Chapter 33: Damage Control
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"Is Lord Kakashi-san still watching?" Sai asked Yami, through the single earpiece he had on, as he kept his head in a slight tilt, his face slightly obstructed as he painted. He was glad he had approached Yami during the festival for such contingency.
"Yes. It's just like you said. He's hesitating," Yami replied as he stood on a tree, miles, and miles away, Byakugan active, close to home. However, he was able to see Kakashi peering at Sai's building.
"Good. It means he's not sure, yet he's already looking in the right place, as expected of our Hokage," Sai replied, there was static whenever either of them spoke.
"Then let's wait a little longer and see what he does," Yami replied.
"Yami-san, what will you do now that you're free?" Sai asked casually through the silence, as both waited for the Kakashi to either announce his presence or not. He imagined he was probably standing outside, observing his behavior, trying to discern if anything was amiss.
Yami leaned against a tree and crossed his arms, his thoughts at the time louder than the earpiece, which sounded distorted.
"I'm not sure. Hinata-sama says I'm free, but after listening to the elders' speech, I knew right away we would still be shackled. Pretty soon, we all have to start earning our keep, since they'll start charging us for the real estate we've lived in our entire lives. And on top of that, they plan to tax any money we earn, just to make up for the fact that they'll be losing now that they're forced to pay us wages. That money is going to go back to them anyway… So are we free?"
"The concept of freedom has all kinds of contradictions," Sai agreed.
"Yes, and to add to the list of contradictions, the fact that we had to be given our freedom means they could just as easily take it away. Now, I worry that if the hardship of earning our keep becomes too much for some feeble minds, we'll regress and beg to be slaves again. I'm thinking of leaving this village before that happens, and pretending I was never born in Konoha,"
Sai paused the brush stroke. "It would probably break Hinata-sama's heart to hear of your cynicism," Sai commented.
"Don't speak of my cynicism when it is your incompetence that got us here. Considering what I've been tasked to do, it's probably for the best that I do leave," Yami replied, believing Hinata had sent Sai on her behalf, to perform one last mission.
There was silence for a moment, along with static.
"Did Hinata-sama put your loyalty to the test?" Yami asked. "Is that why she asked you to end your ex-lover?"
Sai sighed into the earphone, knowing full well his answer was going to be misinterpreted.
"I've failed either way. So now I ask you again, what will you do now that you're free?"
Yami pushed himself off the tree and knelt down, holding his earpiece.
"Hold on, I see Lord Kakashi leaving,"
Sai moved away from his painting and stretched. "I guess it's time,"
.
There were indeed questions to be asked when Kakashi was guided to the residential area Sai resided. He didn't think he was reading too much into the reaction of a creature showing intelligence.
Sai, appearing on my radar twice, is likely not just a coincidence. Kakashi thought to himself.
He popped an energy pill of questionable flavor, and homeopathic in nature, from a fresh batch made by Sakura. He turned around to head back to his office, so he may plan how to proceed since Sai was still a proud member of team 7, which is why he needed to thread carefully. Others would think his hesitation had everything to do with keeping the image of team 7 as clean as possible since it took a long time to get it to where they are. However, he just didn't want to see Naruto go through another betrayal. Thus, he wanted to make sure before he made any accusations.
.
Yami waited by the doorway and watched Sai open a closet and pull out a coffin, tagged with a concealing Hyuga scripture, that most likely contained a drop of Hinata's blood. This seemed to be enough proof for Yami to believe Hinata had given the order to abduct and murder the inquisitor before she had a chance to probe his mind.
In Sai's current wear, Yami was able to see he was indeed a fellow Anbu, as his sleeveless form-fitting turtleneck shirt revealed the tattoo on his arm. Still, Yami let his frustration be known. The guy was too sloppy and couldn't finish his missions.
"When you asked for help in moving a body, I thought you meant it was dead,"
"I did not deceive you, for it is a body. A body without a mind, to be more exact,"
"Why didn't you just end her? Does Hinata-sama know she's still alive?"
"An oversight in my plans,"
"I'll leave the village tonight after I take care of Yamanaka-san. From the looks of it, you should come with me too, Sai-san,"
Sai shook his head in reply. "I can't just yet. There's something else I have to take care of,"
"You'll put Hinata-sama at risk if you stay," Yami tried to rationalize.
"Hyuga-san, true freedom is what you decide to do now. You do not owe her anything after tonight,"
Yami's tone of voice darkened. "You don't sound like an ally right now,"
Sai turned away from Ino's body and stretched, his arms settling behind his head as his eyes trailed to the side.
"When Danzo-sama's organization fell under, it took me a while to adjust or even learn how to be free, so I know how you feel. You're still programmed to think of her wellbeing above your own,"
"I didn't know you were a ROOT survivor,"
"A lot of my friends like to forget about that," Sai said, with a far-off look in his eyes, as he wondered if it was right to call them friends.
"And how was it, being deprogrammed?"
"There I was, having to learn how to live, think, or even feel for myself. I didn't know what I liked or disliked, or how to even enjoy hobbies or spend my first paycheck on anything that had to do with what I wanted. But enough about me,"
Sai approached Yami, seeing that he was practically towering over him, Sai crouched down in front of him, giving him a lop-sided-sadistic smile as he peered up behind his lashes as if he knew something Yami didn't. Yami took a step back, feeling a little unsettled, as he wasn't used to Sai going from normal to weird, seemingly turning into a sketchy character or a person of interest. Why did Hinata choose this guy?
