Sasuke felt rage building inside of him. He knew there was no reason for him to be this angry at Naruto but his image made him remember this awful day. The only reason anything like that has happened has been Naruto stopping him. So that was his reason for feeling this way and it didn't matter if it was enough of a reason.
Hinata on the other hand noticed Naruto only after he yelled to them. She was surprised to see him. There were no ill feelings in her for what's happened. But there was one thing that bothered her about Naruto. He seemed to want to talk to her and she feared this conversation. It could be about one of three things. First one was Sakura. He might want to apologize for her and this would have been an easy conversation. Second - Sasuke. She imagined Naruto could want to talk about their intentions for one another. Ant the last one, the hardest one, was about her, about what she's said so long ago. This one made her feel sick in her stomach. She didn't feel in love with the blonde anymore but there still wasn't any closure to their unspoken conversation that she's relieved so many times in her head. And she still hasn't talked to Sasuke about this aspect of her past. She knew everybody in their friend group knew about it but Sasuke hasn't been there so he might have no idea how truly pathetic she has been back then. She has told him about her once feelings for Naruto but not much else.
When Naruto came to the porch they both stayed in their chairs. Hinata was first one to get up and greet him. All of this felt odd. Sasuke suddenly stood right beside her and watched the blonde closely.
„So you two are back, huh?" Naruto asked and grinned. He knew that the atmosphere was tight but he decided to ignore it. He didn't want to cause any disturbance there and was simply overjoyed that they came back. He did feel a slight pinch in his stomach when he saw Hinata. He as well remembered that day. But what hurt him the most about it was Sasuke's scream that still echoed in his brain to this day. And looking at Sasuke was difficult as well. He felt responsible for what Sakura's done.
„As you can see" Sasuke said through his teeth. Hinata squeezed his hand to let him know that he had to let it go and relax but it didn't help much.
„You were on a mission?" She asked to get the attention away from the topic of their return. She wanted Naruto to talk about something irrelevant.
„Yeah. Boring one too. I was to deliver a message to the Village Hidden by Rocks" Hinata nodded.
„Not the most diverse place, huh?" She was once again dragging the conversation that day.
„It's impossible! I couldn't imagine living there" Naruto smiled one of these smiles that would have swung her over some time ago. „So you've been there?"
„Yes we were. It was a short visit. Only three days but we've had enough." She smiled to Naruto and tilted her head.
„When exactly did you meet?" Was it simply polite question, was he really curious?
„Few months ago." It was Sasuke who answered him. He was silent up until now but felt the need to step into the conversation now. It was three months and three days that they've spent together but saying this exact number would only cause Naruto to mock him.
„So you two mostly traveled alone then?" They both nodded. It seemed that their time together was so short and yet so long. „I'm sorry for what happened when we met" and there it was. Sasuke tensed once again.
„Sorry isn't quite enough" he said and glared at his friend.
„I accept this apology" Hinata said and smiled. „No harm done" But both men knew there was a lot of harm done. Maybe she didn't feel this but Team 7 has never been tight in a normal sense but now it felt just broken beyond repair. Back when Sasuke'd left the village for the first time both Naruto and Sakura had been desperate to get him back, he had a soft spot for them even if he would never admit it. But now these bonds were almost gone. Sasuke and Naruto still were like brothers but there was so much guilt and remorse that they didn't know if they were friends exactly. And Sakura was gone.
„Thanks Hinata" Naruto said but there was no happiness in his voice. „I have to go to the Hokage Tower. I'll see you two around!" He smiled and run off.
Hinata turned to Sasuke. He was watching the blonde leave and didn't look at her. His face was made of stone right now. There was no emotion on it and it somewhat scared her. Was he really this upset with them?
„You have to let it go" she whispered. It was then that he looked at her and she saw how offended he looked.
„Let it go?" He repeated after her.
„Yes"
„Do you know what you're asking me for?"
„I'm asking you not to make him disappear from your life…" she breathed in and held her breath. „I'm also asking you to forgive Sakura."
„No." His answer was fast and clear.
„She didn't want to do this. She is my friend and she was simply hurt by what she saw" Hinata felt really bad about this and wanted to make amends with the pink haired kunoichi. He shook his head in disbelief.
„Hinata. You can forget and forgive but I just can't" he was surprised that he was able to keep his tone down. He wanted to scream. „That scene is now imprinted in my brain. The thought of loosing you… I was in agony Hinata for gods sake" he cupped her face. „And explanation like the one you've just given isn't gonna change the way I feel about all this."
„But you saved me and everything's alright. Can't we just, I don't know, leave it behind?"
„There shouldn't be the need for me to save you from someone that called herself my friend. And what if I couldn't save you? What if you were dead, or seriously harmed?" His eyes, black once again, were full of anger and pain. He's let his guards down for her to see these emotions. „I would kill her" his voice was sharp and there was no doubt that that's exactly what he would have done.
