Kato spotted them once they have already turned into the alleyway leading to the front door. No way to run now, no way to hide. The Red Eye Monster himself was approaching. Kato thought about drawing his kunai, but his body froze. Cold sweat washed over him as Sasuke's large frame blocked the sunlight. His menacing long fingered hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder… Kato's heartbeat was in his ears.

Sasuke pushed him to the side very lightly in order to unlock the front door and just walked past him into his house without saying a word.

"Kato?" Hinata looked at him worried.

"I… Hello." He breathed still coming to his senses. It felt like a near death experience.

"Would you like to come in?"

"No, I was just, I wanted to. I, you know…" He was trying to catch his breath.

"Sasuke and I were going to eat. We would like it if you joined us." She smiled warmly at him.

Seeing Hinata's face, Kato immediately felt the warmth that seemed as if radiating off of the woman leaning in front of him, petting his head. He looked at her still wide eyed, soft blush broke out on his cheeks and he nodded shyly with a sudden desire to nestle in her lap and be sung a lullaby.

-…Uchiha household; 10 am, same day…-

Kato who seemed to have taken the liberty to completely trust Hinata's words and relax around Sasuke was now obviously and impolitely staring at him fascinated. His eyes weren't red? Was everything he heard about him a lie?

Sasuke who just wanted to enjoy the kind of cooked steak he hasn't had since his own childhood, was now becoming slightly annoyed by Kato who would not stop staring.

"Kato where do you live?"

"Uhm, East New Konoha." He responded to Hinata and quickly snuck a glance in Sasuke's direction again. He couldn't believe he was eating with the Red Eye Monster.

This one was obviously uncomfortable.

"I have a few friends there, which street? I could take you." She asked again noticing Sasuke's irritation. He was tired and sleep deprived, she felt bad for him and wanted to draw Kato's attention away.

" I don't know." He said with his mouth full and peered at Sasuke again.

Sasuke saw her desire to improve the atmosphere. It reminded him of his mother's clever ways of creating a bridge between the difficult members of his now deceased family. The gentle tactful way she carried the conversation and bonded them all at their worst, her firm and strict refusal to ever let anyone be cold and rejecting of other family members. Sasuke actually found it endearing and it stirred something inside, causing him to look up at Hinata with soft smiling eyes and a sudden mischievous smirk that communicated: I'm going to get this kid. "Oy Kato." He called while staring at Hinata who now caught his gaze.

"Yes?" He asked jumping a little surprised by Sasuke who hasn't said more than: thank you for the meal, until now.

"Do you like your food?" Sasuke wasn't taking his eyes off of Hinata. She was visibly nervous and surprised, to his amusement. He felt like a kid himself for a moment.

"I do." Kato nodded blank faced peering at Sasuke.

Sasuke's eyes turned red. "Well that kid wouldn't stop staring at me either."

Kato froze and Sasuke slowly turned his head towards him, his sharingan activated. Panicked Hinata jumped forward putting her hand over Sasuke's eyes afraid of him using a genjutsu on a child. "Don't, he's too young!"

With Hinata's hand on his face, Sasuke's smirk widened. "Are you too young, Kato?" His sharingan glistened between the cracks of Hinata's fingers.

"I'm…I'm s..Six." Kato turned pale.

"I like six." Sasuke responded.

Kato immediately ran back on all fours his butt facing the floor, turned around when he hit a wall and ran out of the house as fast as he could, arms flailing. Hinata who observed the whole thing in surprise now pulled her hand away and slowly sat back down once Sasuke's face began to turn to her. Her worried expression changed into a pout in response to Sasuke's childish smirk. He was obviously way too happy. Finally, she gave in and smiled slightly as well influenced by his evil glee. He resumed eating, his victory was now complete.

"I like him." She responded trough a smile, still indirectly expressing to be on the kid's side in this matter.

"Hn. I do too." Sasuke failed to stop smiling, now beginning to feel like he's turning into Naruto.

