SHIBARI: Bound
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter Warnings: Language, Violence
Music:
'(12.1) I'll be good - Jaymes Young (instrumental (recommended) or lyrical (if preferred))
Note: YouTube link to soundtrack included on my PFP
Chapter 12
Demons
A few days ago (Late Summer 5 AN) – Undisclosed Underground Location
Beep.
Drip. Drip.
Beep.
The low humming of life support machines echoed soothingly through the sterile, dark room that smelled faintly of excrement and antiseptic. Only the dim glow of a few monitors provided any light. They reflected off of transparent round lenses and cadmium-colored irises that observed the patient vitals with a snakelike grin stretching across sallow features.
Kabuto removed his glasses with one hand while the other pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes squeezed shut. The past few weeks in the lab were long, but his work would soon pay off. Lifting the hem of his shirt, he wiped his spectacles clean before replacing them. He looked down and jotted a few notes in his journal, pausing for a moment as a familiar presence approached.
Carefully counting the seconds until arrival, he smirked and continued scribbling. Wearing a smug expression Kabuto swiveled in his chair expectantly, just as the door opened to reveal an intimidating figure illuminated by the incandescent bulbs in the hall.
"Status," the shadowed form barked in a calm yet commanding tone. His ruby gaze rested on the white-haired medic. The Uchiha's presence was so strong, it practically shoved you against the walls.
"I'm so glad you could visit, Madara," Kabuto drawled with an eager smile.
The legendary shinobi stared dully at the medic, saying nothing. His eyes flicked to the withering shell-of-a-man resting between thin sheets before falling on the bedside flowers that appeared out of place.
Noting his gaze, Kabuto chirped, "They really brighten up the atmosphere, don't they? Lavender also helps to relieve anxiety and stress, which is helpful for the process of transition and acceptance."
With a pointed stare directed at the younger man, Madara crossed his arms and leaned a shoulder against the door frame.
"Ah." Kabuto stood from his seat and walked over to the bed, prodding and inspecting the body as he spoke. "His brain activity suggests the Limited Tsukiyomi is being tolerated well. All other lab work suggests he's physically ready for the next phase of live testing."
The Uchiha slowly uncrossed his arms and walked towards the comatose patient. "Will it work?"
"I have no doubt. Our last five preliminary test subjects have all been a success."
Madara let out a hum of approval. "How soon?"
Before Kabuto could answer, Madara held up a finger, quieting the white-haired medic. His attention shifted to the entrance. Confused, Kabuto copied the action, and seconds later he heard the soft sounds of footsteps approaching.
Once within earshot, Madara called out to the new guest. "Tell me you found Orochimaru."
As Zetsu crossed the threshold of the entryway, his keen focus rested solely on his leader. "Orochimaru is a slippery snake. It will take a little longer. In time, Madara."
Madara frowned and fixed the Akatsuki member with a glare. "Why are you here, Zetsu?"
"I bring other news," the dichromatic spy announced in a deceivingly playful voice. "The Konoha ANBU evaded all attempts made by our hired rogues and escaped behind Konoha's walls. There have been no ANBU in or out of the village since.
"But… I was able to observe the tracking-nin as they evaded the forest trap. They bear the masks of a Dog, Fox, and Beetle. Unfortunately, I could not discern which of the three was responsible for disrupting your genjutsu. None appeared to have a significantly larger chakra reserve than normal. It is quite a conundrum."
"I see." Madara's eyes shifted back to the patient on the bed. "If Kakashi does not want to send his ANBU out of the village to play, I will have to give him a reason to send his Dog, Fox and Beetle." His crimson glare met with cadmium. "Zetsu! Bring Obito. I have a job for him."
Zetsu's eyes glinted, and his sharp grin stretched wide across his sickly white face.
"Kabuto, prepare Bee for the waking Tsukiyomi. Let's see how well our last jinchuriki performs in a live trial."
Kabuto smiled, tightly reigned excitement flooding his veins as they entered the next phase of their silent war. "It would be my pleasure."
Present (Late Summer 5 AN) – Konoha
"She's nice."
Jin leaned a shoulder against the frame of the sliding door leading to the back patio where Sasuke was divining the night sky. It was an honest statement. Though there was no visible reaction, there was no doubt that Sasuke had heard.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Jin reinforced his resolve and continued his monologue. "I just don't want to see either of you get hurt."
At that statement, Sasuke turned a scrutinizing eye to his somber clan member. It was a valid concern, but Sasuke had no intention of letting things get to that point. At least, not right now.
They had too much on their plate. Working on the Uchiha district and forging new partnerships was only the beginning. There was too much to accomplish in a short amount of time, and no time left for distractions with so much at stake.
The slowly, but surely, forming bond with Hinata was not a part of his plan. He had intended to stay away from the ex-heiress entirely. Her constant presence was a problem. Without much effort Hinata was breaking down his barriers, and he hadn't put up much of a fight. He wasn't in the right mental space to pursue a relationship.
