Thank you all for the review, follow and favorite.
E120 Sasuke and Garaa found the Ōtsutsuki they had been chasing 'Urashiki Ōtsutsuki'. He was in the Land of Wind hunting for the Ichibi.
Garaa gave Boruto and his adopted son Shinki the mission of protecting and transporting the Ichibi to Konoha to Naruto.
Sasuke arrived to save them from Urashiki then took unconscious Boruto and Shinki to the Hospital of Konoha. Sasuke wasn't badly hurt by the Ōtsutsuki, he only lost his chakra. He needs to rest at home.
Sasuke thought a lot about what happened to Hinata, those last years. She didn't answer most of his questions, embarrassed. She said she could barely give birth. Unlike Hinata, she is a strong woman.
He knew she wouldn't tell him anything about the subject. He asked her so many times.
He must ask someone else. Someone who would help him without judgement. Maybe Hanabi? no she doesn't know about their relationship and maybe she will start researching the past. Temari was too bold; she could make him furious.
Shikamaru! He knew about them and probably knew everything that happened to her all those years.
He went to the Nara residence, Shikamaru just arrived, had dinner and was drinking beer and smoking a cigarette. He invited Sasuke to the porch where he always plays shogi.
"Give me that!"
"I didn't know you smoke!"
"I don't... I'm just very stressed and my mind wants to burst."
"Why? is there a problem with Sakura?"
"No, with the other one!"
"You talk like you have two wives."
"I couldn't even have one, don't make me laugh Nara"
"What did Hinata do this time?"
"What happened to her in those years?"
"You should ask her," he frowned.
"I did, and she won't tell me"
"What do you think happened?"
"She is using antidepressants and sleeping pills. She said she could barely give birth because of her health."
The Nara clan head was silent for a moment. He smoked deep.
"She was devastated after you left, she was in shock and didn't move from her bed for days, just staring in nowhere, she didn't sleep, didn't eat. Only clutching to a teddy. I visited her and talked to her, she sobbed and screamed and then she fell asleep for the first time in days. After a while, she went back to her daily life with her son but she was very depressed and nothing cheered her up. I've heard from Naruto that she visited the Uchiha residence all those years. She delivered her daughter at the Hyūga's and she stayed in the Hyūga compound for months until her health got better. Naruto did his best to help her recover and save their marriage but later he was back to his old self and as Hokage he was barely home. She suddenly had another deep depression after the accession. "
"I see" and he stood up to leave.
"Sasuke you can't leave! we are not finished yet. "
"You won, I have to go somewhere important"
"Wait... I know I told you to leave Naruto and Hinata to save their marriage, I think there is nothing to save anymore."
"Thank you, Shikamaru," Sasuke said sincerely.
The Hokage counsellor was shocked, he thanked him. He must have done him a big favour. How could he leave the board like that? What a drag?
Sasuke was about to leave when he heard, "Sasuke-kun please wait a minute." Temari called him.
"What is it?" he turned around.
"Please don't give up on Hinata, I know she seems distant and disturbed but she is truly crazy about you and she is suffering in silence."
"I know. Don't worry, I'll make her smile again."
And he left.
The Uchiha visited the Uzumaki's, he knows Naruto is in the Hokage tower, Boruto is asleep at the Hospital, Hinata must be alone with Himawari. He knocked on the door, but no one answered, he couldn't feel her chakra either, where could she be? He went to Sarada, and after some tricky questions he understood that Boruto was supposed to be camping with his family and his grandpa. He went to the Hyūga compound and asked the guards Hiashi whereabouts, he has important news to deliver to him. They told the Uchiha where their clan leader camps.
He wasted no time, it was late at night already, he was exhausted and out of chakra but he must see her, he must talk to her.
He finally found the camp. The campfire was out and everyone was sleeping in their tents.
What should he do now? He can't search all the tents for her.
