UPDATED 04/13/2022
I promise this is the last time I change anything in this fic. To be fair, they're mostly minor changes to make me feel better because the previous versions have been a hot mess. All of the chapters have been updated.
This is a gift for my friend and editor, mercy825. Thank you for helping me with my stories and letting me help you with yours! Writing this was really a challenge without you, so I'll go ahead an let you know that this won't be as good as my other works. I hope that we are able to continue working together for 2021. Happy New Year, you're the best :)
Also, to any ATLA fans out there, I recommend Apricot Jam, a post-canon story by my friend so please check it out!
Hinata tapped her fingers on the scroll within her cloak for eternal minutes as the former Hokage processed her words with a long sip of what was most likely not a non-alcoholic beverage. Despite it no longer being Tsunade's office, the faint scent of sashimi* did not go unnoticed either. The Hyuuga supposed she would miss it, no matter how much her father frowned upon the habits of the lady before her.
"This is very." Tsunade paused, waving the cup around. "Unexpected."
Hinata gave her a knowing smile. "I have given this matter much thought and I feel that this is for the best."
"I see… have you discussed this with your clan?"
"My father and I have reached an agreement. This is all that is left to do."
Tsunade nodded, setting aside the cup and leaning forward. "When do you leave?"
"As soon as I drop off the message at Suna."
"So soon?" Tsunade's gaze became pensive as it drifted to the documents on the desk. "I will need some time to take you off the roster and replace you..."
Hinata gently chimed in, "I have taken care of that as well. Some of my cousins agreed to serve as my replacements, they don't mind some extra pocket money during their breaks."
Tsunade heaved a sigh. It was very clear that the girl had no intentions of remaining in the village any longer and no amount of persuasion would change it. "Well, I suppose that's that," Tsunade murmured. "Don't forget to visit us once in a while, you know how Naruto gets when he stops seeing his friends."
Of course, there was no one in the village who was unaware of the effects of Uchiha Sasuke's absence on the resident hero. It would've been humorous if it weren't for the looming threat of Orochimaru getting his hands on a bloodline such as the Sharingan and the deep sorrow of the remains of Team 7.
With that being said, Hinata softly let her fingers skim across her hitai-ate before laying it gently on the desk. Despite doing her best to take good care of it, being a close ranged fighter meant that it wasn't safe from everything. Every nick and every scratch was proof of her overcoming all adversities that every mission had thrown her way.
"I won't." She bowed. "Thank you for everything, Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade only offered a smile before going around the table and reaching for the younger girl's shoulder. "You will always have a place here in Konoha, I want you to remember that Hinata."
With a sweep of her cloak, the Hyuuga left the office without looking back. Even as she made her way to Konoha's main street, where street vendors chased away unruly children and shinobi hanged out on the nearby rooftops, her steps remained even and decisive.
She pointedly refused to look at Tenten's store as she walked by. Of how many nights she had spent there, sharing tears with the remainder of Team Gai, she had lost count. If Tenten managed to find her, Hinata feared that her resolve would crumble. She upped her pace.
Hinata waved at the pair of guards on duty by the western gate of Konoha as she passed them. They returned the gesture with the enthusiasm of newly minted chunin, oblivious to the pending boredom they would face after the novelty of their post wore off. They were exactly what the village needed, she supposed. New faces, eager to serve the current Hokage and to protect the people of their birthplace.
If she were younger, Hinata imagined that she would've wanted to stay and do her part as well. Three years after the war, she learned that there was no shame in stepping aside. She had ensured that Neji's sacrifice was not in vain and now the branch house and main house of her clan were slowly merging, finally able to walk together. Now that her work was done she would leave. Hinata will not give the council a chance to use her against Hanabi or their father.
Hinata was not very keen on allowing them any more control over her own life either. She was a grown woman who had been making life or death decisions since twelve; Hinata desired to make her own choices without interference.
oOo
After spending so much time with Kiba and Shino, she picked up a skill or two from them but even so, Hinata was certain that the sudden burst of powerful chakra ahead could be noticed even by the most inexperienced of trackers.
With wide eyes she walked around the family ahead of her and took a better look at the source of that chakra. Both of her eyebrows were slightly raised. Even after years of barely interacting, Hinata was positive that the man walking ahead of her was none other than Uchiha Sasuke. Some chakra signatures were just too difficult to forget.
