Itachi's POV:
"Itachi sensei, am I getting better?" A small voice asked and I looked to see my last student standing against the doorway of the classroom.
I've been working at the academy for three weeks now and I'm still not used to hearing children call me sensei. I never thought I would be standing here, teaching children.
"Your accuracy is great but you need to be a little bit quicker" I told the small girl and she gave me a smile. She has improved greatly since I became her teacher.
"Thank you" she said to me, bowed and completely vanished from the doorway.
It was the end of the day for the academy and I didnt want to go home. It had been a month since everything happened and my home didn't feel like home.
It was full of emotions and not a single one of them were happy. Hinata didn't even bother coming home last night. I wasn't sure where she slept but I knew it wasn't in Neji's room.
I was alone last night for the first time in years. Neji wasn't even there, he was at the Hyuga compound.
Maybe he was there now and I could avoid going to my district.
"I'm here to see Neji" I said to the guard and he nodded his head.
He opened the gate for me to walk in and I shifted my bag a little bit so it wouldn't hinder my walking.
"He's in the training dojo" he informed me and pointed in the direction. I didn't bother speaking and marched on forward.
It took me nearly a minute to get there, I didn't exactly like being in the open in this compound. Not everyone here liked me or my family.
I opened the door to the training room and Neji and Hanabi were sparring, hard.
I closed the door quietly and took a seat on the outskirts so I wouldn't bother them until they were done.
They were moving in sync but I could tell Hanabi was getting ready to stop. Neji wasn't the best fighter in his clan for nothing.
"Enough" Hanabi said with her hands in front of her. She soon fell to the ground and started to catch her breath.
Neji also sat on the ground, rubbing small circles over his chest.
"What brings you here?" Neji asked and finally looked at me. I glanced between him and Hanabi and he nodded his head.
She didn't know anything that had transpired between her sister and I. I didn't want her too.
"I get it, I'll leave now" Hanabi said and fixed her clothes as she stood up.
"Send Hinata my love Itachi" she spoke again and made her way out of the room.
I can't.
"Are you coming home anytime soon?" I asked him. Please say yes.
"Yes. Today actually. I have been helping Hanabi train some more for the chunin exams next week. Today was our last session" he told me and I nodded my head.
It made sense now too of why he's been here so much.
"Is there any other reason why you're here?" He asked me and finally got off the ground. He went back to his original question.
"I don't want to be home. Hinata didn't even come home last night" I explained to him and removed myself from the ground as well.
It was the truth.
"You guys need to sit down and talk" he deadpanned. I felt dread when I thought about it because we haven't spoken more than five words to each other.
"It's going to end in a fight" I sighed out.
"Not if I ask her too. Each and everyone one of you needs too before said event happens" he said and looked around to make sure no one was around. He was careful not to say the word babies.
"When we talk and it's over with. I'm asking Kakashi the question" I told him and he looked surprised but sad. I knew he understood though, he was the only one who knew my feelings about the entire situation. I needed to let go.
"Itachi" she said and I looked toward her. I had been sitting on the dock of the lake waiting for Hinata to come talk to me.
When Neji said we needed to talk, I didn't think today would be it.
She walked over to me and took a seat next to me. The aura of awkward was suffocating to say the least. Neither of us just sat in silence. I knew she didn't know what to say because I didn't know either.
"How was your day?" She asked me and I didn't even want to answer it. I just wanted to get to the point. I had kept my feelings about that day buried. But I knew everything was about to unravel.
"I've done a lot of thinking these past few weeks" I blurted out.
"Before you say anything I want to say something first" she said and finally looked over to me. We locked eyes and I waited for her to speak.
"I know you don't want me anymore" she said softly and I couldn't read her. But she was right. I was tired of getting hurt. Tired of chasing a love I couldn't ever fully obtain.
"I'm just tired of fighting for your love" I said to her. It was the first time I said it out loud and my voice cracked. I could feel my eyes are getting watery. I didn't realize letting love go hurt so much.
