PROGRESS

CHAPTER 10

Sasuke would have loved to ditch his teammates to train with Hinata. He just couldn't get enough time with her. The need to prepare her was absolute, an obsession. But it was impossible. Kakashi had found out about their training sessions sooner than he would have liked, and kept close watch over him because of it. Not a word passed between them on the subject, but Kakashi was always glancing over his mask with that dreary eye of his. Sasuke's anticipation to be elsewhere was obviously mistaken for an intention to escape. Hell, maybe that was true. A foul mood such as his wasn't easily contained. Sakura sensed it, and worried. Naruto thought it was hilarious.

It goes without saying that when the two of them sparred, Sasuke really let him have it. "That's what you get for being such a smart-mouth," Sakura would sigh with her hands on her hips. Then she would help him to a sit and even treat his bruises. She'd been a little more soft on Naruto lately, but maybe that's only because Sasuke ignored her completely. Kakashi didn't have to do much to get on his nerves either.

"You're not being a very good team player," he would say. Even though it was meant to sound like a joke, Sasuke knew he meant it. Kakashi really let him have it a few times for being so obtuse. "Your arrogance is more detrimental to the team than Naruto's incompetence," he'd said to Sasuke in private one day. Now that really made an impact. So Sasuke swallowed his complaints, his scowls, his disagreements, and worked with his teammates as best as he could. Even though most of his hopes rode on him and Hinata, he didn't exactly want his teammates to fail either.

Tweaking his training schedule with Hinata helped a bit. If either of their teams held them up during mornings, it was his duty to make sure they met in the evenings. It was actually preferable to train that way: one, because there were less people about, and two, because it strained Hinata's Byakugan. The more strain she put into it, the better her vision became. Kekke-genkais were adaptable like that. Fifty meters became fifty-five, then sixty, and so forth until she could manage about a hundred meters in the dark and a hundred-and-ten meters in the daytime. According to her, this was astounding progress.

It dawned on Sasuke after a while that Hinata must be doing something extra outside of her training with him and her team. This was because she started showing up later and later to their meetings. Today was no exception. As usual he practiced with his kunais while he waited for her. He landed a center of four, and one just outside of it. He never really thought he'd be so good at something as to reach complete boredom. He was pleased that as soon as he plucked the kunais free, Hinata was just running up to meet him.

He wasn't so pleased to see that she was already worn. He raised an eyebrow at her when she started sputtering apologies. "Why are you always late?" he asked. "Isn't your team taking a break today?" She had to take several breaths in order to collect herself.

"I was . . . training with Niisan," she said, breathing timely. Sasuke was thrown into confusion.

"You have an older brother?"

"Oh no, I mean my cousin. I've called him Niisan ever since I was three."

"Neji." Sasuke's mouth twisted at the name. She'd known him since childhood, but that wasn't a surprise, was it? They were cousins. For someone as gentle as Hinata it was only natural to refer to her closest cousin as "big brother." So then what was this vicious wrenching inside of Sasuke's stomach? Obviously it was some form of rage, but a completely unreasonable one. He didn't like it. "When did you two start training?" he asked calmly. He also didn't like that she was keeping things from him. This was supposed to be their project. Theirs.

"Um, remember when you found out about Gaara-san? Around that time. I don't he likes it very much that you're training me."

"An understatement, no doubt." Sasuke snorted.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. Let's get started. The preliminaries are only two days away." Two months had flown by so quickly, but her improvement was startling. Sasuke was proud of her. He doubted that she was any match for Neji or Gaara, but if she were lucky fate wouldn't match her up with either of them. But then Sasuke knew how quirky fate could be.

Gaara would not be participating in this competition anyway. Afterwards, who knew? If he was matched against anyone, Sasuke hoped it was himself. Not just for Hinata's sake, but for his too. He wanted the pleasure. Hinata wasn't the only one to reap fruits from their training. He'd also learned a fantastic deal, about the Byakugan and Gentle Fist in particular. If he was lucky enough to square up against Neji, it'd probably be the most intense battle of his life. That was a deliciously entertaining thought.

Hinata and Sasuke had been sparring every day for the past three weeks. Sasuke was quicker, but Hinata was more accurate. Little by little she was gaining the speed necessary to assist her Byakugan. She had a long way to go, if her stories about Neji and Hiashi were true, but Sasuke felt that when she exceeded her goal (and he was certain that she would one day) there would be no female in Konoha able to stand against her. That idea produced a stirring he had never felt, and whatever it was fused even more energy into their sparring.

"Let's stop," Sasuke finally called. He was nearly drained of everything he had. The sun had done a number on the two of them. Kami, was a cloudy day so much to ask for? It was worse for Hinata because of the unique skin sensitivity bred throughout the Hyuga Clan (a weakness they did not like to talk about) and so Sasuke was ever conscious of her condition on searing days like this one. He remembered belatedly that she came into the session after just having left another.