They were acquaintances, weren't they? Though he had no reason to attract the attention of a tracker, it couldn't have made a mistake. Not from him. For a moment Hinata thought about calling out to him and then… then what?
Say hi?
The notion sounded ridiculous as she played it out in her mind, but the manners that her tutors had ingrained in her since birth kicked in reflexively. By the time her head had caught up with her body she was already close enough for her ex-classmate to sense.
There was no going back without seeming exceptionally ill-mannered. With a deep breath she pulled on a smile and greeted, "hello, Uchiha-san."
He glanced down at her, merely offering a small nod.
Hinata's heart skipped a beat (and not in a good way) when he slowed his pace to match hers. The years of absence did not erase the infamy of his great distaste for socializing from her memory. Immediately, she shook her head. He was a fellow comrade and Naruto's friend; if Naruto said he could be trusted then there was no reason to be skittish.
When the sun was no longer quite as visible, hiding among the trees, she heaved a sigh. Trustworthy did not equal not awkward. Her mouth ran without permission. "Where are you going?"
"The village up ahead."
"Oh… I was planning on camping out in a couple of miles."
Sasuke glanced down at her, lifting an eyebrow. "Do you realize how bad the storms get in this area?"
"It won't rain tonight," Hinata said without a doubt.
"It usually does."
With a thoughtful hum Hinata's hands sped through familiar seals. Her sight stretched across the area and further. Not a stormy cloud in sight. "Not today." To compensate she added, "but I will keep that in mind for next time, Uchiha-san."
She shouldn't have been surprised by the way he easily accepted her words. It was as Naruto said, Sasuke was no longer the hot-blooded and competitive boy she had seen in the academy. Instead of making him more approachable, Hinata supposed it made him more of a stranger than she initially thought.
As they continued their walk in silence, Sasuke made no move to leave her side. Taking it as an invitation, Hinata continued to walk beside him. She didn't dare try to initiate a conversation again despite the increasingly unbearable silence, recalling quite vividly Ino and Sakura's past attempts to do so. Despite his apparent maturity she would not take that risk.
As the sun finally disappeared completely Hinata stopped in her tracks. He glanced down at her with a question in his eyes. "I found a good spot to stay, so I will be taking my leave." At Sasuke's lack of response she added, "you— you can come with me if you wish."
"Did that idiot not tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
Sasuke tilted his head thoughtfully. "No matter, I'll be nearby if you need me."
With no further explanation he disappeared in the foliage and Hinata shook her head as she veered away from the road into the surrounding forest. In spite of his strangeness, he surely meant no harm. That was all in the past.
After Hinata had settled and curled into her cloak now that the temperature had gone down, she gave the area one last sweep with the Byakugan. Nothing out of the ordinary, but true to his word Sasuke was still close by, resting on a tree.
She awoke to the sound of crackling fire and the scent of cooked meat. Sasuke wordlessly tilted his head in the direction of a makeshift tray.
Hinata's eyes widened. Due to her limited interactions with the Uchiha she was forced to rely on what Naruto and the others had to say about him, but so far he hadn't matched their description. His act of kindness was a pleasant surprise.
No words were exchanged and her mind started drifting off after a bite. Unlike the meat that Team Kurenai usually ate on the field, this one was seasoned. Despite being able to identify herbs, working in reconnaissance meant keeping a low profile and not wandering around, collecting spices for their meals (no matter how much Akamaru whined about this).
Perhaps Sasuke carried the herbs with him or he knew the area very well. As Hinata took another bite she recalled his words about the local weather. Option two was most likely the right one. Judging from his lack of cloak, there was a chance that he was also going to Suna.
Hinata nearly jumped when he caught her staring. In an admittedly poor attempt at disguising her lingering gaze she cleared her throat. "I was wondering if you are going to Suna?"
He hummed in agreement. "I have business to attend to there." Hinata wanted to sigh in relief; her companion was not upset.
When the sun rose, she sealed away her cloak. Despite her earlier blunder he didn't seem to be any different than the day before. Much to Hinata's pleasure, he grudgingly revealed himself to be very knowledgeable in the kitchen in one of her attempts to lighten the mood. With a new bounce to her step she eagerly shared what she learned from the talented branch cadet maids of her clan. Their reputation as the best of the best was no fluke.
"Our soups are healthy," she argued.
He glanced at her with very evident doubts. "They all require a ridiculous amount of oil."
