Thank you for the positive reviews!
-o-o-o-
Chapter Six
Sasuke sighed and tilted his head away from the Hyuga's face. Her lips were brushing on his ear and it was giving him a strange feeling. Ever since the war ended—no, actually, even before it started—he had avoided human touch. When someone touches him, his defense mechanisms are at work, almost making his head spin in an insane kind of way.
In the past, Uzumaki Karin touches him a lot—without his permission of course—but that also gained her so many stab wounds to add to her bite marks collection.
Close human touch was just too much for him right now even after years of travelling to faraway places. He could handle handshakes; shoulder slaps, and backs pats but more than that was already ruining his personal space.
The woman in his arm took a deep breath, her head falling to rest on his chest. She was almost whizzing, lungs obviously straining to get the much needed oxygen her body needs. He wondered if she was on medication or something, because she was muttering something about—
"M-medicine." She was at it again. "In my room."
Sasuke's eyebrows rose suspiciously. He was aware that the Hyuga females of marriageable age was after him so he could not take off the suspicion that maybe…just maybe… this Hyuga minx was after him too, pretending to be—
She is not one of your fan girls. Kakashi's voice suddenly penetrated his head. For her, tea is just tea.
She squirmed, making him look down to only see her dreamy eyes again.
"Where is your room?" He asked, knowing too well that he doesn't have any choice. If he was going to leave her here and go on his merry way, she might collapse, bump her head, and die. He can't have that; the last thing that he wanted was making the entire Hyuga clan his enemy before he even started reproducing.
"T-three doors to the right."
"Hn." He adjusted his hold on her waist. Considering that he only has one hand, it was no easy task. She was not using her own feet for some reason so he has to carry all her weight. As her head was near his nose, he could make out the scent of lavenders. "I'll call someone." He told her.
"No. I just need to get to my room."
Hinata eyes were blurry but she could make out the Uchiha's proud nose and strong chin. Her nose was pressed on the cloth of his cloak so she could smell his masculine scent that was closely to that of sandalwood and something like smoke.
She wanted to speak more, not just stammer the words out but her tongue was numb along with her lips. She was really mistaken about the poppy seeds; she thought that she could handle the drug since she had trained how to slow the effects of any drug or poison by lowering her chakra.
But Hanabi might have used a huge amount of poppy seeds so even after vomiting the food out it was still affecting her brain.
Too much in fact, that she had to ask Uchiha Sasuke for help. Her mind was signaling her that what she was doing was a huge no since Sasuke was not like the rest of her batch mates— his world was different from theirs and there might even a chance that he would just drop her on the floor and leave. The man has a different mindset so there was no really knowing what he might do next.
She won't die of poppy, that she was sure. But if Sasuke chose to leave her in this state on the floor, a servant will find her later and then her father would know. And then both she and Hanabi will be in a big trouble.
She felt Sasuke stiffen and he pushed his face away from hers. Even in her drugged-muddled mind, she could feel the dark chakra with a hint of static reeking out of the man's body like he was… pissed. In normal times, she would have backed away, just crawl to her room and try to find the antidote she has inside her packs.
She would never have asked Uchiha Sasuke for help. His gaze alone was intimidating, enough to melt the hardest of ice. His silent, almost impassive demeanor was giving off the aura of someone that has gone through hell and back, someone who had gone through so much pain that there was nothing left but numbness.
But even so, her mind was not working properly and she still did asked the guy for help.
He had snaked his arm around her waist and took all the weight her knees could not manage. She was pushed to his chest again, unable to do anything but to be thankful that at least, Sasuke was not walking away from her.
"I…d-drank something with…a drug…accidentally." She whispered, tilting her chin ever so slightly up. She at least has to explain why he found her this way right? "Not poisonous…j-just… poppy."
"I'll call someone." He said, not even looking down. He did not even asked her why the hell was she drinking something with poppy seeds.
"No. Just m-my room…I have…medicine."
Sasuke sighed. The princess was beginning to slip from his hold so he bent his knees a little and pulled her up again. Even with just an arm he was quite strong… but the woman was not that light either. So with a grunt, he let go of her waist and quickly placed his arm around her knees.
He hoisted her up to his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
When he did, he heard her light gasp.
They reached her room—or at least that was what she said—and he kicked the door open. The room was simple with white and purple curtains and a single-sized bed. There was a desk on the right side and a few things hanging here and there. It was quite ordinary, not something that he expected from the Hyuga princess.
He dropped her on the bed. "Where's the antidote?"
