Disclaimer: Naruto & co. don't belong to me. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter: The Pact

"Yuki-san," whispered a purple-haired Hyuuga. It was Hinata. She was sitting by Yuki's bed at Konoha's main hospital. They were at the private wing of the building - normally reserved to only members of the Hyuuga clan, only because Hyuugas needed specialists to help heal them. Sasuke entered the room just then, with Neji following close behind him. "Sasuke-kun. Neji.... How did the meeting go?" According to the blank expression on Neji's face and Sasuke's eyes that did not want to meet hers, she assumed that something big had happened. The two men didn't answer her.

"How is she?" Sasuke asked, though knowing exactly how 'well' she was. He had asked Naruto and Sakura who had come by earlier to visit her. They said that there was no improvement. It had been a little more than a week since the incident. And still she hadn't awakened.

"J-just now I... I thought that her heart rate had gone up... I don't know if it was only my imagination...." She trailed off as she gave a worried glance to the unconscious girl.

"Hinata.... We need to go now." Neji said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Sasuke was left standing alone inside the room.

"Kakashi-sensei. I know you're here." Kakashi appeared from outside the open window and he stepped inside. His eyes weren't on Sasuke though. They were fixed on the face of his sister.

"She's never been unconscious this long... for such a long time. The first time she blacked out was the time she had experimented on her bloodlimits. It was just before she became anbu. She nearly died then."

"What did she do?"

"You know how the bloodlimit heritage can only be compatiblewith 'pure bloods'. Yuki tried to use both byakugan and sharingan for a little over two minutes though she started off with her optimum level of chakra." Sasuke was openly shocked at that. Only two minutes? "She can take it up to three minutes now, but... it'd be like you going for a third chidori when you were 12. Without an extra power source." The younger man narrowed his eyes. He never thought that the consequences could be so great. Sasuke looked intently at the older man's face. His mind immediately shoved off the thought and concentrated on what had happened earlier that day. Kakashi was present at the meeting - even if he was only half-Uchiha, he was still one of the only relatives Sasuke had left. "She'll be so pissed when she wakes up... she never liked being saved by people."

"Other than you," Sasuke silently thought. Kakashi turned towards him, looking thoughtful. "What?"

"How troublesome.... She'll be even more ticked off once she finds out about the pact!" Kakashi exclaimed, following it with a sigh. "Better polish my running shoes.... I'll be going."

"Checking up on the Hokage's office?"

"Hn... something like that." Kakashi disappeared.

Sasuke sat down on the chair beside Yuki's bed, gazing at her bandaged face. Her mask still covered the lower half of her face.

What a state she had been in when he had carried her back. Sasuke was too unnerved to bring Itachi back to his holding at the Hokage's secret office, and Neji saw that, so Sasuke had taken Yuki to the hospital instead.

She was a limp body. Utterly still and looked almost lifeless. Bruises covered her body where cloth had been shredded. Her hair was matted with blood. The blood on the gash had clotted, and made the wound look worse than it really was. Sasuke found out later that it had only been skin deep. It took a while for them to realize why no oxygen was being circulated around her body. She was turning deathly blue. As if she wasn't already pale in the first place. Apparently there was blood stuck on her mask. It was blocking the pathway of air to her nose and mouth. If that weren't bad enough, she was still bleeding from her throat. Her ribs were fractured from the fight. She was suffering internal bleeding as well.

Thank god Tsunade was well enough to help.

His ears pricked up when he noticed a change in her heart rate. The machine that displayed it showed a slight increase in the rate, confirming his thoughts. Suddenly her breathing picked up. Sasuke edged as close as he could to her. Was she waking up?

"Yuki-chan...." he whispered, his hot breath on her cheek.

"S-Sas-suke...k-kun?" she whispered back, her eyelids fluttering.

"Don't try to get up," he warned gently, although he was feeling abnormally ecstatic. She woke up! "Don't. You're in the hospital. You've been sleeping for over a week.... Itachi is safe from Konoha." Sasuke saw her try in vain to pick up her hand. He put his own hand on top of hers. "Don't try to move just yet." He didn't know why he was acting that way. Why he just wanted to touch her again....

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Sasuke nearly jumped out of his skin.

"For what?"

"I didn't know... how... to tell anyone... about... my byakugan eyes...." She saw Sasuke stiffen and turned her eyes away in shame. She felt as though she had betrayed them yet again. Sasuke wouldn't ever forgive her again... would he?

"It's alright, Yuki-chan." He said. Yuki turned back in surprise. She caught him blushing as he turned away. "W-well, I wouldn't tell anyone if I had a double-bloodline either. Every single person on this village would be after me..."

"Why?"

"I don't know..." he mumbled, looking down at his feet. "I better go get someone to call Naruto and Kakashi-sensei." Yuki watched his back as he walked out of the room. He glanced back before he stepped out and gave her a little smile.

