Notes: Thank you for your reviews! I'm relieved that there are people who like this kind of story. To be honest, I don't really like Sasuke that much. In this story, since Itachi has not gone grazy and annihilated the family, I'm trying to make Sasuke what I think he might've been if not for his traumatic experience. Tell me how you like it and if it's too OOC. I simply adore SasuNaru though so don't worry! I'm not going to neglect the couple. I'm sorry for being too vague about the ages. Itachi and Neji are 22 and the rest are 17. Lee's 18 though. I'm not sure how far I'll take Itachi and Neji's rivalry. It's sort of experimental so…Let's see how you like it. Snow smells like…I don't know! Winter. When it's really cold outside and someone comes in they smell like it. It's one of my favourite smells! If I could buy it in a bottle I would. I guess it's not exactly the snow that smells though…but what the hell! I'm glad you didn't think the setting impossible. Here's the second part!

Part 2

There was a small forest on the Uchiha land, known for its ethereal beauty. It had snowed last night. The ground was covered in thick, undisturbed layer of snow. Sun made it glisten and glimmer so brightly that it almost hurt the eye. It was a peaceful place to be in. But its peace was disturbed when two riders raced through it.

"Sasukeee!" wailed one of them. Blond hair stuck out from under Naruto's woollen cap. His blue eyes were narrowed into slits but the look in them was happy and bright. His wide mouth was opened in a smile. Frost had coloured his plump cheeks with bright red.

Sasuke turned his head to glance over his shoulder. His black bangs whipped his face but he seemed not to notice. There was a mocking smile on his lips. "Can't catch up to me, dobe?" he asked provocatively. His jaws felt stiff from the cold, it was difficult to talk.

Naruto laughed. "Just you wait, you bastard!" he merrily shouted back. He rose an inch from his saddle, tightened his legs' hold round the horse and gave it a quick slap with his whip. He sped past Sasuke, grinning at the dark-haired boy.

A small smile grazed the boy's lips before they settled into a determined line. He urged his stallion to go faster. It was a waste of his efforts though because the horse had already sped up, its will to win and defeat its rival surfacing.

They came out of the forest, leaving messy trails behind them, and moved on to a vast, snow-covered field. The Uchiha Manor loomed in the horizon, its massive form looking quite small at this distance. Naruto let out a battle cry. The Manor was their goal. He felt intoxicated. The feel of the galloping horse under him, the wind whizzing in his ears and forcing out tears from his eyes, the bite of the frosty air on his face; all these made him feel wild and free. Naruto laughed out loud.

Sasuke came to Naruto's side and then passed him, smirking in the blonde's direction. Naruto howled but was cut short when he suddenly choked on the snow slung to his face by Sasuke's horse's hooves. He gagged and spat, trying to get rid of the quickly melting substance, at the same time pulling the reins to get further away from Sasuke and the snow whirling around behind the dark-haired boy and his horse. He used one of his hands to wipe his face clean and carefully opened his eyes, only to see Sasuke speeding away, widening the gap between them. Grinding his teeth together Naruto rose a bit from his saddle again and tightened his hold on his whip. He was not going to lose this time.

Naruto had chosen one of the most rambunctious stallions in the Uchiha stable, unheeding Sasuke's warning words, and now it looked like his bravery was starting to pay off. The back of Sasuke's dark jacket came closer and closer to him, so close that he could clearly see the outlines of the Uchiha family crest on it. He grinned in excitement. Only a few more seconds and he would be the one leading and not the smug Uchiha boy.

Suddenly Naruto's horse came to halt, its ears perked up and its head sprung high. Its nostrils shivered and its eyes glanced around furtively. Caught off guard, Naruto collided painfully with its neck and then slid off the saddle, one of his feet still caught in a stirrup. He cried in pain when the horse suddenly took off and his ankle twisted. Hurriedly he tried to kick his foot free and succeeded after being dragged in the snow for a few meters.

Sasuke heard the cry of pain and turned to look back, pulling the reins to slow down. Naruto's horse sped by him towards the Manor and his own tried to follow it but he managed to hold it back and turn it around to retrace his path to where Naruto lay in the stirred snow.

