CC Note: Thank you everyone for your patience! For those of you who have been waiting two years for an update, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! I wanted to post this sooner but I decided to go in an entirely different direction with this sequel than I originally intended. This route makes a lot more sense than what I was going to do anyway. This first chapter is a little short but that's only because I wanted to at least get something out to you to show that this story isn't dead! Please enjoy and don't forget to review so I know that someone is still reading!
Being Away
"Oh man, I can't wait till we're done walking. I think my feet are about to fall off!"
Hinata pressed her lips together and focused on the path ahead. The gates of Kumo were getting closer with every step and while the end of their journey was in sight, her anxiety mounted. The shinobi of Kumo were their allies.
"There's a pretty nice bed and breakfast that I heard about too."
They would not attack her. They would not seek her eyes after the tentative peace that they'd all fought so hard to obtain. Kakashi would not send her to a place that would harm her. Then again she was a kunoichi. Danger came with the occupation. Hinata swallowed her nerves and picked up her pace. No good would come from her fretting like this. Besides she could protect herself if and when the time came.
Speaking of time, it had taken a bit longer for them to reach Kumo than it should have since there were many places that Chouji wished to visit. In a time of peace, many interesting shops and restaurants had sprung up. All of them had merit in their own right and if half of her mind wasn't elsewhere she would have enjoyed the journey more. Part of her felt bad that she was a less than amicable companion to Chouji but a larger part of her craved silence.
She didn't want to entertain someone with meaningless conversation. If someone spoke- especially if it wasn't often- their words should carry weight. The things that were left unsaid held significance as well. Whether it be in the silent handing of a broom or the brush of an arm against hers as they sat…Hinata shook her head. Now was not the time to get lost in the longings of her heart.
"We're here!"
The Hyuuga nodded at the unnecessary announcement though Chouji's enthusiastic announcement was in stark contrast to their surroundings. The guards at the gate were tense with their arrival – as to be expected with unknown arrivals- but when she locks eyes with them their hands twitch to find weapons hidden on their bodies. No one makes a move that could be seen as suspicious but the anxiety she felt before gains a justified edge.
Luckily for her, just as they reach the gate entrance a squad of three approached them and the guards turn their heads. The first to reach them was a man with dark skin, silver hair, and an attitude that did not appear excited to greet them. Next were his two female teammates and while their moods were better than the males it wasn't by much. Chouji didn't seem to register the tense atmosphere that surrounded them. Instead, he simply greeted the three as if they were old friends.
"Its been awhile Chouji." The blonde woman said while the redhead rolled her eyes.
"You were supposed to arrive three days ago."
"I told her you probably got lost and died. That was the likeliest outcome." The silver-haired male said.
Hinata felt her eye twitch and Chouji simply laughed and scratched the back of his head. This was already shaping up to be a less than stellar visit.
….
Objectively speaking, Kumo was a…nice village from the brief glimpse of what she'd seen of it on the way to the Hokage tower. From there they met with the Hokage Killer Bee- a man Naruto had spoken highly of and she could see why. He was rather amusing and boisterous. During their brief meeting where they dropped off the scroll for Kakashi he did his best to make them feel welcome. Well him… and Team Samui in their own way.
Hinata sighed as she recalled the dinner they shared with the three teammates. She now knew exactly why Kakashi had sent Chouji on this mission and it appeared that Karui was the cause. Much like with Shikamaru and Temari it seemed like there was a connection between the two shinobi from different villages. To encourage a form of soft diplomacy made sense. Peace was not something that could be assured by only kunai and threats and paper treaties. Peace had to mean something and both sides had to have something of value at stake. Marriages between different nations- the children wrought from those unions would create a newer and more tolerant world.
Hopefully.
The thought of children and the future wrought a sense of melancholy that she'd been trying to tamp down for awhile. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get out of her own head. The Hyuuga rolled over onto her back and stared up at the dark, unfamiliar ceiling. The guest rooms in the Hokage tower were supposed to be secure. Out of common courtesy, she should keep her Byakugan deactivated but there was something…off. Someone was watching her. Waiting. That feeling of being watched sent a shiver down her spine.
'I shouldn't be afraid.' She thought to herself. 'I am a kunoichi of Konoha.'
