To SasuHina fan: I have been reading your comments and was a surprised that you cried for Sasuke's sake…Wow…you really do care for the character don't you. : )

Excuse the errors please.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

-o-o-o-

Chapter Thirty Seven

Hinata paused from her stride and decided to take a breather. The hot weather was taking a toll on her and she was not even doing anything strenuous yet. Looking on the small, woven basket on her hands, she smiled upon remembering her teammate's reaction about her homemade treat.

She just gave them all ice cream.

Well…except for one, for Hinata knew that he doesn't count. He was on a mission and won't be returning any time soon. Sasuke has been going on a lot of missions lately and all those missions were usually outside the village. When Naruto got the position of being Hokage after Tsunade's retirement last year, Sasuke's work has been piling up too.

But why did she make an extra?

"It's going to melt." She remarked, noticing the increasing amount of moisture that was forming on large droplets around the last, remaining container of ice cream.

"That's supposed to be mine…right?"

Hinata dropped the basket in surprise and looked around. Behind her, an Anbu dropped from a tree branch and removed his mask. He was not really supposed to show his face around every time he was on uniform but like he cares…everyone knew his posture and voice…add the black hair too—who was he kidding? Anyone from Konoha twelve would recognize him in an instant even if he was wearing a mask.

Not really looking at the startled kunoichi, he picked the basket up. "Don't drop it."

"Sasuke-kun…I didn't know you're arriving today."

He gave her back the basket but took the container with ice cream and pressed it on his cheek. Damn it's hot. "It's out of the plan…but when I get back, everyone was enjoying a delicious treat of vanilla ice cream without me."

Hinata smiled. "Well…I made extra…and you're holding it."

"I know…So how was your sister treating you? Heard she was a badass clan head."

"Hanabi is young…but she is a good clan head. She doesn't really mind me anymore…something that I am sad yet thankful at the same time."

(f) "You better leave while the guards were still unorganized." Sasuke pointed at the northern gates. "Tsunade said she assigned no guards on the northern pass tonight…you two could use that way." Wheeling around, he tried to sense any coming chakra while the katana on his hand was glinting evilly under the moon's pale light. He has no intention of hurting a comrade but if it comes to that…

"I can smell freedom." Kisame grinned. "But danger too…Akatsuki would be after us Itachi…outside the borders."

"Akatsuki won't be getting in your way for quite some time." Sasuke said. "Minus three of their members…it would be hard for them to do anything yet. I suggest you take off near Suna. From there, you could decide which path to take." His eyes landed on his brother. "You need to go very far away from here Itachi."

"And you Sasuke…what would happen to you?" Itachi asked, red sharingan eyes looking at its exact replica. So would be this the last time that he was going to see his brother?

"I'll stay. They won't do anything to me for I have the Hokage's back."

"We better go Itachi." Kisame put a hand on the older Uchiha's shoulder. "And Sasuke…"

"Hn."

"Arigatou." The bulky ex- Akatsuki said sincerely. "And please watch out Hinata-chan for me…for us."

Sasuke smirked. "I have been watching her even before you knew her."

-o-

Tsunade observed the Hyuga as she remained frozen on the side of the wall. She was staring at nothingness but the wise kage knew that she was seeing beyond what ordinary human eyes could see. Hinata has her Byakugan activated, making her emit her bluish white chakra.

"Hokage-sama…" The girl managed. "Y-You know of this?"

"I do."

"Why do you want me to see this?" In her eyes, Hinata can see Sasuke and Itachi leaping under the covers of darkness inside the forest. They were heading into the northern part of Konoha and to her surprise—or shock—her Kisame-Niisan was also with the Uchiha brothers.

"Well…the moment you got kidnapped by the Akatsuki and knew Itachi's secret, you have been thrown into this mess. So concerning that you are now part of the lucky group, I don't want you to feel left out in this Hinata…especially when you are dying to get your Uchiha out of prison."

