Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters depicted.


Chapter Eleven: Shattered Lens

Sasuke's body freezes after hearing the sentence Sakura uttered behind him and Hinata. As he sees her snap her head to look in the direction of the voice he feels a lump of ice drop onto his chest and it's crushing his soul deep within.

'How do I explain this?' he ponders.

Slowly he looks over to the woman who seems determined to destroy the little that is left of his marriage only to see Sakura grinning, complacent that her interference will ruin their chances to rekindle once more.

Sakura's prepared to reveal her information to Hinata and has all the proof in her bag to convince her if she has doubts. Sasuke would be divorced in no time and he'd need her instead, at least that's how she figures this will end.

His eyes cautiously shift back to Hinata and his breathing becomes noticeably shaky as he sees tears welling in the corner of her eyes. He squeezes his shut and gulps not wanting to see the wound his actions have inflicted upon her yet again.

Slowly lifting his body away from her he breathes heavily from the added stress. There's a harrowing feeling coursing throughout his body as he bows his head to his wife who is remaining silent, too timid to say anything to Sakura at the moment.

Sakura being in his office was already bad enough but why did she have to use that word, the one word that would break his wife's heart. As he wonders what's going through Hinata's mind she finally speaks to him.

"You let her call you that?" she asks in a faint voice.

He looks at her with wet eyes and replies "No… I swear-,"

"You brought her here?" she interrupts.

He swallows to help his drying throat "I didn't."

"Then why did you lie to me?" —a tear runs down her cheek and she sniffles— "…Is this the mess you left in there?"

Sasuke exhales slowly "I swear, I didn't bring her here."

"Then why is she here!"—her voice weakens— "Were you giving her cookies?" she asks with a lifeless smile.

He stares at her dumbfounded "I would never do that."

"Then why is she in your office?" she asks quickly.

Sasuke sighs and bobs his head down and as he rubs his eyes Hinata begins to get worried, then just as he clears his throat to answer his wife Sakura asks boldly.

"Won't you tell her?"

The thought of having to tell Hinata the reason for Sakura's visit is heartrending and he stares at Sakura brutishly, wanting to shout but can't as his throat narrows.

He softly says "Shut up."

Hinata moves away from him slightly "Wh-what is she talking about?" she asks anxiously.

"It's nothing," he whispers.

He then tries to hold her hand but, Hinata wipes away the tear on her cheek and quickly turns to Sakura.

"Wh-why are y-you here?" she stutters.

Sakura smirks at her "Well-,"

"Sakura I swear to god," Sasuke interrupts calmly and tries to stare her into submission.

"She's asking me a question, she wants to know," Sakura responds audaciously.

Hinata furrows her brow and looks at Sasuke warily "Know what?"

Suddenly he pulls Hinata close to him and looks into her eyes, then when she feels his hands shaking as they hold her and watches the tears slowly pool in his eyes her lips begin to tremble.

Something inside her feels like it's weaving its way through her gut, her intuition is already telling her what this is about and the thought starts breaking her down.

"Please Hina… Let's talk at home," he pleads.

Hinata composes herself and grimaces at him, pushes him away then swallows as she turns to Sakura.

"Tell me what!" she yells.

"I'm pregnant!" Sakura shouts back bellicosely.

Hinata gasps loudly while Sasuke shakes his head and bundles his fists then aggressively bangs them on the wall. He knows this wound will cut her deeply 'Why the fuck is she doing this?' he thinks.

Suddenly Hinata's chest feels heavy as though a concrete block has just been catapulted into it. After years together Sasuke had only recently decided to start a family with her so the thought of him doing so with someone else so quickly makes Sakura's announcement ricochet in her heart and it tore wide open.

She wipes away the tear that started to run along her cheek.

"Wh-what did,"— she sniffles to take in a sip of air "What d-did you ju-ju-just say?" she asks softly

"Three weeks," she replies rashly.

Hinata covers her mouth and looks at the floor as though her heart just broke out of its cage and was laying in front of her.

