Ermagerd. x_x I am so sorry. One thing before you read on: This was going to be the last chapter- a really long chapter. But I decided to wait to end it with one last chapter after this. So yay. Proceed.
Uchiha Sasuke hated hospitals. He hated everything about them especially the bright white lights, the smell of bleach and the constant presence of death. The air was always heavy and tense because it felt like a portal; life came and life slipped away. It was ironic to hear the solid tone of a machine indicating loss of life then to hear the cries of a newborn baby seconds later. That was why he refused to seek medical attention but also because asking for help was a sign of weakness.
His feet were flat on the floor as he sat on the bed just waiting. Why was there always a wait? It almost felt as if there were Aburame bugs crawling throughout his veins making him restless, but he remained sitting still. The dull pain sat behind his eyes as if it had found a permanent home and it was to the point where Hinata's drops were no longer helping. Sasuke went to sleep with a splitting headache and awoke with an eye ache. Both went hand in hand with the tension of his eyes it in turn affected his sinuses and blood vessels in his head.
Sasuke leaned forward to rest his arms on his knees while his gaze idled on the tile below him. Ever since her departure a few months ago, the stress had doubled much to his confusion. Each mission felt like an impossible task even the ones that seemed laughable to a high ranked ninja. He found it difficult to concentrate and he wasn't sure if it was from her absence or because of his condition.
"Good morning, Sasuke-kun." A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts but he didn't look up from the ground. Haruno Sakura entered the hospital room with a clip board in her arms and she shut the door behind her. She glanced down to her papers as she took a few steps forward towards the Uchiha.
"Oh, so you're going through with it." She said. It took him a few moments before he sat straight up and simply glared at her.
"How long is this supposed to take?"
"… Well everyone is different." Sakura said while reading the papers. "As you know, this is the medical exam to ensure that you are at peak performance to become a part of the ANBU."
Sasuke could feel the scroll Naruto gave him sitting in his pocket. It was something he had gone back and forth with for a long time… too long actually. Naruto had begun to wonder if he had forgotten about it which seemed impossible considering he was bugged about it every day from every one.
"As a member of ANBU, your senses must be at 95% or greater to be considered." Sakura continued as she read flatly from her board. "This includes sight, smell, hearing, reflexes and chakra pressure."
Sasuke almost chewed his tongue off trying not to lash out at the woman before him. Why the fuck was Naruto making him take this stupid exam when he clearly told him he qualified? His tongue somehow slipped from between his teeth to throw a bombshell of words at Sakura.
"And if it's not 95% or greater?"
"Then you do not qualify, Sasuke-kun." She said with an exasperated sigh. Sasuke's hands clenched into fists in his lap as a shockwave of pain was sent through his body from behind his eyes. He was able to hide his expression, but a bead of sweat slipped down his forehead. Sakura watched him closely and without a word she approached him further.
"Sasuke-kun, are your eyes still bothering you?" She asked gently. He closed his eyes to help ease the tension and to avoid her coming any closer but Sakura had already knelt down. Sasuke almost flipped the room upside down when he felt her touch on his cheeks and he felt the strongest urge to unleash the Sharingan.
"Get off." Sasuke growled even though he didn't struggle. Her touch was unwanted even if it was just for medical purposes.
"Please… I just need to take a look. Kakashi-sensei mentioned you were having trouble with the Mangekyo." Her fingers rested upon his closed eye lids and they lit up with green chakra.
Sasuke could slowly feel the pain become dull again and his eyebrows eased a bit along with his anger. It seemed everything was pushing him onto the brink of insanity but it mainly stemmed from the constant 24 hour a day seven days a week pain. Sakura chewed on her lip as she was almost scared to go further.
"I am going to gently open your eyelids… please, try not to move."
Sasuke only allowed this because it was the only way for him to become an ANBU. There was really only one person he allowed to touch him; everyone else was off limits simply because he disliked it. He figured that he would have been like this no matter what psychological damage he suffered. Aside from his mother, the Uchiha clan wasn't very affectionate. That was perhaps why the piggy back ride Itachi gave him as a child was always locked away in his memory as something so very sacred.
At first, Sasuke resisted against someone else handling his eye lids but Sakura's face filled his vision from opening his eyes. He hadn't been this close to a woman since Hinata. In fact, Sasuke hadn't slept with anyone since before his arrival in Konoha. It only made the anger stir back up within the pit of his stomach. He could see that Sakura was obviously flustered being this close to her first love but he ignored it.
"Your eyes…" Sakura whispered. "They are… clouded." Her voice was oddly monotone which caused a bit of an unseen panic in him.
"Clouded?"
"… Yes. There is something wrong." She mumbled. "How often do you use the Sharingan?"
"Well, on missions." He said impatiently.
"And the Mange—"
"I've never used it."
"How long has it been like this?" Sakura asked then stood up straight. Sasuke used his fingers to create pressure upon the bridge of his nose as if it would help. Another reason he hated going to the hospital… it was a 20 questions game and he disliked going into personal details.
"A while." He simply said. Sakura narrowed her eyes. All her life she had dedicated herself to becoming a great med ninja… partly to help out during missions and partly to make herself useful. Sasuke was casting her aside as if they were children again. Sakura was no longer a naïve child who was wrapped around his finger. She was a professional doctor and she no longer needed his approval.
"Do you want to be a part of the ANBU!?" Her voice was dangerously close to sounding just like Tsunade's as if she had some kind of authority over him. "I suggest you start giving me better answers than that."
Sasuke was indeed used to writing her off as this being none of her business but alas… it was her business as she basically had his life in the palm of her hands. It was several seconds before he could pry his icy glare from her.
"As I'm sure you are aware, ninja with eye centric Kekkei Genkai experience eye aches on occasion." Sasuke said dryly. "The constant pain started ever since I received the Mangekyo even though I haven't used it yet."
Sakura felt the anger in her body slowly dissipate and she frowned. It was obvious that at this point, Sasuke did not qualify to become an ANBU due to his eye condition. Sakura knew that he would pass within the other parts of the medical exam simply because he was the perfect example of an elite ninja.
"From what it sounds like is severe stress upon the chakra flow behind your eyes." She said. "It has been seen in both the Uchiha and Hyuuga clans over the years although it is not very common."
