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The owner of Naruto has a foot fetish. I do not have a foot fetish. Therefore I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 7:

Hinata cursed Sasuke Uchiha for what she felt like would be the 15th time in a long line of curses she would place on the man. "Hurt" from their previous battle, the Uchiha had been unable to bear the crushing weight of the enemy they had just taken down. As a result, the petit Hyuga had been made to lug the brute of man at least four miles back to the city to turn him into the Tsuchikage.

It had been no easy task.

Once there, the Iwa ANBU had been instructed to take Nakamura. It was deja vu being presented their Hokage's signature. However, once the two powerful dojutsu users verified it as authentic they took their leave. It seemed that Hyunga would continue her life without meeting the Tsuchikage after all.

"I don't know about you Hyuga, but I'm starving," he stated. Hinata spared a glance to the irritating man, giving him a real once over. Like her, his mission gear was all but destroyed. His posture seemed to slightly favour guarding his injured abdomen. He looked as tired and chakra depleted as she felt. She gave him a small nod and glanced around the village. Darkness was settling and it looked like most shops had closed for the night with a few exceptions.

"What do princesses eat?" Sasuke muttered. Tapping his hand to his chin, he glanced around, multicolored eyes surveying for restaurants.

Hinata let out an unlady like scoff. "I have not been a princess in a very long time Uchiha-san."

He looked at her, his gaze was never soft and every time he looked at her it was like he was looking through all of her secrets.

"What do kittens eat then," he smirked. Hinata rolled her eyes. So much for that either, both of their masks had shattered on impact while battling Nakamura.

As if sensing her inner conflict, Sasuke turned away from her and assumed his search.

"There's a hot pot over there," he spoke. His voice was low as per usual, and Hinata found herself appreciating it. Naruto and her teammates were always so vocal after battles, they wanted to talk and give play-by-plays as though she hadn't just been there to witness the events herself. It was exhausting. She found that over all traveling with Sasuke brought her the peace that traveling on her own had, she even found she talked to herself just as much because he refused to acknowledge half of what she said.

Shrugging she followed him to the hot pot restaurant. It was brightly light and very clean. There was only one other couple there, they were elderly and sat quietly in the corner. She and Sasuke took their seats, most likely looking like customers who definity would not tip, and picked up the menu.

The waitress approached apprehensively and bowed.

"H-hai can I help y-you," she stuttered in a low tone. She was fair, and had a short crop of hair with long bangs. She reminded Hinata of her old self.

"I'll have the steak, with a side of tomatoes… and sake, the bottle please," The Uchiha stated, folding his menu. The woman bowed in answer.

"You have very nice hair," Hinata smiled at the girl. She blushed and the girl said the quietest thank you she had ever heard. "I'll have the salmon and veggies"

"H-hai, I'll have that for you shortly," she rushed out. Bowing one more time she ran off.

Sasuke raised his eyebrow at Hinata. "Your type Hyuga?"

Hinata glared at him. "How have you not been stabbed earlier?"

"Luck?" the Uchiha suggested.

"I bet."

Silence snuck its way between them, even after the waitress had brung out their food.

"So about what Aoda said," Sasuke murmured. Uncharacteristically he toyed with his food.

Hinata blinked at him, of all the things for the man to bring up.

"Among his kind, direct questions are best. If it made you uncomfortable-"

The Uchiha halted his words as Hinata spat her food out, watching it fly across the table.

Sasuke did not look pleased as he gazed upon the bits of food that now graced his frame. He looked at her as though she had two heads, she didn't blame him but the utter shock Hinata had at hearing his words was too much to contain.

"I'm sorry, it's just I thought you were going to apologize for your pet snake making me uncomfortable." She picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth.

Sasuke swallowed visibly. Hinata could see his Adam's apple move.

"Hyuga, I don't do this alot. With the dobe, it doesn't require much effort because I don't really care what he thinks and vice versa." Sasuke was rambling, she didn't know that it was possible. What had been done to her quiet, grunting little Uchiha, it was unnerving. "...I like facts, and order and I'm not used to having to convey things to women who I don't want to piss off."

