Never Say Never

by One More Time

At age 23, Uchiha Sasuke returns to Konoha after he kills his brother. Now on his list: rank higher. However, will he remember an old connection with a certain Hyuuga? SasuHina

20. Chapter 19: A New Age

A few things: This is the last chapter. I have re-written it at least a dozen times, but this is the final version. I hope it does the whole fic justice. Thank you all very much for reading, commenting and favoriting. I made the mistake of finding out the ending to Naruto and it truly made me feel warm and fuzzy! I really don't have a lot of people to talk to about this manga/anime so if you'd like to be my Naruto buddy, please e-mail me! whiterabbit702 .

Enjoy.

---

The rush of his heartbeat was thrilling. His muscles were screaming at him to stop but it only encouraged him to push even harder. His body felt light as a feather while his feet were swiftly maneuvering through fake dummies. The gleaming from his sword was like the green light to attack and so he did.

It was like slicing through butter—straw and splintered wood filled the air but it didn't deter him from stopping. Uchiha Sasuke used the ground to leap upwards. His fingers moved at high speeds to make the correct signs and within seconds fire engulfed the training area. It would have been quite the show for someone watching, but the moon was still in the sky signaling it was very late. In fact, the morning sun was just an hour from reappearing for the day.

Sasuke's feet landed perfectly which was simply just a boost in his speed. His hand was already charging with the screeching Chidori and at that point, he didn't care about waking anyone up. He was lost in his training and lost within the adrenaline that was surging the chakra throughout the electricity. His eyes locked in upon the next larger target which was a large boulder with a giant 'X' on it. If it was even possible, Sasuke was able to increase his speed to get to the target faster.

The only thoughts running through his mind was to absolutely destroy that rock and reduce it to nothing but dust. The electricity in his hand was whizzing excitedly and the sound was something he had always secretly cherished. It didn't take long for the Chidori to meet the 'X' and the amount of debris that flew past him was so satisfying. His chest was heaving in and out and his muscles were finally able to relax while little bits of rock still fell from the sky and into his hair.

There was an immediate presence behind him and he was able to leap to the side to avoid a large glowing shuriken that whooshed by. His lips curled into a smirk as his eyes watched it change its course to come circling back towards him which he evaded. Sasuke knew that she wouldn't let him get by so easily and he was right. He didn't have time to catch his breath as Hyuuga Hinata was already at his heels with her roaring lion chakra in hand.

Her long dark blue hair seemed alive as it moved wildly during their taijutsu. Their eyes were locked onto each other and it was simply a challenge between them. Hinata excelled in the hand-to-hand combat where that was probably Sasuke's weakest point. One thing he had come to realize the past few years was that he was human. Training alongside Orochimaru only made his ego inflate to an enormous size and without his curse mark his skill had declined slightly. He was still the almighty and lone Uchiha who had great power, but things were different.

Sasuke decided he had enough of the taijutsu game they had going on so he allowed Hinata to defeat the clone she had been sparring with the entire time. Hinata stopped and looked around with her Byakugan on full force. For a while, it seemed that she was now all alone in the training grounds, but it didn't surprise her when three kunai landed down at her feet. Hinata gasped as she realized she didn't have time to escape in time before the paper bombs detonated.

Sasuke, who was watching from the safe realm above in a large tree, felt the rumbling of the ground from the paper bombs. All was quiet as he watched the smoke slowly clear the area to find Hinata was gone. Now it seemed he was the one who was alone. It didn't quite faze him as he listened intently to the quietness of the training area. It was far too early for the birds to be chirping and even if it wasn't, he had scared them away long ago.

The whizzing sound of metal flying through the air came at him again but this time he wasn't able to react fast enough. The large shuriken had returned and sliced cleanly through the branch Sasuke had been perched upon. He could feel his body falling along with the wood and did his best to leap to another part of the tree but everything had become unstable. Sasuke decided to let himself fall to more solid ground and Hinata was there to meet him again with a kunai in hand.

He reached to quickly grab his katana and the two metals clashed together loudly. For a bit they went back and forth through the ruins of the training grounds, but Hinata knew that her lowly kunai was no match against his sword so when it got knocked from her hand she ducked down to miss a swipe. Her hands were lit up once again with chakra to attempt to disable Sasuke's legs, but he saw this ahead of time and leapt backwards. Hinata wasted little time pouncing towards him with her dangerous Gentle Fist just centimeters from his vital organs which in turn was pushing him backwards. Her foot came up to knock the sword from his hand which landed a few feet away.

He eyed her almost in surprise to which she gave a quick smile. Fire engulfed the area again from Sasuke's Uchiha trademark jutsu but Hinata was able to shield herself with a wave of chakra from her hand. She could feel the intense heat the jutsu gave off even with her behind the safety of the quick wave. A bead of sweat rolled down her face and the stench of burnt chakra wasn't very pleasant.

Once the flames disappeared, Sasuke was upping his offence with his own kunai. She ducked from it like before and leapt over to grab his sword on the ground. Whipping around, Hinata met his blow with the kunai and she was barely able to contain her excitement when the kunai went flying through the air. With the blade pointed directly at Sasuke, he stood frozen with sweat dripping from his face. His breaths were erratic and even Hinata was surprised that he had stopped.

Sasuke could have continued, but he figured he would let her have her victory. The sun was starting to peak over the tops of the trees around them and he watched her lower her arm with the katana. Hinata's shoulders relaxed and a large breath was exhaled from her pink lips.

"I woke up and you were gone." Her voice was quiet, but it wasn't accusing. More like a worrisome tone. Sasuke raised his arm to wipe the sweat from his brow and he approached her to reclaim his weapon.

"Yeah, I know." Sasuke muttered. "Couldn't sleep."

"I see." Hinata said slowly as if she was still digesting his reasoning. After a few seconds, a smile replaced the thin line on her lips. "Is it because you're excited for tomorrow?"

Sasuke's expression turned into a slightly annoyed look as he turned from her to escape her gaze. She had gotten better over the years on how to read the Uchiha. Even though his emotions were often times very generic, she had found that there were certain antics he did that were easy to decipher his true feelings. At first, Sasuke disliked that because it was a sign of weakness but he came to accept it as an easier way to open up to the woman he loved.

"No." Sasuke said with a strange tone to which warranted a small laugh from Hinata. She stepped forward to grab his arm and nuzzled her cheek into it.

"It's okay. I believe you." Hinata whispered with an amused tone. Sasuke felt his eyes roll briefly but he let his head rest on the top of hers.

"How long had you been waiting to jump in?" He asked half sarcastically half playfully.

"Not long, actually… It has been a while since we've trained together."

"I forgot why we stopped." Sasuke noted slowly turning to look at Hinata straight on. His arms wrapped around her waist and her hands rested nicely on his chest. He stared at her and oddly enough her cheeks would still get rosy when he held her intimately. Sasuke never complained because in a way it meant she still loved him. He was surprised that she still did considering how big of a pain he could be.

"W-Well… there are a few reas—"

He leaned down to plant a kiss on her lips to interrupt her excuses. Hinata was at first surprised, but she melted in his arms. Their kisses were always sweet and it never felt forced. Growing up, Sasuke rarely saw any form of affection between his parents mainly because his father was a serious man. He wondered if maybe their spark had disappeared or if it had been an arranged marriage… and as a child, Sasuke didn't dare ask.

Hinata pulled back gently from his lips and then moved a lock of hair away from his eyes with her delicate fingers. Her smile was always something that made his stomach do flips. Her touch was soothing and almost therapeutic. Sasuke never thought that love was for him considering the amount of emotional baggage that he carried on his shoulders. Experiencing it first hand was something he could now never live without. All those years of going without a meaningful relationship whether it was romantic or platonic… Uchiha Sasuke was now convinced that he was happy.

"Eww, gross. Get a room."

From within the trees emerged a twelve year old girl with her arms crossed sloppily across her chest. Her dark hair was braided and then wrapped into a tight bun while some loose strands framed around her pale face. Her eyes were light with very faint pupils that almost seemed horrified to see the disgusting amount of PDA.

"R-Rumi!" Hinata said with surprise. "You should be getting ready for school!"

"I heard Father training and wanted to watch." She protested before getting slightly excited. Her feet carried her over to her parents. "Father, you still haven't even begun to teach me the Chidori!"

Sasuke smirked as he released his wife of thirteen years and let his hand rest upon his daughter's head. Her smile immediately disappeared and an expression of dissatisfaction replaced it.