"Can it be fixed?" The fear of losing not only his eye sight but his Sharingan as well was a worry. He wondered how Itachi did it. It was known that the man struggled with the damage done to his eyes from the over-use.
"Yes it can!" Another womanly voice interrupted as the door had slid open and Tsunade appeared with a pleasant smile. Sakura glanced over her shoulder at the blonde-haired woman.
"Tsunade-sama…" She mumbled. "Sasuke-kun's eyes…"
"Yes, yes. Let's have a look." Tsunade said as she stepped further into the room until she was as close to Sasuke as Sakura had been earlier. Sasuke's expression revealed his irritation with having so many people within his boundaries although the faster she got a look the faster he would be able to leave. He could feel the dull throbbing pain that sat stubbornly behind his corneas while Tsunade peered into his pupils. Her own expression didn't seem as worried as Sakura's had which let his shoulders very faintly ease.
"Well?" He muttered after a few silent seconds.
"Well indeed." Tsunade said while straightening her back from him. "Sasuke, do you ever recall your father with bandages wrapped around his head?"
Sasuke opened his mouth to counter back with a generic answer, but this question caught him off guard and made him probe into his past. He tried to think back to when he might have seen his father injured. Of course, he had seen his father with a dislocated shoulder, various cuts and scrapes, and he always had a slight limp in the morning.
"No."
"Yeah, that was what I thought. After looking through some old medical documents from your family, I stumbled across a surgery that was done to your father most likely in his early twenties." Tsunade said.
"Surgery? For what?"
"This exact situation." She said before crossing her arms. "From what I can see from that information is it runs in your family. Not the entire Uchiha clan but a slight genetic glitch that makes the flow of chakra within the eyes weaken over time. And my guess is since receiving the Mangekyo, it only made it worse even without using it."
Sasuke stared at the former Hokage almost dumbfounded. He wasn't sure what to think or say. Maybe that was why Itachi had so many problems and that could have also been a reason for the eye failing during Kabuto's reign with the Ni Bijon.
"It can be fixed?"
"Yes, and you can still become a part of the ANBU." She reassured. Sasuke frowned. He was so used to the solutions to his problems being extra complicated and often times sacrificial. This was oddly refreshing to hear such nonchalant chatter of such a painful thing.
"Although…" Tsunade's voice trailed off which caused his eyebrow to twitch. "You will be put on hold from any missions for the next few weeks. You will need to refrain from using your Sharingan under any circumstances to give your eyes a solid rest before surgery. Using the Sharingan even once more, in your state, could damage your eyes permanently."
Sasuke closed his eyes to ease another wave of pain and he shrugged his shoulders. Taking a break from missions didn't sound the greatest; it would allow his mind time to catch up to things that had been stubbornly ignored. Tsunade tapped her finger on her lips while she watched him silently deal with the pain.
"How have you been handling the pain all this time? It's been nearly a year since Itachi's death." Tsunade said quietly. A flash of his brother shot through his mind but he didn't stir.
"I've had drops." Sasuke simply said. Sakura, who had been quiet for much of this time, stepped forward a bit.
"The drops from Hinata?" She recalled Naruto mentioning it a while ago. "That makes sense. The Hyuuga Gardens provide many medical ointments and salves. They must have been making eye drops for their own eye issues."
"So, do we have a deal?" Tsunade asked as her gaze settled upon the stoic Uchiha. He shrugged his shoulders before getting to his feet.
"I don't really have a choice, do I?" Sasuke asked with a slightly sullen tone. Tsunade frowned. In retrospect, no, Sasuke did not have a choice. A ninja, such as Sasuke, who called forth an immense amount of chakra to the eyes would damage the already weak chakra channels. It was overload and could be fatal given the right circumstances. Sasuke's ninja days would be over it wasn't fixed. It wasn't about being in the ANBU at this point, it was about living a somewhat normal life.
"Come see me next week, Sasuke. We will begin the process." Tsunade didn't allow his attitude to sway her as usual. She could tell that his entire life was one tight string and it was only a matter of time before it snapped. It just couldn't be helped; it was something within his DNA and his genetics.
Without a response, Sasuke opened the door and left the hospital room. It wasn't until he felt the warmth of the sun and the Konoha breeze upon his face did he begin to feel more at ease. The laughter from children running rampant in the village streets was strangely comforting as his feet pushed him slowly onward and away from the hospital.
It had been several months since Hinata's departure. Sasuke wasn't sure how many because he tried not to think of it. He also tried not to think about how much he missed her. Sasuke wondered if by the time Hinata got back to the village he would be recovered enough for the ANBU. He certainly wasn't attempting to impress her by any means but he had to amount to something in her absence.
Of course he also figured by the time she got back that she would have forgotten of him… of them. We had nothing. It was something he force fed himself every night. They did not have a romantic relationship. They never dated. She was free to do as she pleased just as he was as well. He had the option to pursue women, but he didn't. Sasuke wasn't interested mainly because he had remained busy since she had left.
Often times, Sasuke laughed at himself for his silly ways of thinking. He now finally grasped the concept of how Sakura might have felt those many years ago when she 'loved' him. Love, then, was not real. They were children who could barely take care of themselves let alone know what person would suit them.
As he walked, he could feel the presence of someone behind him… following him. He allowed this to go on simply for his own amusement but after a few moments it began to get irritating. Sasuke stopped and looked behind his shoulder cautiously. A pair of light eyes clashed with his dark eyes as his stomach did a quick flop. Upon realizing it wasn't anyone of interest, he looked away.
"What do you want?" He muttered. Hyuuga Neji approached the Uchiha calmly even though it felt like imaginary electricity had erupted between the two. The scar that circled around Neji's eye sat like a sore thumb on his pale skin which only caused Sasuke to avoid eye contact.
Neji was always a quiet man that held a lot of power at bay. Years ago, people has gossiped about how Hyuuga Neji would measure up against Uchiha Sasuke considering they were both the top of their classes. His child hood years were bitter but upon his match at the Chuunin Exams against Naruto, he had become a more humble person...somewhat. His selfish intentions were swallowed as he vowed to protect the Hyuuga clan with his life.
"Hanabi-sama has requested to see you." His voice was flat although Sasuke could hear a very small trace of distaste from those words. Neji was just here with a message. Sasuke, for a quick moment, wondered if something was wrong. It was very unusual for the leader of the Hyuuga clan to reach out to him unless it involved Hinata. He didn't let his worries change his expression.
