Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did Ino would've apprenticed under Ibiki
Chapter 15: Deep Diving
"A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love." - Stendhal
He had come to the realization he was wearing the same pants he had on before he left for his mission in the midst of his fifth glass of sake. He could feel the tips of his fingers become hot as they gently touched the note filled with Sakura's hospital shifts. Afterwards that was all he could think about as he engaged little in the conversation being had- not that he had ever been much of a talker anyway. Then when the members of Taka had begun to tire and suggested heading home he opted instead for a walk to clear his head, ordering them to go on without him.
He was walking now, and the harsh autumn air was whipping about causing strands of black hair to float wildly in the wind, but his head wasn't clearing. Sasuke exhaled, a cloud of carbon forming clearly in the cold air as his feet wandered somewhere only they knew. It wasn't until he smelt the distinct lemony hint of disinfectant that seemed to always drift from Sakura's clothes did he know where he was subconsciously headed.
The white building was clear in his view, the tall pillars at either side of the entrance standing strong as his eyes drifted to the one dimly lit window that held his interest. His jaw squared, and his shoulders tensed at just the knowledge that she was behind the glass.
He quickly took out the note from where it sat in his pocket, his eyes scanning the times Sakura so diligently scribbled down for him. It was halfway to midnight and he knew that most of the staff would be at home, bedsides the few that were unfortunately given graveyard shifts. He crumbled the paper and tossed it on the concrete he stood on before entering the hospital.
Sasuke battled against his somewhat inebriated state to use his heightened senses to navigate where the medical staff were, avoiding them with ease as he drifted down the same path Sakura had taken him down a few days ago. It was a precaution he didn't have to take considering he could make them forget with his sharingan but he preferred not to waste his energy on things he could easily evade himself. He hadn't realized his breath was caught in his throat until he came face to face with the same wooden door and gold-plated numbers.
'405'
He let his fingers brush the numbers with a restricted gentleness. And then remembering himself he drew them away and quickly opened the door before he could change his mind.
There was a white tray with food on wheels pulled close to her bed, but she laid ever so still underneath blue sheets. Her chest lifted with each breath that entered and left her and Sasuke watched with silent fascination. Everything about her fascinated him. The way her lips curled into the tiniest of smiles as she slept, the way her hair fanned so gracefully around her like a curtain of night sky, even the way she breathed.
He was hopeless Sasuke concluded. Hyūga Hinata had turned him into a lovesick fool.
He pushed the tray of food away as he pulled the visitor chair as quietly as he could beside her bed. He leaned back with a soft thud as the tiredness from earlier washed over him relentlessly. Sasuke felt his eyes drift heavy and he couldn't fight it, so he just let them close. He allowed the sound of her breathing to regulate his own as his chest fell coordinated with hers. He would probably wake up before Hinata did anyway, he'd only allow himself a few minutes of rest.
...
Sasuke felt himself being softly roused from his sleep. With a groan of annoyance, he felt his body begin to awake and then he felt his back, stiff as a board, ache as he stretched himself alert.
Then it hit him. Where he was.
His eyes flew open as the blurry figure before him morphed into that of Hyūga Hinata. Her hands were on his arm and her dark eyebrows were dipped in concern as she watched him try to regain his composure.
Turning his head away to hide his embarrassment Sasuke allowed a few minutes to pass, she hadn't moved her hands from their earlier position and all he could think about was how stupid he had been for falling asleep in such an uncomfortable chair right next to her, and not dragging his ass back home.
His bangs hung low as they concealed his eyes from her view and with a tilt of his head he could see her still studying him in that way she always did. Sasuke licked his lips which had suddenly become dry as the atmosphere swelled around them. He didn't know what would happen if it burst, what he would do.
With a swift movement Sasuke looked at the window behind him. It was still night which meant that he hadn't been asleep for long. He didn't anticipate actually seeing her awake.
Sasuke was at a loss for words. He really didn't want to see her when she was capable of responding to his words, his actions. He felt a lot more guarded in that moment. Leaning into the back of the chair he watched as the material of his shirt fell from her fingertips. She held her hands in the air a second longer before pulling them back down unto her lap.
He swallowed thickly and brushed the hair from out of his eyes. He was in need of a haircut it seemed. He probably wouldn't bother getting one anyway.
It was a long stretch of time before he opened his mouth. He still wasn't looking at her.
