Sasuke didn't expect to be on a mission so soon. It's been only three days since they were marked as good to fight and he suspected it would take much more time before he was going to go anywhere. But here he was standing with Hinata who came to see him off. They were waiting for Naruto to finally show up.

„I knew he's be late" Sasuke started to feel irritation building up in him.

„Oh it's just a few minutes" she smiled and looked up at him. It would be the first time they were apart for a longer time and she didn't know how it would be like.

„He's always been late and I've always been waiting for him"

„Try not to start a fight with him during this mission, okay?" She really wanted his mission to go smoothly and peacefully but she knew them both well enough to worry. She'd miss him, that was bound to happen.

„We won't kill each other, don't worry" he squeezed her hand. Suddenly they heard fast footsteps coming their way. Naruto was running towards them with a wide grin on his face.

„Ready?" He asked when he reached the two. Hinata smiled but Sasuke felt even more irritated than before.

„Are you?"

„Sure thing!" Naruto laughed. „I'll bring him back safe and sound Hinata!" She tilted her head and laughed.

„Hope so. Good luck to you two" Wishing two of the most powerful people in the world good luck was stupid and she knew it.

„I'll be back soon" their eyes met and for a moment there was nobody else but the two of them. He kissed her briefly and they left.

For the first few minutes neither one of them said a word which was strange when it came to Naruto. But Sasuke didn't question it. His mind was still back with Hinata. Going away without her was strangely out of character. He felt as if something was missing physically. As if Hinata grew to be an extension to his being. He had to breathe really slowly not to think about it more because he knew that he was able to just turn around and go back to her.

„So a first mission in a long time, huh?" Naruto laughed loudly. „I can't believe we're on the same mission after all that's happened" Sasuke didn't know how to respond. He didn't expect to be on the mission with him ever again but there they were going to Suna to deliver a message to Gaara. It would be an easier mission than the ones they had back in the old days.

„I just want to be done with it"

„Don't break my heart! I really am excited to do this again. Maybe this mission isn't that exciting but there aren't many exciting missions lately, a downside to peace I guess" Naruto was laughing again. Sasuke assumed that he like Hinata was nervous about their mission together. Did he share this worry? Not really. He knew he and Naruto weren't an easy mix but they were closest friends there were.

„Let's just hope it won't be exciting. I don't think the person who said ‚may you live in interesting times' knew what he was talking about" They both already had too many interesting times in their lives. He for one was not interested in more excitement like that.

„I think he didn't mean deadly times" Blonde looked at his friend. He almost didn't recognize him. Two years ago his face looked as if it was made of stone, there was no emotion to be seen apart from the cold hatred and seldom anger hard to control. It was like that when it came to Sasuke. He tended to be changing all the time. But the change that he saw now was nothing he's known before. Sasuke was trying and he didn't do this for himself. He was doing everything for somebody he cared for. Naruto still wasn't sure how exactly he felt about his relationship with Hinata. He knew jealousy wasn't a good feeling but he couldn't help it. For one Hinata was the first girl to ever say to him she loved him and even though they've never spoke about it after the fact it still was planted somewhere deep inside of him that there was somebody who cared about him in a different way. Second thing was that she was now with Sasuke, the person who was a cause of his doubts in himself. Sakura loved Sasuke and didn't even see Naruto in the picture. So when Hinata's gone from having feelings to him to being in a relationship with Sasuke. And the third thing was that Sasuke was his friend, best friend and he hasn't been willing to come back home because of that but a few months with Hinata somehow has turned him around. So he was jealous because both of them and he felt bad with this feeling. But he was happy that Sasuke was back, and it really didn't matter what caused that. Spending time with Sasuke for the last few weeks was great. They trained together once again. The sense of rivalry was back and he at last had somebody who could make him break a sweat. And all of that wouldn't be possible without Hinata so he was super grateful for her.

„You're quiet" Sasuke scanned Naruto with question.

„I was just thinking how easy it was for Hinata to convince you to come back" he winked „You'd probably be god knows where if it wasn't for her, wouldn't you?"

„I don't know where I would be without her" Naruto almost stumbled because of the tone Sasuke's voice took on.

„How did it even happen?" Naruto grimaced when this question's left his mouth. It wasn't like them to talk about that kind of stuff but how else was he going to get the answer. Asking Hinata would be even more cringing. Sasuke looked at his friend with disbelief but shrugged his shoulders and looked back forth.

„I don't know. We met one day and never parted after that. She drew my attention and I couldn't go past her" That was the truth. He wasn't going to pour his soul out right here in front of Naruto but he did answer truthfully.

„What about her did that?" Sasuke opened his eyes wider. He didn't expect any follow up questions.

„Do you really want to talk about my love for her?" He tried not to sound sarcastic but it was hard. He didn't feel comfortable talking about this stuff now.

„Kinda" Naruto also felt weirder by the minute but still wanted to know.

„Well… she just stood out. She was also broken and I don't know why but I wanted to help so I approached her and that's how we started talking"

„Broken?" Sasuke regretted saying this word instantly.

„Naruto I'm not going to talk with you about her experiences so let it go now. If you want to know something about her you have to ask her when we come back" Sasuke knew that he's been harsh just now but Naruto was aiming at a sensitive area.

„Right. Sorry" And with that the topic ended. But Sasuke was still thinking about the questions Naruto asked. Why would he ask them? Sasuke never took Naruto for an inquisitive person and he mostly wasn't. But he asked a lot of question concerning Hinata. He hoped there was nothing behind these questions because he didn't have the strength to fight Naruto anymore. He also knew that he could be extremely jealous and didn't want it to start. He felt sympathy for anybody going after Hinata while she was with him.

At the end of the day they were closer to Suna than expected but they both were quite fast after all and they took only two stops.

When Naruto and Sasuke left Hinata went to visit Kurenai sensei and her daughter. She didn't see the girl for so long and she changed a lot. Her eyes were the same as her mothers but her face resembled Asuma's more. Mirai was a joyful kid and Hinata felt better the moment she saw her.

„So Sasuke left for mission already?" Kurenai asked her when they were seated.

„Yes" she smiled and kept on playing with Mirai.

„How do you feel with him out of the town?"

„Oh I don't know, I think I'll miss him soon"

„Is this for serious? This relationship?" Kurenai had to check how Hinata saw this relationship what she expected from it.

„Yes it is Kurenai-sensei. I love him more than I can say and I know he loves me too" Kurenai sighed. It wasn't easy hearing that about once most wanted ninja. „I know most people don't trust him but I do, you know?"

„Okay Hinata, I understand. I'm just a little worried that's all. I don't know him well enough to trust him yet but surely I'll get the chance to"

„Did you talk about your future yet?" Hinata giggled.

„Not really. I mean we are together not so long. It's been less than a year so I'm not expecting him to propose just now but we are serious." She didn't even know if she wanted him to propose. There was not much time to thing about this stuff.

„I trust that you know what you're doing" Kurenai looked at Hinata. Being her sensei was a challenging thing. First of all this girl's been so shy back then, and her family hasn't helped with her self confidence. But the well-known affection towards Naruto was something that was bothering Kurenai. It did help her become stronger but it also was kind of unhealthy. Now she was worried she was in another unhealthy love affair but she hoped she was wrong. And she hoped so because Hinata was one of the most kind and loving and strong people she's ever met.

Hinata didn't leave for a long time so when she was back home it was time to go to sleep. She felt odd alone in the bed. There was a whole Sasuke missing. She looked up at the ceiling and thought about what he was doing right now. He probably stopped for night somewhere and was listening to Naruto going on and on about something that Sasuke couldn't care less about. She smiled at that image and closed her eyes.