SHIBARI: Bound

Chapter Warnings: Language

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 9

Hawk

Present (Late Summer 5 AN) – Konoha

It was almost eleven.

Time to get going.

Hinata was supposed to meet with Shino and Kiba an hour before their mission for a quick lunch and she had already spent more time than she should have in the presence of the departed.

Extending an arm, she tenderly rested a hand on top of Naruto's rough headstone. Her head drooped and lids lowered respectfully.

Be at peace.

With a breath she withdrew, taking one last mournful glance at the still monument.

Out of habit, she skillfully acquired and ejected a kunai at feeling a familiar surge of energy. She listened for the slight whistling on the air followed by a thud as it buried itself in a target.

Except, that last part never happened.

Pinching her brows together, she turned to locate her vanishing kunai.

"Are all Hyuga trained to greet people this way?" A deep baritone rumbled mirthfully.

She was becoming well acquainted with that voice.

Lavender pearl orbs lifted to Sasuke's deep obsidian which flashed with curiosity and amusement. She permitted herself a second to wonder at his recent isolated teasing of her. He never behaved this way at the academy. It made her feel like a joke.

One she didn't find funny.

Brushing aside the thought, her gaze shifted to the kunai he casually held. The freshly sharpened tip was loosely pointed in her direction, silently accusing her of being raised a poor host.

Choosing to not engage, she strolled across the tall, soft blades of dewy grass, eyes fixed on the pilfered item. Once within reach, her hand lifted to recover the kunai when Sasuke unexpectedly snatched the tool away, inches from her grasp.

She froze, her attention fluttering up to his face enquiringly.

His head angled down towards hers. With a mockingly light timbre, the man inquired, "Tell me Hyuga, if Naruto were here right now do you think he'd appreciate the fact that you waste your days in the company of the dead?"

Her eyes narrowed lethally. What she did with her time was none of his business and his flippant demeanor rubbed her the wrong way. Meeting his challenge, she responded incisively, "You know nothing, Uchiha."

She swiftly secured her kunai and tucked it away before attempting a hasty departure. With their backs facing each other and his eyes trailing her exit, she abruptly halted her steps when he called out, "Do you know why Itachi died?"

Refusing to face him, she stared vacuously in front of her. After a brief hesitation, she replied simply, "You killed him."

"No," he promptly asserted. "He died trying to be a martyr. Don't be like my brother. Don't be a martyr, Hinata."

With her head swiveling on her neck, Hinata's eyes cut over her shoulder to look at the cloaked Uchiha. She wanted to object, but he'd already left his position to saunter over to the graves of his precious people.

Shifting her eyes away from the dark figure, she decided it best to leave it alone and headed towards the town. As much as she wanted to forget his interruption, her mind kept wandering back to his poignant words.

Kiba rapped a fist loudly against the grain of a large red door, his dog faced ANBU mask in place. Being on a team with two naturally quiet individuals, he tended to be the default speaker in negotiations. He was usually the first to communicate when meeting with clients, civilians, victims, and targets.

If Kiba was the good cop, Shino played the role of bad cop. His austere presence and intimidating height were contributing factors to his skills at interrogation and intelligence extraction. The enemy would never know he was naturally lighthearted. The threat of his bugs was, of course, an effective tactic at loosening the tongues of once stubborn shinobi.

Being indoctrinated in the delicate art of deception and flattery that aristocrats called politics, Hinata was the appointed ambassador to nobles, dignitaries, and village leaders. Her unassuming appearance also made her an ideal candidate for infiltration and subterfuge. They each knew their roles well and played them like virtuosos in an orchestra.

After a minute or so, Kiba turned to look at the masked Hinata and Shino, who shrugged. Again, he knocked.

The door swung open widely to reveal a very annoyed looking Sasuke. He took in their appearances and scowled.

Kiba raised a hand holding a Hokage mission scroll and greeted, "Hi, we're-"

BAM!

He stiffened as the door slammed shut inches from his masked face. Anger quickly overtook his surprise, and he began hastily banging a fist against the wooden barrier. "Come out, asshole! We're not done with you!" Knocking in rapid succession he listened for trace evidence of movement behind the closed door. "HEY!"

