AN: What was going through Sasuke's mind when he married someone he never met before?

Into the Blizzard

It was everywhere. From the falling sky, through tall trees, screeching rooftops, and again up to the sky – deafening roar of the blizzard pierced through the whole land. It was all Sasuke could hear as he walked through the thick moving and raving wall of white, ice—not snow—scratching his cheeks with every blow. The weather wasn't kind, but he couldn't care less about that – deep worry weighed heavily on his chest as he kept moving, focusing on each step and seeing it burying in the cold powder halfway to the knees. The trail of footprints disappeared behind him in mere seconds.

Flicker of light far away in the dark caught his attention and he made sure to change direction towards it, the sight taking him back to another night, four winters ago, when something precious was in his grasp and he let it slip away.

Sasuke and his companion were on the way from Oto to Kumo on a very important assignment. He was to be married. The union was arranged by his father only two weeks ago and he still didn't know who the betrothed was – he wouldn't know until the official meeting with the other family in two days time. There was no excitement in his chest, but no resentment either. Truth be told he held no opinion on the matter.

Having been born to a prominent family of the Village of Konoha, Sasuke's life was pre-determined at birth. As a second born son, his destiny laid with Konoha Forces – as a protector of the family, village, and the whole Land of Fire. While his elder brother stayed with their mother and learned about the family estate matters, he was sent outside the village to study the art of battle under the tutelage of their father. For the most part, he was raised in Oto, where the main training grounds were located. But he also travelled throughout the land to learn different techniques from the best warriors known. Though he didn't know much else, it wasn't a fate that he disliked. From the very young age he was educated on importance of family and its traditions, about each family member's role and place. It was his honour to be part of the Uchiha. It was his duty to protect it.

At eighteen years of age, Sasuke was very close to completion of his training and ready to fight crime throughout the land. He already proved to be a skillful fighter, smart and fast in combat – better than any other Uchiha before him. Still, his father summoned him two weeks ago with a proposition that was meant to increase his power even further – marriage. Fugaku explained that while fighting and even dying for the family was expected, Sasuke should have that one person to whom he was to live for. Such a person in his life would make him even stronger, faster, will give a reason to survive during battle, to come back home, to family. He was asked if there was already such a person, but as there wasn't—there were no opportunities, really, to form this kind of bond—it was arranged for him to meet someone in Kumo, in the Land of Lightning. Though, it was left to his discretion to proceed with marriage or refuse after the formal meeting [1]. And this was how Sasuke found himself in the middle of a blizzard.

That year, the Land of Frost in every way showed its vile beauty – merciless winter swept through the forests, villages, and froze all land to its core. It was snowing hard for the last two days of the travellers' journey, but that night the storm took a dangerous turn, making it hardly possible to move. They needed to find shelter, Sasuke's companion, Juugo, advised, even just for a few hours – to wait out the worst of it and continue after winds settle down. Hours in the dark finally came to an end when they saw some flickering lights just ahead. Hopefully, whoever was inside would let them in, even though the time was way past midnight.

When they reached the source of light, the door flew open and two priests insisted that the men came in at once. The place was rather small, but warm, so neither travellers complained and went inside without a word. It was some sort of shrine, Sasuke deduced from simple altar to the side and a few benches right before it. It was quite obvious that priests expected someone, because the place was decorated with pretty cloths, some flowers, and many lanterns.

Through frantic blabbering Sasuke understood that there was a wedding and that the other party was waiting for a while. It seemed the boy fell rather ill and was now resting but Lee, he caught young priest's name, would wake him up at once if they decide to have the ceremony, still. It was evident that there was some sort of misunderstanding and Juugo tried to clear it up at once but stopped mid-word as Sasuke interrupted.

"How long has he been waiting?" he didn't know just what exactly prompted him to ask that, but something warm took place inside his chest at the sight of the young man laying on a bench near altar.

"Five hours—", answered the elder priest. "—well, you are only late for two of those. He has been sleeping here since the evening... the cough he has, and fever, is quite dreadful"

"I see", said Sasuke and looked again at the blond man who seemed to be as young as he. Sweat drops have covered all face, which looked so kind when not twisted in pain...the cold must have been horrible. Despite poor shape, the boy was here waiting. Instead of going to a healer and save his life most likely, he stayed right here and waited for someone who, Sasuke knew, would never come—not in this storm. That spoke of loyalty – a trait the young Uchiha held in high regard.

Who could have been so cruel as to abandon him? The nerve! Whoever was it was a fool and undeserving of the boy before him. His mind made up, Sasuke dismissed the disapproving look from Juugo and addressed the priest:

"We will proceed."

"How splendid!" with joy squealed Guy, as he then introduced himself. Immediately, Lee hurried away to wake the sleeping blond.

There was that one brief second, when just a shadow of a doubt tried to creep in to change his mind. It was the thought of someone else waiting for him in Kumo, but—

Sasuke breathed out in awe.

—it was completely gone the very moment his eyes caught sight of two blue stars and a relieved small smile. The boy looked horrible and weak, and so-so beautiful, through all of it. He was a fighter, there was not doubt, but not the kind that Sasuke was – he held strong spirit. The young Uchiha was simply smitten on the spot.