„Just don't let this ruin your bond with Naruto. I… I know how important he is in your life and I don't want to be the reason he disappears from it" he sighed and shook his head once again.
„I'll try" he was serious. When he saw tears forming in her eyes he kissed her gently. „What are you crying about?" She didn't want to answer that question. Being with him changed a lot in her but it couldn't erase the feeling of unworthiness. She felt once again that she was letting someone dear to her down. But when she didn't answer he just leveled his head with hers and looked deep into her eyes. „What is it?" He asked once again.
„Nothing" she said and wanted to free herself hon his grip but it only got tighter. „I… I just… Don't let me be the reason you loose people important to you" she said at last and closed her eyes. If she hasn't she would have seen the bewilderment in his eyes. She would have seen how he was completely frozen with surprise.
„You still think you're not worth a dime?" He spoke softly. „After all we've been through?" She still couldn't look at him so she kept her eyes closed. He simply couldn't believe how deep in her these doubts were, how easy for them was to surface. But he knew there was nothing he could say to make her feel worth how much he valued her so he simply hugged her and picked her up. He took her inside and sat with her on the couch. He didn't let her go for one second and kissed her forehead. „You're not the cause of me loosing people." He whispered into her ear. „And there is no one more important to me than you are" he hoped to get to her. She opened her eyes. And when she did he smiled warmly.
Naruto went back home from the Hokage Tower and laid on the bed. All he's wanted for so many years was for Sasuke to be back. And when he was there was no room for happiness. Everything about his friend seemed unwelcoming and he knew exactly why. He knew that it would take a lot of work from both of them to be able to repair their bond. But he was so tired. He wanted everything to just go back to the way it's used to be. Three of them. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. He took one of the frames from the bedside and looked at it. The picture was getting old. He saw Kakashi with his one eye smiling. Sakura happy. Him and Sasuke with their faces grimaced. He smiled to memories of the easier times. How stupid their rivals was back then and yet it was the reason both of them improved so much.
He thought about Sakura as well. His anger at her almost vanished now and he simply missed her. She would be there with him and she would make him want to fight for this friendship. But she's been so far away and he had no idea when she would be back. He needed a friend right now, that's all.
When Naruto woke up he realized that someone was knocking on his door. He groaned and went to see who it was. He was surprised to see Hinata there. She was alone. He opened the door and smiled at her.
„Hi" she said. „Can I come in?" He let her in and pointed towards his living room. When she sat down he didn't know what to do with himself.
„Do you want something to drink?" He asked but she shook her head.
„I'm here only for a few minutes. I just wanted to talk to you about what happened yesterday."
„Oh, okay" he sat in front of her on a chair. „What is it?"
„I really don't hold any grudges Naruto, just so you know. I know what drove Sakura to do the thing she did and I don't want to lose her nor you as a friend." She saw that he felt uneasy.
„I know Hinata. That's what makes you so extraordinary, your ability to forgive" he was tired once again.
„But that's not all I came to say." She didn't know what she really was doing here but she wanted to do something, anything. „Sasuke… he is rather stubborn but you are his oldest friend. I… I don't want you two to lose what you have so I suppose I'm here to invite you for a dinner. It doesn't have to be today but I think you guys have to talk. Without me there." She smiled.
„I don't think talking is what he wants"
„Like I said. He is stubborn. I can make him go to Ichiraku with me and we can meet you there and I will leave you two alone"
„He could just leave" Naruto was not himself that day and bombarded everything she said.
„If you don't want to then that's okay"
„No… I want to" he sighed. „Let's do it" he grinned and she smiled.
„Today?"
„Im free"
„At 4 is good for you?" She was happy that he agreed. He nodded and soon after she left his flat.
„Do you like ramen this much?" Sasuke asked her when they sat by the table. She only smiled.
„I do but that's not the only reason we're here" she suddenly felt stressed. What if he got angry and stormed off? „I did something and I hope you won't get mad"
„What?" Somehow he knew what it was. She has been gone this morning but since she came back with the groceries he hasn't paid much attention to it. When he saw Naruto he almost rolled his eyes. She couldn't leave it alone, could she?
„You two really need to talk and that's the only way I could think off" he wasn't mad but he really didn't have patience for the blonde now.
„I'll talk to him"
„Great." She stood up and Naruto sat at her place. When she was leaving she saw how awkward they both looked and crossed her fingers for it to work.
He came back rather late. His meeting with Naruto was… good. They talked almost like they've used to before. He still was angry about what has happened but less. When he saw Hinata sleeping on the couch his heart warmed. He changed his clothes and lied next to her.
„How was it?" She asked through her sleep.
„Better than expected" he spooned her and breathed in her scent.
„Im glad"
„Thanks"
„My pleasure" and she drifted back to sleep. He smiled and closed his eyes.