Thank you my dear friend I-Love-Trunks for your detailed comment, always makes me happy, hugs.


In the late afternoon, Hinata took her young son by the hand and made her way to the bustling store at the centre of the village. She felt that she was being followed. As she perused the aisles, she spotted Sasuke out of the corner of her eye, holding his daughter Sarada snugly in his arms.

Despite her initial surprise, Hinata tried to ignore Sasuke's presence and focus on her shopping. She swiftly collected the items on her list and made her way to the checkout, only to find Sasuke in line behind her, waiting to pay for his own purchases.

As they exited the store, Hinata quickened her pace, hoping to put some distance between herself and Sasuke. But he caught up to her in no time. She stopped on the road and turned to face him.

"What are you doing? Do you have a mission to observe me?"she snapped irritated.

His sharp senses detect something different about her today. He walked closer to her and sniffed.

"You smell different." he said, his voice low and serious. Her cheeks flushed and her heart rate increased from his proximity.

She looked at him growing increasingly frustrated with herself and with Sasuke's persistent presence, then she huffed and hurried back to her home in the Hyuga compound. Once there, Hinata found solace in the soothing process of making a batch of fragrant soap, mixing together a blend of natural ingredients and adding in some lavender and rose leaves for a pleasant aroma. She carefully mixed the ingredients in a pot before pouring the mixture into moulds to harden. This batch will last her a while.

As she worked, one of the household servants approached her, captivated by the delightful scent wafting through the air. "Oh Hinata-Sama, it smells so great, what did you make?" the girl asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.

Hinata smiled warmly at the girl, pleased by her enthusiasm. "It's soap bars," she explained. "I'll give you one if you like."

The servant eagerly accepted the offer, grateful for Hinata's kindness. As they chatted, the servant confided in Hinata about her young orphaned relative who was struggling to find a place in the world. Her mother is his aunt. His village got robbed in the war aftermath and the thugs slaughtered everyone.

Feeling a pang of sadness for the boy, Hinata listened attentively as the girl, named Kiki, shared more about his situation. Not everyone is leaving in peace after the war as they thought they were. He needed a safe and nurturing environment to spend his days after returning home from the academy, until his caretakers could prepare dinner and spend time with him in the evenings.

Hinata gave her the soap bar and told her to look after the kids until the orphanage is built. Kiki doesn't have to cook for the main house as there is no one there. Hinata or other servants will cook for the elders.

As she was drifting off to sleep, she couldn't help but think about Sasuke and his strange behaviour. Why was he following her and why did he care about how she smelled? She shrugged it off and fell into a deep sleep, determined to put him out of her mind.

The next morning, she returned to the district. She has to discuss more with the contractor about the new ideas for the orphanage based on the information she had gathered the night before. She needed to create a specialized training ground and a smaller sleeping area as the children would have dinner and sleep with their respective families. A nursery was also necessary for the younger children.

As she inspected the work site, she noticed that the wall had been half demolished, with the rest to be completed by the next day. After a brief visit, she returned to the compound, where she saw Sasuke watching her from his front door. She paid him no attention, and went straight to her son.

Hinata was exhausted and longed to take a nap, sleep had evaded her the last few days. Every time she closed her eyes, thoughts of Sasuke haunted her. She hates him, she despises him with such intensity that no other emotion could permeate her being.

Her mind was also preoccupied with worrying about her family. When will they be released?

She started to get blessed with a dreamless sleep when one of the servants woke her up by announcing Naruto's presence in the meeting room. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and headed to the meeting room to find Naruto waiting for her with a folder in his hand.

"I brought you the divorce papers," he said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Looks like you can't escape your fate as the clan leader… Hinata?"

"I have to, especially with Tou-sama and Hanabi's absence," Hinata replied. "Do you know if I can visit them today?"

"They're still in isolation," Naruto said, his voice softening a bit. "No one is allowed to see them."

"I see." She said in sad toon.

Naruto played with Boruto a little and then went to his lone friend.

