Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: I apologize for this late update. I usually update once a month, but life has been hectic for me recently. Besides, this chapter was really hard to write. I can't count how many times I have re-written it. Even now, I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter, but well, I guess you guys have been waiting enough.

I want to say thank you to you guys for sticking around with me and this story. Your reviews, favorites, and follows mean a lot to me. I really hope you can leave me a review because I love reading them haha.

Enjoy!

9

Hanabi,

I'm sorry that I took so long to write you a letter, but my situation didn't allow me until now. How is everyone doing at home? Are you and Father doing okay? I'm worried for Father. He once complained to me about his back. I've been working on an ointment that can help ease his back pain and I intended to give it to him when I returned from my mission, but you know… It may be months until I can return, so can you look into my drawer and give the ointment to him?

I've noticed you've been taking a lot of missions lately and it worries me. You should take a rest some times because, for a shinobi, resting is just as important as training. I also have prepared some ointment for you and you can find it in my drawer. I've added some flowers to it as you don't like its pungent smell.

Is Kiba-kun doing okay? I'm very worried about him. Sasuke ensured me that Kiba-kun was not dead, but I can't stop worrying. After all, the last time I saw Kiba-kun, Sasuke was throwing a kunai at him. When you meet him, can you tell him that I'm sorry? He just tried to save me and it's partly my fault that he ends up in the hospital.

Hanabi, I know everyone is thinking that Sasuke has kidnapped me or even killed me already. He did kidnap me, yes, but for a good reason. He needs my help in something important and although I can't tell you what it is, it does not involve betraying the village or gaining Byakugan secret. He also does not force me to go with him or torture me. I follow him on my own and he does not mistreat me. In fact, I think… Naruto-kun is right. Sasuke is a good person, not a monster people portray him to be. If you meet Naruto-kun, please tell him that he is right about Sasuke and he doesn't need to worry too much because I will take good care of him. So please, don't send a team to look for me. I will return when I finish what needed to be done.

Love you,

Hinata.

"That's good," Tsunade said, relief washed over her face.

"Good? How could this be good?" Hiashi almost barked at the Hokage, voice lanced with disbelieve.

"That Hinata is still alive and Sasuke doesn't hurt her?" She looked at the letter in her hands, carefully scanning for any signs that could indicate that this letter was forced, and discreetly gave a sigh of relief when she found nothing. She handed the letter back to Haishi who was standing in front of her desk. The man received the letter with one of his hands and put it into his long sleeve.

"The Uchiha must have forced Hinata to write this letter," Hiashi stated.

"There is no clear evidence for your statement."

"I demand another team to be sent out to look for my daughter."

"The current team was capable enough."

"Capable? It's been months and they found nothing."

"Give them some time. Sasuke is not someone who is easy to be tracked."

"That's why we need another team."

"The village is currently short on shinobi and I can't afford to send two teams on the same mission."

"Byakugan secret is in danger."

"It's not, according to Hinata's letter." Tsunade, once again, denied Hiashi's statement. "She writes that Sasuke only needs her help in something and that something does not involve betraying the village or gaining Byakugan secret."

"Something? What's something that he needs my daughter's help? To restore his clan?"

"Hiashi," Tsunade warned, knowing well what he was referring to and truthfully, that's exactly what she had in her mind right now.

"A child with two bloodline limits is too dangerous."

"Or do you want Hinata to tell us that Sasuke was torturing her and trying to gouge her eyes out for Byakugan?" She asked, steering the conversation to another point.

"Sasuke is not someone who can be trusted."

"He helped stop the war."

"That's not a reason to trust him."

"Your daughter trusts him."

"That's what I most concern about."

"Not everyone is skeptical of everything like you."

"I'm just trying to save my daughter."

"And I'm trying to run my village." She raised her voice a little, her right hand clenched tightly on the desk. Her fist is itchy to punch at something, preferably the man before her. Taking a deep breath, she tried her best to stay calm. This was the Hyuuga Leader and she couldn't just punch at his face as she would with her desk or a wall when she was frustrated. This required a tactful approach. "Hiashi, I understand your concerns and believe me when I say I'm worried for Hinata too, but I really can't send another team to look for her, at least not now. The current team consists of only capable shinobi and if they can't find and rescue Hinata, I don't think there is any team can. Please be patient and give Shino and his team some more time."

