For the last time, for the last chapter, my last disclaimer for this Fanfiction, I don't own Naruto, and thank you so much for reading this story until the end! :')

Chapter 35:

The first sensation he felt was warmth. He wasn't quite sure where it was coming from, but it was there. The next he felt was his sweat rolling down his forehead. Why was it so hot? Then he heard some sort of beep, a rhythmic one. He could feel some things attached to his chest and hand. Where was he? He felt numb all over; his body seemed so tired even though he had been resting. He felt as though something was restraining his eyes. He moved his hands to touch them but found no bindings on it, so he opted to open them.

The blinding light brought him to close them once more. He opened them more carefully this time, blocking the sunlight with his hand until his eyesight had fully adjusted to it. As soon as it was, he scanned his surroundings. It was a hospital room, he tried to move his hands, but one of them refused to respond. He finally looked down and realized why, then the events of what happened before came rushing back to him. The war, Obito and Madara, Naruto, the fight, then him releasing every one of them from the jutsu.

He stared at the ceiling for a moment, wondering why on earth they even spared him. The door suddenly opened and he looked at the doorway, a familiar face greeted him. "Sasuke-kun?" her voice spoke out and he let out a sigh…

"What is it Sakura?" he asked, uninterested in why she's even here. Where was Naruto?

"How long have you been awake?" she asked, immediately standing beside him, checking everything was fine with him, before giving him some water. He didn't even feel he was thirsty, but he finished it in one gulp…

"Just now, I suppose." He replied, still looking at the ceiling, "Naruto?"

"He woke up days earlier than you, and now he's up and about." She said, "That baka told me he was already on the way here and yet he's nowhere nearby at all. Ah, I almost forgot, Shizune-san said she might be able to give you guys prosthesis for, well, your arm."

"I see…" he mumbled, not sure what it was he was looking for…

"Hinata's been visiting you too." Sakura suddenly piped up, and Sasuke had to quirk up an eyebrow at her. He didn't even want to know. "She's been bringing you some flowers every now and then."

"I didn't need a report Sakura." Sasuke interrupted, not wanting to hear about Hinata. The last time they saw each other, well, she was on the verge of dying, but before that, she had been clearly angry at him. It was understandable, justifiable. The door suddenly slammed open…

"OHAYO!" the cheery kyuubi host greeted them, "Ah teme! You're finally awake! You still remember what you said to me after our fight?" he cheekily reminded. Sakura looked quite confused, and Sasuke could feel the embarrassment in his very bones. He was caught up in the moment, he didn't think that cheeky bastard actually engraved it in his mind. "You admitted defeat to me! Hahaha!"

"Baka, I don't recall such a thing." He denied, looking away, he was pretty sure he was blushing…

"Kawaii! Sasuke-kun's blushing!" Ino suddenly popped right in front of his face and he had to be careful not to fall off the bed, to save himself from some trouble. "Ne Sakura-chan?" both girls looked at him like he was some sort of baby. He's suddenly reminded why he found Konoha quite irritating. How on earth did they manage to arrive?

"Honestly Ino, he's been gone for two and a half years and your being this loud already. So troublesome." Shikamaru muttered, rubbing his eyes like he had just woken up from a nap, Chouji was right beside him letting out a sigh, "By the way Kiba," Shikamaru turned to the dog nin who was on his other side, "Why were you with Ino a while ago?" the dog nin immediately tensed up, and blushed, so did Ino, before he looked around frantically…

"Ah, yes, I remembered, we have training to do with my teammates, ikuso Akamaru!" he stated and immediately went out of the room to go and do as he had said. Shikamaru and Chouji stared after him with narrowed eyes…

"Seriously, this is so troublesome." Muttered Shikamaru to Chouji who just nodded…

"Right, Ino-chan there's no need to hide you know." Called out Chouji to the mind-control user, "We'd support you!" Ino just blushed all the more…

"Support me for what?! It's not like something is going on between us…" she trailed off and soon enough shut her mouth at the looks both of her teammates were giving her. Sasuke was watching them for a while before he let out a soft chuckle. Every one froze before looking at each other and laughed as well.

Maybe Konoha was a bit troublesome, but it was home, Sasuke thought to himself.

"Hinata-sama, Inuzuka-san wants to see you."

