A/N: I received the nest that indeed my right ankle is broken…so I will be missing in action from practice for six weeks…at least. That means that I'll have more time to write, to make wallpapers, to make homework…to chill out.

And now I found out that Deviantart BANNED all my wallpapers for 'copyright' issues. But as long as I know, I have that if I'm doing it for lucrative purposes. And if I never asked for money to make to make them…I'm not illegal…right?

The Norwegian Dragon—here's the update…enjoy.

MayumiNorika—I believe that the songs were great choice, but I don't want to have on all chapters songs inserted. So I hope to write more from now on.

Spirit of the Chihuahua—thanks a lot hugs you back

kenshinlover2002—this semester I was practicing Judo and Wrestling…And I was supposed to participate on national on both sports (cries). But I'll be out of action for six week…O.o

Jigoku Hoshi—you should see the band that sings the song that Naruto did on last chapter…they look quite funny.

NanamiYatsumaki---I hope to keep going in this original path until the end…so thanks for telling me.

DimLight—thanks a lot for the support…here is a chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Chapter 34

She had to run.

She had to get out of there.

But while leaving the stage, someone grabbed her hand.

Hinata tensed for a moment, she didn't want to look back. She didn't know if the right person got the right message. But in that moment she couldn't listen to the crowd cheering, she couldn't hear the one who was holding her hand.

But she can swear to anyone that she can hear clearly HIS breathing, like it was something that her instinct can only detect. It was over taking, and she wanted to guess that the one who was holding her to leave the stage was THAT person.

But it can't be HIM, and she was starting to feel confused and worried.

When she started to care what others though about her? She lived her own way for so many years, why start now?

She was suddenly turned around, to recognize the one holding her. It was Riuychi.

"Hinata-senpai, you did great! The public loved the song! Why you were leaving?" asked the green-haired singer, not getting response from her. In that moment Hinata was looking at where Sai, Tatsuha and Kiba were watching the show. The only one who looked a little depressed was Kiba while the other two were clapping at her.

Kiba was the only who guessed to WHOM the song was for.

Then she was about to turn her look, but stopped. She didn't want to see his face again; she didn't know what she'll do if they eyes met again. Then she stepped away from Ryuichi, "I…I have to go…something came out." then she continued to step away and Shuichi looked at her eyes. He knew that something was wrong, bit couldn't put a finger what was it; her eyes didn't lied to him.

They looked like she was about to cry.

"Hinata-sama, what's wrong?" asked a little serious the pink-haired singer. And before he could get an answer, she walked away to backstage, where K and Yuki were waiting for her. But she passed them, making K stop her. "Hinata, is something wrong? I never knew that you were going to sing that one, but I liked it." says the crazy manager while she was looking somewhere else.

But then she heard the first tunes of Ryuichi and Shuichi's next song. Then she decided to leave, it will be too much for her.

Show me the meaning of being lonely…

"Oh, not that one…"

She disappeared from K's grip in a cloud of smoke, making Yuki scratch the back of his head. Why she suddenly acted like this? She looked even more depress while singing that song, her voice was almost like she was going to cry while doing it. And the reason wasn't Itachi; he can feel it.

She didn't know to where she was running to while jumping over the roofs of the village. She couldn't even look forward anymore, the water in her eyes were making things worse.

When her legs finally stopped running and she gained consciousness, she found out where she went to. It was the Third's tomb.

Standing in front of the tomb, she clenched her fists to her sides. Everything was happening too fast, her mind felt like she was about to explode. In less than a week everything that she thought and believed was tumbling down.

Her hero, her role model, her teacher, her best friend.

Her strongest bond.

Was also the one who will kill her?

And she was even at some point ok with that…

Everything that she believed about Itachi was all falling into pieces, forcing her to face the situation. That he was getting insane, that someday, if he was still alive he won't recognize her and try to kill her again. Maybe succeeding then…

And had to be that traitor of Uchiha Sasuke and face her with the toughest question of all…

"Did you ever love him back?!"

The same question had been hunting her for days. Even onstage the question was flooding in her. She hadn't found her answer yet, and it was driving her crazy. Then it started to rain. Looking up at the dark night sky, she started to remember the day of the Hokage's funeral.

Flashback

Everyone was getting back home, the funeral had finished hours ago and the last people who were standing there left the place. Then from the bushes in the middle of the rainy night came out a ninja.

