AN: I am gradually getting to the point you guys! Thank you for staying with me through this story . I feel that my favorite parts begin now, so I hope you enjoy them! Keep your kunai sharp and your minds sharper!
"Bonds I"
1.
The lifeless body of the man fell in front of Itachi as he passed by it. The battlefield around him had turned to a bloodshed scenery. Each of his opponents were dead and he hadn't even suffered a scratch.
"You are selfish, Itachi. You could have waited for me, you spoiled all the fun" Kisame claimed as he entered the valley. Itachi didn't even looked at him and kept on walking.
"You tend to take your time, I wanted to finish this fast" He explained, expressionless.
"There is nothing wrong with taking your time in a battle" Kisame mused.
Itachi didn't rerply as they moved forward. One single raven landed on his shoulder, communicating the confirmation that no one had survived. Itachi nodded and the raven flew away to scout.
2.
"Again" Mirai instructed.
Neji frowned at her. "Are you trying to humiliate me, Mirai-sama?"
"On the contrary" she replied "I am giving you a chance to defeat me".
"Tch".
"Now, now, Neji. Don't be a pessimist! Luck could be on your side" she teased him.
"Even luck would lose to you" he mumbled, pouting.
"Are you trying to sweet-talk me into losing?"
"Does it work?"
She pretended to think about it. He attempted another full attack at her, failing entirely.
"No." She winked at him. He held back a smile. "So, the wedding is tomorrow."
"I remember" He frowned again.
"Are you ready?" She asked him softly.
"Are you?" He demanded however she only gave him a wicked smile.
Their sparring continued for another hour and he was content that at least she had also broken some sweat by the end of it. She was the most brilliant Hyuuga instructor he had ever the honor to train with. Neji looked at the older woman carefully as she threw some fresh water on the back of her neck.
She caught him staring and shook her head in wonder.
He just nodded and left.
He went into his room to prepare for their afternoon tea. He didn't know with what kind of means he could be Mirai's husband. He owed her too much by this point, to many things that one cannot return.
The Chuunin Exams was a trial for everyone in the village but it meant even more to Neji. He had gotten the apology he always wanted by Hiashi-dono as well as his vote of trust. Neji and Hinata-sama, his younger cousin, had grown closer. The boy found out that she was more than eager to learn from him and also be an honest friend. His family started to exist and for the first time in his life, Neji tasted the sweetness and the bitterness that accompany freedom. His sense of duty became sharper than a blade and he would cut anyone with it. He suddenly started to care about his Clan; it was now his family after all.
Hinata-sama didn't accept his apology even when he tried. She just smiled and let him know that she was happy that they were friends now. Naruto was now one of Neji's closest friends and role models; a man that only spoke his heart, a man that could speak everyone's heart... and Neji knew that moment, that Naruto would become the Hokage one day. Neji would see to that. His words were always with him:
"Why do you try so hard to change your destiny?" Neji had asked him.
"Because people called me a failure! I'll prove them wrong!" Naruto had replied firmly.
That was his way of the Ninja, as he always said. Neji smiled and shook his head.
After the Chuunin Exams, Mirai had allowed him to stay at Konoha. At first he thought she didn't want an additional burden however he soon came to realise that she did it to support his career as a shinobi. Whenever they had a chance to meet she would spent the days training with him and even teaching him precious Hyuuga techniques that only the elders were familiar with. Apart from that, she would have tea with him and talk to him about arts and history. She never wavered at his lack of interest or attachment but she would set one rule for every meeting; he had to remove the bandages that covered his Curse Mark.
Neji found himself suddenly surrounded by friends and family. His life had meaning and many faces. He felt loved and needed, he felt capable of protecting his values. Therefor, it was easy for him to understand two things about Mirai.
One: She had loved ones.
Two: Whoever truly loved her, wasn't of this world.
3.
Mirai poured some sake into his cup. He looked at her suspiciously.
"Are you trying to get me drunk?" he inquired.
"You are a man now, Neji, you can drink." She informed him, unfazed. She noticed his small blush and held back a giggle. Her future husband was adorable. "As of tomorrow, you and I will be married. There is no harm in spending time together, like this."
"I see." He mused, tasting the alcohol.
"I've done everything in my power to let you return to Konoha as soon as possible but I'm afraid you will have to spend a week here with me."