Sai could immediately sense his distrust.
"Yami-san, you don't have to trust a single thing I say. But here's my perspective from one free slave to another. The way I see it, your Leader-sama has always been free, and will always know of the privileges you can't fathom even exists. For example, during her spare time, she was free to decide whether she frees you or not. Let's not be dishonest and pretend otherwise. She may be special because she sympathizes with your plight. However, she will never truly understand. My confidence to say these things stems from what I know to be true, and what I've seen. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about her well-being because her connection extends beyond anything you can imagine. You saw it yourself, the Hokage's new advisor has been won over, and people's realities or opinions could be tweaked and altered for her sake. You should be more worried about yourself. Learn to think on your own,"
Satisfied with his speech, Sai pressed his hands on his knees, straightening himself, before walking past Yami.
As he walked back to his unfinished centerpiece, he zoned out, recalibrating his objective. The Hyugas were free, with essentially no bloodshed involved, which was boring. But that wasn't the problem. What will become of Hinata's offer? How can she deliver on what he asked of her?
Sai realized she won't be able to since it's probably going to be too peaceful again, thus she can't.
.
When the last group of liberated Hyugas left Tsume's properties, drums were swapped out for flutes and violins, to accommodate the Nara's and Aburame's taste.
Yoshino shook her head while grinning widely, turning to the Inuzuka clan leader.
"You really went all out just for the sake of entertainment," She laughed. "They just walked away thinking you guys are the most interesting people in this village,"
"A little promotion goes a long way. Who knows, maybe my clan will see a few free-branch members coming back, wanting to join us,"
"Sneaky,"
"You're one to speak. You got the Hyuga princess tied to your clan,"
"Whatever do you mean, Tsume-chan? Love is love,"
They both turned to the subject being discussed, watching as Hinata giggled as she got taken by the hand as Kiba pulled her down the steps to join the formation of everyone waltzing around the fire, as the vibe had completely changed from chants to laughter.
By the end of the round, Hinata pulled away from Kiba, playfully declining all the invitations extended to her as she walked back to Shino, who seemed to have been interested in watching a few interactions from afar.
"Interesting, they seem to like him," Shino commented as he motioned with a slight nod in Shikamaru's direction.
Shikamaru was standing on the opposite side, with his expression neutral while he spoke short phrases to the elders, giving single nods in response to the conversation being had around him. Hiashi also stood in the circle, hiding the dark humor in his eyes as he saw the elders finally expressing interest in someone outside the clan. They were fascinated by Shikamaru's intellect, having hopes to pick at his brain in the future, since he had been responsible for tonight's success by helping them gain more power. Nothing was said about how all of it was possible because of Hinata, and her connections.
"Do you think Shika wants me to save him from the elders?"
"If I were you, I would let him suffer for a bit longer,"
"Shino!"
"We know he has the intelligence and means to make your dreams happen, but for some reason, he wasn't acting on it,"
Hinata didn't say anything for a moment, thinking back to Sasuke, and the fire.
"It would be rather boring if he were to agree with every single thing that I said or did,"
"And don't forget about Kiba and I, we don't exactly agree with everything you do. Is that why you've been keeping us away?"
She didn't deny being reckless.
"It was better this way. The fewer people involved, the fewer alibis to have to connect," Hinata replied, while thinking about Yami and Sai. She had expected Shino's full-on verbal disapproval. However, he gave in and broke into a small smile.
"Go on then," He motioned towards Shikamaru. "The elders must be boring him by now,"
She smiled freely while taking a few steps away, clasping her hands behind her back.
"Please try to get along with him. No more hostility,"
"I make no promises,"
Hinata smiled as she approached the group of elders, clinging to her fiancé's side. Shikamaru turned to her, brushing her fringes briefly, understanding she was probably ready to leave. What good timing, he was ready to go.
"We can always continue this conversation some other time," An elder said.
Shikamaru agreed. "Hiashi has my number if you need anything,"
Hiashi's attention turned to Hinata.
"Daughter, since you're no longer in imminent danger, we were discussing plans for you to come home to perform a few rituals before we send you off into your new clan,"
She nodded politely, while Shikamaru took care of the farewells to everyone who was close by. His mother, however, wished to stay much longer.
As they walked, Shikamaru seemed to have received her friend's approval through a single glance, and a courteous nod, as if every negative exchange between him and her friends had been wiped clean. But he knew better, and figured Hinata must've said something to turn them cordial.
"What did the Elders want?" Hinata asked him as they approached the exit.
"The annoying demands have already begun. It feels like I'm the one marrying into your clan and not the other way around," He explained to her the expectations for both the Hyuga clan and the Nara clan to remain separate names, even if the future heir would be of Nara linage.
"You're lucky they're new to the job," Hinata commented, thinking he didn't know how easy he has it with these new guys that actually like him.
"New to their job? It doesn't seem like it," Shikamaru thought back to the conversation. "They want the Uchihas land to remain in the possession of your side of the clan,"
He noted Hinata's eyes were far away for a moment.
"And how does it feel to be the new Hyuga-sama?" Hinata teased him halfheartedly.
"I can see myself getting burnt out by them," It must've been annoying dealing with the elders on a day-to-day basis.
"Then try not to have them rely on you too much," She said with a smile.
Shikamaru slowed down to bum a cigarette, noticing the visible discomfort on her expression as she kept walking past him. He had attributed it to the weather, as she removed her cloak.