Hiashi pursed his lips. When Tsunade had talked like that, it meant there was nothing he could say to change her decision, at least not now. He definitely wouldn't let this down. He would return to the Hyuuga Compound and summon a meeting with the elders to come up with a plan.

"Fine," And he left the Hokage Tower, fuming and empty-handed.

Once he returned to the Hyuuga Compound, he ignored the respect bow of the guards at the gate. Instead, he immediately summoned a meeting with the elders. They needed to come up with a plan fast.

Hanabi silently watched her Father from afar. With the way he was fuming and calling for a meeting with the elder, it's more than likely that the Hokage had declined his request to send another team to look for and rescue Hinata. She couldn't say she was surprised though. The village was now short on shinobi and sending two teams on the same mission would be too generous for the Hyuuga Clan.

When the door to the meeting room closed, Hanabi turned and headed to her room. They would not let her attend the meeting despite her being the Heiress. She was too young, they would say. All she wanted right now was for her Father to give Hinata's letter back to her so she could read it again and cradle it in her chest like a treasure it was.

Hanabi couldn't count how many times she had read her sister's letter. She closed her eyes, remembering every word her sister had written. Her sister's letter was what had stopped her from falling to desperation. After weeks of not receiving any information from the rescue team and she thought she was ready to leave the village to look for her sister, a hawk came to her with this letter. She had opened the letter and almost burst into tears when she was met with the familiar neat handwriting of her sister. She had read and re-read it many times to make sure that this was real and not a delusion her mind had created in an attempt to save her from desperation.

She had quickly brought the letter to her Father. Unlike what she had expected, relief didn't wash over his face. Instead, it had been overtaken with a grimace. She didn't get it. Though the letter couldn't erase their worries completely, it at least could have provided some relief as they now knew that her sister was still alive.

Her father had called for a meeting with the elders. From what she had been told, Hinata's letter didn't ease her Father and the elders at all. Instead, it made them even worrier and suspicious of the situation because such a criminal like Sasuke couldn't treat anyone well. He must have forced her to write this letter or deceived her into thinking that he was a good person to gain her trust. They didn't know what his true intentions were, but it definitely couldn't be anything good and it worried her Father and the elders to no end. Byakugan secret was in danger and that was not even the worst scenario. They feared a child with two bloodline limits would be born and it would bring disaster upon the Hyuuga Clan.

The Hokage refused to send another team to look for Hinata made the Hyuuga even angrier. Even without attending the meeting, she could imagine how her Father and the elders were frantic to come up with a plan. She sighed in frustration. They didn't need to request the Hokage for another team as they could have just let her go to look for her sister. She could go alone and didn't need any team.

Hanabi's hand picked up the picture frame on the table, fingers caressing the glass surface lovingly. The picture was taken 4 months before the war. All three of them had been happy. Hinata was smiling her brightest smile. Hanabi's smile was so wide that she could not see her own eyes. It's not easy to see Neji's smile. The only indication that he was smiling was the small upturn of his lips, but she could see the genuine content in his eyes.

She loved Hinata's smile. In a household where almost everyone was stoic and rarely expressed their emotions, Hinata's kind and caring nature was something she had come to depend on. The world could be cruel, could throw her endless challenges and leave her bruised and exhausted, but she knew she could always find peace in Hinata's smile. And that Uchiha bastard was taking her away. If he really needed her sister's help in something, he could have just come and asked her nicely, not kidnapped her like that. He should know Hinata was too kind to refuse to help anyone.

Hanabi rarely cried, but the night she knew her sister had been kidnapped, she had cried her eyes out. Even now, her pale eyes were being pricked with unshed tears, but she refused to cry. She had to be strong for Hinata. Her father could be right about the letter being a deceive and Sasuke had forced Hinata to write it and if it's really what had happened, she would hunt him down to the end of the world, regardless he was one of the most powerful shinobi in the world.

"Please, be okay." She whispered and put a light kiss on the glass surface. "I promise I will find a way, neechan."