"You aren't ready yet." They both stated at the same time. Rumi scoffed slightly giving her pale eyes a roll.

"That's what you say every time. I'm going to be an official Konoha ninja tomorrow! At least teach me something cool."

There was a pause in the conversation as Sasuke's face returned to its usual blankness. Hinata chewed on her lip as she awaited the small lecture on how Rumi was to take her studies seriously. Becoming a ninja was a privilege and not something to be taken so lightly. It certainly wasn't about showing it off to class mates.

"Something 'cool'?" Sasuke repeated while he thought aloud. He walked over towards his daughter and got down on one knee. Outstretching his palm in front of her, a small amount of chakra formed in his hand. Rumi's eyes watched intently as the blue energy surged and grew. Hinata also watched with curiosity and surprise.

Sasuke waited for the chakra to be at the right consistency and with his other hand, he used his pointer finger to create a whirlwind motion. Rumi, who had yet to blink the entire time, let out a slow 'woah'. There was a small tornado of chakra that sat calm in Sasuke's palm. He could feel a smile tugging at his lips, but he refrained and instead watched his daughter's excitement grow.

After a few seconds of amazement, Rumi could no longer contain herself. She held out her own palm next to her father's and closed her eyes with concentration. It took a lot of chakra control to be able to conjure up some without it going haywire and compared to her father it was a challenge. After a few seconds, the blue energy also appeared in her palm but it wasn't nearly as bright and vibrant.

"Good. Now try it." Sasuke quietly murmured. Rumi nodded and took her other finger very slowly as if not to scare off the chakra and did her best to replicate it. Hinata frowned lightly when the whirlwind failed to take and the chakra ended up disappearing. Rumi's face fell and she avoided her father's gaze.

"I can't do it." She said quietly. Sasuke also frowned, but he used his other hand to form the tornado of chakra into his hand into a mild form of the Chidori. Rumi watched the electricity surge in his hand and it boosted a bit of determination in her.

"As soon as you can master that… then we can move on towards this." Sasuke said. "Just like the Fireball technique, it's going to take time."

Rumi eventually nodded away her disappointment and smiled softly. Hinata glanced up towards the sky and the upcoming sun. She stepped towards her daughter and let a hand rest upon her shoulder.

"We're all going to be late unless we don't start getting ready. Let's go." Hinata said and Rumi nodded.

"Can I stop by the Hyuuga mansion after school today?" Rumi asked eagerly. "I want to meditate in the gardens like you used to with Grandfather."

Sasuke let his hand rest on his hip as he watched the two girls follow the path from the training grounds towards their home up the hill. They had bought property on the outskirts of the village and Sasuke had his own training grounds put in. It was nice… It was quiet. There was room to breathe but they were still close to the things they needed as well.

Even though life was content and things were peaceful, there was a dull feeling that sat in his belly that bothered him. He wasn't sure if it was the training that wore him out or if it was something else. His eyes were locked onto his daughter and he was finally able to categorize it as… sadness. Rumi was growing up. She used to be by his side learning the ins and outs of being a Konoha ninja.

Now, she was of age to be learning more from someone else… By tomorrow, Rumi would be teamed up with class mates and from there her journey would begin. Sasuke felt somewhat selfish with these thoughts as he wanted his family all to himself. They were the most important things in his life.

He looked over his shoulder at the training grounds which were now in complete ruin. A smirk forced its way onto his expression and he crossed his arms. That small feeling of sadness was replaced with a sense of pride as he, too, headed off to get ready for the day.

---

"Why are we meeting Sasuke-sensei in Wasu?"

"Because those were the instructions."

"But why? It makes no sense to meet him in that dinky little town. If you ask me, our sensei is an idiot."

"Ryuu, stop complaining. It's only a few miles… we'll be fine."

Three Konoha Genin walked down the quiet sunny road that led from Konoha down south. Each had a different pace in their strides and each had a different gleam in their eyes. Izumi was a dark haired girl with ringlets that extended down past her shoulders. Her eyes had a red tint to them as she was a distant relative to the infamous Yuhi Kurenai. Her shoulders were tall with confidence and she walked as if the leader of the other two.

Ryuu had his arms swinging at his side as he walked with quick feet to try to keep up with Izumi. His hair resembled fire and flames because his orange locks were rarely groomed. His green eyes hid behind a pair of dark rimmed glasses and every so often, he would double check to make sure his bow and pack of arrows were still on his back.

And finally bringing up the rear was Takeyo who was a quiet and misunderstood ninja. His spiked up brown hair was in a lame attempt to get attention even though he always found himself getting flustered in the limelight. But even under that shy and meek appearance, he excelled in providing medical treatments during missions.

"And what's up with the package?" Ryuu asked of the wrapped item that sat safely in Takeyo's knapsack.

"I'm not sure. It must be something that belongs to Sasuke-sensei." Izumi said in annoyance. "Do you have to complain?"

There was silence between the Genin once again and Takeyo could feel his anxiety bubbling up inside. He hated the conflict between his team mates. In fact, he didn't care for conflict at all which made him wonder why he had become a ninja in the first place. His father was always pressuring him to study and train harder, but most days he enjoyed day dreaming.

"Why do you have to be so bossy?" Ryuu countered under his breath, but luckily no one had heard. He let loose an obnoxious sigh before readjusting his glasses. Ryuu was impatient. The lack of exciting missions was getting to him—he needed to be out in the open where all the action was. Instead, they were stuck delivering packages throughout the village or in search for missing pets.

"Maybe we should stop and rest." Takeyo suggested quietly. His feet were forming blisters from all the walking and the sun was beginning to get hot the more the afternoon dragged on.

"We're not stopping." Izumi stated firmly.

"B-But—"

"Takeyo, what do you expect to happen on a real mission?" Izumi said as her feet stopped. She turned to look at her team mate. Her red eyes were intimidating to him especially knowing how she could easily manipulate reality with them. Takeyo looked away quickly as he also stopped.

"I was just…" His voice began to get lost in the jumbled words that formed in his brain.

"Aw, leave him alone. It's not his fault he's a wuss."

"I am not!" Takeyo said defensively. Izumi's expressionless face suddenly turned into an irritated one. She used one hand to flip back a few curls that sat on her shoulder.

"We are already running late because of you, Ryuu."

"Oh whatever! Let's talk about the last time we were out on a mission and-"

A kunai whizzed past all three of them and landed a few feet in front of their path. Izumi's eyes widened at the sound of a paper bomb about to explode and she leapt out of harm's way. Ryuu shielded his eyes as the dust began to settle and he instinctively grabbed ahold of his bow and loaded in an arrow.

"Alright! This is what I'm talking about!" He said with excitement. A hooded and masked figure fell from the tree branches that overlapped the road and the sound of metal filled the air. Takeyo watched in horror as it pulled out a blade resembling a katana and he took a few steps backwards.

"W-W-We've never been in a battle without Sasuke-sensei!" He whispered. Izumi reached into the pack on her thigh and grabbed a kunai.

"We don't need him," She seethed. "I don't need you guys either." And within seconds she was sprinting towards the foe with her weapon. He easily maneuvered around her swipes and used his sword to meet her kunai.

Ryuu watched from a far and narrowed his eyes. Damnit! She's always acting like she's better than me. With one hand, he formed a seal, and then pulled back on the arrow in the bow. The arrow then lit up with fire before Ryuu let it launch through the air.

The hooded man was able to dodge another attack from Izumi while reaching up to snatch the flaming arrow straight from the air. Ryuu watched in disbelief as the man had his hand engulfed in chakra to keep from getting burnt by the fire. Izumi looked over at her team mate and she also narrowed her eyes.

Looking back towards the foe, her hands clasped together for three separate signs. A shockwave erupted throughout the area and the hooded man stopped to observe his surroundings. It was just him and the girl. Her red eyes were enchanting and his entire body began to feel numb. The sky began to bubble away into strange colors… purple, green, blue and everything in between.

The only thing he could fully concentrate on was her red eyes. They pierced right through his mask as if she knew every single detail about his life. Suddenly, the warm feelings disappeared and there was a burning sensation in his feet. He was able to grasp the concept of this and ripped his gaze from hers. There was a disgusting smell of burning flesh that filled the air and he realized upon looking down, his feet were melting into the ground almost as if he were standing in a toxic acid.