"A week?" He gasped.
"What's wrong?" she wondered.
"I have to return sooner, Mirai-sama" He explained.
"You spoiled brat..." she laughed at her drink. She wore her thin silky robe and she sat in seiza in front of him, as usually.
"You don't understand; One of our Clan's member has gone missing." He insisted.
"Why do I only hear about this now? Who?" She demanded immediately.
"Hyuuga Kazue. She has been declared missing since passed week. Time is against her already."
"Missing? Where was she?" She continued. Mirai was pissed off.
"She was in a three man squad search group. She investigated Orochimaru's whereabouts." Neji replied.
Mirai's eyes became edgy. "That trash got to her?"
"She is a branch member."
"What is that supposed to mean?" she snapped at him.
"Nothing but the fact that our Clan's secrets are safe." He explained softly. "I want to find her, preferably alive. She is a good ninja and a great person. She has a baby son, too. I must leave before the end of the week, Mirai-sama." He pleaded with her.
Mirai sighed. "I'll see what I can do."
Neji bowed to her and she smacked his knee. He glared at her, confused.
"I told you to be less formal with me" she scolded him.
"Yes, madam".
She glared back at him and then they both smiled to each other.
4.
Sasuke woke up in less than twenty minutes of sleep because of a mosquito. He was exhausted and annoyed so he decided to take a walk inside the hideout. He could use some training.
As he exited his cell he saw Kabuto walking towards him.
"Ah, Sasuke-kun! Right on time. Orochimaru-sama expects you to bid farewell to another of our guests, if you aren't busy of course. You are going to enjoy this one!" The fair man explained.
Sasuke nodded and changed route. For Orochimaru to hint that he would enjoy this guest, he must had been someone powerful. Sasuke didn't like to kill people that were less in power, that was plain murder and nothing useful came out of it. As he passed by Kabuto, the older man grabbed his elbow. Sasuke glared at him.
"What?"
"Sasuke-kun… Take your time with this one. It's going to be a while until you have someone this precious in your grasp again!" Kabuto whispered maliciously.
Sasuke pulled his elbow away and ignored him. Once he managed to kill Orochimaru, this pest would be next. He would just be patient for a little more and when Orochimaru had no more power to give him, Sasuke would end his miserable existence.
The door was marked with white paint and Sasuke found this one locked. He turned the key and entered the room, his senses prepared for a sudden attack, yet he wasn't prepared to see someone he knew in this room.
In front of him was a kneeling, wounded Sakura. Her hair had blood on it and her green eyes shone under the small flame of the candles. Sasuke froze in his place but his face showed no emotion.
It had been years since he last saw her. She was different yet she had the same soft touch against his will.
Sakura's first reaction was shock but then she glared at him.
"Sasuke-kun!" She hissed. She tried to get off her knees but her body failed her.
"Sakura." He said simply. What the fuck was he supposed to do now? Kill her? He felt his stomach turn and he was immediately enraged. So what? She meant nothing, she was nothing. He would do her a favor if he ended her weak life sooner than later. He stared at her from above. The girl crawled back until her back hit the wall and managed to stand up from that point. He noticed her fair skin being bruised and cut. She was in bad shape but her eyes… He thought it was the candles that made them shine this bright in the dark, however, her eyes had flames of their own.
"Come back to us, Sasuke-kun. We have been looking for you, for so long-"
"Shut up". He interrupted her. He remembered now, why he hated Sakura so much. She was always the weakest in their group, the burden. However there was something about the way she spoke, something about her gaze that always made him waver, always calmed him. She could make him feel safe and that safety was a lie! The world wasn't a peaceful place and the moment he made the mistake of thinking he could be safe, someone would cut his throat. He would never, ever allow her to make him weak.
Sakura went silent just as he ordered. She just kept looking at him. Her eyes had that perfect tone of clear sea waters sometime during twilight; green, intense and dark.
"I knew you were going to die sooner than everyone else, being the weakling that you are." Sasuke claimed calmly. She looked at him and smiled.
"You are right. I am weak… Therefor I was always behind you, behind Naruto. Being hurt and being protected despite my own will. I am weak, therefor I have nothing to lose now. At least I am in front of you and not behind you anymore, Sasuke-kun!" She yelled at him and he felt her chakra building up.
