I just remembered the Raikage's name is actually 'Ay' not 'A' and fixed that stupid mistake. I'll go back to the previous chapters and fix them too, but right now I'm writing the next following chapters now that I'm on Christmas break teehee. Also, I noticed my grammar mistakes in ALL of my Author's Notes and I'M SORRY! I don't pay attention to them that much.

I want to know how you answer questions to some of the reviews cuz apparently I can't. Do you send private massages to them?

Anyways, I love all of you so much that it hurts lol. Lately I'm just in sour mood. :))))))):

Chapter 11: The Importance

Sasuke stood in a fair ranging distance from the window panel where he could clearly see the brief, formal conversation taking place in the Raikage's hectic office between the Lord Fourth himself and his current client, certainly the bane of his existence at this point on. As a potential danger to the village, he had so chose to stay on the safety line from the leader of Kumogakure, especially Hinata. The majority of it encompassed the Hyuga. A vague scowl etched across his handsome features at the thought, angry that he had chosen to yet again think about her and her annoying stuttering rather than his actual problems.

"I could help with some of the minor rebuilding, supplements, civilized aids, even in the medical department if you're running low on medic Nin. I may not suffice as lady Tsunade or Sakura Haruno, but I do know the basics," spoke Hinata with ease and a small sense of authority. These people needed to know that she would turn out to be a fine heiress of the infamous Hyuga Clan. The white-eyed people of all seeing and knowledge.

"Indeed." Ay offered dismissively, flapping through the personal scrolls from Konoha that Hinata brought along on behalf of her village. He was an action leader and didn't take well to political matters nor order if it had anything to do with papers and niceties. His eyes slewed up to meet her cold, empty yet somewhat intriguing eyes. It might not be so unique back in Leaf but here in Kumo, it was as of staring into a vast of marble-like pebbles that unraveled every darkest secrets his heart kept. "I'm sure you're aware now of our strained alliance with your village, Hinata Hyuga. Lately, anyways."

Her eyes flickered sideways shortly. "Yes."

Lightly, Ay dumped his fist on the table with disdain, "I have no desire to start a war with the Hyugas, but one of your own Shinobi back in Leaf has committed a high crime here—"

"Yes, I'm aware. Sasuke Uchiha, the former rouge Ninja."

Sasuke was dwelling outside the window yet he could still hear their words clearly, he twitched in reflex at the mention of his name through her lips. Hinata spoke his name so smoothly yet it felt as if she knew it was him behind the mask all along. He was aware that it was all just a figment of his scrambled imagination. Something else moved inside his pants as well, and he wanted nothing more than to level the earth underneath him. Hinata hadn't done anything yet but managed to cause him painful arousal.

A scornful grumble erupted out of the older man. "Is he rotting in prison, that ungrateful brat?"

"Yes."

"Curse him and his family!" This time he ought to really seek a psychological help because as he risen from his seat, he used his good hand to bisect the wooden table into halves once again, just as he did yesterday, and before yesterday— "That son of a bitch Uchiha should be laying somewhere with his head rolling dislocated from his damned body! No mercy or leniency should be granted to that cursed child, descendant of evil incarnated!"

The Anbu outside reconsidered his priority and pondered if he should went in and intervene. Unreasonable man like the Raikage could create collateral damage to whoever's in his line of fire, wether they're related to an important bureaucrat or not. And his precariously perching on top of a wooden railing a few feet outside wasn't helping his thoughts. So in his racing thoughts, an eyebrow was raised in amused surprise when Hinata's normally quiet and gentle voice raised above a whisper. Albeit that, her words stunned him altogether.

"Please do not speak such things about my fellow Shinobi, my lord. Despite his numbers of reckless and bashful actions, half the cause of the war he is, he had atoned for his wrongness by fighting alongside us against the enemy. He returned goodheartedly to protect Konohagakure and did a decent job so far. It is yet not confirmed wether your claim on Sasuke Uchiha is at all true, so that's way we're keeping him under our confinement until we're able to get a clear heading till his appointed execution. Though until that moment come, I must insist that you stop insulting him. And again, I am not here to discuss that matter. I am here to help you and your village as the next heiress. If you please."

Bafflement took over the Raikage. He didn't expect for the young girl to speak up so defiantly against his opinions on the Uchiha. From what he had heard, she was a rather timid heiress, a trait he didn't find at all attractive for such a superior position as hers, even her appearance didn't merge well with her fierce defense for the avenger.

