Author: Cheza-chan

Rating: PG/PG-13

Summary: No one should try to hold onto the past. You cause yourself even more hurt and pain when you do. Look to the future and start anew.

Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own Naruto. I can always dream that I do though.

A/N: Ara, ara… (scratches the back of her head) What am I going to do with this fic? It keeps getting left behind. Mmmm! This is a more Hyuuga-based chapter than the others… which were Sakura-based; she's still in the chapter, mind you. And, if anything seems like… not entirely feasible or possible… I apologize beforehand (bows low) Keep on reading! I'll toss out something good, eventually…

Chapter Six – New Life

Hinata could only stand by as she watched them both get dressed in identical uniforms; Neji had agreed to wear the vest for the mission. Hanabi snapped her shuriken pouch shut after making sure it was full then stretched her arms high, sighing.

"Don't forget this." Neji tossed the black mask at her and she caught it.

"Onee-sama, I wish you were joining us," the youngest Hyuuga mumbled, pulling the cloth down over the lower half of her face. She smoothed it down so it blended in with the black turtleneck she wore under her vest.

"Hinata." Neji's voice sliced through the heir's doubtful thoughts.

Hinata looked over to see him smiling at her even though his face was partially hidden. With her hands folded lightly atop her stomach, she headed to him. Hanabi rolled her eyes and decided to give them their space. A Jounin already, this was her third A-rank mission. They usually went together—all three of them—but Hinata wouldn't be able to resume handling missions, no matter what rank, for another few months. Neji released the hair he'd been holding up, allowing Hinata to gather it together and form a loose braid. Folding it upward, she wrapped a band around it to keep the lengthy locks in place.

Hanabi had been all but ready and willing to cut off Neji's hair during the last mission; he had gotten it caught up during their hasty escape. It had been carelessness on his part, so he was now taking precautions. Neji grabbed Hinata's hand before she got away and raised it to his covered lips. "I'm sorry. I'm going to miss the birth."

"It can't be helped," Hinata said softly, lowering her eyes.

"Have it recorded for me when I return?"

She blushed, leaning into the caressing touch to the side of her face. "I'd rather not…"

"Neji-niisama!" Hanabi sang from outside.

Neji lowered his mask for a brief moment to place a kiss to Hinata's lips. "Wait for me." He swept by her and out of the room.

Hanabi stopped the door from closing, her eyes grinning for her as she excitedly spoke. "Guess who's here to take you to a join baby shower?"

"Hi-na-ta!"

Neji glowered at the back of Naruto's head as he was pushed out of the way. The blonde rushed into the room and placed both hands to the furiously blushing Hinata's stomach. "Feel it kick! Takes after that bastard, Neji, huh?"

"Hanabi," Neji scoffed, turning away. His order for them to leave fell short as he caught sight of the dark figure purposely standing in the shadows as to not be seen. His eyes narrowed and he grasped Hanabi's hand, pulling her along. The young girl drew closer to her cousin's side.

Sasuke stiffened at the reaction and stepped further back into the shadows. He closed his eyes, wondering how Naruto got him to agree to this. It was more of an ambush than an agreement. With Shikamaru controlling his movements by way of his Kage Mane, he was forced out of his home where two blondes, one man and one woman, accosted him.

"Ready, Sasuke?"

So wrapped up in his thoughts was he that he didn't realize Naruto and Hinata were in the hall with him. His eyes wandered to the woman's stomach. 'So it is his…'

"Tsunade-no-baachan agreed to host it at her place," Naruto stated with a grin. Both him and Sasuke had been made aware of the reasons which brought Sakura back to her hometown and were asked to keep an eye on her whenever possible. Sasuke pushed away from the wall and followed after the duo. His curiosity was piqued with every nervous stare Hinata shot him over his shoulder but he chalked it up as her being scared also.

Naruto wrestled for a few moments, once outside the Hyuuga complex, on how to carry the woman. This only made the already shy Hinata blush a deep crimson.