A shaky finger pointed to a small leather pack hanging near a cabinet with a few picture frames. When he passed by, he glanced at the pictures and recognized a few faces. There was the Inuzuka wildman, the silent Aburame, and Kurenai Yuhi. There was also a separate picture with the Hyuga prodigy, Hyuga Neji.
Grabbing the pack, he pulled the zipper down and inserted his hand, trying to find a vial—for she muttered that it was inside a vial. When he got what he was searching—or at least he thought he did— he returned back to the bed and found that the Hyuga woman was missing.
He frowned, and judging by the feel of her chakra, she was under the bed. Though what she was doing under the bed so suddenly just escaped his genius of a mind.
"What are you doing?" He found himself asking as he kneeled, wondering what on earth was happening on Hiashi's daughter.
Leave it to one Hyuga female to make him talk more than ten fifteen words in just seven minutes that they were together.
Genius.
"I was about to stand…" was the soft reply. "But I ended rolling under the bed...my knees won't stop shaking."
Sasuke wanted to ask what the hell are her issues but instead; he reached for a cold arm sticking out from under the bed. He pulled and out she appeared like a limp porcelain doll. If she was playing some kind of game, it was not amusing but a waste of time.
Without another word, he removed the vial lid and placed the tip on the Hyuga's lips. Some liquid spilled from her mouth down to her neck but she did her best to swallow. He observed quietly as she wrinkled her nose because of the bitter medicine.
He had tasted the same medicine a few times in the past—it was a standard antidote that all ninjas use—and the taste was nothing but horrible. Even the great Orochimaru made a funny face that one time he drank the same goo.
Weirdly, he felt some kind of strange satisfaction that the woman was tasting something her taste buds would surely not approve of.
"T-thank you. I'll be okay in a few minutes. I'm…so-sorry for the trouble Sasuke-kun." Hinata wiped the medicine with the back of her wrist. The Uchiha was looking at her strangely, as if she was some kind of weird creature that just learned how to speak. His eyes were curious… amused…
And even in her cloudy vision, a part of her was relieved to see such a humanly expression passed over the handsome man's face. At least she knew he was capable of emotions too, even if it was on her account.
And she was hoping that the knowledge will give her confidence of doing what Kakashi Rukodaime had requested of her.
Sasuke helped her up. When she was on the bed, he gave her one last glance and left.
-o-o-o-
Sakura gritted her teeth at the sound of Naruto sighing for the hundredth time for that last five minutes. She was fixing the blonde's bandages on his new arm quietly but the sound Naruto was making was pretty annoying. Both of them were alone inside her clinic—actually, it was her and Ino's clinic, a special room given to them by the Hospital because they were Tsunade's apprentices. "What the hell Naruto? What's with all the sighing?"
Naruto said nothing but leaned back on his chair, tilting his head backwards until his nose was up and chin pointing to the ceiling. He closed his eyes, face turning from depressed to pensive. Sakura clicked her tongue. She hated it when she was being ignored—especially from those that had shown her much attention in the past.
And Naruto was one of those that were just dying to get her attention…well at least that was years back. Year by year, Naruto was turning into a more mature shinobi. Actually, it was hard to see the old Naruto in this tall, handsome blonde with the fierce blue eyes beside her. He had changed so much after the war and it was giving everyone a different effect.
If she knew that he was going to end up this way, she may really have given him a chance back then.
What she was thinking now was not out of pure girlish-slash-materialistic reasons; it was just that it would have been easier to fall in love with the now Naruto than with the past Naruto even if Sasuke was around. Sasuke Uchiha was any girl's walking dream but he was unresponsive to any romantic affection even if it was thrown at his face. The now Naruto has this certain charisma in him that just makes you feel safe. Add his sunny personality and it would make any girl swoon.
And Sakura knew that if she would have fallen for Naruto, she would have been happy.
But leave it to Kami to make me fall in love for Uchiha Sasuke.
"Ow." Naruto muttered.
"Sorry." Sakura realized that she was holding her patient's eerily white arm in a dead lock. Every time she was thinking hard, she always ends up breaking whatever she was touching without realizing it. Good thing Naruto's arm was not something that was going to be easily broken.
And hey, Uzumaki has been working out. She could feel the hard muscles under her palms. Naruto's guns were not big as Kiba's but it was strong and all in the right places.
"Why suddenly so quiet?" Naruto asked.
"Why stop sighing?" She shot back. "I thought it was another way of breathing for you."