"Fuck, what do you want again dobe?"

"Just checking on my lonely friend," Naruto replied. "You should be happy. At least someone is still tolerating you."

"I don't need you to check on me idiot, just get lost."

"So, Hinata is single again," Naruto said, a mischievous glint in his eye ignoring his comments "If you don't act quickly, the suitors will start lining up."

"She said she's not marrying anyone," Sasuke pointed out.

"I know, but her clan won't let her stay single forever," Naruto said. "They'll surely force her to marry some noble idiot."

"Hinata is stubborn, and she won't let them control her life," Sasuke replied confidently.

"Again true, but maybe she'll like one of them," Naruto mused.

"I doubt she'll be interested," Sasuke said curtly.

"I feel sorry for you bastard, you will spend the rest of your life alone."

"Fuck off Naruto."

"See you tomorrow, Temmee," Naruto said, grinning as he left the dwelling.

"Don't come back idiot, I will surely kill you." Sasuke shouted as he watched Naruto disappear down the street.

Sasuke's emotions were running high as he contemplated Naruto's words. What if they were true? He couldn't bear the thought of losing Hinata forever. He needed her back in his life, and he was willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. She would be his, or no one's.

Meanwhile, Hinata was taken aback by a surprise visit from some girls of the branch family, who were looking for her. Kiki was among them, and they were all interested in the soap that Hinata had made for herself. "Hello Kiki, is everything alright?

"The girls liked the smell of the soap you gave me yesterday and they want to buy one from you. "

"But I don't sell them. I was just making them for my own use."

"I told them that, but they insisted on having the same soap from you. " kiki said looking at the girls.

"Yes please Hinata-Sama, we want to smell like Kiki-Chan too. " said one of the girls.

"I will make you all a bar. I don't want the money, it's a gift from me. But don't tell anyone about this. "

"Thank you Hinata-Sama, " they said in unison and bowed before leaving.

"Kiki, come tomorrow to take the soaps. "

"Hai, Hinata-sama. "

As for Sakura, she arrived in the district to see her daughter, Saradaand tell him the 'good' news.

"Sasuke-Kun, Naruto proposed to me and I accepted. We will have a small wedding in a few weeks. I don't want any hard feelings between us. We have to be friends for our kids."

"hm, congrats." Sasuke said uninterested.

"Did you speak to Naruto?"

"Your idiot 'fiance' is popping here every day. Tell him to stop bothering me."

"Is he visiting Hinata?"

"Probably."

"Can I take Sarada with me? I have a few days off." Sakura asked.

"hm." He nodded.

Hinata was in need of additional ingredients and moulds, and so she sent one of the servants to shop for her. She anticipated that Sasuke would follow her, as he had done in the past, and she was not looking forward to seeing him.

To avoid any harm to her son, Hinata prepared a fire outside of the kitchen to make soap. The smell of the soap is too strong and with this quantity may be toxic.

It was getting dark in the evening. As she mixed the ingredients in a big pot with a huge wooden spoon, she heard a voice that startled her. "I knew you were a witch,"

'Where is this voice coming from?' She looked good around and found him leaning on the half broken wall that separated the compound from the district.

"Sa.. Sasuke!!" she whispered in surprise.

"What are you doing? Mixing a love potion?"

"I have enough of the stupid love. This is a private kitchen. What are you doing here? "

"You're not in the kitchen, and I'm sure you put some love potion in my food." Sasuke teased.

"I put nothing unusual in your food. What do you want?" Hinata asked, growing impatient.

"What is this smell? Smells like your soap."

"Yes. I'm making soap for some girls from the branch family. It's just a small batch for them, I'm not selling it." She answered irritably.

"I see. You look different when you're making soap. You look... happy." Sasuke commented.

Hinata was surprised by Sasuke's observation. She didn't expect him to notice something like that. "I...I enjoy making soap. It's calming and it allows me to express my creativity. It's something I can do for myself and for others."

"You told me you'd give me one," Sasuke reminded her.

