Hello.
"Here is the price of peace:
Your every drop of courage,
Ounce of pain,
Pint of blood.
Paid in advance."
The walls surrounding Konoha had been just about the only thing left standing after Pain's attack on the village during the 4th war. Despite undergoing maintenance and repair routines since then, the architecture had been chosen to remain the same, if only to serve as a reminder of the old village. No shinobi were visible standing guard, but the group knew the village boarders were watched at all hours of the day. It was barely past sunset when Team 8 crossed those familiar gates and despite Kiba's musings during the return trip about what he would do once they are back home, Hinata felt a pang of sadness at the sight of them. Even with the grimmer details of their mission, it had felt good to be away for some time – with the world yearning for peace, it could be weeks or even months before she and her team could be sent on another one. More than anything, she had the opportunity to be in Sasuke's company, and with their conversations shedding some light on what once seemed like an impenetrable persona, she now found herself selfishly wishing there was time enough for more of those moments.
"Right. That concludes our mission. You may each go about your business."
"Finally!" Kiba loosened the binds of his travel cloak and threw the cloth over his shoulder. "I'll be off to order to biggest portion of ramen from Ichiraku's. Hinata, Shino…? It's my treat."
"No, thank you. I will be retiring to the Aburame compound and prepare the report for our mission. You should do the same, as soon as you find the appropriate time."
Kiba winced, dead in his tracks. "Yes… well… thanks for reminding me. I'm sure my meal will taste much better with that in mind."
"Have it addressed to Shikamaru Nara and delivered to the Hokage's tower when you finish it." Sasuke faced Shino, but it was clear he meant it for everybody. Working with his former classmates did not prove to be the completely unpleasant experience he had expected, but the idea of having to file reports for them proved to be his limit as a so-called team leader.
"Understood." Shino nodded and put himself in motion with Kiba and Akamaru in tow.
Her team mates' departure had left Hinata and Sasuke standing alone by the gates. She had expected him to be the first to leave after dismissing them, but he lingered, looking at her.
"I will deliver the results of our mission to Kakashi." He spoke at last, lest the silence became uncomfortable.
"I… will also retire to the Hyuga compound."
"Alright."
"Alright… Have a good night."
"You as well."
It only took a couple of steps for both of them to realize that the Hyuga grounds and the Hokage's tower were in the same direction. Now it had become awkward. For a split second, Sasuke considered to speed up – he could reach his destination with a few leaps across Konoha's rooftops, after all, but he would risk giving off the impression that her presence was unwelcome.
"What… uhm… What will you do now?" She forced herself to speak when he did not.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, seemingly confused. He had just told her.
"I meant, now that the mission is over…" She quickly clarified.
"The next mission, I suppose. And the next after that…" A slight pout on Hinata's part left him thinking that his answer had been unsatisfactory.
"No moments of peace for Sasuke Uchiha?" On a mental check, Hinata realized that her question sounded crass, at that moment, and perhaps a little too intrusive.
A warm breeze blew past them, air still not cooled by the recent absence of the sun. There was nobody else walking their street at the time, despite the bustling of other people being audible in the distance. The street lamps flickered for a couple of seconds, then remained on, dotting the street in artificial light. Perhaps it was that moment of quiet in an otherwise busy village that prompted him to answer without a filter.
"I wouldn't know what to do with them…" He regretted stating the words as soon as they left his mouth. It instantly made him feel vulnerable, as if admitting he was broken in some way.
"There are a few beautiful sights around Konoha. I can show them to you." Hinata's answer surprised him. Her intent felt genuine, and there was no hint of pity towards his previous words in the smile she offered him.
"I would… like that."
[…]
Eito Fuku entered the Hokage's office, turning the eyes of those already present on him. Kakashi was at his desk, as always and by his side, his trusted advisor, Shikamaru of the Nara clan. During his stay in Konoha he had become more acquainted with the young man, even coming as far as to admire his intelligent opinions on matters regarding politics and economy. Of course, the reason for this meeting being called at such a late hour leaned against one of the walls, to his right., but to the Daimyo's surprise, Uzumaki Naruto was also present.
"Sasuke, my boy… It has been a long time since we last saw each other. I believe it was during the ceremony of my naming as Daimyo where you and Naruto attended. How the years fly…"
"Lord Fuku, as the messenger notified you, Sasuke and his team have recently returned from the Land of Water."
"Yes, yes… thank you all for waiting. I'm sure you'd much rather be enjoying a long rest after such a task." Eito addressed Sasuke. "I am aware Itsuki is not the most pleasant person to keep as company. I'm afraid my position has afforded him certain liberties that he has taken for granted in recent years."
"Your son was safely delivered to his destination and is currently under the protection of Genkei Kuroishi." Sasuke cut straight to the point, as was his fashion when delivering the results of his missions.
Eito's grin grew from ear to ear. "Outstanding. When Kakashi told me of the missive you sent after the attempt on my son's life, I admit I grew worried. It was with a heavy heart that I ordered the mission to proceed according to its original intent."
Kakashi threw a glance at Shikamaru. They had both been strong advocates on canceling the mission but Eito would eventually ignore their advice.
"You must all think me a terrible father for risking the life of my only son in such a way, even after Genkei's intent was revealed. Know, however, that I do not believe he would risk the political repercussions of Itsuki dying under his own roof."
"Pardon me, Lord Fuku, but you have underestimated his resolve once before." Kakashi knew the Daimyo's reaction to his words would be unfavorable, but it was a truth he needed to hear.
"Genkei Kuroishi will not pose a threat to your original plan." Sasuke intervened before Eito could attempt to mend his pride.