Even Sasuke was rendered speechless. He didn't recall their interacting with each other without his mask and knowing each other, and by that sheer thought, he thought that, just like others, she would think lowly of him. Those opal eyes held so many determination and something else Sasuke couldn't input. Although she was as revealing as an open book, she was as mysterious as the dark side of the moon. Sasuke had no idea of what went on inside of her pretty little head half of the time.

He might not want to admit this, even to himself, but his heart drummed against his chest again, compressing against his regular breathing. One hand clenched tightly on the front of his shirt as his temple perspired. Not this time...

"Very well." Ay collected himself and stayed composed, straightening his posture. "As for your duty here, Hiashi Hyuga has sent useful suggestion that indeed requires your aid. Mainly, the smaller missions that don't necessarily require fighting skills. His excuse for this was that he cannot except his daughter being heavily injured during your following days before officially transcending to the highest position of the Hyuga clan. Which I don't really approve of much since you are an independent heiress of a powerful clan in training. But for my sake, I shouldn't intervene." He filed through the pamphlets of papers, laboring his breaths due to irritation nagging on him because he found it hard to search for the right paper with one of his arm encased. "Right. Here. An A-Rank criminal had recently caused a major commotion in the village. He pillaged an antique store, had multiple minor crime records, but most damaging case was that yesterday night he had broken into our most ancient and most skillful medic Nin's residence and forsaken her with an illness that we can't seem to diagnose. Fortunately, my military Anbus managed to track him down and put him behind bars. But unfortunately, our most valuable medic hasn't been able to be cured yet even with our advanced technology to aid us. She is an expert in herbal medicines yet she couldn't cure herself either. We are limited in the enhanced visionary department so I would like you to go there, use your Byakugan to distinguish the disease and maybe even cure it. She lives in a cottage just on the outskirts of the village in the southeastern of the river."

She nodded carefully, delicate eyebrows scrunching, taking mental notes before bowing respectfully—sporting a gentle smile. "Then I'll get started, Lord Raikage."

He nodded, "Without Lady Tsumi, none of the patients in Lightening hospital who are in urgent need of medical attention could heal fast. But most importantly," he looked at his encased arm. "As the Raikage, I couldn't be healed as fast." He cursed the Uchiha again in his head. "I suggest starting right away. I would give you some smaller missions to spread your title throughout the country after you have accomplished this one." His eyes were shadowed as he peered down in a grim scowl, in deep thoughts. "And please do it fast. I need my strength back."

Frown was drawn across Hinata's lovely features at this, yet she didn't argue. She knew since the moment she agreed to this mission to the Lightening Country she would face this obstacles. Ay wanted to get back into shapes so that he could probably start plotting an attack of such. The Uchiha had done way more damage than she comprehended. Despite looking refined, this village was currently facing a huge roadblock. A former rouge Ninja had tried to attack their lord, detaching his arm again like last time. Many who opposed to the Raikage would soon follow. Numbers of crimes had risen in Kumogakure, and the other nations were putting up their defenses against them. "Of course." Hinata dreaded the idea of having to spend some time in the village, probably more in the apartment, with her bodyguard.

When she twirled around to leave the office, unable to tolerate the aura of watchful eyes in it, the booming man bellowed, "Your Anbu..." Outside Sasuke furrowed in annoyance. "He should be able to protect you well, shouldn't he? I would hate for any danger to come your way during your stay here. Konoha will come after us." He grumbled. "Yet I'm still very curious. He hadn't shown himself since my subordinates last seen him in the forest with you. Is he shy?"

"He is an Anbu," Hinata told him. "Their duty is to be silent."

After her last statement, Raikage nodded her off, but Sasuke knew there was much more meaning to her flat words. Did she want him to finally be silent around her and never speak to her? Only showing up when her urgency calls for a desperate measure?

Nineteen-days.

Dread gnawed on Hinata as she opened the door to her lodge, kicking away her Shinobi sandals when she heard a light thud of swishing outside her windowsill. Despite her body itching to take a brief look outside, knowing she would be matched with the same mysterious porcelain mask, she fought defiantly and relentlessly against her personal urges. It was her priority; the following mission. Not him. How unassuming of her to feel a sort of special compassion for that man. He could be anyone, anyone. After all, he appeared to have seals all over his body back when she made the mistake of marveling and also drooling at his sculptured backside. Not just any sealing. She lived in Konoha long enough to know what the restraints of seals were. Was he a renegade who was pardoned or a criminal who escaped out of the village? That was a strange thought because despite the government of Konoha releasing atoned criminals and gifting them back their freedom, it was uncommon for said criminals to participate in an important role, such as taking the post of an Anbu. Unless he had done so much for the village to prove his improved behavior.

