Those paragraphs that are written in italics are flashbacks okay? It is very important in this chapter that you would identify the flashbacks from reality…(note: very important) oh…and I am going to put (f) on every beginning and ending of a flashback scene starting now…so that it would be easier for you guys.
Hold your breath and prepare yourselves….this is a very unexpected chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
-o-o-o-
Chapter Five: Within Eight Months (Part One)
As the days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, Hinata finally understood the real meaning of being in a relationship with Sasuke Uchiha.
The people around her were getting used to the idea that she and Sasuke are together now. At first, when the news spread around the village, there are a lot of opinions about it, good and bad.
Her clan though, especially the clan elders, looks like they have found riches beyond compare, telling her what a great combination of bloodline it would be once she and Sasuke decided to take matters with them seriously and get into a more serious arrangement like marriage.
By and by, even Shino and Kiba have warmed up to Sasuke, talking to the Uchiha in controlled yet polite conversations every time he would join them in training or group dinners. Those simple efforts from both sides make her happy and overwhelmed—that at least, everyone is trying for her sake, even Neji.
All was going well with her life that Hinata never expected for a comeback blow to come.
-o-
Seven months passed…
Opening her eyes, Hinata let the warm air of Suna bathe her face. Basing her guess on the humidity that she was feeling in the air, she estimated it to be noon. Shifting her weight to the side, her eyes lingered on the two small photographs that were on the small desk beside her bed.
One was the picture of team eight; the other was a picture of Neji and Hanabi.
Sitting up, she groaned as the light of day hit her straight in the eyes. Hinata squinted and reached out for the curtains above her head and covered the opening just to avoid the small grits of sand to enter her room, she has been staying here in Sunakagure for almost three weeks now, but her eyes still won't agree with the sand. As her arm rose to hold the curtain's end, her eyes caught the small fan like shape tattooed on her wrist.
Hinata started to shake.
-o-
(f) Hinata giggled when Sasuke tasted his own cooked food then grimaced. "I can't make food as good as you."
"At least you tried." She smiled, tying her apron and started to clean the mess her boyfriend has done inside her kitchen. She was cooking food when Sasuke appeared inside the kitchen—declaring that he was going to help her. Looking around the place, she can't help but notice the kitchen looks just like the way when Neji-nii and Hanabi tried to cook something.
"Hn."
"I would still eat it." She said bravely, giving his frowning face a soft pat. "Why don't you eat what I made instead?"
Returning his arm guards back to their places after washing his flour-soaked hands, Sasuke—still grim faced—leaned on the kitchen counter, eyeing the heiress as she arranged all the utensils back into place with familiarity and grace. Somehow, she reminded him of his late mother—how Mikoto insisted to be the one to always prepare the family meal despite of the servants they have back then.
"I would never let you go you know…" He suddenly stated, a picture of Hinata cooking him meals inside his own kitchen with a bulging belly appeared inside his mind. Somehow, he was suddenly willing to make that scene come true.
Hinata stopped cleaning up then looked at him, mouth gaping. Sometimes, Sasuke would just blurt out things that always caught her off guard. "Haven't you said it many times before?"
"Hn." (f)
-o-o-o-
Sasuke collapsed on the soft forest soil.
"Teme!"
"Sasuke!" Sakura dropped from the tree and was the first one to reach the unconscious Uchiha. She held him up and pressed her chakra wrapped hand to his chest, feeling his vital organ and chakra flow.
"Shit! I told him to take a rest first but he just won't listen!" Naruto said as soon as he landed on the ground. Sasuke has been on his feet for weeks now; food was also out of the question. "Damnit teme."
"He is exhausted." Sakura noted the dark circles under his eyes. She pressed her hand more firmly on his chest in order to share some of her energy giving chakra into his system. Seconds later, Sasuke opened his eyes and looked drowsily at the two members of team seven.
Ever since he knew that Hinata left… he has been hard on himself. Sakura added mentally. "Just wait till I get my hands on Karin…" She said with gritted teeth.
"We need to go back to the leaf. He won't make it like this." Naruto clicked his tongue.
Sasuke's eyes snapped open, and then he pushed Sakura away from him. Standing up shakily, he started to walk with a limped. "No. I won't go back without Hinata."
"Teme…"
"If you two wanted to go back, you could leave me here."