Jin met his stare equally and knowing. With a defeated sigh, Sasuke returned his gaze to the star filled sky, and closed his eyes, feeling the cool breeze prick at the skin on his face. "She loves another… and I won't allow it to go any further." After a slight pause, for good measure he assured, "She won't get hurt."
"And you?" Jin pressed, deep concern knitting his brows.
"It's already too late for me."
The memory of the night before replayed in his mind as he furtively watched the woman who invaded his thoughts, run her slender fingers across the spines of a series of books. When they had stood to check out his books, Hinata ran off saying she'd "be right back."
The fact that Hinata, and everyone else in the village, had been kept in the dark about Danzo's involvement in the Uchiha massacre bothered him, but was unsurprising. The Konoha council always did prefer to keep the masses in the dark for the so-called "greater good."
Sasuke would never agree with their methods. People had the right to know the truth. The truth of what was happening around them, and the truth of the political system they allowed to lead them.
He would continue to turn a blind eye for now. He would allow everyone to continue believing in the lies. But he had already decided long ago, it was time for a change.
Standing in line with two books in his grasp, Sasuke found he could not tear his eyes away from Hinata's every movement. The curve of her back and hips as she leaned forward, angling for a better view of titles on a lower shelf, reminded him of the lush sloping hills in tea country. Yellow sunlight filtered in through high, filmy windows, accentuating her tantalizing silhouette. His head unconsciously tilted as he admired the length from her ass to her ankles.
Her bottom lip suddenly caught on her pearly teeth, a habit of hers when she was in deep thought. He was suddenly glad that he was wearing loose fitted pants.
Fuck.
This was a problem.
The realization made his brows droop in consternation, and he forced his lids shut. He needed to distance himself from her as quickly as possible.
"Hey there, Mister! I can help you if you're ready!" The overly eager librarian chirped nasally from behind the mahogany desk, breaking Sasuke from his developing crisis.
Without a word, he approached the desk, held out the two heavy tomes and placed them in the young woman's waiting hands. Avoiding eye contact, he was still cognizant of the fact that hers were drinking in every inch of him. She slowly filled out the necessary forms and chewed obnoxiously on a piece of gum. He shifted uncomfortably and hoped to kami this annoyance would soon end. His gaze shifted to her name tag- 'Misty.'
"Write your name here, and sign here." She pointed at the spots on the paper with a polished finger.
Sasuke complied while she placed the books in a bag.
Indulgently, Misty read his name and attempted a friendly conversation. "Sasuke Uchiha? Lots of gossip going around town about you right now." She snorted in an un-ladylike fashion. "All the girls are talking about the big, bad Avenger who's finally returned home to find his bride and rebuild his clan. We're all wondering if it's true."
He wanted to roll his eyes. If she wasn't holding his bag of books, he would have walked away already.
His lack of response did nothing to dissuade Misty as she continued to gab on. She leaned forward, allowing her cleavage to show, and whispered, "If you were mine, you'd never want to leave our bed." She leaned back with a large, shameless grin plastered across her face.
With a lip curled in disgust and narrowed eyes, he delivered a simple, tepid response. "Not interested."
Oblivious to the conversation, at that moment Hinata bounded to his side wearing a triumphant smile.
"I found it!" She announced happily, holding up a leather-bound book.
Her smile made his chest swell, but his moment of enjoyment was quickly squashed at the sound of the squawking female in front of him.
"Um, excuse me!" Misty reprimanded. "We're talking here. Wait your turn at the back of the line." She pointed to the space just behind Sasuke with two red tipped fingers.
Hinata flushed, appearing as though she had been slapped. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean-"
"She's with me." With a hostile glare directed at the librarian, Sasuke wrapped a possessive arm around Hinata's waist and roughly pressed her to his side.
So much for distancing himself. He pointedly ignored the way the warm softness of her body melded against his.
Hinata stared up at him with eyes wide and mouth agape, but words could not form.
If Sasuke were not so angry at the other woman for the blatant disrespect, he might have been amused and somewhat apologetic. Instead, his irises bled red and he forced a small amount of invisible, malicious intent into Misty's pores. Her face dropped, fear fluttering in her caramel eyes and a slight tremble in her hands.
Good.
Misty's eyes snapped from Sasuke to Hinata and back. She spluttered, "Oh! M-my d-deepest apologies!"
The book in Hinata's hand was expeditiously recovered, important information retrieved, and placed in the bag with Sasuke's items. All the while, a bewildered Hinata continued to wordlessly stare at the mercurial man still attached to her. Holding the bag out with both hands, Misty bowed deeply to the pair. "P-please forgive me. Keep the books as long as you like, Lord Uchiha!"
Sasuke calmly lifted the weight off of Misty's hands, took Hinata's palm in his, and tugged her along as he walked away.
