Interlude 8

Ino stood the in shower, scrubbing her hair, hoping to wash the stink of blood off her. Neji couldn't stand it.

Her skills as a mind specialist made her invaluable to the Interrogation Force, just as her father had been before her. In consequence, she had to get her hands dirty from time to time — well, most times.

And it wasn't that she didn't...enjoy it. Her post in the torture squad. Her powers of pain and persuasion.

Her eyelids growing increasingly heavy, Ino continued through the mechanical motions of washing the day off. All she wanted to do was climb into bed and close her eyes.

As second commander, her schedule was tight, and personal time, limited. In addition to her own duties, she was tasked with compensating for her superior's absence.

Anko had been on reconnaissance for the past few years. Ino rarely saw or received correspondence from her, and when she did, it was brief and unhelpful. She swore the woman was mad.

But rumor had it Anko wasn't coming back. If it was true, Ino was facing an attractive promotion to captain. She just wished the Hokage would officialize it already.

Ino finished rinsing off and turned off the shower. She climbed out, clumsy from fatigue. Then she grabbed a towel and dried herself off, wrapping it around her. As she turned to the mirror, she met her blank expression and pulled back her hair to better scrutinize her face.

Ino had to commend herself on still managing to look good despite it all. ...Regardless of the redness under eyes. She rubbed them, worsening the matter. She found a spare band and tied back her hair.

At twenty, her hair was still pale, blonde, and longer than anyone thought was wise. Her eyes weren't bright like Naruto's, but a deep, depthless blue. Some said she had almost ethereal features. Anko had once joked that their prisoners were fortunate to be tortured by someone like Ino.

Try telling them that, Ino thought, rolling her eyes.

It was almost daybreak by the time she made it to her bedroom.

She climbed into bed and under the sheets, worming her way into her husband's arms. He opened one eye and peered at her, before deeming it best to close it again.

"Kakashi sent a message for you. Mission with Hanabi today," Neji muttered, shifting his head so not to be suffocated by blonde hair.

"What?" said Ino, her voice muffled in his chest. "Who's going to cover for me?" Her lack of co-leadership was becoming a recurring issue. "Sasuke's gone soft ever since he knocked up Hinata. And why am I stuck baby-sitting your cousin again?"

"Take it up with Kakashi."

Ino groaned. Neji was famously unsympathetic.

She knew he was leaving for mission in another hour, so closed her eyes and fell asleep against him, enjoying the way he held her back. His subtle reciprocations were all she wanted. She didn't need ninjutsu to tell his thoughts.

She awoke alone just before noon with reluctance and a lingering fatigue. Yawning as she stood, she went about getting dressed in her usual crop top and miniskirt. She had never been one for ANBU armor.

She stood in the bedroom mirror and whistled to herself as she put on her earrings, followed by a red hair clip. Her long bangs hung in her dominant eye, concealing almost a third of her face. Sometimes Neji would pull it back, as if in search of her cruel alternate.

He didn't peg her for a torturer.

Ino smiled at her appearance when her transformation was complete.

She made it to the Hokage tower within fifteen minutes, and was briefed on the mission five minutes from then. It seemed pretty straight-forward. She and Hanabi were to transport a missing nin from Kusa to Konoha for trial.

The nin was B-rank. As Ino had expected, the mission was considerably below her level. Kakashi was giving Hanabi another chance, and just wanted Ino to keep an eye on her.

"Ja," she called to the Hokage, exiting his office with the mission folder tucked under her arm. She almost bumped into Hanabi who stood just outside the door. The small-framed kunoichi wore an air of indifference, her arms hanging at her flanks, and her eyes wrapped in the white bandages her sister changed for her every morning. There was a subtle disgust in her bearing.

Not everyone understood the ANBU.

Hanabi failed to move out of the way, and it wasn't her blindness. It was almost a challenge.

Her fingers twitching, Ino refrained from returning it. "Let's go, Hanabi-chan," she said condescendingly. "You must be excited. This is your first mission in quite a while."

Ino stalked off and listened to Hanabi silently follow, like a small grim reaper.

But Ino's hands were filthy from years of spilled blood. Had she the psychological aptitude, maybe she would have been unnerved.

Sasuke stood by the door of the meeting room soaked in apathy. His hands were pocketed, not crossed. His muscled limbs were loose, not rigid. Still, upon closer examination, one might have spotted something beyond indifference. Exasperation.

There was bickering beyond the door, followed by a curt dismissal, then movement. Finally, the door swung open.

"-and we are not involving ourselves in that dispute," Hinata snapped to the elders within. She exited the room, walking past him in her preoccupation.

"Hinata."

His wife paused, and looked back at him.

