Happy Christmas! or Holidays

Chapter 13: Young kings and cold realities

"You said we wouldn't get involved" the blonde frowned, arms crossed standing in the doorway. Her younger brother let out a sigh and stood up walking towards her.

"We are not. Temari please" the young king pleaded with his older sister, he knew how she felt and frankly he felt the same but even a king couldn't do everything he wanted. "Just do this favor for me. The council has been on my ass lately"

"You know what they want and why they are pushing you to do this" saying no to her brother was not an option for her, she loved him too much for that. She was, however, going to make sure he knew how much she disagreed with him.

"You are a diplomat, that's all. Your role while visiting the country is to ensure no laws of war are being broken. No matter the situation the countries all have agreed upon them and breaking them is violation" he gave the politically correct answer.

"So we suddenly care about them now? Tell me what would we even do if they were breaking them? How exactly would we punish a country? Would the other nations support us? We all signed the damn thing but you and I both know it was purely symbolic, they are being broken everyday"

"I agree with you completely and you know that, after we do this it will all be over. I will not involve myself further no matter how much they wine"

"And who else is going with me?" She finally sighed and decide to drop her hostility

"Kankuro"

"That's it?" Her forehead wrinkled in surprise

"Yes. You said so yourself, the council has ulterior motives. I have no doubt they will try to sneak in one of their people in your security"

"What about our security?"

"I have a friend there, I've reached out to his family. They will be taking care of your security. I am not allowing anyone who I don't trust inside Konoha, specially father's former council"

Her entire face burned bright red as she felt the heat pulsating inside her. She had never in her life imagined such a magical night. He had been surprisingly gentle, at the beginning at least. Her teeth pressed down on her lip as she watched him clothe himself.

"Was it your first time?" His deep voice made her stomach flutter once again

"Y-yes. Of course! Sasuke I have been saving myself for my husband. For you" she smiled up at him

"I'm assuming you know you can't go spreading this around" he said fixing her messy hair.

"Of course. My lips are sealed my love" she instantly replied not questioning him for even a second. He looked down at his bright eyed bride and wondered if perhaps it was a good decision to rid his sexual frustration with her. He could have found someone else but he didn't like casual sex with strangers. Who knew who else those women had been with? Not to mention it just didn't fulfill him, he wasn't like Itachi. He appeared to be happy as she clung to him, maybe it was the right move. That way she would not feel so neglected. It was an action he had taken in the spur of the moment but as he sat there dwelling on his brashness it didn't seem so bad one, once he thought about it.

"You're giving that journal no rest" Kurenai teased

"I never went out and now that I have I want to remember everything" she smiled. In her journal Hinata detailed as much as she could about the outside world. This served two purposes, for her own personal notes of the culture and customs of other cities as well as a gift to Hanabi. They had read many books about the outside world but none could compare to the real experience. Hinata wasn't the best writer but she hoped she could encapsulate the outside in such a way she knew Hanabi might enjoy. A smile formed as she remembered family. Hanabi's brash demeanor bouncing off Neji's rigid one. As beautiful as the outside cities were, she missed her home deeply.

"You seem to be having fun" Kurenai chuckled

"This trip has opened my eyes. I'm ready to step up and become what I need to"

"Step up?" Kurenai's brows furrowed

"Yes," Hinata smiled at Kurenai. "Thank you Kurenai, for all the kindness you've shown. Out of everyone here, you are the best person I know"

"You are too kind Hinata. You know everytime I look at you I think about how my daughter will one day grow up like you"

"She'll grow to be a beautiful kind woman just like her mother"

"You are not what I expected Hinata"

"What did you expect?"

"A Hyuga"

"I am a Hyuga"

"So you are."

He couldn't recall the last time his father requested to have time alone with him, if he was being honest he wasn't completely sure it had ever happened. As Sasuke sat there he thanked the gods that it had never happened before. The thick awkward silence suffocated him in the spacious near vacant room.

"What is this about? I haven't done anything wrong" he finally said

"Why would I invite you to dinner for wrongdoing?" His father raised his brow

"Why would you pay any attention for anything else"

"I am always observing. I know everything, you may not notice but I am always on everything" of course he would say that.

"What is this about?"

"I am simply observing your growth" he didn't want to hear bullshit he wanted to get out of that damn room.

"Growth? Did Itachi-"

"You think Itachi holds any power over me?" His father's tone changed to a more glowering one.

"No, of course not"

"Good, it would be a problem if you did"

"I don't need your damn dinner. I don't need your little reward for my so-called growth, so just tell me already what this is about." In many ways Sasuke reminded Fugaku of himself, yet there was a huge difference. He couldn't point it out right there and there, that would require him actually knowing his son. But there was something that separated them both.

"You call me a liar and you turn down your nose at this honor" Fugaku said before taking his first bite of the elaborate meal in front of him. "Tell me. What makes an Uchiha"

"Our strength" Sasuke answered almost instantly

"You think you are strong?"

