Thank you for all the support! Every review, every follow...it really means a lot guys!
Please take care of yourselves always.
-o-o-o-
Chapter Nine
Sasuke curled his strong fingers around the Hyuga highborn's neck, holding it firmly as the she tried to gasp for air. In that few milliseconds that his hand made skin contact, he felt her froze as a startled gasp escaped her throat. Instinctively, her muddy hands held his wrist with the obvious intention of prying it away.
He smirked, impressed at how Hyuga here was so trusting. She was a ninja for fuck's sakes so and she was supposed to know the intention of his movements even before he could touch her. It was Ninja Lesson 101. Besides, Kakashi won't put her in this baby-sitting job if she was not skilled enough to defend herself once a screw might come lose and he decides to go berserk and create hell.
So the only reason why her defenses were lowered was because she was too damn trusting.
Why am I not surprised. Sasuke thought as he stopped himself from rolling his eyes. This Hyuga woman was easy to read...maybe not what was inside her mind but her personality. Her ways are just too kind... too gentle.
Sasuke pressed a nail on the Hyuga's throat, trying to find the right sensitive nerve that he was sure would trigger his desired effect. As he did, the woman's eyes widened all the more, her hands holding his wrist with more strength.
He wondered though, why she didn't try her famous Hyuga palm techniques.
"Teme!" A growl from behind made him growl too, knowing that the voice belongs to the one and only Uzumaki Naruto. In that instant, a glowing orange hand landed on his temple, driving him down on the mud.
What the hell was Teme doing in this place?
"Sasuke bastard! What the hell are you doing to Hinata-chan?" A towering Naruto yelled at him, his right fist up as the other was holding the coughing Hyuga woman by the arm, raising her up from the mud. "Are you cra—"
"Dobe." Sasuke muttered with an annoyed tone as he rose from the earth with speed that was not for those with normal eyesight. Without any warning, he punched the Jinchuriki on the face with a loud snap. It was satisfying, since Naruto should know better than to just barge in without knowing the true story.
Typical Naruto.
Hinata coughed and whizzed. Sasuke's hand had gripped her throat strong and hard, driving her almost to the point of vomiting. To her surprise and of course relief, Naruto suddenly appeared and rescued her from whatever the Uchiha was planning.
"S-Sasuke-kun..." she managed, wondering what on earth just happened. It was just a few seconds ago that she offered him water, and he looked like he was going to accept. So why the sudden strangulation?
She did not do anything wrong...well in her point of view. "W-what—"
"Teme!" Naruto's eyes were filled with fire and he stood up again. "Hurt Hinata—"
"She's poisoned." Sasuke answered coolly as he pulled Hyuga again towards him, his hand returning to its earlier position. Again, he tried to locate that delicate vein. Naruto was about to open his mouth but Sasuke shot the Dobe a warning look. "If I can't get it out, Hyuga princess here will die. And then her clan will find another reason to condemn me."
Hyuga's eyes widened and Sasuke smirked.
When Hyuga offered him the water, there were three things that suddenly bugged him—which in the end made him conclude that it was poison. First, before they got here, Hyuga was not carrying any water container. Second, he caught some weird smell that was so faint it was almost unnoticeable.
But he won't be called Uchiha Sasuke if his senses were not as sharp as Uzumaki Naruto's...which made him feel bad for the Hyugas again. They were born skilled, yes... but they rely with their eyes too much they forgot to train the other senses to the highest potential.
And lastly, he remembered that the water container was from the old farmer who shot him an angry look since the start of this D-class mission. At first, he thought nothing about it, but then found it annoying as it was bugging. He was used to people glaring at him but the old man looked at him as if he was some kind of next dead meat.
Hinata blinked when Sasuke pressed a vein on her neck, which he found just now after prodding hard. It was painful but she found no time to think about it since she suddenly reeled on the mud and pour out the contents of her stomach.
Which was mostly water...and it turned green the moment it touched the earth.
With wide eyes, she turned and looked at Sasuke, with his muddy clothes and bleeding lip. It was also at that moment that Naruto kneeled beside her, disregarding the dirt and brushed her messy hair away from her face. Hinata blinked at the Uzumaki, still bewildered. "N-Naruto-kun."