Feeling embarrassed from stuttering, she takes a minute to catch her breath then turns to Sasuke who is now staring daggers at Sakura.

"Tell me that's not true," she asks him with a soft smile.

He looks at her and gulps "Hina…"

"Please don't lie to me."

He sighs and abrasively rubs his hands down his forehead to his chin. Though he's still doubtful of Sakura's claim he wants to be honest with his wife and his stance folds as he looks at her, knowing that what he'll say will break her heart again.

He responds softly "…I don't know."

Hinata's eyes burst and she nods while covering her mouth behind three quivering fingers.

Sasuke panics as he adds "But I'll find out, I'll find out and-"

"You'd really do this to me?"— She whimpers—"…It was that easy for you?"

He sighs "No it wasn't."

"How could you do it so quickly with someone else, when we just started trying?" she snivels

Sasuke clutches his mouth then says "I swear I don't want this Hina."

She smirks "Well congrats anyway, you get to have your family now, so you won't be alone."

"You're the only family I want," he replies sincerely.

Hinata frowns at him "It's a little too late for that don't you think?"

"Sasuke can we go already?" Sakura cuts in.

They both ignore her as their eyes stay fixed on each others.

He rubs her cheek and brushes the back of her hair then puts his forehead on hers and closes his eyes while Hinata sniffles hard as she closes hers, even though she still has him in her heart they no longer have a chance in hell.

He uses his thumb to rub along her ear to her jaw then breathes deeply trying to help calm down her own breathing for her.

"I'll find out," he whispers, and she inhales less strenuously.

Their telepathic intimacy makes Sakura uncomfortable, throughout the years she's known him he's never paid attention to anyone like this, it's like Hinata is the only other being in his world right now.

She thinks of herself as far more attractive than Hinata and is frustrated that he makes her feel invisible.

"I have proof Hinata," Sakura interjects again now holding up her results.

Sakura wants Hinata gone, she can't allow Sasuke to plead his case to give Hinata any hope that they could make it through, not when she's this close to tearing him away.

Hinata's breathing steadily picks up and she turns to walk away but Sasuke gently clutches her and holds her against the wall, he can't let it end like this.

With her body still weak from shock, she can't move and just watches him blankly as her eyes overflow. The future they envisioned for themselves is fading rapidly and all the years spent nurturing their bond are being flushed down the drain.

"Let her leave so we-"

He looks at Sakura ferociously, shutting her down without saying a word, and continues holding on to Hinata then bows his head onto hers and resumes stroking her cheek, waiting for her to stop shivering.

Seeing her husband unaffectionate toward Sakura gives Hinata some confidence to speak to her and she slowly sets her watery gaze toward her.

"Are you happy?" she asks with a trembling smile.

Sakura collects herself and responds proudly "As a matter of fact I am."

"How can you be with Sasuke hovering over me like this?" she quickly replies.

Sakura starts walking towards them, but as she reaches out her hand to touch him, without looking at her he says

"Stay the fuck away from us."

His tone was harsh and threatening enough that she'd be suicidal to step any closer.

After seeing that Hinata blinks a few times to clear her vision unable to use her hands as Sasuke gently pins her arms to her side. Holding onto her like she is the bones keeping his form upright.

She scoffs at Sakura "It doesn't matter if you have his firstborn, it doesn't even matter if we get divorced. He'll never love you, you're nothing more than a placeholder for the family he lost when he was a kid… I found that out the hard way and so will you."

Sasuke breathes heavily, desperately trying to swallow the phlegm that was blocking his nose.

He whispers in her ear denying her claim "I love you Hina… You're my family."

Unable to hear him Sakura responds assuredly "Once you're gone we'll be just fine and he'll love any children we have as much as I do."

Hinata smirks "If you still think that's true then you're more deluded than I thought,"

Sakura steps forward "You bit-"

"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH," Sasuke interrupts quickly now straining his voice box, he wouldn't let Sakura disrespect her.

"Did I strike a nerve?" Hinata replies uncaringly to Sakura's incomplete sentence.