"Why did you do that?" Hinata asked the moment her feet touched the ground, his hands lingering on her waist for a moment before retracting to his sides.

He didn't answer her question. Instead, he leaned against the tree trunk behind with his arms crossed in front of his chest. His face titled toward the sky, dark hair framed his cheek and she found herself staring at him. Again, she was reminded why so many girls liked him. He was good looking and radiated a dark and mysterious aura that made people want to know him, to shred the walls he had built around himself and reveal his true self. She had never had the need to get no know him before, but she did now. In a matter of 2 months, she had learned about him more than the 12 years when he was in the village and he fascinated her. She learned that he loved his brother more than anything, he hated sweet, his hold was warm, his lips were soft, and he can be playful when he wanted to be, though it usually resulted in her blushing madly.

Feeling a blush creeping to her cheeks, Hinata slightly shook her head and tried to push those thoughts away. His good look was just as dangerous as it could make her mind wander to his soft lips, his dark strands tangled in her fingers, his strong chest under her palms, his dark eyes bored into her pale ones, and… She started to panic. Those thoughts refused to leave her mind and it scared her. She had been having a crush on Naruto for years and thoughts like those had never entered her mind. Those thoughts about Naruto were innocent. She dreamt about his bright smile, his kind nature, and his fierce determination to fight for his beliefs, but never about his lips or chest.

She quickly turned her head away, veiling her hot and red face from him behind her long hair. If he knew what she was thinking about, he was going to tease her about it for the rest of their journey. Right, it's only for the rest of their journey because once Orochimaru fixed him, they would probably never see each together again. This somehow managed to dampen her mood and her blush slowly reduced. I would never see him again.

She turned to him, pale eyes searching for his dark ones. There was something in his eyes, something that she was familiar to but couldn't put a finger on. "You let them saw us kiss." She decided to elaborate as if he didn't know what she was talking about.

His only response was giving her a side look, still not a verbal one.

"What are you planning?" She continued.

"To kiss you." And he meant it. His chakra was depleting fast and he would have to kiss her soon. Pink dusted her cheeks and he found his lips wanted to lift upward to a smirk. It's always amusing to see her blush and fluster.

"Sasuke, I'm not kidding around."

"Neither am I."

"They saw us kiss, what do you think they would think?"

"That I want to restore my clan with you, probably." Actually, that idea didn't sound too bad to him.

"Kou-niichan definitely will inform my Father about this and he will be furious." She said, her shoulders trembled as she could even see it in her head the disappointed and disapproval look on his face when he knew about this and how the elders would question her purity and they could even disown her for it. In the back of her mind, she found it strange that Naruto was not the one she most concerned about, but didn't mention it.

"The better question is, what are we going to do now?" He asked, actually wanted to hear her suggestion.

"How could I explain it to him?" She whispered, ignoring his question. Now all she could think about was her Father. She had tried her hardest for years to please him, to become the daughter he could be proud of, and now this happened and it can potentially ruin everything she had work hard for.

Sasuke was silence for a moment. She made it sound like she had eloped with him, which was totally untrue but seemed correct in people's eyes. Her letter had confirmed she was willing to follow him, he didn't force her and now they had been seen kissing, what else could people assume?

Hisashi was a strict Father, even stricter than Fugaku. Although he didn't know how he would punish his daughter for kissing him, it must be very severe to make her this terrified and he almost pitied her for it. It's only almost because he didn't regret what he had done. Actually, he only wanted Naruto to see he and Hinata kiss, the rest of the team was just in the way. It's a pity that he couldn't stay to see Naruto's reactions. He would love to see his blue eyes widened in shock, his jaw and fists clenched in fury as he thought he had forced her to kiss him while in reality, she had enjoyed it just as much as he had. She might appear to protest him, but he knew she loved it when he kissed her.

"Takao must have told them about us." She said, pulling him out of his thoughts. As he looked at her in question, she elaborated. "I saw his shop's bag in Sakura's backpack."

"That damn boy." He growled angrily. He should have just killed him already.

"No. Do not curse him. You are the one who let them saw us. We could have left but you… I don't know what you're thinking."

