Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the characters within. I am but a fan with an excess of imagination and a penchant for writing my thoughts down…then sharing them online. :D

Bear with me all, I am going to be starting grad school this fall…so shit is going to get real and updates may be few and far between for a while. Just giving everyone a heads up, but hopefully I can get some chapters up before that starts!

Reviewer response:

Animegirly13: Thank you! I promise to continue writing this story until the end! Hopefully I'll get several updates up before the next school year starts next month!

Lizzy-May93: You are welcome! Thank you for your continued support! :)

On with the story!

Shikamaru couldn't believe that Kakashi has asked about HER. How did that asshole know about them? Not even Shikamaru's mother or Temari's brothers knew about them. Of course, Shikamaru knew he hadn't helped his cause by losing his cool in the office after Kakashi had thrown out that verbal bomb. UGH! He'd never be able to play it off as anything else but him losing his composure over just the mention of the blonde wind user. Knowing Kakashi as he did, that fool would just keep slipping little innuendos into conversation every chance he got. It was like his own little super power. Maybe he'd send and ANBU in with the next stack of paperwork for him to work on. Shikamaru had reached the outside by this point, and looked up to see quite the scene in front of him. Naruto was perched in a tree, across from Hokage Tower, staring up at the closed window that opened into Kakashi's office. The crazy look on his face had Shikamaru moving in the opposite direction. That face didn't usually bode well for anyone in Naruto's path. Shikamaru had seen that face a few times over the years, and it usually showed right before Naruto let go with some epic prank. The fact that he was staring at the window leading into the room with Kakashi was not lost on Shikamaru, and he found himself oddly interested in what Naruto was planning. Whatever it was, it probably involved Kakashi, and after what had just gone down in his office with him…Kakashi deserved what was probably coming to him.

If it weren't so troublesome, Shikamaru might have whistled as he walked down the street…heading to no where in particular.

-/b/-

Hinata was perplexed. She and Naruto had been dating for a while now, and everything was going wonderfully! They found their compliment in each other. Where Naruto was impulsive and brash, Hinata was cautious and resolute. Naruto was quick to anger and easily excitable…Hinata was a deep spring of patience and peace. Naruto brought out Hinata's playful side and helped her to relax her anxieties, and Hinata was a balm to Naruto's bruised and battered soul, his rock of comfort from the storm of his past. They were perfect for each other, no doubt about it. Hiashi Hyuuga had gone out of his way to show his support for their relationship. Not only had he announced their courtship in front of the ENTIRE clan, but he had also repeated invited Naruto to events that were generally Hyuuga-only attendance events. There had been some among the clan that had been disappointed and angry by her choice of paramour, and a few had even been vocal about their disapproval in public. It hadn't lasted long, as Hiashi had stepped in and set those individuals straight on what would be allowed, and by whom. For the most part, the Hyuuga clan was proud and excited to count the son of the Yondaime and the future Nanadaime into their ranks, and Hiashi's clear approval had played a part in that excitement.

Which brought us to now…Hiashi didn't seem to accepting and excited now. He had just finished a 15min tirade about how Naruto's apartment was unacceptable. It was too small; too far away from everything; too dingy; too dangerous; too dirty; too blah blah blah. For some reason, he seemed to have gotten it into his head that Hinata would just be moving right into Naruto's place and that would be it. Hinata was sure that she had spoken to him about her and Naruto's search for a new place that was more to their taste and larger to accommodate 2 people…but now Hinata wondered if she had made that conversation up in her mind. Even though Hiashi had seemed supportive, maybe it had all been a ruse.