§§§

Tsunade smirked where she stood out on the veranda of the building nestled beside the Hokage Monument. Naruto appeared before her, Hinata in his arms, followed by Sasuke. "Say something, bozu?" she drawled, crossing her arms. "I could hear your mutterings from all the way in the town."

Naruto placed Hinata on the solid ground and she backed up until she came in contact with another solid, yet warm, structure. Sasuke's hand landed lightly on her shoulder and he led her into the building where most were already gathered. A yelling match ensued between Hokage and Genin.

"Sasuke-kun!" Ino cooed, hurrying to his side. He flinched as she grabbed his arms, half-expecting to be punched again. "Can you believe it?" she sighed. "A baby shower… when just yesterday, we were babies ourselves. Huh?" She rocked him back and forth.

"Ino," Sakura stressed, a tick appearing above her eye. "Get away from Sasuke-kun."

"Ah! Sakura, gomen. Was it you talking to me, or your big, old forehead?"

"What was that, Ino-pig?"

"I'm not the one that looks like a beached whale!"

The entire room fell silent. The food Chouji had been pilng into his mouth spilled out as he gaped at the women. Shikamaru swallowed hard, sweat trickling down his face. Sakura laughed, folding her hands atop her stomach. "What did you bring me?"

"You're going love it," Ino gushed, hurrying to the table piled up with presents already.

Sasuke tilted his head and a faint smile flitted across his face.

Breaking free of Tsunade's neck hold, Naruto pressed his face against the glass door and laughed. "Do you see it?"

"I see it," the woman said softly, smiling.

Hinata saw it also, along with most everyone else. Strangely enough, she felt comforted by the rare sight. She ducked her head low, blushing and also catching the Uchiha's attention. Now even Tsunade had her face pressed beside Naruto's as they gaped at Sasuke; his smile grew wider.

Shikamaru's groan was heard above the low undertone of voices. "I thought men weren't allowed at baby showers."

"We were short on guests?" Sakura replied, shrugging her shoulders. All she did was roll out of her guest bed this morning and was snatched up saying she had to attend a party only a door away.

"Not… really," Kiba said hesistantly, a nervous grin tugging at his face. His sister had told him to leave Akamaru at home, therefore separating the inseparable. "We're just… early." Chouji's ear twitched and he glanced at the glass door the blondes still drooled all over, squinting. Tsunade and Naruto turned also, wiping their mouths. The woman laughed; the party was about to be in full swing shortly.

In mere minutes, Hinata and Sakura—both sitting side by side—were being lavished with attention and surrounded by people wanting to touch their stomachs. With chakra the babies hadn't been around before, they kicked, sending excited murmurs through the crowd.

Hinata shifted to accommodate her unborn child. Her eyes widened and she dropped her arms to snatch Sakura's hand. She whimpered loudly, squeezing, and closed her eyes tight. "Tsunade-sama…" the shy heir spoke. Her voice couldn't be heard above the festivities. "Tsunade-sama…!"

Sakura glanced downward and gasped. Unable to rise as quickly as she did before, she raised her hand as high as it could go and waved it around. "Tsunade-san, Hinata's water broke!" Hinata turned crimson red at the intense silence that fell throughout the large room but she didn't have long to be embarrassed—she'd just experienced her first contraction.

"Move. Move!" Tsunade pushed her through the stony crowd and stared at both women.

Sakura smiled as thought nothing was wrong and pointed to Hinata's hand clutching her arm. "She's in labor."

Tenten and Ino soon came forward. "Hokage-sama, what can we do?"

"Are you to go to the hospital?" Tsunade asked Hinata gently. The Hyuuga woman shook her head and the Godaime Hokage faced the pair at her side. "Inform Hiashi about his daughter's condition. Have them begin preparations!"

"Hai!" Tenten and Ino disappeared.

Tsunade pried Hinata's hand from Sakura's arm and squeezed it within her own fingers. "Let's go," she whispered reassuringly, taking a step back. Hinata whimpered once more as she was forced to stand. The entire room shifted as everyone took a step back at the same time. "Getting you to the Hyuuga complex is the problem," she mumbled more to herself than anyone else. "That's probably why you're having the baby now—Naruto jostled you around so much." Hinata chuckled weakly and the blonde grinned.