Sakura wants to go over to her and tackle her but when she sees Sasuke's arms tighten around her and begins to hear his quiet pleas for Hinata's time and forgiveness, it makes her anxious for him to hold her like that one day.

As Hinata examines the way Sakura watches Sasuke she couldn't help but shake her head in dismay at the odd quandary she was in. Though it's obvious that he doesn't want Sakura, she speaks confidently as if she can't see what is in front of her.

This woman is obsessed with her husband and doesn't seem to care that he doesn't feel the same.

Now Hinata realizes that arguing with her will be a waste of time, Sakura was already half-baked and lovelorn by him. She then smiles through her tears, feeling slightly uplifted to know that neither of them will get the end they want and whispers for Sasuke alone to hear.

"...Shut up."

Although her heart is again freshly torn to pieces and riddled with holes she talks to Sakura calmly and informs her of the situation she's now in.

"You know what Sakura, you can have him,"—she says with a lackluster smile— "He's all yours."

"But I hope it hurts, to hear him begging me to stay with him,"—her voice fades as she looks at her abdomen— "even though you're pregnant with his child."

"To see him clinging to me for dear life and to wonder if he'll still seek me out when your baby is born," she whimpers.

"To constantly wonder whether or not he's ok because he casts you aside when something sets him off."

"To know that you'll never be enough for him,"—she swallows as her tears fall on her neck— "I wasn't even enough for him."

When Sasuke looks at her and delicately wipes the tears from her cheek Hinata bows and folds her lips as her nose flares to take in air.

He insists quietly "You're wrong, I need you Hina… You're my everything."

Sakura furrows her brows nervously when she hears him say that.

She calls out to him softly "Sasuke,"

He looks at her with a tear finally rolling down his face "If you say another fucking word."

Sakura is a pesky fruit fly he wishes he had squished years ago. Now she's here reinforcing his mistake and committed to getting rid of the only genuine producer of happiness he's ever had in his life.

Now having strength in her body Hinata steps away from Sasuke who had clung on for so long that he couldn't pull her back in fast enough.

He squeezes his eyes then turns to Sakura "Get out now."

Hinata interjects "No I'll go… You seem to have family matters to discuss."

As she begins to walk over to the elevator however, Sasuke swiftly hugs her from behind but she easily breaks free and calls the lift.

He rambles arbitrarily "I know she's lying, I know it and I'll find out. I never came inside her."

"Should that make me feel better?"

He calmly replies "I promise, just give me some time and I'll-,"

"If you stay Hinata you can be a great stepmom," Sakura interposes quickly.

Hinata sniffles and smiles faintly at Sasuke "Stepmom… Imagine that," she whispers as her voice cracks.

Now infuriated by Sakura's interference, Sasuke approaches her with clenched fists and Sakura cowers slightly but is anticipating feeling his touch again. However, when he hears a ding he quickly turns around to see Hinata frantically pressing the button to go to the ground floor.

Sakura tugs on his hand "Please don't go."

Without hesitation, he rips his arm away from her and jumps into the lift just before the doors close.

Hinata squeezes the strap on her bag and leans on the railing to control her trembling while focusing on the floor indicator as her heart thumps faster. Eager to get out of the building and away from Sasuke fearing that she'll collapse soon from her heartstring snapping.

Finally alone in her presence Sasuke breaks down completely, releasing all the tears he was fighting to remain combative toward Sakura. With tears streaming down his face, he struggles to catch his breath as he speaks.

"…I never wanted things to turn out like this,"

He sniffles and holds onto her hand "I hate what I've done to you… I keep destroying you and our future, I'm sorry Hina."

"I've ruined your life, I hate what I've done to us and I'm so sorry," he puts her hand close to his mouth wishing to take her pain away.

"I don't want a child with her and I don't love her. You have to believe me, I wish none of this ever happened,"

His voice breaks as he sobs "Pl-Please don't file... I'm begging you, please don't go."