Even though the man could not see Ryuu or Takeyo, they could see him. Takeyo noted that he was fully within the genjutsu that Izumi had bestowed upon him. It was only the second time he had actually witnessed it—the other was during the final exams when they were to fight against Shikamaru. It was somewhat brutal hearing Shikamaru scream in agony, but in the end, he was doing it out of the benefit for Izumi. It helped to expand her genjutsu.

Ryuu was getting impatient—again. He was sick of waiting for the enemy to die a slow and painful death. Knowing her, she would never let him live it down that she was able to subdue the man before he was able to even get down to business.

"Ch!" He reached behind his shoulder to grab another arrow, but before he could even lock it in to the bow, Izumi yelped in horror. The hooded man had suddenly appeared behind her with the blade held to her throat. Ryuu felt his entire body run cold. He… He broke through her genjutsu within just a few minutes. Who is this guy?

"Give me the package." The man grunted. Izumi thought to struggle, but the blade was resting tightly against her skin and any resistance meant certain death. Her red eyes looked over towards her team mates as in desperation.

"Takeyo! Don't give it to him!"

"B-But we don't even know what's in it!" He protested. His stomach was nauseous and the thought to run entered his mind in one last ditch effort to make it out alive.

"Give me the package, or she dies." The man said once more. Ryuu could feel his anger getting the best of him, but he allowed his bow to relax in his hand.

"Damnit. We don't have a choice." He mumbled. "Sasuke-sensei will just have to deal without it!"

Takeyo could feel his knees shattering against each other. If he didn't hand over the mysterious package, then Izumi would die. If he did hand it over, Sasuke-sensei might send them back to the academy for failing this simple task. His father would certainly disown him.

"Well!? Takeyo, what are you waiting for?" Ryuu hissed. Takeyo's eyes went from Ryuu to Izumi to the hooded man who seemed to be getting impatient. He swallowed his fear and slowly slipped the straps from his knapsack off of his shoulders. It felt like it took forever for his trembling fingers to unzip the bag and pull out the item that was wrapped carefully in brown paper.

"Bring it here." The man growled while the blade still sat up against Izumi's throat. She watched as Takeyo mustered up courage and slowly began to inch his way over towards them. The hooded man shoved Izumi to the ground and then reached to snatch the package from Takeyo.

Suddenly, it hit Ryuu. The katana, the dark eyes, the deep growl… this man was their sensei. And they fricken fell right into the trap! He glanced over at Izumi who had gotten to her feet and Takeyo was stuck frozen in time.

"Guys, don't you get it!? This is Sasuke-sensei! Look!" Ryuu ran up towards the hooded man and reached up to rip the mask and hood off to reveal the man's true identity. Izumi narrowed her eyes and suddenly felt embarrassed that they had fallen for a silly and obvious trick. But much to their surprise (and Takeyo's horror) the man was not their sensei.

The man was older with a large scar donned across his nose. His hair was dark brown and not the same color as Sasuke. Ryuu's eyes grew wide and he slowly backed up. The man, who was not amused by their discovery, grabbed the boy by the cuff of his shirt.

"What do you think you're doing?" The man growled. "This is not some kind of game. You're a lowly Genin and I am a thief. Who do you think will win this battle?"

Ryuu struggled as his feet left the ground and his fingers wrapped around the hand holding him up. Izumi could feel her entire body go cold as all the confidence she had boasted about before had drained. She looked over at Takeyo and was surprised he hadn't fainted yet.

"But you're lucky." The man continued. A blast of smoke erupted in the area and Ryuu squeezed his eyes shut to keep it from blinding him. When he eventually blinked them open, he saw Sasuke as the one grasping him at the shirt and not the hooded man.

"S-S-S-Sasuke-sensei!" He stammered. "It was you all along!?"

Sasuke stood tall with a slightly disappointed look on his face. It was to be expected from his team knowing that they had a hard time focusing on details. With the package in one hand and Ryuu in the other, he returned the Genin back to his feet.

"Team work." Sasuke simply said. "It is one of the most important things when it comes to being a ninja. Every team is formed for a reason. Every ability is taken into account. Each of you has a job to follow and when one doesn't follow through it can be fatal."

All three were silent as they took in the fact that their near-death experience was just another test from their sensei. Izumi let out a breath she had been holding and wiped a bead of sweat from her ivory forehead.

"But Sasuke-sensei…" She began to protest.

"Izumi. You excel in genjutsu which is short to mid-range attack. Ryuu has his weapon for long range. And Takeyo is there to heal when necessary. It all balances out." Sasuke said holding the package in both hands now. Ryuu snorted and crossed his arms.

"Takeyo isn't good at anything as you can see. He didn't do anything!"

Sasuke was silent as his eyes settled over on Takeyo who was still trying to come to terms with what had happened. His demeanor was not too far from how Hinata used to be… at least what he recalled back in their days in the Academy. His memory wasn't nearly as precise as it used to be, but deep inside Sasuke had a soft spot for the young ninja.

"You wouldn't last an hour in the Chuunin Exams." Sasuke said coldly as his gaze returned to Ryuu. "Those are in a few months. Learn to work with each other… not against each other. Had that have been a real enemy, you could have died… or worse, failed the mission to deliver the package."

All three were speechless. Sasuke eyed them all and frowned. They were more ornery than he thought. He recalled his previous teams that he had coached and each had their quarrels, but this time was different. It reminded him of attempting to get along with Naruto and Sakura in his own Team Seven. There were only so many times he could tell them 'do as I say and not as I do'.

"He's right, Sasuke-sensei." Takeyo said quietly. "I didn't do anything when Izumi was in danger. I didn't even think."

Izumi glanced over at her team mate and then back over towards her sensei. They hadn't been a team for very long. Takeyo had been sent back to the Academy the previous year and Ryuu and herself had graduated early. Somehow, Shikamaru thought that they would complement each other well.

"That is why we train." Sasuke said. "That is why you are a Genin. Even though you have graduated, you are still learning. We will continue to work on this before the Chuunin exams arrive."

There was silence once again and Sasuke looked up towards the sky. The sun was high in the sky which meant it was mid-day. His gaze returned to his quiet underlings and he noticed that Ryuu had a curious look upon his face.

"Say… what's the package all about?" He asked after adjusting his glasses. Sasuke allowed a dry smile to curl on his lips and he pulled on the string that held it together. The paper began to fall away revealing enough rice balls for everyone.

"Lunch." Sasuke said simply. Izumi felt her stoic face break with a smile. Ryuu crossed his arms while holding back a laugh. Takeyo felt a large amount of stress lift from his shoulders. All three began to crowd around Sasuke eager to dig in.

Sasuke thought the job would be an easy one when Naruto first asked him to become a sensei. Kakashi made it look so easy… although Team Seven wasn't any normal team. All three had their different stories which majorly impacted the village. Now that he was in the same position, he hoped that he was doing a somewhat decent job in steering them in the right direction.

As a grown man, he almost felt embarrassed for being such a pain as a child. Now he understood just how much Kakashi actually gave a damn even when it seemed that all three of his ninja didn't give a damn back. Being a sensei was eye opening in a way that one was not just a Konoha ninja any longer, but one was also responsible for much more. Sasuke didn't just gain a family with Hinata, but also with his team.

---

Hinata could feel the stress of the day slowly slipping away with each step. She always enjoyed her strolls through the village, but as soon as she got to the outskirts, she felt more at ease. The noise of the market place was no longer causing her head to spin and it was easier to breathe when her feet hit the dirt path home.

After getting married, Sasuke and Hinata found themselves with bits and pieces of their life trying to merge together. After much talk and deliberation, it was decided they would build their own life from the ground up starting with a home that was theirs. Sasuke also worked hard to build his own training grounds in which to not only train himself but his daughter as well.

The walk was only about fifteen minutes, but it was enough to cause the knots in between her shoulders to loosen ever so slightly. Hinata was now the advisor to Uzumaki Naruto who had specifically requested her help shortly after he was appointed Hokage. It was mainly to keep him organized with his day-to-day duties which he thought he could handle on his own. Aside from Sakura, Hinata was the most dedicated and organized person he knew that would be able to keep him on track.

This meant more strain upon Hinata, but at the end of the day, it was fulfilling to know she was a part of making Konoha run smoothly. Sasuke was hesitant at first when Hinata had first brought it to his attention knowing of her previous feelings for the Hokage, but it became very apparent that the only reason she had admired Naruto was because he reminded her of how Sasuke used to be. It was also odd to see the nations at such peace. Perhaps Naruto really did do what he set out to do—create peace.