"I'm sorry." He had said that exact sentence numerous times since she had been admitted to the hospital, but none had he wanted to say more than this. He had kept those words with him for two whole weeks. They had been eating at him alive and he felt the pressure lift slightly from his throat as they finally left his lips.
"I-It's not your fault Sasuke-kun."
His felt his chest warm at the sound of his name on her tongue, but his temper flared slightly at the words she chose to say to him. He lifted his face to meet hers, nostrils flared as his teeth ground together.
"Why are you so stupid?" Sasuke yelled in quiet anger, "Do you think what you did was smart? I'm stronger than you Hyūga, I could've taken it!"
In true Hinata fashion she gently shook her head, her face had become slightly pink as she prodded her fingers together as an obvious distraction. Then with a bite at her bottom lip, she lifted her hand and gently squeezed his shoulder as she offered him a small, almost sad, smile. "It just happened that way."
Her touch seemed to placate him a little, but he still could feel his ire building heavy inside him.
"Why did you do it?" His voice was softer this time but there was still a bit of bite to his words.
Hinata's iridescent eyes widened as long eyelashes fluttered at being asked such a question. Her pink lips formed into a small 'O' and Sasuke's thoughts drifted into slightly inappropriate places until he composed himself.
"I already told you," She answered, "If you can't do it I will. I don't have a reason of why. I don't think I even know myself, it was just instinct."
He couldn't pinpoint what emotion it was that struck him because as quick as it arrived it was gone. He let her words hang in the air. It was instinctive, saving him. To her it was instinctive. Sasuke didn't know how to feel about it so he tried not to feel anything at all, but with her that was always harder than normal for him to do.
He didn't even think about it. He didn't need to because if he did he wouldn't be able to do what he did. His calloused hands felt so much bigger as they encased her smooth smaller ones. He let his thumb trace her palms, frowning as he felt the scars that had formed from her clutching at the blade as it…
Sasuke tightened his grip on her hands, as white and black met for what felt like the first time.
As he looked fearlessly into her eyes, he felt a strength in him he'd thought he'd lost so long ago. The same strength that drove him to find his brother and kill him with his bare hands. It was a dangerous strength, but this time he knew it wasn't something he should be concerned about. This time he knew exactly where to put all his efforts.
"I will avenge you." He stated it so simple and firm. He believed in every word, every syllable.
Hinata didn't say anything in response, just titled her hand so that their fingers clasped within each other. He felt the warmth of her palms heat his own cold one's. Their small physical contact felt like everything and nothing at the same time. Sasuke wanted more and yet, it was still enough.
Hinata's hands in his, felt perfect, they fit perfectly, and he didn't want to let go.
"Stay." Was all she said. And he knew he couldn't deny her even if he tried.
How had it come to this? Him acting this way? It hadn't even been less than three months ago when just the thought of such behaviour had disgusted him beyond comprehension. And now, he was sitting in the hospital room of the woman he was somewhat fond of, holding her hand.
Sasuke wasn't sure if it was a cruel joke of fate, a moment that would be taken away from him just as soon as he begun to revel in it. So, he let himself savour the moment for as long as it lasted and didn't pull away. Just this once he would allow himself to be vulnerable, because he wasn't so sure he'd ever get the opportunity to be again.
Hinata sat up straighter in her bed then as Sasuke watched her for any signs of discomfort but like a true soldier she showed nothing, instead she pulled the tray closer to her with one of her hands, the other still in his.
Motioning towards the food with a delicate chin Hinata shyly smiled, "This can be a substitute for the lunch we were supposed to have."
Sasuke laughed despite himself, she was kind of cute…but he wouldn't say that out loud.
"Ah." He said and then he reached for one of the onigiri on her plate with his free hand. She smiled knowingly then as he tried his best to at least keep a nonchalant image around her. "What a lazy invitation."
A sweet chuckle escaped her as she held her dainty hand at her mouth, Sasuke wanted to push it down so he could see her smile, but he kept eating instead. It was such a nice sound, her laughter. Almost bell- like in nature, Hyūga's had a stoic pompous aura about them but she was different. Everything about her was soothing so much so that it almost scared him. Hinata made him feel both powerless and powerful at a moment's whim and while a part of him hated it another part secretly craved it.
He wondered if that made him a masochist.
Coughing lightly to settle his unease Sasuke watched as Hinata bit into her onigiri happily. It was one of the very few times he'd seen her genuinely smile. This one held no semblance of pain whatsoever, this one was purely happy, and it made the corners of his mouth tug just a bit.