He looks at her and exhales loudly "…Please say something… I love you more than anything in this world and I'm sorry Hina, I'm so sorry."

Hinata scoffs, his sobs and pleas are pathetic, hearing him apologize for sleeping with Sakura unprotected for weeks makes her nauseous and for him to think that she would still want their life together with his child on the way is ludicrous.

Though she gets boiling mad as she thinks of how many times he must have came inside Sakura, she's at rock bottom and can't stop her tears.

Subconsciously, she still had a small flame lit inside for him but this news pulverizes her already painfully worn-out heart. The thought of Sasuke having a child with someone else was so inconceivable, the love of her life wasn't capable of this kind of evil she thought.

The image of her husband is at last shattered and she didn't even need Naruto's help this time.

As he continues to beg she begins to get irritated, she pulls her hand away and glares at him angrily.

"WILL YOU SHUT UP?"

"She's having your child Sasuke!"—She sniffles as her voice softens to a whisper—"She's the one carrying your child, not me,"

Her tears pour heavily as she continues "You have a family now… Don't you see, there's nothing left for us,"

She inhales deeply "…So I don't care that you're sorry, I don't care so just SHUT UP,"

She covers her face with her hands and exhales, then looks at the floor indicators wishing the lift could descend faster, and while Sasuke looks at her stunned she crosses her arms, letting her tears trickle down freely.

Her outburst was unexpected and it shuts him up immediately. All he can think to do is use the side of his fist to harshly beat his forehead wanting to hurt himself just as much as he's hurt her however, he stops when she quietly asks.

"You didn't even think about it? Did you really think she would be on the pill?"

"I swear I never came inside her, I would never hurt you like that,"

"I don't believe a word you say," she replies softly.

Sasuke sighs pushing his hands aggressively up his forehead and into his hair.

He snivels "Fuck,"

That statement is more than deserved, he isn't obligated to her trust after all he's done.

"Can we fight together… one last time?" he asks breathlessly.

"Why should I always have to try when you're the one with the problem?" she questions.

"Why didn't you fight with me when you saw that picture?"—she tilts her head slightly—"Why should I fight when I'm the one who always gets pushed away?"

She rubs the tip of her nose then adds "I don't want to fight this time, I'm tired of trying with you… You're on your own."

When she says that Sasuke's head felt like it spun and toppled over as Itachi flashed into his thoughts.

He rambles "I want to be with you, only you. I want you to love me again… Because you're the only person I'll ever love, you're the only one I need,"

She takes a deep breath "Sasuke… Do you honestly expect me to stay married to you when you're starting a family without me?"— She wipes her eyes with her index fingers—"Do I deserve to watch you raise the child you created with someone else?"

As he watches the tears flow down the sides of her face he bows his forehead in his palms, it's hurting him immensely to watch her in so much agony he can't stand it.

"Look at me!" she yells aggressively.

Reluctantly, he brings his head up and clears his eyes to see her.

Hinata continues softly "After all these years,"—she sniffles— "After standing by you, understanding your struggle and devoting myself to you for all these years,"

She swallows as her throat tightens "Do you think I deserve that, because of a kiss?"

With his lips trembling and his throat pulsing, he squeezes the brim of his hairline then pulls his hands down his face.

"No… no you don't deserve any of this. I don't deserve you, but I want to try… Please let me try," he says quietly.

When she looks at the floor indicator she quickly rubs her eyes from seeing that they're about to reach the ground floor.

"I'll find a lawyer… And I'll see you in court," —She breathes deeply trying to clear her nose— "Then after that… I hope I'm lucky enough to never have to see you again,"

She crosses her arms and steps forward to leave.

"Wait," he says softly.

He lightly holds onto the back of her arm as the doors begin to separate and Hinata turns to him nimbly, drawing her hand backward with all her might.

"Hina ple-,"

SLAP

"Don't touch me!" she screams.

She hits him with so much power and anger that it brings the busy lobby to a standstill and snaps Sasuke's head to the right. The small gathering of employees that are waiting in front of the elevator turn away, while some hold their faces as if they could feel the sting themselves.