"We're stopping already?" Hinata breathed.

"Yeah." Sasuke cricked his shoulder joint. "You're tired. You put your hours in today, so you don't need to work anymore."

"B-But . . ."

"Take a break, Hinata," he said sternly. "Train too much and you won't have any chakra left for the tournament. That's why I want you to sleep all day tomorrow. I don't care what the hell your cousin wants, or your father—sleep. Take care of yourself." He never thought he'd be preaching Iruka's words anyone. Maybe it was because of that that he was able to heed them seriously himself.

Hinata didn't argue with him, though he got the feeling she wanted to. That determination would send her soaring to new heights: if it didn't kill her. A fantastic pupil indeed.

As he was plucking kunais from the wooden targets he unconsciously looked over his shoulder at Hinata. She was just where he'd left her, staring down at the ground without blinking. She seemed to feel him staring at her and straightened. Her smile was sweet, apologetic. He hated it when she gave him that look.

They sat together under a yew tree. He asked her what was wrong. She had seated herself an arm's length away from him, and he found that to be more than unnerving. Her reluctance to get close to him was senseless. They sparred at the chest, but sitting together was a problem? Hinata was a shy girl, so he supposed it wasn't that big a deal. She'd get over it one day.

"I'm worried," she said, folding her hands together over her lap. Sasuke extracted a bottle of water from his bag and handed it to her. "About what?" 'Not me', he thought reflexively. 'Must be about her cousin or something . . .'

"A-About Naruto-kun," she said, absently reaching for the water bottle. Her hand drew back when the plastic cracked in his fist and water went spraying across their laps. Even the top popped off.

"Ah, sorry," he apologized with a twitch of his mouth. He put the dented bottle aside and got a rag from his pack. Hinata dabbed at her lap primly after he handed it to her. "Why are you worried about the idiot?" he asked. Annoyance made his tone cringing. "He can take care of himself." Probably.

"W-Well I . . ." She twisted the rag through her hands. Sasuke's reaction startled her, or at least that's what he thought at first until her cheeks turned red. He clenched the back of his teeth to keep from baring them. "I know Naruto-kun has gotten strong since he entered the academy. I hardly have any idea how much he's improved since then, but I-I am still worried about him. I don't want him to get . . ." The rag dropped to her lap, abandoned by her hands which cupped her face. ". . . hurt. I, um . . . care very much for Naruto-kun, so . . ."

Sasuke looked away from her. He didn't want her to see his face, whatever it looked like. It felt like an assembly of snarls and bared teeth, a prelude to murder. "Is that right? He said levelly. "Well, Naruto has gotten stronger over the last few months. I'm sure he'll do just fine." 'Unless he goes against me, of course.'

"Do you think so?" Hinata said with a perk in her voice. "What if—"

"Just worry about yourself, Hinata," he snapped. No more of this. "Just concentrate on preparing for the tournament. The chances of you being hurt are just as great as his is." He paused as he considered this, abruptly alarmed and, to some extent, panicked. "Make more of that cooling cream of yours, if you can. It works well on my bruises."

This was true. Hinata spent weeks into months learning how to make homemade ointments and remedies. She had told him this herself, during the many talks they'd had together. By nature she was more of a healer than a fighter. Sasuke had started a collection of balms and creams made by her hand. Even when he didn't need them he would request that she make some, and she would do so happily. It was something she was great at.

"S-So we're really not going to train anymore today?" she asked meekly. Sasuke leaned against the yew tree, closing his eyes. He raised his knee and draped his arm over it. "No. The day is almost over. It's best if we just relax."

"Well I suppose I'll go home then." She was already reaching for her things. Sasuke's eyes flew open.

"Why are you leaving?" he demanded. She blinked at him.

"We're not training anymore today, so . . . I thought that I would go home." She stood with her bag, crossing the strap around her chest. Sasuke glanced toward the setting sun, squinting at the blazing colors. She only stayed with him as long as there was training to be done. Even Naruto had lingered on occasion after training sessions, and not just because of Sakura. To Hinata, there was no other purpose in their being together.

"Have you eaten yet?" he asked, dumping the remaining contents of the bruised water bottle. He tossed it into a far-away trashcan. Hinata shook her head.

"I haven't. I was too busy to make lunch this morning. Oh, I'm sorry! I should have made time to—"

"I'll take you somewhere." He snatched his bag from the ground and crossed it over his own chest. Her eyes boggled.

"No, you don't have to! I promise—"

"You've treated me to lunch every day for the past two months. The least I can do is offer you dinner."

"But . . ."

"Let's go." He started toward the village, but a few meters in, realizing that Hinata was not following him, he turned around. She was standing by the tree, twisting the hem of her jacket through her hands. It was like that day on the roof, the day they first ate lunch together. "Come," he said. She didn't hesitate like she had done then.

"Hai!" She smiled and strode to his side.

*AN*

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