"What does she want?"
"I was not told the matter of the request." Neji was holding his tongue. It was obvious that he was against approaching the Uchiha. Sasuke narrowed his eyes although his curiosity was growing. Hinata must not be in any immediate danger seeing as Neji was still around.
"Fine." Sasuke said sheepishly. It wasn't very often he agreed on doing something when asked. His pride had been toned down mainly for her sake… mainly because he was itching to know how she was doing.
Their walk towards the Hyuuga district was tense and quiet. Sasuke's observations of Neji were consistent. Neji was much like himself—steps were normal paced, shoulders were held high, and eyes were forward. It was the complete opposite of Hinata and he now understood how different the two were.
Sasuke was vaguely aware of the Hyuuga's fight during the Chuunin Exams. Of course, at that point, he was dealing with plenty after having just received the curse mark. He still made it a priority to keep tabs on the Konoha ninja as if his mind was a giant file cabinet. Sasuke recalled Kakashi discussing the outcome of the other battles fought during their special trainings.
The fight between Neji and Hinata didn't seem quite as eventful as Rock Lee versus Gaara or even Sasuke's match, but it was just as deadly. Neji's anger towards the Main Branch was taken out upon his cousin and she was even saved by a future foe, Kabuto. How different things were then… how different things were now. It was oddly surreal at how things had changed and how even he had changed.
The Hyuuga Mansion was everything he had ever hoped. Everything inside was distinguished, traditional, and very expensive. He had always wondered as a child what it looked like which made him wonder why Hinata was always so reserved and conservative with her tastes. She had never once flaunted the wealth in her family.
"This way." Neji led Sasuke down several long halls and every so often they would pass a member of the Hyuuga clan. Their eyes looked at him with confusion and even some curiosity. It did seem odd to see the only member of the Uchiha clan within the confines of the Hyuuga mansion.
Neji stopped at a pair of doors which were made from fine wood with traditional Japanese carvings. Upon opening the doors, a whiff of incense hit Sasuke in the face and he tried to hide his awe. Inside was a long wooden table which could probably sit up to twenty people and at the end, he saw a familiar face. Hanabi was sipping on some tea as Sasuke walked through the door. He made sure to keep his expression dry in order to not show how impressed he was. Father is probably rolling in his grave...
Hanabi set down her cup as she saw the Uchiha and a small smile spread across her lips. It was reminiscent of Hinata which caused him to frown. Hanabi used the table as support to stand much to Neji's concern. From what Sasuke could see, she was well along in her pregnancy.
"Niisan… could we have a moment?" Hanabi's eyes looked towards her cousin who at first stood silently in protest. Sasuke could tell there was a sense of powers clashing between the two but Neji eventually turned to walk.
"I will be outside..." Neji replied and as he passed, he threw Sasuke a hard glare. Sasuke ignored him completely with his eyes remaining upon the Hyuuga in front of him.
"Uchiha Sasuke…" Her voice was firm in contrast to Hinata's softness. The confidence in her eyes was also present but from his perspective it seemed odd to him they were even related. Hinata and Hanabi were very different in many ways even though their appearances were similar.
Sasuke stood at the other end of the table with his arms crossed. There was a servant who had ushered over to his side offering him tea. He shook his head waving her off before his gaze returned to the high and mighty Hanabi.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes… please, sit down—"
"I'm fine."
"Well…" Hanabi let a hand rest upon her protruding stomach before she eased herself back down to the floor. "As you are aware… my sister, Hinata, has been in contract with the Sand for several months now."
She paused to see any sort of reaction from the Uchiha but he remained stoic. Hanabi's small smile was replaced by a thin line. She had forgotten how cold and dismissive he was which made her wonder if bringing him here was a good idea. Hanabi tried to look past that as she pushed her cup forward to rest her hands on the table top.
"We have reason to believe that Suna might be in danger of being invaded." Hanabi said. Sasuke paused to let this information sink into his brain. There were several questions that popped into mind and he wasn't sure where to begin.
"Is Naruto aware of this?" It was his first question as he was confused as to why Hanabi had this information. Naturally, Suna and Konoha were allies so they watched over each other so it wasn't so odd, but it seemed more of a village problem versus a clan problem.
"Yes. Gaara and Naruto-sama have been in contact however Suna doesn't seem to feel as if this threat is something to be concerned about." Hanabi paused to slip a lock of hair behind her ear. "I tend to disagree."
Sasuke's frown deepened as he was silent in thought. If Suna was in danger, that also meant that Hinata was in danger as well. It didn't sit well with him, but there were more questions he felt needed to be answered.
"Suna is a highly guarded village known for their quick action. What is the threat?" Sasuke had uncrossed his arms and he let them dangle almost helplessly at his side. Hanabi intertwined her fingers and her chin rested on them for support.
"Yes. Gaara has done a fine job of fine tuning his ninja to be quick and prepared. Although I am concerned because the rumor is there are several small villages to the West of Suna who are preparing to join together to try to overturn Suna."
Sasuke had one last question and it had been bothering him ever since he stepped foot into the Hyuuga mansion. His dark eyes were sharp and icy and they met with the firm lightness of Hanabi's eyes which almost sent a shiver down her spine.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Hanabi kept her gaze on Sasuke in silence as a long sigh escaped through her lips. There were a few reasons although he was right to question her. If it was such a big deal then Naruto should have approached him instead and from there it would be official but this was different; it felt personal for some odd reason.
"I'm worried about Hinata." She finally blurted out in a slight informal way. Hanabi had gone from the leader of the Hyuuga to the younger sister of the former heiress. There was a very long pause as she tried to gauge him. Sasuke's normal response would be something snarky like she can take care of herself or this was her choice but he couldn't bring himself to say such things.
Secretly Sasuke shared the concern but he wasn't ready to openly admit it to anyone. He wasn't sure what to say or how to say it. Hanabi somehow saw the struggle of his emotion even though it was not fully displayed on his face.
"I was wondering if you would accept an unofficial mission… through the Hyuuga clan."