While still within earshot, Hinata meekly stumbled out to the terrified civilian, "Um. Thank you." In a daze, she followed the Uchiha outside who had still refused to let her hand go.
A few steps out of the door, Sasuke released Hinata and turned to face her. "You should not allow others to talk down to you."
Hinata's brows shot up, confusion knocking the air out of her. She did not understand why he was upset. "What?"
Sasuke repeated, "You shouldn't let anyone talk down to you. You're above them."
"I beg your pardon?" Hinata's expression was appalled. "I am above no one. Regardless of my birth or clan."
Sasuke let out a deep breath to steady himself. "While your social status and shinobi rank do, in fact, make you better than them, that's not what I was referring to."
The tension melted from her shoulders and her face cutely contorted back into confusion.
It made his own anger ebb and dissipate. "Your noble intentions and ridiculously selfless moral code are what make you superior. You're… good." He watched as a glittering softness filled her light eyes and a small 'o' formed on her rosy lips. Staring into her eyes reminded him of snowy days at dusk and the warmth of a campfire.
"You don't know me that well," she retorted with downcast eyes. "I'm a very selfish person."
This time, he did allow his eyes to roll. "Don't be so humble."
"No really!" Her hand shot out and arrested his sleeve to keep him from turning away. A playful grin flashed across her features before a seriousness took over. "No one is truly good or selfless. Every act of charity is also a selfish one. Even when it appears you have nothing to gain. Being kind to others makes people feel good about themselves. Sometimes we help others and damn the consequences because we want to do what we think is right. So, if something benefits someone in some way it's not truly selfless, is it?"
Dark eyes swept thoughtfully over her face. His hands fisted to stop them from combing through her long silky strands or pulling her towards him. Bending slightly at the waist and leaning close to her face, he paused briefly before he teasingly chided, "You should learn how to take a compliment."
With a grimace she released her hold on his shirt. "I'm sorry."
He scoffed and turned a heel towards his temporary residence. "And stop apologizing. It's annoying."
"I'm sorry!" Hinata squeaked and quickly trailed.
Sasuke laughed with a harsh breath. Her more likeable traits were not lost on him. Unlike his initial presumptions, she wasn't anything like he expected an heiress to be. He knew by the functional and modest clothing she wore that she wasn't superficial or materialistic. She wasn't self-centered, mean spirited or demanding. If anything, she could stand to be more arrogant and aggressive. But he didn't mind. It was a nice change of pace compared to most females he had interacted with in his life.
Interrupting his thoughts, the bitter aura enveloping a small group of civilians brushed against the fringes of his awareness. Their distance was closing in quickly.
Schooling his features to placid apathy, he watched Hinata's eyebrows draw together in quiet concern, and turned to face the oncoming ambush head-on.
"Uchiha!"
A casually dressed, burly man led a small mob of twenty or thirty civilians towards the two shinobi. With less hair on the top of his head than what peeked through the low neckline of his shirt, he couldn't have been older than fifty. A growing crowd of curious onlookers began to form in a circle around the scene.
Sasuke acknowledged his ruddy-cheeked aggressor with indifference as two stout fingers prodded against his chest in challenge.
"You should have stayed dead. You are not welcome here, Uchiha!" The name was spat as if it were a curse. Offensive in and of itself. Thick eyebrows rested over beady, dark eyes that scowled up at the younger man who stood taller by a few inches. The lack of response behind coal black eyes fueled his ire.
"Do you think you're better than us? Am I not worth your words?" He spit on the ground in disgust. Promptly losing patience, he began to yell. "Tell that to my dead daughter you son-of-a-bitch!"
A balled fist shot out towards Sasuke's jaw.
And connected.
The tang of warm blood slid along his tongue and spilled down the side of his mouth.
Hinata's sharp intake of breath reached his ears. The shouting, murmurs and shuffling ended as everyone anxiously awaited retaliation.
He could have moved out of the way or stopped the punch from landing, but he chose not to. Sasuke knew that this minor physical pain was temporary, but the loss this man was feeling was permanent. This he understood. Sometimes, anger just needed an outlet. Even if he was not directly responsible, Sasuke would grant him that.
This time.
Hinata finally found her voice and cautiously attempted to pacify the man who held clenched fists and bruising knuckles. "Please kind sir, there must be some misunderstanding. Perhaps we could discuss this in a more appropriate setting."
Sasuke turned his head back towards the man. His eyes fell on the quickly spiraling father who would find no opposition here. He murmured, "I'm sorry for your loss."
With waterlogged eyes, the older man's defenses began to crumble. "She idolized you, and now she's dead. I'll never forgive you. Never. Never forgive you."
In the wake of their leader's emotional collapse, the tightly wound bundle of scorn and retribution burst forth. Aggression hit a new level. It began with a distinctly slow clamoring and a swell in the crowd. Violence would come next.
