Chapter 6: Rumours

Shino had known his team mates for years. He knew that Hinata liked training in the morning best, and that Kiba had an unnatural fondness for sashimi. He knew that Kiba was afraid of fleas (something he had taken advantage from time to time) and that Hinata only stuttered when she was unsure about something.

"Shino-kun," she asked hesitantly one morning when they were training together. He paused and waited for her to continue. He frowned when she started poking her fingers together, though she couldn't see it.

"Um…uh…I w-was wondering," she stated, her voice whisper soft, "I-I was w-wondering how you felt…how you felt…about…Neji?"

Shino blinked. Finding himself still confused, he blinked once more. Realizing that Hinata was waiting for an answer, Shino opted for being as honest as possible.

"Your cousin is an excellent shinobi, Hinata-sama," he said calmly. Hinata looked disappointed but thanked him regardless. Shino noted her downcast face and wondered what on earth he had said wrong.

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Hinata was exhausted. She had just pulled a double shift at the hospital, and was practically falling asleep in her food. Sasuke watched as his fiancée's eyes dropped lower and lower.

"Come on," he muttered, throwing money down on the table. Hinata blinked suddenly and yawned, cover her mouth with one hand.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," she murmured sleepily, "I can't seem to stay awake."

Sasuke snorted.

"Obviously. You used too much chakra today, and didn't get enough sleep last night," he muttered, annoyed that she had let herself get run down this much. Hinata yawned again, leaning on his arm for support as they left the restaurant.

"I was on a mission for the past few days," she struggled to explain.

"And after that, you agreed to a double shift at the hospital? I though Tsunade treated her ninja better than that," he growled, tempted to give the Hokage a piece of his mind right then. However, Hinata's increasing weight on his shoulder pushed thoughts of maiming Konoha's present leader out of his mind. He glanced down to see her eyes once more at half mast. She really was exhausted. Taking note of where they were in Konoha, and realizing that the Hyuuga manor was on the other side of the village, he made a quick decision.

"Come on, I know a place where you can sleep," he muttered. Hinata just nodded and let him guide her.

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She woke up to a dark, blank room that most definitely wasn't her own. She sat up and almost panicked before remembering that Sasuke had brought her to his place.

"It's closer and you can sleep there. You're about to fall over from exhaustion, so don't argue with me," had been his explanation. Of course, it was delivered in such a way as to leave Hinata no room to disagree, even if she hadn't been dead on her feet. She just nodded and fell gratefully on his futon. She was asleep before she could form another thought.

Yawning now, she got up and headed into the kitchen. Sasuke was preparing breakfast, scowling at the food on the stove. She smiled and giggled when he swore at something. Sasuke turned, and his scowl lifted at the sight of her, hair dishevelled from her night's sleep. It struck him, as she moved into the kitchen to rescue breakfast, that when they were married, he'd see her everyday like this. The thought made the breath catch in his throat.

"Here," she said, handing him a plate. She moved easily in his kitchen, as though she belonged there. Sasuke felt himself becoming dangerously warm, and he attacked his food ferociously, forcing the scowl back onto his face for good measure. He couldn't become too soft, that would just be wrong.

They ate in companionable silence, and he helped her wash up. He didn't want her to go, but decided that asking her to stay a little longer would make him look…needy. He walked her to the door instead, his face set in it's usual impeccable blank stare.

"Thank you, Sasuke, for looking after me, and for letting me sleep here," she murmured, turning on his front step to watch him. He just shrugged, affecting indifference. Hinata smiled suddenly and surprised them both by rising on her tip toes to brush a soft kiss across his lips. She disappeared quickly after that, leaving Sasuke standing at his front door, staring blankly at the spot where she had just been, a faint flush staining his cheeks.

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Shino was walking calmly in the village, covered, as usual, from head to toe regardless of the heat. It was unusually warm for autumn, but that didn't stop Shino from dressing as through it was the middle of winter. After all, bugs liked it hot, and considering they lived inside of him, it was best to keep them happy. His stomach rumbled suddenly, and the bugs hummed underneath his skin at the noise. He made his way over to a food stand and ignored the way people stepped away when he approached. He placed his order quietly, trying to ignore the group of girls on his left who were eying him with something resembling distaste.

"He's kinda cute," one whispered softly. She looked young, probably not even fifteen.