"Naruto?" he called out, slight worry marring his forehead. When he received only a painful moan in response, he slid down next to the blonde boy. His ebony eyes quickly checked the state of Naruto's body and his tense muscels relaxed when he realized it was nothing serious. He stood up and lightly kicked Naruto's side. "Get up, crybaby. Or did you die alredy?"

Seething, Naruto jerked up into a sitting position and glared up at the Uchiha boy. "What did you call me, you bastard? Who's a crybaby?"

"Why do you ask when you already know the answer, dobe?" Sasuke asked, purposly agitating Naruto with the familiar insult. He set his foot in the stirrup and hoisted himself up.

Naruto let out a frustrated scream. "You're such a bastard!" he complained.

"Shut up, dobe, before your girly screaming frightens my horse," Sasuke said, trying to keep the nervous animal in control. With a light squeeze of his calves, he sent the horse walking in the direction of the Manor.

"Where do you think you're going?" Naruto yelled, suddenly noticing that Sasuke was going away and leaving him behind. He struggled to get to his feet and then took a few staggering steps to catch up to Sasuke.

"Home," came the dry reply. "I'm hungry."

At the mention of food, the prospect of slowly limping back to the Uchiha Manor tempted Naruto even less. "You're not leaving me here, you bastard! I twisted my ankle and it's all your fault."

"How is it my fault? I told you you shouldn't take that horse," Sasuke answered, exasperated, but nevertheless pulled the reins to stop. He turned to look how Naruto clumsily made his way in his direction and sighed. "Fine," he said, reaching down to Naruto. "Give me your hand," he ordered curtly.

Naruto grasped Sasuke's hand with a huge smile on his face and let himself be hoisted up and behind Sasuke. "See? Was it so hard to be nice for once?"

Sasuke snorted. "Don't try my patience, dobe. Hold on tight. I don't want to ride with you any longer than I have to."

"I don't need to hold on!" Naruto claimed smugly but took back his words as Sasuke urged the horse into a trot. Quickly he circled his arms around Sasuke's slim waist and pressed his face against the red and white of the Uchiha crest on Sasuke's jacket. "You did that on purpose, bastard!" he accused, shouting on top of his lungs to be heard over the wind.

"Of course," was the smug reply.

Hinata breathed in the cold winter air and smiled. Her nose felt like it had frozen inside out and her throat hurt but she thought it insignificant compared to the glorious view spreading in front of her wonder filled eyes. Snow reflected the sun so brightly that it felt like there were millions of suns shining at her feet, paying their respects to their heavenly mother. Hinata loved to look at snow during the day and she absolutely adored to do so at night when it looked like there were innumerable amount of diamonds scattered all around. Sometimes, when she went for a walk outside Konoha and everything around her was silent and still, she was filled with a strange feeling, like the world was made just for her viewing pleasure and the beauty of it made her want to cry.

Hinata took another deep breath and closed her eyes to fully enjoy the curious feeling of cold air rushing through her throat and filling her lungs. She paid no attention to where she was going and before she knew it, her foot slipped on the icy path and she was saved from the inevitable fall only by a strong hand grabbing her arm. Her eyes snapped open and she gazed up to give her saviour a startled look.

"Watch your step, Hinata-san," Neji said calmly, pulling her to her feet and placing her hand on his arm.

"Th-thank you," Hinata stammered, feeling her face heat up. How embarrassing. It was her first time properly alone with her future husband and already she had made a fool out of herself. And how bothersome she was being, making Neji support her and everything! If she didn't shape up he might start thinking she was too much of a bother and call off the wedding. And then she would be the laughingstock of Konoha and where would she find another husband? Her father would disown her and--

"Are you all right?" Neji's voice roused Hinata from her unpleasant musings.

"Y-yes, I'm quite all right," she replied, "Thank you."

Neji nodded and directed his gaze which had momentarily wandered to Hinata's face, back to the nearing mansion at the end of the path they were following. They had went through a massive gate earlier and the red and white fan embedded onto it had made him cringe. As they approached the mansion the Uchiha crest appeared more and more often, dampening his mood at an alarming rate. He had thought he had forgotten Itachi and their shared animosity toward each other during his years of absence but just seeing the Uchiha heir at the ball last night had brought back all the hateful feelings he had harbored toward the Uchiha since their first meeting and he had felt nauseous. It was unfortunate that the Uchihas were distant relatives of the Hyuugas and their most important friends, making it impossible for Neji to ignore them. And that was the reason he had set out today, with Hinata by his side, to pay respects to Itachi's father, a respectable and pleasant if a bit cold man. He could only hope the older of the Uchiha brothers was not home.