Hinata lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the setting sun and their home was in view. It was usually at this time that she had an hour or so to herself which was always an opportunity to catch up on house work. On the occasion, Hinata would take the time to meditate to slowly ease the tension from her body.

Upon taking the wooden steps up towards the entrance to her home, she pushed open the door with a surprise scent. There was food on the stove and water was boiling for tea. The door shut behind her and she took a few steps forward. She sat down to remove her shoes quickly and then ventured through the living area.

"You're home." Sasuke's voice called out to her as he emerged from the back door. In his arms was a basket full of folded clothes that had been hung up earlier that morning to dry. Hinata simply stared at her husband unsure of what to say. He looked sort of silly—the almighty Uchiha was doing laundry.

Sasuke was never one to do house work. He had lived a life of many adventures and house work simply did not register in his mind. Even after getting married and having a family, Hinata was the one to do the dishes, the laundry and the cooking. She never once complained and in a way it had just become another 'thing' on her list to do.

"… You're home." Hinata pointed out. Her fingers ran through her long hair as Sasuke set down the basket of clothes onto the kitchen counter and nodded.

"I got done early with the team." He said simply. Hinata allowed her arms to cross over her chest. Something just seemed odd. Sasuke rarely did anything to make himself seem vulnerable but there he was with a basket of laundry and dinner on the stove.

"Usually you train if you have extra time." She said while watching Sasuke fiddle with a folded shirt. "Is everything okay?"

Sasuke put on his best poker face which was usually something he didn't even have to think about. She was seeing through it though and it made him turn his head to avoid her gaze.

"Training grounds need to be fixed up." He said as his excuse. "It will have to wait until this weekend."

Hinata paused. True—with the destruction they caused earlier that morning the training grounds needed to be cleaned up. They had gotten a little carried away and trees and debris needed to be moved in order for it to be fully functional. Although this wasn't the entire reasoning for Sasuke's sudden yearning to clean.

She knew him well. Whenever Sasuke was nervous or anxious of something, he did anything to keep busy: training, sharpening ninja tools, meditating, etc. Hinata figured he had probably gone through that entire list before he finally decided to clean to take his mind off of something. She reached out to touch his hand which rested on the basket.

"Sasuke-kun…" She murmured. "Is it Rumi?"

Sasuke stared at her hand upon his and he was silent.

Of course, they were warned by Tsunade when they found out Hinata was pregnant. The risks of their child having an advanced version of the Ni Bison were high—especially since Sasuke had the Mangekyo. The power wasn't to be feared if the Kekkei Genkai was properly managed.

"I just hope that Rumi gets placed into the team that she deserves." Sasuke said which was half-way true. Naruto was going to announce their teams that following morning before the final exams were given. His worries were kept locked away in his own mind. She had enough going on as the advisor to the Hokage. Hinata smiled lightly.

"You should trust Naruto-san to make a good decision."

"Where is Rumi, anyway?"

"With Hikaru and Hotaka. They were helping her get in some last minute tips before her exam tomorrow." Hinata said. Sasuke was silent once again. Her hand was warm on his. Sasuke was still learning how to be content in a meaningful relationship. He had gone so long without one as a child that it was hard to go against his instincts to push people out. Sasuke wasn't perfect and Hinata knew that he still struggled every now and then. Some things didn't always need to be discussed.

Sasuke turned to Hinata and lifted her hand up to kiss the back of it gingerly. Hinata's cheeks turned a soft hue of pink and she smiled. She was aware that he still harbored that loner mentality and more often than not he did it just to protect her own sanity. She always thought that was sweet, but they were married. They should be able to discuss things without having to carry the entire burden. Hinata stood up on her tip toes to plant her lips against his. Even after thirteen years of marriage, it still felt the same as the day they finally said those three words.

The kettle on the stove began to whistle and Hinata pulled away in a hurry to remove it from the heat. Sasuke reached out to grab her wrist and he pulled her back into his strong arms. Her scent had remained the same over the years but it still drove him crazy. Hinata's head was pressed into his chest and she was being held tightly against him.

"Hinata." Sasuke began and his voice vibrated against her ear. "I want another child."

Hinata felt her stomach do a few flips and she moved her head a bit to look up at him. They had never really discussed another addition to their family. Rumi was a handful to begin with and it just seemed their family was complete from there on out. It also seemed it was bit late to be discussing this considering they were climbing in age and there would be a large gap between Rumi.

But her mind also went back to having Rumi as a small newborn to seeing her take her first steps, hearing her speak her first words and seeing her successfully complete her first clone jutsu. Those were emotions Hinata had never experienced before having a child and they were euphoric. It was awfully tempting.

"Another child?" Hinata could barely whisper. There was so much surprise within the few moments she had been home. It was as if Sasuke had done a complete 180 degrees on her… or he was finally coming to realize that Rumi was getting older. Soon, she would be completing missions and learning new techniques from someone other than him. There was always a risk their child could die in action. There was always new evil in the world threatening to spill their precious peace.

"You and Rumi…" Sasuke started with a slightly sheepish tone. "You make me happy. I don't want that to end."

Sasuke wasn't intending to be selfish. In fact, his past 'endeavors' as a rouge ninja were not brought up around Rumi because he had become such a well-respected and family oriented person. The same feelings Hinata felt of having a child were the same for him. Perhaps he was just being selfish, but when he pulled back to look down into the eyes of his wife, he could tell that his wish was being processed.

"Okay," Hinata breathed. "O-Okay."

Sasuke reached down to brush his fingers against her warm cheek. Hinata had aged well into her late 30's although there were some light wrinkles forming around her eyes from the many years of using the Byakugan. Her skin was always pale and free of any imperfection and those lips remained a light shade of pink. Sasuke hadn't aged nearly as beautifully as his wife had as he was constantly out in the elements with his teams.

On the occasion, Sasuke was called off to missions so over the years his hands developed callouses and there were scars adorning his body. It wasn't anything that bothered Hinata… in fact, she found it loveable in a strange way. Hinata gazed into Sasuke's eyes and she recalled them being so dull as young adults. Now, there was something inside of them that made them seem so alive.

Sasuke reached down to graze his lips against hers and much to his surprise Hinata came back with a daring bolt. Her arms reached up to wrap loosely around his neck as the passion began to unfold between them. Hinata felt her stomach churn in excitement when his hands sat on her hips and her thoughts shifted to their 'first time'. It was incredibly nerve-wracking at the time, but it never felt wrong.

Sasuke pulled her body even closer to his and even though they had been intimate many times in their marriage, she was still a tad shy. Hinata could feel her cheeks were on fire, but they got lost into the moment. It was unfortunately interrupted another high pitch squeal of the kettle that was demanding to be attended to. Hinata pulled her lips away from Sasuke's and took the opportunity to catch her breath. She smiled sheepishly and was able to pry herself from his arms.

"S-Sorry…" She murmured and removed the kettle from the heat. Hinata also did some stirring of the pots and pans as her wifely duties kicked in. Sasuke crossed his arms and shifted uncomfortably.

"Hinata." He groaned. She nodded quickly and lowered the heat on the stove. Turning, her long hair enveloped her shoulders while her feet led her back towards the man waiting somewhat impatiently.

"M-Maybe we shouldn't do this here… i-in the kitchen." Hinata said but she didn't have a chance to break away when his arms wrapped rightfully around her again. Sasuke's lips formed a small pout.

"You were okay with doing it in the training grounds a few weeks ago." He reminded her to which her eyes went incredibly wide. Her cheeks instantly went from white to red within a millisecond and she avoided his gaze.

"T-T-T-That…!" She stammered trying to come up with something to say but her words got lost in her embarrassment. That was completely by chance and the whole 'lost in the moment' thing. Hinata could barely contain her shame afterwards as it was not only outside, but their daughter could have stumbled upon them. Sasuke snorted at her response or lack thereof and pulled her closer.

"Rumi isn't home. The chores are done. And I know that idiot Hokage has been overworking you lately with the Chuunin exams coming up, so just relax." Sasuke's voice was monotone but Hinata still found comfort in his words. He leaned back down to plant a soft kiss on her lips and she melted into his grasp.

Naruto had been extremely busy with not only hosting the Chuunin exams but also the graduation at the Academy. There was also some tension on the southern border that he was keeping an eye on with a few ninja stationed there. It made the days seem like a blur as she was constantly accompanying Naruto to meetings and keeping up with the everyday paperwork.