"Ugh, he's the bug boy, Hana, ew," replied one of her friends. Hana's face paled as she muttered that she hadn't known, and the girls watched as Shino paid for his food and left.

"I thought he ate leaves and twigs," he heard one say, and the whole group burst into giggles.

Shino ignored them, they were silly girls who knew nothing of the shinobi way of life. The Aburame clan was a noble one that had defended the village for generations, and he wouldn't let their stupidity impact him. He would just ignore them, as he always did, and pretend that the flush creeping across his cheeks was from the heat.

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"A wife?" Shino asked, his face hidden securely behind his collar. He was glad for that, because he was fairly certain he looked bewildered.

"The elders think you should begin to consider what you might wish for in a mate," his father said calmly.

Someone who doesn't cringe when I touch them, was the first thought in Shino's head. He thought briefly of Hinata, one of the only girls who hadn't looked at him with distaste. She had seemed afraid of him when they first met, but she had been afraid of everyone when they had first met, so he didn't think that counted. There were also Ino, Sakura, and Tenten – neither girl had every treated him with repulsion, but that was because they had worked with him and knew him to be a good shinobi. They respected his skills, but he doubted such respect would lead to happiness in a marriage. Besides, they were all spoken for.

His father seemed to wish to say something else, but remained silent. Shino was rather glad. He had never seriously thought about the opposite sex before, except in some vague, abstract sense, and now suddenly, he was suppose to figure out what type of person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He wished the Hyuuga hadn't decided to marry Hinata off so soon – it seemed to have started a trend in Konoha, and not even he was safe from the coupling that seemed to have taken the Rookie Nine by storm.

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Neji entered his uncle's office quietly, curious as to why he was summoned so late in the day. They had already done their training, and he couldn't think of any reason for Hiashi to have to see him. His uncle was staring out the window, hands clasped behind his back.

"Sit down, Neji," he spoke slowly. Neji obediently kneeled on the tatami mats, watching his uncle curiously. Hiashi looked a little...uncomfortable? Neji frowned and wondered what was going on. He didn't have to wait long to find out. Clearing his through, his uncle turned to him.

"You are nineteen now, Neji. It is understandable that you may be having...ideas," his uncle began awkwardly, staring at a spot over Neji's shoulder. Neji stared at him.

"Ideas, Hiashi-sama?" he asked slowly, not sure he understood.

"Yes, ideas...urges. You may be a bit...confused...about what it is you want in life," he continued, "and though I wish for you to make your own choices, you have to remember that you are an important part of the Hyuuga clan, a prestigious and noble line of ninja. It will be your responsibility to continue this line at some point in the future."

Neji blinked. Was Hiashi trying to talk to him about marriage? Neji had just assumed he would be part of an arranged marriage. Maybe that's what this conversation was about, and Neji relaxed a bit, relieved that he had deciphered what his uncle was talking about.

"Now, some of the elders are most displeased at Hinata's chosen betrothed, and therefore we all must be careful. Should you find yourself wanting to experience...any..." Hiashi coughed uncomfortably before continuing, "any...strange desires, I suggest you and your chosen...partner...be most discreet. As for when you marry, should you wish to continue with your rather...unorthodox...urges," Neji went back to staring at his uncle as though he had lost his mind, "then perhaps something can be arranged. I think, though, Neji, that it would be best," here Hiashi looked at him for the first time during the whole conversation "that you try and keep this as quiet as possible."

Neji was silent for a few moments before he realized his uncle had finished.

"Yes, of course Uncle. I would not with to bring shame on our family. I will keep all you said in mind," he murmured, looking to the floor and wondering what the hell Hiashi was talking about. Still, his uncle seemed very pleased by his response, as the Hyuuga head squared his shoulders and dismissed Neji with his usual curt tone. Neji bowed and left, replaying the conversation in his head to try and see if he couldn't puzzle out what his uncle had been on about.

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Sakura was wandering aimlessly through the streets of Konoha, looking at the various wares the shop venders were selling. She was suddenly interrupted when Ino and Tenten came barrelling towards her, grabbed her arms, and dragged her off to a quieter part of town.

"What the!? Ino-pig, what are you doing?" Sakura screeched furiously. Tenten and Ino both let go and turned to face her, their faces serious.

"We have to talk," Tenten said. Sakura felt her anger be replaced with slight concern.

"All right, but just so you know, I'm suppose to meet Naruto here. Unless you want him interrupting you had better make it quick," she said, narrowing her eyes.