They went through yet another gate. The Uchiha fan looked down at them from above the gate, mocking them or so it seemed to Neji. He had a horrible feeling Itachi would soon step out to the front steps of the mansion and wave at them. The mere thought of it made shrudders of disgust go down Neji's spine. He saw Hinata glance up at him with a puzzled expression and he realized he had suddenly gripped Hinata's hand with more force than necessary. He immediately eased his grasp and sent an apologizing look in Hinata's direction.

They reached the front steps of the Uchiha Manor when the other half of the double doors opened and a lean, slim man stepped out. He halted his steps when his eyes fell on them and his body froze. His black eyes met with Neji's pale ones and the temperature at the steps suddenly dropped even lower. Hinata shivered. Then the man relaxed and flipped his dark hair over his shoulder, giving them a curt nod.

"Hyuuga," he greeted.

"Uchiha," Neji answered, nodding shortly. Neither of them noticed Hinata stuttering her own greeting nor the respectful bow that followed it.

"You are back," Itachi remarked.

"You are still here," Neji returned. They glared at each other, lips set in thin lines and brows twitching for a moment but then Neji remembered Hinata and the reason for his visit. He still had Hinata's hand on his arm and now he pressed his other hand on hers, signaling they should go. Itachi's eyes followed the movement and then slid up Hinata's petite form, a lazy smirk rising to his lips.

"Hinata-san," Itachi said, bowing slightly, "I see you have recovered from last night's entertainment."

Hinata returned the bow and gripped Neji's arm tightly for support as her shyness threatened to overcome her. She received a reassuring squeeze in return. "Y-yes, thank you. A-and you, Itachi-san?"

"I'm quite energetic today, to be sure. I guess that a little dance every now and then is very refreshing." There was a hint of sarcasm in Itachi's voice but Hinata failed to notice it. She could not think of anything to say and was beginning to panic when Neji, seeing how uncomfortable she was, took over and enquired if Itachi's father was home.

"He is at the eastern border right now, checking the rumors of someone poaching on our land," Itachi answered, making a regretful gesture with his hand. "He should be back before dinner though. You are most welcome to stay until then, if you please."

Neji was weighing his options when something came whizzing at him and Hinata and he jerked his head back, his trained reflexes coming to his advantage. A decent sized snowball grazed the front of his coat and then hit Hinata on the side of her face. She gave a starteld and pained yelp and withdrew behind Neji, pressing her throbbing cheek with her palm. Neji whipped his head in the direction the snowball had come from and was greeted with a curios sight. Sasuke had Naruto pinned under him and was shoving snow to the blonde's face while Naruto screamed and kicked and shouted at Sasuke to let him go. Neji blinked and then thought it not worth the effort and turned to Hinata to inspect her face.

"Are you all right? Does it hurt?" he asked, gently touching the round, red area on her cheek.

Hinata's face flared up. Her heart started thumping so loudly she was afraid Neji would hear it. She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, unable to produce a sound.

Neji frowned. "Hinata-san?" he prompted.

"Ah! I-I'm fine! Thank you, Neji-san. Don't worry about me," Hinata hurried to assure as soon as she found her voice again.

"Very well then," Neji complied, letting go of her hand even though he could feel it trembling. He turned to look at the two boys still wrestling in the snow. He saw from the corner of his eye that Itachi threw an indifferent glance at his little brother before departing their company, muttering something about visiting a friend. Neji was glad he was gone.

"Ow!" Naruto's loud exclamation of pain made Hinata jump. She instinctively stepped back, putting Neji between her and the obnoxious boy. She admired Naruto for his obvious strength of character which she herself lacked but sometimes his outbursts, however inspiring and admirable they might be, scared her. Having been brought up among well-behaved, soft-spoken people, Hinata found Naruto's carefree manners intriguing and strange but she feared conflict and in her eyes, Naruto's often careless and too honest words were bound to rouse anger in the person they were directed to. It was peculiar, though, how Naruto was forgiven his rash words more often than not. If Hinata were to speak in the same disrespectful manner Naruto used, she would be executed on the spot. At least, that was what she thought.