"Leave Konoha!"
"We demand justice!"
"Demon!"
Hinata and Sasuke pressed closer together as the ring around them contracted. Sasuke's fists clenched. He suddenly wished he had worn his cloak to shield them as spit, rocks and clumps of dirt began to fly.
He watched Hinata's face scrunch into a blend of frustrated confusion and haunted distress. He understood her hesitation. The failure to act. What recourse is there when civilians turn on the shinobi sworn to protect them? What means do shinobi have to defend themselves against an angry hoard of fragile bodies they could kill with a look or flick of the wrist, but were entrusted not to? There was no protocol for this.
Hinata's fingers dimly glowed and faded from restraining her excited chakra. The use of her juken would surely cause injury. Like using a canon to swat a fly- but a fly you're not supposed to kill. She maneuvered in the confined space to dodge and block what she could with her forearms, but there was too much that was too brittle coming at them from all sides. Some of the fodder and fluids were bound to make it through.
The only thing Sasuke knew for sure was Hinata was innocent in all of this. He refused to be the reason she got hurt. He gave his word to Jin and, like Naruto, his word would be his bond.
Curling his body around Hinata, and wrapping his large hands around her head, Sasuke ducked his head low; his back taking the brunt of the onslaught.
Voicing her protest, she muttered with exasperation, "You don't have to protect me, Sasuke. I-"
"I know, Hinata." He cut her off gently. To Hinata's surprise, his voice was calm, low and warm. He winced as the sharp edge of a projectile scratched the delicate skin of his neck, just below his jawline. Hidden from the crowd's view and unable to resist, Sasuke shut his eyes, and brought her forehead to rest against his. He breathed in her scent and whispered, "I want to."
Her astonishment was visible in her beautiful bright eyes that lifted cautiously to stare at him. He lazily opened his eyes and peered back through a heavy-lidded, rutilant gaze. Black pinwheels against a garnet backdrop signaled the use of his eternal mangekyo sharingan. Sasuke pulled back enough to admire the pretty crimson blush infusing the high planes of her cheeks and the bridge of her small nose.
Amidst the chaos brewing around them, pelted by jagged stones and verbal assaults, for a moment everything was still. The mob faded into the background and then it was just them. In this writhing sea of torment, she was the calm in the storm. Even with the bits of dirt clinging to her hair, he was lost to this enticing siren who held the power to ensnare and breathe life back into his dead heart.
He could feel it beating, strong and slow, but too loudly in his ears. His chest felt full and he choked on the overwhelming emotion.
Sasuke inhaled deeply, seeking relief and reason.
Fuck it.
Why fight this? Why deny himself of his feelings for this woman? He couldn't remember who or what he was protecting anymore.
In that moment he decided.
He would stop running from his feelings for Hinata, and he would keep her safe from the consequences of his namesake and past.
With his new resolve in mind, it was time to act. The pandemonium had begun mere seconds ago. He needed to defeat this obstacle first, and fast.
Before she could protest, he secured Hinata snug to his chest in a strong embrace. Sasuke's lids drooped shut, and he concentrated on filling his lungs with the oxygen needed to fuel the burst of energy to come.
When his eyes opened, a surge of purple flames violently expelled from his core, travelling to his extremities and beyond. In a rush that propelled their aggressors backwards, forcing them to yield a wider berth, a haphazard form began to manifest and radiate.
Allowing his grip to loosen and drop completely, Hinata gasped at the sight of being encased in the Susanoo's ribs. The presence of the spectral figure did nothing to dissuade the hearts of the attackers. Just the opposite. It encouraged the crowd to grow into a frenzy like a pack of rabid beasts. They pounded against the shield with more force and slammed what large objects could be found, attempting to break through. His Susanoo was sturdy, but not impenetrable.
Immediately, his mind began to deliberate their next steps.
Fight, flight or freeze.
Fighting would be the easiest, but most devastating response. Any trust or goodwill he was building would be immediately shattered and that much more difficult to regain. He wasn't capable of a genjutsu of this scale. Every civilian would need to focus their attention on him and they were too widely scattered. There was also no guarantee that the elders wouldn't immediately jail him for it, and frame it up as an attack on the civilian population.
Waiting for the civilians to grow tired or authorities show up would continue to place Hinata in harm's way. This wasn't a choice he was willing to entertain.
That left the last option. Flight.
Assessing their strategic position, he located the library. If he released his Susanoo, they could flicker to the roof of the library and escape. The timing would have to be perfect. Jump too early and they could risk a head on collision with his own armored avatar. Jump too late and they would be susceptible to the onslaught of firepower directed at them. Sasuke's attention switched to Hinata, but before he could tell her his idea, she did something unexpected. She placed two fingers in her mouth and loosed a long, shrill whistle.