Hinata stood in front of the tomb, looking at the mountain of white flowers that were placed by the villagers. Then she clenched her fists, her face showing anger while tears came from her eyes. "Why you didn't let me fight? Why you made me swear to not get in the way? It could be Orochimaru the one on the tomb right now…you could be the one watching the tomb…not me. Why Grandpa, why you wanted to leave me? you were the only one left…why…"

Then someone came out of the shadows, silently standing beside her. "There's something called circle of life Hinata. and Sarutobi's circle has found its end." Then she turned to face the one beside her, her anger never fading from her face. "I can expect that form someone who wasn't there to help him. if you hadn't killed the clan you could still be on the ANBU and helped him out…"

"But I'm not that anymore and you know it. And if you weren't on the hiding about your talents, you could have fighting beside him, instead of being hidden. Don't you see?" asked the man while taking her chin. "By making our decisions, always someone else had to suffer them. The Third died because he believed in you…because he wanted to protect you from Orochimaru."

"So he decided to protect me instead of your brother? Orochimaru bite him, he has the curse seal…" responded Hinata.

"Since when you care about him?" asked back Itachi. He was always the one who brought out the topic about Sasuke, and this is the first time that she makes it by herself.

"Since he is marked by the traitor of Konoha." Then he looks her completely, she was wearing her actual ninja uniform. "hinata, what are you…?"

"I'm going on a special mission…"

"Let me guess, kill Orochimaru?" he asked, while she made a turn to leave. "Bingo…"

Then he grabbed her hand, making her stop in her tracks, "I can't let you do that. Hinata…" but when she didn't responded, he turned her around roughtly. "LOOK AT ME…"

And she refused, making him sight loudly. She is hard to convince, but he had to. Then he forced her to look at the tomb. "Look what happened to him. Sarutobi died for this village and DIED to protect you from HIM. he wanted to keep you away from harming and that's why he asked you to stay away. He never saw you weak and YOU know it. he loved you like you were part of his family…and he died seeing you as one. Tell me…" then he forces her to face him.

"Are you willing to make his ultimate sacrifice in vain?"

Itachi never knew if it was the rain or real tears, but then Hinata embraced him…and didn't let go for a long time.

The rain muted her low sobs that night.

End of flashback

After all the things they both shared, why all that had to come down now? Itachi was still there after the third died, but every time she remembered the old man asked her to forget everything about the missing nin…

…she started to understand that he tried to protect her from her mentor.

The Third knew what will happen.

Then she felt that something stopped her to get wet from the rain, looking up she noticed that it was an umbrella. And a tall man was holding it...

"If you get a cold, Tomoyo will all over you for the rest of the week." Said the man while offering his hand, which she accepted. "But your wife is not a doctor Yuki," responded the captain while looking up at him. "and I doubt that Mika would recommend that. She is also pregnant." Then Yuki chuckled a little, "Yeah, but still Tomoyo is as headstrong as you. what can I expect?" responded the blond ANBU, while looking back at the tomb.

"Saito doesn't know that you're here," he continued, "you know that the way that you acted on stage was completely out of you. he got sick worried."

"And you asked me why I never told you a thing about my personal life? And why I don't like to share with others?" said the captain while looking back at the tomb, "I don't want others get worried about my shit. And I think that what was happening between sensei and me was more than enough…"

"The only way that you can be back to your old self is admitting what was happening…and open yourself to someone else. It doesn't have to be us you know." Respond Yuki while looking back at her, the darkness of the night making him impossible to see her expressions.

"…"

Yuki was the kind of man that loved the silence; he was a quiet man after all. But having Hinata quiet was not good. Especially if she needed to take things cleared up, "I was wondering…the song you did back there…"

"You think that this time they will got it?" asked suddenly Hinata, still looking at the tomb.

"Huh?"

"Only Kiba seemed the one who got why I sang that. I had a talk with Tatsuha today and he says that he will keep trying to take me to bed…and Sai. Oh Kami, I don't have clear his intentions yet… " she said while chuckling a little.

"Wait, you did that song…for them?" asked Yuki while blinking twice; she was too hard to do such a thing, right?

"I see them as great comrades, and Kiba was part of my fake life…but nothing else. I still have a fan club out there…maybe I'll met the right guy there." she said while frowning…she didn't believe what she was saying.

"According to us, Kiba was the closest to be a good candidate for you." said Yuki while celebrating all his prayers to make Hinata don't even think about Sai as a potential boyfriend.

"Really? I would like to wonder why…" she said a little playfully while the rain stopped.

"Well, he is not as handsome as…you know…but he can be a nice mate." Smirk the ninja, while she looked back at him. "Actually the most handsome of the three is Tatsuha…"

"Then why you didn't pick him?"

"Because he is sleeping with Shizune…and I know that he was making advances with some young men…and one of them is from the 'Rookie nine'." Ends simply the captain while leaving the place…leaving Yuki with his jaw on the floor.

"With who?"

"I won't tell…"

"Why not?!"