Tsunade glanced to her left at the subtle movement and smiled as Sasuke stepped forward. "Trying to redeem yourself, Uchiha?" Hinata dug her nails into the older woman's skin, trying not to make any noise as another contraction came and went.

"Almost ten minutes since the last time she squeezed my hand," Sakura pointed out.

"The next one will probably be closer. Come on, Sasuke." Tsunade wrapped Hinata's left arm over her shoulder and Sasuke took the right. The supporting shinobi made eye contact and a large explosion of smoke filled the building.

"I wouldn't want any of you to be around when I go into labor," Sakura sighed loudly as the smoke cleared. "You're all useless. Even you three…" She glared pointedly at the shell-shocked Naruto and Kakashi, and the wide-eyed Iruka.

§§§

"I want Neji!" Hinata wailed, gripping her father's hand tightly. Hiashi closed his eyes as he spoke.

"I'm sure he wishes to be here for this moment as much as you want him to be.

"Go get him…"

"Hinata. Be reasonable."

"That's why we're filming," Ino and Tenten chorused. Along with Sasuke and Tsunade, they were the only non-Hyuuga allowed in the birthing room, though there had been doubts about letting the Uchhia stay. Sasuke stood against the far left wall, arms crossed and eyes closed. The Hyuuga heir gave another pained cry as she was forced to continue pushing.

"Sasuke," Tsunade called out. The brunet's eyes narrowed. "Come over here." That's what he thought she wanted. "Please," the blonde pleaded, glancing away from the panting woman to stare at him over her shoulder. He pushed away from the wall and strolled to the bed. He stood on right side, arms hidden by the black cloak he wore.

Hinata stared at him through a haze of tears. Just as Tsunade suspected—something about the Uchiha calmed the young woman. Hinata knew what that "something" was: Sasuke and Neji were similar on so many levels. The most obvious—they were both the best rookies of their Genin years. As they progressed in life, both sought to grow stronger and break the bonds of family that restrained them. Neji now wanted his strength for a different reason and that reason was to protect his family. Had Sasuke changed in such a way?

The Uchiha reached forward with his left arm and gently tucked Hinata's soaked hair behind her ear. "Push," he mouth. Closing her eyes, the Hyuuga heir groaned loudly as she did as she had been told, then fell back onto the bed, panting heavily.

The family doctor laughed softly and stood back from the bed; everyone crowded her. "A baby boy."

"He looks just like Neji," Ino laughed.

Hinata laughed weakly, sleep already claiming her entire being. Hiashi replaced the sheets over her and wiped at his daughter's face. "Can I see him?" she asked softly, not wanting to succumb to sleep until she held her child. The nurse, wiping the baby's face clean, headed around to the side of the bed. Hinata sat up with her father's help and took the bundle into her arms. Her heart soared at the traditional Hyuuga orbs staring up at her. She sniffled and caressed her child's face with a single digit. The boy's brown knotted and he began a soft wail. Hinata laughed, "I guess he takes after me."

Ino and Tenten grinned, still videotaping.

"You should rest, Hyuuga-sama," the nurse spoke, holding out her arms for the child. "But first, do you have a name?"

"Kenta," Hinata yawned, lying back down. She closed her eyes. "Hyuuga Kenta."

The lone Konoha hunter moved silently through the forest. Shugo hated toting along the katana now attached to his back but his partner was needed back in the village. Beneath the white mask, his eyes narrowed and he studied the blood splatter on the trees. Had he been a lesser being, his mask would have thrown to the forest floor and he would have been emptying his stomach due to the carnage presented before him. But he was a hunter-nin, with a mission to complete.

Shugo's priority lay several yards away. He slid the weapon from its sheath, the blade ringing loudly in the empty woods. The masked figure stared down at the two bodies he knew to dispose of. His right hand trembled and he was forced to stab the sword into the blood-drenched ground—it was meant to be there for the special procedure anyway.

A hunter-nin he was, yes, but he also had a heart. A lone tear escaped from underneath the expressionless mask.