"Spit it out Uchiha, you're talking too much." Hinata said, using one of his lines.

Sasuke actually smiled. After he finished wiping himself off, he sighed. "With girls like Sakura and Karin it's so hard to talk to them because you know they are going to derive their meaning from your words."

Hinata stopped him by holding up a hand. "I'm not Haruno, or this… Karin was it? The same way you talked to me last night is the same way you can talk to me now."

Sasuke nodded. He looked relieved. He also looked like he had other thoughts twirling in his head, but it was another mutual agreement of theirs not to pry.

"I'm sorry Hyuga. Aoda is very blunt, and what he says is, by no context, what I think. The reason why I bring this up is because I… don't mind our situation Hyuga and I don't want you to think there is some underlying thing going on here because of what that snake said."

"What would that underlying thing be," Hinata pushed further. She had a feeling that Sasuke was not conveying his full train of thought. However, this whole conversation looked painful for him. She wouldn't be surprised if this was Sasuke's first. First apology, first admission of fault, first time addressing a woman as an equal.

Sasuke looked as if he were weighing his words. "That's not important," he finally responded. "What I mean to say is you're the first person I've had with me that isn't insufferable to work with and after today I know I don't have to babysit you. As much as I hate to admit it, you saved my ass out there."

Hinata didn't know what to say. She and the Uchiha had been together for almost 2 months and she didn't think she'd get to this point at least for another couple of years, if they got here at all.

"You're not dying, you know that right?" was all Hinta could say back. "You don't have to get all soft on me because you think it will get you a better spot in the afterlife."

Sasuke smirked. "Don't let your head get big enough to fit those big ass eyes of yours Hyugga."

Hinata smiled, there was her Sasuke.

"I also owe you this," she reached across the table and punched his shoulder. "For insinuating that I was dating Lee, that was too far."

"Yeah,your right, Lee's too good for you too," he glared. Rotating his shoulder.

Hinata rolled her eyes. This was...nice. But they had to get serious.

"Do you think that every time we encounter one of these men, that it's going to be this difficult to obtain them? If that fight had been in a more populated city…" Hinata trailed off, thinking about the civilian lives that might have been taken.

"Hn," Sasuke muttered in agreement. Holding his chopsticks losely he moved them toward his mouth absent mindedly.

"Are you backing out on me Hyuga."

His tone became blunt, different then the lighter joking tone he had taken with her recently. It almost sounded as if he felt betrayed, for some reason it didn't sit well with Hinata to let the man down.

"Sasuke, I would never abandon a mission." She states, equally as blunt. "Besides, I really wanna see these stern-faced kids you're going to have one day Uchiha, and I can only do that if you earn your freedom from this mission."

Sasuke scoffed and put another tomato in his mouth.

"I do agree with you Hyuga, we do need a plan."

She nodded once more.

Once they were finished, Sasuke paid for their food which elected more teasing from Hinata. She tipped a pretty decent amount for the waitress to thank her for the nostalgia she had provided. Though she was sure she still had traces of her former self, the girl had served as reminder of how far she had come. She hoped one day the girl would get there as well, hopefully without the loss Hinata herself had had to endure.

. . . . . . . .

They ended up staying in Iwa longer to regain Sasuke's chakra. The Rasengan was something that he could copy with his sharingan, but it turned out that he could not copy Naruto's giant of chakra reserve to go with it. By the time the fight was finished, Sasuke would have been lucky if he could make a decent shadow clone.

However, while they remained in the village, they worked on their teamwork. Hinata was considered a taijutsu specialist because of the gentle fist. She gave Sasuke more than a run for his money, and dare she say a few tips, in that department.

Studying under some of the best fighters in the world she had also picked up a lot of jutsu. However, she was, as Sasuke put it, slow to react. There was no seamless transition between ninjutsu and taijutsu and she had zero ability in genjutsu. This was sad considering who her first sensei had been, but in her defense, at the time that Kurenai was at her best Hinata had been at her worst. Sasuke practiced with her, and Hinata noted he was a surprisingly patient teacher. He allowed her to use him as a practice dummy and Hinata tried countless times to place him under, but so far he had always broken out. She had been beyond frustrated with herself. Neji would have gotten it.

