A/N: I hope that you passed a great Thanksgiving Day. I was missing college already and I returned today. And I started to post some stuff on Deviantart again, let's see what happens now. I'll upload them soon on my website; I just need to return to college for a faster connection.

Spochemu—I'm glad to know that there's someone from Puerto Rico whose reading this story, and the fact that you actually like it. I agree with you, SasuHina is the best paring ever! And you called yourself my #1 fan? WOW…thanks.

Kisa Tsutaka—Hope you had a happy thanksgiving too. And I'm glad that you like it.

MayumiNorika—Yeah, last chapter had a little of everything.

familyreject24—thanks, and thanks too for your messages at animefriends(dot)com

NanamiYatsumaki—thanks for your support.

Darkened Purity—thanks for your review. And I'm very aware about my BAD grammar (I've seen worst on the website though) but I try my best to improve somehow. Writing this story helped me with my grammar problems, but I know that there's still a long way to go.

Spirit of the Chihuahua--- Hey…I hope that you like this one…more drama ahead? I don't know.

The Norwegian Dragon—Ok, here's the update…sorry that it came a little late.

kenshinlover2002—I'm glad that you're liking the chapters…that's great.

Diswclaime: I don't own Naruto. I have mean spelling, evil grammar.

Chapter 37

Sasuke woke early in the morning; looking beside him on the bed…it was empty.

Since that time that he started to sleep beside Hinata back at the Hyuuga mansion and when they slept for the first time, he missed waking beside her. right now he was doing things right, he needed to give her time.

But just missing her scent, her skin, her face…Kami we would loose it someday.

After taking a bath and while drying out his hair with a towel, he looked at the mirror. He actually never cares about his looks, and annoyed him the fact that all the girls of Konoha saw him like a honey for bees. He even hated honey.

The last time that he checked his looks was at that party, when he cut his hair because it went long because it looks like Itachi. But since the way Hinata looked at him like that last night…and saw a miserable hint of pink on her cheeks...

But maybe is because of the darkness of the room, right?

But he wanted to think positively, maybe Hinata started to like him in some way. Looking down he saw a comb. Maybe if he looks more clean and neat she can see him better. He had to laugh to himself, Uchiha Sasuke caring about his looks. He used to wear his blue t-shits and short because they were comfortable to train and run.

And the others claimed that it was to complete his cool looks. That the Uchiha symbol was so big on his back was to show off his high noble status. And when he wore black at the chounnin exams, they said that it was because he was an 'emo'. But still girls though that it was cool…

Taking the comb, he started to brush his hair. Then took a little scissor that was beside the razor he started to fix his haircut, the still long strands of his spiky hair. After finishing it, he combed his long locks making them look darker and silk than before.

When he was finished, he looked at himself.

Looking so perfectly made him look like when he was at the Academy, like a 12 year-old brat. Ruffling a little the top of his head, he looked at the mirror again. Now he looked like a 17 year old young man.

In that moment he went out and was received by Kakashi who was waiting for him, then Naruto and Sakura joined them while they were walking to the training grounds.

He felt quite light today…no one can mess with his good mood today…

Even his fan girls who glared at him to look 'hotter' today…

Even Sakura who had looked at him with awe since she joined them…

Even when he saw the stampede full of his crazy fans running towards them…

Even when Kakashi and Naruto started to run for their lives…

Even when he had to run because of that too…

Days passed by since the incident at the lake and Hinata hadn't spoke a word to her team. One reason was that she gave them three weeks of license due that they must take care of their wives and kids while they recover from labor. The other reason was obvious.

She saw how angry Yuki was at her, and she can't blame him. She was supposed to be with him when she made her training, and since she was a head-strong woman and got greedy by the moment, she knows that she could have died that day.

But still…

While sitting in her office at the ANBU headquarters, she looked at her hands. She still couldn't believe that she managed to break the . She remembered to have been trying it since Itachi started to change three years ago. Every time he used it on her became stronger and worse, and every time she managed to hold a little longer. He even once said that she was improving a lot enduring 'the art of torture'.

She remembered to be proud of that statement once.

But she never dared to stop him over these years. When she was little it was like a game for her to hit him and sometimes even give him difficulties when they spar. She remembers how it used to be: Itachi tries to lecture her, she mocks her Uchiha clan, he gets mad and calls her names and compares her with his little brother Sasuke, she gets mad and uses her 'nasty' vocabulary, then he challenges her and she accepts. And she always makes him fall back a few times. But in the end he was taller and more experienced, giving him the victory.

But seeing him with so many bruises and rubbing his cheek or his ribs because of her, it was priceless.