"Won't Sasuke get into trouble for this Tsunade-sama?"

"The young man has spent years of his life going after his brother to seek revenge. It would be easy to get him out of this."

"I…I see."

"But I'm curious…" The blonde looked at the Hyuga who was still unmoving from her spot. She pitied the girl, knowing that she was tossed into this mess by nothing but pure chance. "What is inside your mind right now? though I got a feeling that it's filled with one of those Uchiha brothers."

"Tsunade-sama…"

"Do you…love one of them?" (f)

-o-

"Wait!" Sasuke grabbed Itachi's sleeve. "What about…her?"

Itachi smiled faintly. "She would be happy with you Sasuke…and there's no other person that I know of that could take care of her…like you."

"I know one."

Itachi frowned. "Sasuke…"

"You."

"You love Hinata."

"And don't tell me that you don't. You won't waste time hiding under the covers of leaves at midnight just to see her in a village that would kill you on the spot."

Kisame raised his eyebrows. Now that was not something you could see and hear every day. Shaking his head, he crossed his arms over his strong chest and looked at the two with an annoyed look. "You two fell in love with Hinata-chan?" Giving them both a disbelieving look, he continued. "You two are unbelievable."

Both Uchiha's pretended not to hear.

"So what now Itachi?"

"What about it Sasuke?" (f)

"So…how did your mission go?" Hinata asked, placing the basket next to her as she sat on the swing. They were not really far behind the park so they decided that they could go and hang out for a few minutes before separating ways again. Sasuke has reports to do and she has her own team to meet.

Sasuke smirked. "Same Anbu missions. You don't wanna hear about it. Trust me."

"I hear Naruto saying something about putting you next year as jounin instructor."

Sasuke nearly spat the mouthful of ice cream that he just shoved inside his mouth. Hinata giggled, covering her mouth while her eyes wrinkled at the sides. Maybe Naruto was not able to tell the Uchiha yet…

"Gomenasai...I did not know that you have no—"

"I'm going to strangle that dobe."

"He is Hokage." She reminded him.

"Do you think I give a damn?" Sasuke challenged, glaring at her playfully at his side of the swing.

"No…I guess not." Hinata's smile faltered a bit as she looked into the Uchiha's eyes. "I haven't seen you in a while Sasuke…"

"I need the time." Sasuke answered simply. "I'm sure you need yours too…"

(f) Hinata closed her window. It has been two months after the said "escaping incident" and just as Tsunade and Sasuke predicted; it really turned the Shinobi world upside down. People and political leaders from different villages were demanding an explanation why an S-class missing nin escaped from Konoha's prison.

Tsunade just gave them all a shrug and a simple explanation that Itachi knows Konoha's Anbu prison very well since he was an Anbu once…and used that knowledge to escape.

Yamanaka Ino has been granted a pardon too…for she was on guard duty that night and was found unconscious without a hint of what happened to her. Hinata knew it was the power of the sharingan…though she knew that would never, ever dare to tell anyone.

"Shinobi must be solid…" Hinata chanted softly, feeling a familiar, stinging ache on her head as she ponder upon the things that were best left forgotten. "Shinobi must be true to a promise—"

"—and loyal to the village in which he or she serves." A voice not her own finished her sentence for her. Hinata's eyes widened and she stood frozen on the spot. She knew that voice...and it sent chills down her spine. Wondering if she was hallucinating, she slowly lolled her head to the side—and gasped.

Itachi was sitting on the side of the bed. He was not wearing his usual Akatsuki cloak anymore but a pure black jacket and simple gray pants. There was no forehead protector and somehow he looks kind of different when she last saw him.

He was a little thinner, and there were dark circles under his eyes.

"Itachi-san…" Hinata whispered.

"Hina."

"Y-you should not be here…anywhere near Konoha where anyone might recognize you."

"I know."

-o-o-o-

Here ends the chapter. The next update would be the last one…

-crazygurl12