"Because is Tatsuha's personal life…"

"Come on…give me a hint…"

"No…"

"Hinata…?"

"No…"

"Damn…!"

And while the pair was leaving, someone had heard the WHOLE conversation. And now he was wondering if she said all that because he was there.

He'll never know…

The next day…

Hinata along with team Zero, Tsunade and a group of crying fans were at the gates of the village, together to say good bye to the singers. Ryuichi looked at K with HUGE puppy tearing eyes. "D-Do we h-have to l-leave t-today K?" asked the green haired singer while holding his bunny plush toy and biting his ears.

"YEP, we had scheduled our next presentation to Suna and we are a week behind of it, so don't complain Ryuichi-kun. Don't you want to spread the love of music all over the five countries?" then the singer along with Shuichi nodded. It was true, it was their dream coming true, but leaving such place as Konoha was hard to do.

"But Hinata-senpai and Hiro-san live here! Can we at least take Hiro on tour?!" whined Shuichi, getting a 'no' from Ayaka.

"Sorry guys. It was great to play the guitar again with you, but I have duties with my family and the ANBU. You know how this is." Says the red haired ninja while puts his arm around the doctor's waist.

Then Ryuichi looked at Hinata, who was standing there with her arms crossed. "Don't be like a spoiled brat Ryuichi-kun. You can come back as soon as the tour ends, ok?" then the singer opened his eyes wide.

"Really?"

"Yes…"

"Really Really Really?"

"Yep…"

"Really Really Really Really Really…?"

"I promise…"

"Really Really Really Really Really Really Really Really Really Really Really Really…?"

"I think that you got it don't you think?"

Then his face changed from a goofy one to a stoic look, "Just promise me that next time you'll sparkle with joy."

Then Hinata's eyes went wide…sparkle? But before she could speak, he throws something at her. Looking at her hands, she notices that she has a copy of the pink rabbit bunny in her. "Oh…my…"

"OMG…he gave her Kumagoro! He gave her Kumagoro!" screamed Shuichi full of joy, the fans around them were crying with full emotion.

Then Tsunade asked K about it, "Ryuichi only gives Kumagoro to the ones he sees as special people to him. He doesn't trust in anyone you know…"

Hearing this made Hinata blush a little, "thank you…I guess…"

And with that the artists left the village….with a promise in hands.

After waving their goodbyes, everyone returned to their tasks, except Hinata and Team Zero who followed Tsunade to her office. After getting there, she sits down while the captain kneels in front of her and asks for further orders.

"Hinata, I want you to look at this papers and tell me what's wrong with them." Orders the Hokage while Hinata stands up and grabs them. Seeing them for mere seconds, she looks up at Tsunade. "This is my profile, what's the meaning of this?" asked a little irritated the captain.

"That's right," responded the Hokage, "but if you read closely, something is missing." Then Hinata looked at her with an raised eyebrow. "I'm not today for guessing games, can you tell me the issue directly so we can finish it quickly? I would like to leave earlier and train."

"In the profile is written your old address, when you used to live with the Hyuuga clan. Is been more than a month since you moved out…and you still hadn't put your actual address."

"I appreciate my privacy." Responded the captain, while the Hokage looked at her surprised. "This is not about privacy Hinata. as the ANBU captain, we must know where you are in case something happens."

"Like I ever been irresponsible with my duties. There's no need to tell you where I live…"

"This is called trust Hinata. If you don't trust us…how you expect us to trust you?" asked the Hokage, making Hinata look at her surprised.

She was learning fast.

"And besides," continued Tsunade, "I bet that even your team here doens;t know where you live, right?" asked again the Hokage look over Hinata's shoulder to see the reaction of her teammates. It was true.

"I'm not here to waste time…if you really need me for something, I'll be training." And Hinata leaves, in one of those rare times that Tsunade traps her and wins. She'll get it back soon, very soon.

After the farewell to Ryuichi and the others, Ayaka returned to her office. it was quite early so she doesn't expect anyone to come in. she was wrong.

Suddenly someone opens the door of her office, revealing an unexpected patient for today.

Uchiha Sasuke.

After him came a blushed secretary who tried in vain to make him wait. Ayaka decided to leave it this time, his face saying 'you'll see me now or else'.

After the secretary left the room, Ayaka turned to sit on her comfy chair. Her belly started to grow and it was making her difficult by the day to keep walking. But she was used to it, after three kids she can handle almost everything.

Sasuke leaned back at the seat, looking up at the ceiling and breathing hard. He have been thinking if coming was a good idea. Ayaka was somehow related to Hinata, so he can't say a thing. With her technique she can see everything in his mind…and that was quite scary.