"Remind me again, is it winter or late spring?" He heard her say as she collected all of her hair into a high ponytail, before rolling it into a bun exposing the nape of her neck, her bare shoulders, the soft skin on her back, and her hips.
Shikamaru stopped in his tracks. He thought he had been immune by now to the effect she seemed to have on him. Instead, it still caught him by surprise, while inducing anxieties all at the same time. He remembered right away the rush she had brought about when his eyes first landed on her, even before he knew about her inclination to want liberation. Shikamaru had believed he could follow her anywhere, saying yes to anything before she even had to ask, which is how he ended up proclaiming his loyalty to her, and only her. Perhaps he had more in common with the branch members, than he had with her.
"You should wear your hair up more often,"
Hinata glanced slightly over her shoulder, and reached up to touch her hair, getting a few locks behind her ears, not particularly agreeing with the compliment. Nevertheless, she thanked him with a smile.
Then it was quiet again, aside from the passing greetings that congratulated them.
Unfortunately, when Shikamaru was no longer gawking, he went back to being a prisoner of his mind which lured him to darker places, leaving himself with numbing questions. For instance, had he always felt this gaping degree of cynicism when it comes to her? When did it truly start, these feelings of utter irritation?
The answer wasn't simple to pin down. Yet there were whispering voices calling out a grand fallacy on his behalf, for it was his own fault for going against his lazy nature which loved variables he could control. He doesn't want to control her, but admittedly it was far easier, and simpler, when he knew where all the pieces would move on the board.
.
"Your big sister should've been here celebrating with us," Konohamaru complained. "But then again, Sasuke-senpai doesn't get along with Nara-san," He paused and looked around while leaning over the kitchen counter, with a beer in his hand, as he followed everyone's movement. Sasuke was in the process of opening a bottle of wine, but didn't glance up when he was being addressed.
"I wasn't aware you were into gossip," Sakura replied dismissively as she reached around Konohamaru for a few wine glasses, before turning to Sasuke, who held the bottle. As she waited for Sasuke to fill Naruto's and Hanabi's wine glasses, Sakura followed up on Konohamaru's question. "So, why does Shikamaru-san hate you so much?" It had always been like that, ever since Sasuke's return to the village.
Naruto grinned mischievously, stepping in front of Konohamaru and Sakura to deflect the subject on Sasuke's behalf.
"The better question is, why are we so fucking good at our jobs? I mean, look at us," He paused to smile at Hanabi, "We're all here because we're simply that amazing. Here's to helping make dreams come true! And yeah, it's a shame Hinata-chan and Shika aren't here,"
Sasuke joined in, aiming his glass at the group toasting. His eyes settled on Hanabi.
"Do you recall seeing this idiot actually doing anything to help free your clansmen?" Sasuke asked her with a smirk.
"Huh?" Naruto breached Sasuke's personal space as if to intimidate him, Naruto's expression was overly expressive as if ready to challenge him. "I was more involved in the conversation than you, it's like you were never even there. Even Konohamaru had more opinions to share than you,"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Need I remind you I never cared to join the fight," He turned to Hanabi, "No offense against the movement,"
Moments later, they all spread out throughout the living room as the conversation continued, with Naruto stepping up a few steps to stop at the windows which overlooked the village. Naruto grinned widely as he looked outside, happy for more reasons than just one. He didn't have to worry about what the future would look like as a Hokage because he had helped Hinata free her clan before his reign starts.
"Do you happen to still have that game that I got us last year?" Sakura asked Sasuke, intentionally changing the conversation as she followed him, both settling down on the sofa.
"Hn? Which one?"
"The Don't-Flutter game set," Sakura replied as Hanabi and Konohamaru approached.
"Hn… " Sasuke lifted himself off the sofa and made his way towards a closet containing boxes he had yet to unpack.
Konohamaru raised a brow, and Hanabi turned around to look, as Sasuke pulled one set of cat ears and a plastic toy hammer. Konohamaru had never seen this game in all the 18 years of his life.
"I've never played that before," Konohamaru confessed.
"It's an old-school game, your generation wouldn't remember it or the creepy ramen surrounding the game," Sakura replied, slipping into a story mode. "It was believed that Danzo used a fucked-up version of this head-set to program people to lose their humanity,"
Konohamaru laughed. "Well, Sai turned out alright,"
"Damn, this game brings back memories. Shikamaru and I used to pretend we were awesome Shinobis if the ears didn't twitch, which was pretty hard to do considering Ino-chan was such a savage," Naruto said from his side. He came down the steps, away from the windows.
Hanabi raised a brow as if to ask, 'how do you play?'
"You normally would roll a die to decide the details of whether you're going to be the cat or wield the hammer. If you're the cat, your goal is not to laugh or get flustered or the person wielding the hammer gets to hit you, meaning they win. Stupid, I know, but it makes for a great drinking game," Naruto explained.
"Only problem I see with this game is nii-san can't get drunk," Konohamaru said as if somehow that was such a buzz-killer.
"It's fine, it's fine," Naruto said, waving it off. He pulled a bar stool and lifted it from the kitchen to the middle of the living room. "Hanabi," Naruto patted the chair. "Sit here for a moment. You're going first,"
Hanabi glanced over her shoulder, carefully settling up on the tall barstool as she had a little too much to drink. She pressed her hand against her long flowy skirt and waited for Naruto to install a headpiece on her head. He slipped on some cat ears and connected the sensors to her forehead to sense her brainwave or emotions.
