Yes I know, I haven't updated in a while. Its school I tell you 25 page research paper due in April. I hate school. But I love you guys, and thak you all for the reviews. This chapter mostly involves Sakura/Sasuke/Sai, but it also has Hinata/family as well.
Once again I don't own Naruto.
Five days had come and gone in Konohagakure. On the sixth day at first light, the gray haired copy-nin strode to the top of a familiar hill, where the Memorial Stones stood proudly. Kakashi was not at all surprised to find his former protégée Sasuke down on bended knee. Sasuke stood on days end, like he has for many years that have passed. It had become a ritual for between the two.
Casually squatting next to the younger man. "Why do you linger here, when the one you longed for is now among the living?" He asked watching as the sun kissed the top of each stone.
Sasuke was emotionally detached when it came to people outside his bubble of comfort, but with Kakashi and Naruto who didn't judge him he could lower his defenses.
"Sakura wasn't the only reason I remained faithful to coming here each day. I'm the reason why some of these names are engraved here, not to mention the civilians." Which included Sakura's parents he thought silently. "And there is also my clansmen, who I never had the heart to face until, I could be worth of the Uchiha name."
"I see. You still have guilt for the people who were lost in the second Sound invasion, which you were not a part of."
"Don't kid yourself, or me. After I fled from Orochimaru, he thought I would take refuge here. So whether I was apart of the slaughter or not." Sasuke paused letting his word hover for a bit. "I'm indirectly responsible, and the council let me off with nothing more, than a slap on the wrist. I get five years probation, and I'm stuck at the level of Jonin until I turn 21. What kind of justice is that?"
Kakashi understood, he too thought Sasuke should have been handed down a stiffer sentence. Yet, it's not his place to judge the man, nor would he after the sentencing had been passed.
"Do you want to be punished Sasuke?" Kakashi asked casually. Sasuke looked at the man he could call a brother, even a father figure. He sighed knowing there was a lesson Kakashi had in store. One thing about Kakashi he doesn't waste his breath on meaningless brattle, unless he lies or out having a drink with his comrades.
"What good is your death Sasuke? It want bring back does who were lost, nor will it ease the suffering of their loved ones. Your one life can't replace the dozens of lives lost to Orochimaru's army." Kakashi looked over at the younger man, to see a flicker of understanding in his onyx eyes. "Furthermore you returned when Konoha was at its last lines of defense. You turned the battle in our favor when you and Naruto vanquished Orochimaru's as a team."
"I think you've been punished enough. Between your family, and the people who were casualties to this war, I'd say you have enough guilt to last you two life times. The important thing Sasuke is to feel the guilt and loss, but don't hold on too tightly to your guilt. It'll ruin you as it did my father."
Between the people who knew what happened to Sakumo Hatake, Sasuke was the only other person who knew what truly happened to the White Fang.
"So I just let it go?"
"Something like that." Kakashi mused, as his eye crinkled. Sasuke smirked at Kakashi's juvenile like behavior.
"Thank You."
"Anytime." Kakashi replied. "Oh and Sasuke." Sasuke sighed knowing what was coming next.
"About your fiancée." Sasuke stiffened at the thought of his bride to be.
"You are aware that since you are heir and patriarch to the Uchiha family, you have all rights and privileges to break your contract to her." Kakashi said as his shoulders sagged more than usual.
Sasuke grunted. "I'm aware, but my parent's arranged it. I'm just following their wishes."
"Yes, honoring your families will, is a noble gesture, but at this point they'd just want you to be happy, considering the circumstances." Sasuke stood from the ground with a perplexed look in his eyes. He gave a bow to the headstones and to Kakashi before he started back down the hill.
'I'm rooting for you Sasuke, but Sai will be vying for the attention of our cherry blossom. Either way it goes both would be lucky to have her.' Kakashi thought as he pulled out his trusty orange book. "So Obito where were we? Oh yes, chapter five: Junko's revenge." Kakashi sat reading out load to the headstones.(A/N. I really don't know th character in the book.)
It was horrible, awful, atrocious, it was down right sinful. I thought Ino had a screeching voice was bad, but this Yuya made Ino's voice sound like an angel's sigh.