Now she was seeing her hands, not believing until now the reason that the council and others were very watchful over her. She knows how far she got…and still she doesn't think that is enough. "There's something more about me…I can feel it. Is not because I was trained by Itachi…it must be something else…but what…"

"HINATA-SAMA!" a masked ANBU stormed into the dark office making the captain to look back at him in surprise. Standing up from her seat, Hinata waits for the ninja's news. "One of our teams just came back. It seems…it seems that they were ambushed on the way back here…" and before he could continue she stormed out at full speed.

Outside while taking a break, a masked ANBU ninja approached Team Seven while they were training on the woods. "Kakshi-san, Tsunade asked for your presence right now. There's a 'red code' all over the village and all the available ninjas must be on call."

Hinata was walking through the halls of the Hokage tower, surrounded by other ninjas from different areas. Without looking at anyone she started to give orders.

"Reports of the injured ANBU are ready?"

"Yes Captain." And the ANBU medic nin passes her a file. She is still reading the file while walking.

"What about the team that went to look for the missing member of the team?"

"Team Lee just reported us that the corpse of Saiyuki Kei was recovered…these are the reports…"

"…"

"Captain…?"

"Call team zero, their license will be on hold until further orders." but the ninja couldn't say anything else because Hinata entered into the Hokage's office and dismissed them. Still with the reports in her hands she walked towards the desk, ignoring the rest that was there too…

Tsunade turned to the ANBU Captain. "Hinata...tell me what's the situation."

"Team Saiyuki was returning from their secret mission on the rain country when they got ambushed by the Sound nin. The team leader Saiyuki Kei got killed on the ambush. According ot the information that was got from the rest of the team…they confused them for Team Zero."

Everyone was silent, so the Sound nin attacked again…but it wasn't that they were after Hiro? "What about the reasons for that happen?" asked the Hokage.

"There are two non-official versions. One is that the Sound nin is trying to rescue their future Kage, which is in this room."

"The future Kage of the Sound?" asked Asuma.

"Orochimaru was the Kage of the Sound, and apparently he chose a successor, no other than the Uchiha. They are looking forward to recover their young leader." Then everyone looked impressed. That was something that was never mentioned before. And by the look of the Hokage she just found out about it too.

After staying silent for mere seconds, Tsunade recovered. "And what is the other option?"

"That they are seeking revenge on the one who killed Orochimaru…they are looking for me." then the rest reacted not completely impressed, they could understand the circumstances.

"And what are the plans for this situation?" asked the Hokage, but at that moment team zero appears in a cloud of smoke. "Captain, did you call for us?"

"Team Zero, until further orders your will be re-activated," then she passes the files to Saito, "Seijuro, as my second in command I need you to be in charge. I'll be on a mission." with that she turns to leave, only to be stopped by Tsunade. "Can you at least tell me with which team you're leaving with?"

"…"

"Oh, no…don't you dare to tell me….no…" says the Hokage while standing up from her desk with her eyes turning white. Shizune started to move aside…she knows what a mad Tsunade can do.

"My specialty before I turned Captain was massive assassination, I was used to be solo. And there's no need to take a team with me."

"But you have a team now, take them with you…"

"I won't risk more of my ANBU subordinates for my neck." Then Saito looked at her, what she is talking about?

Then Hinata turns to leave, stopped again by Tsunade. "Hinata…"

"…" she stops and waited for anything that she can say.

"You have 10 days. After that I'll send a team and declare you missing. Got it?" with that the captain nods and leaves, with team zero behind her.

Sasuke knew the news about HInata leaving solo against the Sound from Kakashi. And the news that the Sannin had declared him the heir of the Sound. He couldn't believe all this.

If he was supposed to be the future vessel for him, why declare Sasuke as the next Kage of the Sound? The things that you find out.

Returning back to his apartment, he looked at the door of his apartment…

Ten days.

Ten days that he'll be without seeing her…the last time that it happened she left with team Lee. But this one it was different…she is alone. Deciding that it will be worst spend the afternoon in his place, he went to Hinata's.

Getting into her apartment, Sasuke notices a letter on the counter. Ngetting closer to it, he sees some writing on it.

"Is for you"

'How direct'… Thinks the Uchiha while opening the letter:

I'll be gone in a solo mission; I only had time to write this. I don't know when I'll be back…maybe I won't be back this time…just in case…if anything happens…you can keep the tea cup. And send an anonymous letter to Saito about my apartment…so they can share my belongings.

H.

Then he looks beside him and sees the tea cup that he was used to drink. Taking a glance at it, he decides to step back.

If he accepts the cup, he'll accept that she won't come back.

Then he picks up the cup and puts it where it belongs, murmuring about how messy can Hinata leave a kitchen…

Seven days had passed since the ANBU Captain left to a mission against the Sound country, and there's no news about her. Tsunade decides to stop waiting and calls the teams. This time team seven was called too.