-…Uchiha household, study; 1 am, the next day…-

Hinata was on the little sofa, curled up in the corner, sleeping. 2 towers of sorted paper in front of her. "Hinata" Sasuke's voice jerked her awake.

"Yes?" She asked slowly sitting up rubbing her eye.

"Go to bed." He walked inside bringing coffee for himself, taking off his cloak, bringing in more paperwork he got from the hokage mansion.

She looked at him unsure.

"Go." He repeated himself while sitting down and looking over his papers. He seemed to be stuck and going over the same place. He knew some of the usual tricks they used to push missions under the table, but even considering that, most of what he had, made absolutely no sense. Now he finally understood why he got this position so easily. He had no insight, or control, what so ever…

Hinata got up and moved the files she sorted in their proper place. "Good night." She added politely before she left the room. Sasuke turned to the side and got up to see what she did. She sorted by age and work status.

"Hinata." He called her back not 5 minutes later.

"Yes?" She appeared, already in her bunny pajamas.

"Why did you do this?" He pointed at the data.

"Uhm, it, it tells you their origin. Most orphans are trained as spies, most villagers are trained for on record missions. If you file by foreign and Konoha originated last name, chance of spy conversion rises towards the bottom of the section." She gathered her hands on her chest nervously, unsure of whether she did something wrong.

"That's excellent." Sasuke's eyes widened. "That's true." He looked at it again and quickly returned to his older pile from before looking for something.

"I'm glad." She blushed proud of herself, nodded and left him to work.

-…Uchiha household, bedroom; 1:14 am …-

Sasuke who followed an hour after Hinata left kept looking over at her as he walked around and prepared for bed. The still lingering smile on her face pleased even him a bit. And all I did was give you commendation. Hn, so simple minded... He thought of the overall impression with her ridiculous bunny pajamas and kept smiling even as he stared at himself in the bathroom mirror. Sasuke felt himself relax with the idea of this girl sharing his living space. That's just about when he realized he's once again grinning like an idiot and stopped.

He formed a seal controlling the snakes that wrapped around her ankles and wrists. She woke up on her back and was now looking at what had happened to her limbs. Sasuke was quickly above her trying to lie on his side just behind her in order to hold her in place, but she wasn't cooperating and turning, staring at him in a bit of a surprise. She quickly brought her arms to her chest protectively, which seemed so ridiculous to Sasuke, it awoke an urge to lower himself on top of her, just to show her how silly her "defense" was. This girl didn't turn out to be the annoying chore he feared she was going to be. If anything, it was… Fun. Immediately after though, that same thought excited him sending a jolt of electricity down his spine as the idea of pressing himself against her soft, curvy body got entirely different connotations. Sasuke quickly looked away from her blushing, wide-eyed face. "Turn on your side." He whispered stiffly and she obeyed, she herself visibly quite embarrassed as well.

He moved behind her carefully wrapping his arm around her waist, sliding the other arm under her neck, bringing her back to his chest, somehow trying not to press her below the belt despite the crippling proximity. He still remembered the mess from their first night together.

"Sasuke did you succeed with pinning your mission sources?"

"Most of them." A light blush rushed to his face at the word pin. He felt grateful for the darkness in the room.

"I'm glad." She smiled again.

Her hair when, not getting in his mouth, nose and eyes, smelled soothing... He now smiled at the "mess" it always made on his bed. Sasuke felt himself relax eventually, finally closed his eyes, digging the hand over her waist under her body as he drifted into asleep.

"I forgot…something." She immediately felt guilty for talking.

Sasuke refused to open his eyes, said nothing and waited for the rest, before finally prompting her to speak. "What?"

"There's a cat in the basement."

"He's an asshole, ignore him."

"There are kittens too."

"Hinata."

"Yes?"

"Quiet."

"Sor.." She interrupted herself. "Ok.."

"Hinata." He called her name. She kept quiet unsure if he's really calling her after asking for quiet, her eyebrows furrowed nervously and she waited. Eventually, both began to gently smile in the dark waiting to see if the other will speak.