"Fine, I'll send you one tomorrow. "

"..." He looked at her intently.

"Anything else?" She asked, blushing under his gaze.

"Are you searching for new marriage proposals? " Sasuke asked, his tone turning serious.

Hinata was taken aback by his question. "Of course not," she replied firmly.

"Even if someone is as pretty and beautiful as I am?" Sasuke asked with a smirk.

"I'd rather die." she looked at him frowning.

"Even then, I'll follow you," Sasuke whispered and disappeared before she could respond.

As the afternoon stretched on, Hinata busied herself by making soaps, taking care to wrap them in fancy packaging. She relished the distraction, grateful for the respite from the constant thoughts about Sasuke and the tumultuous events that had transpired between them. His proximity only made it more difficult to forget him, and she longed to erase every memory of their time together, from his sweet kisses to their intimate conversations and shared laughter.

The following morning, Hanabi and Ko returned to the compound, and Hinata was quick to greet them with a warm welcome. "Yokatta you are back. Welcome back, Ko-San. I am so sorry for everything that happened. It is all my fault. Please forgive me," she said, her voice laced with tears.

Hinata's apology was met with Ko's reassurance. "Hinata-Sama, you have nothing to do with this," he said kindly. Hanabi, on the other hand, seemed more interested in the situation at hand. "Nee-San, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"There is no one here. Father is still detained," Hinata replied, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "Yes, the Sixth told us," Hanabi said, her voice heavy with concern.

"Please rest and have something to eat. We'll talk later," Hinata offered, keen to shift the focus away from the troubling matter.

Hinata went to the kitchen to prepare them something to eat. Hanabi followed her.

"I saw Sasuke-San on the way here. He was in a house in the district. Did he move here?" she asked curiously.

Hinata took a deep breath before responding. "Hanabi, I have a lot to tell you about that. Rest first, then we'll talk,"

After a brief respite, the sisters reconvened to discuss the matter at hand. "That fucking bastard! I thought he was a good man," Hanabi snapped angrily, still reeling from the news.

"What did you tell the Hokage?" Hinata asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"Everything," Hanabi replied matter-of-factly, her resolve unwavering.

"We have to tell the Taketori clan that the deal is off," Hinata stated, the weight of the situation bearing down on her.

"We better wait until Tou-Sama comes out," Hanabi suggested, her words measured and thoughtful.

"I'm sorry, Hanabi. I know you liked Taisuke-Kun," Hinata said apologetically, her heart heavy with guilt.

"If he really likes me, this shouldn't be a problem for him," Hanabi replied, her voice resolute.

Hinata took a deep breath before she revealed the news to sister. "Naruto-Kun and I are divorced," she said, looking down.

"What?" Hanabi's expression transformed from confusion to shock.

"Yes, it's true," Hinata continued, her voice steady. "We didn't get along for some time now. But I don't regret it. In fact, I feel like I've found myself again. I neglected my needs for too long."

"Did he hit you?" Hanabi asked, narrowing her eyes, her voice low and cautious.

"No, Hanabi, No, Na… Naruto-Kun is a gentleman." Hinata shook her head but Hanabi wasn't convinced.

Before lunch, Hinata went to the district as usual. The wall was completely demolished but the construction area was protected with a barrier. She saw a group of kids playing in the grounds, finally having some space.

As she walked through the construction site, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and hope for the future. She knew that this orphanage would make a huge difference in the lives of the children who would live there, and she was grateful to be able to play a small part in making it a reality.

The construction of the orphanage was going well. Ko was with her, "Ko-San, can you make me a list with the orphan kid's names and age? We need to know how many kids there will be."

"Sure Hinata-Sama."

They returned to the compound from where the wall was. She saw from the corner of her eyes Sasuke leaning on a pillar in his backyard.

"Is he why you divorced Naruto-San?" Ko whispered glaring at him.

Hinata hesitated for a moment before nodding. "One of the reasons," she admitted with embarrassment.