More came in than she expected. As she was propped up to a sitting position by a nurse after Tsunade gave her go-ahead, she saw Kakashi, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura beside her. They exchanged smiles as the nurse left. It was then when she saw the other visitors. Tsunade, Kurenai, Asuma, Shikamaru, Kiba, Neji, Hinata and Hyuuga Hiashi - the head of the Hyuuga clan. It was silent, save from the beeps of the machine near her.

"I'm not dead, you know. There's no need to look so solemn," she said irritably. She had regained most of her control on her body while waiting for Sasuke to come back.

"Still spunky, huh? You forget, you won't get out of here easily. You've still got to stay here for a few more days," Kakashi said. Yuki gave an unladylike snort and rolled up her eyes.

"You, among everyone else I know, should realize this bed won't keep me here," Yuki said dryly.

"B-but, Yuki-chan! You're still injured!" Hinata squeaked. Yuki returned her gaze to the crowd at the other end of the room.

"Tsunade-sama?" Tsunade gave her a little smile and stepped forward.

"I'm sure you recognize all these people here...."

"Kurenai-san, Asuma-san... we met the day I became jounin. Shikamaru-san... we've met, not face to face, but we've met once before. Kiba-san and Neji-sama... you two were at the watchtower." Kiba's and Neji's eyes widened. They didn't think she would have noticed. Neji didn't think she was well enough to recognize him at that last few moments. "Hinata-sama... Hiashi-sama..." The two Hyuugas gave her a slight nod. Realization began to dawn in on her face. "I see... I'm at the Hyuuga's private hospital wing, aren't I?" It was a rhetorical question. She absolutely knew where she was, judging the direction at which the sunlight was streaming in from the window. "Come to take me away?"

"No way... why would we do that?" Hinata protested, when no one else said a word.

"I have the byakugan, and no seal on my forehead. Who's to seal it when I die if the Hyuugas don't do something about it now?" Yuki said coldly. "Well, it doesn't matter. Just get it done and over with."

"Your mother was also the impatient type, too." Hyuuga Hiashi was staring at her intently. She stared right back. Her mother? "I remember when we were children-"

"Please tell me who my mother is, Hiashi-sama," she said, interrupting him, no longer feeling resentful of the power he could have over her in acknowledging her birthright. Hiashi looked a little pensive.

"We came to a conclusion that it was Reika. Hyuuga Reika. My sister." Only Yuki was surprised at this. It seemed the others had already been informed earlier. "Would you like to hear the whole story?"

"M-maybe n-not n-n-now," she stammered. Everyone was still staring at her, but she was occupied with only herself. If what he said were true, then Neji and Hinata would also be her relatives.... Everything was going too fast. She felt the world start spinning around her.

"She needs her rest now," Tsunade chirped, attempting to usher them out of the room. Only Hiashi, Kakashi and Tsunade were left in the room. "Do you feel alright, Yuki-chan?" she asked gently as she moved to her side and put a hand to her forehead. "You look a little pale." Kakashi snorted. Tsunade gave him a dirty look. "Paler than usual."

"Yuki," Hiashi said, the very tone of his voice demanding attention. Yuki had no choice but to respond to it. "Once you get out of this hospital, you will be staying with us-"

"Why?" Yuki asked sharply.

"Kakashi-san and Godaime-sama have informed me that your chakra-control is excellent, perfect even, but you lack discipline in controlling your heritage." Hiashi paused for a moment while she digested what he just said. "You will stay with us until you gain control over both your byakugan and your sharingan."

"Kakashi-niichan?" Yuki looked to her brother questioningly, not knowing why she felt so uncertain.

"It might help you in the long run." That was the only advice he had offered.

"Alright. Only until I get that control," she said, keeping a steady tone in her voice. Hiashi nodded and gave her his get-well wishes before leaving. Only Tsunade and Kakashi remained. "Tell me... what... what's happened to Uchiha Itachi?"

"Sleeping behind the barrier. You did a good job, Yuki-chan," Tsunade said with a grin. She turned around to leave, but stopped as she reached the doorway. "Oh, Yuki-chan, you're on paid leave till you leave the Hyuugas." Yuki gave her a grin and said goodbye.

"Niichan?" Yuki had been wondering about the blank look in her elder brother's eyes. It couldn't have been worry. He's never looked like he was worried about her... much. That was how she preferred it. "Kakashi-niichan...." she repeated when he didn't respond.

"Your father was my half-brother." It was like lightning. The way he said that was like putting a needle to her heart. Was it supposed to matter? Why was everyone telling her all these things at once?

"Is that so? Well, you're still my big brother, right?" she smiled up at him. He chuckled and patted her on the head. "It'll be weird starting to call you 'Uncle' from now on... you've always been my big brother." His eyes curved up in a smile.