Ten ANBU cascaded down in a circle around the Susanoo ribcage, creating an additional barrier between them and the swarm of civilians. Their bodies bumped and rubbed against each other, like tightly packed sardines.
One turned to face Hinata with a curious tilt of his head. He adorned himself with an indistinct white mask. He spoke with an eerily calm and amicable voice just loud enough to be heard by the pair over the rambunctious mob. "Hello Hinata."
Sasuke wasn't sure how, but he was sure the ANBU was smiling behind his cover. He noted the outfit's revealing midsection and internally groaned.
Hinata politely requested, "Can you provide a little cover?"
"Of course. I will need a moment," Sai smoothly responded with a lilt in his voice and began to unfurl a large scroll that was perched on his back. Sai knelt low for better leverage, protected by the guarding ANBU, and began to furiously scribble with swift strokes.
Not long after he was putting the finishing touches on his canvas. With a sweeping arc of his arm, he slammed a chakra powered palm on his creation and beckoned, "Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll, Mega Clone Jutsu!"
Black ink began to bob, skitter, hop, and fly off of the parchment in writhing globs by the hundreds. They infiltrated the throng below foot and from up high in the form of scampering mice, swooping bats and chittering insects.
Petrified screams and frenzied bedlam ensued with people practically trampling over each other to escape. People ducked for cover from ink bats, scratched and swatted at the imitation bugs on their skin, and hop scotched around trying to avoid the scavenging rodents.
At Sai's signal, the other nine ANBU navigated through the masses to ensure safety and order.
Sasuke couldn't help the appreciative smirk from forming on his lips. The solution was effective and fairly easy to manage without serious injury. He offered Sai a grateful nod and released his Susanoo's imperfect form.
Sai matter-of-factly, but solemnly informed, "I did it for Naruto."
The two men stared at each other in silence. They may not have seen eye-to-eye in the past, but they could both acknowledge the mutual feelings of brotherhood they both lost and longed for.
"And Hinata," He added with a friendly glance at the somberly attentive kunoichi.
With a slow and measured incline of his head, Sasuke accepted the act for what it was and turned his focus to Hinata. He delicately prompted, "Ready?"
"Yes," she replied and turned to Sai. "Thank you…"
The rest of Hinata's words were lost in the background as Sasuke's senses flared to life with the overpowering dark chakra streaming towards him like a gale force. With jarring panic, his heart slammed against his ribcage.
"Everyone DOWN!" He shouted over the mayhem and shoved Hinata to the ground with his entire weight; just in time for the quiet whistling on the wind to shoot over his head and lodge itself into the brick wall. The chakra laced senbon landed with so much force, small bits of dust plumed off the structure where it struck with a dull thud. Several other needles followed in quick succession, snapping into the wall and spraying nearby assailants with powdered rubble.
"Hinata!" Sasuke quickly scanned Hinata with burning crimson in his concerned stare. He had smothered her body with as much of his own as he could manage. Shielding her from the heavy footfall.
Without prompting, her byakugan flared to life and she assured, "I'm fine." She paused. Effortlessly shifting into her typical role as squad leader, she commanded, "Roof."
He let out a relieved sigh and nodded.
Before taking off, Hinata quickly turned to Sai who assured, "We'll protect the civilians. Go."
After a quick bow of her head, they both leapt upwards, leaving behind the scurrying throng.
Barely setting foot on the roof tiles, Hinata announced, "Top floor of the shrine tower!" She directed his gaze with the tilt of her head and took off towards the nearest rooftop. Quickly following suit, he sped off, gaining and then bounding ahead of her with his superior speed.
It wasn't long before he entered the red framed structure, adorning white walls and green sweeping rooftops. In the afternoon light, the large halls were dimly lit and vacant, aside from a few wandering monks. He swiftly scaled the steps, determined to catch the coward that had been hunting him from afar.
The highest level consisted of a single small room, with a single open entry leading out to a wrap-around deck that overlooked the city. A golden shrine sat on the opposite end against the wall with burning incense placed in a bowl of rice. It filled the room with its thick and smokey scent. The wooden floor creaked under his weight as he summited, alarming a crouched figure from between the balcony entryway. The solitary form turned and stood abruptly; face hidden behind a porcelain demon mask. The culprit foolishly attempted to slip past Sasuke, only to be thwarted by Sasuke's fist clenching the fabric of his shirt. With his tightened grip, he threw the would-be assassin to the floor. His face whipped to the side and the mask clamored to the ground.
With a slow and menacing approach, Sasuke hovered over the frail figure and unsheathed his blade. The pointed end of Kusanagi steadily tasted the skin of his throat. "Careful," Sasuke cautioned in a low hush.
The masked ninja let out a pained groan and turned to look at the fearsome avenger with silent horror.
Sasuke gaped with bewilderment for a moment before regaining his composure. The spinning tomoes of his kekkei genkei beginning to stitch together a world of his making.