She wasn't used to seeing Sasuke in civilian clothes. His ANBU armor and weaponry had been shed to be replaced with a simple black yukata. He looked so unimposing for once. Even his hitai-ate was gone, forehead bare over his onyx eyes.

Her hitai-ate was absent as well. She was a civilian for the time being.

"You shouldn't be holding meetings," Sasuke deadpanned.

"I have to," said Hinata, as Sasuke approached. "A lot of these are time-sensitive issues. I appreciate you staying-"

"Of course I stayed."

"I could use your help-"

"When the baby is born."

Hinata paused. "Right."

She forced a feeble smile. She was nervous. It was cute. He held her waist lest she tried to escape. She wore a loose lilac dress and sandals, her long hair draping her shoulders. Her round abdomen stood between them. She was due any time now.

Sasuke paused when he suddenly heard a bird call. In unison, the two looked up at the sky. Sasuke absently released her, perturbed by the sight of it.

"It's a mission hawk," said Hinata blankly, staring as the bird descended on them.

As both had expected, the hawk was aimed for Sasuke. It glided through the air to gracefully perch on his raised forearm, talons digging into skin where there previously had been armor. Sasuke saw Hinata's vacant expression.

He untied the note from the hawk's leg before thrusting the animal back into the air. It didn't linger, but flew off towards the tower.

Hinata watched it disappear into the sky. It sought no return correspondence, as if Sasuke was predictable enough to concede to whatever was written. Kakashi was confident.

Sasuke quickly scanned note with his eyes. "He just wants to talk," he mentioned. He looked back up at Hinata.

Another hasty smile crossed her face. "Right," she said again. He caught her thin breathing and subtle signs of hyperventilation.

Sasuke stared at her. "Don't cry," he said.

"I'm – not – crying," Hinata retorted between thinly-veiled sobs. She looked down, gasping pathologically. She was hormonal.

He tried a different approach. "You like when I'm around," he accused

Hinata looked up, wet eyes momentarily forgotten. Her forced smile softened to a more beautiful one. "Of course I don't," she said wearily, her breathing deepening again. Her eyes widened as he cornered her. "No – Sasuke – don't –"

He kissed her despite fact that she didn't like being kissed anymore, because she was pregnant, and unsightly, and the baby likely found it offensive. She reluctantly reciprocated. He felt her smile against his lips before he pulled back, observing her very-pretty face. "You need to relax." He'd never said it before. It felt odd on his tongue. He noticed he was becoming very protective. Overprotective?

She looked crestfallen, catching his uncharacteristic apprehension. "Un."

"I'll be back soon," he said, kissing her temple. With that, he departed.

The walk to the Hokage tower left him alone in his thoughts which he didn't enjoy, so he focused it on the scenery. Stripped of his uniform, it was like seeing Konoha in another's perspective. People didn't notice the plainness of his apparel and its sudden lack of authority. They didn't notice him at all.

He didn't mind the lack of attention, though there were some whose notice he never evaded.

"Sasuke," said Naruto when they arbitrarily crossed paths, as they often did. "I haven't seen you lately, how are you guys?"

It was an innocent enough inquiry, but Sasuke stiffened. "Hinata's – good," he said evasively. It summed up how much he could express himself on the matter of his impending fatherhood. Hinata wasn't the only one with nerves.

"You should be with her! Where are you going?"

"I'm stopping by the Hokage-"

Naruto bristled. "Hokage? What? You heard something?"

"No, I – didn't mean to-"

"Right, um, I'm gonna head off." Naruto shuffled away, and Sasuke eyed him.

It was a turning point in all their lives.

He arrived at the Hokage tower minutes later and made his way upstairs with reluctance, feeling mentally drained the moment he entered Kakashi's office.

A woman in a cat mask and ANBU armor was seated on the desk facing Kakashi, her legs crossed. She had been in the middle of saying something, but his entrance cut her off. Both she and Kakashi glanced up, then the cat spoke, "Uchiha."

Anko.

He could tell mainly by her familiarity with Kakashi. The voice was Anko's, as was the senbon in her hair. The skirt was practically uniform. She liked to keep attractive people in her company. It made their duties all the more sadistic.

Anko dropped from the desk and turned to face him, remaining beside Kakashi where the two were united in whatever they wanted from him. Kakashi remained seated, and though both of their expressions were concealed, Sasuke sensed a subtle satisfaction. They thought they had already won him over. Anko placed her hands on her hips and Sasuke pocketed his.

"I thought you were on reconnaissance," Sasuke said coolly.

She was on a perpetual hunt for their former master, or rather, the last remnants of him. Kabuto was out there, crazed, and infected with Orochimaru's essence.

"As far as you're concerned, I am," Anko responded.

Sasuke nodded in understanding. She didn't even remove her mask, cautious like he never was. "Then what are you doing here?"

"Just checking up on things."