They stayed like that until she had finished eating most of the things on her tray. There wasn't any conversation that needed to be had instead they sat in a comfortable silence as they enjoyed the others company without interruption.
As a loud yawn escaped her and Sasuke observed as she lifted her pearl eyes to look at him embarrassed. He shrugged his shoulders as if to say it was all right and she leaned back down unto her pillow with a small sigh. He kept his gaze on her as sleep begun to call her in its arms. It was only a few minutes more until she was gone once more.
Sasuke again watched as she breathed in and out, her hand was still intertwined in his, she hadn't unlaced their fingers in her sleep either. He pulled their hands apart and covered her properly with the blue hospital blanket. And then with one last final look behind his shoulder he went home.
Just like always she invaded his dreams. But these dreams were a lot more forgiving than the one's he'd been having before.
Some would even call them…heavenly.
One lengthy cold shower later Sasuke had his arms hung over his knees as his head laid in between his thighs. He was sitting on the edge of his bed and feeling both relaxed and somewhat nauseated. Even a little flustered.
The birds were up and signalling the beginning of a new day, normally he didn't mind such noise but today he wanted nothing more than for them to stop.
He wondered then what time he managed to get home because even after such…dreams, he felt like death. He had done all the sleep his body would allow though so he had to fight through it until he was properly tired.
Brushing the wet hair at the nape of his neck away, Sasuke headed downstairs with the pace of the undead. He could just imagine what he looked like.
The smell of eggs and other breakfast foods assaulted his nose as he drew closer towards the kitchen and the attached dining room. At the giant dining table sat Taka, already situated in their own seats and eating to their hearts content.
Noticing his entrance Suigetsu raised his arms as a wide shark grin situated on his face, "Mornin' sleepy head!" He greeted with a face full of food.
If he didn't feel like a splitting headache was about to come on Sasuke would've glowered at him but instead he inelegantly dropped down into the head seat at the table. Juugo simply waved a large hand in his general direction as he ate a spoonful of rice.
"Woah what grave did you come out of today?" Suigetsu asked him. He sat up slightly from his seat to the right of him then sat back down when he couldn't find whatever he was looking for.
Karin returned then with a pot of hot tea in her hands, "You went walking after dinner, right? You must've caught something, it was so cold!"
Nodding his head in agreement Sasuke leaned his forehead into his hand. That's right he did go for a walk right before he visited Hinata. His elbow was on the table and if his mother was still alive she'd chew him out for it but the discomfort he felt won out over manners.
"Here, have some tea." Karin shoved the cup in front of him before he could as much as accept.
He took the tea with a grateful nod and allowed the hot liquid to warm his body and hopefully fight whatever sickness was creeping up. After he finished his cup, he felt somewhat better, so he reached for the bowl of rice and eggs and his chopsticks.
It smelt delicious and he thanked Karin before digging in. There were small moments of conversation in between their meal but for the most part everyone was too busy eating. In these instances, Sasuke felt a lot more at home than he usually did. This was the type of atmosphere that the house so badly needed, and he had unknowingly begun to get used to it.
It was like having a family.
Team Seven were a lot like his family in that respect as well, but they couldn't live together. The other members had lives outside of him that they needed to tend to. They had their own houses and other people they considered precious to them, so he would often be alone in his house until Kakashi had a mission prepared for him or until Naruto and Sakura badgered him to come outside. With Taka having to stay in the village for a while he didn't need to wait on the occasional visit to fight his deep-seated loneliness. That was what he truly missed when he officially left Taka. They were always there.
And then they wouldn't be.
Sasuke didn't like to think about that much. The prospect of Taka leaving. He didn't know how he would adjust back to living on his own when he had gotten so accustomed to having other people there again. Would he be keener on starting a family of his own then? Would he even feel worthy when the opportunity for such a thing came? He had been thinking about that particular childhood goal a lot more often these days.
His bowl was empty and so he sat at the table for a few more minutes until everything was fully digested then he excused himself and went back upstairs to change into something more athletic like. When he jogged down the stairs, feeling rejuvenated again, he made sure to stop by the dining room where everybody else still was to let them know where he was going. He didn't have to, but he felt like it was only right or else they would probably bombard through the whole village looking for him.
"I'm going to the training grounds." Sasuke imparted. Then with an effortless wave of his hand, he headed out.