"It's about Hinata," Tenten began, "She's...well we think she and Sasuke...that they –"

"They're sleeping together!" Ino interrupted, rather loudly. Tenten glared at her before turning to look at Sakura, who was busy trying not to laugh.

"Oh, honestly Ino. What made you come to that conclusion? I mean honestly, Hinata? You seriously think she'd do something like that? It took her six months before she let Sasuke even really kiss her."

Both Tenten and Ino stared at her.

"Seriously?" Ino asked, wondering how on earth Hinata had managed to restrain herself from jumping all over Sasuke. She couldn't keep her hands off of Shikamaru whenever she saw him, and Sasuke was way hotter, if you went for the angsty emo thing.

"Yeah, she told me, but don't tease her about that, please," Sakura begged.

"Of course we won't tease Hinata," Tenten said, annoyed, "who do you take us for?"

"Sorry, it's just that she's so shy about stuff like this. Which is why I think you guys must be wrong. Hinata is not sleeping with Sasuke."

"No, she is, just listen Sakura: she's been staying out late with him lately, and they are much closer than before, even occasionally displaying affection in pubic – that's a BIG thing for Sasuke," Ino said quickly. Sakura rolled her eyes, though she didn't disagree.

"So? That doesn't mean they're doing it Ino, jeez," she said.

"No, no wait, there's more. Last night, Shikamaru and I saw Sasuke take Hinata to his apartment, and this morning, Hana – you know, the girl we have working part time at the flower shop – she saw Hinata leave Sasuke's apartment. And this was really early in the morning too."

Sakura could feel herself wavering in her resolve, surely not-?

"And she was wearing the same clothes as she was yesterday! I know, because after Hinata left his house, she bumped into Hana and was all flustered and embarrassed, and she said that had to go home and change." Ino finished her explanation, and watched as Sakura's eyes widened.

"Oh my god, they ARE sleeping together!" she exclaimed.

"Who is?" asked a deep voice. The girls turned to see Naruto standing behind them, his hands shoved in his pocket. Tenten spoke before Sakura could stop her.

"Sasuke and Hinata," she said. Sakura slapped herself on the forehead as Ino glared at the dark haired kunoichi.

"You've been hanging around Lee too long, Tenten, he's starting to melt your brain," Ino muttered. Tenten didn't hear, as Naruto, upon hearing her statement, suddenly went from cheerful to seething.

"He WHAT!?" he yelled, drawing the attention of a few people from the street. A few of the wrong people, as both Kiba and Shino entered the scene to see what was happening. Sakura just watched in horror as the situation continued to degenerate.

"Sasuke's sleeping with Hinata!" Naruto wasted no time in relating. Shino stiffened, and Akamaru growled menacingly while Kiba shouted, "I knew it! He was only after Hinata-chan for SEX!"

"Oh god," Sakura groaned as Neji suddenly appeared, his eyes narrowed.

"What was that about, Kiba?" he said coldly. Sakura prayed Kiba wouldn't answer, but she knew it was hopeless.

"Sasuke's taking advantage of YOUR cousin, Hyuuga, aren't you suppose to protect her virtue?"

Neji grabbed Kiba's collar, his bloodline activated.

"Are you suggesting what I think you are?" he hissed.

"Sasuke's sleeping with Hinata-chan, aren't you going to do something about it? 'Cause I sure as hell am," Kiba growled. That seemed to be the key phrase, as all four boys suddenly disappeared in a whirlwind of dust. The three girls stared blankly at each other, their faces pale.

"Oh shit," Ino said.

Tenten and Sakura looked at each other and couldn't help but feel that Ino had summed up the situation quite nicely.

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Sasuke was actually rather cheerful as he went about Konoha, picking up supplies. Actually, he was grocery shopping, but 'picking up supplies' was a much more fitting phrase for someone like him. He figured, since Hinata had cooked him breakfast, he should cook her dinner...and maybe she could stay over again, only she wouldn't be so tired, so...his face flushed at the sudden thought and he immediately shoved it out of his head, as Hinata was no where near ready for that step. Still, having her stay over hadn't been that bad, and it was nice seeing her in his home. A small smirk that could almost be called a smile crossed his face, joining the faint remains of the blush.