By the time Hinata arrived, Sasuke had already subdued the target with a form of genjutsu. Her breath hitched when she finally looked at the prone form without her byakugan.
It was a boy. A genin no older than thirteen or fourteen.
What is he doing here?
Not wanting to break Sasuke's interrogation, she stayed silent and observed.
The young genin, still in a trance, stood and calmly reached into a pocket. He retrieved a folded piece of paper and held it out to the Uchiha who immediately snatched the parchment between two fingers.
With frustration coloring his mien, Sasuke gritted out, "Go," and the boy rubbed his head, saw the Uchiha, and stumbled away as quickly as his knobby knees could carry him.
They had been deceived.
The true culprit had fled long ago and framed the unsuspecting child with silver to sit in the shrine as a decoy. The boy could not identify the masked stranger.
Two characters were inked in red on the center of the page. They read 'saigo.'
Hinata breathed the word, "Last."
Sasuke confirmed, "It's a warning. A last warning to the last Uchiha. Someone doesn't want me here."
'(12.1) I'll be good - Jaymes Young (instrumental (recommended) or lyrical (if preferred))
'Saigo.'
The simple message was clear. Yet that did not stop Sasuke from staring intently at the creased paper in his hand. He placed the page down on the dining room table and carded through his hair with his free hand, finally taking his eyes off of the sheet.
There was no hidden meaning. No clues left behind. Nothing.
Tilting his head back and side-to-side to stretch his neck, he rolled his shoulders and focused on his breathing with lowered lids. Within the peace and quiet of this home, he noticed the faint tapping of the shower running.
Covered in spit, mud and who knows what else, after arriving at the Uchiha dwelling, Sasuke insisted that they shower. The corners of his lips lifted in recollection.
With a click of the door, Sasuke turned, looked Hinata over and lifted his chin towards his bedroom. "You can shower first."
A satisfying blush rose to her cheeks, and she quickly stammered, "Uh… um… no. What? I mean… I'm fine. I'll be fine. You go ahead."
With a single step, he invaded her personal space until he could feel the heat emanating from her body. "It wasn't a suggestion. You shower. I'll find you something to wear. Unless you prefer company."
He lifted an amused brow at her expression. Her eyes practically jumped out of their sockets. Her skin taking on an unhealthy shade of red that reminded him of tomatoes. He liked tomatoes.
"No! That won't be necessary." She spoke frantically, hands held up in front of her in an almost defensive stance. With a pivot and a step towards her destination, she added some distance in between them. She paused for a moment. Glancing sideways at him, she gratefully added, "A clean outfit would be nice."
He was conflicted by this woman's presence. She made him want for more. Hope for a happier future where he wasn't still haunted by demons past.
The water came to a stop with a quick twist of the knob. Politely knocking on the bathroom door, he waited.
The door opened a crack. Just enough for a pale arm to reach out with a demanding open palm.
With an amused rumble in his chest, he placed the clean set of clothes in her hand. Fabrics secured, her arm snaked back through the opening and the door shut with a definitive clap.
Leaning against the frame, he spoke up enough for her to hear him, "Give me your laundry."
Horrified, she called out, "W-WHY?"
He thought the answer was obvious. What did she think he wanted with her clothes? He didn't want to think about all of the things going through her mind. It was sure to be nothing good. With a straight face and an even tone he replied, "To wash them."
Sasuke heard her squeak from the other side of the wood, "No!" She insisted, "I can clean them when I get back to the compound."
"In my clothes?" He mused aloud.
Swinging open wide, Hinata squeezed the handle of the door. A mortified look adorned her features. Her free hand cinched the fabric over her navel self-consciously. Her damp hair was gathered and thrown over a shoulder. Bangs matted to her forehead. "I can't wear this!"
It was a single-layer, silk black robe that he typically wore to outdoor hot springs when the weather was cool, and a towel wasn't enough. It was much shorter on him and he reckoned it would be similar to the casual kimonos she usually wore- covering more skin than normal, in fact.
Intricate red threading trimmed the cuffs and the seams. It was held together by a matching crimson belt tied at the waist creating a natural slit in between her shapely legs. Adding insult to injury, at least for a Hyuga, emblazoned on her right breast, and displayed proudly on her back, was the red and white fan of the Uchiha.
At the sight of her his face remained blank, but he could not stop the way his heart fluttered or the intense stare that slid down her damp form. He began at her small but full pout, travelled down to her long, elegant neck, and her invitingly vulnerable collar bone. His eyes slid over her perky assets, that betrayed the chill in her body, past her narrow waist, and… he snapped his eyes back up to hers.
She stared back at him nonplussed and expecting his response.
In his defense, the expensive material covered her modesty from shoulder to shin. However, no amount of fabric could hide her buxom feminine curves. And she was wearing his robe.