-…Uchiha household, bedroom; 5:30 am, same day…-

"Fine, you go." Sasuke whispered behind Hinata's ear and moved back to release her once Kato actually opened their bedroom door and was stepping inside. He remained in bed, pretending to still be asleep. Hinata broke her ropes, soundlessly got out of bed, grabbed Kato covering his mouth, and quickly moved in front of him worried not to scare him too much. This kid really had boundless willpower... And no manners.

His back was turned on "sleeping" Sasuke. Hinata slowly moved her hand away from his mouth once she could see the light of reason return to his eyes. She could see him tear up in response to her worried expression. "Kato." She whispered saddened by his tears.

"I'll never come back!" He whispered his panicked promise when she let him speak.

"Sasuke was joking with you."

"No he wasn't." He was actually starting to really cry. His voice broke into loud speech, it would have woken anyone up, let alone Sasuke. "Just let me have the…"

"We ate beef. Didn't that taste like beef?"

Kato suddenly stopped crying removing his hands off his eyes.

"I married Sasuke because he's a good person. You trust me. Don't you?" She gently fixed his straight green hair that brushed to the side in spiky locks.

Kato nodded trying to hide another flood of tears and ran to hug Hinata who was crouching in front of him. She gently placed her palms on his head and back.

"You owe Sasuke an apology, don't you think?"

Kato shook his head "no" and held onto Hinata's shirt tighter, as if refusing to even look at the sleeping figure behind him.

"Kato..."

"He's a liar!" Kato protested trough tears.

"Doesn't matter, I'll tell him to apologize too."

Finally, he let go of Hinata and turned around, only to see Sasuke was gone from his spot on the bed. Sudden sound of a running shower interrupted the tense silence. Kato tried to run in fear, but Hinata held him in place. "Kato I never go back on my word, I promise you." She looked at him fierce and dead serious, that he couldn't help but be taken by the "coolness" of the way she spoke. He nodded in understanding, completely forgetting about the oath he normally demanded people take.

-…Uchiha household, kitchen; 5:52 am, same day…-

As soon as Sasuke walked into the kitchen, Kato immediately jumped off his chair, bowed deeply (something Hinata obviously trained him to do) and said: "I'm sorry for breaking into your house! It will not happen again!"

Sasuke slowly pushed his still wet hair back and proceeded to walk around the counter Hinata was sitting at, drinking tea. "Good."

Kato lifted his body, and with a serious expression mimicking Sasuke's own, stared at him expectantly. Sasuke who put the water to boil looked questioningly at Hinata.

"Please apologize too." She lifted her eyebrows explaining somewhat nervously.

"For what?" Sasuke asked serious.

"For lying." She spoke plainly, as if there was nothing objectionable about such a bold request.

Sasuke stared at both of them for a moment. Hinata looked expectant and Kato was obviously scared of him, trying to look serious. His pride didn't feel like it was on the line against a kid, he was enjoying this. It was about Hinata. Something she was trying to do for this kid and he couldn't possibly see what? He couldn't get a grasp on who she was and it bothered him more than anything. All he knew is that he would never find out if he didn't go ahead and say it. He finally smirked amused by his predicament and responded. "I'm sorry."

"He didn't bow like you're supposed to." Kato's eyebrows furrowed as he complained to Hinata who made him bow to Sasuke just now.

Sasuke's eyes turned red.

He ran around Hinata and hid behind her chair.

Sasuke turned off his sharingan and sat into Kato's chair next to her. "Why do you keep coming here?"

Hinata finished her drink and walked around the counter intending to make breakfast. She smiled at Kato who finally stepped out and climbed in her spot next to Sasuke once he realized there truly was no danger."I want to get stronger."

"There are thousands of shinobi in Konoha. Why is every kid targeting this house?" He put his cup down and faced Kato.

"Hokage told us, but back then when he wasn't hokage, that we'll become super powerful if we come here like he did!"

"When?" Sasuke's body froze and his eyes widened.

