Shikamaru looked at the scroll with glee.

"everyone!" he said as he came back to the campfire. Their search had gone dead again but receiving this scroll would push them in the right direction. They had been looking for Sasuke for three weeks in total.

"what's up Shikamaru?" Asuma asked

"we have a lead. Temari, lee and Karin met Sasuke in the land of snow or spring or whatever it is called nowadays. Anyway, that is where he was last seen. Apparently, he had meeting with the daimyo."

"the daimyo? What in the world would he be meeting with her for?" Kakashi asked

"…you don't think he threatened her on anything do you?" sakura asked quietly.

"It says that he completed a mission for her and that he wasn't alone…. he was with a woman from the land of stone. tomorrow we will split up. A group of us head to the land of snow and the other head to the land of stone."

"a…women!?…he was with a woman?" sakura asked angerly

"Ahhh...yeah it says she was from the land of stone. That is, it. so, everyone gets a good night sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us."

Neji leaned against a tree quietly. While they were still searching for Sasuke…Hinata was still missing. She could be anywhere, and anyone could have her. she could be hurt...or worse, she could be dead...or someone could take her eyes and leave her alone. He should have been on the team that was looking for her but no, he had to be out here looking for the Uchiha traitor. He hated it. he hated this and he hated Sasuke. When he saw him, he would make sure to tear him apart.

"Neji? You ok?" guy sensei asked as he sat down next to him

"...I don't understand sensei. Why would she leave? And why am I here looking for the Uchiha. He left the village willingly; I could care less about this scum of the earth and yet here I am. We should be looking for Hinata…not him."

"you don't know a thing Neji! So, shut up!" Naruto yelled in anger

He had heard the comments Neji was making and would not take it.

"what's the problem Naruto? mad that Sasuke did not stay in the village? Mad that you were not strong enough to bring him back! Did you ever think he did not want to come back! Have any of you thought he doesn't want to come back!"

Neji calmed himself and said "look, I understand he's your friend, your teammate…that's fine but he doesn't want to return home...so why are we going on this rat race looking for him. and instead, my cousin probably somewhere dead or dying…looking for someone who doesn't want to be found is pointless."

With that said Neji turned his back on the group and walked into the forest. guy followed him.

Sakura sighed and laid back down, Ino laid next to her.

"you ok?" she asked

"Why would Sasuke be traveling with someone and a woman at most? He specifically told me he had to leave and did not want me to come with him….so. why? it has to be a mistake." sakura told her

". yeah...your right...it must be. Do not worry. we will get Sasuke. Change his mind and bring him home." Ino said encouragingly

Sakura believed her.

…..

Hinata approached her village in caution. It was quiet…too quiet and even with her keikei genkai...she could not see a thing.

"it's quiet…" Nagisa said

"SURPRISE! CONGRATULATIONS!"

Hinata jumped two feet in the air. To her surprise, her whole village popped out of nowhere, with banners, food, and huge smiles.

Her grandmother and uncle were the first to approach her.

"my niece is married!" her uncle shouted

"and she found two more of the tigers!" her grandmother shouted

The whole village cheered.

This was going to be a long party.

Hinata blushed as she saw what they had built for her and her… husband.

Deeper into their village was a forest and inside that forest was a beautiful lake with a waterfall. Her people built she and Sasuke a special hut…specifically…for their wedding night.

In a way she was glad…she was home and in the words of Sasuke…

"we are NOT consuming our marriage in a village we are not living in. it doesn't feel right. We will become one under the roof we raise our children in."

Hinata smiled at his antics. She was glad he was with her uncle now. It gave her a chance to wash up and think.

It had been a long day and a long celebration…and here she was married and about...to lose her virginity.

She had to laugh. If she had been back in the leaf…this night might not have been so special, but it was. And to her relief and a little of her concern, Nagisa, Tomoya and Akira asked to find the last tiger on their own. By themselves they were strong but together they were unstoppable. besides Nagisa had to get them prepared to be around humans again.

Hinata sighed. It was going to take a while for Akira to trust her. Tomoya warmed up easily but Akira had been angry…and she did not blame him.

Another thing that bothered her was Sasuke…he was going to stay for a few more weeks…maybe a month but then he told her he needed to help with the rebel forces…behind the scenes of course and Hinata wanted to go…but she had a village to run. how could she be a leader if she were never here.

But it still …hurt. And not so much that he was leaving…but for the fact that people wanted to hurt him.

They did not get to know him like she did.

Hinata took off her kimono. She wore a white, lacey night gown. It was seeing through and hugged all her curves.

Amiko had handed it to her before she got here, giggling, and blushing all the way.

Hinata closed her eyes and walked unto the patio. It almost felt like she was somewhere else. There were fireflies, and so many beautiful flowers and the rush of the waterfall sounded wonderful.