While Hinata was lost in thought, Hiashi stormed out of the room in a huff, not really looking at anyone or anything. Hanabi had been quiet for the entire tirade, having come in shortly before their father began, and just silently watching the situation unfold between father and daughter. It was clear to her that Hinata had no idea why their father was upset and lashing out, and their father had no idea that Hinata was reading this all wrong. Hanabi had been a silent observer for a long time. She knew that their father's seeming disappointment in Hinata in the past had stemmed from his anxiety over her safety. He saw Hinata as weak and unable to take care of herself, and so had not been sure of her safety as she pursued a future as a kunoichi. The fact that Hinata was the spitting image of their mother had not helped matters AT ALL. Hiashi had not dealt with his anxiety well, and instead had taken the "tough love" approach and ran with it. He had really over done it with his trying to motivate Hinata with the whole "disowning you" crap. That approach would have worked with someone like Hanabi or Neji-nii-san, but it was definitely not the way to handle Hinata. As a child, she had lacked the self-esteem and confidence to believe in herself and her place in the clan. Hiashi's tactics had only fed into her insecurities, making the divide between father and daughter more pronounced.

Hinata, on the other hand, had taken everything their father and Neji-nii-san had said to heart. Their years of harsh treatment had formed the woman she was today, and she was unable to see that their father's treatment had come from a place of fear and not a place of hatred. She had no idea what was Hiashi's problem right now because she had never known where his anger came from. Cue Hanabi to step in and help sort this shit out.

"He's not mad at you, Nee-chan."

Hinata's face swung up, eyes connecting with those of her sister. When had Hanabi arrived? Had she been privy to the scene their father had just left behind?

"I'm sorry, what?" Hanabi sighed upon hearing that.

"He's NOT mad at you. He's just anxious about all of this. He's happy for you and Naruto-san, but he is worried and not handling this well. You should follow him and talk with him."

Hinata felt like Hanabi was speaking foreign language. Anxious? Worried? HIASHI Hyuuga? Those words just kept swirling through her head and not really connecting.

"Father? Anxious and worried? What are you talking about?" Her eyes were wide and clouded with confusion.

"Yes, father. Anxious and worried. He's not good at showing it. I believe it is the whole emotional constipation that comes with being a clan head. None of them seem to be able to show their emotions well, except maybe Tsume-san. Father is no different. He's upset and he doesn't know quite how to express it. You should confront him and try to draw it out of him. He'll never get it out on his own. He's old and set in his ways, but he does love you."

Hinata wouldn't have been any more surprised if someone had smashed her face with a brick at that moment. THEIR FATHER…clan head, byakugan user extraordinaire, emotionally deficient Hiashi Hyuuga…was anxious about HER? This was something Hinata had never imagined she would be dealing with.

"Are you sure? He seemed awfully angry, and I'm unsure if he knows about the details of our apartment search…I thought I had spoken with him about it, but he did not seem to remember any of the things I told him."

"I'm sure. He probably didn't even hear a word of what you said when you were telling him about apartment searching. His beloved oldest daughter, the image of her mother, is in love and moving away from home. His brain is probably tying itself into so many knots that he can't tell up from down right now. Father's stoicism is legendary, and I don't believe his has the ability to drop it without some help. I think you should definitely speak with him about it, and push him hard. When he's flustered enough, maybe he will be able to speak his mind and tell you how he actually feels."

Hinata was dumbfounded to hear her sister speak of their father as if he was someone completely different than the father she was used to experiencing. Hanabi would never lie to her about this, so she must be speaking the truth…but Hinata could not reconcile this new image with the one she had grown up with. It almost sounded like Hiashi had a split personality, and Hinata had experienced one side while Hanabi had seen the other side.

"If you are sure…I guess I will go and find him."

Hinata left the room in the same direction their father had taken, the look of bafflement never leaving her face. Hanabi was hopeful that they would figure this out between the two of them if they actually talked about it. She knew that their father was actually very happy for Hinata, that she had found her happiness in the boy that she had loved for most of her life. It was about time all the misunderstandings between them were put to rest and the family was able to move forward. A smile split her face; she had every intention of taking advantage of the prestige of her future brother-in-law. He and Hinata would owe her for helping them get through to Father, and she would collect with interest.