Yuya is Sasuke's fiancée. She had gotten the low down on every piece of juicy gossip Ino was just dying to tell her, for years. Apparently Sasuke's parent's cursed him, to marry Yuya. According to Ino, Yuya was spending the Uchiha fortune, like a mad woman, and Sasuke let her just so she'd leave him alone.
Yuya wasn't well liked, but that obvious fact escaped her. When she would come around other would find reasons to leave. Naruto who was famous for eating at least a dozen bowls of ramen left his first bowl half finished when she came his way. And Genma who was the lover to most of the beautiful women in Konoha was sent diving for cover when she was present.
Now her she was chatting my ears off. Me the victim in her long list of victims before me, listening to her endless chatter of what's she has, what she bought, and what she is going to buy. I was disappointed and felt sorry for Sasuke would marry her. I supposed I envy her a bit. I still love Sasuke, but he isn't mine, or perhaps I've simply been around enough to know that 'happily ever after' was only for fairy tales. I sigh at the thought of not believing in my pipe dream.
I looked at the Yuya's poutty cherry painted lips, just itching to throw a kunai in. As I wrestle with the idea I fidget with my hands, trying, not to draw my weapon.
Just as I was at my wits end, a puff of smoke exploded next to the table, scaring the woman into silence.
It was the Hyuuga messenger. "Ms. Haruno, your presence is requested at the Hyugga estate immediately: By order of Lord Hiashi." The ninja gave me a slight nod and was gone in a cloud of smoke.
Quickly turning back to Yuya I smiled brightly. "Seeing as I'm needed elsewhere, I must go."
"Of course!" Yuya shouted gaining the attention of others. "We'll get together again." I smiled waywardly, at the thought of listening to her talk again.
Making my way down the dirt road, heading 'away' from the Hyuuga district, I fumed. Hiashi summoned me like I'm one of his underlings. I was so angry that I nearly missed the fact that someone was shadowing me.
Casually keeping my pace, I let my chaser follow me until the next street, where briefly I'd be out their line of sight, to make my move.
Following Sakura was easy enough. She stepped out of The Konoha Inn, early, but she didn't get a chance to go anywhere when Yuya ambushed her. I genuinely laughed at her predicament. I've had my share of run-ins with the woman that almost ended, in blood shed.
Following her on the busy filled street was fine until I lost sight of her. You'd think I wouldn't lose her considering she sticks out like a sore thumb.
I instantly take in a breath as I felt the cool metal at the nap of my neck.
"Well if it isn't Sai."
I curse myself silently at my mistake. I was ANBU dammit and she was… I don't know what level of power she had achieved since her absents but it's clearly more than what I've heard of her talent, which was none existent.
"Ugly." I addressed her.
"You still looking for that fight?" she asked amused.
"Hardly." I said taking in her suspicious eyes.
"Then why?" She asked.
"Perhaps I wanted to see how you're adjusting to being back." I said laying my trap. "I've seen how the traitor has adjusted, and he hasn't been the same since.
"Traitor?" she echoed.
"Uchiha. He visits the Memorial Stones daily, as if it'd erase his sins that are stained in blood."
"You mean he.."
"No." If he did, do you still think he'd be prancing around." I stated giving her time to take in my words. "He partially responsible at least, but he's part of the reason some of people are without a father, a mother, sister, or brother." Seeing a brief flicker of emotion pass through her green orbs at my manipulation, it pained me a bit, but it was needed, and this last piece of information, will blow her mind. "Not only were shinobi's lives were taken, but civilians as well. Civilians which included your parents."
Sakura darted her angry green eyes at Sai, which held a undeniable raging green flame.
Sai however remained passive as he always did. "If you want a more intimate perspective, why don' you ask Sasuke himself." I dared a glance in her eyes that danced with inquisitiveness. I begin to walk past her, but stopped as I stood side by side with her. "We found him standing over their bodies before they died."
Sakura eyes widened, before turning to Sai, to call him on his "lie". But he had disappeared into the crowd.
(A.N. I would leave it her but you guys deserve more than this.)
"Are you sure she understood the message?" Hiashi asked in a cold voice.
"Yes sir." The man was on bended knee, with his right arm resting on the ground and his left propped up, with his head bowed.
"Then why us she not standing before me?" Hiashi fumed. The messenger didn't know, but he wasn't willing to give that incompetent answer to his lord,
"My lord forgive my interruption, but the girl is here."A guard of the branch family
intruded.