But all the stress just disappeared when she was with Sasuke—it always did. Even before their marriage and even before they fell in love, there was always something about him that made her feel safe. Even though during their teen years, Sasuke was gone and in his own world of revenge, she would secretly think back to their small friendship. It was innocent and there was solace in it.

Hinata allowed her hands to rest on Sasuke's broad chest and his green vest. It had seen better days with the wear and tear of being a Jounin showing through. Even his forehead protector still donned the infamous scratch through the Konoha symbol. Hinata suggested a new one, but Sasuke refused. It was a reminder of his past… and a reminder to never become that person again.

She could feel his hands starting to investigate on her body which caused goose bumps to scatter all over her skin. His breath had a hint of tea on it and she wondered if he could hear her heart beating fast within her chest. This was perhaps the reason they ended up having relations in their own personal training grounds—both had a hard time saying no.

"Ugh! What is with you two today!?"

Hinata's stomach suddenly felt like emptying its contents as they both turned to look at their daughter standing in the living room. Her eyes went wide upon seeing not only Rumi standing there (looking clearly disgusted) but also Neji who immediately avoided her gaze. His cheeks were inflamed which was strange to see as he was rarely flustered. Sasuke frowned as his wife squirmed uncomfortably in his arms to get away. His grip tightened as he needed her there to… hide things.

"Rumi! Nii-san!" Hinata's voice had gone up several octaves as she stumbled backwards. She then proceeded to brush off her shirt and her cheeks blushed so furiously it almost hurt. Sasuke normally wouldn't have cared if it was just Neji because this was his house and he had every right kiss his wife in the kitchen. But his daughter was an entirely different story so he pretended to become interested in stirring the rice on the stove.

"Er…Hinata-sama." Neji greeted quietly. Hinata ran her fingers through her hair to smooth it down. Rumi brought a palm to her forehead and heaved a mortified sigh.

"Y-You're home early." Hinata said. "N-Nii-san was nice enough to walk you home. Did Hikaru and Hotaka help with training today?" Hinata was trying desperately to change the subject which seemed to work. Rumi's mind already seemed to have forgotten all about her parent's embarrassment as she cracked a smile.

"Yeah! But I have something to show you."

"Sasuke-kun…" Hinata called out gently to him. He cleared his throat, thankful that he was good to go, and then turned from the stove. He joined his wife's side and let his arms fold firmly across his chest. Rumi grinned and took a quick glance at Neji, who nodded, and she then held out her hand in front of her.

Chakra began to form in her palm slowly. Rumi's expression had become calm and focused as she did her best to keep the energy in her hand from going haywire. It took a few seconds of concentration in order for it to all come together. Sasuke watched with curiosity, although he could tell where she was going with it. But when the whirlwind began to form itself without her having to use her other hand, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Sasuke smiled lightly as the chakra swirled around in the palm of her hand continuously. It was an accomplishment for her to not only master it with one hand, but within a day of trying for it. Hinata let her hand rest on Sasuke's shoulder and smiled.

"Wow, that's… amazing, Rumi." She said softly. "Were you working on that today?"

With the small and harmless whirlwind still in her hand, Rumi nodded some. Even though it was a feat for her, it was also based mainly on chakra control and concentration. Neji coughed lightly.

"She was trying to show Hikaru and Hotaka earlier this afternoon." He replied with a small smile. "With the Gentle Fist, there are certain properties to keep in mind and it fit in with this technique as well."

All of a sudden, the chakra engulfed Rumi's entire hand into a strange form of Gentle Fist and the whirlwind. Neji's small smile morphed into a smirk and he crossed his arms. Hinata stared in astonishment.

"We may have also worked on this as well." Neji said. Sasuke watched this entire scene with a thin line on his lips. There was a feeling of jealousy in the pit of his stomach of her having learned a brand new jutsu with someone other than him. Rumi allowed the chakra to slowly dissipate and she smiled at her Father awaiting his approval.

At first, there was silence, but as he looked into the pale eyes of his daughter he saw excitement and happiness. Sasuke recalled the thrill of mastering the Fireball technique and how his father hardly acknowledged it. Shoving aside his own feelings, Sasuke nodded with a thin smile.

"Looks like you're ready to start learning the Chidori, then." Sasuke said. Rumi's grin spread from ear to ear and she ran straight to throw her arms around her father. Hinata folded her hands in front of her and she watched the perfect moment. Rumi and Sasuke always had a great relationship… even though he was tough on her with training, it wasn't even close to how Hinata grew up. They had both learned from their past endeavors how they wanted to be as parents.

She understood why Sasuke was feeling the way he was and why he wanted another child. Hinata knew that being a mother came first before anything else… it came before being a ninja and even being the advisor to the Hokage. The same was for Sasuke.

"Neji-niisan… would you like to stay for dinner?" Hinata offered. Neji shook his head.

"The boys are training for the Chuunin Exams so I should really be getting back." He said and turned to leave. Rumi had detached herself from Sasuke and moved to look at her uncle.

"Thank you Ojisan." Rumi happily said. Neji offered his niece a quick smile and a nod. Things were much different in this household than it was when he grew up. Children in the Hyuuga clan never spoke to their relatives so casually. For a brief moment, Neji envied Hinata and what she had.

"Good luck tomorrow. Remember to concentrate and everything should be fine."

And with that, Neji followed Hinata towards the door to leave. Sasuke glanced down at his daughter who now had her eyes fixated on his Konoha forehead protector that was wrapped around his head. Sasuke adjusted it a bit and his fingers brushed up against the large scratch through the middle.

"I'll be just like you tomorrow, Father." Rumi whispered as her features had softened. For the longest time, she had been waiting for the moment she would be an official Konoha ninja. Now, there was a mix of fear and worry. Sasuke could sense it in her uneasy flow of chakra and he let his hand rest on the top of her head.

"Sort of," Sasuke murmured. "Just remember you're still learning. Listen to your instructor and continue your training with myself, your mother and even Neji."

Those words felt funny when they rolled off his tongue, but the assurance seemed to help keep her worries at bay. She inhaled deeply and upon exhaling, a genuine smile emerged. It was reminiscent of his mother who never seemed to have a worry in the world. He wondered how things might be different if they were around. Rumi had no grandparents which was another reason why spending time with her uncles and aunts at the Hyuuga district was important. It made up for those types of things.

"Do you think Ojisan Itachi would be proud?" Rumi whispered. Sasuke's small smile disappeared as she brought up his brother. Sasuke really hated it when she tried to pry into his past because there were hundreds of reasons why she didn't need to know. She was fully aware of the demise of the Uchiha clan and what Itachi did. Sasuke did his best to shine a very vague light on the truth of brother mainly out of guilt.

"Yeah, I think so." He said quietly. Rumi could tell she struck something deep inside of his emotions and she looked away. She couldn't help but be curious of her family she would never meet. There was so much to know and to learn and yet her father refused. Rumi knew everything there was to know about the Hyuugas, but when it came to the Uchihas all that she knew was the negativity and what was in the history books. There had to be something good.

Hinata often times scolded Sasuke for keeping much of her Uchiha heritage from her, but Sasuke wasn't sure she was ready to know. Some people still felt pity for him and now his daughter… and how growing up with the Uchiha blood in her veins was almost intimidating. Maybe one day he would show her everything she needed to know. Maybe one day he would also show her everything about her Ni Bijon… but for the time being, he was having a hard enough time letting her grow up.

"Alright, time for dinner." Hinata said as she walked through the living room and towards the kitchen. "You have a big day tomorrow. Let's eat."

---

"Nygh…" Rumi groaned through a loud yawn as she dragged her feet. Sasuke glanced over at his wife who also shot him a look. Hinata slipped a strand of hair behind her ear and cleared her throat.

"What's the matter, dear?"

"Oh… I just didn't sleep well last night." She confessed after working on her second yawn in a row. Sasuke crossed his arms as they walked down the country road towards the village. It was a routine every morning: get up, train, eat breakfast, shower and off to Konoha they went. Each would eventually go their separate ways—Hinata to the Hokage building, Rumi to the Academy and Sasuke to wherever he was meeting his team.

"Are all your kunai sharpened?" Sasuke asked.

"Mmhmm."

"Have enough Shuriken?"

"Yes Father."

"Just making sure. Shikamaru usually throws in a few surprises." Sasuke said and pursed his lips. Hinata smiled lightly.

"Don't be nervous, Rumi. You'll do just fine."