Che.

"I see you left the Interrogation Force."

"Aa."

"I don't recall relieving you of your post."

"You didn't."

"I need you back." Her confidence was irritating. "To be Ino's second, as I was Ibiki's. Look out for her. Assume her duties when she's down."

So Ino's becoming captain. The position suited her. "I'm not interested in the Force anymore," Sasuke said, fatigue with the recurring matter.

"Don't be a child." She was trying to get under his skin. "I'm not asking you to return. Every captain needs a second. And you're soft. Always have been. I doubt Ino would have any need for you."

Sasuke knew he was glaring, knew he was losing his composure, if just fractionally. Kakashi remained aloof. He simply observed, more curious than keen.

Sasuke and Anko were bonded in a way. It was to what he attributed his reluctant respect for her.

"All of you are taking on new roles," Anko continued. "Ino as captain. Your wife as Hyuuga head. Even Kakashi will be retiring soon."

Sasuke glanced back at the Kage. "I didn't realize just how soon," he said.

Kakashi rested his chin on his knuckles.

"He doesn't belong behind a desk," said Anko.

Ironically enough, neither did Naruto.

He had been gone for longer than he had anticipated. Sasuke entered the Hyuuga compound and looked around for Hinata, inevitably to scold her for scolding people, he was sure. Walking through the house, he approached their quarters, when he saw Sakura pacing in the hall. She spotted him and her expression lit up.

Sasuke was confused. "What...?" But his mind was already working a mile a minute.

"It's Hinata. She-"

He started walking past Sakura, but she grabbed his arm, stopping him. Sasuke froze as he was embraced. He absently held her back.

"Congratulations," she said.

Right...congratulations...

They released each other, and he continued walking. He entered his bedroom to see his wife sitting up in their bed, a bundle in her arms.

Sasuke sat beside her, his entire focus on the baby sleeping in her hold. He unconsciously activated the sharingan, tracing her frail chakra.

Her.

"A girl," said Hinata, looking up. She offered him a weak smile. "You're late."

"Un." He was still a little stunned. His tomoe lazily revolved.

"You're a father."

"I am."

He didn't know who kissed who, but their lips were suddenly connected, and nothing could separate them for the world.

Except for the baby. It was the first time he heard her cry.

He was still staring at the baby who had taken to staring back. She had her mother's eyes. Her face was flushed and tear-soaked. He paced with her, the crying finally beginning to subside. "Shhhh," he urged. He never thought he would hear himself make such a noise.

There was a small giggle. Sasuke glanced at Hinata who was still on the bed. She quickly clamped her hand over her mouth, a blush on her face.

What? he mouthed.

She shook her head. She didn't know herself.

Sasuke returned his attention to the child, when he heard Hinata giggle again. This was immediately followed by sobs. He saw it best to ignore her. She was still very hormonal. Never again, he thought, but found he was unconvinced by the notion. He was quickly becoming attached to their child.

The baby finally fell asleep. He went over to Hinata and carefully lowered her into her arms. His wife abruptly stopped crying. Sasuke then returned to his side of the bed and lay down on his back, arms folded behind his head. It was dark out. They had been up with the baby for hours, pacifying her, but mostly getting acquainted.

"Get some rest," he mumbled.

He felt Hinata slowly lay back, the baby against her. She deeply inhaled. "I miss this."

He lifted his eyes only to notice hers were closed. "What?"

"Being with you."

The ANBU ground squadron kept him away from the village almost constantly, sometimes doing espionage in foreign villages, but usually hunting down missing nin in varying teams, each member masked and faceless. He did enjoy tracking down rogue nin, but it lacked the comradely he had come to appreciate from his time with Team 7, and his partnership with Hinata. Additionally, he didn't like being away from Hinata...his family? It was still so new to him.

Hinata was half-asleep now. She digressed, "Maybe next time the baby will have your eyes."

Sasuke stared at the ceiling, musing on this. He didn't want a child with the sharingan. They made easy targets.

Hinata finally fell asleep, and he allowed himself to as well.

Over the next few days, they fell into an unpleasant routine. They would go to bed, and just upon losing consciousness, the baby would start to cry.

"Your turn," Hinata mumbled faintly.

He wondered if she noticed that it was always his turn. Arduously climbing out of the bed (following several seconds of reluctance), he stalked to the crib and removed the baby from the room. He held her against his shoulder and took her to the living room, which was removed enough from the bedrooms that it didn't bother anyone. He began to mechanically pace. He didn't mind it. She liked when he paced.

He would have to return to missions soon.

The crying prevailed.

There was a knock on the door, which wasn't unique even though it was the middle of night. Sasuke peered at it. He suspected he knew who it was. Freeing up one of his arms, he reached out and opened it. "Dobe."