She moved a bit closer to me and fully turned her body. She grabbed my hands in her and it didn't help the pain.
"I can't keep doing this. Everytime something between you and Kakashi happens, my heart hurts more. I love you but it's time I move on" I spoke some more and my voice cracked again. Why were goodbyes always the hardest part of everything? I closed my eyes so the waterworks wouldn't come out.
I felt her squeeze my hands a bit more and then I felt her forehead touch mine.
"I heard you and Neji talking that night, the night you cried yourself to sleep. I know you're disgusted with yourself for sleeping with Yugao" she whispered to me. She heard us? We thought she was asleep.
"I know what's happening right now is breaking your heart. Its breaking mine too but it's for the best. I'm sorry for any hurt I've ever given you" she continued to speak and I tried to tighten my face so I wouldn't cry but it was useless. The floodgates open and I felt the hot tears drip down my face slowly.
"You will always have a place in my heart, nothing will change that. Please don't ever forget it" she said and she put her arms around me to hug me.
I buried my face in the side of her neck and I just let everything out.
"Don't chase me this time" I whispered so quietly to her that I could barely even hear myself.
One of the biggest reasons I had to let her go was for those children. I know Hinata still loves Kakashi. Who was I to get in the way of a family?
Family was the most important thing to me and I needed her to have her own.
I'm not really sure how long we sat there together. We both just cried, it was a bittersweet way of us saying goodbye, I knew that much.
"Come in" Kakashi said from the other side of the door. Here goes nothing.
I walked into the office and closed the door behind me. It was just me, him and my brother. It was the first time I had seen Kakashi and I felt no anger towards him.
As much as I didn't like him, I knew she was safe with him. She would finally get to be happy and not have conflicting feelings. I knew in my heart my decision was the right one.
"I've come to terms with a few things and I need to ask you a favor, Hokage-sama" I said and they both looked at me weirdly. I had never called Kakashi by his proper title but since I did, he knew it was going to be a serious question.
"Would you grant me the authority to leave the village? But, continue working for you? An undercover shinobi. If you will" I asked and his facial expression didn't budge. No wonder people were scared to ask him questions.
My brothers face however.. did change. He looked pissed off. I get it though. I did just ask if I could be away for long periods of time.
"Why the sudden change in career?" Kakashi asked, finally speaking. I remained quiet and just looked at him. I was hoping he would catch the hint because I truly didn't want to say it.
"I will protect the village from any incoming threats before they even reach your ears. I'll send word once the threat is eliminated" I said, trying to avoid the question and persuade him in one shot.
"The last time you were a spy for this village, you joined an elite criminal organization. How can I trust you won't again?" He asked me and it hit me hard. He was right. But I was found by them, I didn't go seeking for them. He knew that too.
"You'll just have to" my answer was short and not convincing.
Sasuke moved out from behind the desk and knocked into me as he walked by. He opened the office door quickly and slammed it shut.
"Permission granted" Kakashi spoke and I was relieved of his answer. I needed to talk to Sasuke then.
"When will you be leaving?" He asked me and it caught me off guard for a second.
"Well since you said yes, I will leave tonight," I told him. My bag was already packed for when I did talk to him about this. I had it buried in my closet.
"Does anyone else know of these plans?" He asked me, his eyebrows raised. He was referring to two Hyuga's that we both cared for. It was weird talking to him so casually. There wasn't any type of jutsu being thrown around, no weapons and no yelling.
"Neji knows I was going to ask you" I informed him, still trying to not say her name. I could say her name but every time we did talk about her, hell broke free.
"Are you going to say goodbye to Hinata this time?" He asked and it brought me back to the night of the massacre. I didn't say goodbye to her, I didn't say goodbye to anyone actually.
"I said goodbye in my own way earlier, shes smart, she'll understand eventually" I said softly and it made me remember the first day I saw her in two years time way back then.
"I'm warning you," I said and I made sure there was more boom in my voice this time around. She hadn't changed a bit. She looked older and I could tell she was stronger.