Neither do I. He thought inwardly. What he had done was totally on an impulse. He didn't for a second consider the consequence. All he wanted was for Naruto to know that he had kissed her and no one could stop him, even her long-time crush. It sounded like he was trying to prove something to Naruto, but prove what? It's probably nothing because he had nothing to prove. The fact was already obvious. She had been in love with Naruto for a long time and a few months kissing him couldn't change that and anyone who said otherwise would be wrong.

He knew she loved Naruto and that fact had never really bothered him before, until now. The appearance of a lookalike Naruto and now the real Naruto had made him realize how real it was that she loved Naruto, not him. She had loved him since she was little and probably would for the rest of her life. Once she returned to the village, she would continue to pin after Naruto, memories of him and their kiss forever buried in the back of her mind. And if one day Naruto finally reciprocated her feelings… he would hate it if it happened.

It's ridiculous and he almost laughed at himself. It didn't make sense at all. In fact, nothing made sense anymore. How could this girl, who he had never paid much attention before, mess with his head? This must be an effect of the potion. This was something he had to tell himself a lot recently and probably would for the rest of their journey. Everything would return to normal once Orochimaru fixed him. He once again would be able to look at her without wanting to kiss her, to tangle his fingers in her long hair, to wrap his arms around her waist protectively, and feeling the warmth spread in his heart.

Looking at her right now, seeing the anxious and troubled look on her face made him want to comfort and ensure her that everything would be alright and he would not let anyone take her away from him. However, he found it hard to say it out loud as he wasn't good at expressing himself through words. She definitely would feel better if she had some cinnamon rolls to munch on, but she had eaten all of her 12 rolls in just one day.

"We just need to get to Orochimaru fast." Was his only reply. He honestly didn't have any plan except for keeping going really fast until reaching the Lighting Country. If the team found them again, they would just run and hide as fast as they could.

She stared at him for a moment, but then slowly nodded her head. He was right. They just need to get to Orochimaru as fast as they could and all of this would end. "W-we should be going." She mumbled and turned away, but his voice stopped her.

"Wait," He stopped her, and when the girl turned to face him with a question in her pale eyes, he almost wanted to sigh. "You forgot to kiss me."

"Oh, r-right." She blushed a little, coming close to him. Once in front of him, she tiptoed, aiming to his lips. She didn't flinch when his arm wrapped around her waist and brought her closer to him. Her lips touched his tentatively, feeling his soft and warm lips against hers. He kissed her back, gently moving his lips with hers. He didn't kiss her as ardently as usual and she found it strange but didn't voice it out loud. She wanted to ask him why, but it would be too embarrassing.

There was something in his kiss that wasn't present before. It's like he wanted her to take the lead and kiss him fully. And she did. She was hesitated at first as she didn't know how to. He had always been the one to control everything. He kissed her like how he wanted to, knowing full well that she enjoyed it too. Now he wanted her to have that control and kiss him like how she wanted. It could be just a peck or a light touch on the lips, all were fine with him.

Her tongue slid into his mouth, slowly and tentatively. Her kiss was light, gentle, and was satisfying enough with some bite and lick here and there. Her fingers tangled in his hair, gently caressing his dark strands and keeping his head down to her. Even when tiptoeing, he was still too tall for her petite frame.

He liked her kiss. When he kissed her, his heart bit fast, his body heated and everything felt like a blur because despite how much he kissed her, it was not enough. When she kissed him, his heart was warm, his body relaxed and everything felt at peace. He was at peace.

The kiss ended when his chakra had fully recovered. Her lips left his, slowly and almost reluctantly. Instead of leaving him immediately after kissing him as she always did because she was too shy, this time she stayed in his arms. There was something in his dark eyes that she wanted to have a closer look at. It's something similar but she couldn't quite put a finger on it.

And then she remembered it. Hanabi had once commented on how she used to have an insecure and neglect look in her eyes whenever she looked at Naruto and Sakura. She didn't anymore though. She had come to a conclusion that she had moved on from her childhood crush because there was no other explanation as to why she didn't constantly think of him anymore, her eyes didn't immediately focus on him, and her heart didn't beat fast when she thought of him. Instead, all of those things would happen if it was Sasuke.

What she didn't understand was why he was having that look. He had nothing to be insecure about. Sakura loved him, Naruto cared about him, and he was handsome and powerful.