"I know I am" again Sasuke did not think twice about his answer

"Do you think you can beat me in a duel?"

"Yes"

"You do?"

"Yes"

"You think you can beat the head of the Uchiha?"

"No. I think I can beat a fifty year-old man. You are not weak just past your prime, I am at the start of mine"

"What would you do if you were the head of the Uchiha?"

"That is Itachi's place"

"Do you think you can beat Itachi?"

"I can try"

"Try? Are you saying your inferior"

"I never said that. Do you think I am?"

"Why does it matter what I think?"

"You're the head"

"I am."

"This is by far the longest conversation I had with you" Sasuke couldn't do this. He wouldn't do it. "let's hope it stays that way"

"You were a happy baby. You loved to talk." Fugaku said as he remembered the obnoxious ball of energy Sasuke was. When he was first born he wouldn't stop crying, when he began to walk he would follow Itachi everywhere, when he began to talk he would always ask why.

Sasuke felt his face flush red. What the fuck was he saying, had the old man finally gone mad. Perhaps Itachi was right and his father was becoming a liability. "I'm leaving."

Fugaku watched as his youngest stormed out of the room. Sasuke was such a mystery to him. He was a strong, loyal, driven, brash, and confused young man. As Fugaku sat there and contemplated his sons and the future of the house he had spent so much time building, he wondered how legacy would fair once he was gone. Perhaps he could have better prepared his sons.

Maybe the old man was sick after all, maybe he wanted to mend bonds since he felt his time approaching, how pathetic. How weak of him. Sasuke wasn't going to play along with him and give him a clean conscience, no Sasuke did not care for that. What did he care for? He cared for his house, but why? It's not like he cared for anyone there aside from his brother. Still it was something he had that nobody could take away. He had always and would always be an Uchiha. That name meant something, he meant something. He couldn't let that name fall, he had to keep it alive. He had to keep himself alive. He had been nothing short from a mess lately, from his actions to his thoughts. They were all taking him to his boiling point, Naruto had also been nowhere to be fucking seen. The idiot was an idiot but he was a rather helpful idiot, without him Sasuke had lost a person he could rant to or just express his thoughts. His brother was acting annoying, his father was being fucking weird, Sakura hadn't gotten off his ass. He felt like he was drowning, slowly suffocating on his thoughts. He felt lost, he felt nothing else anymore. He was falling, literally falling down the fucking stairs. When the fuck did he make it to the stairs.

"Fuck" he hissed as his head hit the floor. He heard a woman scream and a grunt coming from beside him, he turned to see who had also fallen and saw none other than the white eye bitch herself.

"Hinata! Are you ok my dear?" The other woman came rushing to her all too fast for Sasuke to comprehend what was going on. "Gods! Hinata, you're bleeding. Don't move I'll be right back" Sasuke stared at the visually confused Hyuga. She slowly sat up and looked at him, he saw the small scrape the servant was making such a fuss about, women were such a nuisance they always had to overreact.

She looked at Sasuke who for once didn't look completely disgusted. He mumbled something under his breath with a small pout, Hinata thought he kind of looked like a child. She watched as his eyes fixated on something on her face. Then instead of a mean remark she felt his thumb gently wiping blood off her forehead.

"It's not even that bad" he mumbled. He saw a small droplet of blood slowly getting closer to her eyebrow and carefully wiped it off. He watched as her cheeks turned red and he instantly felt odd at the realization of his actions. "Don't you have eyes? Or do those freaky things not work for you people?"

"You're the one that came out of nowhere and took me down with you. If it wasn't for you I would have made it through the stairs just fine"

"You should know to move out of my way" he said

"Trust me I don't want to be anywhere near your way"

"Watch your tongue Hyuga you're on thin ice" he hissed she frowned at him but before she could say anything more people appeared.

"Hinata!" The nuisance was back.

"Lord Sasuke! Are you alright?!"more women came to make a scene.

"Get up I know you can" His voice was firm yet encouraging.

"Do not rush me, I know what I'm doing" she panted while glaring him down even though he stood above her

"Perhaps I've been too rough on you. Your stance is off and-"

"Do not speak Nonsense Neji. I am strong I can handle it" she cut off before more nonsense was spewed

"I know you are. But-" he almost did not dodge the attack from Hanabi. His valence was thrown off by it and using this chance Hanabi managed to put his ass on the floor. She was not a child, she would not be talked to like one.

"They are going to make their move aren't they?" She asked him before offering him a hand.

"I cannot talk to you about our plans. Nice footwork" he said, straightening himself up.

"So it's been decided then? You'll be the head" she asked

"No. They haven't made their decision final" he pursued his lips. He didn't like the topic.

"I'm assuming their move has nothing to do with getting Hinata back. Does it?"

"I'm sorry" he let his head hang low

"I hate them! I hate them all!" A base was thrown to the wall shattering into pieces.

"Don't speak like that Hanabi. You're too young to lose yourself in hatred."