There was a silence that settled in the family as they walked. It was a typical sunny and warm day in the early summer and Hinata welcomed the breeze that came to cool her down. Rumi, who walked just a few steps ahead of her parents, turned around to take her stride backwards so she could look at them.

"Hey, were you guys friends at the Academy?" Rumi asked curiously. Hinata was caught off guard by the question and wasn't sure what to say. Technically, no they were not. Sasuke wasn't friends with anyone and even Naruto was a long stretch. As very small children they had begun their journey together, but it wasn't until their mid-twenties that they came together to form a bizarre friendship which lead to marriage.

During this entire thought process, Hinata was quiet as she tried to think about how to say it without making it sound negative. Sasuke noticed this. Every child wanted to believe their parents had some magical romantic life together like a fairy tale and that was simply the opposite of them. Although in a way, Hinata was his princess.

"No." He said suddenly before Hinata could say anything. Rumi's face fell a bit and Hinata gave him a look for being so brutally honest. Sasuke then shrugged his shoulders. "We were friends before the Academy."

"Oh," Rumi said slowly as she thought. "So you guys have been in love since you were kids?"

"When we were little, our friendship was… limited." Hinata paused. "But things were different back then. Many clans had arranged marriages and interaction with other clans was frowned upon."

"Did Grandfather Hiashi not approve?" Rumi asked. It was no secret that the late Hyuuga leader was a stern man and the Elders were often vocal of it. Hinata couldn't quite understand where all the questions were coming from but she was happy to answer them… carefully.

"He didn't approve of anything unless it made the Hyuuga clan look good." Sasuke spoke up. Hinata felt a small burst of anger in her body as her husband spoke ill of her father. Even if it was true, it was disrespectful. She narrowed her eyes and kept looking onwards.

"Your Grandfather was the leader of the Hyuugas during his time and that was just how things were ran." Hinata said with an almost firm tone.

Rumi's legs were getting tired from walking backwards, so she turned her back towards her parents and then fell into synch with them. There was a tense feeling within Hinata's chakra and Sasuke sensed her anger with him. He frowned to himself, but didn't say another word. A bird swooped up to perch itself upon a tree and Rumi stifled another yawn.

"What made you fall in love with Mother?" Rumi asked suddenly. Sasuke exhaled quietly to himself. He also wasn't sure where her sudden curiosity for their back history came from. Hinata couldn't hold onto the anger for long as Rumi was venturing into the emotions of her normally stoic father. She was curious to know his answer, however, and her gaze moved towards his direction.

"She put up with me," Sasuke started almost sheepishly. "She wasn't like all the other girls. I guess I just knew."

Hinata looked away with slightly tinted cheeks. Sasuke wasn't normally a romantic guy so she knew that it took a lot to just come up with that. A smile appeared on her lips much to Sasuke's relief. They didn't argue about much… the occasional misunderstanding was the extent of it. Sasuke hated it regardless. Rumi remained quiet for several minutes as they finally entered the outskirts of Konoha.

"Why all these questions, Rumi?" Hinata finally had to ask. She had her suspicions on what it might be, but Hinata awaited her response.

"O-Oh. N-No reason." She stammered and then increased her pace. Sasuke raised his eyebrow on her strange behavior. The only time she stuttered was when she was incredibly nervous or lying… a trait from her mother.

"I'm going to be late! See you after class. Wish me luck!" Rumi called out as she started to jog through the traffic of the morning marketplace. Sasuke frowned as they lost sight of Rumi's bouncing head into the crowd and he then heaved a sigh. Hinata heard the sigh and looked over at him. She knew the answer, but it was plain that Sasuke was a bit naïve when it came to that department.

"Do you not know?" She asked curiously. Sasuke had stopped walking to re-evaluate where he needed to go to meet his team, but he looked at her anyway. Know what? Sasuke shrugged his shoulders again and then focused his gaze towards the direction of the training grounds of Konoha.

"I'm this way." He said clearly ignoring her question. Hinata smiled some and nodded.

"I'll walk you there." Hinata whispered as she slid her arm to link with his. He eyed his wife next to him and he couldn't help but allow a small grin to have access to his features. As much as he tried to act cool and not show any emotion, she was always there to remind him how blissful life really was.

And life really was blissful that day. His team had taken into account yesterday's issues and the quarreling had eased. The training for team work was a hybrid of Kakashi's old teachings along with a few things Sasuke had come up on his own after years of being a sensei. Although usually his mind was 100% focused with his Genin, it wandered quite a bit throughout the afternoon.

It went back and forth from who might become Rumi's sensei and to the talk he had with Hinata yesterday. Having another child meant doing it all over again… the late night feedings, the teething, the uncomfortable growing pains of the chakra channels in the body and everything else in between. But those were just the negatives and (normally) they were minor.

The positives were feeling a small tug on his sleeve in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm or watching the ninja abilities begin to unfold. They were especially worried of Rumi's Ni Bijon and what to expect. It had risks of overpowering her especially with Sasuke's Mangekyo being an added factor when she was conceived. Even as a young adult, her Kekkei Genkai wasn't fully developed which meant it was only a matter of time before her power was fully realized.

But until then… Sasuke was closely watching. He was the only one who knew of the powers it possessed first hand. The flashbacks of the fight with Kabuto were still fresh in his mind and it was also somewhat terrifying to know such an innocent girl could possess such great powers. Sasuke only hoped she would use it for good and not for bad. Could they risk bringing another child into the world with the Ni Bijon?

These thoughts kept Sasuke's mind constantly stirring but it also helped the day go by fast. His team spent the majority of their day in the training grounds doing almost mind numbing techniques that involved all three ninja. It was to prepare for a real encounter while on the road and in Sasuke's absence.

"Do it again." Sasuke demanded dully.

Ryuu fell to his knees to catch his breath as beads of sweat caused his bright orange hair to gleam in the late afternoon sun. Izumi, who was also struggling, tried not to show it as she wrapped her arm around her stomach to ease a muscle cramp. Takeyo trumped them both and sprawled out onto to his back. His muscles were strained and there was a pounding in his head from the constant use of chakra.

"Oh c'mon!" Ryuu exclaimed before digging his nails into the grass under his palms. "We've been doing this all damn day."

"And I said to do it again." Sasuke growled as he stood a few feet away. His hand rested lazily on the hilt of his sword while the other re-adjusted his forehead protector. Izumi opened her mouth to berate her team mate but she held her tongue. The whole point of the exercise was to work together.

"Ryuu," She said in between breaths. "Come on."

He heaved a sigh and shakily got to his feet. His green eyes glanced over his shoulder to stare at her and a smirk formed. With a bit of strength, Ryuu reached to grab an arrow from his pack and then loaded it carefully into his bow.

"Takeyo… Let's do this."

Sasuke watched his Genin work through their exhaustion to fine tune their technique. Kakashi rarely gave them an opportunity to rest during their training and it seemed to pay off. The tough love thing was his favorite and perhaps the easiest way to get to them. They would appreciate it when they got older. The enemy wouldn't wait for them to catch their breath. Quick flash backs from training with Orochimaru appeared and it almost made him laugh. It was the most brutal training he had ever endured. Kakashi's sessions seemed like playtime compared to that. He had quickly learned how to preserve his strength and chakra even greater than he had from Konoha's teachings.

"Sasuke-kun…" A soft voice interrupted his thoughts as he glanced over his shoulder. There stood his wife and her face looked oddly blank and even more pale than usual. He narrowed his eyebrows a bit and turned to greet her.

"Is everything okay?" He asked slowly when she approached him. Her lips formed into a small smile and she stared into Sasuke's eyes. They were already full of worry and stress… it seemed wrong to add onto it. Hinata opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.

"I… um—"

"Hinata-san!" Three voices in unison interrupted her and she looked past her husband to the three Genin who were sprinting towards them. Hinata released the breath she had been holding and smiled.

"Good afternoon," She said. "I-I see you are all working very hard."

Ryuu groaned as he started to wipe an excessive amount of sweat from his forehead. That's an understatement… They had literally been working all damn day only taking a break for lunch which was a bad idea because Takeyo threw it up shortly thereafter. The team was always glad to see the former Hyuuga because that meant a break from their grueling training.

"I didn't say stop." Sasuke said to which they ignored Izumi ran her fingers through her black curls and smiled tiredly.

"Is Rumi excited?" She asked. Hinata folded her hands in front of her and glanced over towards Sasuke who seemed annoyed that they were interrupted and he was being cast aside.