"Ah, arigatou Aiwa-san." She called out before fixing the papers her father had given her neatly on her table. After the war, her father had started to bring her to the clan meetings, telling her how to run a clan and all that, forcing her to follow him, watch him, observe him. At first she was nervous, what was the purpose of her father ordering her to do so? However, the pattern seems so clear, and she thinks she knows why. She has finally gotten her father's, as well as the elder's favor, in succeeding her father as the head of the clan.

She got out to meet with her teammate and greeted him politely as she usually does. "Have you heard?" Kiba asked her and Hinata looked at him expectantly, "Sasuke's awake now." He finished and Hinata was surprised, before composing herself…

"I see," she finally said, "Well, I'm glad he's awake." She finished and smiled at him. Kiba eyed her curiously. "Nani?"

"That's all? No rushing to the hospital and save him from Ino and Sakura?"

"Eh? Why would I have to save him from them?" she asked, "Is he in any way in danger around them?" Kiba seemed skeptical, but stood down anyway. He himself wasn't sure where Hinata stood when it came to Sasuke, nor where Sasuke stood when it came to Hinata, but he wasn't going to force her. "Is that all you came here to say Kiba-kun?"

"Huh?" Kiba blinked at her for a moment, before remembering the other reason, "What about you and I go to Shino and train for some time?" he grinned at her, "You know we haven't done that in a long time, Team 8 training, like the good ol' days? What do you say?" Hinata smiled and nodded…

"Hai, I would love that." Hinata looked inside the compound and saw Ko passing by, "Ko-san, I'm going out to train with Kiba-kun and Shino-kun." She stated before going out. The two of them were walking side by side, Akamaru wandering away from them from time to time as he went to explore some things on his own, "Kiba-kun?"

"Hm?"

"How was Sasuke-kun, when you came to visit him?" she finally asked, looking at the sky. Kiba thought for a moment, all he heard was Naruto boasting Sasuke admitted defeat to him, Sasuke denying him, Ino and Sakura making cute faces at Sasuke…

"Pretty much normal." He replied, "Like everything is finally right with the world, in a way, maybe it already is." He said, and Hinata smiled…

"Hai, I think you are right, demo," Hinata contemplated whether she should even say what Karin and the others had told her. To be honest, it wasn't her secret to tell. But still, she'd have to ask Sasuke about it. Not that she was planning on going to him. She wasn't even sure how to approach him anymore, and now they are back to square one…

"-inata, Hinata are you listening?" asked Kiba and Hinata snapped out of her thoughts, only to realize they've reached the Aburame clan's house. Soon Shino came to the gates to meet with them, "Shino! Are you up for some training?" asked Kiba with a cheeky grin on his face and Shino just nodded and walked with them, "Anyway, what was it you're trying to say Hinata?" asked Kiba and Hinata just shook her head, "Ne Shino, did you know Sasuke's awake already?"

"I've come across the news somehow." Stated Shino, a bug placed atop his shoulder and Kiba wondered what he meant by 'come across', "Anyway, if it's about Uchiha Sasuke," he stopped and looked at Hinata, "I really think you have better chances in visiting him now than back then Hinata." Both males stopped and looked at Hinata. "You aren't entirely a stranger to Sasuke, what's more is that you two seem to have some kind of bond between the two of you, and no matter how hard he tried to back then, it was never severed, just as he tried for years to sever his bonds with Naruto, as well as the rest of Konoha."

"Arigato Shino-kun, Kiba-kun, demo, I'm fine just as how I am now." She smiled and proceeded to head to the training grounds. Kiba let out a sigh and turned to Shino…

"She isn't going to approach Sasuke now Shino, maybe it should be that way. I mean, she seems happy." Kiba reasoned and Shino looked at Kiba for a moment…

"Shame on you Kiba." Was all he said, "Look at her." He gestured towards Hinata, "Look at her eyes, her hands." Kiba wasn't blind. He knows that whenever Hinata starts to look at the skies as if she can see something, she was troubled. He knows that when her hands start to meet and refused to let go, she was unsure. "To think that you would think she seems happy, I wonder if you really do want to make her happy."

"Aw Shino don't be like that!" Kiba whined, "I mean, Hinata clearly doesn't want anything to do with Sasuke anymore." Shino stared at him through his glasses, but Kiba could tell Shino was glaring at him. His instincts were telling him so, "Fine. She isn't, she needs to talk to him."