"I'm not leaving without you, I risked a lot coming here today to find you" she said and I knew she did. Trust me, Hinata. I would give anything to return home with you. I can't though. I needed to remain blank so I wouldn't give her any hints to the emotions I was feeling.
"I didn't ask to be chased, I never wanted to be" I deadpanned and remained blank.
"Be safe traveling" Kakashi said, breaking me of my thoughts.
I knew he only said for everyone else's sake but his own. I knew our friendship was burned and buried. He had finally won because I was leaving.
I nodded my head and left his office. I needed to talk to Sasuke and say goodbye to Neji before I left.
Saying goodbye to Neji was quick and easy. He understood completely and wished for my safety and that he hoped he could see me again one day. I told him I would send my whereabouts to him first so he could read them before Kakashi did. So in the event he could, he could come to me too.
Sasuke however.. I hoped he would understand.
I moved quickly while the sun was still up. I wanted to be out of this village before sundown. I climbed up the side of his house and entered through his window.
"Please don't be angry with me," I said to me and looked at him. He was glaring at me and honestly if looks could kill, I would be dead.
"You want an escape because you can't handle being heartbroken" he spat at me and got off the bed. The last time he was angry with me like, his fist had connected with my face.
"It might not seem like it to you because of what I did but family is everything to me. I want her and Kakashi to be a family" I told him and I watched him. I waited for a reaction.
He walked right up to me and then he hugged me. The first time in a long time he had hugged me.
"Why must you always put yourself before others?" He asked me as he let go of me. He took a step back and he looked sad.
"It's the hand of fate I was given" I told him.
"When you come back, do me a favor?" He asked me and I waited for his question.
"Stop being so cryptic" he said and I laughed a little.
"Not a chance" I said and I poked him in the forehead with my two fingers. A real goodbye from me, one I knew that meant a lot.
I turned my back on him and looked out his window before I climbed out. I took in the district since it would be the last time I saw it in a while. Then I landed on it, samehadas hilt. He would be my last goodbye.
I wanted to be quick. I had to be.
I got to his grave and I was tempted to take samehada with me. Kisame would encourage me but the weight of the sword was stopping me.
"I'll be back friend" I whispered and gave him a bow.
I bolted threw the backways of the district. The same way Obito and I used that night. It was off setting but this time I wasn't running in fear of no freedom.
I was running because I was free. I would be alone but it was worth it.
I kept moving but it was dark now. The moon was shining bright above and the cool wind kept me awake. I put my face a little deeper into my black coat that Hinata got me.
It felt odd walking around like this now that there wasn't any real threats in the shinobi world. Except for Hinata's kidnappers but I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for them. I highly doubted they resided in the Mist or even near it for that matter.
I just knew one thing. In order to start gaining Kakashi's trust as ninja and Hokage. I would need to send a message when at my first stop.
Hinata's POV:
After talking to Itachi, I felt different. Something wasn't sitting right with me about our conversation but I tried to shake it off.
He went somewhere and I went home alone. I felt numb because his heart was broken once again, as was mine. But I felt lighter too knowing that I could be with Kakashi and we could be a family. It would be better for the babies.
Today was a whirlwind of emotions and I knew I had to speak to one more person. Just one more and everything could settle into something other than what it was.
"Yugao" I said and looked around. I was sitting on my porch but I knew she could hear me. She was still guarding me and this home. She appeared in an instant.
"You can take your mask off, I would like to talk" I said in a mellow tone. She didn't like me and I knew that. She listened to me and tied her mask on her side.
"About?" She asked and I could hear the bitter tone in her voice. I gave her a look, she knew but she wanted me to say it. She rolled her eyes and took a seat on the porch with me.
"When Kakashi and I first started talking, he told me everything," she said and I let her.
"I've always liked him and when I finally had the opportunity to act on it. I did. My feelings for him developed so quickly. He's not hard to fall for" she continued talking but looked at me with that last sentence. She looked away quickly and started fidgeting with her hands before she sighed a bit.