Sasuke remained silent. An unofficial mission through the Hyuuga Clan almost felt wrong considering his upbringings. It would also interfere with his orders from Tsunade to not use his Sharingan so he could get the surgery to become an ANBU. All logical reasons pointed towards the answer of 'no'. But there was something in the back of his mind that flushed all those reasons down the toilet.
It came down to several things: potentially ruin his eyesight and chances of becoming ANBU… or save the woman he had basically fallen in love with. Sasuke only knew of a few things in life: how to become strong, how to piss off a lot of people and how to burn rice on a consistent basis. He didn't know much about love or companionship so it went against everything he believed in.
Hanabi eyed him closely before attempting to stand again. She steadied herself and slowly walked towards Sasuke. He watched her carefully as if she would attack, but she stopped just in front of him. It had to be obvious at this point it wasn't just the safety of her sister that Hanabi was worried about. She also wondered when Hinata would find that happiness in life that didn't end in solitude. Sometimes in order to get a reaction, things needed to be stirred.
"I'm not even asking as the leader of the Hyuuga's… or as a Konoha ninja. I am asking as Hinata's sibling." Hanabi reached out to take his hand. He cautiously allowed both of her hands to enclose over his; it was as if he were in a trance just simply watching his body as he floated above.
His heart was pounding in his chest. The dull ache behind his eyes increased. A bead of sweat that had formed on his forehead slowly slid down his temple. These types of decisions were usually easy to address for him, but there was something inside him that felt different. All Sasuke could do was stare at Hanabi and the way those familiar eyes looked straight back up at him.
"Please…"
Everything was cold. Hinata pulled her blanket up over her head and snuggled her pillow in a small attempt to warm up. Her teeth chattered silently in her jaw and even her nose was icy against her wrist. Suna was such an odd place; during the day any drop of water that hit the ground would evaporate almost instantly but once the sun disappeared, the temperatures were cold enough for breaths to fog up.
It had been nearly six months since her departure from her home in Konoha to the Village of the Sand. Six months was a very long time although she had found it easier to adjust than she originally thought. Most of her days in Konoha were spent working deep within the Hokage building. Things had been quiet ever since Kabuto's death… at least they were until the festival for Naruto.
Hinata could slowly feel the warmth wrapping around her body so the shivers began to dissipate. Her long hair draped over her shoulders like a tapestry as she lied there and she closed her eyes to sleep. Falling asleep was difficult. Hinata's mind was constantly running rampant with thoughts whether it was work-related or reminiscing of home… those types of things liked to keep her up during the cold nights.
She received letters from Hanabi on a monthly basis and much to her surprise they were filled with happy things… updates on the pregnancy and how the Hyuuga clan was doing. Hinata tried not to feel bitter, but she often wondered if home missed her as much as she missed them. She wasn't sure what exactly she missed… whether it was the mild temperatures or recognizing faces in the street, there was something Hinata longed for.
The pictures hung up around her loft were a nice gesture, although upon her leave, Hinata didn't have a lot of room to carry reminders of home. She remembered her trip down to Suna with Neji and how awfully quiet it was. Neji was quiet as it was, but he rarely spoke to her during their few days of travel. Hinata knew he was unhappy with her decision, but in the end, it was not his decision to make.
Neji was always protective of her and her sister and Hinata never found out if it was because he was supposed to be, or because he wanted to be. After their fight in the Chuunin exams, things were tense. After Neji's fight with Naruto, it was almost as if his safeguarding of her was a silent apology. She never held it against him because she understood why he felt the way he did.
Hinata remembered the first night of their travel over to Suna. They had just past the border and gotten into Sand territory. The wreckage from their battle months prior was just now getting tended to which brought up several awful memories. They flashed within her mind as they went. The blood, the fear, the death... She had never spoken of it which was troubling for her. Ninja didn't normally discuss the horrible details of battle. It was an unspoken rule and she had grown accustomed to keeping it locked away. Even though the border was several miles away, it was still a thorn in her side. Neji requested to stop for the night before they had gotten any further into the vast desert.
"You may rest, Hinata-sama… I will keep watch tonight." Neji said as flames erupted over the wood logs. Hinata could feel the shiver of the Suna night approaching as the sun had begun to set. She nodded with little protest and crawled into her sleeping bag.
For several minutes, they had sat in silence. Hinata watched glumly as the flames danced wildly. The occasional crack from the wood would jolt her from a daze. Eventually, the only light left were the stars in the sky and the fire before them. Hinata figured that there would be nothing said between them for the remainder of the night. There wasn't anything to say. So, she allowed her eyelids to give in but only for a few seconds as Neji's voice cut through the tension.
"What are you trying to escape?"
The question was disheartening but it caused her eyes to flutter open. Her stomach felt queasy and even though her breath was visible, Hinata felt hot all of a sudden. The more she repeated his question in her mind, the more strange it sounded. She knew exactly what he was trying to pry into, but the emotion of this conversation would be too much so she played dumb.
"What do you mean?" Her voice was heavy with sleepiness, but Neji didn't seem to mind keeping her awake.
"Tsunade-sama mentioned your hesitation with this mission." His eyes stared into the dull light of the fire while trying to hide a shiver. "Is it because of your father?"
A deep frown settled into her features as she, too, stared at the flames. They danced calmly, but every so often, they would create a frenzy when the breeze would blow. For a few seconds, she wished that she could be as care-free as the fire. Hinata thought for a few moments on how to respond to Neji, but there was nothing she could come up with that would satisfy his curiosity.
"I do not know." She murmured. "Maybe I'm not trying to escape anything. Maybe… I'm looking for something."
This caught Neji off guard and he looked over towards his cousin, who lied snuggled in her sleeping bag. He could just barely see her face, but her expression looked pained. It really showed the perspective of the two Hyuuga and their differences. Neji often looked at the negative in a situation whereas Hinata found the good within it. Hinata wasn't running from anything; she was starting new.
Although Hinata wondered if there was any truth to what she said. Leaving Konoha would help her address her father's death better and it would also make the harshness of Uchiha Sasuke's words a little less painful. In the end, it was an opportunity that Tsunade found fitting for her to experience and it would strengthen the relationship between the two villages.
Underneath her covers in Suna, Hinata decided to roll over onto her side, but that in turn meant allowing the precious heat to escape. She closed her eyes again upon getting somewhat comfortable again and tried to force sleep. It was the simplest of tasks that seemed nearly impossible every night.