"Well we only use a little bit, just enough to lightly fry the pasta– and there's a reason for that before you say anything. Pasta breaks apart in the soup if you dump it in there just like that."
Sasuke blinked. "I see… that explains much." Their walk became silent once more because Hinata did not need to know of his kitchen failures if that's what it took to keep the conversation going.
They came across many families rushing through the fields on both sides of the path. Each child carried bundles of the harvest to the men pushing their carts and the women and elderly of the village appeared from beyond the valley with trays of warm food for their families.
A small boy whose face was covered by the large bundle of his harvest ran into Sasuke, smearing muddy hands on his shirt. Before Hinata could extend her hand the boy bounced back up immediately.
"I'm sorry, sir!"
"Are you alright?" Hinata returned the fallen bundle to the boy as she scanned him from head to toe.
"Sure am, sorry again!" he bowed and ran off before anything else could be said.
She glanced back at Sasuke who frowned at the handprints on his previously spotless shirt. He briefly shut his eyes, reminiscent of Neji's way of expressing distaste. Shaking her head at the incoming gloomy thoughts, Hinata reached out for the Uchiha's wrist before he touched the mud.
She stiffened at his questioning gaze. "It's easier to remove the stain once it's dried and…" Hinata trailed off when she recognized the gleam in his visible eye. If he didn't think I'm weird before, he does now.
"A bit."
"What?"
The smallest of smiles pulled at the corner of his mouth. "You must be wondering if I consider you strange."
"Ah," is it just me or is it getting hot? "Yes." No use in denying it.
Hinata's pace slowed until she walked a few steps behind the Uchiha, completely missing the amusement on his face. She hid her burning face behind her hands. Mortification was a constant in her life.
Sasuke, on the other hand, shook his head with a ghost of a smile. Did she not understand that she was being teased? Perhaps it was his less than adequate people skills, but it was still her fault for not paying attention.
"Hey!" someone shouted in the distance. Hinata shrugged it off. It must be one of the children calling for their parents. "You, the shady guy and pretty wife!"
Sasuke turned around. Hinata followed his gaze, biting back a laugh. Who knew that Uchiha Sasuke would one day answer to the shady guy, though the kid did have a point. After a moment of consideration she corrected herself. Rather than shady, Sasuke was just a bit intimidating. Perhaps his dark color aesthetic had something to do with the nickname as well.
The child from earlier was running toward them at full speed. Nearly hitting Sasuke again, the boy somehow stopped his momentum and extended a small bag to him.
Hinata's nose was filled by the familiar scent of warm pastries. They couldn't possibly taste bad with such a heavenly smell. But they were being given to Sasuke, not her. What a pity that he didn't run into her instead.
"I know it won't fix your clothes," the boy started sheepishly, "but, this is for you and your wife."
"We're not married," both Sasuke and Hinata spoke simultaneously.
The boy's eyes widened. He glanced at his surroundings before leaning in suspiciously. "So you're eloping?"
Hinata felt her face get warmer again. "No—"
"Tou-san did that too," he said. "Kaa-san said they traveled all over Hi no Kuni before settling here. Her parents don't really like him, but he's a good guy. Tou-san always takes me and Kaa-san to the city every weekend and we always have fun."
"Thank you." Sasuke took the bag.
Once the pair made camp, he dropped the bag on Hinata's lap. She tilted her head questioningly. Who in their mind rejected such a delicious smelling gift? "Don't you want them?"
"You can have them," he said before turning around. "I'm not particularly fond of sweets."
Despite the time that had elapsed since running into the boy, the pastries weren't cold. Was Sasuke nice enough to keep them warm? She laughed quietly to herself. He wasn't mean, but he had no reason to be considerate either.
oOo
For all his infamy, Sasuke was truly one of the greatest shinobi of their time. With him close the odds of bloodline hunters succeeding in taking her eyes were close to zero. She was sure he shared her disdain for those thieves, being born to a clan such as the Uchiha.
Even so, she chose to wear a large straw hat when they crossed to Kaze no Kuni. War veteran or not, nothing beat the safety of hidden eyes and protection from the desert sun.
Fortunately for Hinata, Sasuke didn't seem to be too fond of Kaze no Kuni either as his pace picked up considerably when the landscape changed from trees to sand.
After a few sleepless nights, the unusual pair made it to Suna in record time. With a friendly wave from Hinata and a brief check, the Suna shinobi on duty let them through. They stopped at the Kazekage's tower.