"I thought you're being strangled." Naruto threw Sasuke a look.
"I thought that way too." Hinata said in a small voice. When she looked at the tree where the old man was standing, she saw that he was still on that spot, cow by his side and a look of anger on his wrinkled features. "Old Jii-san..."
"The old man wanted to poison me...not you Hyuga." Sasuke stated, emotionless. "But drinking it without thinking much is still a careless move. You should have smelled it."
Naruto sighed and pulled Hinata up again. The woman was still shaking and he couldn't blame her. Sasuke may have good intentions but he was too damn stoic to explain things like 'hey, I'll strangle you for a few seconds so that I could press a vein to make you puke to save your life and my ass.'
No, because Sasuke really likes some bad-ass dramatic flair.
"Hinata..."
"Uchihas should be wiped out from this land!" The old man by the tree suddenly yelled. "Do you think I like it that you are working in my fields? No! I detest the idea! You will make my crops rot!"
"Hey old man..." Naruto raised his voice. "What you did was not good you know. Are you not afraid of charges Jii-san?"
The old man laughed. "I am not afraid of charges boy. I am an old man and I got one foot already inside my grave."
"Then let me do the honor of putting your other foot on that grave." Sasuke murmured to himself.
"Sasuke is a part of the village now." Naruto gritted his teeth, disappointed that the old man could manage to do something as sly and awful as trying to poison Hinata and Sasuke. "He may have done you wrong... or the village... but it is—"
"He has done not only this village wrong but humanity!"
Sasuke sighed. He was tired of hearing the same things over and over again. With an annoyed expression that turned into an impassive mask a few seconds later, he turned his back towards everything and walked away.
He was too damn numb to feel anything so people should stop making him feel bad about his past actions.
They are just wasting their time, and his.
::
Hinata shyly wiped her face with Naruto's handkerchief. He had offered it to her the moment they left the old Jiisan's farm and stopped in front of the waterfall which was Naruto's special training place when his master Jaraiya was still alive.
Both of them sat at the edge of the flowing river connected to the waterfall and listened to the sounds of bubbling water.
"That old man used to be very nice..." Naruto grumbled next to her, touching a swollen part of his cheek. It was where Sasuke's fist landed when he suddenly appeared during the mistaken 'strangulation' attempt. It was because he was just checking on both Hinata and Sasuke when he saw it. "He used to give me free milk and cheese and vegetables when I was young and could not afford good food except instant ramen."
Hinata nodded. "He used to be nice...and so are those nins who tried to kill Sasuke inside the Uchiha district."
"Yeah..." Naruto sighed. "People have a hard time accepting Teme. He was buried too deep in the path of revenge that he had done some pretty dark things. But no matter, he is still a brother to me and I can't just do nothing. He was left in my care by his older brother."
"I understand." Hinata said sincerely.
"Of course you do." Naruto grinned, forgetting the earlier events for a moment. He can report it later to Kakashi so that it could be dealt legally. For now, he'll focus on the woman next to him. "You always understand the point of others Hinata...because you're nice."
Ever the modest, Hinata shook her head but smiled. "It's because you two have a bond that nobody can break. In a way...Sasuke-kun is like Neji-nii you know. I can feel his pain and understand his way of thinking."
"Ah...Neji..."
Hinata smiled. "Yeah...my nii-san."
"You know, Neji left you in my care too." Naruto said, eyes still glued on the waterfall. "You remember that right? It's a long way back but I still remember...kind of engrave in my head actually."
Hinata's smile turned pensive. Of course she remembered. It was the same day that Neji died in Naruto's arms. It was Neji's last wish, still trying to keep her safe and protected because he knew that he won't be the one to do that for her anymore. "I do..."
"I'm keeping my promise to Neji, Hinata." Naruto left out the 'chan' and slowly turned his head towards her; blue eyes serious and as they were piercing. This young woman was the only person who had believed in him in the past, back when people only saw him as a pest. She was his only admirer, a kindred soul that saw his potential rather than his misfortune and stupid antics.