Hinata thought back to her sister's plea to return once the baby was born… which would be soon. It seemed pointless to go back just a few months short of her stay in Suna coming to an end. Hinata almost felt a pang of anxiety to returning to Konoha which clashed with how much she missed it. Returning home meant returning to the problems that were left unaddressed. At first she had thought her new journey would be helpful in accepting her losses in both Hiashi and Sasuke, but in reality, those feelings were ignored. The anniversary of his death was approaching.
She had good reason to ignore life; the process of organizing Suna's many documents had been more difficult that thought which left her incredibly busy. When Hinata had arrived, the entire library was a mess. Bookshelves had been knocked over, books were damaged, and it seemed Hinata had a daunting task ahead of her. She wasn't alone. Temari had been temporarily assigned to assist as Hinata wasn't entirely familiar with the different clans or history.
Hinata knew Temari simply from the occasional passing during the Chuunin exams and from their mission the previous year. Although Temari was very blunt and often times sarcastic, they got along quite well. The blonde haired woman knew that Hinata was soft spoken and modest, so for the first several weeks, Temari took it upon herself to take Hinata under her wing.
Suna wasn't completely foreign; a lot of the shops, restaurants and bars were relatively the same. The way of life was similar as well. The difference was the climate and the approach of teaching their ninja. Konoha was patient with their students and gently eased them into the way of the ninja. Suna had reformed their schooling to be a little more intense with little wiggle room. That was perhaps why there was such confidence in the Sand which Hinata envied.
Hinata had much to offer Suna, though, which always sent a rush of adrenaline through her body. She remembered meeting with Gaara about her vision on how their library and storage involving important documents should look. It would be very similar to how Konoha did it but with a few minor changes in order to maximize security.
She was nervous in the presence of the red-haired Kazekage. His gaze was always glued to her as if he was picking apart her entire being. He was stoic but it was incredibly different than Neji or Sasuke—they at least would show a hint of emotion whether it be irritableness or a half smirk. Gaara was completely void of any expression and it was unsettling. Temari said he didn't even crack a smile when it was revealed he would be the leader to the Sand.
Although when Hinata unveiled her ideas, Gaara had nodded his approval. He offered a few words of praise but it was enough that she was unable to hide her thin smile. It was this… a sense of acceptance and being needed… that was what Hinata had been looking for. Suna needed Hinata's assistance whereas Konoha was completely fine with her absence… the Hyuuga Clan was just fine without her. Uchiha Sasuke did not need her either.
"Ahh… that's the spot!" Temari had exclaimed earlier that evening. It had become an unspoken tradition to visit the local restaurant after work each day, just the two of them. Hinata had watched Temari down a cup of sake while she poked at her rice with chop sticks.
"Hey, we've been coming here for months and I have yet to see you drink sake." Temari said with a grin. Hinata felt her cheeks become pink remembering the last time she had consumed alcohol. It was the time she ventured out on a limb to drink in the presence of Sasuke which ultimately led to falling asleep in his bed.
"Oh… It gives me headaches." Hinata lied with a slight smile before becoming incredibly interested in her food. Temari raised an eyebrow almost completely unconvinced but she shrugged her shoulders.
"I won't be around tomorrow, by the way." She said her expression becoming serious. Hinata looked up from her food with surprise.
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. We have a mandatory meeting with Gaara. The council seems to think that these few villages off to the West are trying to start trouble with Suna." Temari said as her arms crossed. Hinata recalled vaguely hearing it be discussed throughout the halls of the Kazekage building and also Tsunade mentioning it before she left.
"Is it serious?" Hinata asked. Temari shook her head.
"Nah. I can't imagine those puny villages doing anything to be honest. Gaara isn't worried, but there is always someone in the council who is paranoid."
Hinata didn't think much about it. As much as she was proud of Konoha and their ninja, in certain ways, Suna was more powerful. Both Gaara and Naruto were smart and quick leaders… although Hinata might have been a bit biased when she favored the blonde haired Hokage.
Her thoughts had been interrupted by a young man who had essentially tripped over his own feet and practically into the lap of the Hyuuga woman at her table.
"Ahh!" She nearly jumped out of her skin as this man's face was basically buried into the napkin that rested in her lap. The man panicked and quickly scrambled to his feet. His hair was a brown mess of spikes and he was tall upon standing straight. Hinata already knew her cheeks were beet red.
"I-I-I am so sorry!" He stammered while scratching the back of his head. Hinata smiled politely with a few quick nods.
"I-It's okay. Really." She said and a wave of relief washed upon his face. Then the man grinned and it reminded her of Kiba. He was scruffy, but he wore his Suna forehead protector proudly. One thing she noticed was he was continually staring into her eyes. Hinata stuck out like a sore thumb in Suna although she wasn't the only Hyuuga to reside here. There were a few others from her clan that came to Suna almost a decade ago.
"Well, sorry for bothering you, miss." He said with a slight nod before continuing his way across the restaurant. Hinata brought her hand up to her forehead to slightly hide her blushing as she could just feel Temari's smirk digging into her.
"Y'know… we need to get you out more… meeting people." Her voice had a sly tone to it which only intensified her blush that just would not go away.
"It's fine…"
"Well, there are some cute men around here! There aren't any like Naruto, but… I'm sure we could find someone!" Temari teased while sipping on her sake. Hinata's heart didn't flutter anymore when she heard his name and she didn't really feel her face get even hotter when he entered her mind.
"I'm not looking—"
"By the way, what ever happened with you and that dummy anyway?" Hinata stared at the woman in terror as she hadn't realized her crush of Naruto had gotten as far as Suna, but she was quick to look away. Temari was far more talkative under the influence than she normally was. She also had the tendency to gradually get louder when she spoke. Hinata suddenly felt the urge to leave as she didn't like to discuss her personal life or lack thereof.
"Nothing. We're just friends." Hinata assured her. Temari raised a slender eyebrow again before leaning back in her chair.
"And the Uchiha?" She brought up nonchalantly. "What is he up to?"
Her stomach nearly unleashed all its contents on the table from hearing Sasuke's name brought up. Hinata was a wallflower; she would much rather sit back and watch than be the center of attention. She was very much outside of her comfort zone.