"Good boy." Shino said, ignoring Kiba's protests of him being different from a dog and a whine from Akamaru, "Besides, you haven't told me yet about Ino, it seems like our precious friendship has come in second when it comes to her. Not to mention you went to get Hinata first before me." An immediate sulking atmosphere surrounded the two, completely unnoticed by the oblivious Hyuga heiress.

Hinata remembers how Sasuke had looked when he was lying there unmoving. Half of his left arm missing, eyes closed, the monitor beeping just like that. She remembers what she had seen in the jutsu, how horrifying it was for her to remember someone who wasn't there, who never existed in the first place. She wanted to be there when he woke up, but at the same time, she was terrified. What would he do? How would he react? Was she acting so close or not? Should she at least confess, or wait for it to die down? The latter seems to be a very good option.

She arrived at the training grounds, and knows Kiba and Shino weren't too far away. She sat down on the ground, readying herself for the training. She knows it will start with a friendly spar. She stretches, her mind still somewhere far, far away from her. Kiba and Shino had finally arrived. Knowing that Hinata was thinking of something else…

"Ne niisan," Hanabi called out as she took a sip from her tea, Neji sitting across from her, his cursed seal visible. "How do you think Hinata-neechan would react with Sasuke-san?" Neji spared her a glance before taking a sip from his own tea…

"I hardly think that is any of our concern." He replied, "Demo, I think we need not worry, she can handle herself after all." He offered Hanabi a smile, a small one, but a smile nonetheless. Hanabi smiled back…

"Hai, your right." Hanabi stated, "Ah, niisan, have you confessed yet?" asked Hanabi with a mischievous glint in her eyes, which made Neji almost choke on his tea…

Days have passed since Sasuke had awoken, and soon enough he'll be discharged. He found out that somewhere during his comma, both his sharingan and rinnegan were sealed. Of course, once he broke free of the seals, it was soon deemed fit enough for him to be discharged. Naruto and Sakura were standing beside him, both on either of his side. Every day they visited him, but Hinata never did. He was starting to rethink if what Sakura had said about her visiting was just a lie, mainly to make him feel at ease at some point.

There was no denying it. To him, Hinata had a calming presence. Sure Sakura may have had a habit of doting on him every now and then, praising him and all, but she's more of like the ever supportive sister at his side. Hinata seemed to have the presence of, dare he say it, his mother. It was comforting and terrifying for him all the same, that if he'd get close, she'd disappear from him. "So where are you planning on staying?" asked Sakura, disrupting him from his thoughts and he just shrugged…

"I'll keep an eye out for things… I guess." He replied, looking around for a certain dark haired girl, ignoring the whispers and the stares he's been getting from the people around them. He didn't let it bother him when they shamelessly talked about the massacre and his brother down to the number of his fangirls that increase every day back then, like hell he'd let their comments about his betrayal and poor judgement on his part irk him now. Sasuke finally looked up ahead, and paused instinctively. Both Naruto and Sakura noticed.

Right in front of them, was Hyuga Neji. He wasn't particularly fond of the Uchiha, nor was Sasuke of him, but it didn't mean they'd go at each other's neck every time they saw each other. If they'd have a choice, they'd rather avoid seeing each other at all. "Ah Neji!" Naruto called out as he waved at the Hyuga prodigy, who just nodded at him, "Where's Hinata?" he asked, and the mention of the girl's name made Sasuke all rigid to the core. No one's ever said her name since he woke up. Sakura had to knock some sense into Naruto's head…

"Baka!"

"Ne Sakura-chan, how am I the baka when it's clear that Sasuke-teme really wants to see her even just for once?" he asked innocently that Sasuke just had to let out a sigh and turn around, "Oi teme where're you going?! Teme!"

"Leave it Naruto," Neji finally said, "He's not going anywhere after all."

"Demo-"

"And even if he decides to leave the village once more," added Neji, "He's free to do so already. No one wants his head anymore since no one wants to kill someone to whom they owe their lives to."

"I guess you're right, demo," Naruto just stared at Sasuke's retreating back, before sighing, "Oh well, oi Sasuke!" he yelled out despite the fact that Sasuke kept walking, "I'll be waiting for you at my apartment alright! After all, I could use a hand over there!" he cheekily joked, waving his missing arm, to which Sakura mentally face-palmed. Sasuke paused and stared at Naruto for a moment, before a ghost of a smirk made its way to his mouth…

"Baka." He muttered under his breath before continuing to walk. He roamed the streets, ignoring everyone. There was some kind of peace he felt with wandering around, not much purpose or mission to do. Was it like this to be a wanderer, he wondered…

"Sasuke!" he heard someone call and looked over his shoulder. It was Taka, Suigetsu being the one to call him out, "How does it feel to have just one hand?" he asked all smug and all while Karin scolded him for being insensitive. As usual, Sasuke ignored him and saw Juugo looking at him…

"I'm sorry." The large boy suddenly said, bowing in front of him, while the people around stared as they passed them by. "That time, I was completely filled with the bloodlust, I lost sight of myself."