Her hand slid from his hair to his face, delicate fingers gently caressing his cheek. His skin is smooth and soft and she wondered if he would let her plant a peck on it. "What's wrong?" She asked in a soft voice.

Everything.

"Nothing." He replied, tilting his head a little to lean into her hand. He noticed the pink stains appearing on her cheeks and it somehow satisfied him, knowing that just a small move from him could make her fluster.

"Sasuke," She started, but then paused a little to bite her lips nervously. He wondered if she was too shy or just unsure if she should say it or not, probably both. "I just want you to know that until Orochimaru fixes you, I will never leave you."

Until Orochimaru fixed him? So every kiss the shared, every night they slept together, chasing the nightmares away, how he had told him about his brother, how he had thought she reminded him of his mother, all of these were mistakes that needed to be fixed?

He pursed his lips into a thin line, face expression hardened in distaste. Right, this was a mistake. His hand rose to grasp hers, the soft and warm skin of her hand gave him an urge to intertwine their fingers together, but he held it back. If this was a mistake, he shouldn't continue it. Instead, he removed her hand from his cheek, letting it fall to her side.

"We should be going." He said, walking away without waiting for her response.

"Something is bothering you." She said, quickly catching up to him.

"I'm fine." He dined.

"I have been around stoic men for my entire life and I think I'm quite perceiving when it comes to them. My Father and Neji-niisan said they're fine even when they're not."

"They just didn't want to bother you with their problems."

"It might be true." She nodded her head in agreement. "But it also might be because of their pride."

"Are you referring to me?" He asked, giving her a sideways look.

She noticed his look and promptly took a few steps forward to block his way.

"My Father and Neji-niisan hated to share their problems with other people. It might be because they didn't want to bother people or their pride didn't let them, but I have always wished that someday, they wouldn't mind sharing their problems with me. I'm their daughter and cousin after all. They eventually did and it made me very happy. It meant that they trusted me enough to show me their vulnerability. And I'm hoping for the same thing with you. I wouldn't force you to tell me what is bothering you. I'm not even sure if I would be able to help you, but I would never judge you. I'm not a good talker, but I think I'm a good listener."

She exhaled once she finished, inwardly complimenting herself for not stutter, considering that this was one of the most she had ever said in one setting. She waited for his response, half expecting him to scoff at her. They used to know nearly nothing about each other and she wasn't even sure if he considered her as a friend, so what she was hoping for might be too much. But, she told herself, she had to try, just like how she had tried to make Neji open up to her. Sasuke might not care what she wanted or hoped for, but at least he now knew that she was always ready to listen to him and never judge him.

A minute pass and when the only response he gave her was his silence, she felt an urge to fidget. She quickly forced her fingers apart by gripping the hem of her jacket, but she could do nothing to stop the blush staining her cheeks.

His mouth opened and then closed. No sound came out as he only stared at her. This girl, once again, astounded him. She was nothing like anyone he had ever met. Naruto and Sakura always wanted to solve his problems for him regardless of whether he wanted them to or not. They thought what's best for him, not what he wanted, and though he had come to appreciate that, that didn't mean he like it. But this girl, as long as he didn't betray the village or hurt people, she would let him do whatever he wanted. He used to think it's because she was too busy to pin after Naruto to actually care about him, but she had proven him wrong. She did care, she just respected him enough to not pressure him to tell her what was bothering him.

"You are really something." It's the only reply he could give her. He watched with amusement as her pale eyes lit up. She must have expected a negative reaction from him.

"Is that a compliment?"

"Hn."

"Is it yes or no?"

"Can you guess?"

"I don't know."

"I won't tell you."

"It's kind of childish, you know?" She mumbled, pink stains persisting on her cheeks and his hands were itching to caresses them.

"I'm childish?" He asked, gradually giving in what he wanted. They didn't have much time together after all. It's okay if this was a mistake because it wouldn't last forever.

His right hand cradled the back of her neck, fingers tangling in her long hair as he pulled her toward him. Her small squeak was muffled with her face burying in his chest. His breath was warm when he whispered in her ears. "If you think I'm childish, how about I show you how I do the adult thing?"