Naruto entered. Before speaking, he paused, seeming fascinated by the sight of the crying, slobbering Sasuke-Hinata spawn-thing.

And she was fascinated by him. The crying briefly stopped, but she caught herself, and continued.

Naruto wiped his expression clean, and coughed. "Wow, you look terrible."

Sasuke was wearing pajamas, or shorts, or something, he wasn't sure. He suspected his hair looked more stupid than usual, and that there were dark shadows beneath his eyes. "Thanks," he said.

Hinata looked like a princess.

"Can you stop that?" said Naruto, in reference to his stride.

"It's the only thing that calms her down," said Sasuke. And it was finally beginning to work.

"So you're dizzying her into submission?"

"Aa."

"How's Hinata?"

"Fine."

They fell into silence. The baby trailed off into an obnoxious whimpering. Sasuke raised her and stared at her, offended by the excessive cuteness.

Sasuke glanced up at Naruto, who was blankly watching. "I'm guessing this isn't a social visit."

The blonde blinked, then nodded. "How'd you figure?" he said, and sighed. "We've lost contact with Ino and Hanabi for the past two days. They should have reported by now."

Sasuke raised his eyebrows. "That's it? They probably got sidetracked."

Naruto knew what that meant. With tempers like theirs, their greatest peril was their risk of killing each other. He gave a lopsided grin. "Still, I thought I should let you know. Neji's team is on their way home, so I'm having them do a quick search."

Naruto's smile softened. He was again watching the baby. "Now that you're a father, you'll be wanting to stay closer to the village, ne?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Maybe I'll become a jounin." The concept was ludicrous, even when he said it aloud. Him – babysitting incompetent genin. He could barely handle Hanabi and she wasn't half bad.

"Right," Naruto chuckled, not taking him seriously. "I become Kage and you become jounin..." he trailed off, sarcasm becoming envy. Lightly shaking himself, Naruto cleared his throat. "Any chance of you returning to the Interrogation Force?"

Why was everyone so invested in that idea? He could sense Naruto's anxiety. He knew his promotion was looming and he didn't want to do it alone. The idiot had spent his childhood campaigning for the post, and now he was completely phobic of it.

Sasuke refrained from disclosing the conversation he'd had with Anko. "Ino's up for captain. I have no business there."

"Too cocky to collaborate?"

"We both are," said Sasuke. "Besides, hold her."

Naruto blinked. "Ino?"

"The baby."

The blonde blanched. "What?"

"Take the baby."

He backed away. "Hinata wouldn't mind?"

"Don't be an idiot."

Sasuke handed her over, easing the infant into Naruto's arms. She gurgled up at the blonde, stuffing as much of her fist as she could into her mouth. Naruto swallowed and Sasuke was beginning to find entertainment in his child's antics.

Sasuke had always thought they would be in opposite positions from where they stood now – that Naruto would be the one with the family, and him, the bachelor, perpetually unattached. He was still stunned by how things had turned out.

Naruto slowly grinned at the baby. Maybe he understood why Sasuke wanted to keep his hands clean. "She is so fucking adorable," Naruto murmured, but then he belatedly caught himself and clamped his jaw shut, before looking up at Sasuke, who was unfazed.

"Thanks."

Neji was used to finding things.

In his childhood, it had started with birds, cats, and other clawed animals.

After the Academy, he was placed in search parties so often they had become tedious.

At thirteen, he found Uchiha Sasuke in a barrel surrounded by several strange fellows.

At sixteen, he found his uncle's disembodied head lying in the forest.

He didn't mind it. It was just another attribute of holding the byakugan.

He leapt from branch to branch, eyes scanning his part of the perimeter. He caught a trunk then swung around it.

Ino.

She was sitting hunched at the base of a tree. She was injured. Neji quickly leapt to a lower branch, then dropped to the earth before her. He knelt down to her level.

Oh.

She wasn't injured.

She was dead.

Neji removed his mask. There was no chakra, no breathing, and no heartbeat. She had a large, blackened gash on her abdomen. Her head was bowed, her long bangs hanging in her face. Her eyes were open, and sightless. Her lips were bloody and red. The veins on Neji's temples sunk. His chest became impossibly tight.

He must have been mistaken. He took her shoulder, but she collapsed against his chest. The gentle impact made him jump. Her body was cold. Around him, Neji's teammates dropped from the trees, joining him on the ground.

But they were distant. Ino was all that was real.

Neji gathered her up and stood, finally turning to his teammates. Their masks painted them with apathy. One doffed his, betraying his shock. "Neji."

The Hyuuga walked past them, his wife curled in his arms, her body cool and listless. Her head was tucked under his chin, her favorite spot for it. It didn't make sense. He had just seen her a few days ago.

"Ino," he said.

And the silence responded.