Sasuke quickly cut across the room and sat down on the sofa with his legs crossed, and a glass of hard liquor in his hand, watching his friends about to make a fool of themselves, as this game normally tended to get them to enact levels of stupidities you wouldn't think a Shinobi could.
'So what do I do again?' Hanabi asked Sasuke, already forgetting the rules.
"Don't cry, don't laugh, don't smile, don't get flustered," Sasuke replied while aiming his drink her way. "I doubt that's going to be a challenge for you,"
'Ah,' Hanabi replied as her eyes followed Konohamaru's movement from the corner of her eyes. 'Is breathing even okay?'
"I don't know, we'll see," Sasuke replied, both sharing a smile.
Konohamaru placed his beer down and skipped in front of Hanabi, halting before her.
"I wanna go first," Konohamaru said, accepting the toy hammer from Naruto. "So what are the rules on my end?"
"Just do whatever to make her laugh. However, you only got one minute to do so," Naruto replied.
"Then I'll start the timer. Come on, Konohamaru! I believe in you!" Sakura cheered from her side.
Konohamaru's grin widened as his cheeks reddened.
"Get ready, Hanabi-chan," He stood in front of her with his arms crossed, hammer in one hand. He leaned in close to her face.
"Hanabi-chan, tell me…" Konohamaru grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest. "Am I your type? Hey! Don't look away!"
Hanabi turned to meet his eyes. A minute went by, and she didn't falter. However, Hanabi brought up her hand to her face and started giggling once the minute was up.
"Ugh! So close!" Konohamaru said, cursing her unbreakable expression.
"Konohamaru, you lose. Okay, I'm up next," Naruto said. Naruto started pinching his own cheeks, contorting himself to make faces. Hanabi looked away. "Oi! Sakura! Grab her face, so she can't look away!"
"What the heck Naruto, I'm not doing that," Sakura said from her side, laughing as Hanabi looked back in Naruto's way.
Naruto, however, faltered when she seemed bored.
"Hold on, I still got 30 seconds left!" Naruto said hopelessly, going as far as performing a harem Jutsu, spawning a dozen half-naked, but cloud-covered Konohamarus.
"Why are you covering me with clouds? I think Hanabi-chan would want to see," Konohamaru said dryly from his side. Still, he waited for Hanabi to have some form of reaction to the clones, but was left discouraged when he saw no visible change in Hanabi.
No one noticed how Sasuke almost spitted his drink, thinking Konohamaru might've been coming on too strong.
So the idiocy has begun, Sasuke mused, as he wiped the corner of his mouth, composing himself.
"Haha, what the heck Naruto, you suck at this," Sakura taunted him through shared laughter. She pushed Naruto away as she was next to challenge Hanabi.
"Hanabi-chan, remember the time I took you as an apprentice, and instead of healing the fish, you-" Hanabi pushed her hand up to Sakura's mouth to shut her up.
However, Hanabi's ears twitched uncontrollably, mostly feeling happy with the atmosphere. She looked around. Everyone was smiling. It was a scene she wanted to burn into her memories, and she found it amusing that they all looked like they were just part of a cult, dressed in a similar color-scheme and manner.
"Yeah! Haha! One win for me,"
"Wait! Wait! Let's add a new rule! Let's not go around trying to spill people's embarrassing secrets!" Naruto called out. "Meaning you didn't win, Sakura,"
Still, Sakura was successful at wrestling the hammer out of Naruto's grasp.
"We just started, and you're already being a sore loser? I'm taking this win!" Sakura brought down the hammer on Hanabi's head. The heiress winced a little and rubbed her head, but smiled nevertheless.
"Tch. Cheater. Alright, Sasuke. You up next,"
"I'm sitting this out. I'll probably end up destroying her," He said, while he pointed towards Hanabi with his pinky, still holding his drink.
Hanabi raised a brow Sasuke's way, challenging him. 'Try,'
"Hn. Don't say I didn't warn you," Sasuke stood up, placing his drink on the coffee table, joining them as they stood circling Hanabi.
Sasuke walked up behind Hanabi, disappearing the moment he stepped outside her peripheral vision. Hanabi glanced slightly over her shoulder and saw two hands cover her eyes as he leaned close to her ear to whisper something.
Hanabi touched his hands and lowered them, turning slightly to Sasuke. Everyone watched her eyes narrowing in displeasure, her scorn almost palpable.
'Konohamaru?' She mouthed the name.
When Hanabi's ears twitched, Sasuke smirked in triumph. He then leaned close again, to whisper something. Hanabi figured he must've said "You lose," But wasn't sure as she had immediately shuddered away, while at the same time shoving Sasuke to the side. He had dramatically pretended to stumble away into Sakura, stealing the hammer from Sakura's grasp and bringing it down gently on Hanabi's head.
'Senpai, you're an idiot. You should really mind your own business,' Hanabi gestured to him, thinking he didn't know her at all.
Hanabi wasn't blind. She had already known about Konohamaru, and his feelings for her. Yet what she was most disappointed with, was Sasuke trying to play a matchmaker.
After watching their interaction, Sakura could see how she could easily be taken down by Naruto if she doesn't do something about it.
"Alright, let's add a new rule. Absolutely no touching, and whispering in people's ears," Sakura sweetly.
"Wait, that defeats the purpose of this game, Sakura-chan!" Naruto whined.
"Sorry hon," She replied before turning to someone else. "Konohamaru, you're next,"
Konohamaru gulped down his entire can of beer, finishing it, and crushing it in his hand.
"Yah! Let's go!"