"Hinata," Sasuke had said one afternoon. "If you compete with others, you will always fail. If you compete with yourself, that's when you'll get better. I didn't know much about your cousin, but from what I remember he was always teaching you and your sister on the training grounds. I think if he were here now, he would be disappointed that you're using him as a crutch to not become the best version of yourself."

It was for that very reason that Hinata had stormed off and hadn't talked to Sasuke for two days now as they traveled to their next location.

How dare he talk about her cousin as though he knew him, knew what he wanted. How dare he be… right. Hinata wanted to punch something, kick something, to scream. How could Sasuke know what it was like to lose someone who was like a brother, someone who taught her how to fight and be the person she had become. How-

Itachi.

Shit, how had she forgotten about Itachi. Sasuke had lost a brother, if anyone knew what it was like, it was him. Maybe in his own way Sasuke had been trying to help her, and she had given him a hard time about it.

In the two days they had been traveling Sasuke had been the one to go get the food and supplies. He always brought back something for her and laid it outside her tent, she never even said thank you. Fuck, she had messed up.

She chose to sit that on the back burner, she would talk to Sasuke when they reached the next destination. It would still take 4 more weeks to reach Kusagakure, The Village Hidden in the Grass. She didn't understand this part of the mission. Iwa, was right next to Suna, the location where one of the men was said to be hiding out. Why would they go all the way to Kusa and the backtrack to Suna, that didn't make any sense whatsoever. Nevertheless, Kakashi-sama had given them distinct instructions on how to go about taking down these men, the order had been one of them. It could be simply the fact that the nations they were basically invading had set their own times to allow them to set foot on their lands.

Whatever the reason, she and Sasuke chose not to question it as they pushed forward.

For the month that they traveled they trained. Despite their differences they were both trained weapons, and had learned to work seamlessly together. Hinata favored lightning as well, and earth. She and Sasuke worked on strengthening and improving their attacks. She also worked on her genjutsu, not giving Sasuke anymore trouble as he taught her. She had even started to best him a couple of times.

The month they traveled together past swiftly. Before she knew it they were looking at the gates of the Village Hidden in the Grass.

"Hyuga, I should warn you before we go in," Sasuke muttered. "Orochimaru's last known location is this village, the Village Hidden in the Grass."

Hinata narrowed her eyes. It was only a matter of time before people that they knew would start popping up. "Do you think he will try to seek you out?"

"Most likely," Sasuke affirmed looking stern.

Hinata nodded. She wouldn't ask questions because she didn't know if Sasuke would have the answers.

"If it's a fight he wants, we'll give him one," Hinata stated firmly.

"Hn," Sasuke agreed.

They showed the seal, and like before were allowed in the city.

The village was the most similar to Konoha. It definitely was undergoing a technological revolution. Hinata knew that this location was vital in the third shinobi war from her history lessons, but other than that it had stayed relatively quiet.

"Have you ever been to Kusa?" Hinata asked as they walked into the shopping district. The people were not confined to traditional garb and Hinata spotted a vendor selling what looked to be mission gear.

"I have not, however I learned that in a mission to blow up the Tenchi Bridge, my ancestor Obito was pronounced dead here. But you know how that turned out…" he trailed off.

They both stopped off to purchase mission gear from the vendor. He was an older man, and by the looks of it, a former shinobi. Because the breeze was cooler in this region, Hinata opted for a pair of loose fitting pants that hugged her skin but were breathable for combat. It had a matching black chest binder and long sleeve mesh top. it would do since her mission gear had been wrecked in Iwa.

Sasuke chose a long sleeve shirt similar to his ruined one and black pants. His cloke still seemed intact so it wasn't something that he would need to replace. After negotiating the purchases they walked off with their bags.

After each purchasing their own choices in food they made their way to one of the many lodges in town.

After securing their room. She and Sasuke parted to change into their new gear.

"Any idea where to start?" Hinata asked, entering the living area and securing the last strap on her kunai pouch.