Naruto frowned at her but it was not one of those angry frowns, it was one of those that tell he has nothing to shot back at her remark. She gave him a challenging look, knowing that she was winning anyway.
"Sakura-chan?"
"What?" She asked, giving the bandage one final twist.
"I don't know how to say this but…" Naruto scratched his head. "You are one of my teammates and…best friend. I think I have to let you know."
"Um… What?"
"It's weird. But after all these years, I think I like—"
"Hotshot coming through!" Someone yelled from outside the door before it was kicked open to reveal one Yamanaka Ino that has her arms crossed and a look of pride on her face. She has her hair down and was wearing her medic garb. "Forehead, guess what? Oh, hi Naruto."
Naruto smiled at the Yamanaka. "Ino."
Sakura blinked and let go of Naruto's arm. "Uhm… what is it Ino?
"I successfully operated a patient that has bad kidney and replaced it with a new one. I thought I could not do it since I am not an expert when it comes to kidneys and intestines… but hey, there's always a first right?"
"Congratulations Ino." Naruto stood up from his seat and rolled his sleeve down. He gave Sakura a pat on the head—a gesture that always triggers the Haruno to rant since it was making her feel so small. "I got to go Sakura-chan."
Sakura shook her head. "We are still talking. Not yet."
"Next time." Naruto glanced at Ino. "Mind if use the window? I don't want to use the—"
"Because some of the medics are your fan girls." Sakura rolled her eyes. 'Fine."
Naruto smiled. "See you around."
When Naruto was gone, Ino entered the office looking suspicious. Sakura was still staring at the open window where Naruto disappeared. "You don't want him to go? "
"Ino…"
"What?"
"I think Naruto is still in love with me."
-o-
Hinata sighed as she absent-mindedly twirled a lock of her long hair with her forefinger, the event of the night before was still playing inside her head. It was so embarrassing but there was no choice and she could not change it no matter what she does.
When she woke up earlier, the first thing that she did was cover her face with a pillow to muffle a very distressed shriek. She was not the one to raise her voice and shrill like a banshee but the events that she wished she could forget, kind of required it.
"You are troubled." Shino remarked, observing Hinata with his hidden eyes. The moment that she arrived inside his office—the office that was inside the academy— he could sense that something was wrong. She kept on chewing her bottom lip and her eyes were blank, as if thinking something.
Hinata smiled, at the same time trying to push the memories that concerns the Uchiha away. She'll thank Sasuke when they bump into each other again—something that is not going to be hard since they live in the same compound—and save her embarrassment for that time.
"I'm… thinking something."
Shino nodded, wanted to add that it was actually obvious. "What is it about?"
"Something embarrassing." Hinata responded with a small smile, leaning her head to the side until her cheek was on the Aburame's shoulder. They were sitting next to each other and she wanted to relax for a bit, clear her mind and just chat. She and Shino were quiet people and when they were together, it was different compared when she was with Kiba.
Silence was enough.
How she love both of her teammates. They were her strong pillars. They were the two people who knew her better than her own father and sister. In times of trouble and pain, Shino and Kiba were her support.
"Do you still like Naruto?" Shino asked out of nowhere.
Hinata removed her head from Shino's shoulder in order to stare at him. Shino's emotions were hard to read considering that his eyes were always covered and his high collar was covering his mouth. "You know what I feel about him Shino-kun."
"Hn."
"Why are you asking?"
"I am curious."
"I failed to ask you this…" Hinata bit the inside of her cheek. "But why did you…"
"Why did I stopped him from asking you out?"
"Yes."
"I still don't like the fact that he is oblivious when it comes to you." Shino answered bluntly, never the one to sugar-coat things. "I won't hesitate to give up my life for him because he is a comrade, but that doesn't mean I'll always be nice to him when you are inside the picture."
Hinata could not help but frown. "It's okay. That time when I confessed to him and he didn't respond, war was already brewing and those are just dark times Shino-kun. I won't blame Naruto-kun for…"
"I don't blame him in anything. I just don't like it when he is trying to flirt with you after disregarding your feelings."
Hinata's eyes widened. It was the first time that Shino used the word 'flirt' and it was a surprise. "Shino-kun!" She pulled his collar down and checked the color of his lips. Some may not know this fact but every time Shino feels sick, he gets a little cranky. And every time he was sick, his lips turn blue.
But his lips were perfectly fine.
"I am feeling perfectly well." Shino said.
"Is that why you're asking me about Naruto-kun? Because you think he is…"
"Yes."