How he managed to disregard Hinata's feelings for many years was still a mystery to him. Naruto got to admit that he was angry at himself for that. And really...how nice of him to fall inlove with her in a time where she was making a good name for herself ...and also in a time where obviously, her feelings for him were starting to disappear.
Maybe people were right, he was really stupid.
Hinata blinked. "T-thank you?" she doesn't know what to say to what Naruto just said. The Uzumaki's serious aura was a little bit confusing for her since she was still thinking about Sasuke and what happened in the field.
It was because now that she has enough time to think about it, she sure owed Sasuke something big. He may be scary—he really was—but he saved her for the second time this week.
Naruto chuckled and it confused her all the more. The way that he did it made her feel that she has yet to understand his point and that he was amused because she did not get it. To her surprise, Naruto placed a hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair. "Naruto-kun..."
"You really have change Hinata-chan." Naruto said, grinning.
"Change? " Hinata asked.
"You used to faint when I'm this near."
Hinata blushed, embarrassed. How silly she must have looked to Naruto when she used to faint when he was around. Every time she remembered her old ways, she ended up blushing or to the verge of screaming. "Ah...y-yeah."
"You may say that I'm selfish but... I kinda missed the old..you." Naruto suddenly raised both of his hands up. "I mean... not that your changes are bad since you have grown more...beautiful and talented. I mean... I'm just saying... that...oh well...damn... I can't find the right words."
Hinata chuckled softly.
"And now you are the one who's laughing at me." Naruto pouted.
"I'm sorry." Hinata immediately stopped chuckling and covered her mouth.
"Nah. I'm just joking. You should try to—Naruto stopped in the middle of whatever he was saying and tilted his head back just in time for a black blur that came from the tree tops dropped on the ground a few feet away from where he and the Hyuga were sitting.
Naruto blinked when he saw who it was.
"Teme." he said, surprised to feel the Uchiha's cold presence for he thought that Sasuke decided to go ahead of them.
Sasuke brushed the leaves and thin vines from his cloak—the result of choosing the top of the trees as his path than the dirt road—and he gave Naruto a look of acknowledgement. There was a slight satisfaction when he saw that Naruto's right side jaw was starting to turn purple and swell—a perfect match for his own aching jaw.
After exchanging looks with the Dobe which made him smirked a little, he transferred his gaze to Hyuga whose mouth slacked when they met eyes. He could tell that she was still thinking about what he did to her and unconsciously wondered if she was scared of him."Hyuga. You have to come with me."
The Hyuga blinked at him owlishly. "Oh...o-okay."
"Hiashi will have a fit if I'm back at the compound without you." He explained with the slightest of sighs and trying his best to sound bored rather than annoyed. He was on his way back when he remembered that he had left the Head's daughter. He really doesn't care...but then Hiashi might ask too many questions.
And when Hiashi starts to ask too many questions, some of it will surely be directed to Kakashi. And then Kakashi might start to question him and make annoying decisions.
That thought alone made him turn back to fetch the Hyuga woman. Not to mention that there was that Hyuga Ko who had warned him of the hell to come when something happens to Hyuga princess.
Sasuke was not afraid of that proud Hyuga, but it would create more trouble for him if he ended up killing one of Hiashi's noble dogs.
"Teme..." Naruto stood up and then helped Hinata to her feet in a very gentlemanly manner. It made Sasuke inwardly frown. Uzumaki Naruto may be a lot of things but he was no gentleman. Naruto was kind and nice yes, but he was more of an oblivious rascal than that. "I'm sorry for punching you. I thought...well, I thought wrong."
"It's nothing."
"But you sure punched me hard too."
"You deserved it."
Naruto grinned and scratched his head. "Yeah. I guess I do."
"Sasuke-kun...shall we go?" Hinata asked.
"Yes."
"Oy Teme..." Naruto crossed his arms. "Since Hinata-chan is always going to be with you in your D-class missions... take good care of her for me okay? I don't want her to end up being poisoned again or anything."
Sasuke smirked. The woman was assigned to watch his back and not the other way. It was already bad enough that he was being watched like a child, so there was no freaking way that in the end, he was going to end up as a baby-sitter...