"I hate the council, I hate the elders, I hate those Uchihas, I hate everyone who isn't us"

"Calm down Hanabi. Remember even walls have ears in these place" he pulled her in patting her head. Her arms pulled him closer and soon tears began to fall.

"Tenten correct?" He looked at the beauty in front of him. Only daughter and heiress to the weapon wizard that was Feng. Not only was everything the man held a weapon but his words could be as deadly. So far he was the only major man that had managed to remain neutral this far in the war, that however was about to end.

"Yes my lord Itachi" she took a seat in front of him

"Your family was close with the Hyuga, correct?" He asked

"They were one of our many customers, nothing special my lord."

"But you did have a relationship with the Hyuga children didn't you?"

"We weren't the closest friends but I saw them from time to time"

"Can you tell me about them?"

"They were a close bunch of those three. Where there was one there was bound to be another. I do not know much about your wife, but I can tell you from our former interactions that she was a kind and friendly girl who's younger sister could often be found clung to her. I had the closest relationship with the eldest Neji. He was serious and calm, he didn't say too much but he did observe. Anything else you want to know my lord?"

"Why did you choose to side with us?"

"That was the decision my father took and I am an obedient daughter"

"I see. Thank you" being an obedient daughter was as good a reason as any, however, something told Itachi that there was more.

"It was my pleasure, lord Itachi"

"I want to run away sometimes too. I'm not always happy" the blond looked down at his naked friend

"I don't want to run away" she pursued her lip

"You don't?" He sat up next to her

"There is nowhere to go. Even if there was, I doubt it would be better. Tell me how do you think us wealthy high-borns would fair living as common folk" she said as she began to trace the veins in his hand.

"I don't think it would be that bad"

"Shino says it is. I believe him, he has lived through it."

"It wouldn't be so bad if I was with you"

"That's good. We have been arranged to spend the rest of our lives together." She inched closer to him, her eyes closing, he understood and leaned in to meet her lips but before they connected he awoke. It felt so real, he had been having memories of her making appearances in his dream for a while now. He wondered what it meant; perhaps it was her marriage to Itachi finally happening, part of him pondering on what could have been if the war had never happened. Instead of a marriage he got war, instability, death, decisions, sorrow, betrayal. He could have been married to his childhood friend, living in the Uzumaki castle, perhaps with a kid on the way. Instead he found himself in the middle of a journey to a war parade, passing sorrow and death on his way. Waking up while it was still dark, the rain penetrating his tent while the ground below him was a mushy mess. His mission was a farce, his life was taken from him. What was he now? He was Naruto Uzumaki, but what was Naruto Uzumaki? Apparently a naive idiot according to others, even his best friend. He was done being that, he was Naruto Uzumaki, the future head of the Uzumaki House and he would make them respect him, believe it.

Neji laid on his bed the coldness having pierced his skin a long time ago, now it was making its way to his bones. He let it happen. He didn't care at that point that the Hyuga castle had been his personal hell for the last months. It was colder than usual and not only because the cold months were approaching, the castle had been cold ever since she left. He felt as if his ray of sunlight had been put out, the castle's cold hypercritical nature had come out to its fullest. Although the place had never been a warm welcoming place nowadays it didn't feel like the place where he had lived for years. The place where he grew up, the place where his most precious memories had taken place. All the soldiers that would roam the halls, the strangers that were currently living inside the walls, the council's watchful eyes, all the conversations being about nothing but war. The only reason he hadn't fully gone down hill was Hanabi, but even Hanabi was a bitter reminder of his biggest failure. It was approaching a year since that day when they took her from him. Almost a year of hell, knowing nothing about her. Rock Lee told him it wasn't his fault but it was, his whole purpose in life had been to protect her and he had failed. But he knew he couldn't mope about it; he had to protect what he had left, Hanabi. He would bring Hinata back but as much as it pained him, he had to wait.

As tenten walked down the east hall exactly as the hand hit ten past six she stopped to examine the painting of the gray lady. A famous painting said to be one of the pinnacles of art, she thought it was boring. What good did this painting bring to be regarded so high? Nothing, it was a boring painting that probably took a boringly long amount of time that could be destroyed so boringly easily. That's why she believed the pinnacle of art were weapons. Whether it be knives, swords or hammers they were all beautiful and true forms of art. The craftsmanship it took for a quality piece to be created, the amount of effort, detail, love and sweat that was put upon it. A good piece could last you ages, it could grow old with you and then lure on watching you offspring do the same for many generations. Not to mention all the great things in life like freedom, happiness, victory and justice. They were all brought using the true pinnacle of art, weapons.

"A beautiful painting isn't it my lady" the raven haired servant said.

"It is" she humed. "You're twenty-seven seconds late" she leaned in closer.

"I had to make sure there were no guards in sight."

"Is lady Hinata doing alright?"

"She is a strong driven character. She is doing just fine"

"There has been a slight change of plans. It will be discussed at a better time, do not take any further action as of now"

"Understood my lady"