"Last year."

He sat there as he managed to rewind the last year of kids flocking to his home in droves. That bastard Naruto set me up!

"But, but then some people didn't become powerful..!"

Some of them actually got inside behind my back?! He looked at Kato shocked.

"But, but then my sister told me we're supposed to get the secret treasure to get powers like the hokage and and.. I was going to. Genin told me everyone can do it, but I can't, and they all say you eat children so.. That's why." Kato concluded his rambly speech pleased with his narration skills.

Sasuke stared at him confused and annoyed. "That's why what?"

"I told you, I came to steal your underwear."

Hinata immediately turned beet red, Sasuke remained stone cold and repeated carefully. "Underwear."

"Those are the white things you put under your pants." Kato explained as if genuinely educating Sasuke.

"Who told you to do that?" He asked quickly.

"Aaa!" Kato held his head. "I tooold you!" He gestured his little arms forward and continued to shake them emphasizing. "My sister said what the secret treasure is, but it only works if you don't know. Right, I forgot to say that it only works if you don't know. Yes." He nodded once again pleased with himself.

Sasuke was speechless. This fangirl has actually outdone herself. Naruto will die for this… His eyebrows lowered menacingly.

"Kato, you shouldn't steal Sasuke's underwear." Hinata interrupted.

Both of them looked at her in surprise. What did she just say?

She walked around the counter and leaned in front of little Kato taking his palms in hers, demonstrating her point, she infused them with a light layer of her own molded chakra. "There are many ways to gain power in this world, but if you do so at the expense of being a good man, you'll become alone and corrupted." She suddenly had the child's full attention and seriousness, mostly for calling him "a man". He even puffed his tiny chest a little. But it wasn't just him who reacted. Sasuke suddenly felt a certain unease in his gut as she contiued. "You want your mother to be proud, don't you?" Kato's eyes suddenly filled with tears and he nodded unable to respond. He pulled his palms out of hers and wiped the tears, obviously embarrassed by the possibility of being comforted in front of Sasuke. "You promise you won't try to do such things anymore?"

"I promise." He suddenly looked at her determined. "I'll defeat the hokage of my own strength." He spoke rather loudly, jumped off the chair and tried to run out on confused Sasuke and Hinata, but then changed his mind, returned in front of her and bowed deeply like before. "Thank you!" Before he ran out again.

Defeat the hokage?! "Whose kid is that?" Sasuke asked, his eyebrows still furrowed in confusion and irritation.

Hinata shrugged and blankly shook her head still staring in the direction where Kato disappeared.

-…Uchiha household; same day…-

"Hinata come here…"

"Hinata..."

"I need you to..."

"Hold this..."

"Come back..."

"Tell Shikamaru. Don't let him in..."

"Stay here today…"

"Yes I need that…"

"I changed my mind, Naruto..."

"Hinata..."

Tired, she ended up out on the yard just to rake the leaves for last. Sasuke wasn't her superior, he clearly asked for a favor with her doing all this. She could have left, made some polite excuse. She certainly had lots of opportunities to do so, with other people asking for her time. Even Sasuke himself offered for her to leave. Yet helping him… She felt a certain satisfaction and camaraderie, more like a part of all this, and found a soothing safety in his simple approach to leadership. Do what you can, not more, do what I ask, not more and I thank you for that.

"Get inside, we have to sleep." He called and disappeared behind the front door.

Eh? Just when she was so grateful it was Sasuke of all people, just when… She felt insulted, her privacy and the only true freedom she always enjoyed growing up, her bed time, taken away. Normally her teachers and father never imposed on her bed time, considering her sleep schedule subordinate to her training. If she felt like being exhausted, she was allowed to make that decision, as long as she produced results. Her peace of mind and sense of freedom lied in those quiet moments of the night before losing consciousness. She never told anyone. She always felt guilty for feeling imprisoned by her heritage and her father's expectations, considering her dear cousin whose seal marked a literal life of slavery standing next to her.