Then he heard someone hitting on a tree stamp. It's a female, panting. He followed the sound and found her hitting a tree with her Hyūga taijutsu Gentle Fists.
He watched her for a while, with masked chakra but she felt him nonetheless. She stopped and started to look around not believing that Sasuke could be here.
He appeared from the darkness walking slowly toward her. He removed his cloak, folded it and placed it under the tree stamp. Removed his Katana and placed it on top of his cloak. She was staring with confused eyes. He faced her and stood in a fighting stance.
"Come on Hyūga hit me"
"Sasuke-kun please let me be, I'm not in the mood for this!"
He hit her hard in her stomach, making her roll and stop a few feet away. She was furious.
He flickers behind her. "I told you to hit me"
"NO"
He tried to hit her with his arm on her side. She defended with crossed arms. He followed with a taijutsu routine that she knew very well. She followed with defensive steps, until the routine was over.
"Again" he commended.
She attacked this time, he defended. She got more confident and her movements were flowing naturally.
"Again"
"Again"
"Again"
He was just defending, allowing her to let her frustration out. Until she couldn't anymore. She was still too weak, too thin for training and she probably didn't train in a long while.
"What Hyūga, exhausted already?" He smirked.
"Sasuke-Kun,w… what are you doing here?" She said, panting, her hands on her knees.
"Why didn't you tell me about your depression?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she frowned.
"Why? It not your fault, we all get depressed"
"Sasuke-Kun, what do you want?" she began to get irritated.
"I don't want to see you like this; I want the old Hinata."
"She left the day you left, but she is never coming back for real" she closed her eyes blocking the damn tears.
"I will bring her back, I promise" he flickered and left.
The next day she returned home. She was sore and every muscle hurts but a nice ache, she didn't feel in a really long time. She must train more.
She brought Himawari to train at the dojo of the Hyūga main house. Hanabi trained the kids every few days. Boruto was still at the Hospital, she visited him this morning. He is going to be so grounded.
Hinata went to the old team 8 training grounds. She wanted to be alone, not train in front of her family. She missed this place, she hadn't visited it in a long time. She started training on the pillars they had there. She suddenly felt him again. She doesn't know how to curse, otherwise she would.
Why is he following her everywhere?
"I waited for you!" He said.
"How did you know? " she was surprised.
"Because I know you!"
"No you don't, you never did" he thought she was a bored housewife toying with her husband's best friend. She can never forget that.
"I want to" he threw a kunai to her and attacked with his Katana. She is not strong with kunais like with her own hands. But she is a ninja and must know how to defend herself with kunais and attack with shurikens.
He was too strong and after a few minutes she was shaking and panting.
"You are too late," she answered.
"It is never too late" and he activated chidori in his Katana. She knew she don't have a chance against his chidori with a kunai, so she channelled chakra to her fists in Jūho Sōshiken Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists. This is the first time Sasuke sees them.
He was very impressed. He could see the chakra it requires, the enormous power it has.
He stopped his chidori and put his katana in it's Saya. "Hit that tree, '' he demanded; he wanted to see how powerful it was.
"It doesn't work that way, the lion heads drain the chakra network of those they touch." It reminded him of one of the seven mist swords Samehada that was in possession of Kisame, the partner of Itachi. Why is she always reminding him of his nee-san?
"My chakra is already drained," he chuckled.
"What Uchiha, exhausted already?" She smirked, repeating his words. He wanted to show her physically how much energy he has. But he tamed his impulse for another day.
"See you tomorrow Hyūga" and he flickered away. She was too drowsy to train anymore. She went home after she picked up Hima.
The next morning, she was there waiting for him as he promised.
"I see you're here early, are you waiting for me?" he smirked.
"Byakugan '' she stood in stance. She is determined to wipe that smug smirk from his face.
