Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto! I do not get any profit from this fiction. I only write for fun and to improve my creativity.

Chapter two:

It's not your eyes

It's not what you say

It's not your laughter

You're just lonely

You've been lonely, too long.

The Civil Wars

Uchiha Sasuke was a man of solitude. A man of a few words, one who enjoyed quietness and stillness. Two years ago, he began a road to redemption, to atone with his sins and new-found feelings, and to come to terms with his past. He also needed to understand his place in Konoha. A village that had eliminated his entire clan and family; the one who made his brother commit such horrible crimes and live with the guilt, shame, and pain; a village he couldn't bring himself to forgive for the horrible things they did to a young boy. Uchiha Itachi had been a hero, and his sacrifice deserved to be known and celebrated throughout Konoha. After all, he had saved the entire village of the Hidden Leaf, along with their clans. Itachi had maintained the peace in the village years after the massacre, and he had never stopped working to protect it and its people.

However, two years later after leaving the village of the Hidden Leaf, Sasuke found himself unable to attain peace from his demons. He had almost destroyed Itachi's work. He had nearly destroyed the village his brother fought so hard to keep safe. He couldn't bring to forgive himself for his mistakes in the last war. He had been a fool. It's not that Sasuke didn't firmly believe that Konoha deserved to be punished for all their crimes, they did deserve it. The village of the Hidden Leaf needed to make reformations, and Sasuke hoped that Naruto would be the man to bring these changes to the Leaf. Maybe then, he would be able to live a life in the village, like Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura had wanted him to. Perhaps, he could restore his clan as he had hoped when he was younger.

He remembered Sakura had begged him to stay, and as a last resource, she asked to leave with him. But he had rejected her once more. This time his intentions weren't to hurt her like the many times he had rejected her in the past. He just needed time for himself to come to terms with his actions. Sasuke often contemplated the possibility of settling down with her. Not because he was in love with her like she would hope for, but because he knew that she was the only woman in Konoha willing to be with him. After all, he had been labeled a traitor in more times than he cared to count. Also, the prospect of courting a woman seemed tedious and frustrating. He wasn't good with emotions, much less with words. With Sakura, he wouldn't have to go to such extents because she loved him and always waited for him. And if he was honest with himself, he cared for her. Yes, Sasuke would give her what she wanted, and with that, he would restore his clan.

"What are you thinking about, Sasuke-kun?" He heard a female voice interrupt his musing.

"Hn."

He didn't say a word and she didn't ask him a second time; she knew better not to. It's not that Sasuke would hurt her if she asked again, but she knew he wouldn't answer her. He never did.

"Will you be staying here?" She asked.

"I'll be leaving tomorrow morning."

Uzumaki Karin had been a good teammate and friend. There wasn't many things Sasuke was grateful for, but team Taka was one of them. They had been loyal to him and followed his lead, without questioning him, until he accomplished his goals. They fought alongside with him and never once did they attempt to leave him. Karin was, perhaps, the most loyal of them all. Although, he knew her reasons for staying loyal to him were selfish. She had been in love with him, and all her loyalty and devotion was with one goal in mind, to gain Sasuke's love and attention. Sasuke knew this, but he didn't care because he, too, was selfish. She agreed because she was in love with him, unlike him, that only sought her for her abilities. He needed her, so he took advantage of her affection for him.

"Sasuke, why are you here? I haven't seen you in a while." She asked.

Karin didn't love him anymore, of that he was certain. This knowledge gave him peace of mind. He had felt guilt for the way he had treated her in the past, of course is not like he would apologize to her, but he often found himself wanting to take back everything he did to her. Just like he wished he could take back everything he did to Sakura and Naruto.

"Where is the rest of team Taka?" He didn't bother answering her question. She had expected it.

"I only know of Suigetsu." She said walking toward the small kitchen in the hideout. "Last I saw him, he was fine."

She lived in one of Orochimaru's hideout now, where she performed experiments. It used to be Kabuto's lab, but now that he was no longer around, she owned it. This was the second time Sasuke crashed at her "place" for the night, and he hoped it'd also be the last time.

"Hn"

"I don't have any tomatoes, but I do have zucchini. Is that okay?"

"That's fine"

With that, Karin resumed her cooking. He observed her from where he was seated, and for a brief moment he contemplated the idea of been married. Is this how it would be with Sakura? Would she know that he liked tomatoes with everything he ate? Would she understand when he didn't wish to talk or when he was done with a subject like Karin did?

What about him? How much did he know about Sakura, other than her undying love for him? Just like she had no idea of who he was, he realized he had no idea of who she was. In the past, when they were barely Genin, Sakura had been annoying, but had she changed? Was she any different now? How would he feel about her? Would he come to like her or would he become annoyed by her once more? Only time would tell.

"Is Uchiha Sasuke checking me out?" She turned to him with a smirk.

For a moment, he could see the same spark in her eyes he had seen years ago, but just like that it was gone.

"No"

"Thought so" This time when she looked at him she smiled warmly. "Anyways, I'm not the greatest cook, but I did try my best. Enjoy" She said as she placed a bowl of rice and a plate of fried fish with zucchini before him.