"Last I had heard he was going to join the ANBU." Hinata said quietly and she continued to poke at her rice with no intent to actually eat it. Temari let a sigh escape her lips and they sat without speaking for a few moments with only the restaurant ambiance there to keep it from being entirely silent.
Temari suddenly stood up and threw a few bills of money onto the table. She stretched her body before flashing Hinata a smile.
"Don't worry, Hinata. Men will never understand." She paused. "But I hate saying never say never."
That phrase still sat within the folds of Hinata's brain as she pulled the blanket from over her head. Hinata adjusted her pillow before returning to a position on her back. Her light eyes stared tiredly at the moonlight on the ceiling. She remembered her mother saying it which was odd because Hinata didn't remember much of anything of her mother. That was the only thing that stuck out. Perhaps that was where she got her optimism from.
The thought of Sasuke already crept into her mind. Hinata thought back to the last night she saw him which was at her loft in Konoha. Just thinking about them being so close made her begin to feel warm. Hinata wouldn't deny it any longer. She missed Uchiha Sasuke. She missed him more than anything and anyone. Of course, Hinata missed her family like Hanabi and Neji… and she even missed her team mates.
Her life had little purpose. At least with Sasuke, she could offer any help she could to help him get to where he needed to be. That gave her a sense of purpose as well. His own denial of their relationship was a bitter feeling which she often wondered if there was any feeling there at all. Did Sasuke really love her? Or was he just a lustful man who only used her for his own greater good?
Hinata decided enough was enough. She ripped her blankets off and got to her feet from bed. It was pointless to lay there and think away her nights when she could be doing something useful. She was quick to change her clothes as the air was bone chilling. Running her fingers through her long hair, she worked it into a quick braid before pulling on a jacket.
The Kazekage building wasn't far from her loft. It was a nice swift walk that she enjoyed in the evening time when the temperature was beginning to cool down and it wasn't quite freezing yet. Her small feet carried her quick through the quick streets of Suna. Of course, for this time of night it was supposed to be quiet, but it almost felt eerie. It was somewhat reminiscent of the strange feelings before Konoha had been attacked by Kabuto. Hinata stopped walking halfway and listened. She closed her eyes to allow her senses to concentrate, but she couldn't put her thumb on what felt out of place.
Hinata opened her eyes with the Byakugan and looked around the village. Everything seemed normal. There wasn't any indication that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite shake the feeling. Suna was sometimes a little eerie to her mainly because there were no trees to creak and no forests for bugs to chirp in. Everything was silent except for the howling wind and the dusting of sand. She pulled her jacket closer in order to retain the warmth and eventually went forward again.
This wasn't the first time Hinata had gone to work at this time of night. In fact, she probably did it at least once a week when sleep would simply not come to her. It was always quiet and peaceful in the building with no one to disturb her. As much as she enjoyed Temari's company, Hinata preferred to work in silence. It was easier for concentration and she didn't feel pressured to keep up with a conversation… which was why she enjoyed having Sasuke around because he understood that.
Hinata opened the door to the Kazekage building a blast of warmth from inside greeted her. It was a nice relief to be able to feel her fingers again as she walked down the hallways. Even though her footsteps were soft, they still echoed slightly behind her. In order to reach the stairs leading down, one must walk past Gaara's office. It was well known that the man didn't sleep, so it wasn't unusual for them to pass. Hinata would cheat every so often and look with her Byakugan to see if he was within his office just for her own benefit of steering clear.
However, upon activating the Byakugan, she found Gaara's office empty. Looking around the rest of building, it was odd that there was no one else around. She frowned and stopped walking in the halls. Something was definitely different, but there wasn't much that she could do. Hinata slowly started to walk forward in the hallways when the electricity began to flicker. She stopped as the lights dimmed and the entire building began to shake.
After a few seconds, the lights went completely out and Hinata tried to get her balance. For a split second, Hinata wondered if Suna ever got earthquakes, but they were uncommon. Hinata used her Byakugan to see better, but the tremors were getting worse. She glanced over her shoulder to see a large amount of chakra from outside the building.
"Is Suna being invaded!?" There were people swarming within the village from what Hinata could see with her Kekkei Genkai. Her thoughts took her back to Temari and even Tsunade completely doubting this scenario. I have to help! Hinata attempted to turn to sprint down the dark hallway, but as soon as her feet moved forward a large crack in the flooring below her splintered the marble tile.
Hinata leaped backwards several times and each time, the ground would crumble as if the foundation of the Kazekage building would collapse at any moment. All around her was the sound of concrete and rock cracking and crumbling. Hinata would be buried alive if she didn't do something. I need to get to the door…!
She found her footing in a more solid place in the hallway before small pebbles above her began to fall. Before Hinata could calculate how much time she had until the entrance to the building collapsed, chunks of concrete began to fall in front of her. Her heart was racing as she avoided getting hit by backing up further into the hallway.
Much to her relief, the tremors stopped, although a few straggling segments of the ceiling still fell completely blocking her only way out. Suddenly there was silence and Hinata gently opened her eyes to dust, broken bits of the building, and darkness. Cries from outside the building began to fill the air as she cautiously stood up.
"Byakugan…!" She whispered and her eyes instantly saw through the rubble. Outside, she could see bodies full of chakra attacking. Suna… has been infiltrated. Hinata retracted her Byakugan and slowly approached the wall of rubble in front of her. Her hands touched it to see its sensitivity and the thought of using the Gentle Fist to blast her way out crossed her mind. Her eyes looked up to see how well the ceiling was faring… but it wasn't good. Any slight movement would continue the collapse.
Hinata turned and slowly began to walk down the hallway, being careful of the cracks within the ground. It could bottom out at any moment. Hinata knew that there was a set of stairs that led upwards. If she could get to the roof, maybe she could find a way to jump down before the entire building gave in. Hinata slowly began to ascend up the stairs when the tremors began again. She used the walls as she went up as leverage to keep her balance.
Her panic turned into adrenaline as she raced down the upper hallways searching helplessly for the last staircase up to the roof top of the Kazekage building. Her mind was focused on one thing and that was surviving as building crumbled around her. This wasn't a situation she could get out of with jutsus or out-smarting her enemy. At this point, Hinata didn't even know who the enemy was.
