her a toothy grin before launching over his desk and landing next to her chair. Hinata looks down at her hands and shifts her weight from side to side, feeling awkward.

"Hinata-chan," he says, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry for being such an ass. I'm really, really, really sorry. For once, I'm the socially retarded one, and Sasuke is the people person."

Hinata blinks back tears and meets Naruto's gaze. "Naruto-kun...you may have been socially inept, but Sasuke-kun has never been a people person," she manages with a timid smile.

Naruto barks with laughter and clasps her on the back. "It's good to be friends again, right Hinata-chan?"

Hinata offers an enthusiastic nod, because she is too choked-up to say anything. Her eyes water as Naruto places the Hiraishin seal on her arm, though the seal does not hurt. No, it glows with warm, pleasant chakra, like the sun itself is kissing her arm.

When Naruto is done, Hinata stands and throws her arms around him in an impromptu hug. "Thanks, Naruto-kun."

"Hey, my pleasure," Naruto manages though his chuckles, squeezing her back. "You've already said goodbye to everyone?"

Hinata takes a step back. "Almost everyone…" She's managed a teary farewell to Kurenai, Shino, and Kiba. Neji, the only Hyuga who had visited her in the hospital, had come this morning and had wished her well. There is only one person left.

"I'm just going to stop by the prisonsay goodbye to Sasuke-kunthen I'm off," Hinata says. She turns to Tsunade and smiles. "And of course, I have one more important person to thank."

Hinata practically leaps at Tsunade and captures her in a hug. "I'll miss you, baachan."

"Oi, don't get me started," Tsunade calls, her voice hoarse with suppressed emotion. "Take care of yourself now, my little mutant."

Hinata screws up her face and sticks out her tongue at the Godaime. "Yes ma'am!" Hinata calls with a mock salute. Then she adds, more quietly, "And…say goodbye to Sakura-chan for me. Okay?"

Naruto and Tsunade both nod. Hinata hasn't seen Sakura since she woke up from her coma. She assumes that Sakura is avoiding her. That's part of the reason why Hinata wants to leave the village for a while: to give Sakura and Naruto a chance to reaffirm their friendship with Sasuke without being in the way.

She gives Naruto and Tsunade a bright smile. Before Hinata can cry, she strides to the door and exits, her head held high.

There is only one more thing she has to do, and that is to say goodbye to Sasuke. She tells herself that she is not nervousafter all, she and Sasuke have spent every waking and sleeping moment together for the last weekbut still, her heart beats irregularly in her chest, and her palms sweat.

Hinata shakes her head at her antics as she exits the Hokage's tower. Outside, the sunshine baths her face, and a gentle breeze blows back her unbound hair. She knows that once she bids farewell to Sasuke, it's nothing but the open road from here to the Mist.

She tells herself that she won't miss Sasuke that much. But this time, she knows that it is a lie.


Thanks for reading! Please review:)