"Hn"

When they had finished eating, Karin offered him blankets for the night. She then retired to her lab without another word. He was grateful for the solitude, the least he wanted was for Karin to be pestering him with questions before going to sleep. He never slept more than two hours due to his reoccurring nightmares. His sins haunted him in dreams. So instead, he lie down thinking about his Genin days in Konoha until he drifted to a restless sleep.

Seven days later…

To say Hatake Kakashi was worried was an understatement, Hyūga Hinata was supposed to be back to the Village of the Hidden Leaf four days ago. Her mission was a simple solo D-rank that did not require her to engage in combat. She wasn't going to be away from the village for too long nor was she too far away. So what had happened to her? The possible answer scared him a little. He feared that she had used the mission to leave the village.

He should have seen it. The girl was broken and desperate to get away from Konoha. He thought he had convinced her to give up the crazy idea to leave the village, so instead he gave her a mission that would allow her to be away for a few days. Thinking that perhaps this would be enough for her, but it seemed he was wrong. I should have seen it.

"Hokage-sama" Said the ANBU after appearing before Kakashi.

"Ah, you're back." He said almost hopeful. "Any news?"

"Yes."

"Very well, report."

"According to the leader of the village she completed her mission five days ago and then she left the village."

Damn it! "I see." He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the steps to take next. "Go get Hiashi, I need to have a word with him."

"Hai!" And with that the ANBU disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Kakashi was tired; he dreaded the reunion with the Hyūga clan's leader. Well it has to be done.

"Hokage-sama" Greeted the ANBU minutes later. "Hiashi-sama is here." The door to his office opened and the patriarch made his way in.

"Thank you, you can leave now." He waited for the ANBU to leave before addressing the patriarch.

"Hiashi-sama"

"Hokage-sama"

"We have new information about your daughter's whereabouts."

"And?" Asked Hiashi as stoic as ever.

"According to ANBU, Hinata finished her mission five days ago. After which she left the village." Kakashi gave Hiashi a moment to process the information before continuing. "I believe you'd want to send a search party for your daughter."

"I do." Hiashi said. His feelings never betrayed his face. However, Kakashi noticed something was bothering him.

"You know why she left." It wasn't a question, but Hiashi still answered it.

"I believe I have an idea why my daughter left, yes."

"Care sharing it? I need as much information if I am to send a party to track her and retrieve her."

(Memory)

"I see." She said barely audible. He could see the tears forming in her eyes.

"You've made a lot of improvement as a shinobi, and I am proud of that, Hinata. However, it is not enough. You are not strong enough to be the leader of the clan. Therefore, the elders and I have decided that Hanabi is better fit to be heiress."

She didn't say anything for a while. What would she say to them? It's not like she could argue with them; she looked down to her feet, unmoving, and silent.

He left her there, to give her time to come to terms with the news. He hoped she understood and did not try to defy the council, for that would only bring her more sorrow.

(End of memory).

"So she is no longer the heiress of the clan." It was more of a statement than a question, yet once again, Hiashi answered.

"Yes"

"It seems like a good reason for her departure, but I believe there is more to it."

Hiashi furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Hokage-sama?"

"There has to be another reason why she left the village." Kakashi clarified.

"I believe so too. Hinata was happy being a shinobi. After she came to terms with her situation, she began supporting Hanabi as new heiress."

"It seemed she no longer had a reason to stay in the village." Kakashi concluded.

"I believe so too."

To Kakashi, it still didn't make sense, at least not enough sense for the former heiress to leave the Hidden Leaf. Hyūga Hinata was loved among the rookie 12. Leaving the village because she was no longer the heiress of her clan did not seem like something she would do.

"Very well, I will start preparations for the search team. You're dismissed." Kakashi concluded.

"Hokage-sama" Hiashi addressed him before leaving. "May I know who do you intend to send after my daughter?"

"Of course, I will be sending Shino, Kiba, and Naru…"

"No." Hiashi interrupted him. " Forgive me Hokage-sama, but do not send Naruto." He said firmly.

"Naruto is a skilled shinobi and would want to help retrieve Hinata." Kakashi said frowning, not quite understanding. "He is also a good friend of hers."

"I know that he is a skilled shinobi, perhaps the best we have. However, I refuse his help."

"He is the reason why she left, isn't it?" Hiashi did not confirm it nor did he deny it. "He never gave her a response to her declaration of love, am I right?" Again, Hiashi didn't say anything, which only confirmed Kakashi's suspicions.

"Very well, I will send Shikamaru instead."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Hiashi said and bowed before leaving the Hokage's office.

If the Hokage hadn't been paying attention, he would have missed it, but he didn't. Kakashi had seen it. Behind the impenetrable stoic mask of the Hyūga patriarch, was the ghost of a small smile. It had lasted only a second, but nothing escaped the eyes of the copy-nin.

Author's Note: Hello guys! Oh my God, I am so honored and super grateful for all your support. Your reviews and follows make me so happy, I think I'm going to explode. I'm excited to see you like the story! I promise it'll only get better from here on. I know these chapters were a little boring, but they are important for the development of the story.

Answering Reviews:

Finch Swoop: Thank you so much for your review! Ah, yes! I did place a scene in the prologue that takes place in the future. I did it because I feel like that particular scene is very important.

I'll see you all next week!