A baby-sitter for a woman that weirdly reminds him of his dead mother. Yeah right.
He wanted to tell it to his idiot of a best friend but decided he doesn't want to waste time and effort. Signaling Hinata to follow, he gave Naruto one last look and leaped.
Hinata smiled at Naruto before following Sasuke's back. The look that the Uchiha gave her was enough to make her moving since it obviously came with a warning. A warning for what though, she has no idea.
As she tree-hopped, a few feet away from the sharingan user, she instinctively placed a hand around her neck, still feeling Sasuke's strong fingers around it. She better put something around it if she doesn't want any questions thrown her way since she knew that her neck was going to be bruised.
She also has to ask Sasuke not to mention anything about it to any Hyuga...yet.
Without any warning, Sasuke stopped hopping. It was a fast and graceful movement that Hinata failed to read it before it's done. She tried stopping too, but her momentum still carried her to the same branch that Sasuke now stood.
And she slammed her face on his hard back, earning her a grunt from him.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. The woman was always so graceful and poised when it comes to her movements but every time that he was in the picture—now that he noticed it—she was downright awkward. He saw her morning trainings by his room window ever since he came to live in the Hyuga compound and she was good in her own way if he says so himself.
"I'm sorry." Hyuga princess apologized and he said nothing in response. She was about to leaped away from him but he grabbed her by the left wrist and pulled her back—much to her surprise he could tell—and pushed her until her back was plastered on the hard tree trunk.
"Stay still." He ordered and let go of her wrist.
"Sasuke-kun...?"
"Just stay still." He said again as he tore a small strip of cloth from his cloak. "Pull your hair up." He ordered again. When the woman hesitated, he shot her a glare. It was then that she followed; her porcelain face confused.
When her long blue tresses were out of the way, he touched her jaw and slowly raised it up. He examined her neck, touching the veins around her wind pipes just in case something was amiss. It would do him no good if he rendered her mute. As he did, he noticed that the woman was tensed like a taunt string.
Really? Girls has been dying for me to touch them and here she was, looking like she wanted to be anywhere but here. Strange Hyuga. "Cover your neck with this." He gave her the strip of cloth. "Or not. It depends on whether you want everyone in the Hyuga clan to know what happened to us earlier or you want to keep it shut. Your choice."
Hinata silently accepted the cloth.
"Hn." Sasuke nodded, satisfied. She did just what he thought she would. This woman hates problems just as much as he.
Hinata silently tied the cloth around her neck and adjusted her hair so that it was covered. As she did, she could smell Sasuke's masculine scent and she mentally compared it with Neji's, since she was suddenly reminded about her deceased cousin.
"Sasuke-kun..." she found herself saying. "Thank you."
"Hn."
"I really thought you're going to..."
"Strangle you?" Sasuke supplied.
"Yes."
Sasuke's lips tilted up a little. "I think I did."
"But not with the intention that I think you have." Hinata said and sighed. "It was entirely different. I'm sorry. I should have known better. As a kunoichi, I should have known that something was on the water Jii-san gave me. I was too—"
"You are too trusting." Sasuke supplied again. "It will bring you down someday." He added before leaping away onto another tree branch and continued his pace, leaving the woman to watch his back as he goes. If she was not going to learn from her mistakes, he was almost sure that she'll die because of it.
They are leaving in the era of peace, or so they were told, but it doesn't take the fact that it was a world of ninjas, just as it doesn't take the fact that people die and are replaced. The Kages now may be friends...but what if a new one replaced the old and has entirely new ideas?
In this world, everything was not permanent. Even familial bonds.
-o-o-o-
Ino watched from a distance as Shikamaru Nara—her genius of a best friend—walked side by side with Temari of the desert sand. She doesn't know why Temari was in Konoha but if there was one thing that she knew, it was that Temari's visits were becoming frequent. Sure she was the Suna representative and messenger, but come on... it was already the fourth visit this month.