The only thing he could muster was practically growled at the mortified female. "I need to shower. Now."
The sun had descended, giving way to the moon, but the rest of their group had yet to return. This left Sasuke and Hinata to eat dinner alone.
With their clothes still drying on the line, Hinata refused to eat out.
"I'll make us dinner." She had offered. To which, Sasuke had simply shrugged and led her into the kitchen to show her where everything was stored.
When Hinata was anxious, she tended busy herself with mundane tasks. Cooking was one of her favorite. She made enough food for all six on their combined team and more; just in case the others were hungry when they arrived. Miso soup, onigiri, sliced fruits and vegetables, including seasoned tomatoes and fried chicken.
They ate in silence, basking in the peacefulness of the moment. Sasuke had second helpings… and then third, bringing a small smile to her face.
After Sasuke insisted on taking care of the cleaning, they both sat at the table again. Emptiness filling the space between them until Hinata broke the quiet.
"I need to report this to the Hokage." Her eyes were on the paper inscribing the subtle warning.
"I know."
She lifted an arm to secure the message, when Sasuke's hand met with hers and refused to let go.
"I have to bring the note to him," she tried to explain. Her brows drew together and she stared at his face for comprehension.
Instead of acknowledging her statement, he flipped her palm, and subsequently her arm, the other direction.
"They're gone," he murmured.
"What?"
"The cuts from earlier. They're gone," he elaborated.
"Oh. Yes, I healed them when I was in the bathroom."
"Hn." He released her, appeased by her response.
Feeling a bit awkward and shy, she offered, "I could heal yours too." Her eyes drifted from his arms to his neck and the visible skin where she could see the knicks and bruises he'd sustained from shielding her. "If you want."
His lips pressed together into a tight line. "You don't have to."
"I know, Sasuke." She lifted her hand and channeled healing chakra into her palm. Her fingers grazed along the sharp lines of his jaw and hovered over his neck.
Sasuke sucked in with a slow hiss that was more pleasure than pain.
Her soft eyes found his and she held him in her gaze. Hinata breathily assured, "I want to."
.
.
.
A/N: Ummm… Sorry for the long wait. I can always count on good 'ol self-doubt to derail my plans.
Thank you for being here and showing your support. I've decided to stop responding to every comment in chapter, with the exception of guest comments. Going forward I'll PM my thanks directly. However, I will continue to acknowledge everyone by alias and I may still pick a few reviews to talk to in my A/N's if I think other readers might find the response interesting.
I think that some readers may feel uncomfortable commenting or reading my responses and the last thing I want to do is make anyone uncomfortable. There is absolutely no pressure here to comment.
With that being said, I do appreciate every review and everyone who reached out to me directly. Your kind words really motivated me to continue to write during my hiatus. I read and re-read several of them to remind myself that there are invested readers out there. *hugs*
The last thing I have to say is… I hope you and your loved ones are safe. My heart goes out to all those living in Ukraine, and anyone who has family or friends in that greater region. I've been inspired and impressed by the strength of human spirit and acts of heroism demonstrated by the people there. I pray this atrocious war ends quickly. Times of tragedy are when people should be united in ideals, instead of separated by hate. It's good to remember, the fault belongs with specific individuals and not to a race or ethnic group. Love is greater than Hate.
Behind the Curtains: In this chapter, besides giving readers more insight into what our villains have been plotting, I wanted to shed more light on Sasuke's actions and motivations, especially relating to Hinata. This chapter also highlights a distinct turning point in both of their feelings and how they choose to act based on them (notice at the end, Hinata did NOT call him Uchiha-san).
One moment I wanted to discuss is Hinata's self-assessment of being selfish. This is in direct reference to Hinata calling herself that in the Pein arc. I don't actually believe she is selfish (trying to save someone to your own detriment is, in my opinion, selfless). My theory is she said it to absolve Naruto of any guilt he might harbor about her sacrificing herself for him. She rationalized with herself that it is a selfish act because she is protecting someone she loves which makes her feel good, and if she succeeded in liberating him, she would no longer be a failure in her own eyes.
Finally, the MOB! I thought it would be an interesting and realistic problem that I haven't seen explored before. Most of the time, civilians (except fangirls of course) are often fearful of Sasuke to the point of avoidance. Instead, the characters are typically battling godlike shinobi, chakra monsters, mutated experiments and politics. In my opinion, dealing with a violent crowd of weak village folk is almost as difficult to solve. It's like being attacked by rabid toddlers! You can't hurt them, and in this case a time out isn't an option. It's a delicate situation. It's also a minor setback to Sasuke's plans, poor guy. But, earning trust isn't always as easy as buying people off like he'd hoped. Sometimes there are other factors at play. Especially when you're a reformed criminal. He'll have to work that much harder.