"But you are separated now?" Ko asked, his eyes brimming with concern.

"Yes, Ko-San. I have nothing to do with him anymore. Father gave him that house, and we must respect his wish. That is it," Hinata replied, her voice calm but resolute.

...

After noon, Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he saw his blond friend strolling towards the Hyuuga compound. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath.

A short while later, he was surprised to see the dog-lover, Kiba, also walking into the compound. "What the hell?" Sasuke wondered.

After a while, he spotted Naruto walking towards him. Sasuke scoffed and made quick hand signs. A Fire Style Phoenix Flower started throwing flames in the direction of his best friend. Naruto jumped nimbly from place to place, dodging the fire until it ceased.

"Temee, wait, I have news for you," Naruto shouted, out of breath.

Sasuke looked uninterested at him. Naruto took it as a good sign and walked over to him on the balcony.

"You probably saw Kiba right?" Naruto said, panting slightly.

"..." Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"I think he's interested in Hinata," Naruto continued. "Told you they'll be waiting in line."

"Why should I care!" Sasuke retorted, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"Really? You can't fool me," Naruto said. "You can't take her from me to leave her to that stinky bastard."

"I didn't take her from you," Sasuke replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You were idiot enough to throw her into my arms."

"You bastard," Naruto exclaimed, his fists clenched in anger. He punched Sasuke in the face, causing him to jump back and hit the wall behind him, leaving a crack. "You were the most idiot of all," Naruto spat, rubbing his hurting fist. "You left a precious lady like Sakura-chan seeking my love."

Before Sasuke could say anything else, they saw Kiba whistling happily next to his white dog.

After Kiba vanished from their sight, Sasuke balled his fist and lashed out, pummeling Naruto from his balcony. "I never want to lay eyes on your face again, you idiot," he snarled.

"Same here, fucking bastard, you broke my back." screamed Naruto, flipping Sasuke the bird.

...

Meanwhile, Hanabi had left the house earlier for some undisclosed errand, returning to find Naruto there. Hinata noticed that she appeared agitated and hostile toward Naruto, her growls and glares speaking volumes about her feelings toward him. When Kiba arrived, Hanabi became increasingly jittery, visibly fidgeting with impatience until he left.

"What's wrong, Hanabi?" Hinata asked, her concern for her sibling palpable. "Did something happen while you were out?"

"I was at the hospital," replied Hanabi, her tone cryptic.

"Are you alright? Did something happen to you while you were at the tower?" Hinata pressed, her worry deepening.

"It's not about me," Hanabi said, her voice softening. "It's about you. I went to find out when you had those stitches on your head."

"Hanabi!!!" Hinata started shivering. She is done with that chapter of her life, she doesn't want anyone to know about it. It is embarrassing and will only cause more troubles between her and Naruto after they are in kind of an agreement and becoming friends.

"You were permitted into the hospital unconscious with a nasty bruise on your cheek and a head injury," Hanabi said, her hands on her hips. "I cross-referenced the date. It was the night Naruto returned from his mission. Two nights after I stayed at my friend's house. I can't forget the date. So, you better tell me the truth this time."

"Please promise me you won't tell anyone, especially Tou-sama. I don't want any trouble. Naruto and I are friends now. We had some issues, mainly because of my friendship with Sasuke. But we're over it now. There's no need to bring that up again."

"Did he hit you? Yes or no?" Hanabi pressed.

"He did, it was an accident. He was so angry that Sasuke was in my room and slapped me. I fell on the wall and hurt my head and got unconscious. Please Hanabi, it's no big deal, I'm fine now." Hinata pleaded.

Hanabi listened in shock, tears welled in her eyes as her sister spoke. She couldn't believe that Naruto had done something like this to Hinata. She had always believed him to be a good person, but now she was starting to see a different side of him.

"You weren't just friends with Sasuke, were you?" Hanabi asked, sensing there was more to the story.

Hinata looked down." hm, but not anymore not after what he did to you and Tou-sama."