Preparing to kick down the obstacle, it suddenly swayed on its hinge mid-knock with a creak. Standing in the space was Koji, dragging three folding lawn chairs in his arms. He offered an awkward smile before speaking apologetically on his patriarch's behalf. "Sorry about that."

He stacked the seats against the wall by the entrance and snatched the scroll out of Kiba's hand. The young Uchiha explained, "The Hokage's messenger hawk just dropped off a scroll not too long ago. Ummm… he's not happy. Okay, bye!"

With a quick wave and a large grin crossing his features, he disappeared into the manor and the door shut again.

With obvious irritation Kiba slowly spun on his heel to look at his comrades, speechless.

Shino turned his head towards Hinata. "Recon formation?"

Hinata nodded and hopped up to the roof while Shino calmly strolled towards the back of the house leaving Kiba alone to stew in his frustration. Clumsily arranging one of the seats, he plopped down by the door and muttered scathingly, "Fucking Uchihas…"

Time passed uneventfully.

The ANBU trio watched, listened and sensed as their objectives moved about in their new dwelling. Over the course of their watch, a continuous stream of deliveries came and went. Everything from furniture, contractors, food, and mail. It was all surprisingly mundane.

Routinely, Hinata would leverage her clan's kekkei genkai to ensure there was nothing strange happening past the walls. Kiba would listen in on their conversations. Shino would use his kikaichu to check for genjutsu tampering. From what they gathered, everything appeared normal. Sasuke spent majority of his time writing at a desk in, what Hinata assumed was, his bedroom, while Koji and Jin managed the deliveries.

A large gibbous moon hung high in the sky framed by willowy clouds. Team Eight was lined up, side-by-side on the black tiled roof of the expansive single-story manor. The dwelling held elements of both traditional Japanese and modern style architecture. A pair of lion-dog statues sat sentry on either side of the pathway leading to the entrance of the silent home.

At midnight exactly, three ANBU operatives flickered next to them on the rooftop. Appearing at Hinata's side was a brunette man in a cat mask.

"Hello Fox, Beetle, Dog," a warm tenor broke the silence.

Hinata responded with a nod and an unseen smile, "Cat. Nice of you to drop by. Hello Mouse, Panda."

Two contrasting figures, one diminutive and one hulking, nodded their hellos to the group and hopped off the roof for a standard perimeter check.

"Anything to report?" Cat asked.

"No. Aside from the unusually high number of deliveries for a typical household, it's been rather uneventful," Hinata informed.

"I'll keep that in mind. See you all at noon!"

Before departing, Shino silently moved towards Cat.

Cat's body braced and he unconsciously leaned away as Shino's hand began to reach for his collar. The uneasy ANBU shakily bit out, "Uh… H-hey Beetle…"

Kiba snickered knowingly from behind his mask while Hinata watched impassively, arms crossed over her gray vest.

Touching the neck of Cat's black top, a small insect crawled off Shino's raised finger and nestled into the fabric. He deadpanned, "Just in case."

The Cat faced ANBU croaked out, "Thanks. I guess?"

There was no response. Just a slight flare in chakra and a ruffling breeze as the trio disappeared. Tenzo shivered in response. "That guy gives me the creeps."

Night turned into day and soon the bright sun reached its peak. There was no activity to report from the night crew and they quickly glimmered away, leaving the day crew standing in front of the red door once again.

Kiba looked at his teammates. "Should I try again?"

The edges of Shino's lips curled up a bit as he coaxed, "Go for it."

Pushing air out of his lungs in a huff, the Inuzuka reached up, "Here goes nothing…" and knocked.

At first there was no sign of movement. Then the door opened to reveal a glowering Uchiha.

"Hi-"

BANG!

It was slammed in his face again.

Shino attempted to hide his chortle unsuccessfully.

Hinata sighed and jumped up to the roof as Kiba growled at the wooden barrier and threw his fists down in aggravation. Before he could knock again, he found himself being dragged away by his collar.