Minutes later, he had been utterly defeated.
"Naruto, your turn," Sakura called out.
Naruto moved to the barstool and sat down. However, he was taken down by Sakura on the first turn.
Sasuke spoke her name, signifying her turn. Sakura nodded and swapped places with Naruto.
They made their rounds, trying to make Sakura laugh. However, Sakura remained undefeated so far, never twitching to anything they tried, meaning she held the winning streak thus far.
"Oi, Sasuke, I think we need to team up and take Sakura-chan down," He purposely whispered, still Sakura heard him. "Let's break some rules. I'm game if you are,"
"Hn," Sasuke agreed, improvising as he followed Naruto.
"Um, what are you two doing?" Sakura asked as Sasuke and Naruto began to take slow steps her way. Naruto slowly unbuttoned his shirt, while Sasuke, who wasn't trying to be too extra, settled for just raising his shirt halfway up as they both approached her.
"No! Stop! Stop! Stop!" Sakura yelled while shying away as they both kept on creeping closer and closer, their abs almost in her face. Naruto laughed and stopped unbuttoning his shirt, then expanding his arms around her. Sasuke let his shirt fall back down before joining in, both hugging her at the same time.
Her cat ears twitched.
"Haha, we got you!" Naruto said while laughing. "Hammer please,"
"What the hell! That was playing dirty!" Konohamaru said in Sakura's defense. "Even I would have blushed,"
Sasuke dismissed Konohamaru, giving Sakura a knowing look.
"The only dirty thing here is her mind. Is Naruto not enough?"
"Oi! Don't bully my Sakura-chan!" Naruto said jokingly while still hugging her.
"Come on, it's also time we bring you down, Teme. I got a feeling we all gotta team up for this," Naruto said as removed the cat-ears from Sakura, installing them on him.
"Good luck, you guys are not as funny as you think," Sakura said with a smile.
"What should we do to him?" Naruto pondered, while scratching his head for ideas. He then looked toward Sakura, Hanabi, and Konohamaru, hoping for their input.
"Hanabi-chan? No way, you got something?" Konohamaru asked as Hanabi got off the sofa, signaling that she would be going first.
Naruto and Sakura stepped to the side, to watch, while Konohamaru returned to the sofa.
Hanabi's hand made the required signs to shift appearance. After the slight smoke cleared out, Hanabi stood there, in her sister's likeness, dressed up in a traditional kimono, giving Sasuke a suggestive smile.
Sasuke yanked the headpiece off before it had the chance to twitch. He pushed himself off the barstool and walked away from them, earning curious glances his way.
"...Um Senpai?" Konohamaru asked, finding Sasuke's reaction both sudden and unexpected.
"This game is getting tiresome," Sasuke pressed his temples as if massaging an impending headache. "Let's play cards, Suna-style," He offered to shuffle as he took out the cards from inside a kitchen drawer.
Sakura repressed her sad smile while nodding, her heart slightly aching on his behalf. Naruto said nothing and went to join Sasuke in the kitchen while dragging the barstool back to where it belonged.
Konohamaru glanced at Hanabi, who finally broke the transformation technique.
"I don't know what's going on, but why does it seem like you knew your actions would upset Senpai?" How could she not know? Hanabi was, after all, close to Sasuke. "That wasn't cool, Hana-chan," Konohamaru reiterated before joining the group back in the kitchen.
Hanabi stood there for half a second.
Ah, she had messed up, huh?
As Sasuke shuffled the cards, he thought back to Hinata, and the fire. Honestly, the entire night, it still perplexed him. The things he had been willing to do for her under the guise of getting something in exchange. He thought about their meeting place and time, thinking catching her, when she's alone, wasn't going to be easy since she'll be constantly surrounded by people before her wedding.
Sasuke distributed the cards, purposely skipping himself, before placing the stack down on the counter.
"Are you just going to watch our game?" Sakura asked.
"Hn. I'm turning in early," Sasuke replied, even though it was 4 am. "Lock up behind you, or crash in the guest rooms, I really don't care. Just don't bother me during my sleep,"
"Ah, sure," Konohamaru replied. "Can't promise we won't make a lot of noise, though,"
'Sorry,' Hanabi signed to him. Sasuke gave a polite half-nod before retreating.
"Don't worry about him, Hanabi-chan. Let him be butt-hurt about a dumb joke. He'll get over it," Naruto said with an unconvincing smile.
As Konohamaru sat there, listening to the exchange, he understood Hinata Hyuga might've probably just become a taboo subject over reasons he could only speculate.
.
Now that they were at home, Shikamaru had to resort to other plans, as it was the perfect location to address what's been on his mind. But what can he do, so things don't remain like this? Even as he reached out, he reconsidered his intentions.
Hinata glanced at the hand that had stopped her from retreating to her chambers a little after they had said their goodnight. She tilted her head, humming back a question, her eyes trailing down as she noticed his shadow retrieving to normal, as though she had just missed it by seconds.
When he gently let go of her arm, she moved to the side, both standing in the open space in the middle of the halls. She had sensed something was off a lot earlier after having returned from the meetings with the other clan leaders and representatives, maybe it had something to do with that…
"Hinata, let me ask you an honest question, did you team up with Uchiha-san tonight?"
How did he…? Does he always know everything? No, that's why he was asking.
"I don't-" Shikamaru stopped her from continuing that sentence with a single look, not buying the act of naivety. Regardless of her wish for social distance, he closed in and leaned an elbow against the wall, a few inches above her head, their shadows merging. Hinata raised her gaze, straightening herself, pretending to be impassive, or perhaps it came out more defiantly.