-/b/-

One minute they were in Konoha, and the next they were somewhere in a forest. Sakura felt a little off kilter having it all happen so quickly. Sasuke had asked her if she trusted him, and she did, but that had been unexpected. She took a moment to survey their surroundings. They were in the middle of a small meadow, surrounded by large trees on all sides. The meadow was very secluded and had an almost peaceful feel to it. To the left stood Sasuke, looking unruffled as always. His eyes were trained on her and he seemed to be waiting for her to say or do something. There was a tenseness to his body, one that most others wouldn't have noticed. Most others weren't her, and she had spent nearly her entire childhood staring at this man and watching every move he made. She waited a moment to make sure he wasn't going to speak, and then decided to take the lead.

"Well, that was not what I expected."

That seemed to break the ice, and Sasuke's lips twitched up a bit at the corners before he shifted towards her.

"What were you expecting?"

"I don't know. I guess I was expected something more like a shunshin or the flying thunder god technique. What did you do? Was it more of a Kamui-like technique?"

"Sort of. I used the rinnegan to distort space and transport us outside of Konoha."

"Wow! I guess I should have known you could do something like this, but it just never really occurred to me. Now that we are here, where are we going?"

Sasuke looked around before answering.

"I didn't transport us too far out of Konoha, but just far enough that Naruto wouldn't come running as soon as he noticed we were gone. There are many small villages in this forest, and I've been through quite a few of them."

At this point, Sasuke went still. He breathed in deeply and seemed to steel himself for what he was going to say next.

"I've been through many of them, and I have not…did not…act with integrity or compassion."

He turned away from her as he continued to speak, apparently unable to continue unless he spoke to the forest.

"The person I was when I followed after Itachi, first to kill him and then to avenge him, was not a person I am proud to say I was. I used people for information, destroyed building and fields when necessary, and I killed people that got in my way. The Sasuke that did those things is not who I am now, but I must go back and face the past. I have to face myself and those I have hurt. I won't ask for forgiveness, but I must do something to try and atone for the wrongs I have done. I know that you are committed to joining me on this journey, and I welcome your presence, but I wish you didn't have to see and know the terrible things I have done."

Sakura knew that the Sasuke of the past was a ruthless and vengeful person. He has driven his fist straight through Naruto and had put her in a genjutsu to keep her from stopping their fight, not to mention the couple of times he had almost seriously hurt her and Naruto while they tried to bring him back to the Hidden Leaf, as well as how he had indirectly killed Itachi and Danzo. This man in front of her was dangerous, and she had no illusions about him or his past. He had made a lot of fucked up choices over the last couple of years. These were just the instances that she already knew about. Her Sasuke was a fallen angel seeking redemption.

She also knew that Sasuke had a big heart…he just didn't have the optimism that Naruto seemed to naturally possess. Sasuke felt deeply and she had her evidence right in front of her. Here was her man, conflicted over the choices of his past, not relishing in the destruction. He felt sorrow over what he had done, and felt no pride in his actions.

"You do not scare me, Sasuke. You do not fool me either. I've known you most of our lives, and I've seen you in all aspects. You have done terrible things, but you have also done good things. I won't let you fall to your own self-contempt. I will help you redeem yourself, not because you can't do it alone, but because I care about you, and I care about your future…our future."

A blush stole across her face as she reached the last part of her statement, and Sasuke turned his head to catch it. His eyes were intense in their assessment, but not unkind. There was a warmth there that she had rarely seen in the past, but seemed to be a more common occurrence lately.

"Our future…I like that. Come, it is time to begin. There are many places to go and much work to be done."

He turned and indicated the direction they would travel, but waited until Sakura was next to him before he began to move. Sakura was content to move in silence as they swiftly left the meadow and began their journey. They had been traveling for a few minutes before Sakura felt the first touch. She looked down and realized that Sasuke's hand was brushing up against hers. Once…twice…and on the third touch his hand closed over hers gently. Her startled gaze met his and he smiled genuinely.

"Thank you, Sakura."

They fell into a companionable silence as their pace slowed and matched each other, ensuring their clasped hands could continue their gentle hold. Sakura didn't know exactly where they were going first, but at this exact point of time, she didn't give a shit. She would follow this wounded man into hell if he asked it and she would do it with a smile.