The same log he always found his way back to was battered and torn up by the time he had first arrived at the training ground. Sasuke wasn't even halfway through his routine and it looked to be falling apart, he'd probably have to ease up on his attacks if he wanted to at least have something to practice his aim on. Kakashi would probably chew him out about ruining the log before the genins could get some use out of it later.
But Sasuke didn't care, he had a kunai in his arm and threw it with amazing precision. It of course hit the mark, like all the others before it had as well. But still, he felt like he should do it again and again, it wasn't like he had another person to practice taijutsu on and he wasn't about to summon a clone to do it either. That was Naruto's thing and his orange outfitted rival looked spectacularly stupid doing so too.
All his frustration he poured out on the lone log until there was nothing left but sawdust and the distinctive smell of sweat in the air. Dripping down onto the grassy field with a sigh he stretched out his body as he looked up at the sky in his view. It was a particularly sunny day despite the slight chill of the fall wind, though it wasn't anything his body couldn't handle. He leaned back up on his legs as the sweat dripped down his body with great speed. He had been going at it for almost two hours and he still felt like he had more in him.
Sasuke wanted to get his mind straight. He had a few distractions since he came back but now that everything else was settled he needed to think of a plan of action to deal with his immediate problem, The Abyss. If anything, he probably had a few months left until they attacked, it was to their benefit that they would wait a while longer before making their move. He didn't put it past them to already know that he knew about them as it was all probably within their plan. If he could figure out why they came to be then he could figure out who led them and in turn stop it all before it came to a head.
But even as he raked his mind for suspects he couldn't come up with any. There wasn't any mission he had done with Taka that left him with enemies he already didn't have after the shinobi war ended. He was Uchiha Sasuke, he was a shinobi legend and in turn a shinobi nightmare. No one dared to challenge him after all these years, his reputation made sure of it. So, for someone to come forward and attempt to kill him even after what the world knew about him and his accomplishments was strange to say the least. How convenient that all this was occurring right as he made his bid for Hokage. He knew deep down that such a coincidence was anything but. There had been someone watching him.
The Abyss sure had some nerve. Sasuke scoffed at the idea. He wasn't that easy to take down, they were severely underestimating him and that in turn would signal their demise.
Sasuke wouldn't allow them to take anything from him, not when he had finally started to get his goals in order. He had things to protect, and this village despite its hidden rejection of him was one of those things, he owed at least that to his elder brother.
He had friends here, some he would even consider family, and he had something else he couldn't describe. He thought of Hinata and how she wormed her way into this category of people he wanted to protect. Her almost sacrificing her life for his earned her great respect in his eyes. She got past his defences and he'd never seen it coming, especially not from someone who came off as meek as she did to him back then.
He wondered where he stood with her. The way she was with him the night before was something but actually putting a name to it when she left the hospital was something else. Did she want that? Did he even want that?
Not to mention that Hinata had a habit of pulling away from him when he got too close. She was just as guarded as he, if not more because while his secrets were all laid bare for the world to see and criticize, hers were kept close to her in such a way that not everybody knew they existed. Sasuke wasn't so sure she'd let him in on them if he asked, in fact he had a feeling that she would run away again.
Shikamaru had said she would be released tomorrow. If he was lucky enough to catch her he could ask her then.
The ex-avenger got up from the grass and dusted himself off. He made sure he got each one of his supplies before turning around to leave but something made him stop in his tracks before he took a first step.
He pushed his chakra out as his sharingan automatically activated. His instincts sensed danger yet when he looked around and felt the area there was no one there.
Still, he knew the sensation of eyes on his back when he felt it. Living with Orochimaru had trained his body to know when he was being watched.
The dark aura faded away then and Sasuke's body instantly relaxed. Whatever it was, it didn't come back.
Sasuke clutched his fists at the idea that those rogues would be so brazen to surveillance him after their fallen comrade gave him such a public show of defeat. He reasoned with himself that it couldn't be them, at least not so soon. Nobody was that stupid.
He felt satisfied with that answer but still had that gnawing feeling in the back of his mind to make note of that aura. He would feel it again. He wondered momentarily if he should tell Kakashi or Taka about it but something in him urged for him to keep it to himself.
And so he did.
It was likely that he was being paranoid anyway. He did have a habit of that kind of behaviour in the past, so such an explanation wasn't that farfetched. That's what he wanted to believe.
And so he did.