"Sigh, don't sweat it." Sasuke said, "It's over now right?"

"Hai." Juugo replied, standing up straight to face him, "Demo, Hinata-san could have died." Sasuke stared at him for a moment, before nodding…

"Right, so could everyone who'd come across you within that state of yours." Sasuke replied coolly at him, and everyone else was surprised, "Like I said, don't sweat it." he turned to walk away.

"About Hinata!" Karin suddenly piped up and Sasuke paused, waiting for her to continue, "I heard that she was going to succeed the clan." Sasuke stared at Karin for a moment, before nodding once more...

"I'm glad." He said, not looking at them, "She deserves the recognition." And with that he further went away from them. The three of them stared at him in confusion, not quite understanding what was going on in Sasuke's head, but lately, Sasuke hasn't been thinking of anything at all. No more was the revenge for his fallen clan plaguing his mind. No more was his heart filled with anger that he couldn't shake it off. All he could feel right now, was how calm he is…

And how empty he's become once more.

There was a clan meeting, and every one of the Hyuga household, branch and main members alike, were present, awaiting the day, that the next successor would be announced. The elders were placed in the front, led by Hiashi. Hanabi and Hinata were seated to the right side, along with Neji. The rest were in front, awaiting the announcement. It finally reached the part where they'd officially make known who was to succeed as the clan head, and everyone had a bet on who it was going to be. "As my successor, I have chosen-" Hyuga Hiashi paused for a moment, and looked at Hinata, "Hyuga… Neji."

Gasps were heard throughout the clan members. Even Neji was surprised, and so was Hanabi. But Hinata didn't wear a face of shock, nor did she wear a face of disappointment, no, for the first time in her life, she was happy she wasn't chosen…

"Hinata, I will be officially announcing you as my heir." Hiashi had told her one day, "Back then, Hanabi seemed likely the wiser choice, however, she's still too young, a bit hot tempered too. You on the other hand, you have good relations with the entirety of the household, if not with all, then with most of them. You've improved over the years and have proven yourself capable over and over again. I shouldn't have been so blind to see this, after all, you are my first born, this was your birthright." He said and Hinata looked at the floor in front of her.

None of what she did was enough. She just wasn't good enough, in terms of skills and diplomacy, there was someone else more experienced than her. "O-otousama." She called out softly, "I am grateful, your recognition is something I have yearned for all my life." She admitted, "Demo, being the clan head was never in my goals." She finished and Hiashi looked expectantly at her, "This maybe a bit out of the traditions, demo, change is inevitable otousama, I know of someone far more capable of leading the clan, and I know he will not disappoint." She bowed and remained like that for a moment until she made her request…

"I ask of you to put Neji-niisan as one of your choices and think of it carefully with the elders." She looked at her father in the eye once more, seeing his calculating gaze upon her once more before she bowed once more, "Onegaishimasu!"

"A branch member?" asked Hiashi to Hinata, "He already has the seal on his forehead."

"If you can put it on him," Hinata said and stared at her father in the eye, "You can remove it as well." Hiashi had to stop himself from reacting too much for at that very moment, it wasn't Hinata he saw, but her mother that dared to defy him in everything he does. Hinata's mother was also one of the few people only bold enough to stand up for the branch members, feeling it as unfair for them to bear a seal to keep them in check. Hiashi broke away his gaze on her before letting out a sigh…

"I won't make any promises, demo," Hiashi looked at his eldest, "I will bring it up with the elders."

"Arigatou gozamaisu otousama." She replied, bowing once more before Hiashi had dismissed her.

Hinata looked back at her cousin, who was for the first time, seemed to be at a loss for words, not knowing what he should do next. Hiashi was extending his hand, telling him to come up beside him, and Hanabi had all but pushed him out of his position. Neji snapped back to his senses before taking a stand beside his uncle, "If you wonder why I had chosen someone from the branch house, I tell you why not?" asked Hiashi, "After all," he locked eyes with Hinata, and she did the same, "Change is inevitable. And Neji, has proven himself more capable, than anyone else, to succeed me."

