HEY !

Now should be a good time to tell you all that english is not my first langage that could explain some grammatical mistakes (ehehe sorry). And thank you for all the kind messages and reviews can't wait to read more of them.

And i don't know yet if it is gonna be a long story

''You don't need to walk me home. I was serious when I said it was really close by.'' She told him as they exited the restaurant. Shikamaru didn't hide his rolling eyes as he put his jacket on her shivering shoulders. A muttered "troublesome woman" passed his lips as he watched her readjust the garment to maximise the warmth of the clothe.

''Please, you wanted to talk about your clan meeting as soon as you saw me.'' He dismissed her with a pointed look, his expression clearly annoyed. She looked elsewhere visibly embarrassed. She bite her lips. When had he became so easy for him to read her? It was true, of course. There was no need to lie about that, but did he really need to be this blunt all the times ?

She pondered, asking herself if she was in the right state to talk about it. She was still pondering what she should do about the all ordeal. But looking at him she couldn't help but just nodded. As if she could really hide her true turmoils from his prying eyes. She took a deep breath, ready to tell him, but he cut her mentioning them to start to move.

''Privately. We have an audience right now.'' He mentioned her pushing her toward the street. She didn't turn back falling into his step, his hand leaving the small of her back as soon as she was following him.

They stayed in a comforting silence for a while, basking in each others presence. Both of them were quiet people, understanding the quality of silence. They didn't need a lot of words to get what the other wanted to say and in a period as hard as the one they had endured, their blossoming friendship had been greatly welcomed. Their calm energy was a like an oasis in the hurricane that was Konoha after the war and the lost of their loved ones.

The need to provide for Kurenai after she had given birth to her daughter Mirai had brought them closer, relying on each other to give support to the young mother. From attending the mother to the recovery of the pregnancy and delivery to just being relying adult figures for the small girl to count on, they had discovered more about themselves and each other in those weird times. They grew up in that short amount of time, forced to be close, but choosing to be great supporters of each other's aspirations. From that point on, the godmother and godfather had developed this quiet friendship at first centered around Mirai but soon enough becoming about the hardship of life.

He could get her where most people didn't. He never forced her to say anything, never pushed her out of her boundaries. Always respected the way she wasn't comfortable enough to be touch freely. He was mindful where a lot of people would just ignore her. She cherished it, trying to be a shoulder for him to count on. She knew his pain. When he was suddenly unavailable because his mom needed him or when he would be inexplicably late to come see Mirai, deep dark circles around his brown eyes. The days, he would smell like he was entirely made of burning cigarettes or his eyes would look more hollow than the darkest night. She would understand, she would be there. Just a hand on his shoulder was sufficient he had told her once. Just to let him now he wasn't alone. They shared this pain and they silently grieved around this miraculous child.

''Are you going to talk to Kakashi about it?'' He finally asked. ''I fear I don't have a choice. Things are getting dangerous.'' She answered, her voice hardening with seriousness. The young man hummed. He had coaxed her to talk to him about her problems not a long time ago, when they started to become a drag. She couldn't visit as much as she used to and she was spacing out too much for her to be left alone with a toddler. He hadn't planned to be her confidant or some kind of advisor, but he had found himself filling this role as she would more often that not turned toward him when everything seemed clouded in her mind.

''That is, your meeting tomorrow morning, right?'' He concluded. She nodded. She never revealed too much, but enough for his genius mind to work and fill in the blank. He didn't have the entire picture, but enough to see that she was at an impasse.

''He already makes me stay in the village for most missions. I am afraid to be catalogued as a retired kunoichi." She stated. Her career as a Shinobi wasn't something she wanted to keep on hold forever. What had started as a simple need of a break to focus on clan matters had quickly become her new reality and she didn't like it. She feared of losing her place in her team. The more successful missions they would do as a duo the closer they would be from being promoted as a Jonin team. Contrary to any other group cell, tracking teams needed to be on the same level. She was still a Chunnin and her skills weren't improving with her being less and less on the field. As much as she wanted to go back, she wouldn't be the reason her teammates were held back a promotion.

"But you don't want to leave for too long in case something happens." Shikamaru reasoned. She nodded once again.

''Anything can happen right now.'' She simply stated her words full of gravity. They let her words rang in the night.

The compound came into view, their walk coming to an end.

'' How his Mirai?'' She quietly asked, giving him back his jacket.

'' She misses her favorite aunt.'' He responded a fond smile gracing her lips. She missed the little girl too. She hadn't visited her or her old sense in so long she feared her goddaughter wouldn't recognize her.

''Aren't you her favorite aunt?'' She teased the ponytailed man. He snorted unceremoniously.''Aren't you her favorite aunt?'' She teased the ponytailed man. He snorted unceremoniously.

''She started to differentiate boys and girls. I am now Uncle Shika.'' He proudly declared. She giggled at his clear pleasure to not be 'Aunt Shika' anymore. He had tried again and again to explain to the toddler that he was a boy but the concept seemed hard for the 1 year old to grasp. She was around many, many women all day long and the idea that anyone wasn't one sounded like an aberration for the child.

''You should try to go see them tomorrow. The little one will be overjoyed to see you.'' She nodded. She will take time.

Waving him goodbye at the door, she saluted the night guard before stepping inside.

The walk to her room was a long one, full of turn and corridors. The main house was the biggest one in the compound. It was full of meetings, ceremonials rooms, place to greet guests and flaunt the wealth of the clan. In the far back of the building, resided the sleeping aisles reserved for the main family. Her place was in the farthest room. It was really late and she only met a few clansmen, mostly aids busying themselves to finish their night chores before heading back to the maid quarters next to the kitchen. As usual, she would bow to them, wishing them goodnight and thanking them for their hard work. This facade of cordiality between the two branches what was keeping things to explode. Hinata had always been extremely grateful for their services, never reluctant to help them in any way but lately she had voiced it more frequently. They needed to know they matters.

Her body started to shiver once again, but this time not from the cold. No. The feel to be watched by hundreds of Byakugan eyes was a sensation any amount of layers couldn't shake.

Lately, the rule of non-using their blood limit inside the walls of the estate had been broken off many times. Main and Branch members alike were constantly watching every step, every move anyone was making. All seeing eyes always on alert at any time of the day. The heavy weight of high chakra swirling on the compound tiring the most robust man. Nothing was secret anymore : every mood, feeling, anger was monitored, reported, reprimanded.

She finally stepped into her room, calling someone to help her with her clothes. The same young woman from earlier entered her room. Something told her to stay alert, the killing intent still fresh in her mind. However, she didn't hesitate to smile at her, trying to appease the tension. The young woman seemed hesitant to give one back, but shyly did before she attended the young heiress.

As she approached to aid, Hinata asked for her name.

''I am Yuri.'' She answered as she gracefully undid her obi letting the front of her kimono loose. Automatically her hands shot to her waist to keep the clothes still tied up around her body. She felt a new wave of exhaustion washed over her.

''Thank you, Yuri. I'll be able to do the rest alone.'' She dismissed the young lady. The latter bowed and hurried off.

However, before she disappeared behind a close door, Hinata interpellated her. ''You should be more careful around here.'' She warned her. Fear screamed out of her eyes before she bowed deeply and left.

With a sight, the young woman stood up before undressing totally to put on some pyjamas. She didn't bother to hide herself or her body. Byakugan eyes were on her at all time from every angle different. She didn't remember what privacy was like. They had stripped her from her intimacy.