He was almost home as he walked through the busy shop filled streets of Konoha and heard his name being called. Turning around he saw Karin walking brusquely towards him with her hands full of groceries packed recklessly in a brown bag. She finally reached him and turned towards him with a smile as they walked side by side. Wordlessly Sasuke reached over and grabbed the bag of groceries ignoring her protest, soon she quieted down knowing there was nothing she could do and settled on childishly swinging her arms behind her back.
"Practice was good?" Karin lamely started small talk. She nodded her head as if it could make her sentence less awkward and Sasuke rolled his eyes in return.
"More or less." He supplied. He adjusted the bag more carefully in his arms noting that Karin's packing capabilities were quite terrible.
"That's good," Karin unconvincingly said. Sasuke didn't bother to ask her what was wrong as she pushed her too large glasses up her downtrodden face. She would talk.
And talk she did.
"Was that note Sakura gave you any useful?" She looked up at him with a raised crimson brow.
Sasuke looked away then as his grip on the groceries tightened. He simply answered with a quick 'Ah' careful not to say anything she could latch her wild imagination onto. He really didn't want to tread into that topic of conversation. Especially not with her. Sasuke was all too aware of what she still felt for him, it was evident that day she confronted him before he left for his mission. He wasn't as heartless to make her hear something she probably didn't want to. It was awkward enough when she or Sakura were both around him, he couldn't imagine what reaction she would have to Hinata.
Knowing Sasuke wasn't going to say much on the matter Karin gave up and switched the subject, "To be quite honest with you I'm kind of worried."
He looked at her with an inquisitive glance and she shared her own gaze, joyless and sad. He returned his eyes to the road almost immediately. He didn't want to keep looking as it seemed as if she was going to cry and he wasn't really good with tears.
"I see you," Karin continued, "You're so well adjusted. I mean not as well adjusted as you should be Sasuke," She gave him a knowing glance to emphasize her words then. "But you're more adjusted than I could ever hope to be. I don't know if it's going to be that simple for me to integrate back into a village."
"Why not?" Sasuke probed, their walking pace had slowed just a tad, but he didn't mind breathing in the fresh air longer.
"Because," She shrugged her shoulders like she was stating a fact, "My special abilities made it so my whole life I've been seen as nothing but a tool by everyone. Even you at one point. I can sense chakra as well as heal others not to mention that weird chain thing during the war that I haven't even begun to process even till now. I just learned what clan I came from not that long ago, Uzumaki like Naruto. You had to tell me, my mother never did so I didn't even know myself and I probably would have never known. What if I don't know how to be anything but a tool?"
Sasuke looked unimpressed then. "Don't be stupid."
"What?"
He continued walking as he talked, careful not to let it seem like he was pitying her, "If anything you guys should have an easier time than me."
"Sasuke…" Karin frowned.
"When I was hesitant to come back to the leaf village Naruto told me something that put it all into perspective. He said that everyone deserved peace no matter what they did. As long as they acknowledged their wrong doings and sought forgiveness." Sasuke couldn't help the jaded voice he had when retelling his best friend's words. He hadn't come to fully understand them yet, though he knew that one day he probably would. Naruto, that man wasn't exactly traditionally smart, but he had immense emotional intelligence. The jinchuuriki was right, the world they lived in was full of killers. There wasn't any wrong act more justifiable than the next.
The woman beside him looked up sceptically before clutching over in a hearty laugh. She grabbed at her side as she tried to calm herself down and when she was done she lifted her glasses to wipe the tear from her eyes.
Sasuke felt somewhat insulted at her reaction. He didn't normally give out advice, she should be grateful he chose that day to do so. He knew he was scowling then but he couldn't help it. How ungrateful.
Karin finally contained herself, "Thanks Sasuke. I didn't mean to laugh it's just that you've been so unbelievable calm these days it's sort of funny. I should thank the person responsible, whoever it is."
Sasuke smirked before he could stop himself, though he did feel kind of annoyed. He didn't consider himself any different than he had ever been. When they reached the Uchiha house he turned and handed her the groceries without a word. Karin thanked him and headed into the kitchen to presumably prepare dinner.
He made his way through the house catching sight of Juugo and Suigestu preparing the shogi board for a match. Noticing him they both waved in greeting as he leaned against the door frame with crossed arms.
"Sasuke wanna' judge?" Suigetsu offered, "This guy over here says I cheat. With your eye on the game I could show em' that I only win fair and square and he just sucks."
"That would be most helpful." Juugo agreed.