She was going to attack him. Sasuke felt the familiar haze of anger taking over him and he let himself be consumed. If he was to kill Sakura he couldn't do it if she didn't at least fight back. He couldn't do it in cold blood.
He drew his sword and charged towards her. He got a glimpse of her teary eyes, staring at him with confidence and he felt his stomach turn again.
'This is wrong' a small voice protested inside him.
The moment the edge of his sword would meet with the surface of her pale white skin, the girl disappeared. His blade pierced the stone wall.
He turned around rapidly looking for her in the room.
She was standing behind him, smiling.
'How did she do that?' Sasuke wondered.
"You can't kill hope, Sasuke-kun" she whispered as her figure started to fade.
Sasuke couldn't believe his eyes and that only meant one thing.
"Genjutsu Release!" He called as he woke up, sweating.
"Shit" he exhaled. His Sharingan was activated. Someone reached him in there. Someone outdid his eyes in illusion. Was it Itachi? Sasuke doubted that his older brother would show him something like this.
He got out of his bed, this time for real, and grabbed his sword. He rushed towards Orochimaru's lab. As he entered the man with the long, sleek, black hair and the snake eyes locked his gaze on him.
"Oh, Sasuke-kun. What a pleasant surprise." Orochimaru greeted him. He was dressed in medical gown and gloves and he had his hands inside the body of a young shinobi, reaching for what Sasuke thought that was his liver. The organ had seals on it. The younger man shook his head and focused back on his teacher.
"Someone attempted an attack on me" Sasuke claimed without delay.
"Who would dare!" Orochimaru wondered sarcastically with a wicked smile.
"It was genjutsu and it was created from a distance" he replied, ignoring the gore view he had at the time. 'The mosquito', Sasuke thought, 'that was the cue'.
"Oh. What did you see?" the man inquired calmly.
Sasuke licked his lips, thinking if he should tell him or not. Since Sakura meant nothing, he didn't want Orochimaru to believe otherwise. It would be a nuisance.
"A woman. Someone from Konoha" He replied carefully.
"Someone you love?" Orochimaru insisted, his voice sweetening.
"Don't be ridiculous" Sasuke protested.
"Of course not, Sasuke-kun. However, if that was the case, I would know exactly who did this to you..." The snake-like man mused happily, pulling the stomach out of the body, as well.
"Who?" Sasuke asked, this time his voice revealed his bad temper.
"The woman who is known by the nickname 'Nightmare'... The kunoichi with a genjutsu so powerful and unique that is feared among the nations. The one that brings loved ones before your eyes to slay you..." Orochimaru said, peering deep into Sasuke's eyes. "Hyuuga Mirai".
"Mirai..." Sasuke repeated, remembering the Hyuuga girl he killed. He thought she said "future" when she said the name, Mirai. A woman that the Hyuuga Clan believed she could defeat Itachi himself.
Unexpectedly, the image of a young woman with short ebony hair and alabaster skin popped into his mind, a woman that was standing on front of the Uchiha district three years ago.
'You must be Uchiha Sasuke. You look a lot like your brother.' Her words echoes from the past.
"Where will I find her?" Sasuke asked as he stared at Orochimaru.
The man's smile became wider and with this, more vile.
"Let's search together. I would love to put my hands on her." He proposed happily.
Sasuke nodded.
5.
At the same time that Sasuke woke up in his cell, Mirai woke up in her room. She had used quite an amount of chakra to reach this far from home into Sasuke's dream.
Mirai smiled at herself having now proof that no matter what happened to Sasuke he was an original Uchiha as he possessed the one thing that no member of his Clan could ever deny; the weakness of having someone they loved.
"Sakura…" Mirai mused to herself "My favorite tree".
She stood up smoothly and made her bed. She was getting married today but tomorrow she was going to battle.
6.
(Two years ago, Grass Village)
Hyuuga Shizuka was enjoying her afternoon tea when she was visited by the ANBU leader of her daughter's bodyguard team.
"Madam" he greeted her, wearing typical military clothes and a mask that portrayed an owl.
"What is it?" she inquired, looking at him. Mirai wasn't the one to speak through messengers to her.
"Mirai-sama is missing" He reported hastily.
"What did you say?" She hissed, her eyes scanning his very soul. "How did this happen?"