"Get off me Beetle!" He demanded while he twisted out of his friend's solid grip.

Amid the folly, the door reopened, and the two men froze with surprised stares. Hinata craned her head from her overhead perch to see Sasuke quickly exiting with determined steps. Just as he prepared to take to the rooftops, Hinata shouted with urgency, "Stick to your missions!"

Before a response could form, she took off after her target. Leaping and sprinting across the village rooftops. In mere moments, she caught up and their feet were flying across building tops next to each other.

Slowing his step almost imperceptibly, his eyes darted over to her trailing form, followed by the slow swivel of his head. Silently, clearly, he mouthed 'stop running' and picked up his pace, refocused on the path ahead.

Her brows dipped in mild bewilderment. Reminded of his words at the Falls, Hinata mulled over the connection.

Does he… No, he couldn't possibly know who I am. Right?

Soon, she found herself on the ground level of the Hokage mansion where Sasuke just passed through the outer gates. With hurried steps she followed the man who was now pointedly ignoring her presence.

A jonin and a chunin, both wearing bandanas, were stationed on either side of the Hokage office.

Spotting the furious Uchiha from the end of the hallway, the jonin casually chewed on a senbon, and remarked with calm curiosity, "Oh shit."

The chunin stepped forward as Sasuke approached, raised a hand to halt his progress and ordered, "All visitors must announce them- OOMPH!"

Sasuke impatiently shoved the unwitting ninja against the wall, who immediately collapsed. He intimidatingly stared at the remaining guard, anticipating opposition. Instead, the guard held both hands up in surrender and smirked. Without further delay, the Uchiha opened the door and entered.

Hinata appeared soon after. "Hello, Genma."

Genma's smile widened as he leered, "Hey Fox."

She rolled her eyes, though he couldn't see it, and nonchalantly pointed out, "you should summon a medic for Iwashi" as she walked into the office. Upon her entrance, she immediately had to sidestep her path as three young genin hastily stumbled over each other, attempting to leave.

Sasuke towered menacingly in front of the large desk where the village leader sat with a whimsical look displayed on his visible features. A disinterested Shikamaru scanned the scene from his place beside Kakashi and said nothing.

Her pulse raced expectantly as she began in a contritely deferential tone, "Apologies for the intrusion, Lord Hokage." Hinata slid next to the brooding Uchiha and lowered to a knee, pressing a single fist to the ground.

The white-haired copy-nin responded with a Cheshire grin. "Kakashi," he reminded and then excused, "At ease, Fox."

The masked Hyuga gracefully rose to her feet and eyed the three men with silent appraisal.

Kakashi turned his smile to his former student. He roguishly teased, "Now, now Sasuke. If you wanted to speak with me so badly, you could have sent a messenger hawk. I'm afraid that team of genin may never accept another mission after today."

Sasuke clicked his tongue and chided, "Don't do that."

"Do what?" Kakashi feigned ignorance with raised brows. "After almost three years of the cold shoulder, you return and visit me daily now. Did you miss me that much?" The masked leader placed a hand to his lips and giggled inanely.

The lighthearted behavior did nothing to assuage Sasuke's irritation. If anything, it served to further it. His dark eyes narrowed. He spoke with cutting resentment as he offhandedly remarked, "You haven't changed at all. How you became the village leader is proof that Konoha is run by imbeciles."

Kakashi's face contorted dramatically as if surprised and injured at the same time. Long fingers spreading over his heart. "You wound me, Sasuke. I thought you were over all that nonsense."

The former student scoffed and sent a hard stare at his old sensei. "Then you don't know me very well," he shot back.

"Well then, since you're back it appears we have time to reacquaint ourselves. Starting now." Kakashi sat up straight and folded his hands together on the desk. Appearing completely unruffled, he asked sweetly, "How can I help you today, Sasuke?"

Without further prodding, Sasuke asked, "Would you mind explaining to me, what THEY are doing at my residence?" A gloved finger jabbed in Hinata's direction causing her brows to shoot up from behind her cover.