"When I figured out what you guys did that night. I waited an entire week before I confronted him and when he told me the truth and told me he's in love with you. I lost it" she said shakily and took a breath. The more she talked, the more I felt bad for trying to attack her that day. We really did hurt the both of them deeply.
"That's why I seduced Itachi. Only to get back at you. I figured an eye for an eye, ya know?" She nearly asked towards the end and she looked at me.
"I'm sorry" I said it sincerely. She needed to know I meant it wholeheartedly.
"I forgive you but it's going to take a while for me to speak to him" she said and looked at his house.
"Do you still like him?" I asked her, I needed to know. It would make me feel better about my feelings and his.
"Not like that. I could never bring myself to fully trust him again as a boyfriend after that" she said and got off the porch to stand up.
"Plus, he's not into me. He has his eyes on someone else" she glanced at me when she said that and flickered away.
I swore I could hear playfulness in her tone. Like she was okay with it but she didn't want to be talked to about it.
I moved to get off the porch myself, I was becoming cold since the sun was long gone.
I opened the door to the house and made my way towards the kitchen to find Neji. It was a surprise to say the least.
"You're home" I said and gave him a smile.
"It's nice to be here. I don't think I would have lasted any longer in the compound. I was going crazy" he said putting his head back and I giggled a bit. I missed this. It was the first time there was a happy energy in the house.
"Is it okay if I sleep in your room tonight since you're home? I don't want to disturb Itachi" I asked him as I filled a glass with water. Not to mention I wasn't sure how he would feel about sharing a bed with me due to our conversation early this evening.
"What do you mean? He's gone, Hinata" he deadpanned. What did that mean?
"You've confused me" I told him and I put my glass back down on the counter.
"You don't know?" He asked and I started shaking my head. His eyes grew a little wide, like he wasn't supposed to tell me something.
"Bastard" Neji whispered angrily and got up from the table.
"What arent you telling me?'' I asked again with a little more attitude.
"He told me he said goodbye to you. He's gone Hinata. He left the village with Kakashi's permission. He won't be back for a long time" Neji blurted out and I felt the tears well up in my eyes.
Don't chase me this time.
Everything clicked. That was his goodbye to me. Or lack of one. The second time he left here without a goodbye.
He wanted to be away so Kakashi and I could raise our family together.
He knew that was our last conversation and I knew something felt off.
"I'm sorry, I thought you knew" Neji said, breaking me off my thoughts. I looked at him and just started moving.
"No. I didn't" I spat at my cousin with venom in my voice. I didn't mean to but j was shaking now.
I stormed out of the house and made my way towards Kakashis.
I pounded on the door until someone answered. Which didn't take long.
Sasuke opened the door and I inserted myself into his home without greeting him.
"Did you just figure it out?" Sasuke asked and I gave him a look that advised him to stop talking.
"He's gone and you're calm?" I sneered.
"He needed it" he replied.
"He could have stayed. Why do all you Uchihas just run away from your problems?" I yelled at him.
"Hinata, calm down" he said gently.
"No!" I yelled again. I finally snapped and then I heard movement coming down the stairs.
"Hinata" Kakashi said and I turned at him. He moved off the staircase while Sasuke walked towards it.
"Run away, that's what you guys are good at!" I yelled at Sasuke again while he vanished up the stairs. The tears were coming out now.
My eyes traveled back towards Kakashi and he grabbed me into a hug. Then the tears flowed more, they shifted from angry ones to sad ones.
"He didn't say goodbye again" I sobbed into his chest and I swear if he wasn't holding me, I would of fell to the floor.
Why does he always leave without telling me? Is it because goodbyes hurt the most?
well.. here we are guys. this chapter had my emotions running wild. this chapter is super important because now were going to start time hoping a little bit. (:
also, my apologies if anything looks weird. still typing on my phone here and i dont know if things are staying italicized and such.
lastley. i hardcore need you guys to vote on who you are shipping here. i have two endings to this story and the winning ship is how it will go. not that its ending yet though. we have a few more battles to play out.