"What is this now? Some intimidation tactic?" She asked, ignoring their height difference that should've probably made her feel small.
"Well, did you?"
"Shika, we won tonight. Can't you just let it go?"
Hinata looked away when Shikamaru brought himself to her level. There was something intense about his brown eyes she didn't wish to decipher, mixed with darkness in them. Her hands locked against his chest just to maintain some resemblance of distance. Even so, she seemed to be listening, waiting, as if prepared for his scornful response.
"You may have to adjust the way you reference me in relation to you," She was frozen in place, likely processing, or scrambling to make sense of his threat. After noticing his approach had a stronger effect than anticipated, he tried to lighten the blow of his words."I still want to be in your life. But there won't be any us, if it's you and your troublesome lies,"
Hinata could see herself very clearly, standing in the fire, as the gates of hell opened up just then to swallow her whole. She looked back at him, as this thing, whatever this feeling was, began to eat at her from inside. She hated it. It was as though being in a constant state of never-ending heart-pounding panic, as her fight-or-flight sensation was on. It's not that she was afraid Shikamaru would suddenly hurt her. However, he had just threatened to leave her, and it wasn't a threat she took lightly, especially when their wedding was tomorrow.
"I asked him for help. It was before you told me about my family wanting to keep the Uchihas lands… But I had already promised to sell them back, and in return, Uchiha-san agreed he would influence my father's decision as well as the elders…to free everyone,"
Shikamaru suppressed the urge to lash and destroy things in sight with his simmering shadows. He held back, now believing it was his own fault it even happened. She broke their promise due to his inaction, which led to her seeking aid elsewhere. It was his fault. Shino and Kiba were right, he should support her more.
"I'll take care of the elders and figure something out," He retrieved his distance slightly, his shadow residing, leaving hers. "Now, was that too troublesome to share?"
"Shika…let's be a team from now on,"
"Ah," He agreed, and touched her cheek with the back of his hand, his fingers tracing a single tear back to the source.
.
Hanabi woke up and looked around her surroundings. Konohamaru was passed by her side, as both had fallen asleep on the sofa. When Sakura and Naruto were nowhere to be seen, thus, she figured they did end up using the guest room.
She got up to fill a glass with water, thinking to herself that she should probably leave. After downing the glass of water, she filled it up back again, and ruffled through things until she found a medicine cabinet and painkillers.
Making her way towards Sasuke's room, Hanabi quietly entered inside. She approached him by the bed and tapped him on the shoulder, after setting the water and painkillers next to him.
Sasuke's eyelids fluttered open.
In less than a span of a second, his Sharingan and rinnegan were active, taking her down with him, pinning her under him.
"It's just you," He said as he pushed himself off.
Hanabi stayed on her back, unmoving, staring at him as he spoke. After snapping out of her frozen state, she accepted the hand Sasuke held out to her to pull her up. Sasuke moved past her and searched his bed in the dark and found his shirt before tossing it back on, leaving the buttons open.
The light coming from the crack on the door illuminated the room enough to see what Hanabi brought along. He had a tired smile as he reached for the thoughtful gesture as his head felt as though it was splitting.
"I thought you were an assassin," Sasuke explained, after taking the painkiller.
His disheveled hair flowed past his shoulder as he ran a hand through his hair, taming it as much while exiting his chambers, not knowing that beneath the exterior that was her bored expression, hid layers and shades of red.
Hanabi nonchalantly followed and watched from afar as he first woke Konohamaru, before entering the guest room and shaking Sakura awake.
"Where's Naruto?" Sasuke asked.
"An Anbu showed up. It seems Kakashi has some important work for him to do," Sakura replied, seemingly not phased by Sasuke's physical disposition, as she was used to seeing him walking around Naruto's apartment in a similar manner. Even Konohamaru didn't seem to find it unusual.
"Where do I send you? Home or hospital?" Sasuke asked.
"Naruto's apartment," Sakura replied through a yawn, ignoring the gleam in Sasuke's eyes. "Thanks for the lift,"
"See you at the wedding, Sakura-chan!" Konohamaru said while waving.
Right, the wedding. That was tomorrow, wasn't it? Sasuke sent Konohamaru home next, before turning to Hanabi.
When it was her turn, Hanabi lingered, looking nervous.
'Senpai, I'm sorry again about earlier, it wasn't funny to do that, knowing how you feel about-'
"Just stop. I'm not that fragile," Sasuke said while opening up a portal.
'It's because you're fragile that I'm worried,' She signed quickly, before jumping in, disappearing.
Sasuke had realized too late just where he had sent her, as the location had been burnt into his memory by now.
"I bet you she's getting the wrong idea by now," Sasuke mumbled to himself before turning back to head to bed.
.
Senpai has been here before, Hanabi thought to herself, as she slowly walked towards her sister's bed and plopped down, staring aimlessly at the ceiling.
She turned on her side.
Onee-chan, what were you thinking, letting him in here?
It was becoming harder to believe those two, which irritated her way more than it should.
When Hanabi closed her eyes, dozing asleep, she didn't mean to think of anything, like the weight of Sasuke's body, and how secure she had felt while he was on top, a little heavy and just right. It was enough to make her heart speed up, and her body felt alive. She immediately sat up, feeling gross for even thinking about entertaining such thoughts, as Sasuke was off-limits for several reasons, and emotionally unavailable as well.