Kakashi cocked his head slightly. "You did receive my message this morning, did you not?"

"I did," came his oddly calm response.

"And it explained that there would be ANBU with you twenty-four hours a day, correct?"

"But WHY?" He demanded as he took a single, hostile step towards the older man.

"It's as much for your protection as it is the village's. Your reputation precedes you, Sasuke. Lack of understanding begets fear. Fear begets hate. Hate begets violence. Until your presence in the village is old news, we can't have you and your new friends walking around without taking the proper precautions. You understand, don't you?" Kakashi's voice turned serious during his honest explanation.

"Don't you think ANBU escorts would only cause more misunderstanding and fear? What of my rights? I've repaid my debt. Am I not also a citizen of Konoha? Am I not entitled to the same freedoms?" Sasuke's voice dripped with acerbic rancor as he bored holes into Kakashi's head.

Hinata could feel the small invisible hairs of her arm raise as electricity slowly charged the particles contained in the small space. Her fingers flexed instinctively.

Kakashi looked down at his joined hands with concerned helplessness flickering behind his dark eye. "Unfortunately, when you left and we lost track of you, you might as well have defected again. Your disappearance wasn't sanctioned. I've convinced the council to not arrest you… for now. I can't guarantee that will continue to be the case," he gravely answered.

"You're the Hokage for Kami's sake!" The Uchiha raised his voice thunderously and then lowered bitterly. "What use is being leader if you hold no power? You are nothing more than a figurehead. A show puppet."

Hinata noiselessly slipped behind his shoulder. Her fingers sparked violet embers, ready to restrain or put down the renegade should Kakashi ask.

"Careful kitten," Sasuke smoothly cautioned in a low velvety tone. Hinata found herself pinned by a single rutilant stare from over a broad shoulder.

With her byakugan instinctively switching on, she avoided his direct gaze. Tension permeated throughout the room in the seconds of their heated confrontation. It was stifling.

Kakashi cleared his throat interrupting the friction.

"Ahem. If you two are done, I may have an alternate solution."

Simultaneously retracting their kekkei genkais, the two shinobi fixed the infamous leader with attentive stares. A breathy chuckle escaped his covered lips.

Fixing his face to that of a somewhat more serious leader, he began his proposal. "As you mentioned, Sasuke, you are still a citizen of Konoha. More than that, you are a highly skilled, active shinobi. Lucky for you, there's been a recent opening in one of our divisions and I, personally, want to keep you close."

Hinata watched as the Hatake formed a few hand signs, an uncomfortable feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. With a small puff of curling smoke, a familiar object appeared in his clutches. Offering the item to Sasuke, Hinata could clearly see it- a porcelain ANBU mask. Neji's old Hawk mask.

She frowned as Sasuke reached out and accepted the offer uncertainly- inspecting the lines of the glinting porcelain with questions hanging on the tip of his tongue.

"There is, of course, a caveat. We still can't have you running around unsupervised, but that doesn't mean you have to be stalked by ANBU like a common criminal." Kakashi simpered watching Sasuke's eyes flit up to his uncovered eye and narrow suspiciously.

"If you accept, we'll call off Cat's team. Sai's unit will, of course, continue to watch at a distance. The average citizen will be none the wiser. However, during the week you will be casually accompanied by your new team for half of the day. The council will be satisfied, and you and your comrades will look… friendly to civilians."

The Uchiha lowered his head into a raised hand to pinch the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. He took a deep and calming inhale of breath. Through closed eyes he sardonically muttered, "Wouldn't that be nice for the council? To finally have me under their thumb by chaining me to a team both on missions and off. My last team did not end well. I doubt this will end any better." His head lifted and he somberly remarked, "I will not be made an instrument of destruction at the whims of the council, Kakashi. You should know better."

The Hatake relaxed his hands on his desk and peered into the fiery dark orbs, piping up with a twinkle in his eye, "Ah, but I do know better, Sasuke. Team Eight doesn't report to the council. They are my personal unit. It's a way to keep you close without the council's influence."