He removed his cloak and katana as before. He hasn't used his Mangekyo Sharingan yet. Maybe it's time. He activated his bloodline limit. She attacked; he defended every hit. She called Eight Trigrams sixty-four palms. Even with his Sharingan, he was too slow for the palms. It was too fast, he changed places with a rock in an instant before she hit him. The rock demolished in little pieces. She stopped her attack, triumphed. He looked surprised; he only knew Neji made this attack. He didn't know anything about her indeed.
He was having more fun than he had imagined. He had a brilliant idea to finish it off. "Amaterasu". On her shoulder, a little black flame blazed. She opened her lilac blouse in a hurry and removed it to not get burned. She had more layers underneath it. He frowned. "Sasuke-Kun what are you doing? you burned my clothes."
She was wearing a white long-arm shirt. But she made him feel like she was naked.
He grabbed his cloak and threw it on her shoulders. Her hair brushed his hand, smooth as waterfalls. He caressed his fingers through her strands without her noticing. He had missed the touch and feel of it.
"Why did you cut your hair? You are a Hyūga!" he asked, confused.
"Maybe you have forgotten that I'm not a Hyuga now, I'm Mrs. Uzumaki"
"For now!" he smirked.
She narrowed her eyes. What does he think of himself? First leave her to suffer for a decade then push her away and shame her that he was not there for her. Then he comes to train her and make those comments.
"You were also Mrs. Usuratonkachi before and with long hair. What has changed?"
"You changed, you weren't there, why would I keep it long? It's only an extra burden with two kids to look after."
She had her hair long only for him? "How did you know I love long hair?" He was astonished.
"I heard the girls talk about it on girls' night. After the war. The time I was visiting you at the hospital."
He was dumbfounded several times today. He remembers their time together. She was the best companion he could wish for.
"What were your feelings for me then?"
"Sasuke-kun, it was about fifteen years ago. I'm sure it doesn't matter anymore."
"It matters to me, tell me, I want to know."
"I don't know exactly, but I liked you, I wanted you to like me back and I think I had a crush on you. But you were like your best friend. No wonder he is like your brother."
She was scolding him by comparing him to that idiot, isn't she? He will show her who's the idiot. He grabbed her shoulder and put his lips on hers. She shoved him away with all her strength. He gave up smirking.
She threw his cloak on his smug face and went home. It hurts his chest that he was really the biggest idiot ever. She was his, she liked him. Now he thinks about it, she did like him, she never left him, she did everything for him, even in prison she didn't give up on him. She healed him, she helped him build his house, she made him his favourite food and made him a handmade gift. How could he be such an usuratonkachi? If he could turn the time!
And then he left her, he and Naruto, both of them, left her. No one cared about her. Until that Genjutsu. If she didn't marry Naruto would he notice her, after the council called for him? Maybe, she was his friend. And with her sweet nature he would eventually love her as he does now. But he learned his lesson, he will fight everything for her, he will hold on to her firmly and never ever let her go again.
E126 That afternoon Naruto came home with Biju Shukaku. He had a day off and a few days to guard him at home until the Biju's safe place was prepared. She was surprised that he could take a few days not present in the office without having the villagers' business delayed.
He always claimed that if he skipped one day not in the office, the village couldn't function, and that he must be there every hour of the day and night. He is only at home when he has guarding missions, like their house is some kind of prison.
The next day, family Uzumaki took the Ichibi for a walk around the village. They visited Ichiruki and had Ramen for lunch. What a surprise! Then they went to the Senju park. Naruto laid down on the grass and took a nap! The kids took the Biju to play somewhere! What a guarding mission!
Hinata was left alone on a bench! She was thinking of the trainer she had. She touched her lips. After all these years he kissed her again, she didn't react to it, she was too angry and hurt.
Suddenly he appeared from behind the trees at a distance in front of her. She knows he won't leave if she doesn't go to him.
"What do you want, Sasuke-kun?" she said irritated.
"I told you what I want" she lowered her gaze a little exhausted of his nonsense. He felt he was like a teenager again. He was never like that. He is having so much fun teasing her and her attitude was amusing.