Giving Naruto a glance, Sakura ran to the Uchiha's side. She knows that Sasuke would always be hard headed, and no reason whatsoever would change his mind once he has set himself into it. Holding him back with one hand, she punched him in the gut with her inhuman strength. "Please don't get back at me for this Sasuke. This is for your own good."
Sasuke's breath was knocked out of him.
Catching the Uchiha before he could hit the ground, Naruto pulled Sasuke's arm and placed it around his shoulder. "Come Sakura-chan…let's go back."
"Hai."
-o-o-o-
(f) Karin buried her nose on a book she has found on one of the oldest section in the main library of the leaf. She was given permission to go there, for she has asked Kakashi if she could at last spend time inside the library so she won't be bored to death inside the Uchiha district.
The Hokage agreed.
She just found her chance to research and study what was inside the vial.
Every day, she tried to look for books and scrolls which deal with chemicals and medicines. The Shinobi who guards the library has become acquainted with her due to her usual visits. Karin would then study everything that she knows would help her in her "plans."
The door of the library creaked and Karin raised her head from the book she was reading. The Shinobi who guards the library smiled and greeted the newcomer. She was very beautiful and Karin wondered if she has seen her before.
Oh yes, now she remembered.
She was one of Naruto and Sasuke's friends.
"Captain Yamanaka." The Shinobi guard greeted with respect.
"Oh…how are you doing?" The blonde greeted back with a smile on her half-covered face. Her words were spoken jovially that it gives her the aura of friendliness. "I came here to pick some books. Those I requested for you to look last week."
The Shinobi nodded knowingly. "Oh right…" Running his hands under the counter, he pulled some old books out. "Here they are."
"Arigatou." The smile was genuine. She waved at the Shinobi guard and walked out of the place just as soon as she appeared.
Looking around for anyone and then finding that she was the only library visitor at the moment, Karin also plastered a smile on her face. "Wow…she's pretty."
"She is." The Shinobi agreed.
"And already at captain at that age?"
"Well…she is the only daughter of the late Inouchi Yamanaka, our past mind Intel and interrogation captain…and she inherited his skills that are highly needed in the interrogation force." The Shinobi crossed his arms, gesturing at the exit where the blonde disappeared just seconds ago. "She is an expert in mind techniques see."
Karin's attention suddenly livens up. "Oh…she is an expert in mind techniques? Wow…does she come here often?"
"It depends…though she just usually picks her books and leave."
"Well…a captain is always busy…"
"Yeah."(f)
-o-o-o-
Kiba crossed his arms as he stared into the sky just like what Shikamaru was doing. Beside the Nara was Ino, leaning beside Sai with her swollen, and tear soaked eyes.
"Well…they brought Sasuke back." Kiba scratched his head. "The guy is in bad shape…"
"It's not his fault he was brainwashed…" Ino said in a shaky voice. "It's my fault…I am the one who filled Karin with the details…I-I am the one who helped her in her plans…I am the—"
"Cut it Ino…It's not your fault." Shikamaru removed his eyes from the sky and looked at her teammate who was starting to cry again. "You did not know."
"But—"
Sai wrapped his pale arm around the girl. "Ino…"
"So that's what triggered Hinata to accept that A-class mission to Suna so suddenly. Hell…you guys should have seen Shino and Neji fight with Sasuke…Even with Akamaru by my side…I have a hard time stopping them three. I swear one of them is going to get killed back then." Kiba shook his head, remembering the terrifying scene. "I even got my rib broken just by trying to make them stop."
"Good thing Kakashi-sensei helped out." Chouji added, his chips left unopened beside him, which was kind of unusual for the chubby Shinobi.
"It would have been troublesome."
Wiping her tears and remembering that high ranked kunoichi like her should be firm and strong, Ino took a deep breath. "Well…we did not expect that to happen. Hinata and Sasuke are so happy back then…you could just see it in their eyes. For the months that they have been together…they are just so…so perfect."
It has been three weeks since Hinata left for the mission, and a week since they it was discovered that Sasuke Uchiha was drugged by some chemical that affected his memory about Hinata. Sakura spend days and sleepless nights just to get Sasuke back to his normal self.
"That's why Sasuke has been acting strange with that Uzumaki girl." Kiba grimaced. "Damn…that broke Hina-chan's heart…That's why she left…"
-o-o-o-
Whew…
This chapter might be a bit puzzling…but I promise things would clear up in time.
-crazygurl12