Hinata's eyes widened at the revelation. Kakashi was offering Sasuke Kiba's position on their team. Her instinct was right to be concerned. Team Eight worked tirelessly to achieve the harmonious and almost hive-like mentality they shared. At least, that's what Shino liked to call it. Sasuke was a loose cannon. She did not know how well he could adjust to their dynamic. She feared their next mission was doomed before they even left the gates.

The ex-avenger looked past the windows of the Hokage tower in deep contemplation as he considered Kakashi's proposition. An anxious silence filled the room for what seemed an eternity until, "What if I refuse?"

Kakashi plainly informed with a grin to match his light tone, "Then we maintain the status quo. And should you continue to make things difficult, I'll have Fox here restrict your movements- forcefully."

A scoff escaped Sasuke's lips. For a short breath his eyes landed on the female ANBU with a thinly concealed challenge in his smiling gaze. He smirked at her vacant response.

The older man stood from behind his desk and held an upward facing palm out towards the younger man. "Do we have a deal?"

Sasuke eyed the offered hand, then Kakashi's smiling eye, and finally landed on the porcelain mask that glimmered as light bounced off smooth curves. He was silent, the ticking of the gears in his mind were almost audible. Slowly he surrendered the mask into the Hokage's waiting palm and grudgingly conceded, "For now."

Kakashi's smile widened, and he cheerily stated, "Great! In that case, I'd like you to meet your new team leader." Turning his attention to the Fox ANBU, he instructed, "Hinata, you may remove your mask and uniform."

The Hyuga's head snapped up with a hidden look incredulity. She made no move to comply.

He gently pressed, "Please."

With a sigh she removed her mask, fluidly moved her hands, and released her face cover into a cloud of vapor. Clamping down on her thumb with pearly teeth she produced a small drop of blood. In a single motion, she swiped a chakra powered droplet down her ANBU tattoo.

Completely enveloped in a flurry of white mist, she emerged moments later fully dressed in her informal mission gear. Arms crossed under her chest and a stony expression painted her features.

It was classically Hyugaesque.

Kakashi's eye crinkled apologetically. "There's no longer any need for pretense. Sasuke will be joining Team Eight as a temporary replacement for external missions."

Hinata judgmentally glanced over at her new teammate to witness a pair of obsidian eyes trailing her figure curiously. A blush tinged her cheeks at his scrutiny, and she shifted uncomfortably. Her eyes found Shikamaru's in a silent plea.

Answering Sasuke's unspoken question, Shikamaru lazily droned, "ANBU operatives are assigned what we call 'lockets', or pocket dimension lockers, that are tied to the blood seals tattooed on their arms. By using a reverse summons technique, operatives are able to switch out their uniforms instantly which, as you can imagine, comes in handy when there's an emergency. Of course, there's nothing to switch out with the mask so those are handled separately."

Staring at the young advisor with an inscrutable look on his face, he menacingly informed, "If anyone even attempts to come near my body, Kusanagi will be the last thing they see."

Shikamaru snorted and reassured, "Only ANBU lifers get the tattoo. For now, your gear will be stored in a locker at HQ."

He then turned to Hinata and informed, "I'll have a messenger hawk send scrolls to Shino and Kiba so they're aware by the time you return. After today, your new shift is eight to eight, Monday through Friday. Besides your choice of outfit, all other mission details stay the same."

With a slight bow of her head, Hinata acknowledged, "I understand."

A loud clap echoed off the white walls as Kakashi slapped his hands together and chipperly intoned, "I think we're off to a great start."

The large red door gawked at her mockingly.

There were less than five minutes until their new shift started and Hinata didn't want to be there, standing without the comfort and safety of her Fox mask. She hesitated and looked at Shino and Kiba who hovered at her rear.

As she stared at them for reassurance, Kiba uncomprehendingly threw his hands in the air, bending at the elbow, giving a slight shrug in response. "What?"

Shino exhaled through his nose… slowly.

Hinata raised her right fist to announce their arrival when the door was flung open. Her eyes widened and lifted to the smirking face of Sasuke himself.

"Let's go," the Uchiha announced suddenly, taking swift steps to maneuver past the stunned trio.