"I guess this is where I take my leave," Hinata said with a smile. "Thank you for accompanying me."
He looked down to her with amused eyes. "So eager to get rid of me?"
She frantically waved her arms in denial and Sasuke sighed to hide a small laugh. Some things never changed and her manners was one of them. "Of course not, I just thought…"
"Yes?"
"Um, I was wondering why you came with me." After a moment of thought she quickly added, "not that I don't appreciate it, I enjoyed our chats." Even if they inched more towards the one sided end of the spectrum.
"He really didn't tell you?" Hinata tilted her head and her eyes narrowed as she considered his words. Sasuke sighed, "Naruto asked me to escort you."
She raised a hand to her mouth to cover a laugh. Ridiculous. "I won't pry, there's no need to tell me if you don't want to, Uchiha-san."
Despite his lack of experience with socializing, Sasuke had the suspicion that he revealed a little too much. But then again, it was the blond idiot's problem and thus none of his concern. "Naruto was worried because there are bloodline hunters in Suna," he explained. "I'm here to take them out."
Hinata's smile changed to a frown as he spoke. "Truly?"
"I've no reason to lie."
"Then… he doesn't trust me," she concluded to herself, shoulders drooping. "I'm sorry for the trouble."
A pause. "We were in the same area, it made no difference and traveling in groups is always safer."
Her voice rang low with dejection. "I see, thank you."
With a bow, she turned around and walked into the Kazekage's tower, all traces of her previous bounce gone.
Sasuke saw her off in silence. Once she was in the building he walked away, gently kicking the sand in his way. As grains of sand flew by his hair, it crossed his mind to tell her the truth. But that entailed letting her know of his curiosity. While Naruto indeed requested that he travel with the Hyuuga, he wasn't exactly close when that happened. Curse his curiosity.
oOo
As Hinata analyzed what the stand had to offer, her eyes drifted over to the others who were also shopping at Suna's marketplace. Most of Suna's residents had varying shades of red or blond hair, but black hair like her own was an unusual sight during times of low travel.
"Konoha?" the older lady asked as Hinata reached out for a bag of rice.
She nodded with a light smile. Naruto shouldn't be able to ruin her days like that, his silence at her confession was her cue to move on. "Yes, just a messenger mission."
"I see, did you come with a partner? A young man with hair like yours dropped by some minutes ago."
Hinata hummed as she paid the lady. The only other dark haired person she had seen so far in the sand village was Sasuke. "We came together, but I think he will be leaving first."
It was strange, for someone who didn't seem to like Suna's weather, staying for a few days like her. Maybe he had trouble tracking down the hunters, she mused. She should've volunteered to help him if that were the case.
She no longer took missions from the Hokage, so it wasn't as if she needed to rush across countries to return to Konoha for the next mission. Neji was no longer around to expect her home anymore either. Nothing (no one) to tether her anywhere.
If he was still around, she should offer her help. The problem was finding the man. Activating her Byakugan would just make the local shinobi wary and hostile, particularly the sensory specialists.
Shaking the sand off her sandals, Hinata looked around. If she were Sasuke where would she be? If the lady was correct, Sasuke should still be close by. But if he wasn't, it shouldn't be too difficult to find him.
Since the desert could be dangerous and unpredictable, his best option would be to sleep in the village. The Kazekage, due to his friendship with Naruto, might have offered Sasuke a place to stay, but he was too prideful to accept unless it was convenient.
Hinata's feet took her further down the marketplace until a presence behind her made itself known. She turned around to find her target standing in plain sight. "Shouldn't you be in Konoha by now?"
"Oh– no, I wanted to stay for a bit," she spoke after she processed his sudden appearance. "Are you still on your mission?"
"I just finished it."
Of course he did, she thought with an amused sigh. As expected of such a brilliant shinobi. "I see, that's good for you."
Sasuke glanced at her as they walked aimlessly in the marketplace. "Did you need something?"
"No." Hinata's eyes filled with shame. "I was just thinking that I should've offered to help you."
"It's alright."
After a long pause Hinata's eyes lit up and raised her shopping bag. "Then, why don't I give you some of the food I'll make."
"Now?"
"Well, first I'll need to cook and… is that alright?"
In Hinata's frantic mind, trying to scan her words and making sure she didn't make her comrade uncomfortable (surely the academy alone was traumatic enough), she failed to notice the faint blush on his face.
"That's fine."