This chapter was entirely unplanned. As mentioned, I have a general outline of the story, but sometimes I decide to switch things around or modify them as the story progresses. My published changes to plan left a little hole that needed to be filled. I had some ideas floating around that were supposed to be short scenes within the outlined chapter, but these scenes turned into a chapter on their own.
Between this chapter and the next, I think I've scrapped and rewritten full scenes close to a dozen times. Next chapter will be the core of what I expected this chapter would be, and since I actually started writing that one first, that also means that next chapter will be completed soon.
Sorry if things are moving too slowly (partially due to my self-indulgent desire to write out my head canon theories). Throughout this fic, we've been following Hinata and Sasuke on a daily basis since the Uchihas returned. The first time-skip will be coming in about four chapters. Things should hopefully begin to speed up then.
Next Chapter: Sasuke's request of Shirayuri…
Let me know what you think! Please?
Thank you to AngelStar89, babyyummie, clausuhh, Hanakohime96, hinasa258, kaioh6886, Kiats10, lil peen, lundtara1996, MiyaCarax, Moonalllie, naatyy, Nana-Chan mademoiselleB, Orichu, Pallettowndani, RiaMae21, RoRi13, roronie, sliptwins, sunfire77, tiffspiff, Tizzybeth, yessirbaka, yinuu2, and Young lord for your Favorites and Follows since my last publish! You sure know how to make a girl's day.
Also wanted to thank (in no particular order) tillythepug, neverkarma, Green Alba, muzicaldove, Sommernacht, Bexbluedragon76, MiyaCarax, xpastelberriesx, akshambari, hinasa258, Malakye Kelley, Katrin, juleeandrei, and IIII coAtL IIII for all the love and support in your reviews and messages! I was so touched that many of you checked in with me during my hiatus to let me know that you appreciate my fic and to make sure I'm okay.
I wanted to respond to a few comments that were sort of related…
Malakye Kelley wondered if Sasuke has the Rinnegan or not. IIII coAtL IIII guessed correctly that at this point, he does not. Thank you juleeandrei for mentioning IIII coAtL IIII's fic 'Peace & Conflict' in your review. I read it and agree, it's really good. :D
To my lovely guest reviewers:
Katrin: I missed you toooooo! Your note of support was so sweet, it melted my heart. No worries! It added no pressure, but it did add some fuel back into my fire. I also just noticed that you commented on my fic on Ao3! Wow! You're too good to me my "one loyal reader." BTW, your English is wonderful. I would not have guessed it is your second language. As long as I know someone is reading, I will keep trying.
juleeandrei: I loved reading every one of your reviews. You have no idea how much I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on almost every chapter. I agree with you on so much regarding canon Naruto. I had to look up your Noblesse reference. Haha! I also enjoyed reading your pro NejiHina and SasuHina arguments (I even looked at manga Chapter 677 as you suggested). Very interesting and well thought out theories that you've supported! I am glad to have you here.
For all my new and returning readers, thanks for being here. I hope you enjoy this fic as much as I do.
Reading Rec Corner Thank you everyone for your recommendations! I've read almost all (if not all) of them. Keep them coming.
Peace and Conflict by IIII coAtL IIII: In-Progress in-universe. Four years after the events of the war, Uchiha Sasuke is given temporary leadership of Team 8, and a mission that could solidify the fragile peace between the Great Nations or plunge them into yet another conflict. Slowburn SasuHina. This fic is perfect for readers looking for in-character portrayals, a dash of comedy, well-written action, and of course a little bit of romance. (Note: Thank you juleeandrei for bringing this fic to my attention and IIII coAtL IIII for your story and your support!)
You, Me, and Them by RainaValentinexx: Complete In-Universe. Sasuke and Hinata's twins are sent to the past to keep them safe, and they try to play matchmaker for their parents. This is a fun, cute, fluffy and highly entertaining fic! If you're looking for something light and heartwarming, this is for you. (Note: Thank you SommerNacht for the rec! This is definitely on my favorites list. Along with your story 'Looking at the Ghost of Me' of course.)
Virtues of a Traitor by El Reino: Complete Samurai Parallel Universe. Hinata's eyes were damaged during the Hyuga Affair and sent off to live with Samurai. When Sasuke is tasked with retrieving and keeping her safe, they both struggle with making a home in Konoha, especially when there are forces plotting against them. This fic is so cleverly written and I do love my strong Hinata fics. Just. Read it. (Note: Thank you SommerNacht, again! Just knocking the ball out of the park with your recs.)
Loving You by Mei Ju: Discontinued Harem AU. Emperor Sasuke tries to bring stability to his shaky kingdom while also trying for a male heir that Empress Sakura hasn't been able to provide. A Harem is selected to help and experiences internal problems of its own. Minor SasuSaku, SasuIno, SasuKarin and Major SasuHina. I kind of stumbled across this fic recently and couldn't put it down. It's not even close to finished but it's a worthwhile read, nonetheless.
Until next time…
LEA