When Hinata turns around, she freezes when she sees the crowd. If she could die of humiliation she would have at this moment as they stare at her and at Sasuke who still hasn't moved his head, unrecovered from the heavy handed slap she planted on his now brightly tinted cheek.

She sniffles and timidly says "Please excuse me."

The crowd greets her and swiftly spread apart allowing her clear passage.

While storming away sheepishly, Hinata wipes her eyes and uses her bang to hide her sodden face. While she marches toward the exit Sasuke finally tilts his head forward and as he watches her he fears that she's running straight to Naruto.

The thought terrifies him and he shudders.

Although he wants to run after her he doesn't feel worthy to be near her, not when they still have a major obstacle upstairs. He knows it's unfair for him to thrust this situation on her and despite being certain that he'll have to let her go if Sakura is actually pregnant, it breaks him totally.

Tears again flood his drooping eyes as he taps the button to go back to the top floor "Take the next one,"

His employees respond understandably "Yes sir,"

Using the solitude in the lift, Sasuke lets out a few loud wails.

Though he's ascending the whole time he feels like he's free falling and is suddenly again overcome by the same feeling of meaningless existence as before she came into his life and became someone he could call home.

It makes his heart feel battered and bruised, heavily burdened with remorse and hopelessness to know that this is the final nail in the coffin and he's just lost the only woman he's dreamed of spending his life with.

On the ride up, he sobs heavily but by the time he gets back to the top floor his eyes are dry though his collar and cuffs are soaking wet.

After waiting for him with bated breath as soon as the doors open Sakura smiles warmly at him.

When she notices the faint contour of a handprint on his cheek she starts to ask him what happened but Sasuke grabs her neck forcefully and shoves her against the wall then slams his fist close to her ear.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" he yells then rubs his face aggressively.

"Is this some game to you? Why couldn't you just shut your trap and let me talk to her?" he adds crossed.

Sakura thinks on her feet to quickly steer the conversation.

"W-we were going to my doctor remember?" She replies uneasily.

He smirks, reconsidering his decision to go to her hospital which she's so adamantly insisting on visiting. She's far too eager to prove this love child he supposedly fathered.

However, when he looks at her stomach his brows knot unconsciously. The thought of his own flesh and blood should fill him with joy and pride but all he feels is grief.

This child would be nothing but a mistake born out of lust and anger that was driven by fear.

"Ready?" she asks gripping his sleeve.


After a tensely silent ride to her hospital, she greets the receptionist and brings Sasuke to her office. She calls Kaori but her phone is off and Sakura tells him to wait in the room while she gets her doctor.

Sakura worries as she walks the corridors of her place of work but can't find Kaori anywhere, she knows that if she returns without her doctor Sasuke will call her bluff and take her to a hospital of his choosing.

Suddenly, she sees Shizune coming around the corner, and her face perks up.

However, she hesitates, Shizune is a specialist and well-renowned doctor. Sakura being Kaori's superior easily convinced her into helping with the scheme but she won't be able to bully Shizune that way. Nonetheless, she has to get someone to testify to the results.

Sakura calls out to her and Shizune greets her coworker kindly.

"I thought you were off today,"

"I am, um have you seen Kaori?" Sakura replies nervously.

"We have a lot of overlapping due dates so I have her helping in delivery today, why?" Shizune questions.

With a troubled look she says "I need to see her about something we discussed."

"Well, she has two more patients already in labor. Her day is pretty booked up so it'll have to wait," Shizune walks off.

Sakura follows her and engages in casual chatter then peeks into the room and sees Sasuke texting and her worry heightens as she thinks he's messaging Hinata. Though he's trying to, Hinata has already blocked him, he can't even send her an email anymore.

Sakura quickly grabs Shizune "This can't wait. I need you to confirm these results for a father to be."

Shizune looks through the tests and furrows her brows "Whose are these?"

"It's not important."

Shizune chuckles "Yes, it is, if I'm to attach my name to the validity of these records then it's very important."