White rage crawled under her skin which was strange. Hinata was hardly the person to get irritated, let alone angry. She undid the obi around her waist and threw her stockings on the bed. At this point, she could care less if he bodyguard could see the curvature of her.

"What are you doing?" Came a velvety and smooth voice that could allure any woman in his field of vision. It certainly succeeded in luring her, but in her angry state she could hardly pay any speck of attention to him. Half of the interior in her head was filled with him already.

Sasuke was baffled. He never knew Hinata to be so bold as to strip in front of him and he was never the one to shy away from creamy complexion and slim figure with big bosoms. Yet his body reacted unpredictably when it came to her. At least, this time, he had the decency to turn his gaze away, ears growing warmer. Though he couldn't see her, he heard the slap of her silky locks against her backside, exuding a waft of her sweet scent that somehow translated to an erotic one to him. It spread thoroughly through the room. Sasuke had been so addicted to her lavender prescence, he was slowly getting frustrated with her.

"Getting ready for the mission," she stiffly said and put on a kimono with curls of flowers as its design. "I won't go there dressed in my gears. I need to appear peaceful and emit superiority." The kimono was definitely not her usual fancy dress like back in the Hyuga manor, but anything would do under the heating glare of her Anbu. "You should stay a fair distance away from me. Lady Tsumi wouldn't take well to strangers with an intense aura," her eyes traced to his face over her shoulder. "You're an Anbu...right?" In short, she meant: as an Anbu you should be quiet as the dead. Your existence while on missions should weigh lesser than thin air.

Minutes passed by like a whirlwind, though it stretched out to be much longer in Sasuke's mind. He remained rooted in his place, watching with a hint of concern as Hinata stubbed her toe lightly on the stands of the bed. So alike the stupid little princess of his, she nursed her toe away from his eyeshot.

He exhaled a sigh and strolled in front of the bed where he knelt in front of her as she farted her gaze away from him. "Let me help at least." While her graceful fingers fiddled and fidgeted with the tight flesh of her pained toe, he carefully clasped the obi of her kimono that were left unbound at her sides and tugged the silken material together. Red obi curled firmly around her fragile waist before he sealed it close. Yet even after he was done, his hands remained on her hips, slowly kneading the material of the kimono between his fingers. Eyes watching his fingers play with some of the loose strings. "Were you able to finish the scarf last night?"

Sasuke heard her suck a deep intake of breath and knew she dreaded having a conversation with him. Sasuke wanted to push her away. His problems shouldn't intertwined with hers but by god he couldn't control himself. He had only solely admitted to himself that he'd allowed himself to fall in love with such exquisite creature, but he wasn't ready to accept it. Uchiha's curse was their deep undying love for some unfortunate soul, but once that person rejects them or dies, god help those who stands in the line of fire of the Uchiha. Sasuke had no idea what he was capable of if she refuses him.

"No," came her short answer.

"I see." He played again with his only physical contact with her body but then he tempted himself by sliding his scorching hot hands around her waist, feeling the softness of her flesh and blood. He whispered loud enough for only the two of them. "Do you hate me?"

Her soft hands fell on top of his evil-intentioned hands, halting his caresses. "No." Her eyes stung. She did hate him. Hinata couldn't understand him; his motives. What did he want with her? He'd be kissing her so sweetly and he'd be shouting harsh words at her the next second. Just when she made up her mind to keep their relationship professional; nothing more than a client and an assigned protector, he came to her again with such soothing voice, almost asking for forgiveness without uttering the words and stroking her with suck fondness. "Do you?"

"Such silly thoughts." He snapped out of his reverie and a hand that had held swords, blood and crushed thousands of skulls went up and gently brushed her eyelids, her cheeks and her lips. "Stop wilting. You look slightly less beautiful." He didn't have to but he smoothly lifted her to stand up. "You should go to the medic's cottage now," he took a step back from her. "I'll be right after."

In a blink of an eye, he disappeared from the room. Hinata touched her cheek where his hand left a burning sensation and bit her lower lip. After collecting her thoughts, she left the inn and headed to settle her priorities first.

I know that you're just here for the reads but can you help a gal like me and send me a big review on the overall aspects of this FF? Pwease I need to fix this shit up!!!