Neji felt Hinata shy away behind him and a slight frown creased his forehead. He remembered Hinata being a introverted person who rarely spoke to anyone which suited him fine because it made it easier for him to understand her and to deal with her. But he hadn't remembered Hinata was this shy. It had been approximately ten years since he had properly spent time with her. He recalled being very fond of his little cousin when he was a child, taking care of her and in every respect acting like her older brother. Hinata had been a very cute little girl, clingy perhaps but that had only made her more endearing in his eyes. He had protected her from bullies and taken her out to play so often that he couldn't even count the times he had done so. But they had lost contact after Neji's father had died and Neji had left to pursue his dream in the army.

Hinata had always blushed and stammered but it had never been as bad as it seemed to be now. Even the slightest reason could make her mute and she seemed to be avoiding contact with other people. Perhaps the change had been gradual so that Neji hadn't noticed it before it was already so far that he would have to be blind not to see it. Whatever the cause for her increased nervousness, Neji felt the old urge to protect her and keep her from harm's way. He did not like it. He had not come back from the army to take care of her. He had no time for any trivial feelings. He had to focus on his goal. He could not lose sight of it. Not now when he had been working ten years to make his grim dream true.

Neji's features hardened and he stepped away from Hinata, closer to the two boys still lying on the ground. Naruto's teary eyes fell on him and immediately brightened.

"Neji! You're back!"

Neji lifted a brow. "I see you are as insolent as ever, Uzumaki."

Naruto grinned as though Neji had complimented him. "How long are you going to stay this time?"

Before Neji could answer Sasuke let out a mocking sound. "Trust you to be the last one to know, usuratonkachi."

"What?!" Naruto's happy expression quickly changed into a snarl as he glared at the boy still sitting on his knees. He lunged forward, his hands reaching for Sasuke's neck but managed only to grasp Sasuke's coat as the dark-haired boy swiftly dodged his attack. "What the hell do you mean, you bastard?!"

"Uzumaki, there's a lady present," Neji warned, throwing a glare at the blonde.

"A lady?" Naruto repeated, bewildered.

Neji's glare hardened. "I truly wish you are not trying to imply Hinata-san is not a lady," he gritted through his teeth.

"Huh? No no! Of course not! Hello, Hinata!" Naruto took one of his hands from Sasuke's coat and waved at the blushing girl. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you."

"I-it's okay…"

"Make sure you won't miss her again," Neji grunted, "and end up insulting her. If you do, you will have me to deal with."

"I won't, I won't! My God, Neji, you're so protective of her!"

Neji flinched and then frowned. Here he was, doing the exact thing he had just decided not to do.

"Of course he is," Sasuke interfered, "she's his fiancée."

"Eh? Really?"

"I just said so, didn't I?" Sasuke huffed, irritated.

Naruto beamed at Hinata, ignoring Sasuke's annoyance. "Congratulations! Try to keep this old man under control, will you?"

Hinata blushed and Neji's brow twitched violently. He shot a cold glare at Naruto and then turned to Sasuke, assuming his coldest and most distant behaviour. "Young Uchiha, tell your father we came by. We don't have time to tarry because we have previous engagements we can not postpone."

Sasuke nodded. "I will. I hope we will see again soon. Hyuuga-san, Hinata." He bowed at Neji and nodded to Hinata and then turned to face Naruto, not really caring what the two Hyuugas would do next. "Dobe, let go of my coat so I can go inside. I'm still hungry."

"You bastard!" Naruto shouted, forgetting the Hyuugas had even been there,"It was your own damn fault we got delayed. If you had just given me a hand in the first place and not been such a jerk I wouldn't have had to throw a snowball at you."

Neji had nearly forgotten the snowball. For a moment he thought of stopping and demanding an apology from the blonde but then he pushed such thoughts out of his mind. Had he not done enough for Hinata for the day? So he walked on, pretending not to have heard a word of Naruto's last exclamation.