Hinata's eyes fixated upon the door leading towards the roof and her heart skipped a beat. She released a set amount of chakra from her hands to blow away debris falling towards her and Hinata managed to push the door open. The sounds of battle cries could be heard as the rooftop was just steps away. The tremors had stopped again but the building was very unstable.
Oh no…! What am I going to do? There were major chunks missing from the roof top as she sprinted across to peer over the edge. The scene below was a nightmare; it seemed unnamed ninja were attempting to fight off the Suna ninja but were losing that battle. Her eyes scanned the ground below for any place for her to jump to when something caught her attention.
The enemy ninja must have been earth-based because several of them were leaping into the air and diving straight into the sandy earth. This was what was causing the violent tremors; the immense chakra of hundreds of ninja traveling underground which was in turn causing sink holes as many ninja were travelling under buildings. The Kazekage building seemed to be the only one that was in severe damage and she wasn't sure why.
Hinata heard a loud explosion from behind her and to her horror, the entire building was caving in. The icy wind was blowing harsh clouds of dust into her eyes and she knew she had to jump… Jump from a collapsing ten-story building to the ground below. Of course, Hinata was a trained ninja and she had certainly jumped from higher areas, but there was no where in between for her to ease the blow of the fall.
She had run out of time. The building was falling beneath her. Hinata could feel the once solid roof top under her feet feel loose and unstable. Between the debris, the dust, and the harsh cold wind, Hinata was forced to squeeze shut her eyes and jump forward. Her heart raced inside her chest as she felt her body begin to fall and she tried to open her eyes to see where she could land but the dust was too much.
Is this it? No... I cannot die. Not here. Not without telling him. Hinata forced open her eyes and the horror of free falling sent a shot of adrenaline through her body. Suddenly, a blur in the darkness came from the dust and something grasped onto her outstretched arm. Her stomach dropped as she was yanked upwards and it all happened so fast.
Something underneath her was warm... and feathery. Hinata slowly opened her eyes again to realize she was nuzzled into someone's chest. She looked upwards to see Uchiha Sasuke's stoic face looking onward as the summoned hawk they sat upon flew just on the outside of the final collapsing of the Kazekage building. His eyes were bright red in the darkness and it almost looked haunting.
"S-S-Sasuke-kun!" She tried to say but no words came out. Hinata could feel her face involuntarily scrunching to get ready to cry. Whether she was going to cry out of relief to be saved or just overwhelmed to see him, she wasn't sure. Hinata forced the tears away and wrapped her arms around him. She felt like she might be dreaming, but the icy bitterness of the air and the now demolished Kazekage building was enough to say otherwise.
"Are you hurt?" He asked over the howling of the wind. Hinata could feel the vibration of his question in his chest as she refused to let go. All she could do was slowly shake her head. How did he get here? How did he know? Why was he here?
Sasuke could feel her arms around him tighten and his arms holding her for support held her closer. After a few seconds of just savoring her presence and her touch, he pulled back slightly to look down at her. Hinata's expression was ghostly; her skin was more pale than usual, but there was life returning to those eyes he missed so much.
The hawk swooped down towards the ground amongst the retreating enemy ninja who continued to leap underground. Hinata was hesitant to let go of Sasuke as her legs felt like jelly upon stepping down. The solid ground felt wonderful. Her eyes glanced around at Suna and the only bodily damage was the heap of what was left of the Kazekage building and a lot of holes within the ground.
With a tired screech, the hawk disappeared in a puff of smoke and she turned to look at Sasuke. He was staring at the few wounded and the few enemy ninja that had been captured. His face remained blank but on the inside it was swimming with questions. Suna should have anticipated an attack that was so amateur. Of course, Konoha had their fair share of attempted invasions every so often that were similar.
"Sasuke-kun." That soft voice interrupted his thoughts and he squeezed shut his eyes to ease the pain of switching from his Sharingan. It had only gotten worse but he had been warned. Sasuke went against the orders of Tsunade and probably damaged his eyes even further—but it was all to save Hinata. It was no longer about the word he had given her father. It was no longer about the times he had failed before. This was about reaching her just in time… getting to her before anyone else could.
"Sasuke-kun… I…" Hinata stepped forward as he had his back to her. He was hiding the pain. He was hiding everything from her. He didn't want the pity and he didn't want her help. He didn't want her to feel the burden upon his shoulders. Sasuke turned as soon as the pain slowly eased and he suddenly felt dizzy. His entire head was pounding this time which was concerning him. His eyes were watering and had a piercing pain... Sasuke had used his Sharingan to find her and had ignored the intense pain with adrenaline. The damage was done now.
Hinata felt her entire body freeze as she was able to truly look at him. It looked like the man before her hadn't slept for an eternity. Sasuke looked sick. He looked… almost like Itachi did upon his death bed.
"You're sick…! Wh—"
"Hinata." His voice interrupted hers. It wasn't rough or dry like she was used to. It was soft and almost pleading with her. He stepped forward towards her and lifted a shaky hand to cup her pale cheek. "I…"
She watched a tear escape from the corner of his left eye although it wasn't a tear from grief or happiness… it was blood. Sasuke could feel his knees buckling underneath him, but Hinata was there to support his weight before gently easing him to the ground.
"S-Sasuke-kun!" Hinata said on the brink of hysterics. She pulled him close to her in her arms and this time he was there to nuzzle into her chest. Sasuke could smell the sweet but subtle lavender scent she always had. Her jacket was soft against his cheek. He could even feel the strength in her arms from holding him up. Hyuuga Hinata may not be confident like Haruno Sakura. She certainly wasn't seductive as Yamanaka Ino was nor as girlish as Tenten.
But out of all the women he had met in his lifetime, she was the only one to let him be. Hinata was the only woman to let him go while still silently there to lift him up. She never wanted the praise of helping him rank up and even when he had cast her aside, she was still there to help him. Sasuke had never felt so much in debt to anyone other than maybe Naruto.
If Uchiha Sasuke was going to die saving anyone's life, he could die a happy man right there in her arms knowing it was for her. He had knocked on death's door many times but had never been truly ready to go until then. Even with the excruciating pain and the stream of blood from his eyes, he was comfortable with her scent in his nose, her warm arms wrapped around him and the sound of her beating heart in his ears.
Konoha's breeze was warm and Hinata liked that. There was a slight humid feel to the air and Hinata even liked that, too. Her feet carried her down the main street which would lead her right into the heart of the village. A few rambunctious children whizzed past her and she watched them with a smile as they weaved in between people.