Sakura begins to get antsy "Please just do this for me, just tell him they're legit that's all."

"Why don't you confirm them yourself you work here. What is this about Sakura?" she asks suspiciously.

Sakura sighs then looks at her with knot brows "It's for Sasuke." she whispers.

Shizune gasps, having seen the video and tested Sakura for hCG when she anxiously requested for it last week things quickly click.

"Oh my god, did you use someone's sample to make these? We've been through this you saw the test yourself Sakura, you're not pregnant."

"Shhh," Sakura says halfway through her sentence while glancing at the door.

She sighs "I just need more time with him, he'll get me pregnant one way or another after she divorces him."

Shizune stares at her wide eyed "What if he doesn't have sex with you?"

"Then I'll say I had a miscarriage, by then his divorce should already be finalized."

Shizune stares with mouth a gape "This is repugnant, you're manipulating him. I can't be a part of this," she says as she hands her back the results.

Sakura holds her arm "Please I've wanted him all my life, his wife cheated on him… And now he'll be alone soon, he'll need me. This is the only way to let him see that."

Shizune shakes her head disapprovingly "This is ridiculous."

"I'm begging you, this is the only time I'll ever ask you to do this."

She clasps her hands and pleads "Please, please, please-"

"Fine, but make sure my name doesn't come up in this at all afterward."

Sakura smiles ear to ear "Deal."

The women walk into the office and Sasuke's gaze stays tiredly fixed on his phone constantly checking to see if Hinata will reach out to him to question him or even just argue. It doesn't matter, he just wants to hear her.

Shizune greets him kindly "Good day Mr. Uchiha."

"This is my doctor she did all the tests," Sakura explains gleefully as she takes a seat beside Sasuke.

"So, how is the expectant father?" Shizune asks.

Sasuke lifts his dreary eyes from his screen with his head on his fist but doesn't respond, and Sakura clears her throat then quickly answers for him.

"He's fine, he just wants to know that we have a healthy baby on the way so just confirm the results for him,"

Now seeing Sasuke in person Shizune feels intimidated. She knows that he's a powerful man, and if he finds out this is a scheme she can kiss her career goodbye. He'll erase her instantly and her reputation will be forever tarnished.

When she stalls Sakura coughs, indicating for her not to back out and Shizune looks at her then at the tests and explains the results to Sasuke.

"These in fact show accurate readings for the patient it was performed on,"

As Sasuke looks away now feeling despondent Shizune takes notice and feels guilty from seeing his reproachful expression.

However, Sakura smiles brightly while rubbing his back, then as she prepares to speak Shizune quickly adds.

"Since it's still very early in the pregnancy however, getting a second opinion wouldn't hurt. Unfortunately, our hands are full so I can't produce the results today but I'm certain any private practice will promptly provide it."

Sasuke lifts his head and scans Shizune's demeanor then glances at Sakura discreetly without turning. When Shizune arches a brow at Sasuke he soon senses a change in Sakura's body language as she stares like a deer in headlights at her supposed doctor.

He grabs her wrist and squeezes it roughly "Let's go."

While he aggressively marches out of her hospital, Sakura follows biting her lips, she still finds him attractive even though he seems angry. She has been so captivated by him for as long as she could remember that nothing he does can change the way she feels.

They drive in silence for a few minutes and Sakura breathes easy when he starts heading in the direction of her house. Now that he's gotten confirmation of her results she tries to assure him that they'll be fine.

"I know you're angry right now, but I can give you everything she did and more," she says sweetly as she moves closer to him.

"This isn't how you planned it but I'll stay by your side. I'll never cheat on you, I'll take care of you and our family."

He hisses but doesn't respond to her.

She sighs "Would it really be the end of the world if I'm pregnant?"

Sasuke looks over at her lethargically "Are you that fucking dense? Does it look like I want this?" he turns his gaze back to the road "Is that the type of sex you want a child from? An impassive careless fuck with a married man?"

Though she feels dejected by his abrasiveness she replies warmly.