"Once again Hyuga, I must be the brains and the beauty," Sasuke said dramatically. Hinata rolled her eyes at his usual snide remarks.

"Hn" Hinata chose to snort back in response, giving him a taste of his own medicine.

He squared his jaw as he did the last button of his high collar.

"All that it said on his description was that this guy was glutton." Hinata continued. "The file said that he would eat anything."

The Uchiha seemed to be in thought. His face was unreadable as he pulled out one of his prized tomatoes.

"Naruto used to drag me to watch him stuff his cheeks with five pounds of ramen so that he could get a t-shirt and his goofy ass face on a wall. Do you think this land has something like that?"

Hinata blinked at Sasuke as she took a bite of the dango she had gotten from the market. She almost spit it out in disgust as she tried to imagine Naruto eating five pounds of ramen.

"You make a fair point." Hinata admitted. "Let's check the town for any contest like that."

"You go, I'm going to rest here," Sasuke muttered, laying across the one bed that they would need to share again. Hinata looked at him indecisively, since when did the man need sleep?

"Getting lazy on me Uchiha," Hinata asked, simply to goad the man.

"Yeah, but not as lazy as your standards were when you liked the dobe," he shot back. His eyes were closed so he could not see Hinata's glare as she left the room.

How was he so quick to insult her. Did he practice? She knew how ever long she remained with the man that she would never be quite as quick with throwing insults.

Furthermore, she didn't know why she kept allowing him under her skin. They had been together for a decent amount of time now and she was no closer to really figuring him out than she was on day one. He was treating her differently. Nice wasn't the word because she didn't think that was something that fit into Sasuke's vocabulary, but he treated her like a partner. Though he ran his mouth a lot he always listened to her ideas, and even took many of them to plan. He didn't brush her off, or dismiss her as weak anymore, he simply let her be and waited for her to ask for help if she needed it. Sasuke was by no means perfect, but Hinata found that she really wanted the man to be her friend.

Walking back into town she took the time to survey the route and whatever else she could of the town. She hoped that if the fighting broke out she could keep it away from the townspeople, but just in case she wanted to make sure the enemy didn't have too much of a home field advantage. Why notorious criminals like Orochimaru and Onagi would want to come here was beyond her. Ever since the third shinobi war, Kusa was just an inbetween town. It was used to go between villages, however few settled there.

Then again, maybe this was the reason. No locals meant no one knew who was out of place or not, which made it easier to stay hidden.

Hinata had walked a couple of blocks before she saw it. Attached to the side of restaurant with a giant pig silhouette written on it was a flyer.

'6lb beef eating contest. With a vegetable side. Winner gets 500 dollars."

Hinata grabbed the flyer and sprinted back toward the inn. The flyer said tomorrow at noon the first person to finish would win the money. With that prize amount, and being on the run, Onagi "the glutton" wouldn't be able to resist it.

She entered the hotel and burst into the room. She was excited to tell Sasuke she had a lead and she also secretly wanted to startle him awake and make him cranky so that he would give her that cute little irritated stare.

However, she opened the door to something she didn't expect. Sasuke was standing toe to toe with Orochimaru himself. She now knew why Sasuke had sent her out by herself, he must have sensed the chakra spike.

"Sasuke I-" Hinata started but the words left her lips.

He gave her a stern expression that said don't ask questions, don't engage.

The sanin seemed to act in slow motion. Turning his head he fixed his snake-like features on Hinata. Orochimaru's sheer reputation made people shudder. He was responsible for the third-hokage's death and had turned Sasuke into the cold blooded killing machine that had gotten him into the ranks of the Akatsuki and in the bingo book as an S-class criminal, most likely right behind Orochimaru's own page in said book.

However, Hinata was proud of herself because she did not drop the yellow eyed man's gaze. Sasuke deserved a partner that could stare his enemies in the face, and if need be, back him up in a battle.

"I didn't know you had...a companion Sasuke," Orochimaru said in what Hinata could only describe as a hiss.