"Rock Lee, as ANBU team leader, I want you to lead this operation along with Shikamaru. He has the tactics and you have the leadership, I'm counting on you and the rest." Both ninjas nod and then Shikamru ask.

"What is the mission about?"

"Is about to rescue the remains of Hyuuga Hinata…" Sasuke gave a rare look at her, how does she know that she is dead? It only passed seven days!

"But…only passed seven days…"

"I know Kakashi, but it was a suicidal mission that she wanted to do alone. Her bloodline limit is very precious in this village, leaving her corpse out there will be dangerous for the village and the Hyuuga clan." Then almost everyone agreeded with her…when a coud of smoke appears in front of her desk.

Standing there…

With a bag over her shoulder…

Her dark clothes almost dark red…

Her whilte mask also red…

Appeared the ANBU captain.

"H-Hinata…?" asked Tsunade while looking a the feminine figure on front of her. In that moment, someone stormed in.

"Hokage-sama, I don't agree with…Hinata?" Asked Saito who had Hiro and Yuki beside him. Suddenly everyone was silent…Hinata has surely return to the village…but why she is so quiet?

Taking the bag over her shoulder, she lets it fall over the Hokahge's desk…the sound of metal echoing the room. Sakura stepped in to check it out the contents, but the smell that came from the bag was impossible.

It was the smell of death...

"There are 817 head plates from the people that I killed from the sound. Kabuto was the one leading the group, but he escaped before I reached them. Back on the old days I was asked to bring evidence of my duties. And this seemed to be better than bring all those heads with me." Mentions the Captain while Sakura covers her mouth not believing this. In that bag were the head plated of so many people…who died in Hinata's hands?

"Well…818 to be exact."

Then Hinata takes out a small bag from her waist band, "Nakano."

Everyone turns to Hiro, who looked surprised when she called him by his last name. When Hinata do that…you were talking to the ANBU captain, not to the teammate. "Y-Yes..?"

Then she throws the bag behind her, falling into his hands. The little bag was wet; looking a t one of his hand he confirmed that it was blood. Then after open it up, he took out the contents of the bag.

A Sound head plate.

And a flute.

Hiro looked up to see that Hinata still had her back at him. Hr stance was still normal…until he spoke. "Did you recognize the name of Nakano Senzu?"

In that moment his hands started to shake…grabbing tightly the two items. "Hiro?" asked Saito. "Hiro…what is it?" asked this time Yuki, until Hiro stepped forward. Seeing his intentions, Saito got in the way while Yuki hold him down.

"Arrrrgh!!" the rest of the room looked shocked of how reacted the ANBU ninja…and of how relaxed looked the Captain. Then after several seconds struggling, Hiro stops, turns around and leaves. Before Yuki went after him, Hinata spoke.

"Kinomoto…tell him that whatever he decides…I'll agree with it." And with that6 Yuki leaves to go after Hiro. Saito stay at the office, waiting for further orders.

"Hokage-sama, I would like to return to my duties as soon as possible." Mentions the Captain, while Tsunade is looking at her. "You've just returned from a mission. Go home, take a bath and return to your duties tomorrow."

With no intentions to argue, she nods and leaves the room, but then she was stopped again by the Hokage. "And who was Nakano Senzu?" Hinata stops and tenses for a moment, then she decides to respond.

"Hiro's elder brother..."

After some more tasks made at the ANBU headquarters and the insistence of Saito to leave to rest fopr once, Hinata finally returned to her place. Dismissing almost everything on her, she walked to the bathroom to take a bath. Not even cared to see if there was someone else in the place.

Entering into the shower, she lets the water fall over her. Her once dark blue hair had turned red, and it was confirmed by the way that red liquid was running on the shower. After several minutes getting rid of the mess, she comes out wearing a black short pant and a white tank top to the kitchen. She was surprised to see Sasuke waiting for her.

She silently takes out the tea pot that he already boiled and prepares the tea. Both ninjas started to drink, silence engulfing the place once again. But Sasuke decided to brake the ice…

"Welcome back."

Then they both continued to drink their teas until it was over, while she stood up to pivk up his cup she looks back at him with knowing eyes.

"Thank you."

With nothing else to say, he left the place like he always do.

The next day, Sasuke had an appointment with Ayaka. While finishing today's session, the Uchiha looked up seriously at the doctor. "Can I ask you aomething?"

Ayaka, no expecting him to ask a question, she decided to sit back and listen. He was talking on his own lately. And was even sometimes a hint of happiness on his tone when he talked about his 'crush'.

She could have expected anything…

But maybe she can't right every time…

But never something like this…

"Do you think that I'm handsome?"

Needles to say that the experimented psychologist fell on her back, with her eyebrow twitching….

A/N: As you can see…more things are happening. And little by little they are getting together (please don't mess it up, please don't mess it up). But no everything can be good and all…true loves comes from the pain…I guess.