Hanabi also reminded herself he would never look at her that way since he thinks she's a child, recalling all of his actions, which had implied so. However, she leaned more towards the good memories, such as him listening to her troubles and doing things she considered above and beyond, as he had been the one who helped her overcome her best friend's death. The survivor's guilt was still every day, but she was a little less depressed and able to still function.
He cares about me and that is enough, she decided right before laying back down, falling asleep.
.
Naruto halted and landed behind Kakashi, finding his teacher on the rooftop of the Hokage's tower. Gone were the orange colors Naruto was known to wear, as he was dressed in dark clothes. His golden hair was dyed through a disguise, short dark tresses with a hue of brown when the sun hit at times. His ocean blue eyes were brown to hide his signature features.
"You want me to check the whereabouts of every member of the Yamanaka without using my shadow clones or sage mode?" Naruto asked. "Tch, you know that's going to take a little time, hours even,"
Kakashi half turned. "We may have a missing person on our hands. But I don't know it is yet. And I do not want to tip off the potential suspect of our maneuvers. They'll know that we're searching if they see over a thousand clones of you,"
"If this person knows how we move, or how we think, that means they're close to us. Sensei, just tell me who they are,"
"Even I'm not entirely sure. But if it is whom I suspect, all you need to know is that he was a very valuable part of our everyday operations, that's why I'm hesitant to share their identity with you. I need evidence first, before proceeding with confidence,"
"That's not like you to doubt your own guts. Maybe you're just getting a little too old for this job, sensei. When are you planning to step down?"
Kakashi looked over at Naruto, raising his brow in disapproval. "I'm suspecting you're coming after my job,"
Naruto grinned and shook his head.
"I don't want it any time soon. I kind of like the freedom to travel. Anyway, I'm heading out. Cover for me while I'm gone. Tell Sakura-chan I'm with Shikamaru," Naruto said.
"Will do," Kakashi replied, glancing at the messenger bird on his shoulder that seemed to have fallen asleep. He yawned, turning to head back inside the office.
.
"Hanabi-sama, so this is where you were hiding. What are you doing in your sister's room?" A cousin from the main house side of the family asked as she entered with two Nara maids behind her. It was the middle of the afternoon, and their heiress was still in bed. "We've been busy trying to find catering and cleaning companies to come in and help us. Yet you're just here in bed the whole time instead of helping," She berated her.
Hanabi rubbed her eyes and look at her cousin. She could tell right away that due to the branch member being free, they were low on staffing as some maids decided not to come back to work, waiting for the changes to be implemented, and their curse seal to be removed, and wages to be implemented.
Hanabi slowly got up from bed, wondering why there were Nara maids with her. The question was answered when Hinata walked past them, gleaming.
'Onee-chan!' Hanabi smiled widely. 'I didn't know you'll be here today. Let me guess, the ritual?'
"Yes,"
'Do you mind if I stick around?' Hanabi asked. 'I've never been to one before,'
"Sure, but please don't cause any trouble to the team," She motioned to the Nara maids who got right to work as the door was closed behind them. Hinata walked over to the vanity chair and sat down and waited.
Not knowing much about the Hyuga customs, they followed Hinata's instructions. Her hair was braided and pinned up, out of the way, topped with a side ornament. They left the room to allow Hinata to change.
Hanabi looked away when Hinata stripped completely before slipping into a white silk gown, and a white kimono with their clan logo embroidered on her back.
Hinata turned to Hanabi, who was laying about on her bed, still wearing the same clothes from last night. She almost wanted to ask how it went, what she did with the group, and if she had fun as Team 7 had left the festival early with Konohamaru.
"Did you drink a lot last night?"
'Nope,'
Hinata left at that, turning back to her reflection.
"You know, I really don't see the purpose of going through this ritual when the end goal is just the same,"
Hanabi raised a brow. 'We both know it is customary to bathe in the pond of truths before the big day. Onee-chan, are we going to find falsehood in the water?'
"You sound like father," She ignored Hanabi's side eye. "I wonder if they're enforcing the ritual since I have been staying with Shika. However, he's tainted me plenty with all the things he's done. Even I have to wonder if my virtue is still intact,"
'Ew. I didn't want to know that,' Hanabi deadpanned.
.
The hot spring had been around for some time, always off-limits until the night before the wedding, as the water had strange properties, sentient in nature since chakra flowed around it.
Hanabi saw there was nothing remarkable about the appearance of the pond, except for all the Dahlia flower buds floating about the clear water.
"So this is the pond?" A Nara maid asked a female trustee which the elders had sent to witness the ritual on their behalf.
"Yes," The trustee replied. "Isn't it amazing that our ancestors had simple ways of making certain our purity could be measured?"
"I find it unsettling that the men in your family sit around wondering if your maidenly virtue is still intact as if having an heir is not in the plans," The Nara replied.
Hinata ignored their banter over their differences in point of view, as she walked to the pond. Hanabi held her breath in anticipation as her sister approached it, for there it was, the truth.
The moment Hinata's toe touched the water, it glowed light blue, transforming into the color of the sky, releasing a pulse of her chakra. Hinata hugged herself as she settled inside, the white ritual kimono getting soaked in the process. She glanced at the representative, who nodded, pleased with the water's transformation.
"I'll relay the good news to your father and the elders," The female trustee said, before reaching her hand out to Hanabi. "Now come, Hanabi-sama, I heard about how you've been slacking off while everyone has been working hard,"
Hinata giggled, watching her sister being led away. She turned to the Nara maids on standby.