The Uchiha stared at him blankly. "That's because, despite your demented beliefs, I don't like you. So anything that I do is not something that you should ever know about."

Orochimaru did not seem offended by Sasuke's tone. In fact, he seemed quite used to it. Hinata couldn't imagine how frustrating it was for the person you hate to probably be the one person who knew the most about you.

"Oh come now Sasuke," he said as though chiding a child. "You're not going to introduce me to your friend?" He said.

He approached Hinata with an almost perverted stare. Hinata glared at his pale form. For a sanin he was looking rather….old.

"You have no need for an introduction Orochimaru-san, your reputation precedes you quite enough." Hianta said with so much ice in her voice she was surprised she could not see her own breath.

Orochimaru smiled. It was a huge smile that spanned the scope of his face. His eyes flashed with something as he looked at her.

"My,my what beautiful eyes you have," he whispered.

Before Hinata could respond, she was looking at Sasuke's back as he stood in front of her. His hand gently touched her hip as if to tell her to stand down.

Sasuke eyed Orochimaru with a look of disgust. However, the Sanin didn't mind, he looked like he was a kid in a candy store looking between the two of them.

"Two of the most powerful doujutsu in one room," he breathed. Hinata was surprised he was not dry heaving or attempting something falic the way he stared at them. "Imagine the breeding capabilities…"

Hinata's eyes widened. Was this man out of his mind? Nevermind, she knew the answer to that…

"We are not cattle to be bred," Sasuke hissed at the man. There was a tangible dark aura coming off the last Uchiha that made Hinata feel oddly...safe. "I do not want to level this city to kill you Orochimaru, but I will if I have to." Sasuke stated.

However, he then reconsidered his threat. "...or I could have Hyuga here lock all your chakra points and place you in a genjutsu that will have you drinking your own piss for a year."

Hinata smiled, Sasuke just needed to give the word she couldn't wait to wipe that creepy ass smile off the sannin's mouth. How had this thing been friends with Jariya and Tsunade-sama?

Orochimaru looked reluctant, but understanding his situation he made his way past Hinata and toward the door.

He paused as he left, turning back to give then one more, seemingly longing, glance.

"I hope I'm alive one day to see what wonders you two will bring into the world."

Sasuke gave him his deadliest glare yet. This was difficult because Hinata was sure that his current look was peeling the paint.

"If your eyes come in contact with any children that bear my last name, the one thing you won't have to worry about is how long you have to live." Sasuke seethed.

Orochimaru simply smiled at a Sasuke one last time, before he vanished.

"How did you deal with that guy for as long as you did?" Hinata asked after he left.

Sasuke didn't respond, just stared at her. He seemed to be taking in each one of her features as if assessing whether or not it was still attached to her body.

Hinata felt a little odd, but it also felt nice to be worried over by someone she hoped would one day accept her as a true friend.

"Don't trouble yourself over the likes of Orochimaru, or me, Hyuga," Sasuke murmured. He looked almost, ashamed.

"Like hell I won't," she said glaring at the dark haired man. "You don't get to do that Uchiha. You don't get to decide when I'm your partner or not."

Sasuke stood still as he Hinata shouted at his big dumb face.

"I'm not sure if you have enough brain cells in that thick Uchiha head of yours so I'm just going to come right out and say it. We're partners Uchiha. That means my battles are your battles, and and your battles are my battles. So I don't give a fuck its Orochimaru, Onagi, or Madara Uchiha back from the grave again. I'll be right here with a well aimed Juken for them when they get here."

Sasuke was giving her that weird look again but she didn't care. She needed her point conveyed before she lost motivation.

"And another thing, I -"

Sasuke interrupted her when he bent down to eye level, reached his right hand up, and gently placed two of his fingers against her forehead. It seemed oddly...intimate.

"What the hell was that?" she questioned him, as she absentmindedly rubbed the spot on her forehead.

Sasuke walked off. She noticed he had the flyer for the eating contest and was giving it his full attention.

"You talk too much, Hyuga," He said as he went.

She glared at him again. She prayed to her Neiji-nii to give her the patience to deal with thick headed Uchiha men.

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