"It was passionate to me, because I want you Sasuke, you're all I've ever wanted."

He responds without care "The feeling isn't mutual so for once have some self-respect."

Soon her body deflates in the seat as she starts to feel uncertain about carrying on her ruse. Sasuke doesn't even seem to care about a bundle of joy even though Hinata hates him. She thought giving him a family to hold on to would drive him straight to her but it's only backfired.

They ride in stifling silence for a few more minutes but when she sees him miss her off ramp she panics.

"Wait, you're going the wrong way."

"I'm taking you to a private clinic," he responds apathetically.

"What? Why? We already got confirmation," she says worriedly.

He scoffs "Doesn't matter if we double check right? The results should be the same won't they?"

He leers at her with intent to kill as his patience holds on by a thread.

"Unless you're not pregnant."

Sakura glares at him gearing up to deny it but then realizes that would only prolong the inevitable, he'd find out when they get to the clinic.

She shrinks and softly mumbles "I'm not,"

"What was that?!" he says looking over at her enraged "Speak the FUCK UP!"

"I'm not pregnant," she replies slightly louder.

Suddenly, Sakura's body jolts as his tires burn and screech across the busy highway when Sasuke swings the car recklessly onto the side of the road to come to a stop. As the cloud of burnt rubber encircles them he turns to her.

"Get out,"

Sakura looks over at the speeding traffic then back at Sasuke "What?" she replies in a hush.

With clenched jaws, he glares at her heatedly "¿No hables Ingles? Ne parles pas Anglais?"

"You know what the fuck I said! GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY CAR!" he adds lividly with his nose flared.

Sakura frantically reaches for the handle and as she opens the door he grabs her elbow and his ring presses hard on the bone which causes her to yelp and turn around.

He speaks to her intensely "Listen to me carefully and believe me when I say this, if you interfere one more time… I promise you, I'll have a bullet with your name on it,"

He harshly shrugs her arm away after, then grips his steering wheel, ready to speed off as soon as she exits.

Though she tears up as she steps out of the vehicle and tries to apologize he races off so quick that he basically left her in yesterday, not even giving her time to close the door herself.

Knowing how obsessive Sakura has turned out to be Sasuke calls the director for her hospital and informs her of Sakura's scheme, he implores Tsunade to take action or else. Sasuke could threaten just about anyone, his connections ran that deeply.

He wants Sakura out of the city far away from him and his wife. He'll ruin her life just like she tried to destroy his.

As he drives he rubs his face and lets out a long deep sigh feeling relieved that he still has a chance to make things right with Hinata. His smile widens greatly as he thinks about his future with her, they can still have the life they planned for themselves.

Moments earlier

Hinata arrives at Ino's lab in tears, and when Ino sees her face she rushes over to her best friend.

"Oh my god, what happened?" she asks fearfully.

As she embraces her, Hinata breaks down completely.

"Ino sh-sh-she… She's carrying his baby."

Ino looks at her and shakes her head side to side in shock with her mouth open "What? No… No, oh god I'm so sorry sweetie."

With tears bleeding from her closed eyes Hinata nods and Ino embraces her tightly while rubbing her back.

She rocks her and brushes her hair softly while giving her reassurance as she cries on her shoulder but despite her effort, nothing Ino says is stopping Hinata's tears and she clocks out early not wanting her to be alone like this.

A few moments later, Suigetsu gets back with lunch for Ino as an olive branch after she's been avoiding him ever since coming back from her trip. When he goes into her lab, he's informed of her early departure and shoots her a text but is confused when his message bounces because she's blocked him.

Ten Ten meets up at Hinata's apartment a few hours after and she and Ino continue to console her. Although Ino prepares something for her to eat, Hinata only pinches at the food until her friends were satisfied that she ate enough.

Eventually, she folds on the couch and rests her head on Ten Ten's shoulder with dry eyes no longer having any tears to cry for her failed marriage.

Ino paces around pondering how Sasuke could be this villainous to hurt Hinata so deeply. It's bewildering considering how he was the most enthusiastic she's ever seen him when they announced they were trying for a kid.

