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 Eleven

At the end of the day,

We can endure much more

Than we think we can.

Frida Kahlo

…

Day Eleventh… The day Hinata is to be branded with the caged bird seal.

He ran as fast as his legs could take him. He didn't know how much time he had left before he arrived at the Hyūga compound, but he knew he had to hurry up if he wanted to make it on time.

It was ironic, Uchiha Sasuke, one of the most powerful shinobi's in the world, getting himself in this kind of predicaments. He only had himself to blame. A few years ago, he wouldn't have cared for what happened to the Hyūga girl. He wouldn't have offered his help, heck he wouldn't have cared if she was sealed or not. But now, he found himself wanting to protect a complete stranger. Is this what his brother felt when he was given the option to protect the village of the Hidden Leaf or massacre his clan? The circumstances were different, and the Uchiha was not about to kill anyone, but he wondered if the sentiment was similar.

Uchiha Itachi had sacrificed everything for the peace of Konoha's village. He carried the pain of murdering his own clan and his family, to ensure that that rotten village was safe. His brother had cared deeply about the people of that hellish village. Without a doubt, Itachi was a true shinobi and hero. Sasuke doubted he would've had the same conviction his brother had when given the option to betray his clan or the village of the Hidden Leaf. No, Uchiha Sasuke would have never betrayed his clan, but his brother did it. To save his life, and to save the village and its people. He became a missing nin, a traitor, when in reality, he had been their savior. However, that wasn't enough for Itachi; he continued working in the shadows to protect the village. Indeed, he would never be like his brother. Then why was he trying to save the Hyūga girl?

He didn't know. Perhaps, it was a way to atone with his sins, or maybe he wanted to understand the mentality behind his brother's actions. Perhaps, it was the guilt that had been eating at him for the past couple of years. That guilt of failing his brother, for he almost destroyed the village Itachi struggled so much to protect. Perhaps, it was the way he had hurt Naruto, his only friend, or a combination of the two. The Uchiha knew he couldn't change the past, and that he would continue to be seen as a traitor among all nations. He was fine by that, and he wouldn't have cared if it wasn't for Itachi and Naruto. He owed them that much. After all, it had been them who saved him.

Saving the former heiress was a way to repay Naruto for everything he had done for him. It was a small price to pay actually, saving The Hyūga wasn't enough to cover his debt, but he could start paying his friend back by helping the girl. Sasuke knew that if she was sealed, Naruto would never forgive himself. This would crush the Kyūbi vessel beyond repair. He would forever feel responsible for her fate.

Yes, it was the damn guilt he felt for all his past mistakes...

"Hinata-sama" She heard Kō calling her.

"Yes?" She turned to face him. She had been practicing her katas for the past two hours, but not because she wanted to train. No, that was not it. It was to distract herself from what was to happen tonight. Whether she was able to escape the seal or not, tonight her fate would be decided by her clan or the Uchiha.

"We must return to your room."

Of course, they had to return. She had to bathe and dress. It's not that being sealed required an specific attire, but they had told her to dress as comfortably as possible, for she would be unconscious for at least three days. That's how potent and painful the seal was.

"Hai. Let's go, Kō-san." She said leaving her stance and walking past her guard. "I want to bathe."

"Of course, Hinata-sama." He said as he followed her to the washroom.

She heard Kō give a housemaid instructions to find a servant girl to help her bathe. Of course, they wouldn't let her do it herself, she was a prisoner in her own house. The servanrt girl wasn't there to help her; the girl was there to make sure Hinata didn't escape.

When the servant girl had arrived to assist her, she entered the washroom and proceeded to undress while the servant girl prepared the bathtub. She submerged herself in the tub, feeling the comforting warm water wash over her sore body. She closed her eyes, and allowed her body to relax for a few minutes.

After twenty long minutes, she asked the servant girl to bring her the washcloth and soap. When the young woman tried to help her wash her body, she refused. Hinata told her she wanted to do it herself. Taking more time than necessary, the former heiress washed her body ridding herself of the sweat caused by her extensive katas. Once she was done, she asked the servant girl to bring her a towel, and after drying her body, she proceeded to dress herself in a knee length black yukata, with lavender and yellow flowers. Whether she was sealed or was able to escape with the Uchiha, she needed to be comfortable. Especially, if she was to escape, she would need a yukata that would allow her to run as fast as her legs could carry her.

After she had dressed herself and the servant girl had brushed and dried her hair thoroughly, they left the washroom.

"Thank you, Toki-san" Kō said addressing the young woman. "I'll take Hinata-sama to her bedroom."

The young woman bowed quickly and proceeded to take her leave.