Shaking his head in declination Sasuke pushed himself off the wall and headed upstairs to freshen up. Though he was ready to get The Abyss out of the way he was really going to miss the fullness of the house.
These thoughts were so easy for him to think and not say out loud. Sasuke was sure he'd never let Taka know how much he preferred such company. They wouldn't let him live it down.
His mind went back to his earlier topic of contemplation. Sasuke now knew he wasn't built to live a life in solitude. He had to confront things he had so confidently deemed unattainable to him. He couldn't say with complete conviction that he deserved a family, but he could say that the Uchiha name deserved to live on after all the crap the world unjustly put them through. He had to carry that name and he would have to die with it if he didn't restore his clan and he didn't feel comfortable enough with the latter to just let it happen.
Sasuke wanted a family. He also wanted the unconditional love that came with having one. His head was finally clear, and he could see now what he was missing from his life. Maybe he needed to hear those words again as much as Karin needed to him to say it.
Who was he to deny himself something he had been longing on the account of him being undeserving? It was Sasuke's belief that everyone was underserving in some way. After all that he'd been through maybe it was wise for him to allow himself a little leniency.
He leaned back in his bed with his arms crossed behind his head. Sasuke wasn't completely sold on his new change of mind but he did admit it felt better to entertain such thoughts without immediately shutting them down as they entered his mind.
The last Uchiha smirked as he realized what Karin said earlier was true, he had gotten a lot calmer.
Sasuke hadn't felt nerves in a long time but as he woke up and re-read the text that simply read 13:00 with coordinates to an empty training ground over and over he felt them come full force. Time had seemed to pass by slower as the hours ticked closer and closer to the time sent to him.
The text was random because everyone knew Sasuke was old fashioned and preferred to get things via messenger bird or actually be told them in person, but if he was to point the finger he could name the exact person the text had derived from. Nara Shikamaru was a lot nicer when he didn't hate him. Maybe even someone worthy of considering an ally down the line, but Sasuke didn't hold his breath with that one bit.
For the rest of the week he had stayed in his room waiting patiently until the days had passed. He rejected every offer to hang out extended by Taka and only headed downstairs when they berated him to out of 'obligation'. Mostly he remained cooped up in his abode letting the tension build until it got to this very moment.
Sasuke was going to see her. He was going to actually see her in something other than a hospital gown and with a little more colour to her face. She wasn't going to be looking like the consequence of his past.
That intimate moment they shared in the hospital was where his mind kept straying during his solitude. Would she act like nothing happened or express regret over doing such a thing with him? He definitely preferred the former, at least in that scenario he could keep what little would remain of his pride.
Then there was also the issue of whether she was emotionally ready. The last time either of them had talked about how they felt she had broken down crying over Naruto of all people and Sasuke was no one's second let alone second to someone he considered a best friend. He could never screw Naruto over like that, if there was a chance that she wanted reconciliation with the jinchuuriki then Sasuke would just have to bow out and cut his losses.
He realized he didn't like that scenario either.
Of course, Hyūga Hinata was a complicated woman. Only he would get a crush on someone who seemed unattainable to him in every way. Sasuke really was a sucker for pain it seemed. How pitiful.
He waited until the final moments where he could go to the meetup spot. His emotions swirled to the top of his being as the time came and he quietly crept through the window in his room. If he went downstairs, he would surely be pestered, and he didn't want anyone to know what was going on…yet.
He nimbly lept down onto the street below, ignoring the surprised shouts from the people he had landed beside. He felt his stomach drop and he wanted nothing more than to turn back around and pretend he never got the message, but he trudged through his slight imbalance. The different smells from multiple vendors filled his nose as he attempted to contain his thoughts to only identifying where they were coming from. He walked almost methodically through the cobblestoned pathway until he felt nothing but wet grass underneath his feet. Looking around him, he made sure that no one he knew spotted him before heading into the training ground area where he would meet his teammates.
A walk that would normally only take him a few seconds turned into a few long minutes as he stretched whatever time he had to be able to get himself together. Everything he ever thought about, every action he either did or held back from doing was all leading up to this.
Sasuke only realized how hopeless regaining composure was when he spotted Hinata and all he could do was pause. His feet moved quickly after his lapse and he was soon face to face with her. He felt his back tighten but he ignored it as he kept his gaze level with her own. She was looking up at him somewhat shyly though it was different from that time in the hospital. This time it was more reserved, a lot more Hyūga than she normally was.