"Naruto-kun will never do that. He is nice to everybody."
Shino removed Hinata's fingers away from his collar and covered his lips again before tilting it into a faint smile. "Maybe Naruto is not the oblivious one after all."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing." Shino reached for Hinata's nose and pinched it. The Hyuga instantly leaned away to cover her nose that was turning red. "I am heading out for a mission this evening. You won't see me for the next three days."
"Oh… Is it A-class?"
"B."
Hinata took a deep breath. Every time one of her friends goes out for an A-class mission she always feels so worried. Too much in fact that she could not sleep at night. "Be careful okay?"
"I am always careful."
After more than an hour, Hinata left Shino in order to let him prepare for his mission before sundown. Idly, she walked the streets of Konoha and smiled as the people who passed by her lowered their heads in greeting. She was a public figure so she was used with how the people showered her respect.
It was nice, though sometimes she just wanted to be left unnoticed. Each respectful greeting reminded her that she was a Hyuga, and her life as one was not something she was really proud of. She was the disgraced heiress and everybody knows that.
It was the same feeling she has when the Hyuga elders smiles at her ever so sweetly. She knew they were talking about her behind her back. She could always read the lines behind their ever polite gesture that she was weak.
Hyugas and their politics…
Hinata looked around, for the first time noticing that she was walking on the street that was near the abandoned Uchiha district. She really doesn't know why but it seemed she was in the mood to just walk and just see where it was going to take her.
The crowd of people was thinning as she walked further. By the time that she reached the old gates covered with large, yellow signs with the words 'keep out' written on them, she was alone. There was not a single soul that was near her as she stood in front of the large gates that was once a beautiful symbol of the Uchiha clan. During Pein's attack, most of the houses inside the Uchiha district were wiped out, turned into dust and ashes. The Fifth Hokage didn't bother on fixing it up after the attack since it was an abandoned compound anyway.
Back in the days of her childhood, she remembered vaguely the lively district filled with the proud sharingan users. She remembered the Uchiha clan to be beautiful people with black hair and the same black eyes. As a child, she marveled at their beauty and grace. The way they move where so unlike the Hyugas who are time-consuming with politeness and old tradition. Uchihas were more of those who are time-conscious and always wanting things to be given to them straight to the point.
Hinata stared at the giant Uchiha fan symbol painted on the wooden wall next to the gates. The paint was beginning to chip off and a huge part of the wall was beginning to rot. The smell of rotting mahogany and molds filled her nostrils and she backed a few steps.
Itachi Uchiha, the heir to the throne of the great almighty sharingan users managed to wipe his clan in just one night—even with help from Obito Uchiha—it was still a great feat. Grim and bloody… but still something to be marveled at.
Hinata couldn't imagine if Itachi's fate had fallen on her hands. What if it was the Hyuga clan instead of the Uchihas? What if instead of Itachi, she was tasked to be the one to wipe her clan on the face of the earth?
Hinata shuddered. There were still times that she wondered if war could have been prevented if the Third Hokage managed to find other solutions to prevent the Uchiha clan's rebellion. If it was the other way, Neji would still be alive today.
::
Sasuke stood on the dry, dusty ground where he was sure his old house once stood. Now, there was nothing on it but a few remnants of wood, shattered glass, and some rusty metal tubes that he guessed where once the water pipes.
The council told him that after a few more days of looking for the right people to do the job, the Uchiha district will be renovated to a place with only one mansion standing. While he was still trying to reproduce—the council did not exactly said the word 'reproduce' in front of his face for they were all polite and proper for that shit—he will be staying in the said mansion. If he was successful in producing an heir, then future houses could be built.
There was a soft gush of wind and his shoulder length hair was thrown back, even the ones that cover his rinnegan eye. He turned, remaining hand rising up to brush his hair back. There was no one inside the district but there were Anbus roaming around the place and he doesn't want anyone to see his eye.
Especially the violet colored one.
In that brief moment, he caught a blue blur passing behind a large crack on the concrete wall a few meters away. It was fast but he knew it was a person. There was also a slight tremor of chakra but was not visible enough to make him recognize who it was or what bloodline.
Unconsciously, a low growl formed inside his throat. The Uchiha district may look like a piece of shit but it was still once his home and there are still good memories about this place that he could remember. If some wild teenagers are using this place for fun and games…
Sasuke found himself suddenly running, taking after the mysterious blue blur like the grim reaper after the kill. He was not going to do anything drastic, he was just planning on scaring whoever it was. He knew that it was no Anbu… Anbu won't run like that.