But since last night that he discovered that the song Hinata performed wasn't for him, it got him confused. Does this means something? He didn't want to push things between them, that's why he was avoiding any possible eye contact with her. if there was a slight chance to win her…he didn't want to mess it up like the last time.

He has to learn to shut up sometimes.

"Well, if you can tell me why you came here in such a hurry and alone I can attend you. I'm not a mind reader if is what you think." Says the doctor while getting his attention.

"You read the witch's mind. Why you can't read mines? Maybe I can solve this faster don't you think?" Responds Sasuke immediately, for some reason he feels that he is kind of unwelcome here. is not his fault that Hinata hated him.

And is not his fault that Itachi ended up being the crazy maniac that he turned to.

"I did it because it was completely necessary. She was in a mental shock and It was an emergency. For normal patients I use the old psychology, you tell me why you came here and I'll give you the tools to solve it. And besides," Says Ayaka while rubs her swollen belly, "I'm in a stage that I can't use my technique…too risky for my baby."

Sasuke sighted, at least he won't be worried about the mind reading freak. "I want someone, but she doesn't want me back. I've been messing up the relationship since the beginning, but I still want her." he stated simply and waited for an answer.

Ayaka blinked twice. Uchiha Sasuke, the heartthrob of the village, asking for advice about love?! If she wasn't in her office seeing the last Uchiha on the futon, she can swear that she was under a genjutsu.

"This actually confirms my question."

"What question?" asked back interested Sasuke.

"That why you and Hinata hate each other when you two are almost the same. You can be best friends under this situation, but you have to be so freaking headstrong…"

"Don't analyze my rivalries, I came to solve my problem." Growls back Sasuke, getting a chuckle from the doctor.

"If you tell me an example of what you have done…wait a minute…" says the doctor while adjusting her chair and getting into her senses, she couldn't believe what she was going to ask. "We are talking to the same girl who is rumored that you got laid the night of the tournament?"

With a silent nod from him, it confirmed it.

This was going to be the strangest case in her career.

Hinata was on the outskirts of the Fire country. Since she her training became too…noisy, she had to leave far away from the village and avoid curious people to 'investigate' where it came from. Saito and Hiro were there with her, since Yuki had to take his wife to an appointment. While hiding under some fell down trees, the mature samurai looked at the captain.

"Have got training with your Kinomoto knowledge?" in that moment Hinata stops making hand seals and looked at Saito, "Not really, I had a little spar with Tatsuha once, just to prove that I learned well."

Then Hiro nodded and smiled, "Then let's see what you can do."

Hinata couldn't smirk wider, "Thanks guys…"

After almost THREE hours in that office, Sasuke left the doctor, with an appointment on next week. He hadn't taken three steps when he heard a loud, annoying voice calling him.

"SASUKE-TEME!"

It was Naruto.

Sasuke just kept walking in his slow, cool pace. Naruto can reach him in no time. and when he finally did, it was meant to get painkillers after this…

"We've been looking for you for freaking three hours! Where have you been?! Tsunade will get mad when she finds out…" then when Sasuke looked directly at him with only his black eyes and not sharingan, he stepped away.

Sasuke's normal eyes were more threatening than the Sharingan.

"First, I was with the Dr. Nakano. Second, I hadn't left the village so stop the freaking show. And three, I bet that Sakura already told Tsunade that you lost me…again." with that Naruto's eyes opened wide, running away desperately to the tower.

It was late at night and Hinata walked through the streets of Konoha. Today she gave her best at the training, she wanted to waste all her energy. Luckily her teammates never asked her about her apartment issues, she didn't want to bother others with her issues. That's why she hadn't told anyone yet, besides other things like…PRIVACY.

Taking slow steps, she climbs the steps to reach her apartment. Sometimes she gets mad because after a tiring day, she has to walk until the last floor. But knowing that no soul of the village knows where she is…believe it or not.

Opening the door and without turning on the lights yet, she reaches to the kitchen and sets up the tea pot on the stove. While the water is heating up, she puts her weapons onplace and hwen she turns around to return to the kitchen to prepare tea, she stops on her tracks.

Coming out from the kitchen, a dark figure comes out walking slowly. She extends her hand to turn on the light. Revealing who was there.

She blinked twice, for surprise and for being s unexpected.

Of all the people of the village, it had to be him.

Uchiha Sasuke.

A/N: This chapter came out easier than I though. Since this chapter the relationship between them will change…a lot. Thanks a lot for writing, reviewing and for always read my story.

And since deviantart banned all my wallpapers, I'll be uploading them little by little on my website. The link is on my profile and since now all my new art will be posted there.

Reviews give an author the young spirit to keep writing…thanks.