With every step the blond took in his direction, Sasuke felt fondness grow – it swelled inside his chest and warmed him up so deeply. With every second more and more he understood the words his father said, he knew that now he would be stronger, faster, would fight through teeth but not to death—to life—to come back home, to family, to this young man before him.

Through ceremony, Uchiha could barely control himself – the cough threatened to break his soon-to-be-spouse in half, and all he wanted to do was to hold him close, but he had to endure. He didn't kid himself with thoughts that the boy was marrying him for who he was, it was impossible. Through fever haze, blue eyes were seeing someone else, but that was fine—

"...May these rings remind you always
of the vows you have taken here,"

—with vows of life-long marriage, Sasuke made just one more – to make it right between them.

"and may these rings be forever sealed
by the love, with which they are given."

Guy paused the speech to pass him two simple silver bands. Assuming that the larger one was meant for his new partner, he took a tan hand in his and placed the band on the ring finger. The other had some difficulty returning the gesture, for obvious reasons – the ring was just too small, but Sasuke guided him to place it on his little finger instead, where the little thing fit perfectly. The smile that he received right after was brighter than the light from lanterns and he could stare at it for hours. Though, priests have interrupted – it was the time for them to sign the papers. Patiently, he waited for his turn.

When that was done, the priest called both of them to seal their marriage and Sasuke waited for Naruto, he knew the boy's name now[2], to come over from resting on the bench. A trembling hand rose up to find a place on his cheek and Uchiha stilled as the boy's face moved closer to his. It will be soon now, thought he, dreading the moment that would break the spell. They were within his reach now – small smile and blue eyes so honest, bright and then—

Forgive me, the voiceless plea came from his heart

—filled with confusion, fear. The boy was just about to scream, he knew, but still Sasuke could not let go, to loose someone so precious. With swift and sure movement he sealed their lips, then watched the boy loose consciousness right there.

Getting a solid hold of his now husband, the brunet breathed out in relief. The ceremony and the shock took all remaining strength away from the poor boy – he needed all the sleep he could get to fight the cold. Having lowered him back on the bench, Sasuke sat beside and softly brushed away blond locks from damp forehead, on this mind so many things he needed to think though.

There was no way he could take Naruto with him to Kumo – the blond was in a fragile state, bringing him out to the cold was dangerous. But Sasuke had to leave, to formally decline the proposal of marriage. It was the least he could do out of respect for his father, who arranged the meeting, and the family that travelled there from Konoha. He would have to trust the priests to take care of his husband until his return.

The brunet placed a small kiss to the boy's temple, gave instructions to the priests to stay put for one more night, and together with Juugo left the shrine into the night.

But he wasn't able to make it back in time.

With the worst of the storm behind them, they made it to Kumo without much challenge by dawn. However, the other party was delayed and didn't show up until very late in the evening. In haste, Sasuke held the meeting and formally refused the proposal of marriage, only briefly explaining that he was married to someone else. They were furious to say the least, for having travelled far for nothing, but not for long. Even Hyuugas understood better than to go against Uchiha's wishes.

When Sasuke and Juugo arrived back to Shimo, the shrine wasn't there. They asked around the village if anyone knew of where they disappeared to, or if anyone saw one named Uzumaki Naruto, but all in vain. Some remembered a young man looking for witnesses to his wedding, but that's about it. No one could tell where he came from or where he went. Devastated, the brunet went from house to house but in the end had to listen to his companion's advice and leave for Oto – he still had obligations there.

Days went by, then weeks, then years...all blurring into one dull mess. The young Uchiha could only think about the boy he married on a night cloaked by a blizzard – a blond haired, blue eyed boy. Every battle he won since that night was in the name not of the Uchiha, but of one Uzumaki. In every village he visited since then, he would ask locals about Naruto and every time he left disappointed. But still, he continued to seek assignments throughout the whole Land of Fire—from the sands of Suna to the mountains of Kumo—in hope of one day finding him. Over three years have passed before Fugaku finally had enough and called his son back home to serve the village.

On the very first day back, Sasuke had to drop off to the Kage's office the record of his reassignment to Konoha. He reluctantly walked the halls of the tower until a mop of blond hair caught his attention. Heartbeat increasing he followed it trough hallways to one turn then another, until he didn't know where he was going anymore, until it didn't matter where he was anymore because—

Black eyes met with two blue stars once more and everything stilled

—he was home.

Banging on an old door to the small wooden hut on the outskirts of Konoha, Uchiha Sasuke knew that something precious was almost in his grasp. Only this time, he wouldn't let it slip away.

AN: Thank you so much for reading!❤️

[1] it may look like a slight contradiction to the previous chapter, but it is not, really. If you think about it, Hinata is a rather dramatic person in this story that sees things ten times bigger that they actually are. No one was truly forcing a marriage onto her, it was a pre-arranged meeting with an opportunity to marry right then and there.
[2] in case you didn't catch it, he got it from the marriage certificate as Naruto was first to sign