"See her in." Hiashi looked down to the man bowed at his feet and dismissed him.
Sakura strolled in as if she was Kakashi reporting a training session.
"Have you been away, so long that you forgotten where the Hyuuga district is?" Hiashi asked not so thrilled with her nonchalant entrance.
"Hiashi you may be the leader of this pack, but I not one of your wolves." Sakura explained. "There are only three people who can request my presence at a moments notice. And you're not one of them."
Hiashi eyes narrowed at Sakura's defiance. "Your deviant display of behavior is staggering. It's no doubt my daughter picked up on this behavior."
"I'm sorry I don't know Hanabi that well."
"I was speaking of my eldest daughter Hinata."
"Hinata, your daughter? Since when?" Sakura said feigning ignorance.
That remark earned Sakura many cruel glares from the prestigious clan.
Sakura smirked they're all geniuses at fighting, but they leave themselves open for verbal attacks.
Ignoring the young woman's accusation he calmed himself. She had no idea what he felt for his daughter, nor did he dignify her with an answer.
"Haruno the reason I called you here is to speak with Hinata. She refuses to listen to reason. She is only delaying the inevitable." Hiashi stated in earnest. "While I admire her will to fight, I fear my daughter is in over her head. Hanabi is a formidable opponent."
Sakura kept a calm face, but laughing her ass off in her head. "A formidable opponent to others, yes. To Hinata an insect about to be crushed."
"You have faith in Hinata's abilities, that's very admirable, but I know Hinata uses and they are few."
"You don't even know her." Sakura regarded him with a cool gaze. "So how would you know what use she is?"
Hiashi became silent, and the elders saw him falter at his crumbling facade, at Sakura's venom laced words.
The eldest stood up. "Either way Hinata will fail with or without your intervention." He said staring at the young girl. "Neji see her out." Neji nodded.
In the foyer, of the Hyuuga estate Neji walked Sakura to the door. Sakura had never spoken to Neji, but she knew his story, so she never expected this. "Neji, you certainly look comfortable sitting in with the main family." Neji spared her a glance. "Look at yourself Neji. You're a sell-out to them."
Once they were at the door Neji opened pointed out. Sakura smirked. "What did they promise you, Neji? A removal of that seal that sits on your brow?"
Neji was unresponsive, to words that rang true in his head. He was a sell-out. Sakura left, but she took a look back at Neji. "Oh run back to your masters, and tell them Hanabi's rudimentary fighting style want get the job done."
After exiting the gate Sakura found Hinata meditating, on her old training ground. Sensing the other woman's presence. "Well?" Hinata asked.
"You're right, they are nervous, except Hanabi. She still thinks she's invincible"
"As I anticipated them to be." Hinata giggled a bit. "Kinda makes you feel good, to know that they fear you."
"Yes, undoubtedly." Sakura responded. "By this time tomorrow you'll be, the undisputed heiress."
"What do you mean Sakura? I already am." Hinata smiled.
"True that." Sakura said laughing at Hinata's antics
.The night had came swiftly it was already noon. Hinata stood in her families small arena, anticipating the arrival of her family.
Lifting her head she saw them approach. The entire main branch and Neji walked in open support for Hanabi.
'So they decided to keep the branch family out.' Hinata thought. If she needed any help she knew Sakura was hidden within one of the trees ready to jump in at a moments notice.
Her father and elders took up their esteemed seats that were several feet off the ground. While others took to the bleachers seats. Hanabi walked to her side of the arena floor.
"Honorable elders. Hanabi spoke. "I hear by give Hinata the chance to forfeit this match, without consequence."
"The elders and my father looked down their noses at me. "Hinata do you except, Hanabi's offer?"
Hinata looked at her father. She almost saw a pleading in his eyes, but Hanabi interrupted her analyses.
"Take the deal Hinata. Forgo the match." Hanabi said in her over confident tone. Hinata responded to Hanabi by taking the classic Hyuuga style fighting stance.
Hanabi laughed and shook her head. "As you wish." She got in her stance. The veins around the edges of their eyes became prominent. Both girls pushed off their right leg charging each other.
Don't kill me, but I'm trying to get the next chapter in by the end of the week. So please let me know what you think, by reviewing.