Chapter 5: Two Hyugas, Uchiwa, Haruno. Harmonize

Neji and Hinata lives now in an apartment located in a small anonymous building of Konoha. They’re very well installed. Neji go on missions as usual and Hinata works in the apartment. The day of her departure, the Hyuga grandmother gave her a pile of scrolls and books about Hyuga’s techniques while saying to her: "You must improve your defensive force. These techniques are old and no more used by our family currently. But in the situation where you are, they will be useful for you. Try to master at least one."

At the beginning, Hinata put the scroll at the bottom of a wall cupboard. But Neji after studying them give her cousin one scroll.
Neji: "Look at this. There are techniques used by the Hyuga’s women to protect themselves and protect their children, at the time where only the men were ninja. There are some who are adapted to pregnant women and young mother."
This is enough to divert Hinata from her medicinal herb plantations on the balcony. Protect her child is part of her duties. She begin to train on her balcony.
Hinata rarely goes out of the appartement, only when Neji can accompagny her, and covered with a thick kimono and a large obi to hide her belly which starts to grow. It’s a peaceful and studious life, in a small apartment decorated carefully. She learn how to cook too, a real cooking, not the rations of ninja survival cooked quickly on a fire.

How did he find them? Mystery.
But Itachi came to see her several times... without worrying about Neji’s presence. There’s an agreement between Hinata and him, Neji isn’t allowed to intervene. He never stays a long time, just the time to take pleasure with his wife, to inform about the situation and the child. Sometimes he eat with her, under the white eye of Neji which stay only for not leting them alone. Always, Itachi gives her various package. Once, there was rare scroll of techniques, for the child. Another time, Uchiwa’s documents...
Hinata: "Neji... this document says that... I am the owner of the quarter of the Uchiwa properties, and my child of another quarter... that..."
Neji: "A lot. At this rate, Hinata, you’ll be able to make career in the building."
She has a small laughter.
Hinata: "Or doing many children to fill the empty houses."
Itachi swallows his piece of fish with rice and answers: "Why not ?"
She still laughs by serving again rice to him. Neji feels he’s a bother between them. He finishes his meal quickly and leaves in his room. How can she do that? How can she speak so quietly, laugh so peacefully in the presence of the largest criminal of the village?

He asks her the question one day, whereas he accompanies her to the market. Hinata examines a melon and answers him with lowvoice: "He’s an human like the others, Neji. And he’s my husband."
Neji: "Take a bigger melon. You call that a marriage? It’s a simple contract. He’s here only from time to time and... "
Hinata: "I prefer that rather than lives all my life with a husband that Father would have chosen for me in a few years. Ah, this melon will be perfect for this evening. At least,I chose my husband, and he lets me live as I want."
Neji: "I really don’t understand"
In the greengrocer, they meet a young woman with pink hair carrying a basket full of carrots.
Sakura: "Oh, the Hyuga cousins! What a surprise to see you there!"
Hinata: "Hello Sakura! It’s the first time that I see you here too."
Sakura: "However I often come. I don’t live very far and I buy my food here. what do you do here?"
Neji: "The same things. We live in a colocation in the district... "

Hinata started to examin vegetables to make her choice, and Sakura looks her strangely. She tightens her hand like to take a leek and touch the Hinata‘s hand. Immediately, surprise invades the face of Sakura. But before she even has time to open her mouth, Neji takes her wrist and the drag her outside while shouting in Hinata to finish alone. With fast step, he drag Sakura in a lonely street and stops to speak.
Neji: "Don’t say anything!"
Sakura howls: "Let me go, Neji! "
he releases her wrist. She begins to speak.
Sakura: "About Hinata..."
Neji: "Wait, not here. Let’s go to the apartment to discuss! There’re things which shouldn’t fall into all ears."

Once installed in front of a tea cup at Neji and Hinata’s appartment, Sakura tackles the subject directly.
Sakura:"5 months of pregnancy, Am I right?"
Neji: "yes... how?"
Sakura: "Don’t underestimate a medical specialist. Explain me."
She seems very tense, as if she were concerned with the Hinata’s problem from a personal point of view.
Neji: "that’s not your problem."
Sakura: "I know already too much. Tell me "
Neji: "Hokage is well informed, and she covers Hinata. I’m here to protect her."
Sakura: "And the father?"
Neji: "Hinata doesn’t want to speak about him.."
Sakura become white, and asked a perturbing question to Neji.
Sakura: "... she... was raped...?"
Neji doesn’t know what to answer and he’s disturbed a little.
Neji: "No, I don’t think..."

She agree for this contract because of the situation, but by choice too. And about her close relations with Itachi... they seem rather good...
Sakura: "You don’t think?"
Neji: "To tell the true, the situation is a little complicated... but Hinata and her man are... rather well together. She seems always happy to see him. I would see immediately if she were maltreated... "
Sakura: "It may be not seen... it may be.. .. more subtle pressures..."
Neji: "Listen…, ask her directly. but I can ensure you that Hinata chose to have this child. She even speaks about have other!"
The image of Hinata surrounded by children seems to slacken Sakura who does a small contracted smile.
Sakura: "I see her very well as a mother. It reassure me, if you say that. If Hinata is happy... "
Neji: " If you want to speak to her..."
will sakura: "I must go home, I have work to do before tomorrow. But I will come again to see her. Goodbye, Neji."
Perplexed, Neji accompanies back Sakura to the door. Why does she interress in Hinata?

Sakura come to visit Hinata several times. Since the meeting at the market, Hinata doesn’t leave home anymore. Her state is seen too much. Then, Sakura’s visits please her. They speak much about medicine, Hinata knowing about pharmacy and Sakura about the medical practice. Sitting besides the two girls, Neji doesn’t understand the largest part of the subject. He arranged with Sakura so that they do their market at the same time. Hinata’s lists are sometimes like a coded language for Neji, language that Sakura understand without problem. She makes fun of him on this subject. Neji answer her that to go to market isn’t a man’s thing, which made Sakura laughs more.