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: (cackles) I was banned from updating stories and creating new ones for putting up a lemon chapter in my Bleach drabble set... which, coincidentally, was wiped off the face of the web site. Anyhoo...

It's gonna be a bumpy transition in getting Sasuke and Hinata together. This was only meant to be a drabble—the first page—but, you know… (shrugs) Whatever. I felt obligated to oblige a request on telling how the unlikely pairing came to be. My first intention had been to leave Neji alive (because all the Hyuuga are immortals!) but I killed him… Yep, yep, yep. It's gonna be a bumpy transitional phase. Also… that thing on the bottom—I've become one of the followers for that pairing… It was curiosity at first that made me try my hand at it on my drabble journal and now… I'm using it in this fic. (slips away)

Chapter Eight – Knowledge

The ceremony was held within the next three days. Tenten and Gai were the less composed of Team 10. Rock Lee appeared angry but inside, everyone knew he hurt as much as any other member of the Hyuuga family, none of whom attended the service. They would be holding a private ceremony.

Naruto sat around with a few others later that day, the entire shinobi population still adorned in black. He scrubbed at his face and glared at the ground.

"Your chakra's fluctuating. It's been doing it ever since the service," Shikamaru pointed out. He raised his head to stare at the bright sky; the weather was all wrong. "Are you going to exact revenge?" he asked softy. "The Hokage-sama already took care of it."

The blonde glanced at Sasuke.

It was reported two weeks ago that you learned something very important. I would have sought you out then but my hands were full at the moment.

Fresh tears started anew in the man's blue eyes. Naruto lowered his head again. "I don't want revenge. I'm just worried about Hinata." He covered his face.

"She wasn't faring too well when I last left her," Sasuke spoke; all eyes fell on him and he sighed softly. "Her psychological well-being is where I'm most concerned. Everyone in that house is going to make sure she stays healthy, but her mind… it was already so fragile."

Silence fell over the small group as Sasuke's words sank in. Each shinobi's thoughts had been so loud, none of them realized Iruka and Kakashi had stopped before them until both men cleared their throats.

"The Hokage-sama wishes to see you," the new Jounin said softly, addressing the Uchiha.

"Is Sakura-chan over there?" Naruto asked, standing quickly. Iruka nodded. "I want to visit her."

"I'll come with you," Ino stated.

The grim reality was slowly setting in; this was their life as ninjas: live or die. Chouji, Shikamaru, and Kiba were left after the others disappeared. The Inuzuka stared at the dog by his side and grinned; even lying down, Akamaru was probably bigger than the other dogs of the household. "Shikamaru? Do you miss her?" The her in question was Yamanaka Ino.

Shikamaru closed his eyes, sighing loudly. He heard Chouji leave, thus leaving him and the younger man alone at the bottom of the Hokage monument. "Mendokusee… Why are you asking that now?"

"I dunno," Kiba mumbled, leaning forward so his forearms were braced atop his thighs.

"You're just scared right now." He relaxed at the fingers massaging his scalp and Shikamaru continued, "Both Ino and I agreed we weren't what the other needed. I wanted you—only Kami-sama knows why."

Kiba smirked. "Who did she want?"

"That's her little secret," Shikamaru groaned. His hand fell from the other's short hair and he draped the arm over his face.

§§§

Tsunade saw no problem in having her conversation with the young man while Sakura entertained visitors next door, but she wished they wouldn't be so loud.

"Sakura, you're huge," Ino gushed, sitting at the woman's bedside. "It's as if you're having triplets or something."

Kakashi tapped his chin with the latest Icha Icha novel. Sakura had learned to control her emotions well but he noticed a sudden rise in her chakra and knew Ino was close to the truth. He, himself, couldn't detect the child but every now and then, when either Naruto or Ino touched the woman's stomach, there were two different surges. "You would tell Gaara if he were having triplets, wouldn't you?" the Copy Ninja drawled.

Sakura smiled sweetly at him and years of experience told Kakashi she was really telling him to mind his own business. "If I were having triplets, I would kill Gaara. Twins… I don't mind."