"I think more nervous than excited…" She began. "Actually, I was coming to steal your sensei so we could see her after her exams."

Sasuke crossed his arms when he heard the excited sighs from his team. He also heaved a sigh, but seeing Rumi graduate was much more important to him. After a few seconds Sasuke lifted his hand to wave them away.

"Alright. Be back here tomorrow morning bright and early." He said. Ryuu wasted little time as he saluted his sensei and then sprinted towards the exit of the training grounds. Izumi bowed to say good-bye to them both and started to follow after Ryuu. That left Takeyo who was still struggling to stay balanced on his jellified legs. Sasuke watched as he, too, turned to slowly stumble away.

Sasuke glanced over at Hinata and held up his index finger as a signal to wait. Within a millisecond, Sasuke disappeared and with a loud crash, his feet hit the ground right at the exit of the training grounds. The ground rumbled and cracked all around them. Ryuu managed to stop just in time and leap out of the way. Izumi used a tree branch to hoist herself upwards and even Takeyo found a way to avoid the sudden attack.

All three looked at each other and nodded. It was time to put what they had worked on that day to the test. Sasuke stood with his katana drawn and electricity flowing from his body. Takeyo took a deep breath before sprinting towards his sensei with intent to cause harm. The kunai in hand gleamed in the late afternoon sun as it went up against the intimidating katana. The sound of metal clashing against each other was enough to draw the attention of Hinata who watched from a distance.

Sasuke noted Takeyo's improvement on his courage and his weapon combat but of course this was just a distraction. Suddenly, the surroundings around him melted away to nothing but darkness. He glanced around quickly and all he could see was Izumi who stood with her hands formed into a seal.

He could have used to Sharingan to avoid the genjutsu, but as a sensei, he was testing them. There was something that bothered him- he was confused as to how she was able to lure him in without actually seeing her before. His attention had been on Takeyo the entire time. Now those piercing red eyes stared straight into his and he gritted his teeth at the growing pain in his ankles.

"How did you get me into the genjutsu?" Sasuke growled. Izumi smiled and her stomach flipped with excitement for having outsmarted her sensei.

"The reflection in the kunai." She said. "All it took was half a second and I locked you in."

Sasuke hadn't taught her that which meant Izumi was learning on her own. She was always an intelligent ninja but her cockiness often got in the way of improving. The genjutsu was taking already getting to work by causing his feet to begin melting. It was damn painful but this was the only way they could learn.

Outside of the genjutsu, Hinata watched with her Byakugan. An important aspect to being a ninja was being able to outsmart the enemy. That was something Sasuke excelled at and always made sure to incorporate into his teachings. Ryuu sat up in a tree and he worked fast by loading up arrows one by one with paper bombs attached. Sasuke stood frozen in the genjutsu and was unable to even comprehend his surroundings. Within a few moments, Ryuu began to send the arrows in the direction of his sensei until they formed a perfect circle around him in the ground.

Izumi smiled and watched as the explosions went off in synch. The rumble sent a shockwave over towards where Hinata was standing, but she was still able to see through the large smoke cloud that filled the area. Of course, the team waited with bated breath to see the outcome of their hard work and effort.

"Did we get him!?" Ryuu asked before jumping down from his perch in the tree. Takeyo coughed a bit and rubbed his eyes as the smoke settled. Izumi jogged towards both of the boys as they stood staring at the large and empty hole in the ground. Ryuu's green eyes went wide and he pointed at the hole with such disdain.

"What!?" His voice screeched and Izumi stood there dumbfounded.

"We'll work more on this tomorrow." Sasuke's voice came from behind them and Ryuu immediately whipped around redirecting his pointing towards his sensei who didn't have a scratch on him.

"W-What the hell!?" He mouthed but no words came out. Sasuke let a dry chuckle escape his lungs and he turned away from them.

"You remind me of someone." Sasuke said slowly. Ryuu pursed his lips and then re-adjusted his dark rimmed glasses.

"Yeah, I bet I remind you of a super cool and powerful ninja." He said to which made Izumi's dark red eyes roll.

"This particular ninja is an idiot." Sasuke said coolly. Takeyo snorted but quickly turned it into a cough and turned away from the icy glare of Ryuu.

"On the other hand… he is our Hokage." Sasuke added and gave his team a firm smile. "We will continue to work on this. Good job today. You're dismissed."

Hinata had already started to approach Sasuke with a large grin. If she wasn't always busy as the advisor to the Hokage, she could watch him train his team all day. It was fascinating to see him mold them into great ninja. It wasn't too terribly long ago that it was them learning the ins and outs of the world.

"So you were saying?" Sasuke said as he brushed some dirt from his vest. The sound of bells within the village chimed and they both went silent.

"O-Oh. Class is out… We will be late." She said while avoiding his hard gaze. Sasuke frowned.

The Academy wasn't far from the training grounds—maybe a few minutes if they walked quickly. Other parents and relatives were also flocking from their homes towards the dismissing school. It was an exciting time. There were now more ninja to add to the Konoha arsenal and even though they were lowly ninja, they were ninja nonetheless.

Hinata could feel her heart racing as they entered the crowded courtyard of the Academy. There was that small fear of Rumi not passing, but she was sure that her daughter would pass with flying colors. Children were showing off their newly acquired Konoha forehead protectors and Hinata smiled seeing the joy throughout.

"Mother! Father!"

They both stopped upon hearing that familiar voice and Rumi bounded up towards them with a huge smile. The gleam from the sun hit her brand spankin' new forehead protector and it fit perfectly on her head. Hinata could barely contain her excitement.

"Congratulations!" Hinata gushed. "I knew you would do well."

Sasuke stood there for a second and took in the moment. Pride caused his chest to swell a bit and in a rare move he allowed his smile to show freely. His hand reached out to rest comfortably on Rumi's shoulder.

"How does it feel to be a Konoha ninja?"

"Well… I certainly don't feel a whole lot different." Rumi admitted. "But at least I'm not going to be stuck in class all day anymore!"

Sasuke shook his head a bit and then let his hands rest on his hips. Hinata felt the early evening breeze blow her hair a bit and she listened to Sasuke lecture her of the importance of training and her education. Rumi crossed her arms on her chest and nodded continuously.

"Yeah, yeah…"

"So, did you find out who will be your sensei?" Sasuke asked curiously. Rumi used her fingers to re-arrange the forehead protector. She wasn't used to having anything there so it would take some getting used to.

"Mmhmm." She said. "I've seen him before… he's always reading some kind of dirty book."

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched. Dirty… book. There was only one person he knew that buried his nose into those smutty books and that was…

"Kakashi-sensei." Hinata spoke up as the silver-haired man approached them. There wasn't too much difference in the man except that he was older, of course. His forehead protector still sat disheveled on his face to cover up the scar and what it hid.

"Ahh, good evening. Hinata… Sasuke…" He said with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Sasuke eyed his former sensei and he felt confused. The last he heard of Hatake Kakashi was that he was a part of foreign affairs which meant he was one to assist Naruto with border security or anything related to other lands.

Rumi glanced at the older man and she squished her lips all to one side. He was tall, mysterious and lazy from the way he carried himself. This guy is going to be my sensei? Her pale pupils moved to look at her father who looked equally surprised. Hinata wasn't moved by the announcement—she had known for quite some time which was why she hardly stressed about it. As the advisor to the Hokage, Hinata was sworn to keep almost 100% of this information to herself.

"I thought you were doing foreign affairs." Sasuke muttered. It had been quite some time since they had spoken mainly because of how busy their lives had become. Kakashi smiled behind his mask.

"I was." He said. "Naruto asked me for a favor."

Sasuke frowned. A favor? Although it came as a shock to know that Kakashi had returned to being a sensei, he wasn't bothered by it. If he trusted anyone to train his daughter it would have been him. It actually came as a relief.

"What favor?"

"Well, there are many Genin now with mixed Kekkei Genkai." Kakashi said with a lowered voice. "Think of it as a ninja melting pot if you will… This team consists of that and we've developed specific training for them."

Sasuke paused for a moment and it suddenly hit him—this was genius. Naruto had finally done something worthwhile during his reign as Hokage. Of course that wasn't entirely true. Naruto had done many fine things as the leader like develop better tactics for invasions, create peace with old rivaling villages and amp up border control hence Kakashi's old position.

"Still got it in you, old man?" Sasuke asked with a smirk. Kakashi closed his half-lidded eye and sighed.