Anyone who meant her harm would find themselves mistaken. She would make sure of it. So as not to raise suspicion she went about her usual nighttime routine and laid in the middle of the bed. She then pulled the blanket over her head. Listened to the rain patter outside her window. And watched a mass of chakra in the room two floors above her…
…
Sasuke was positive that his former sensei was absolutely insane. The fact that he would not only allow him to 'escape' but actively facilitate it was more than just a bit of a shock. Well, it was until he realized that Kakashi had conditions on his freedom…
…The sharp, toxic smoke from the fire remained coated to his throat long after he'd left the Hyuuga Compound. He hadn't intended on things getting as out of hand as they had. He couldn't control his own rage at the situation. How could she do this? Why? Sasuke landed on a roof and dared to let out a small cough to clear his throat. It didn't help. Nothing would until he put as much distance between himself and this godforsaken village. Even then the urge to rip out his own throat would remain. Resuming his escape, he realized that he was unstable…backsliding into a mental space that he thought he'd put behind him. He had to get out of here. He had to-
"Sasuke."
The Uchiha halted as the calm voice of the Hokage called out to him from one house over. Although it was dark, his silver hair was unmistakable in the moonlight. Anbu surrounded them- out of sight and at distance just ready to strike if commanded. Sasuke widened his stance defensively. He'd just taken out a fair amount of Hyuuga and adrenaline still coursed in his veins. He could kill all of them in an instant if he wanted you. He could. He would.
"I suppose you decided to leave with a bang tonight."
Sasuke glanced over his shoulder and spotted the Hyuuga Compound burning in the distance. It was only a matter of time before everyone else saw it as well.
"Anyone dead?" Kakashi asked and Sasuke frowned.
"Not by my hand." He begrudgingly admitted.
He'd beat several of the Hyuuga bloody but he was sure none of them were dead. At his response, Kakashi hopped over to the same roof he stood on and slowly walked forward. This caused Sasuke to take a step back.
"You can't stop me."
"I know." Kakashi said. "I want to help you."
Help…him?
The offer confounded him. Why would Kakashi want to help him after he'd clearly attacked a powerful clan within the village? The very same clan whose daughter he was supposed to marry? It didn't make any sense. None of it did.
"Just trust me Sasuke."
Trust? What good was that? Hinata had asked him to trust her and look where that had gotten them? The thought of her lying paralyzed on the floor chilled his blood. He should have never trusted her. His hesitation was just the opening Kakashi needed. Before he knew it the Anbu hiding in the shadows surrounded him and the moon that hung overhead disappeared…
…After a week of keeping him within the confines of the Hokage Tower Kakashi presented him a scroll, a white Anbu mask, and a promise of freedom under certain conditions. The Uchiha sighed as he slit the last bandit's throat. Conditions that were bloody but not unfamiliar to him. At least now he was using his power for 'good' as Kakashi justified it. The Uchiha gave a sharp flick of his katana and the blood of his enemies splattered over their bodies. He would have to spend a considerable amount of time cleaning it once they set up camp for the night.
"Hawk." A voice buzzed in his earpiece.
He rolled his eyes and pressed a button to the device.
"Clear."
His 'partner's' voice disappeared from his ear but he was positive the older man would make an appearance soon. Per Kakashi's orders, he was never too far away. Sure enough, a moment later from the shadows came a man dressed in the same black uniform he wore. His white mask reminiscent of a cat, hid his features from view though Sasuke knew who he was. Yamato…and that was it. Outside of his name he knew little else about him. He was more of an ever-watchful eye than a true companion which was how he preferred it. He had no desire to form connections with anyone else.
"Let's head back. Kakashi should have another mission lined up for us if you choose to take it."
'If I choose?' Sasuke scoffed inwardly. 'It's not like I have much of a choice.'