"Feel free to walk around and explore. I'll come to find you when I'm done,"
The Nara maid that had been standing by with a towel, walked by the rocks and placed it down, before joining their other family member while giggling.
"Let's go and explore,"
.
Once left to herself, Hinata sank deeper into the pond, watching the overcast, clear sky. The ornamental hairpiece percolated as she spun around, after sensing someone's eyes on her.
"Nara," Sasuke greeted, casually, by the waters. A few minutes ago he was up and about getting ready to leave his home, when he felt a pulse of a chakra belonging to her, her location made known. It surprised him she would be back home.
Hinata could not control the feelings rising, spreading, consuming her cheeks. She sank deeper in, hugging herself for the sake of modesty. She glared at the newcomer. He really shouldn't be here.
Sasuke tilted his head. "Why do you pretend to be shy when you were willing to sell your soul last night? Or are you mad that I'm interrupting your spa time?"
"It has nothing to do with pretending," She uncrossed her arms. "Do you actually intend on doing this now? I'm in the middle of an important ritual," She tried to stall.
"Yes, I can see how busy you are deflecting me and trying to swindle me out of what was promised. You and I had a deal, remember?"
"And we also had a time and place which we had agreed to," And that was tomorrow, before the wedding.
"Right. But if I don't catch you today, before you walk down the aisle, I'm quite aware of who will be the one to own my ancestor's lands," Sasuke dipped his hand in the water as he spoke. The water turned crimson, the color of blood. The floating dahlias in the water bloomed and opened, the center of the flower releasing small floating orbs of lights. He removed his hand, with questions in his eyes as it had reverted to normal, yet Hinata's kimono had remained the same color. "What's with the chakra in the water?"
She didn't answer, merely glaring at him, as if he had just ruined something. She reached out, instead, and stretched her hand towards him.
"Just hand the towel that's by you," She motioned to the rocks, which had a towel neatly folded.
He very much obliged, not thinking she would just emerge out of the water, with her white cotton kimono fully soaked, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. He was stunned to look away, the towel slipping through his fingers, never stopping to wonder why her hands were hidden behind her back.
When she took a step, Sasuke was able to discern her train of thought, as she activated her Byakugan and tossed a few weapon-stars his way, which he easily dodged.
"Attack me again, and let's just say you might not make it to your wedding on time. Now hurry up,"
Still, he averted his eyes this time as she climbed out of the pond to pick up the towel by his feel. Hinata draped it around herself and disappearing into the house, reemerging minutes later after changing into a dry kimono, similar to the one she had just worn.
He opened up a portal as she approached him.
"Get in,"
"Where does it lead to?" Hinata asked. Sasuke didn't answer, pushing her slightly into the portal. "This can easily be considered a hostage situation, Advisor-san. Do you really want to add kidnapping to your growing list of offenses against my clan and the village?" Hinata said as she walked in first.
"Hn, so you're suddenly a Hyuga when it benefits you," He said dryly as he followed after her.
Her visual senses were bombarded with brightness. However, her eyes quickly adjusted to the afternoon sun which bathed the massive open space. Hinata turned, noticing every side of his penthouse faced the village, as the tall clear windows overlooked almost every corner, including the mountainside that the Inuzuka clan occupied.
This was Sasuke's home, wasn't it?
Sasuke stopped in front of her and stretched out his hand, opening his palm as if collecting payment. She crossed her arms, instead of complying. Opting to explore, she cut across the living room, walking up a few steps, pausing in front of the high ceiling windows which oversees the village and the Hokage's tower.
"I don't know about you, but I might've not been in the right state of mind last night," She said to his reflection as he walked up behind her.
"Neither was I," It's not like he went to the event thinking he would end up here, doing this. "And now here we are. Give it up," He said, his expression serious, obviously not in the mood for anything other than what was owed. "Or are you saying the price wasn't worth their freedom?"
She continued to stare outside the window, catching a glimpse of a tall, burnt structure, no doubt remnants of last night's bonfire. It all came back to her, the dabbles in light flirtation until she got what she wanted from him.
Hinata frowned, reaching around her herself, taking off the small necklace, and finally complying. She pushed a button on the side of it, and it released a small, tiny scroll. She unleashed the seal, and her hand held a large document and handed it to him. It was better the documents returned to him anyway.
Sasuke rolled it open, reading the deeds to his ancestral land while taking a few steps back, with a pleasing smile.
"Pleasure doing business with you," He said, satisfied with its authenticity. Sasuke rolled it back in and tucked the scroll away.
"Good riddance, that this will be the last time,"
"Not unless we could agree on something," Sasuke said.
"Agree on what? And since when do we ever agree on anything?"
A foreign chakra flickered as it got closer.
Sasuke believed he understood her panic. Whoever it was, it was estimated they would arrive in less than a second. Just as she made hand signals to disguise herself, he quickly took off his cloak, covering her hair, before turning to the newcomer.
"Uchiha-san! Lord Hokage requests your presence immediately! We have someone in custody as a suspect in an attempted murder,"
"Hn. I'll be there as soon as I can,"
The Anbu, however, had taken an interest in the petite person, hiding behind Sasuke. Sasuke felt her clinging even closer to his back. They gave up once they saw that her identity was obstructed.
Sasuke looked over his shoulder once the Anbu was gone.
"I don't think they saw you," Sasuke said, to ease her thoughts. He turned around when she finally let go.
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Don't mind me, I'm just editing, but feel free to leave a review!
7-22.