And why was it always Shikamaru be the one to accompany her? He was not the only Jounin who could do that. Konoha has plenty of Jounins...geniuses too. Ino sighed and relaxed her back on the soft cushion of the chair. Currently, she was eating ginger ice cream with Choji and Tenten, who by the way were too busy to notice her unease.
Ino smirked. Shikamaru was supposed to join them today but looks like he won't be able to do that with his hands full. Really... what did Shika saw in that tomboyish woman? She was older than him by a good three years too.
"I thought you never saw Shikamaru in that sense." Tenten suddenly said and made Ino blinked twice before widening her eyes in shock. She doesn't know that Tenten was actually paying attention to her...body movements.
Ino crossed her arms. "What do you mean in that sense? I was just observing."
Tenten smiled slyly and elbowed Chouji on the side. The Akamichi was sitting next to her and it was easy for her to do so. Ino was sitting on the opposite side of the table, facing her with an annoyed look. It was then that Tenten knew she hit the jackpot. Ino never looks annoyed once what was being said was true. "Come on Ino."
Ino groaned. "Just because you have a love life with Rock Lee doesn't mean that you can be my love doctor."
Chouji frowned. "So does that mean you like Shikamaru in that sense...?"
Ino gritted her teeth. She did not come to this ice cream date to be interrogated. She just wanted to eat and enjoy the sweet treat. "No."
Tenten made a silly face. "Liar."
Ino wanted to tell them that the person that she has a thing with—even loved—was no more. He was Hyuga Neji and not Shikamaru Nara. It has been years since Neji died and even if she managed to move on, there was still a whisper of that feeling left.
So there was no way that she was going to look Shikamaru in a romantic way...even if her heart's pacing strangely went faster than usual the moment that she saw him with the fan lady.
Yes, she wanted to tell her friends that...but Ino knew the moment she revealed her unrequited feelings for the deceased Hyuga, it was not going to be a special secret anymore. It was just going to be an ordinary story of 'what could have been' and 'ifs'.
Sometimes, there were just things that are not meant to be revealed but kept...just like Neji's feelings for his blue haired cousin.
"You know... I used to sense that you are in love with someone in the past...though I could not pinpoint who. Everyone knew you used to like Sasuke... but I think it's another guy." Tenten said and Chouji nodded. "But Ino... are you not confused with that past love? Maybe...just maybe, it blinds you with your current feelings. I mean... I just don't want you to realize it too late."
Ino frowned. "Do you really think I am falling for my teammate?"
Tenten shrugged. "I have fallen for mine...Sakura too—though I think she is confused as to who of the two she really has feelings for."
Ino smiled and sighed. "I don't know for now...really." She glanced at the window again and found out that Shikamaru and Temari were gone. "But if that is the case... I think I am in for another heartache."
Chouji grunted from his seat. "Shikamaru better be careful."
After the three-man get together, Ino decided to bail out first since she has to check on the interrogation department. Taking in her father's job was hard, since the expectations were all high and positive. She knew she was young for such a prestigious job but she was the only Yamanaka who can match her father's skill.
And Ino promised that she was going to make her father proud.
::
Sakura was on her way to Tsunade's house for some private meeting about the new medical projects going on in Konoha when she saw Ino walking the opposite direction. Based on how Ino moved with urgency and seriousness, Sakura knew that her friend was on her way to the interrogation department.
Ino was always so serious when it comes to dealing with her father's job.
"Hey Ino-pig." Sakura called with a smile, wanting to make up for her weird behavior the other day. She was so pissed with her wrong and embarrassing assumptions about Naruto asking her for a date, that she ended up taking it all out on Ino.
"Forehead."
"Are you in a hurry?"
"Uhm... not really. I just want to check my work outside the medical field." Ino answered with a wave of her hand. "And where are you going?"
"To Tsunade-sama's house. I have some things to discuss... you want to come? You need to know about this anyway."
"Can you just tell me everything later? I'm sorry but—"
Sakura grinned and slapped Ino's shoulder. She knew how important Ino's job was because it used to be her father's. Ino was a daddy's girl and even now, it was obvious that she was still hurting. "Okay. No problem."
"Thanks Sakura."