Ten Ten gets annoyed by her movement "Were you a tree in your past life, can't you sit down?"

"Oh sorry this is still so crazy to me," Ino says while taking a seat.

She sighs and rubs Hinata's shoulder "Sweetie I'm so sorry I tried defending that crap bag to you."

Hinata smiles faintly at her and nods but doesn't reply.

"It's a good thing you intended to divorce him before seeing that dumpster fire," Ten Ten says.

"But pregnant or not if I was there, I'd beat that pink bimbo's ass," she adds fervently.

Ino chortles "That's you, I would have knocked her teeth out, I mean you can miss her flat ass but you can't miss that dimmadome sized head,"

Hinata giggles at the mocking and Ten Ten adds to it.

"Her head is pretty massive. You know at first I thought the video was a hair tutorial."

Ino replies casually "She would have to chop off that raggedy mop to convince me,"

Soon Hinata's laugh grows louder as they continue to roast Sakura slowly pulling her out of her doleful mood.

"There we go, see you'll be just fine we got you," Ten Ten says jovially from seeing Hinata cheer up.

Ino embraces them both "We're so happy we can make you smile."

"Speaking of smiles, did you talk to blondie?" Ten Ten asks probingly.

Hinata sighs as she thinks back "No actually, he's been so busy that I don't want to bother him. I haven't seen him since he was last here."

Ino grips her shoulder "Well whatever, you don't need him either. Why don't we head out tonight?"

"For once your brain farts out an actual idea," Ten Ten teases.

Hinata replies quietly "I don't know."

Quickly, Ino kneels in front of her and Ten Ten holds her hand "We won't let you do anything dumb… at least not alone."

Later that evening

The ladies club hop for hours, dancing with different men as they flirt their way through each venue. They call attention to themselves without having to say a word, the group was just that attractive and none of them had rings on, signaling that they were all without restriction.

Hinata disappears a few times to get air but genuinely enjoys their girls' night out, she feels light and free. She isn't sure if it was the back-to-back shots or the flattering she keeps getting from men tonight but she was no longer anxious or worried about getting divorced, instead the thought thrills her.

A feeling of euphoria consumes her when she thinks of how unprepared Sakura is to deal with Sasuke when he eventually gets triggered and pushes her and everyone else away. It makes her bubble up with joy to think of how miserable they will be together and she was ebullient for the rest of the night.

After drinking all night long they get back to Hinata's apartment light-headed and blissful a couple hours shy of daybreak. Hinata is wasted but Ten Ten and Ino are tipsy, they made sure to hold back so they could keep a watchful eye over Hinata as men constantly tried tempting her throughout the night.

The women stay over until Saturday and Hinata wakes up with a throbbing headache in the afternoon. As she raises from the pillow, she uses her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding light beaming through the spaces in the curtains.

Hinata carefully lifts Ten Ten's arm off her leg and gently shifts Ino in order to get off of the bed and when she does, she stretches all her limbs to rid her body of seized muscles from bad positioning while sleeping.

Then as she turns on her phone, her body jitters from seeing the many missed calls from her father as well as texts from Neji and Hanabi urging her to call them as soon as possible. She worries thinking her father has already found out that she's planning on filing for divorce.

Hiashi made an arrangement with Hinata before allowing her wedding to take place and only a select few relatives were made aware of the bargain. She and Sasuke were madly in love back then and she never thought they would actually be in a situation to consider divorce so she agreed to his requirement without a second thought.

However, now that things have changed Hinata still doesn't want to live up to their deal and is anxious about all these missed calls after her very public night of self-indulgence.

She walks into the living room contemplating what to tell her father to keep him at bay for a bit longer. Then as though he knew her mind was troubled a sweet text from Naruto pops up, apologizing for being distant and inviting her over for dinner later.

His message relieves her agitation immediately and brightens her morning tremendously.


Hope you enjoyed the read and thanks for all the continued detailed reviews.