"She engaged a battle while we were traveling at the Sound Village and she didn't return. She insisted to go there alone. We had no choice. Me and my team are searching the area but we have had no sign of her in two weeks. We didn't recover remains either. I am here to ask permission to have more ANBU work on her disappearance." The man explained quickly, fearing for his life.
Shizuka stared at him. Mirai would never be captured alive, Shizuka knew that much. "I see. I will ask permission from the Elders."
The man bowed and left in relief.
Shizuka looked at the surface of the green tea inside her cup. Mirai had been hiding many things since the age she could speak but her mother could usually guess what she had in mind. Lately, that wasn't the case. Shizuka smiled at herself. Her daughter had already surpassed her. She wouldn't worry of her fate. Mirai was the elite of her Clan. This disappearance was one of her schemes for sure.
Hyuuga Shizuka returned to her read.
7.
( Two years ago, Rain Village)
Ichirou was sitting on the couch as his kid slept on his lap. The rain was heavy but that's the way it worked around here. His wife was late again. He always knew that marrying a ninja was a hustle, being one himself. His son yawned as he slowly woke up.
"Daddy?"
"I'm here, buddy"
"I'm hungry" Ren complained.
"You are always sleepy and hungry, whatever am I supposed to do with you?" Ichirou scolded him sweetly.
"You are supposed to feed me" Ren replied seriously. Ichirou laughed and messed his son's hair as he got up to make him dinner, pushing him off his lap.
"Uhm, dad?"
"I literally just got up, food isn't ready!" Ichirou moaned but then he saw his son's shocked expression and became alert.
"There is a woman on our balcony" the boy explained, showing his father the window.
"Go to your room" He said as he swiftly placed himself between his son and the stranger. Seconds later, the woman pulled the ANBU mask away from her face and revealed the features of his sister.
"Ren, room, now" He continued as he rushed to meet her.
"But I'm still hungry..." The boy whined as he followed his father's order.
Ichirou opened the sliding glass door and looked at his little sister. She was in a bad shape.
"Mirai? Are you hurt?" He asked, reaching to her aid but she stopped him with a gesture.
"I'm a little bruised from battle. Can I come in?" she asked politely.
"Of course! Come in, come in" He assured her.
As soon as she walked in, Mirai turned to him. Her eyes were cautious.
"Ichirou. I know we haven't exactly reconciled but I need a favor."
"When you say that we haven't made up yet, you mean you haven't forgiven me" he corrected her.
She nodded.
"If I do this favor, can I achieve redemption, little sister?" He asked her, teasing her serious expression.
The girl nodded again. Ichirou was already anxious. For Mirai to come to him something really bad must had occur.
"What is it? Don't want to sit?" he proposed, searching for signs of her trouble on her pale face.
"I'm pregnant" She announced strictly. "Sixteen weeks".
Ichirou stared at her, blankly.
"I can't have this child at home. Can I stay with you until I give birth?" she continued, explaining the situation. Ichirou blinked twice and calmed himself down.
"You had sex?" He asked her numbly.
"Are you retarded?" She countered angrily.
"Sorry, I just… I just didn't think you were old enough" He mumbled.
"Well, think again. So what do you say?" She insisted.
"I say… For starters you can't stay wet, you are harming your body and now a baby grows in it. You can't be selfish when you are a mom. Secondly, no weapons near the belly. Then, you have to eat frequently and also I think I can make a few changes in the guest room. It's small but it will do for now. Would you like a foot massage?" He inquired looking at her.
She sighed. "I just need a place to sleep" She explained. She felt her throat aching with sentiment but she pushed it away. Stupid hormones. "Thank you".
"No problem. Why can't you go home though? I bet mother would be thrilled to have yet another heir." He asked as he walked towards the kitchen, making calculations in his head.
"I am not sure I can bring the baby home yet." She replied firmly.
"Why not?" He wondered, looking at her big eyes.
"I am not sure if I will give birth to a Hyuuga" She mused, taking off her vest. He noticed the small bump on her belly.
"Oh. Then you have a boyfriend who's not one of us, big deal. Chances are that you will deliver a Hyuuga anyway." Ichirou pressed her. He knew that there was more to this story, he wanted to comprehend the full length of it.
"Let me rephrase. I am not sure whether my child will be a Hyuuga or an Uchiha."
"Oh." Ichirou gasped staring at her.
"Yes. Oh." She agreed staring back at him.