"Is there a reason for you to speak with such conviction?" All three men present in the room eyed him.
"After the initial attempt on Itsuki's life…"
By the time Sasuke finished recounting how he had spent the last night before reaching their destination, Eito Fuku's plump cheeks were red with anger.
"And who asked you to resort to such measures?!" The man shot out of the chair he had taken the liberty to occupy. "I gave no such order, nor was it your place to go beyond my very specific instructions!"
"He would have killed your son the moment he stepped into the Daimyo's tower; political repercussions be damned." Sasuke answered in a tone that left no room for doubt. "You underestimate the lengths he would go to in order to protect his family from your influence."
Eito looked at everybody in the room, in turn, then made a visible effort to calm himself down. Sasuke had also noticed that Naruto's fists clenched at his recount of the events, but was grateful that his friend chose to remain silent.
"Very well... I see you are even more ruthless than I was led to believe, Uchiha Sasuke." Despite his initial outburst, he could not completely mask the hint of admiration present in his voice. Eventually he turned towards Kakashi and spoke with his usual buttery tone. "I will be leaving tomorrow morning at the earliest, according to our initial plan. I believe that I and my retinue have been disruptive to your village for long enough, Lord Hokage."
Kakashi stood up from his chair and gave a slight head bow in response.
"We will be keeping in touch through the regular means, of course. This is only the beginning of our great work…"
[…]
The first thing Sasuke noticed upon exiting the Hokage's tower was the bright moon hanging high above him, dimming the light of the stars with its bleak shine. His apartment – the dwelling Kakashi provided for him for the times when he was visiting the village would take him eastwards. Visiting the village. The notion seemed wrong upon further thought, but it was nonetheless true. For how much Konoha was supposed to be his home, he was always just visiting. Only a few minutes into his stride, he passed the entrance to the Hyuga district and couldn't help but wonder if Hinata was asleep by now. Was there family to welcome her home after a long mission? Was this a home worth returning to, or was she just a visitor like him, awaiting the next chance to leave it? It was clear in Kiba's case and he wouldn't even attempt to imagine what went on in Shino's mind half the time. But what about her?
With the gates to her clan's halls disappearing behind him, Sasuke decided to push such thoughts from his mind for now. There was still one more conversation to be had and he surmised it wouldn't be any more pleasant than his report at the tower. Only a couple of seconds after the door closed behind him, Naruto's voice piped up.
"Did you receive my message?"
Sasuke sighed. He had at least hoped that his friend would let him get a good night's rest before he came asking for an explanation.
"I did."
"Then why did you do it?!"
"I gave my reason at the Hokage's tower. Genkei Kuroishi would have killed Itsuki Fuku, otherwise."
"That's not what I mean and you know it. Why did you continue with the mission, when I warned you about Eito's true intentions?"
"For a chance at peace."
"And do you truly believe old-man-Eito's plan will work? That it will lead to peace?"
"Not in Eito's lifetime… but perhaps in his successor's… or the one after that. At least the nations will be united."
"By a lie? By a threat?"
"I wouldn't have acted on that threat."
"I know that, dammit!" Naruto smashed his fist against the wall. "It doesn't make it any better, though."
"Then let me ask you this… What would you have done to bring about these two nations together?"
The blonde's eyes widened. He still had not found an answer, even though the question kept eating at him through these past weeks.
"I don't know. But I would have found another way. I will. Just as I did for Konoha and its current allies."
"The world is much bigger than the shinobi villages."
The Jinchuriki froze. Eito had told him the same thing and he had dismissed the words without a second thought in the heat of the moment, but now they were coming from someone he considered his brother.
"Do you remember the days when all the villagers of Konoha saw you as nothing more than the demon fox?"
"What does that have to do with anything? Yes of course I remember."
"That is how the leaders of the world see both of us now… And if their leaders see us like this, then so do their people. Monsters who's power they cannot keep in check. They refrain from war… not because they agree with your ideals, but because of the consequences for breaking them."
Sasuke's words hit Naruto harder than any punch the man himself could throw his way. He had convinced himself that it was alright to follow his own desires for a change, now that the shinobi villages were at peace with each other, never considering that the reason they had been at war in the first place was because of the ones commanding them.
"How long do you intend to act as their guardian? How long will you be able to? This world is broken. You can try to pick up the pieces for them, but ultimately its people are the ones who need to put it back together. Eito Fuku might bring the nations together to further his own ambitions, but he too will die one day and maybe… just maybe the next Eito will be a better person – maybe even someone who will believe in your ideals as much as you do. I can't guarantee that, but at least he will have a better chance of putting the pieces together, if he starts with a single nation, instead of five."
"…"
"…"
"Tsk. Ya' know… In a weird way, that's the most optimistic thing I've ever heard you say." The blonde flashed his brother a grin, as if he had caught Sasuke red-handed.
"Well, now that you got it past that thick skull of yours that I'm not Eito's biggest supporter, feel free to get out. The last couple of weeks have been troublesome enough without your nagging."
Naruto gritted his teeth at the rebuke but started walking towards the door, regardless. "I just want you to know… I still don't agree with yo-"
Sasuke slammed the door to his apartment shut, cutting him off.
"I said…" Naruto took a deep breath and screamed from outside "…that I still don't agree with your methods, you idiot. You better believe that I will find a way that is better than yours!"
Sasuke's reply came only after he stopped hearing the loud thuds which signaled his friend had left, in a tone loud enough only for him to hear. "I hope you do, Naruto…"
Have a good day.
