Title: Speak Up
Disclaimer: I'm not entirely sure if Sasuke and Hinata have even officially met in the series.
Rating: PG ( K+ ) – For nothing but fluffy insinuation, a bit of violence against Ichiraku's ramen stand and a couple naughty words here or there. (NOTE: Rating has gone up. I added a P to the G.)
Spoilers: Umm...I guess I've given away that Sakura becomes a medic-nin, does that count?

Summary: Naruto shook her off and confronted Sasuke again, "Not until he apologizes and promises to leave Hinata-chan alone!" SasuHinaNaru.

Maybe I finished it this time...

Chapter Three: Say My Name

Other than the vein throbbing in his forehead, Sasuke showed no outer signs of vexation. Inside, however, the Uchiha avenger was roiling with irritation; just how many girls were going to faint in his arms before he died?

'Too many,' was the number he had already calculated. Shifting the unconscious Hinata to rest more naturally in the crook of his elbow, Sasuke sighed. He supposed this girl couldn't help it, what with having a bloody lump on her forehead that (presumably) had given her a concussion.

It really figured, though; the single time he had proactively kissed a girl, she passed out. More than likely, she wouldn't even remember his thwarted attempt when she woke up, thus giving his pride a permanent limp.

Still, Sasuke concluded, it was probably for the best that Hinata wouldn't remember their sort of-kiss. At least that way he would be the only one with knowledge of the half-baked endeavor.

"Nng..."

Well, the idiot that had pushed Hinata into the wall might know something, but Sasuke highly doubted that he would say anything. Not if he valued the use of his diaphragm, at least.

With a quiet coo, Hinata turned into the available pocket of warmth between herself and Sasuke's body. She nuzzled unconsciously against the firm expanse of Sasuke's stomach through his sweatshirt, mumbling a few words that were impossible to understand. They sounded vaguely like "naru" and "toe."

'Naru-to.'

The insignificant portion of ramen in Sauske's stomach curdled at the name those two garbled syllables formed. 'Stupid dobe...,' was the unintended thought that floated over the surface of his mind.

What were the odds that the only tolerable girl in the entire village would be in love with Naruto, of all people?

'Stupid girl,' Sasuke thought, though he didn't think he really meant it. One glance down at her sleeping face and he knew he didn't mean it, though he wished he did. Life would have been so much easier.

Unfortunately, Sasuke had carried his burden for the Hyuuga girl for so long that he couldn't even fathom giving it up any longer. It had all begun when he was twelve years old, this weird...feeling he harbored for Hinata. That day, such a long time ago that she had probably forgotten, when he had landed right in her –

"Oi! Sasuke!"

Startled, Sasuke tensed his arms around Hinata, pulling her so hard into his chest that she squeaked in discomfort. The Uchiha avenger pivoted on his heels, one arm wrapped protectively around Hinata and the other poised to strike with a kunai, and relaxed when he recognized the two brightly-colored figures trotting towards him.

"Sasuke! What the hell happened?" Naruto demanded, skidding to a halt so quickly that he lost his balance. With a curse, he tipped over and landed on top of the pedestrian that Sasuke had beaten for Hinata.

"Unngh!" the man groaned.

Naruto ignored him. "Where the hell did you – Ahh! What did you do to Hinata, you pervert?" the kyuubi screeched, reaching out to snatch the Hyuuga heiress away from the Uchiha.

With a well-placed punch to the jaw, Sasuke prevented the action, sending Naruto falling over backwards. The man beneath him whimpered pitifully. "Nothing, dobe," Sasuke snarled, holding the heiress closer.

"Then why is she – ?"

"Sasuke-kun! Naruto!" Sakura panted, finally catching up to the group sitting around in the middle of the sidewalk. She stopped herself with more control than Naruto, propping herself up with her hands on her knees. "What...happened?"

"Nothing," Sasuke intoned in a harsh, impatient voice.

After returning his kunai to the pouch on his thigh, Sasuke slipped his right arm beneath Hinata's knees and pulled her entire body up against his torso. With an almost imperceptible grunt, Sasuke stood, bringing the Hyuuga heiress up with him.

Taking a step forward, he demanded, "Move."

Sakura backed up a few feet, giving her long-time love interest a wide berth. "Wait, where are you going?"

"I'm taking her to the hospital," Sasuke mumbled, careful to step on the man he had wounded on his way past his two former teammates.

Ignoring their wide-eyed and open-mouthed expressions, the Uchiha avenger stalked away down the street, bumping innocent bystanders out of his way as he went.

When he was no more than a few hundred yards away, he could hear Naruto scream in unrestrained outrage, "Then what the fucking hell were we fighting about? SASUKE-TEME!"

— — —

Authors Notes: Nope, not finished. Another sort of idea popped in my head while I was in the shower (that's right; fantasize at your own risk!) that I might use, but that might take a few more chapters to develop (I can see you pumping your fist in the air, you know. Stop that!) Said idea wil involve a bit more of the NaruHina angle, which should make the story more interesting. I'm going to add a bit more NaruHina anyway, but...We'll just see how everything works out, ne?

Next, I fully intend to write in either Naruto or Sakura's POV; haven't decided which yet. I guess you'll find out.

Wow, I'm doing pretty good with this whole "updating" thing so far...let's see how long it will last n.n; Keep your fingers crossed and your thoughts happy!

Once again, completely un-beta'd. I'll probably get around to that when I've finished the story, but we'll see. My grammar isn't that bad, anyway...right? n.n;

. ( . Ms Videl Son . ) .

– Love can be black and white. SasuHina.