Their 'mission' was a simple one. Eliminate threats to Konoha. Those threats mostly took the form of petty bandits that anyone ranked a chunin could take out but Kakashi claimed that he didn't want to cause alarm. The number of attacks from seemingly unorganized groups of thieves was growing more frequent. Whispers of corruption had reached their Hokage's ear. Of plots to overthrow the Daimyo. Of plans to uplift the Sound village once again and take out all who stood in their way. But they were at peace. If Kakashi were to send shinobi after every whisper it could be seen as an act of provocation and mistrust. Other villages did not take kindly to supposed allies skulking around their borders. So that is where he, Yamato, and the rest of the Anbu came in. They chased down threats and eliminated them at their source. Since so many of the ones leading the unrest were from the Sound, his expertise was needed.
Or that was the reason Kakashi gave him but they both knew that to be a lie.
Out of sentimentality or shrewdness for the future, they both knew that Konoha would need him even if it was from the shadows as an Anbu. He took the position of course. Where else was he to go? He didn't want to stay in the village. There was nothing left for him there. At least with this, he had some sense of a purpose. At least that's what he kept telling himself when he was awake.
At night his subconscious told a different story. One where he was back in the village in the shabby house that Hinata had somehow made into a home. Sometimes he could hear her voice reciting a story she'd read to him before. He could feel her firm but gentle fingers gliding through his hair as she helped him to wash it. More often than not he could smell her. That soft lavender scent that drove him to madness in more ways than one. He didn't regret what he did. A large part of him was furious with her that she'd put herself in such a position. That she was willing to be physical collateral to keep him in line. He hated the fact that she didn't come to him or say anything. The fact that yet another person was willing to sacrifice themselves for him- for his pathetic life. He couldn't allow such a thing.
So now here he was. Slaughtering people in the shadows which was really all he was good at. Being a teammate. A friend. A husband. All of that burned the night he set the Hyuuga compound on fire.
….
Sasuke frowned as he stood in the empty Hokage's office. He shouldn't be surprised that the man wasn't there at the time that he'd said he'd be but it was irritating nonetheless. Kakashi's tardiness didn't impede upon any of his personal plans. Outside of sleeping in the bowels of the Hokage tower, there wasn't much for him to do in the village. The short mission to Otogakure had been a bit of a reprieve from the tedious suffocation that was life in Konoha. It was…odd to be back in a place that had mostly consisted of castoff experiments, runaways, and traitors. Even odder still that the civilians appeared to be getting along as much as they could given the circumstances. Not that he cared about the inner workings of the Sound. All he cared about was completing the mission.
"Ah Sasuke!" Kakashi said, sliding smoothly into the room. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting. I had to see a man about a horse."
The Uchiha rolled his eyes but didn't dignify the older man's excuse with much more. He watched as Kakashi walked to his desk, sliding off his robe and removing his hat in a near-simultaneous fashion. The traditional garb of the Hokage looked ridiculous on him.
"I heard from Yamato that your mission was a success." Kakashi said as he sank into his desk chair and pulled out a scroll from his drawer. "Since you didn't fail we can move on to getting you a partner."
Sasuke snorted. A partner? Outside of their constant surveillance since his coma, he'd had little to no contact with the Anbu whose ranks he was supposed to join. Yamato was the first that he'd ever spoken to and he wasn't exactly the warmest. He doubted that any of the others would be jumping at the opportunity to be his partner.
"Don't look so skeptical. I think the two of you could pair well."
"Who is it?" Sasuke asked flatly and Kakashi lazily tossed the scroll in his possession.
"It was rather difficult to find someone willing to watch your back."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. He doubted that it had been that difficult. The Anbu were staunchly loyal to the Hokage. If he ordered them to be his partner they would do so with very little resistance. Upon seeing the boredom in Sasuke's expression, Kakashi sighed and held the scroll out to him over the desk. Sasuke accepted it and unfurled the scroll with little fanfare. The name at the top of the scroll surprised him. He blinked, hoping that the black ink would change to another name, one that was less familiar. Less…strange.
"Sai is rather excited to work with you." Kakashi said. "He hasn't formally been among the Anbu since he joined Team Seven but he is even more of a capable operative now."
Sai.
That weird, sickly pale guy that had shown up on his front door bearing 'gifts' as a form of socialization.
Sai.
A man that he'd barely registered as more than an annoyance.
"You're kidding me."
"I am not."
They stared each other down. Sasuke searching for any small signal that the man was lying. Kakashi waiting for him to back down. After a tense moment the Uchiha conceded. His former teacher was actually serious.