So, she was going to be difficult he surmised. His lips pursed ever so slightly at the realization.
Shikamaru shuffled his feet lamely until he cleared his throat. "I'll be leaving then. I'm going to meet up with Ino for an hour and come back. No one comes here around this time but wait any longer than that and someone might see you."
Sasuke only nodded his head in response not even bothering to spare the man a glance as he exited his peripheral and all that could be heard were his sandals getting further and further away from where the two of them were left standing.
The silence was deafening between them. He was determined not to say anything first, he didn't want to give her the upper hand. He focused on the feeling of grass beneath his feet as he tried to still the friction that was coming on.
Finally, Hinata bit her bottom lip nervously, it seemed she would be the first one to break the palpable quiet.
"Thank you for being concerned these last few days." She said, she looked up at him with a small smile before returning her pale eyes to look just behind him. She prodded her feet girlishly before her as her hands began to clasp as if to shield her from his view.
Sasuke turned his head as his ears heated up, "I wasn't." he promptly denied. It was useless however because they both knew the truth.
Hinata laughed at that. It was a small laugh, but it still made his chest warm. How easy such thoughts had come to mind as Sasuke begun to make peace with what he felt for the woman before him.
As she quieted down Sasuke reached his hand forward to hold her own, she was still averting her gaze from him so he shook her gently until she tilted her head up to face him. He could see everything in her reflective Hyūga eyes, how she felt, how he docile he looked right then.
The question he asked next had been weighing on him for quite some time, "Why are you so kind to me? You never give me a straight answer."
She let his question hang in the air before smiling at him with a tender look in her face. That look…that was the same look that had made him fall.
"I guess it's because a small part of me connected to you in some way."
Furrowed dark brows came as he felt dissatisfaction at her answer. His bangs covered his face as he drew his attention to their conjoined hands, "Where does this leave us now?" He inquired.
"I'm not sure," Hinata hesitated. She brought a hand up to twirl a strand of long indigo hair around a finger contemplatively. "Some part of me is still fighting against it"
Sasuke smiled slightly, he could understand the feeling. "It was the same for me."
They looked at each other then and then laughed at the predicament they managed to get themselves into. Everything was registering for both of them right at that very moment and all Sasuke could feel was amusement. What should've been such a small and insignificant thing had only become complicated due to the two-people involved. It was like they both attracted complex relationships and repelled anything simple.
If it was supposed to be that way then so be it, he liked challenges. Uchiha's practically thrived off them.
The scent of fresh dew in the air was overwhelming as it had rained almost the entire time the night before. Shikamaru was right when he said the training grounds would be empty at this time, there was no chakra he could sense in the immediate area and the number of civilians outside was massively dwindled due to the weather of the previous night. The trees around had begun to shift colour into more orange hues as the grass below was turning yellow due to the dropping temperature. It wouldn't be long until Konoha's landscape fully embraced the autumn season.
So far it was a beautiful day. Sasuke turned black eyes to look at Hinata. For the first time he allowed himself to appreciate her beauty against nature's backdrop. as any man with a crush would do. She was a stark contrast against the fall colour scheme and still that fact alone made her appear even more alluring. Her skin which seemed to be returning to its previous colour was giving off a moon like glow, as her eyelashes fluttered and fanned against her cheek. When she noticed him admiring her, her expression shifted to that of mild surprise, as a charming red blush ran from her face down to the tips of her fingers.
Sasuke smirked at the reaction. He had to admit, he was proud of the response he managed to get from her.
He released her hand from his in favour of stuffing his own within his pockets. His eyes surveyed the area as he moved to stand beside Hinata instead.
The sky was turning a dull grey, it wouldn't be long until it started to rain again. He could instantly feel the cold shift in the air from the weather which prompted him to get to the point of their meeting.
In front of him a small black feathered bird with a stark white underbelly flew down into the small puddle in the far left of the clearing. It hopped around on it's little legs before craning its neck down and poking at the mud with it's beak. Wasn't long before a worm emerged in its mouth as the bird used its feet to steady itself enough to pull out the entire prey. Then oddly enough the bird turned to look at him tilting its head intently before flying away with the worm in it's mouth.
Sasuke brushed the eerie feeling aside. He would have to deal with it later. He needed to settle this with Hinata before he could even begin to think of tackling another problem, she would just prove to be a distraction until then anyway.