" ." Sakura raised a hand and shoved back her bubblegum pink hair away from her face. Her hair was a little longer that what she wanted so she played with idea of getting a haircut. She was about to voice it out loud but a familiar chakra made her turn to the direction of the rooftops to her right.
Ino felt the chakra and turned too. It was then that both saw Uchiha Sasuke who was hopping from roof to roof. His overalls were muddy and his face also tainted with mud. They also saw that behind the Uchiha, Hyuga Hinata was moving like his blue shadow.
Sakura sighed. "Hinata's a lucky one...don't you think Ino?"
"Just because she's been assigned by Kakashi to watched Sasuke's back? I don't think that's lucky at all. If you ask me, I worry for her sake. This is Sasuke were talking about...and it is always complicated when it comes to Sasuke."
"No. I think she's really lucky."
"Uh...why?"
"Naruto's starting to see her more than a friend...and she has been admiring Naruto since we were kids."
-o-o-o-
"Father wants to see me?" Hinata asked the old Hyuga maid who came to her door and interrupted her night rituals such as combing her hair and putting natural oils on her hands since she doesn't want them to look like dead meat.
Since she was a Hyuga, gentle fist Justus were her usual fighting techniques. So that's why she has to take good care of her hands...just like her eyes.
The old woman bowed low. "Yes Lady Hinata. Hiashi-sama's says it's urgent."
Hinata nodded. Maybe Hiashi wanted to check on her missions with Sasuke...or maybe he heard that she was nearly poisoned the other day. With that in mind, Hinata touched her neck that was still covered with a thin white cloth.
Taking a scarf with her, which she craftily placed around her neck—it was cold so putting a scarf on was not too unusual—she made her way to her father's office. When she entered said office, she was surprised to see Hiashi looking so... pleased with himself. There was also a Hyuga elder seated on the Tatami mat beside him.
"Father."
Hiashi motioned for her to seat and so she did. "Daughter. I have something to discuss."
"About what father?" Hinata silently prayed that it was not about the 'poisoning thing'. That old man cannot survive with a horde of Hyugas after his old back. She doesn't like what the old man did, but she still pity him. "Is it about the mission I have with Uchiha-san?"
Hiashi shook his head. "It's not about the missions...but it is about Uchiha Sasuke."
"And it has to do with me?"
"Not really, it has something to do with your sister."
Hinata frowned. Hanabi and Sasuke? She racked her brain for a few seconds but she could not find the connection. To her chagrin, the elder smiled at her slyly—which was a sign that something was wrong. Even if it hurts to admit, Hyuga elders were sometimes manipulators...and sometimes, they do succeed in manipulating her father into doing something...wrong.
It was like that time when Neji received the caged bird seal.
"I am going to make a proposition to Uchiha Sasuke...something that is hard to accept since he is proud...but something he could not resist since he is still in need of our help. But still, it is a pretty good offer."
"What offer father?"
"An arranged marriage between him and Hanabi."
Hinata's mouth gaped. For a second there, she wanted to laugh since it really sounded like a joke to her ears. Her father was joking right?
Right?
"He needs heirs...he also needs to build the Uchiha clan back to its former glory. What else will he need now that the most powerful clan in Konoha was offering him a leeway? This is what he is looking for I tell you." The elder said, still smiling. "And we need your help in making him see that Lady Hinata...since you are always with him on his missions."
"And also your help in making Hanabi see that this is for the good of the Hyuga." Hiashi said and closed his eyes. "Since she trusts you enough to believe you. Your sister is hardheaded and so I am hoping that you will help in making her submit."
Hinata looked at her father disbelievingly. Hanabi? Young, sweet Hanabi to be manipulated like a pawn so that power will come to the Hyugas?
Hinata wanted to scream.
"And you will make the clan head an Uchiha someday?" Hinata asked, trying to make Hiashi changed his mind.
Hiashi gave her a kind look, which was so out of place with the way things are going on right now. "No Hinata. You will be...since I watched how you improved after the war. A young girl who had fought side by side with the Uzumaki hero during the war and managed to survive...is enough fact to convince me that you are the rightful heir of this clan."
-o-o-o-
Here ends the chapter. Please review!
-crazychan