She walked in nervous, irritated, she wanted to say something she prepared in her mind. She stood in front of Sasuke longer than she planned before opening her mouth. "Why?"

"You will wake me up if I fall asleep before you do. I really need to rest tonight." He explained not looking up at her, making sure to check every kunai he still had in his arsenal.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" She responded nervously and turned red regretting the resentment she held in just now.

Sasuke looked at her surprised.

"I-I uhm. I got mad at you… I-In my head… Just now." She hid her gaze.

"I see." He now obviously stared her down with an amused smirk on his face. His mocking expression further embarrassed her, she fumbled with her hands and quickly left the room.

Apologizing for her thoughts! Hah! He smiled and touched his face hiding behind his fingers, trying to look innocuous in case she walks by.

-…ANBU headquarters; 11 am, the next day…-

A cat-masked ANBU materialized in front of Sasuke in his office.

"Take off your mask." He instructed.

The man immediately did so.

"From now on, no one is allowed to wear one in my presence. Talk."

"Sir hokage is here, he wishes to speak with you."

"Let him in."

The man disappeared and Naruto stormed in a second later obviously panicking. "You fired everyone!"

Sasuke looked at him serious without responding, walked around and closed the door behind him. "No I didn't."

"You fired half the people I gave you!" Naruto turned after him getting angry.

"They were either incompetent, or traitors. I have no use for either and I don't care what you decide to do with them." Sasuke returned sitting back down.

"Have you gone insane?!"

Sasuke stared at him now visibly irritated.

"You couldn't possibly know who the traitors are!" Naruto needed to draw blood. Sasuke has cut his private forces in half, he was up to his throat in mission reassignments, staff changes, contracts and leek patch ups all morning.

"I went through everything we have."

"What are you saying, you didn't sleep?!"

"I slept."

Naruto started to "deflate" and pulled back for a moment. "You actually went through everything?!" His eyebrows twisted in suspicion.

Sasuke said nothing refusing to repeat himself.

"That's impossible." He folded his arms.

"Hinata helped me."

Naruto was a bit taken aback by the statement. "You can't hire her on your own accord."

"I didn't hire her."

Silence ensued for a few more moments.

"You're absolutely sure they're liabilities?" Naruto's voice lowered to normal.

"…"

"Shimura didn't know?"

"Shimura kept it this way."

"Can we arrest him?"

"No. Records are full of holes, either someone has been shredding documents, or he ran everything behind your back."

"Shikamaru hates you, he wanted me to tell you." Naruto added serious.

"…"

"I do trust you, you know... Just tell me next time!" Irritation was back on.

"You sent 143 academy students onto my house."

Naruto's eyes widened. "I did?!" The whole tone of this conversation changed in an instant.

"You did." Silence ensued for a moment, while Sasuke stared at Naruto visibly irritated.

Naruto's lips now slowly began to widen. "Well… 143? You don't say?" He was obviously holding back an ever growing smile that threatened to shine straight into Sasuke's angry face.

"I will kill you for this eventually." Sasuke added widening his eyes.

"Well, that…pfft." Naruto grinned all of a sudden. "Kmhkh.." He tried to hold the sound in. "That wouldn't be very… Bwahahahhahaha!"

Sasuke's eyebrow flinched in irritation and Naruto immediately ran out covering his mouth. It took him a year to figure it out! HAHAHAHAHHA! What a dumbass! I even forgot I..! HahHAHAHA! Naruto ran out as fast as he could. He couldn't risk any of the men seeing him laugh like an idiot in the middle of the ANBU headquarters.

-…Uchiha household; 6pm, same day…-

When Sasuke approached his home he could already hear the sounds far from the front door. The red evening sun broke against the glass windows. Trough open front and back doors he saw she dug the garden that was at the centre of the house that surrounded it. She planted something to lay dormant until spring. Like his father used to do… He heard Kato's voice and some new ones. The hallway that was merely clean had new house plants and few decorations inside. It was… Pretty. Tasteful, yet so intrusive on Sasuke's numbed soul. She wasn't annoying, she wasn't even loud, yet… She heard him step inside. He knew because the children's voices began to quiet upon her request.