It seemed Hinata had noticed the odd sight too as she remained blinking at the now empty spot with a curious brow. Sasuke took that moment to motion towards her causing her to shake her head and turn to him with sheepish eyes.
"I tried to escape you," He began to explain. He could feel her apprehension as he moved closer in proximity to her only for her to take a cautious step backward in favour of maintaining the space between them, "…But you managed to get to me."
Hinata promptly bowed as her long dark hair fell in front of her face. "I'm sorry."
"Get up and look at me damn it." Sasuke said through gritted teeth. She was making this a whole lot harder than it had to be. She listened then, quickly straightening herself out but schooling her features, so he couldn't use his trained eyes to see what she was really thinking.
"I never wanted it to turn out this way." Her voice was even as she fluttered her gaze from his and then back to the training grounds.
Sasuke scoffed. It was too late for all that now. "You must understand why that means I feel I must return the favour."
She stayed silent looking towards the open space in front of them, but her façade was cracking, he could see it in the way she silently clenched her palms at the side of her. She lifted her pearl eyes to meet his once more.
Sasuke shifted closer again but this time Hinata made no inclination to move. "I'm going to find whatever's holding you back Hinata." It was the first time he called her by her first name and her pale eyes widened in shock. He continued, "For your sake."
And his own. But Sasuke didn't say that part out loud. Instead he boldly reached for her hand again as Hinata bit her lip in an effort to get herself not to break in front of him. Her iridescent eyes were welling up with tears as she pushed her fair face from his view and strengthened her hands within his.
Sasuke didn't need to say anything more than that, he knew she got the message. He never had to explicitly say what he felt for Hinata to understand his feelings, it was one of the many things he appreciated about her.
He knew that whatever held Hinata back was something she clearly let control and take over her life. At the same time, he also had the worst realization that he knew exactly what it was.
A single raindrop fell against his cheek as he lifted a sharp chin upwards towards the sky. It had started to drizzle but it wasn't enough so that would bother him, he was shinobi after all. He knew the woman beside him was crying as she used the rain to mask her own tears. He could tell by the signifying shake of her shoulders, but she was doing it so deathly silent solely for the purpose of getting him not to notice, so Sasuke pretended he didn't.
Instead he focused on what he had to do next. It was something he wanted to avoid with his entire being and he dreaded this eventual moment again and again. But for the sake of his own happiness he was going to endure it. In the end, that seemed to be what everyone he knew was always telling him to do.
They watched the rain fall together for a couple of minutes more and when he felt her finally calm herself down he left the training grounds before Shikamaru arrived.
...
The rain came down harder as he moved towards his next destination. The sky was dark and almost black as the clouds gathered together. By the time he had reached where he wanted to go he was soaking wet with his long grey sleeved shirt sticking uncomfortably to him and overgrown ebony hair plastering down over his eyes.
He arrived at a sizable house, it wasn't big at all, but it was definitely comfortable looking. Walking up the three small concrete steps laid out before the barely existent porch Sasuke raised a rigid fist to knock against the beige coloured front door.
It wasn't long before a hastily dressed figure with fiery azure blue eyes and striking blond hair opened the door with a stifled yawn that quickly transformed into a taut expression.
With furrowed brows Naruto leaned against his front door frame with an upset expression. Sasuke knew that whatever form of resentment his best-friend felt towards him now was only going to get worse when he realized just what he was there for.
When he realized he was going to betray him.
Sasuke kept his own visage cool and temperate yet there still remained an intense air around both men as he returned Naruto's half-hearted glare with a pointed one of his own. Very briefly he let an apologetic look run across his face as he waited for Naruto to move aside and let him in.
The jinchuuriki however showed no signs of wanting to entertain him, in fact he blocked the door even more with his broad shoulders as he cut his teeth in annoyance.
Sasuke stilled. He'd prefer to say it inside but if Naruto was going to be that way then he guessed he had no other choice.
Not one to like long periods of silence Naruto groaned fixing to say something with a now open mouth until Sasuke beat him to it.
"I need you to tell me everything about your breakup with Hinata. In detail."
The atmosphere constrained around them as Naruto's eyes quickly searched his for assurance that he'd heard correctly and if Sasuke was any lesser person he would find it hard to breathe, but he wasn't. So he stood his ground as he let Naruto come to the conclusion that he wasn't messing around.
Sapphire dulled as he came to understand.
Sasuke wanted answers. And Uzumaki Naruto was going to give them to him whether he wanted to or not.