Feeling angry and frustrated, Hanabi stormed out of the compound, desperate to release her pent-up emotions. Maybe she would head to the training grounds to blow off some steam.

In surprise, Hanabi watched as Naruto plummeted from Sasuke's balcony. Without hesitation, she sprinted towards him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Narutooo, you asshole! How could you do that to nee-san?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with anger. "How could you hit her? I'm going to kill you!" With a fierce determination in her eyes, she activated her Byakugan and lunged towards him, intending to strike him with her fingers.

Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he saw Hanabi approach him. "Oh, fuck!" he muttered under his breath, bracing himself for impact. However, before he could even react, a purple aura enveloped him and lifted him up towards Sasuke's balcony.

"Hanabi, calm down. I've dealt with it. Naruto is so sorry, and he's made up with Hinata, aren't you, idiot?" Sasuke's voice was calm and measured.

Naruto nodded his head frantically, his face a mask of contrition. "Y-yes, we're fine now. It was just an accident. We're divorced now, so you don't have to worry." His words were barely audible, but they were enough to make Hanabi pause for a moment.

But her anger soon returned, burning hotter than ever before. "I'm not done with you, Sasuke-San," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "You will pay for what you did to my father and us. You both broke my sister's heart. I will not rest until you both pay for it." She turned around and started walking back towards the compound, her mind racing with thoughts of revenge.

She knew that she couldn't face both Sasuke and Naruto alone. They were two of the strongest men in Konoha, and she had to be rational. She would fight them in a smart way, using her wits and her strength to outmanoeuvre them. After all, they were both dumb idiots to lose her precious sister's adoration, and she was determined to make them pay for it.

...

Hinata called Kiki over to take the soaps to her friends. The girls were so grateful and sent her small handmade gifts in return.

Later that day, as Hanabi entered the tearoom, she couldn't help but notice the pile of gifts surrounding her sister. "What's all this?" she asked curiously.

"Some girls sent them to me as a thank you gift," Hinata replied, beaming with joy.

"Thanks for what?" Hanabi inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"I made them soap bars," Hinata explained.

"Like the ones you make for yourself?" Hanabi asked in amazement.

"Yes, they liked it and pleaded with me to make them one," Hinata replied, her cheeks flushing with pride.

"You know, you could start a small business making handmade soaps," Hanabi suggested, a spark of excitement in her eyes.

"Oh no I don't have time for that. Who would buy them? Only the girls liked them."

"Everyone likes the ones you make for me. They always ask me where I bought them."

"Do you think so Hanabi?"

"That's a great idea, Nee-San! You're very talented and I'm sure people would love to buy your soaps. And if it becomes successful, you can even hire someone to help you with the production. That way, you can have a business that you enjoy and also have time for your family." Hanabi smiled at her sister. "I'm glad you're starting to think about your own happiness. You deserve it after everything you've been through."

"Thank you Hanabi. I'm glad you're supporting me. I'll think about it." Hinata knew that starting a small business making handmade soaps might be a way to follow her passion and create something meaningful. 'I can always try,' she thought to herself with a sense of optimism.

Hanabi turned to her older sister and asked, "You didn't tell me earlier, what did Kiba-san want?"

"He didn't want anything," Hinata replied. "He heard I was in the compound and came to check on me."

"Does he know that you are single now?" Hanabi asked.

Hinata hesitated for a moment before answering, "Y...Yes, I told him. I couldn't hide something like that."

Suddenly, they heard one of the servants whispering behind the shoji door. "Hanabi-sama, the elders want to see you in the meeting room," the servant said.

"I'm coming, thank you." Hanabi said. "See you later, nee-san,"

Before Hanabi could leave, Hinata stopped her and said, "Oh, Hanabi, I forgot to tell you. I lied to the elders. I told them that you, Father, and Ko-San were on a trip. I don't want them to escalate the problem. Please tell them Father sent you off and will return in a few days."

"It should be escalated. They should burn the tower down," Hanabi said.