"Here you go Benji." She handed little paper bags to the boys sitting at the desk. The roasted chestnuts they found, and she prepared, were being split equally among the children now to be taken home.

"Can you teach us how to do that thing with your eyes tomorrow?"

"Kato, that's something only Hyuuga can do." Hinata explained.

"Why can't I?"

"Well…" Hinata brought her palms together unsure how to explain genetics to a child.

"You can't just learn it, you have to be born!" The little orange haired girl yelled at him indignantly.

"I was born!"

"Born as a Hyuuga dummy!"

"Hey, don't call me..!"

"Come on." She began to guide the kids out of the living room while the two continued to argue. "I told you Sasuke must be tired, be quiet now." She touched the little girl's head patiently. All 4 children became dead silent immediately. She did it on purpose.

"Where did they come from?" Sasuke walked into the hallway as soon as the front door was shut.

"They picked up chestnuts in the nearby forest."

"I see."

"D-Do you mind them?" She looked at him embarrassed, feeling somewhat guilty for the noise.

"It's fine."

She nodded. "Uhm. They left you…" She quickly stepped into the living room and brought out a small paper bag of chestnuts. "They wanted to be fair and share with everyone who helped."

Sasuke slowly took it and responded blankly. "I helped?"

"It's your house too." She smiled reminding him of him saying the same thing to her. He stared at the bag in his hand. It still felt warm to the touch… "Welcome home." She remembered to say with a kind smile and he immediately looked into her eyes. It felt as if the warmth spread to his chest, face, ears, neck… He lowered his hand and responded appropriately to what he understood to be a mere formality Hinata was raised to honor. "I'm home." He now noticed he actually felt nervous and confused, standing here in front of her like that. Please don't. His mind raced out of his control.

"I have a mission in an hour." She got his full attention.

"What kind?" He immediately inquired.

"Uhm..Just escort duty. I-I might be out late is all…"

"That's fine."

"I could sleep in the liv.."

"You'll sleep in our bed." Sasuke interrupted her dead serious.

"You don't mind if I wake you?" She fidgeted with her hands in front of her but felt no need to hide her eyes from him. Less and less lately... Sasuke took note of that.

"You will wake me and no. I don't."

-…Uchiha household; 4am, the next day…-

Hinata walked in carefully tiptoeing around the house as if Sasuke could hear her all the way in the hallway. That's when he hit the light switch and it genuinely startled her a little. He stared at her for a moment, her body free of any visible signs of a fight and healing, only her sleeve torn.

"I'm home." She almost whispered with a nervous smile.

"Welcome home." He smirked kind of amused that he scared her a bit. Relief he felt went on to be ignored by him.

"You're awake." She said surprised.

"How was your mission?" He ignored her statement pouring himself half a glass of water.

"We were ambushed."

"You can't put yourself in harm's way." He drank.

"Huh?"

"You already have this mission. I can't lose you." He turned to her serious putting down an empty glass.

"Oh... No, it's ok. I was banned from spy work and S ranked missions by this one's contract." Hinata smiled at him reassuringly.

"And A ranks?"

"Uhm..Well no." Sasuke's annoyance with the whole thing made her nervous.

"Hurry up, I have to get to bed." He gave up on the idea of discussing this. It's Naruto who needed a talking to. This was not on her.

Once safely in his arms, Hinata could no longer die, or go missing. It's in this night that Sasuke realized his strong dislike of missions he himself isn't a part of, yet involving people he needs. The frustration alone drained every ounce of energy and self control left. He fell asleep for the first time that night, gradually gluing his body to hers from head to toe. Hinata on the other hand had trouble falling asleep for a while due to the wild blush overheating her face. Eventually he moved his leg over hers even more and she passed out due to embarrassment.