There was one thing she could always count on with her home and that was how consistent it was. The same man who had been running the sweets vendor since she was a little girl was still there with a tired, yet happy smile to serve his customers. Even when Konoha was rocked to their core, their buildings were destroyed, and their loved ones perished… in the end, it returned to normal.
Hinata followed the flow of traffic down the market streets and the delicious smells of herbs cooking at a booth made her mouth water. Her destination was within view and she quickened her pace to get there.
"Ahh… Hinata." Yamanaka Ino smiled upon seeing the Hyuuga. "Just in time… your order is finished."
"O-Oh, wow." Hinata breathed as she stepped further into the shop. The wreath of flowers that Ino had presented on the counter was beautiful. "You always do such an amazing job, Ino…"
Ino grinned before flipping her platinum blonde ponytail. Hinata had always been slightly envious of her mainly because of how she carried herself and her alluring personality. Ino's features softened at the purpose of the wreath and her grin became a thin line.
"… How are you doing, Hinata? A lot has happened."
Hinata stiffened at the question for a brief second before politely smiling. Death was inevitable. It affected everyone and she was not new to it. Her fingers reached out to gently touch the soft white petals of the lilies in the wreath and chewed on her lower lip.
"I am fine… really. I appreciate everything. It's certainly been hard." She said quietly. Ino looked away before wiping her hands on her apron.
"The wreath is a gift from us… the Yamanakas. From us to you." Ino said. Hinata opened her mouth to protest, but the sad smile on Ino's face silenced her. They shared a few seconds of silence and Hinata swallowed a lump in her throat.
"T-Thank you." She whispered. Another thing that Hinata found so great about Konoha was how often the community came together. It had certainly been different before… clans often feuded against others and even each other. She wasn't sure if things had changed because of Orochimaru's perishing or if it was because of the different times. Even though their village was centuries old, they were still growing and learning.
Hinata carefully carried the wreath through the busy streets but luckily the Konoha Ninja gravesite wasn't far. She always got nervous upon visiting his tomb stone. Even though it had been some time, Hinata didn't think she would ever get past it. She stopped at the entrance and frowned. Kurenai sensei was kneeling down at Asuma's grave just silently staring at the tombstone. Hinata hesitated for a moment before getting the courage to will her feet forward. The dark haired woman glanced up over her shoulder and a soft smile spread across her lips. She stood up as Hinata got closer.
"Hinata… what a beautiful wreath." Kurenai murmured before letting her hand rest on her hip. Hinata nodded as the sweet smell from the lilies blew in the warm breeze.
"H-He didn't like flowers but… I think this would look nice." She whispered. Kurenai pursed her lips thinking for a moment and then her crimson smile returned.
"I'm sure he would have thought so too." Kurenai said softly. She lifted a hand to rest on Hinata's shoulder. "I am here for you if you need me. Kiba and Shino, too, of course."
Hinata's chest extended with a heavy sigh before she released it. A nod followed and Kurenai moved a lock of hair from Hinata's eyes. She smiled before turning to leave. Hinata frowned before shifting uncomfortably.
"K-Kurenai-sensei?"
"Hmm?" She stopped and looked at her former student.
"I still don't know how to cope…" Hinata's voice was almost a whisper as she tried not to let her emotions get the best of her in front of her sensei. Kurenai sighed quietly. Even though Asuma had passed long ago, the wounds were still fresh. Every day was a challenge.
"Hinata," Kurenai said gently. "Losing a loved one is not something to get over; it's learning how to live without them and make sure their memory lives one."
Hinata nodded with a very thin smile. She watched Kurenai wave good-bye and soon Hinata was all alone in the graveyard. She could almost feel the tombstone staring at her as if it were waiting. Turning, she walked a short ways to the tomb stone and stopped just in front of it. It looked the same as when she was there last. Inhaling, Hinata leaned down and let the wreath of lilies sit just at the bottom of the stone. She stood back up and closed her eyes.
Everything was silent. On the occasion, a dog would bark in the distance or a group of cicadas would sing from within the trees. It was peaceful, however, and she always found that out after relaxing for a few moments. The breeze swooped down to ruffle her hair and with it was the sound of footsteps behind her. She slowly opened her eyes recognizing the presence. They stopped next to her and a voice broke through the quiet.
"This looks nice." Neji said with his arms at his side. He stared at the wreath before glancing over towards his cousin. Hinata simply nodded.
"Yes…" She paused before smiling sadly. "I can hear his voice in my head saying this would be unnecessary."
"… He was a man of few words." Neji said his expression remaining blank. "But he was a great ninja and he died protecting you."
Hinata's smile faded and she stared at the tombstone. Even through the rain, wind and hot sun, it still stood tall and as brilliant as the day of his funeral. It represented him wonderfully… even through the worst, he would still stand tall.
"I know." She whispered. "I wish… I wish he were here."
There was a long silence between them. It wasn't an awkward silence nor was it tense. It was once again a peaceful feeling as the afternoon sun shone brightly. A few birds chirped happily as if to remind her that life still went on even with the passing of someone.
"Hinata-sama," Neji said clearing his throat. "I am here to tell you… that he is awake."
Hinata suddenly turned her head to look at her cousin and she felt her heart skip several beats. At first she wondered if her heart would flutter out of her chest.
"R-Really?! The surgery went well?" Hinata reached out to grab onto his arm much to his slight displeasure. Neji frowned deeply.
"… Yes. According to Tsunade-sama, the surgery was a success. He is awake and asking for you." Neji's tone was impatient but it was a relief to see Hinata smile. A small tear escaped her eyes and she hugged Neji's arm close to her.
"Thank you, niisan…" She whispered. Neji's features softened but he only nodded. Hinata released him and turned to the grave. She bent over to run her fingers across her father's name that was engraved into the stone.
"Thank you, father…"
Another breeze came down and that was when she knew that he was still watching her. It was a year to the day when Kabuto murdered her father. It was a year to the day he had left her life and it was still hard to swallow the truth. Konoha understood and were there to help ease the pain. Hinata smiled before standing up and she caught her cousin's gaze. As much as Neji disliked knowing that Uchiha Sasuke was asking for her, he knew that at this point there was nothing he could say or do.