Hinata followed Kō quietly to her bedroom, where she was to await her fate. The elders and her father would send for her, meanwhile she would stay in her bedroom until they were prepared to receive her. She prayed the Uchiha would make it before they came for her.

"Hinata-sama" Kō addressed her once they had arrived at her bedroom. "I will see you… later." He said. Although, his face was as stoic as she remembered, she could see the pain in his eyes.

"Thank you, Kō-san. For everything." She smiled at her faithful guard.

"I'm sorry I cannot protect you from this, Hinata-sama." He said pained.

"I know, Kō-san." She said. "I understand there is nothing you can do to prevent this. I won't hold it against you."

"Thank you, Hinata-sama" He bowed. "I don't deserve your kindness."

In a moment of weakness, Hinata hugged her faithful guardian. She knew she had taken him by surprise, and perhaps, for this same reason he returned her embrace. Or maybe it was the guilt eating at him, whatever it was, he hugged her back with as much fervor as she was hugging him. She could hear him whispering apologies, and it tore her heart. She knew how much he cared for her. He had taken care of her since she was only a child. Unable to contain her tears, Hinata cried on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry" She gasped. "I'm so weak." She said as a hiccup escaped her mouth.

"You're not weak, Hinata-sama." He said pulling her back to look at her face. "Not many can withstand this with such determination and strength." He said giving her a small smile. "Yet, you have."

"Thank you, Kō-san" She said hugging him one last time.

After a minute, they let go of one another. Hinata, then, bowed at Kō, and he did the same. She then proceeded to enter her prison.

Climbing on her bed, she took the pack she had made the night before, and clutched it to her chest, awaiting her fate.

The Uzumaki inspected the perimeter for possible ANBUs. He had requested Kakashi to let him guard the village of the Hidden Leaf tonight, with the excuse that it would serve him as training, and allow him to appreciate the job the ANBUs and other shinobis did to protect the village. Kakashi hadn't believed him, but he had agreed to his former student's request.

The Uzumaki's intentions were more than obvious. He had to make sure no one interfered with Sasuke and Hinata's escape. He would assist them to the best of his abilities. Yes, he was not going to let them seal her. Not if he could prevent it.

Sasuke, I'm counting on you!

He only hoped his best friend would make it on time to save Hinata. If she was branded the seal, he would never forgive himself. He would never be able to live with the guilt. If only he had given accurate information about Hinata when his friend requested it that time, then Hinata wouldn't be in this predicament, and Sasuke wouldn't be risking his butt to save the Hyūga.

I'm a moron!

Sasuke's willingness to help the former heiress was another thing that worried the Kyūbi vessel, why did his friend insisted in helping her? Did he want something from her? But what could it be? He had wanted to ask the Uchiha, but Sasuke refused to tell him. Knowing his friend, it was very likely he would never admit to the reasons behind his actions. Sasuke was prideful and stubborn like that, and nobody better than Naruto knew it.

Whatever the reason may be, you better make sure she is safe, Sasuke.

After thoroughly inspecting the perimeter that surrounded the village for possible ANBUs or jounins a third time, the Uzumaki waited for his friend's signal. The signal that would tell him they were making their way out of the fire land, and for him to prepare for possible Hyūga's looking for Hinata.

The Hyūga compound was relatively unguarded. It was to be expected. These were times of peace, and there were no threats to the shinobi world. Silently and carefully, the last Uchiha made his way into the compound with the help of the map that Kurenai had made for Naruto. The woman's instructions on the map said that they kept the former heiress in her bedroom; the genjutsu expert also warned him that the clan had her guarded. He had memorized all of the details with his sharingan, to avoid any mistakes. There was no room for error, everything had to be perfect if he wanted to leave this place unnoticed and with the former heiress.

Just as the Yūhi had warned him, the door to her bedroom was guarded by two Hyūga guards. Without being noticed, he went toward the back of her bedroom, looking for the window Kurenai had told him was mostly unguarded. When he arrived, he found that the genjutsu expert was somewhat correct. She had done an excellent job at gathering information.

The window was guarded by one Hyūga guard only. Placing him under a genjutsu would be easier than having to place two capable shinobis under a genjutsu. As quickly and quietly as he could, he placed the Hyūga guard under a harmless genjutsu of a tranquil night at the compound. Sasuke knew he had to be quick, for the genjutsu would only last a few minutes before those all-seeing eyes realized what was happening.

Cautiously and without scaring the former heiress, he found himself peeking through the window, looking for the person he had come for… And on the bed... There she was, curled up in fetal position and clutching a pack to her chest. Her nose and eyes were red, which he only guessed it was from crying.