Immediately following his tail were Jin and Koji. Jin bowed in greeting and Koji beemed with a cheerful, "Mornin'!"

The group immediately closed the distance and fell into easy step with one another. They began to pair off according to mission objective.

Hinata sidled up next to her dark-haired companion with her ponytail-swinging head held high and fingers grasped behind her. The words he spoke at the cemetery played over and over in her mind since the morning they departed from his lips. After ruminating on it, the single most critical question that she kept returning to was 'why should he care?' The question was tearing at her insides. Keeping it contained was like trying to hold back a sneeze.

Yet, she couldn't bring herself to say anything.

Not directly at least. She gave him a side glance, then looked ahead in thought, before stealing another darting glance.

He sighed loudly but kept a straight face. "What?" He was curt, and his sight never strayed from the fixed position ahead of him.

"Hm?" She asked innocently.

Sasuke clarified, "Ask your question."

Pink lips pursed in thought as she debated on her words. After a pause, she gave voice to them. Pure curiosity sparking in her lilting voice. "Why are you here?"

His response was evasive. "The Uchiha District needs to be repaired so we're staying here temporarily."

"You know that's not what I mean," she mumbled, disappointed with his reply.

When he observed the slight pout to her lips and the small crease in her brow, he knew she wasn't going to let it go. Glancing over his shoulder, he observed as Kiba and Koji engaged in a spirited debate while Shino held out one of his kikaichu for Jin to examine. Sasuke held his pace and thought back to her question.

Why are you here?

He slid his gaze back to the woman walking next to him who looked back expectantly. His eyes flicked from her eyes down to her lips and back up again before settling forward on his destination. "Kakashi didn't tell you?"

"He mentioned you're here to rebuild your clan. Is it true?" She could not keep the thin layer of skepticism out of her voice.

With a sardonic grin tilting his lips, he flashed his eyes towards the other Uchiha's and cynically answered with a question. "What do you think?"

Hinata huffed and crossed her arms under her chest, her attention redirected in front of her as she followed him. A comfortable silence accompanied their walk, and she realized they were heading straight for the bazaar. She could feel the buzz of energy and excitement of the traders, consumers and sight seers as they approached. The market had just opened but there was already a forming crowd of early birds looking to procure the freshest produce available.

After pondering a while longer, she turned her face towards him again. With a subtle air of diffidence, Sasuke hadn't witnessed since before his return, she probed, "You could have restored your clan anywhere. It must be difficult for you… coming back to a place tied to so many negative memories."

She stole a glance at him to see if he would react to her words.

He did not.

Her disappointment was evident on her face. He was giving nothing away and she had to take a breath before steeling herself to press on. She decided to go with a more direct approach. Honesty. "Everyone thought you were dead. You could have started over… someplace else. With a fresh slate. Why did you come back?"

Sasuke halted his footsteps abruptly and the group nearly bumped into each other trying to mimic the effort. He leaned down towards her until they were almost eye level. His woodsy scent filled her nose which sent her heart racing.

Her lids fluttered at his proximity. She tucked her chin down, furtively leaning away from the twin black holes that threatened to ensnare her. What is he doing?

With a mirthful and knowing look in his eye, he grinned, revealing his glisteningly straight teeth and sharp canines. He responded in a low voice intended for her ears alone and held her gaze, "Let's just say I was tired of running."

His warm breath washed over her face and provoked small bumps to roll across her skin. Her face was wide with astonishment. He was so close. Too close for her comfort. When he didn't move, a rosy blush crept down from the bridge of her nose and over soft cheeks. He lifted a brow, and she could no longer meet his stare. She bit her lip, eyes shifting to take in their surroundings.

Sasuke rose from his bent position, creating some distance between himself and Hinata, to her relief. With a smirk still gracing his lips, he announced, "We're here."

#####

A/N: It's been a long month! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It took quite some effort to write as it's not as exciting as some of the other ones and it's just not my best work.