She let her hair fall past her shoulders, the braid unraveling. She took a calm breathe as she felt Sasuke's chakra and then his warm, calloused hand on her waist.

"Mrs. Uchiha…" he breathed

She shivered as he spoke into her ear.

"I never knew how lonely I was until I met you…the only person I was ever truly close to was itachi…and Naruto was close to my heart… but then…I met you. You...Hinata hyuga…now, Mrs. Sasuke Uchiha…"

His hands began to roam her body…

"I- I've never...done this before..." she said nervously

"ssh…I've never done this either…but that's ok. We have all the time in the world."

Hinata moaned in pleasure…they were going to be here for a while.

Sakura shivered as she entered the land of snow…now spring. It was not cold. So why did she feel like heart shattering thing was happening?

"sakura? You ok?" Naruto asked

Sakura grinned at him. he always cared…even when she did not.

"yeah, I'm ok Naruto. Come on…lets go find Sasuke…were going to bring him home whether he wants it or not."

Koyuki chewed on her pen as she awaited her guest. Naruto was coming here. The Naruto. She remembered when she first met him. he was annoying and rude but then again so was she.

There was a knock on her door.

"enter."

At that moment, the boy she once knew, now a man…entered her office and alongside him was sakura and Kakashi.

"my, my, me. Look how you have all grown…"

"koyuki! I'm baaack!" Naruto shouted in glee

Some things never change.

….

"it's been a whole week! They couldn't be possibly doing it for that long!" Amiko complained to suki.

"they are newlyweds Amiko…their supposed to have sex." Suki told her

"yes! But she's also our leader and he's hogging her." Amiko whined

Suki laughed as she sharpened the blades of her kunai. Before lady tora she had only heard of them and then lady tora entered their lives and everything changed. She trained them to defend themselves in the art of weapons and jutsu's. While lady tora was the only one who could bend water, the rest of the village was able to use special jutsu's most of them applied to healing and self-defense. And they were just one tiger short of restoring the great white tiger clan. It was all thanks to lady tora. Suki smiled as she thought of her. lady tora was patient, kind and yet strong. However, she frowned when she thought of lord Uchiha. He was now her husband but other than that she did not know too much about him. he was quiet, strong, and worked hard even if he only had one arm.

"...I heard he has to leave again soon...I would hate to have my husband leave me right after we got married." Amiko told her

Suki did not get to reply because a commotion outside caught their attention.

Hinata smiled as she waters bended a small well right in front of her office. She was preventing the villagers from having to walk all the way to the river.

Of course, they still would visit the river to fish and maintain crops, but the well was for drinking and bathing.

Thoughts of bathing made Hinata blush…. her wedding night or more like wedding week had been the most painful, uncomfortable, and yet most pleasurable experience she had ever had

Flashback:

"Hinata…this is going to hurt…" Sasuke said as he hovered over her

"Hai...I know…just…don't go too fast…" she replied nervously. The newlywed couple had been in their love shack for three days and they were just now consuming their marriage.

The first night Sasuke spent time exploring her body and making Hinata feel things she had never felt before.

The second night she had spent making him feel pleasure. She asked him to release the scar jutsu. She wanted to see him for who he was and that he should not be ashamed.

She knew that it was a new experience for him. to have someone want to take care of him. someone who did not want to hurt him, someone who did not want to use him for her prestige or who his clan was. That night she showed him just how much she loved him and finally on the third day…they knew it was time.

That night Sasuke did something that no Uchiha had done since his great great grandparents. He sealed his wife. This special seal was the symbol of the Uchiha clan and anytime Hinata touch it she could communicate with Sasuke no matter where he was.

After their night of lovemaking Sasuke took them to a hidden hot spring…and of course…they began round two.

End flashback

They did not have indoor plumbing quite yet, but they would get to it.

"lady tora!"

Hinata turned to see the village children running toward her. she smiled. One day she and Sasuke would have children of her own but for now, she was happy with the small children at her feet. However, Hinata's smile became even wider when the children ran past her and right too Sasuke. He looked down awkwardly.

"teach us how to fight… lord Uchiha!" they asked

Sasuke looked at Hinata.

"go on, Sasuke…" she encouraged

Sasuke nodded.

"alright…come on to the dojo."

Hinata sighed in content and went to her office to finish up the paperwork that had accumulated over her absence. As she shifted through the paperwork, her heart dropped as she saw a scroll from the land of snow.

What could the daimyo want with them already?

It read:

Dear lady tora and lord Uchiha,

Like I promised I did not report lord Uchiha's presence until a few days after you both left. However, the leaf village is determined. Not long after you left, team seven came to my village and I must warn you they are serious about the Uchiha's return. There are currently leaf ninja's in the land of stone investigating the masked women as I have dubbed you. Once again, I have not broken my promise. however, I advise you to report yourself to the tsuchikage as fast as you can. I will keep my word to you both and I look forward to our partnership in the future.