Kakashi's eye curved upward and he snapped open the book to continue reading. 'Twins, huh?'

In the next room over, Iruka sat with Tsunade and Sasuke as their conversation drew to a close. The Uchiha had had no problem answering the questions thrown at him earlier but he was now at a loss for words.

How do you feel about Hyuuga Hinata?

The words rolled around in his head until all he heard was "Hyuuga Hinata."

"Sasuke?" Tsunade probed, staring at him closely. She leaned back and crossed her arms with a smile playing at her lips. "I just asked you because I'm placing you in charge of keeping a close watch on her. Consider it, a mission. With the ANBU watching you, she has double the protection. If you're not up to it…"

Sasuke shook his head. "I'll do it." Before his disappearance, he'd never once given the Hyuuga heir a second glance let alone a first one. She had been a shadow and he had walked a dark path. It was no surprise she and Neji would be together—keep the bloodline going. He lowered his head then stared up at the Hokage from under dark bangs. The young man nodded resolutely.

Tsunade smiled. "You may both leave."

Sasuke and Iruka stood, bowing, then headed out through the door. Ino and Naruto sat sullenly on the floor and Iruka could see the laughter in Kakashi's dark eye. "Sasuke-kun," Sakura chirped. The air around the blonde duo got heavier as the woman spoke.

"What did you do to them?" Sasuke asked as he leaned over Sakura.

"They're thinking certain actions over," she said, glaring at the back of the duo's heads. Her green eyes widened and she gaped up at the Uchiha. He had placed a hand lightly to her stomach and the unborn children moved about restlessly. Sakura was no longer able to mask their separate chakra and she prayed Gaara was nowhere near. "I've found my babysitter."

A soft chuckle escaped the brunet and she touched his smiling lips lightly.

"Sakura-chan, don't forget you're married," Kakashi interjected. "And I think your husband, who not only runs his own Hidden Village, is the jealous type."

Lovingly touching a hand to Sakura's hair, the surviving Uchiha excused himself and vanished. Things would have become too lively for him, though… Hinata would have probably wanted that instead of people worrying about her. Sasuke stood at the top of the Hokage monument, staring down at the Village. "A mission…" Was that all?

"Naruto!"

The Kyuubi slowly raised his head from his bowl of ramen and stared at the young woman dressed in black.

Ino ran up to the small shop and silently took a seat beside the man. Those closest to the Hyuugas would continue honoring the death of great shinobis for another two weeks. She ordered herself a bowl then sighed loudly. "You left," she said, staring at her hands.

Naruto's chopsticks stilled against the rim of the bowl. He tapped them once than grinned at her. "Sorry. I'm here now."

"That's not good enough," Ino hissed, clenching her hands tightly atop the counter.

Naruto noticed the glint off her neck and released his utensils to reach for her. Ino didn't pull away and, in fact, tilted her head so he could pull the silver chain free from the high neck of her dress. He smiled at the ring dangling from it, remembering when he'd given it to her so many years ago. "Thanks… for keeping it."

"I went out with Shikamaru."

They fell silent as Ino's bowl was placed atop the counter. The old man smiled then stepped back.

"Shikamaru, huh?" Naruto chuckled, caressing the blonde's draw as he drew his hand away. He stretched, tucking his arms behind his head. "That would've been okay."

Ayame gasped and her eyes widened as the harsh slap echoed through the partially empty streets. The Genin's own baby blue eyes were huge and his face stung immensely. "Ino…"

"You're worried about Hinata—so am I—but what about me?" Ino yelled, tears streaming down her face. "Have you any idea what I was harboring inside all those years you were gone?" She looked past the young man, gasping softly. Kiba and Shikamaru stood not too far from Ichiraku—the Inuzuka on his dog's back, eyes wide.

The young woman quickly paid for her untouched bowl of ramen and tried to take off, but Naruto snagged her forearm. He spun her back around and she fell against him, face buried in his clothed chest. Inhaling sharply, deeply, she quickly realized why she had been craving ramen for so long.

'Her little secret, huh?' Kiba smirked, running a hand through his hair. 'It's a secret I'll be glad to keep.'