-…Uchiha household; 9am, the same day…-

Morning sunlight awoke Sasuke. He slowly moved off of Hinata who immediately began to move around as well, quickly breaking her bounds. She's been awake under him for a while and simply felt bad to move and wake him even though he's leaned on her in his sleep and almost pushed her onto her stomach, her face fixed in direct target of the last fall sunlight before it too gives out. "How long have you been awake?" He was just observing her remove the ropes.

"A while."

"How long?" He insisted.

"One hour I think. I just didn't want to... You seemed tired." She turned her body slowly facing him.

Drowsiness was very apparent all over his sleep deprived face. He touched her gently and then pinched her red cheek somewhat amused by her overly considerate nature. "Next time sun is burning your face for an hour, you wake me up."

"Hmm.." She let out a meek sound of agreement and shut her eyes tight as a reflex.

He let go slowly moving his large palm down her jaw and onto her long, pale neck spreading his fingers over it, resting it on there in a sort of a "mini hug", his thumb sliding behind her ear. "If you want to get more sleep, do so now." He knew he needed her helping today before she's off to that dumb party.

Hinata began to close her eyes again equally as sleepy, nodded and then leaned a bit forward as she tried to get more comfortable and settle into her spot. His hot palm felt very soothing in the cool morning air right where it was and she secretly hoped he won't remove it. Like a blanket on her neck warming her whole body. He still observed her with that drowsy look in his eye. She seemed like a kitten kneading the blanket to him and he playfully applied light pressure to the side and back of her neck noticing her body automatically relax as he did so. It's what you do with kittens after all. His pupils dilated and eyes lightly opened as he dared to increase the pressure a bit more unable to quite understand why this seemed to excite him as much as amused him that it actually worked.

He was, in a way, trying to thank her, and touching in this bed being the most permissiveness he's allowed himself with her at this point (or anyone in the last 18 years for that matter), it was his only way of communicating affection. That grip really did make her feel safe and oddly comforted. Hinata was soon fast asleep.

Sasuke wasn't.

-…Uchiha household; 7pm, the same day…-

After leaving in order to carry documents for Naruto, report on her mission, buy a gift with Sakura and get ready for the party, Hinata returned to Sasuke's office wearing a light purple dress falling cutely down to her knees. Think black line seemingly decorated with glitter created complex shimmering circular patterns, dense at the hem and losing strength up towards the waistline and her breasts. "I bought a gift from us." She displayed a large light brown box with flower patterns and a red bow on top. "So you can come too."

"I have work to do."

"Oh, then I'll help of course." Hinata searched for a place to put down Ino's present.

Sasuke looked at her surprised. "No... You go alone."

"No it's… Uhm Naruto told me..." She placed it on the floor and faced him.

"Told you what?" His eyebrows lowered immediately.

"Well that if you say you're too busy it's his fault and he put too much burden…"

Sasuke's eyes widened.

"I can't leave you it's not right..." She blushed nervously because she protested. "No one should leave their friends behind!"

"I don't need help." He was quite annoyed by now.

"I'll change out of my dress." Sasuke's mind raced. He couldn't admit he's lied earlier he has a lot of work to do tonight now that he asked for trust. He couldn't say he cares about her having fun and already putting effort into buying the present and dressing up. That was always too uncomfortable for some reason. Naruto set me up? No, he's too stupid to think this up… Did Shikamaru?

"Oh, uhm-a Shikamaru asked me to give you this." She suddenly took a folded piece of paper out of her purse just as she was about to leave in order to undress. It said: You fired my entire staff without notice. Sasuke felt annoyed by him, but at this point, a bit annoyed by himself as well. Revenge was something understandable for what he did to them.

"Hinata."

"Yes?"

"We're going to that party."

"Huh?"

"If you intend to help me, I have time to go." It felt so uncomfortable to see her trusting eyes glow with excitement. Mostly for feeling it in the first place. Sasuke could have lied just like Naruto and made sure she leaves on her own. But the guilt that washed over him seeing her so happy. Since when did he start caring about what others think anyway?