There wasn't a happier moment than that for the entire household.

News spread fast about the Hyuga household, the clan with the strictest sense of tradition, decided to break this so-called tradition. They didn't choose Hinata, but rather chose Neji instead. Sasuke mused that Hinata probably declined the offer, and they saw Neji the perfect substitute. Or maybe, they really had thought of Neji about the start, and just needed a little push. Sasuke decided not to let it get to him. Naruto had been spouting nonsense since the time he had moved in the apartment, and his replacement arm still hasn't arrived yet.

He was going to wait a little bit longer, but Naruto had begun to ask him why he wasn't unpacking at all, despite the days he spent in the apartment doing absolutely nothing. "I'm going to go." Sasuke finally said, in the middle of their training session. Kakashi-sensei wasn't with them, since he had just been appointed as the sixth Hokage after all, so it was understandable. Both Sakura and Naruto froze at the statement before giving him their full attention, "I'm going to leave."

"Demo, you just got back." Sakura reasoned out and Naruto nodded before gulping down his packed ramen…

"Oi teme if you-" Naruto started, but he was cut-off…

"I'm not sure where I'll be going." He admitted, "Just roam around the nations, look for something." He leaned back, looking at the sky, "I'll come back, I won't cause you guys any trouble. But I cannot guarantee when I'll actually return."

"What exactly are you looking for teme?" Naruto finally asked and Sasuke shrugged…

"I'm not so sure either." Sasuke said and saw something flew right above him, before deciding to not bother about what it was. "You think Kakashi will let me go?"

"Kakashi probably, but I'm not so sure about the others." Sakura said, leaning back on her arms, "After all, you were once a S-rank missing-nin." Sasuke nodded before getting up. Both Sakura and Naruto watched him closely before they finally let him go without them. Sasuke didn't want to delay his plans any longer, he's always been like that, and that's why he was headed to the Hokage's building.

As soon as he entered the building, he could feel some of the shinobi's gazes at his back as he passed them by. He raised his remaining hand and knocked on the office. He heard some shuffling before Kakashi had answered him. "Come in." he faintly heard and opened the door and stepped in. "Ah, Sasuke, what a surprise. Come to visit your precious sensei?" Kakashi asked, clearly smiling behind his mask. Sasuke's eye twitched as he clearly saw that poorly hidden favorite book of his under the stack of papers he was pretending to read…

"Ie, I was looking for permission." He stated, and Kakashi waited for him to continue, "I wanted to leave Konoha, do some exploring… and self-searching." He announced, but barely mumbled the last part. Kakashi sat up straight and stared at his ex-student for a moment, before reaching a decision…

"Well, I can't exactly expect you to stay put, demo, I'm going to have to fix some things first before you can go. The Raikage, as well as the others, aren't too keen on making you leave the vicinity of our watchful gazes just yet after all." Sasuke nodded an turned around to leave, but Kakashi wasn't finished yet, "Oh and Sasuke," Sasuke paused to look at the rokudaime. "Make sure you don't leave any unfinished business. I'm not telling you to cut ties, I'm telling you to at least re-establish them before you leave." With that, Sasuke left pondering on his words.

He didn't have a particular destination in mind, but his feet led him back to where it all started for him. He was expecting some dusts, a bunch of debris, but he wasn't expecting it to have been brimming with some life, even if it was just a little…

He reached the Uchiha compound. He hadn't visited it for a while now, and no one had come here since that night he came back to the village, revenge as his goal. He didn't expect some sort of budding flowers, newly watered by the walls. He didn't expect for the streets to look like they've been cleared out of the unnecessary things. As he headed to his home, he didn't expect the place to be dustless, arranged, clean, he didn't expect someone to greet him, "Okaerinasai, Sasuke-kun." He looked to the side, and finally saw her…

She was dressed in her usual clothes, but her hair was tied back, and she wore some gloves with some cleaning equipment. Her pale lavender eyes looking at him softly, and he nodded back at her, "Tadaima..." He monotonously answered, but it brought a smile to her face anyway, "-Hinata."

That's right, for sure now, he will return, because now, he had a place to return to, and that place was called…

Home.

~The End~

Arigatou gozaimashita minna-san! Honto ni arigatou!

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