After a while he spoke again.
"I wanted to see why you didn't show up at training. I understand the hokage has some days off to... Nap!"
"yeah he barely gets any sleep when he is at the hokage tower." She hypocrites herself.
"Right, it's the perfect time to nap, when you are making a family day."
"Why aren't you with your family?"
"Sakura is working, and Sarada is tasting some food tour thing with the Akimichi girl."
"So you are free to stalk me" what happened to her? she never was bold like this. She thought.
"I wouldn't call it stalking, more like conquering"
"Sasuke-kun would you please stop that"
"Stop what?" he teased.
"Your comments, like we will end up together. What made you think that?"
"You, you never gave up on me, you waited for me for years, you never lost hope in my return to you. You lived in our house because it reminded you of me, your son adores me, your cute daughter too. You don't have a promise to hold you back. You gave that idiot more than enough chances and opportunities to prove he deserves you but he doesn't. The only thing left is, to make you remember your love for me."
"I lost faith in you, I left your house. I don't want to be reminded of your love. Who told you I love you? I know Naruto loves me, he just doesn't know how to show it. You pushed me away so many times, I will not let that happen again."
"You know how many years I prepared for revenge from Itachi? Seven years, how much do you think I'm ready to wait on the love of my life to get convinced that she can only be happy with me. I'm sorry I pushed you away, I had misunderstood you. But now I know the truth, I know your feelings, I know what happened to you in my absence."
She lowered her gaze. "what happened to you out of the village? Without your cloak you look thinner than before. "
"I did my job and followed the Ōtsutsuki… and dreamed of you every day and every night. I saw you everywhere. You were my sweet torment. I couldn't get you out of my head. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat. Everything reminded me of you."
She smiled shyly. She was sorry for his suffering but in a way happy. But she won't show him. He will only tease her more.
He was relieved. It worked.
"Sasuke-kun i'm here to have fun with my family, please leave."
"You are alone like me."he smirked.
She lowered her head. He is right.
He teleported them to the Uchiha residence. It was like a haunted house. She didn't see it genuinely last time in the dark. But now she could see the deserted, overgrown weeds garden, the empty full of algae pond, the dusty full of spiderwebs house. Some trees died, the training ground was full of long grass.
"Why didn't you get the service to tend to it?" Did you live here like that? "
"I want you to see it first. This is exactly my life without you. There is no better example,"
She blushed and lowered her gaze in understanding.
"Sasuke-Kun, I have nothing to give you. I'm broken and lost, I don't even know how to smile anymore. "--
"You will, I will make you. You're not the only one broken and lost. When you treated me after the war, you brought calmness and warmth to my cold angry heart. Over the years, you made me human again. You taught me love and desire. I learned to live, with you showing up like my own sun, every now and then. I love you Hinata, and I will never stop loving you. "
He came closer to her, her face was wet with tears. He lifted her chin, wiped her tears with his thumb and came closer to kiss her. She didn't push him this time. She answered his kiss. He groaned in relief and happiness that she didn't push him away, that she understood his desperation for her. He pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss. She moaned and clutched his cloak pulling him closer too. She could feel his hunger, his need for her. They broke the kiss out of breath.
He looked at her deep in the eyes. His eyes softened.
"You're mine Hinata, I won't leave you to him, not again." He whispered in a warm deep voice. He kissed her forehead. And brought her back to the park.
"Come to the training ground tomorrow, I'll wait for you" and he flickered away.
She couldn't sleep all night, not from insomnia or anxiety but from bliss. He told her he loved her for the first time. She never thought the Uchiha would say those words. He told her she is his and he'll never stop loving her. She happily touched her lips. He never kissed her like that before, he is really conquering her. In the sweetest way possible.
-- They know me here, this part reminded me of one of my favorite fictions. That hit on her knuckles with his Katana love it.
Thank you all for reading. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think