Behind The Curtains: The ANBU tattoo! Why, oh why would a covert, government organization ever put a permanent, cosmetic, identifying mark on their members? They wouldn't if they were smart. Might as well paint a target on all your spies. However, if the mark had a purpose, then the tattoo would make sense. I'm a fan of superheroes and one of my favorite parts of watching superhero shows is the transformation. I gave it a purpose. ;) Anyone else a fan of Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir? Yeah, like that. My ANBU are BAMF superheroes! Lols! I'm sorry, I haven't slept much this week and have hit the delirious zone. Moving along…

Thank you to everyone who has just started reading my fic, favorited and followed since my last update! Yes, ashminion19, , iron aegis, Jayssapphire, Kazu17, RainRozae, Uchiha's Flames, Yuki no Ai, and xxxforgottenKINGxxx I'm talking to you. ;)

To my lovely reviewers:

Sommernacht: I couldn't stop grinning at your comment! You really put a lot of thought into Chapter 8. Thank you! You are so right about Sasuke being hypocritical regarding "creepy eyes." Also, I loved your insight on Sasuke thinking about ending Hinata's misery. It IS what he wants for himself. You put it better than I could have. :) So glad you enjoyed the banter going on in his head and Sasuke's unconscious self-treatment! I always appreciate hearing from you. *hearts*

LB Cat: Absolutely rock bottom! And yes! Their parallels are definitely one of the reasons I became a SasuHina shipper to begin with. I wonder if it's the same for you. Thank you for reading and commenting! I see you EVERYWHERE. Haha! True SasuHina fan. :D

Bexbluedragon76: Your poem "Awake" is now officially hanging in my writing room, ready to motivate me when I need it. :) I am grateful and honored that you would allow me into this personal space. Your comments had me rolling! I'm so glad you liked the conversation between "brothers." Your Chapter 8 summary put a smile on my face, especially when you said you could feel Sasuke's glare over there! XD

xpastelberriesx: Wow! Thank you so much for your binge read and comments for each chapter! I am glad you were able to come back after the heartbreak of Naruto's death. I really appreciate you for giving this fic a chance. You really flatter me too much. I am really humbled by your kindness. Every one of your comments was a lot of fun for me to read. Your reaction to Chapter 6: Neji and Hinata was everything. Thank you. ^_^

Zsyree: So nice to see your comment again! I read one of your series of one-shots recently and I have to say, I'm so impressed! You're a GREAT writer! I don't know what you need practice for. It really means a lot to me that you always have such positive reviews. If you ever write a full Hinata centric fic, sign me up! :D

All my readers, you keep this story's heart beating. Just by being here and continuing this journey with me. Thank you.

Reading Rec Corner

For the first time, since my A/N is much less wordy this time around, I wanted to do something I've been meaning to for a while and post a Reading Rec Corner for other Hinata lovers out there.

Waker's Pearl by neverkarma: Complete AU. This story really deserves more love. This AU really helped me to conceptualize my version of Sasuke in SHIBARI. I absolutely adore how Hinata is portrayed in this fic. The summary doesn't do it justice.

For the Love of You by College n Curls: Complete Historical AU. This author was the first to make me fall in love with SasuHina and I really aspire to write as well as she does. She also made me like Hanabi.

Yin and Yang by Fireball Jutsu: Complete Post-War SasuHina. So, you like ANBU Hinata you say? This might be the one for you.

Looking at The Ghost of Me by Sommernacht: In progress SasuHina set in universe. This amazing story has everything. It makes you sad, laugh, frightened, shocked, angry and feel warm and fuzzy. The plot is really creative, there are surprises at every turn, and the author is super nice too. :)

A Sign That You Were Here by xpastelberriesx: In progress SasuHina set in multiple universes. Intriguing right? Things are just starting to get really interesting so it's a good time to start reading if you haven't already. I have a good feeling about this one.

Married to my enemy by akshambari: This is a special shoutout to this very young, struggling author looking for motivation to keep writing. If you're able to offer your comments on her story, it will help her to improve and keep writing. Akshambari- Keep learning, growing and trying again. That's how we all become better versions of ourselves. :)

Stay safe everyone!