Hinata walked down the empty halls of the Uchiha compound. Electricity and water had finally been restored to the old structure, a happenstance Karin and Suigetsu were all too excited for. Hinata had noticed a change in them since Taka had entered the village; the pair bickered less and whispered more. They could often be found in one of their respective bedrooms, chatting exclusively with one another. She was unsure whether to be weary of the change or accept it as a positive development. It didn't take Hinata long to find the room she was looking for. Sasuke's room was empty save for the new furniture he had acquired; the bathroom door was ajar. Light and steam slipped through the crack, evaporating in the cool air of the bedroom. Things suddenly felt too real for Hinata as she took in the room under normal lighting. She was back home, being with Sasuke was no longer a forbidden adventure; everyone either knew or suspected, even her father. It was a fact that was easy to ignore under the cover of darkness, when she was laying in his arms surrounded by the dim light of a few candles. They were on the verge of war, others were scrambling to put their lives back together; did she really deserve to be so content, so at peace with her life choices? Hinata mentally shook herself before moving to enter the bathroom. Sasuke was standing under the stream of what must be hot water, his back to her. He made no move to acknowledge her but she was fairly certain he was aware of her presence, he always was. Her eyes lingered on his naked frame, taking in his muscular physique. Three glass panels framed him, his pale skin stark contrast to the black tile of the two walls behind him.
"Is there something you need, or have you just come to stare?" Sasuke teased, shifting slightly to look at her.
"I need to tell you something and I am certain it will make you angry." Hinata started. Her cheeks were flushed, but her demeanor was serious. Sasuke turned the water off and took a towel off the top of the glass door.
"What is it?" He asked, running the towel through his damp hair.
"Neji and I went to spy on Danzo today." She admitted, her words spewing out quickly as if the faster she said them the faster this argument could end.
"Not alone?" Sasuke raised a brow to her, wrapping the towel around his waist before stepping out to join her in front of the vanity. The caution surprised him in comparison to the many attempts she'd made against the masked man during her stent as a "hostage."
"No, of course not. That would have been careless." She clasped her hands together by her waist, her nerves twisting more with each second this conversation drudged on.
"I knew you were hiding something from me." Sasuke took a deep breath. "Where did you get the intel on Danzo?"
"Sai from team Yamato." Hinata answered. "I didn't want to keep it from you." She defended; positive her actions had planted a seed of doubt about her in his mind. "I just didn't want you to react and do anything…detrimental."
"What did you learn?" He disregarded her defense, staying on topic. Guilt flooded her. Sasuke betrayed no emotion to her, a sign of his hurt.
"There were anomalies." She offered, her voice meek. "His right arm displayed disrupted chakra points and…it's hard to explain."
"I don't understand." Sasuke admitted, keeping his eyes on the black countertops, not meeting her gaze. "What type of anomalies?"
"It's like he has several…sharingan, tied into the network of his arm." Hinata shifted to face him fully, moving closer. "I think we should tell my father."
"I think you have already involved enough of your family." Sasuke quipped. It was like a slap in the face to her. Hinata took a half step back.
"Do what you want." She shook her head. "I'm going to my father." Hinata turned on her heels, intent on leaving. Sasuke grabbed her bicep, jerking her back to him.
"Are you angry with me?" He asked.
"Yes." She admitted, pressing her palm against his firm chest, refusing to allow him to pull her any closer to him.
"You went behind my back." He noted. "Lied to me when I asked."
"I wanted to protect you." Hinata defended. "Help you…once again!"
"I didn't ask to be protected." Sasuke remarked. Hinata was becoming more upset by the second, yet Sasuke's face conveyed nothing.
"I can't be without you!" Hinata exclaimed. "I can't lose you to the darkness…to the poison that is revenge. Don't you see that, in the past eight months my life has become completely entangled in yours."
"I am no fool, Hinata." Sasuke stated calmly.
"You walk into battle, without hesitation, without thought, and without appropriate intel." Hinata began. "You did it with Itachi, with Killer Bee….and you would have certainly done it with Danzo." She jerked her arm free from his grasp and moved away from him. "You may be skilled at masking your feelings, but the desire for power and revenge is something you've never been able to hide."
"Hinata…" Sasuke reached for her again. The dark-haired girl brushed his hand away.
"I am sorry that I gave you this sense of betrayal, but I am not sorry for my actions." She stated. "I love you. Whether you ask me to or not I will continue to act in your best interest." With that Hinata ducked out of the bathroom, leaving Sasuke alone.
…
Sakura clasped her hands behind her back as she walked silently next to Ino. Their dinner had been fun with minimal awkwardness; the same could not be said for their walk home. They were relatively alone now, without the company of others to buffer the definition of their encounters hung heavy between them.
"Thanks for dinner." Ino smiled, glance to Sakura as they continued walking.
"Of course." Sakura beamed. "It was exceptionally good tonight."
"It's the rebuild." Ino explained. "There is a rejuvenated sense of hope in the village."
"Ironic." The pink-haired girl muttered. "Given the looming promise of doom associated with the almost guaranteed Fourth Great Ninja War."
"It's Naruto…and the return of Sasuke." Ino admitted. "It's no wonder, the two are undeniably strong; possibly our greatest assets."
"We had plenty of impressive assets before Sasuke's return." Sakura stated. "But I am looking forward to team 7 officially reconnecting."
"Hoping it may ignite new feelings for him?" Ino asked, concern shone on her beautiful face. Sakura snorted.
"I am thoroughly convinced nothing will come between Hinata and him. Sasuke's return is proof enough of that." Sakura shrugged, nudging Ino with her shoulder. "I'm less concerned with Sasuke now anyhow." A light blush flashed across the blonde's cheeks.
"Where do we go from here?" Ino asked, the conversation naturally shifting to their recent indiscretions.
"I like you." Sakura admitted, boldly. "I'd like to see where this could go."
"You want to date?" Ino asked, a tad surprised. "Openly?"
"I want to continue to hang out." Sakura giggled. "See where this new development takes us, before we have any more complicated conversations."
"Okay." The two fell quiet, continuing on towards Ino's home. The night felt almost normal, aside from the present tension building between them. Each girl subconsciously moved close to one another, their arms brushing against each other occasionally. After a long beat of silence Ino spoke again. "Would you like to stay over again? It's always so much fun."
"Sure." Sakura smiled.