Or more precisely, Anbu nins runs in the shadows and obviously won't be seen like that.
Sasuke knew he was fast, even faster than Uzumaki Naruto who was the son of Konoha's yellow flash. So whoever it was that was having a field trip inside the ruined Uchiha district would surely be—
Sasuke stopped on his tracks, making the soles of his sandals plow the ground half an inch deep. A few meters away from him was the Hyuga princess he helped last night. He recognized the long blue hair for there was none like that inside the village. Her back was to him so he took it that she did not knew he was there with her yet.
He raised an eyebrow, watching as her hands curled behind her back. She was tilting her head up as if she was looking at something so he also followed suit.
And saw giant tattered Uchiha banner, hanging on a rustic pole that would not even require half the power of chidori to bring it down.
Sasuke frowned. What the hell was a woman of her status doing in this old place?
::
Hinata stared in awe at the huge Uchiha banner. She passed by the Uchiha district a good few times but never did she dare to set foot inside. Maybe because she yet has to receive the mission that will require her to do so.
Biting her lower lip, she curled her hands behind her back and just stood still, feeling like an observer of a wonderful relic. She got to admit that she was never curious about the Uchihas for their past was bloody. From their beginning to their end everything was done in blood. But the arrival of the last sharingan user was making her…curious.
Curious enough to just stare at the insignia that represents his clan.
There was not much to remember about Sasuke except that he was on the top of their class and was adored by all, especially by the girls. She remembered how cold he was to everyone—actually it was still the same except when it comes to Naruto—so cold in fact that she always stirred clear of his way and focused on the sunshiny one.
A cold aura from behind made her aware that she was not alone. There was no chakra signature but she was skilled enough to detect a presence. Wheeling around with the intention to explain why she was inside the abandoned district— for she was almost sure that she is going to be scolded by an Anbu, she took a step back when mismatched eyes greeted her.
Of all the people…
"S-Sasuke-kun."
The Uchiha said nothing but his eyes tells her he was wondering as to why they met in this area. As she stared back at him in a bewildered manner, the events between them last night came back to her with an embarrassing slap.
She lowered her head. "I'm sorry for the trouble last night. Thank you for helping me…"
"What are you doing in this place?"
Hinata inwardly winced. The voice was impassive yet it felt like ice when she heard it. "I… I just want to—"
"Did Kakashi ordered you to follow me?"
Hinata's yes widened as she shook her head no. "No… I am here because of my own accord. I'm sorry, I did not mean to intrude inside your district."
Sasuke observed the young woman stoically. She was strange… not like the rest of the females he had met. If anything, she reminded him of his late mother. They have the same long dark hair and calm demeanor. The posture was also the same, shy yet regal.
He decided that he needs to be wary of this Hyuga. Her actions are not easily read and might cause him problems in the future since they are living inside the same compound and Kakashi has some unknown connections with her.
Sasuke turned his back to the woman and would have walked away if not for the sharp, whistling sounds that suddenly came from all directions. He had enough time using weapons to kill so he easily recognized the sound to be that of kunai blades.
He wheeled back, hand groping the katana he always carries with him. As he did, he saw the Hyuga grabbed one flying blade with her bare hand, avoiding the pain it would have caused her on the chest of she did not caught the weapon in time.
He smirked. It was impressive for someone so feminine.
Hinata stared disbelievingly at the metal she has on her hand. Someone was throwing deadly weapons at them—no—actually, throwing deadly weapons at Sasuke since the projectile was directed at him. She just caught it because she was on the way. Dropping the weapon—she almost gagged at the sight of the leaf insignia engraved on the metal—Hinata looked at the Uchiha who easily dodged the blades using his katana.
There was an amused smirked on his face.
"Sasuke-kun…" For a single second, their eyes met.
"Not all welcomes me with open arms." The Uchiha replied impassively. "You should know the reason for that by now."
Hinata was still looking around wildly, trying to spot who it was. When she failed to detect any chakra, she summoned her energy to her eyes and activated her bloodline limit...
Only to be stopped when Uchiha Sasuke suddenly materialized in front of her and placed a hand on top of her neck. She gasped when he pushed her away from him. It was quite a strong push and she rolled back like a ball.
Her back hit an old pole and she groaned.
When she looked up, her eyes widened at the sight.
Uchiha Sasuke was still standing… but a long blade could be seen protruding from his chest.
-o-o-o-