"No, please Hanabi, it will all be alright. We just need to keep it lowkey until Father returns," Hinata pleaded.

As Hanabi walked in the meeting room, she noticed that Ko was already there.

"Hanabi-sama, where is Hiashi-sama?" one elder asked.

"He will join us in a few days. He still has some business to attend to," Hanabi answered.

"Where is this 'business'?" one of the elders asked sarcastically.

"It's confidential, my father will tell you when he returns," Hanabi replied.

"Why won't you tell us anything?" the elder asked.

"Tou-sama's orders."

"So you won't tell us anything," the elder said, clearly irritated.

"I'm sorry." She bowed low.

"Fine, is Hinata-sama really divorced now?" the elder asked.

"Yes, they signed the papers," Hanabi confirmed.

"Why didn't she tell us?" said her grandfather. "You are dismissed. Send your sister in,"

"Thank you." she bowed again before leaving.

As soon as she was outside, she whispered to Ko, "You didn't tell them anything Ko-san, did you?"

"No, Hanabi-sama. I told them I'm not allowed to say anything until you come," Ko replied.

"Glad you didn't. Hinata nee-san told them we were on a trip, so we just need to go on with that lie."

"Understood, Hanabi-sama. I will make sure to keep the secret." Ko nodded.

Hanabi sighed in relief. It seemed like the elders were not too suspicious for now. They just needed to keep up the charade until Hiashi's return. She hoped that he would be able to smooth things over with the elders and bring some kind of resolution to the situation.

...

Thereupon Hanabi left for the meeting room, Hinata took the soap she made for Sasuke and sneaked in the night to the district. Her heart was pounding with a mix of fear and excitement, hoping that she won't have to encounter him. She didn't care much about the Anbu that vanished as soon as she got closer to Sasuke's territory.

She put the soap in front of his door and turned to return home. But a voice stopped her movement. "Won't you stop with this bad habit." Sasuke whispered from his balcony, where he was laying down admiring the stars. She could only hear his voice.

"Habit? I just brought you your soap. Guess we are done here."

"You think you'll get rid of me so easily?" he teased, his voice low and seductive.

"Yes, I told you we are done. You better accept it because there is nothing else to give."

"I have to give, you just need to accept" he replied, appearing in front of her in a flicker of movement.

"Oh Sasuke," she gasped.

"You know, it still turns me on to hear you say my name." he whispered in her ear, making her shiver with his warm breath on her ear and neck.

"Let me go." she pushed him aside pressing on his chest. He pressed her hand on his chest more than lifted it to his lips, kissing it with little pecks like the time he bit her. "Thank you," he murmured, his eyes locked on hers.

Hinata's heart skipped a beat as she took in his handsome features and piercing gaze. She tried to compose herself, but her body betrayed her as she felt her cheeks flush with heat.

"For...for what?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"For the soap." he spoke, still kissing her palm, his eyes never leaving her face and it was all she could do to keep from squirming under his scrutiny. "You promised to make me something else." he continued, his voice soft and low.

Hinata felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She had tried so hard to push him away, to forget the feelings she had for him, but now it all came flooding back.

"Sasuke… let go…let go of my hand." her voice barely above a whisper. He let go and she dashed away in a hurry. He looked at her and smirked. Then lifted the soap bar she left. It was elegantly wrapped and had a scent of coffee and light sandalwood. She even put in real coffee beans. He was so happy with it. It was an indication she still cared for him despite her denials.

As she reached her room and closed the shoji door, Hinata leaned against it, feeling overwhelmed by her emotions. "Oh Kami-Sama, you can't keep doing this to me. I hate him, I have to hate him. That is all he deserves from me. You have to help me," she prayed, sliding down to the floor and covering her face with her hands.

Hanabi called from behind the door, interrupting her thoughts. "Hinata nee-san, the elders want to see you. It's about the divorce."

"Oh, dammit," Hinata cursed, feeling a wave of frustration wash over her as she got up to meet the elders.


Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.