"What are you still doing on that bed for? I know you've been itching to get up since I got in the room." Yuki giggled and slowly shifted her legs off her bed while still maintaining a shifting position. "Tsunade-sama is expert in healing you."

"I didn't want them all to know, else I'd have to go with Hiashi-sama and Neji-sama right now. Hinata-sama would have been trying in vain to get me back to bed.... Hinata-sama has such a gentle nature." Kakashi's expression turned serious.

"They can help you, Yuki-chan. Don't try to fight them." Kakashi couldn't say the one thing he wanted to most, that 'they won't force you to do anything'.

"I'm to be sent off to the most powerful clan in Konoha. You expect me to be silly enough to pick a fight with them on my own?!" she said incredulously.

"Well," he said with a little smirk that hid behind his mask. "I wouldn't put it past you." His chuckle was met with an irritated frown. In truth, Kakashi thought that Yuki probably didn't even know the true extent of her prowess was a ninja. It was one thing to have either the powerful Hyuuga line or the talented, but terrifying, Uchiha line to back you up, but to have both.... Talent and power were two very dangerous things to mix.

Yuki would find out when the Hyuugas take her in.

"Yuki!" Hinata gasped as she saw the lithe frame of the silver-haired girl at the entrance to the Hyuuga home. One of the watches took Yuki and her satchel to the guest entrance. "Y-Yuki-san! You're out of the hospital too soon...." She had only seen her wake earlier that morning. It was now late evening.

"Good evening, Hinata-sama," Yuki said, remembering her manners as she gracefully took a seat opposite her hostess. "I hope I did not come when you were still unprepared."

"Not at all." That was Neji. He had suddenly appeared beside Hinata. He sat down beside the purple-haired girl. "Hiashi-sama informed us that you would be coming this evening."

"Hiashi-sama?" Yuki repeated, dumbfounded.

"Silly as her mother used to be," came a grumbling voice. Yuki looked up to see another Hyuuga stand before her. Hiashi took a seat in front of the two younger Hyuugas. "Reika never understood the limitations of her body. She nearly pushed it beyond repair before she got control of her chakra."

"Thank you for receiving me, Hiashi-sama," said Yuki courteously.

"However," he continued. "You have learnt to control your chakra already. You performed The Heavenly Spin, according to Neji." Yuki nodded slowly. "That is... exceedingly impressive. But..." He just left the word hanging. Yuki waited patiently. "When did you first realize that you had both the heritage of Hyuuga and Uchiha?"

"I turned five when I found my sharingan. Eight when I could activate the byakugan," she answered.

"So you acquired skill with the sharingan first... Your talent preceded your power. That would explain how you managed to advance yourself so fast." Hiashi saw the suspicious expression in her eyes and said, "The Fifth has told me a little of your past achievements." It seemed to settle her a bit. "I've been rude. Please. Hinata, show her to her room. Neji will also accompany you."

"I can stand on my own," Yuki said. Hiashi nodded in acknowledgement but let Neji follow them anyway.

"Yuki-san..." Hinata said hesitantly as she stepped into her designated chamber. "I'll try my best to make your stay here pleasant."

"I'm sure you will, Hinata," Yuki said, smiling at her, though it could barely be seen behind her mask. Hinata looked infinitely relieved and smiled shyly back. When she left, Yuki and Neji began staring at each other. "I mean you no challenge, Neji-sama." He gave her a slight nod.

"I begin training at the eastern area at dawn," he said. Yuki acknowledged it as a silent invitation. Neji left after a final look over. Yuki silently sank on to her futon.

"They're an odd bunch," she remembered thinking as she fell asleep.

"You're a little later than I expected," Neji remarked as he saw her coming down from the steps of the guest house to the eastern area.

"Oh? You must be used to waking up early then," she said. The two started staring at each other again. Yuki smiled. All the tension from the day before was gone. Yuki felt none of her unease any longer. Neji smirked back.

"So, how did you learn how to-" The Heavenly Spin.

"I saw you do it during the chuunin exam. I got the concept from Kakashi-niichan and taught myself it."

"And you can see-"

"All 64 chakra release points? No. Unlike yours, my byakugan is not yet completely developed."

"Her bloodline must lean more towards the Uchiha side," Neji thought, frowning in concentration.

"Neji-sama..."

"There's no need for us to be very formal."

"Neji, what am I doing here?" Neji was caught off-guard with the question. He frowned even deeper. Yuki stepped back in alarm. She did not want to fight a Hyuuga while her body was still recuperating. Even if Tsunade had managed to patch her up pretty well, her chakra was still at too low a level.