Your friend,

Lady daimyo

Hinata reread the letter as anger consumed her. why could not they just leave him alone. He had served his time...what was the point…power? Control…fear?

Hinata walked unto her porch to see her village hustling and bustling…the daimyo did have a point though…. They could not single themselves out forever…but her people were not shinobi…they would not fall into a world of violence… but a world of protection and defense...their world of protection and defense.

With her mind made up she decided she needed to see the tsuchikage. With a pen and a scroll, she began to write.

Sasuke looked down at the five-year holds. They were eager to learn, and he had to smirk at their excitement.

The little rascals knew what they were doing. He only taught them the basic's, how to throw a shuriken, and how to put their chakra in their feet. It was small but they appreciated it. after a few hours, he dismissed them. They complained but he assured them that he would teach them again and that a good…well Hinata did not want them to be ninja….so he told them that good warriors always made sure to get food and rest.

The children nodded in excitement and ran to tell their parents.

"…They've really taking a liking to you…"

Sasuke turned around to see his wife. His wife. Dressed in her combat gear and her mask covering her face.

"yes, they have…its surprising but I like it. Now where do you think you're going." He asked her

"...I have to meet with the leader of the land of stone. I got a message from the land of snow and they gave me an idea. Ninja from the leaf are looking for the both of us. If I get to the tsuchikage first…and make my presence known to him. make our village known to him...without actually making it known... does that make sense?"

She never received a reply because Sasuke suddenly appeared behind her.

"too slow…you should always pay attention" he said coldly. He then proceeded to strike her with a kunai, Hinata however was able to doge the attack.

And then to her confusion and yet her excitement she and her husband began the three hour long sparring session.

Lady Omashu sat on her granddaughter's office porch and watched the fight in satisfaction. It was not every day you saw a husband fighting his wife and, on the outside, it looked like he was being cold and harsh but Omashu knew why. He was doing it to protect her and to strengthen her.

As a village leader Hinata would have to face many things without Sasuke by her side, and he wanted her to be prepared.

Besides…Omashu knew she would not be here forever, and neither would ji but knowing her clan was being restored and the village was being protected...it put peace in her heart.

Hinata paced her breathes as her chest began to burn. Her husband was not holding back at all and she was glad…but…she had one last move.

Sasuke was getting ready to use his sword when he suddenly felt frozen to where he was. The bottom of his feet where frozen to the ground.

Normally he would just use his fire jutsu, but this was no ordinary ice. It was brown and chakra fused.

"...alright …I surrender…what is this gunk?" he asked

"it's mud…well frozen mud mixed with clay and chakra. It freezes you to where you are." Hinata said as she began to bend the gunk off him. before he could congratulate her, the village burst into cheers.

"wow! Did you see lady tora!" someone said

"yeah, but did you see lord Uchiha!" someone else said

Sasuke grinned and scooped his wife up.

"if you're going to leave then I need to give you a goodbye present."

Hinata blushed.

Meanwhile, asuma and the group that shikamaru sent were being yelled at.

"once again! I have no idea what you're talking about!" onoki shouted at asuma. "I have never known a woman who wears a mask with the word mountain on it! now I am done with this. How dare you try to suggest that I do not know what goes on with my own people! Now get out of my office!"

Asuma sighed, as he, Neji, Ino and shikamaru left the office. no one spoke until they made it outside the gates of the village hidden in stone.

Right on time a leaf Anbu appeared in front of him.

"anything?" shikamaru asked

"nothing. No one's spotted the companion, and no one can remember where they saw the Uchiha."

"crap!" shikamaru hissed "...what about team seven?"

"even with the daimyo's info, they still have not found anything."

Shikamaru sighed. It was time to let tsunade know.

Sasuke Uchiha was not coming home and did not want to be found.

That same night, onoki, his granddaughter and his guard were about ready to Call it a day. The leaf ninja being present made him angry. The shinobi world was still rebuilding as they recovered from the after math of the shinobi war. And they had the nerve to interrogate him about Sasuke Uchiha's whereabouts! A man that once wanted to kill him and the other kages. How dare they! Just as onoki was about to close his office door.

A woman dressed in a blue kimono with kanji for mountains engraved on it, wearing a white tiger mask appeared.

"lord...onoki...we have much to talk about."

His guard was about to speak but her voice stopped him.

"please...my lord…hear me out..."

It was so…gentle and non-confrontational…something about her made him…want to listen.

"stand down everyone…I want to hear her out."

His granddaughter and guard looked at him in shock. This was not his normal behavior.

"thank you...sir. now, I am going to take my mask off and reveal to you my identity and I pray it will stay within this office?"

"I won't make any promises until I know who you are" he told her.

She nodded "fair enough."