Taking another look around his surroundings, to make sure no one had found him, the Uchiha proceeded to tap softly on her window. That was enough to bring the former heiress attention to him. Lavender eyes looked up and stared at him. The look on her face was priceless. Did she think he wouldn't keep his promise? Whatever she had thought before his arrival, seemed completely forgotten, she looked at him with wide eyes and parted lips. Slowly, she made her way to the window, as if afraid he was only an illusion and would disappear if she wasn't careful.

"Hyūga" He said once she had opened the window for him.

"Sasuke-san, you came" She said a little breathless.

"Hn."

She smiled at him. He really had come for her.

"I'm s-sorry for d-doubting you." She smiled nervously, looking down at her feet.

The Uchiha noticed how she poked her index fingers together. A habit she had when she was younger. He remembered her doing it whenever she tried speaking to Naruto, which meant she did it when she was nervous. He smirked at her fidgeting.

"I'm to be sealed soon." She continued saying while still looking at her feet. "I'm only waiting for them to come for me."

"Then we don't have time to waste." He said placing her pack on his shoulder. "We need to…"

Whatever he was going to say next was forgotten when they heard a knock on her door and someone calling for her on the other side of the door. The two shinobis froze.

Hyūga Hiashi looked at the elders sitting around him. They waited impatiently, but this did not surprise the clan's leader.

The elders had been impatient to seal Hinata since she arrived at the village. Their excuse for sealing his daughter were vague, he knew that. It wasn't only because they wanted to protect the byakugan secret. In part, they wanted that, but they too wanted to punish her for rebelling against the clan. It was a way to keep her in check, and show other clan's men and women that they were in control and nothing would ever make them change the way the clan was. The caged bird seal would never be something of the past. The elders were too attached to old rules and norms, and were absolutely against changing them. Hiashi had tried to advocate in favor of banning the caged bird seal after the war, but they refused to discontinue with the practice, and so he had given up.

"Hiashi-sama" The guard announced his presence, making Hiashi look at the door where the Hyūga guard stood. "Hinata-sama is here."

"Tell her to come in."

When Hinata walked inside the room, the patriarch felt a pang in his heart. It hurt him that his eldest daughter had to go through this, but as clan leader, he had to follow the rules. He couldn't go against the elders, nor could he play favorites. They all had voted, and though he voted against it, the rest of the elders were in favor of branding Hinata the caged bird seal.

"Otō-san, elders" His eldest daughter bowed in respect.

"Let's get over with it." One of the eldest said.

Hiashi nodded.

Hiashi indicated Hinata to walk to the center of the room, where he personally would be performing the sealing. The elders had assigned him with the task. He knew their intentions were to make sure he didn't forget his place as clan leader. After all, he was the leader of the Hyūga's before he was a father. That's how it always was and always would be.

"This will hurt, Hinata." He said and she nodded. "Do not tense."

"H-hai." She said nervously, tears threatening to fall.

Hiashi walked a few steps to the center, not too close from his daughter, and activated his Byakugan.

I'm sorry, Hinata. I wish I could spare you this pain.

Hiashi hesitated only a moment, before he began to perform the hand signs for the caged bird seal. After performing the last hand sign, he heard his eldest daughter screamed, and she dropped to the floor clutching her head with her hands, as tears streamed down her face.

"Aaaahhh!"

Forgive me, daughter.

*Poof*

Author's Note:I'm back guys! First things first, thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews! I absolutely love getting them, they always make me so happy. Also, I'm extremely honored so many of you have praised this fic and continue to do so.

Sorry for the short chapter.

A little cliffhanger guys, but I just had to do it! No worries though, you'll get an update next week. :P

Answer to Reviews:

Roveme: Hi! Thanks for your review. I think I've made things clear as to why things are the way they are for Sasuke and Hinata. She can't leave the village because of her clan. Sasuke come and go because he was pardoned and allowed to travel. I don't see how that determines whether Hinata is weak or strong. Also, I find it a bit silly to judge the author's intentions with the characters based on a few chapters.

Munchiedi: Yay, team Taka! Glad you like the story so far. Well I think that one can only endure so much before you just can't hold it in anymore, and that's exactly what happened to Hinata. It's really more out of frustration, she would never hurt Naruto on purpose. Once again, thank you for the support.

Kayna96: Ugh! I hope it's not too ooc for Sasuke. It's hard to make a kind Sasuke without making him ooc, but I don't think it's impossible.

Psycho-schlemiel: Thank you! So glad you liked it! I was a little afraid with this scene, and I even had my doubts if to add it or not.

To my lovely guests' readers: Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing this fic. Keep them coming! Also, to that one Guest defending me, thanks hun! There is no need to defend me though, I'm not upset if some readers don't like my story. It is something I've prepared myself for.

See you next week!