"You're to learn to control both your byakugan and your sharingan." Yuki waited for more of an explanation and was rewarded with it moments later. "It is unfortunate that both your heritage limits developed independently of each other. It would have been easier if you had received both at the same time, but now, your path will be more difficult."

"How?" Yuki seemed a little suspicious. "How would you know what would be easier for me? Have there ever been any more Uchiha-Hyuuga children?"

"That is not a tale to be told this early in the morning," Hiashi said, appearing near them. They did not notice him walking up. The two turned in attention. "Neji, you may continue training if you wish, but Yuki-"

"Hiashi-sama?"

"You will need to build up your energy first." Hiashi led her to another house. There was food on a table. He was going to feed her this early in the morning? Yuki felt a little green. "If you wish to train with Neji, you will eat first. Otherwise, you will stay here until you can eat, then I will train you myself." Training either way... heh. "Hinata?"

"Father?"

"Yuki will need refreshments." Yuki sighed at it and glanced sideways at Hiashi as Hinata turned to call for a servant. There was a far away look in his eyes. Did she remind him awfully much of his sister, Reika...? Her mother.... Maybe. Yuki sat, looking determined at the food-filled table.

"Fine! Might as well finish everything sooner than later," she thought.

Hyuuga Hiashi took her back to Neji when she was done. She felt overly filled with food, and, ultimately, sick, but Neji helped her work it off and soon, he got her back into her rhythm. Hiashi only came to look at them every once in a while, always looking at the sidelines, never bothering. Hinata came once, too, to give them refreshments, lunch and evening meal. Neji stayed with her all the time. Helping her work out. Yuki knew that whatever they were working on her was accomplishing itself. At the end of the day, Yuki felt completely rejuvenated. She did not expect to have been able to completely return to herself for another day or two.

"Thank you, Neji," she said, as they parted for the night. Neji returned the greeting with a hint of a smile. Yuki returned to her room feeling content. Maybe tomorrow they would start hassling her about her 'discipline' with her eyes. Yuki thought that that was exactly what they were going to do, so she decided to go straight to sleep after cleaning herself up.

Unfortunately for her, her body wasn't so kind. She was restless and she couldn't sleep, so she decided to go up and do a round of light exercise to tire herself out a little. Once outside her room, she noticed a little light from a distance. It came from the house where she had been taken to that morning. Naturally, curiously came over her. Though feeling a little guilty from her actions, she used her anbu skills to sneak over to take a peek, if only to make sure that everything was alright. The clan's elders were all there. They were on one side of the room, facing Hiashi and Neji.

"She has to prepare herself as soon as possible, Hiashi," said one particular old man. Hiashi merely shook his head at him.

"If you knew her, you'll know that she wouldn't accept it so easily," he protested.

"She is not Reika, Hiashi. Reika is long gone. Even though you have forgiven her for running away with Uchiha Taka, the rest of us cannot be entirely sure of forgiving her for forsaking her heritage. The least among her giving birth to a-"

"She did not forsake her heritage. She passed it on to her daughter," he insisted, interrupting him. "And Yuki has taken some of her mother's characteristics. I can assure you of that." The elders were silent. "You cannot push her into this."

"The pact was made, Hiashi. You agreed yourself that it was for her own protection. Are you going to go back on your decision?"

"No. What I'm trying to tell you is that she is not ready to be told yet," said Hiashi. "When Reika was told that she was to marry someone other than Taka, she ran away. We couldn't catch her. If she decided not to run away, she'd've stayed and fought us. Yuki will not run away. I know it. And when you tell her that she's to marry someone, even as close to her as Uchiha Sasuke is, there's no stopping her from injuring us to break the pact instead of running away." The elders were silent once again.

"When will you think she will be be ready?"

"That is up to her."

"How will we know?"

"We won't." All eyes suddenly turned to Neji. "True, she does seem to be more open to Neji, but we will not use him to-"

"It's alright, Hiashi-sama," said Neji. "When-... if the time comes, I will tell her."

A/N I bet you're thinkin': "What the f---?! Getting married?" There's a reason to my madness. I promise!! I've got some pain in store for her, if any of you are thinking of killing her (or me) right now haha.

Maliciously Creative: Thank you so much for clarifying!!! and I am aware that Itachi shouldn't have been able to move in that last chapter, but you were right on the point, he is a freak haha, if only he weren't so damn hot... o.O; same goes with Yuki in this chapter - they're both freaks with super-Tsunade-woman looking after them (Itachi wasn't killed off because Konoha wants whatever secrets from Akatsuki he has with him - in this fic), and anyway, I don't know how you'll feel about what I've arranged the SasuOC situation in this chapter, it might even turn you off... but that's ok -.- I like how the story has gone just like it has. And if you're still going to continue reading, then I might as well let you know that I'm not going to do anything fatal to Tsunade. She's cool :)