"I don't need a partner if I have Yamato." He grumbled and Kakashi leaned back in his chair.
"Yamato was not your partner but an observer. The minute you were outside the gates there was a high chance that you would defect again. You didn't and based on the last month's worth of reports you don't seem inclined to do so."
"Hn."
"I take that proof that we can trust you which will obviously work in your favor."
He really didn't care what 'favor' he gained by not having enough motivation to defect again. He was tired of trying. As if sensing that he was shutting down, Kakashi continued.
"You and Sai will begin training together tomorrow before heading out for a short mission at the end of the week. I'll have more details for you by then."
"Fine." He said as he rose from his chair but Kakashi raised a hand to stop him.
"One more thing. You also have a visitor. He's been waiting patiently for your return."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow questioningly but Kakashi didn't respond. Instead, the door to the office opened to reveal Hyuuga Hiashi. The last man he ever thought he'd see again.
"Uchiha." The Hyuuga head greeted tersely.
Sasuke glared at the man but as he sat a little straighter in his chair. It pained him to see those familiar pale eyes again though this time they were filled with disdain. He couldn't blame the man. After all, he did cause irreparable damage to his compound and a potential partnership between the Hyuuga and Uchiha.
"You are just as strong as we'd feared." Hiashi said, getting straight to the point without much pomp or hesitation. "Stronger even."
Sasuke sniffed and shrugged his shoulders. It was the Hyuugas' own fault for underestimating him. If he were being honest, he was quite surprised by his own actions as well. He'd only meant to set the scroll on fire but the flames were a lot stronger than he'd anticipated and of course the dry tatami underfoot was perfect kindling. The ensuing fight with Hyuuga guards he had expected though. Despite the pain that his body was in from their attacks, they were in a condition far worse than he was.
"You have voided the contract." Hiashi stated flatly.
Of course the contract was voided. Was that all he came here to say? Irritated, Sasuke rose to his feet and made to leave.
"If you wish to discuss the contract I believe my actions that night speak for themselves. I'll be leaving now."
"Sasuke, Hisashi here is the reason you are free right now." Kakashi said firmly. "The least you can do is let him finish what he has to say."
Kakashi's statement made him pause. Hiashi Hyuuga was the reason he was free? This man? He looked at the older man skeptically.
"Why?"
"You care for Hinata."
The Uchiha didn't confirm or deny his claims. If he wanted to call what he did 'caring' then that was his prerogative. He just didn't want her to sacrifice herself for his own sake. He didn't want another person to put their life on the line for him, especially not her. How could she think that this was okay? What was she going to say to him when she came home with a seal on her forehead? He'd only regained his sight recently so he would have surely noticed the addition. Why? Why would she offer herself up as collateral?
"I believe that she has come to care for you as well and yet you have voided the contract. Your very life could have been extinguished by such an action. You could have easily allowed her to take the seal or you could have escaped at any point since then."
"Your point?"
"Despite everything you have stayed loyal to the village. I must say the night you set my dojo on fire I wanted your head but I was relieved to not have to burden Hinata with the same mark as my brother and nephew. For that…I suppose I am grateful."
"Hiashi is much too modest. He vouched for your loyalty to the village before the council and they reluctantly agreed to let you join the ranks of the Anbu under close supervision."
'If they can't have my children they at least want my power.'Sasuke scoffed. He did not care how much Hiashi had finessed the council into allowing him to live.
"In any case, I am here to acquire payment for doing so." Hisashi said and at this, he had Sasuke's full attention.
The Hyuuga got a return of Hinata's dowry since he was the one who voided the contract. They also got to keep parts of the Uchiha District that bordered the Compound as recompense for the damage he'd wrought. What more could they want from him? For his part, Hiashi had turned firm. A different, more deadly look flashed over his eyes before she closed them and calmed himself.
"Stay away from Hinata. You are to have no contact with her or anyone associated with her if it can be helped. If you can agree to that you can continue to live freely in the shadows at the Hokage's request."
At this Sasuke rose, shoving his hands in his pockets. Though his stance was relaxed his nails were biting into the fleshy part of his palm. The pain kept him focused and resolute.
"Done."
To be continued…Being Attacked