"Never bite the hand that feeds you, Sasuke. Remember I was once your sensei."

"Wait, this guy was your sensei?!" Rumi exclaimed in horror. Sasuke glanced over at her and shrugged.

"For a bit."

"Oh man… no pressure, Rumi." She murmured to herself while her hands cradled her face. Rumi was aware on how her father was essentially a genius back in his day. She always knew that she had big shoes to fill so it was a struggle. Kakashi chuckled and let his big hand rest on her head.

"Now, now… just remember—before your father's team, I failed every single ninja back to the Academy." Kakashi said with a playful grin behind that mask. Rumi's eyes went wide and she felt her body wither away to the wind.

"You're telling me I could fail again…? B-But I passed!" She squeaked.

"We'll meet tomorrow morning in Exam Room 4 at the Academy bright and early. Don't be late." Kakashi said as he nodded his good-byes to them.

"Don't worry about being late. He won't show for at least an hour after you do." Sasuke muttered to Rumi who was already swimming in absolute dread.

"Rumi-chan!" A voice called out to which they all looked up for. A playful puppy scurried through the crowd and was now at their feet barking away happily and a boy who also sported his newly received Konoha forehead protector followed.

"K-Kazuki-kun." Rumi stammered and her cheeks instantly grew warm. Hinata tilted her head slightly. She knew that boy… his messy brown hair stuck out in all different directions and there was a small presence of his canine teeth protruding from his lips. If anything, it was the red fang markings that adorned his cheeks. This was Kiba's son.

"Congratulations on passing, Rumi-chan! I knew you would." Kazuki said with a large grin. Rumi's entire body was on fire and her face was bright red.

"Y-You too…" She said quietly all while avoiding the boys gaze. Sasuke's eyebrows rose as he watched his usually rambunctious daughter shrink into something so small. It was reminiscent of Hinata in her early days. Already the protective side of Sasuke was showing as he shot the kid a cold stare.

"Rumi, it's time to go."

"B-But Father I…"

"I said lets go."

"Sasuke-kun…" Hinata's voice was low as she let her hand rest on his folded arms. He ignored his wife. Young love was a waste of time and especially at this point in time Rumi had more important things to focus on.

"I-I think this is what all those questions were for earlier." She could see it in her daughter's eyes. Kazuki made her nervous, but in a good way. The churning stomach was normal when one was around someone they admired. The red cheeks were the biggest indicator to know that Rumi was in love. All the questions earlier were her wanting something just like her parents: the unconditional love and acceptance.

Sasuke pulled away from her gently and refused to acknowledge it. There was something about the whole Inuzuka clan that always bothered him. They were loud, brash, and often spoke without thinking. Kiba was one of them who he had butted heads with plenty of times in the past. At least with Naruto, he knew when to shut his mouth.

"We have work to do." Sasuke said curtly and turned to leave. Rumi felt hot tears form in her eyes as she looked over towards Kazuki.

"No." Rumi said firmly. Sasuke stopped walking and the anger inside of his was also bubbling. It wasn't very often that he argued with his daughter but now would be one of those times.

"A loyal Genin wouldn't disobey the orders of a Jounin." Sasuke said over his shoulder. His voice was icy and it made Hinata squeeze shut her eyes. She wanted to intervene to protect her daughter from the harsh scrutiny of her father. She certainly knew of the feeling, but Rumi also needed to know how to stand up for herself. Hinata never was able to do that.

Rumi simply stared at the back of her father and then in a bold move, she ripped off her forehead protector and threw it at Sasuke's feet.

"T-Then I don't want to be a Konoha ninja just to please you." She whispered. "I don't even know who I am! You won't tell me anything of my Uchiha heritage but you expect me to excel like one!"

Rumi latched on to Kazuki's arm and the puppy began to circle around her ankles in defense. Sasuke's anger had reached its peak.

"A true Uchiha wouldn't be friends with an Inuzuka."

There was a long pause between everyone as his own words came to slap him in the face. Sasuke often felt the characteristics of his father over the years but he was almost always able to calmly reconsider his actions. This was just pure and raw feeling that overcame Sasuke. There was no time to step back and realize just what he was saying.

That phrase was also familiar for both Hinata and Sasuke. It was along the same lines as what Hyuuga Hiashi uttered to them nearly a lifetime ago. He forbade their friendship and they always wondered what life would have been like if it had been different. Here Sasuke was trying to forbid a friendship between his daughter and someone else.

Uchiha Sasuke rarely felt shame, but he did in that moment. He had been through so much in his lifetime that he felt he knew it all. He could do no wrong. Even with a wife and a family, that stubborn personality would always remain. At least now he was realizing how he could do wrong and that he didn't know it all. His shoulders fell as he released all the tension in his body. Sasuke turned and reached down to grab the Konoha forehead protector that was on the ground.

Then he walked towards his daughter who released the arm of the Inuzuka. Sasuke knelt down and let his hand cup Rumi's teary cheek. It was still warm with embarrassment and anger and it really caused him to feel nauseous. This wasn't what he wanted. With the forehead protector, he then tied it firmly around her head.

"I… I am sorry." Sasuke said carefully. "You are right. I haven't been completely truthful with you about the blood running through your veins. But that… that is all going to change."

Rumi's hands went up to feel the smoothness of the metal on her forehead. Her fingertips traced over the Konoha symbol and then she stared deep into her father's dark eyes. Rumi knew when her father was being sincere and when he wasn't. This was a moment where she knew he was.

"Promise?"

"Yeah."

"And…" Rumi glanced over at Kazuki. "And… we can still be friends?"

Sasuke nodded with a very small smile. Rumi felt one last tear fall from her pale eye and she then threw her arms around Sasuke's neck. He breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her back. Hinata released her own breath that she had been holding and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Y'know… the Uchiha District isn't far from the road we walk on home," Hinata spoke up. Sasuke let go of Rumi and then stood up. His eyes met with Hinata's and there was a small nod. He hadn't been to the Uchiha District for several years. It hadn't been well taken care of especially since Kabuto's invasion, but what was intact was enough to show Rumi about her clan.

"Oh, can we please stop there Father?" Rumi asked.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Great," she beamed. "Um. I'm going to say good-bye to my friends." Her cheeks grew warm again and she smiled over at Kazuki. Sasuke watched them walk away and looked over at Hinata. He slipped an arm around her shoulders which caused her to wrap her arms around his waist.

"On second thought maybe I can only handle one kid." Sasuke muttered while watching Rumi excitedly talk with a group of students. Hinata chewed on her lip for a good few seconds and then breathed in.

"Sasuke-kun, I'm pregnant." She said on the exhale. His eyes widened ever so slightly and then he turned to look at her. The breeze blew around her bangs gently and in that moment he felt a sudden panic.

"You're sure?"

"Y-Yes. I hadn't been feeling great lately… I figured it was just stress. But something just didn't feel right so I had Sakura check." Hinata admitted and reached up to slip a strand of hair behind her ear.

"That's… um," Sasuke uttered. "That's good."

"Four weeks along." Hinata whispered with a smile. Sasuke simply stared at her and thought back four weeks. … In the training grounds. His surprised expression softened and he pulled her into his chest rather roughly. They were having another baby just like he had wanted.

"I meant to tell you earlier today but…" Her voice was muffled into his vest. "Things just got in the way."

"Ready Father?" Rumi said as she bounded back towards them. He pulled away from Hinata and looked over at her. With a genuine smile he nodded.

"Yeah. Let's go." Sasuke said. This was his family. And it didn't just mean Hinata and Rumi, but it was the entire village. His team, his friends… they were all there for him. They always had been rooting for him. Sasuke hoped that his father was as proud of him as he was of Rumi. He never would know but the soft side of his ego liked to think he was.

"Hey Father?" Rumi asked as they had started through the village. The sun was starting to sink over the Hokage Mountain where Naruto's face sat etched in stone along with all the other former leaders.

"Hmm?"

"I'm scared to… y'know… start my real training." She said softly. Hinata, whose hand was resting lazily in Sasuke's, looked at her daughter.

"Scared?"

"Yeah."

"Why is that? Kakashi is a great mentor."

"It's just… I'll never be as good as you."

Sasuke was surprised to hear that. His memories took him far back to his own days at the Academy. They certainly didn't come easy as he had to fill large shoes from his brother. Even after his clans passing it was difficult to maintain the Uchiha name. He worked day and night. He chuckled a bit as she sounded just like he did as a child.

"Never say never, Rumi. Never say never."