Unfortunately, it was in this unusually happy and red-faced state that the boys found him. Sasuke stopped walking as he was suddenly surrounded by four of Konoha's top ninja. He stiffened, confused by the overwhelmingly threatening aura coming from all of them.

"Can I help you?" he asked coldly.

Kiba and Akamaru growled in unison behind him while Naruto cracked his knuckles. Shino's bugs were crawling all over his face, and Neji, who was standing in front of him, glared at the Uchiha.

"What have you done to Hinata-sama?" he asked in a low and dangerously quiet voice. Sasuke's temper flared and he glared at the Hyuuga genius.

"I haven't done anything," he replied darkly. Why was everyone always assuming he had done something to the heiress? Gods, was he that threatening? His sharingan activated in response to the growing levels of hostility the other four ninja were displaying.

"Bullshit," Kiba shouted and Akamaru barked in agreement. Neji's eyes narrowed.

"I thought you were honourable, now that you've returned. I thought you would protect Hinata-sama, not take advantage of her," the Hyuuga genius said. Sasuke restrained himself from attacking Neji at that, his anger flaring up even more. How dare he suggest he wouldn't protect Hinata with everything he had! Hinata was everything to him, the only thing that could make him almost smile, the only one he wanted.

"I haven't hurt Hinata in any way," Sasuke growled out, trying desperately to control his temper. He really wanted to hit someone right now, preferably the white eyed idiot standing in front of him, but considering the level of hostility all four ninja were emanating, and considering it was four of Konoha's top level ninja, his odds weren't that great, even if he was better than all of them.

"And besides, who are you to judge me? Didn't you try and kill her when we were twelve?"

Reflecting back on it, Sasuke decided that comment had been what set off the Hyuuga genius, which in turn signalled all four ninja to come at him.

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The scuffle that followed would go down in Konoha history as the day when the village was almost destroyed by its very own ninja. When the Hokage made it over to the battle scene, two city blocks were already in ruins. The other ninja were busy trying to get civilians out of harms way, and weren't too keen of getting in the middle of this fight to stop it.

Needless to say, when Tsunade arrived, she was pissed.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!?" she roared

This had the desired effect of stopping everyone in their tracks. When the dust cleared, she saw Sasuke holding Naruto in a headlock, Akamaru had his teeth sunk into Sasuke's leg, Kiba was on the Avenger's back and seemed to be trying to strangle him, Shino had his arms extended, bugs swarming out of him while Neji was in his gentle fist fighting stance, his hand extended to hit one of Sasuke's vital organs. A very vital organ, Tsunade noticed with a raised eyebrow, if Sasuke wanted to repopulate the Uchiha clan.

"All of you, in my office, now," she said in a deathly quiet voice.

"But Tsunade-" Naruto started to whine.

"NOW!" she roared once more, and all five ninja jumped to obey.

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The following tongue lashing they all received lasted for fifteen minutes, and everyone in Konoha heard it. When she had finished shouting herself hoarse, Tsunade sat down at her desk, still glaring at the five young men in front of her.

"Now," she said roughly, "care to tell me what this is about?" she asked, looking at Sasuke, as he seemed to be the instigator.

"I didn't do anything," he growled. This prompted the other four to begin shouting protests. Well, Naruto and Kiba shouted, Shino and Neji just stood quietly, their posture reflecting their disgust.

"SILENCE!" she roared once more, and was about to say something more when the door opened and Sakura, Tenten and Ino entered her office, looking very pale. Tsunade's eyebrow twitched.

"Sakura, I'm in the middle of something," she said, anger at her student's impertinence at walking in without knocking written all over her face.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama, I know, but we can explain," Sakura said quickly, and at Tsunade's nod, quickly told her of the events that led up to the fight. When she had finished, Tsunade just stared at her. She turned her gaze to Sasuke, then to the other four ninja in their turn.

"This is about Hinata?" she questioned. They nodded. She turned to Sasuke.

"Did you sleep with Hinata, Sasuke?" she asked. She hid a smile when a slight blush crossed his features.

"No," he practically spat out.

"Liar," Neji said, surprisingly beating Naruto with the accusation. Sasuke glared at him.

"That's rich, coming from you. When are you going to come out, then Neji?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at Shino, "or are you just going to satisfy yourself by stalking the Aburame?"

Neji blinked, confused.

"What the hell on you on about?" he asked.

"Everyone knows your infatuated with the bug boy, Neji, might as well just admit it," Sasuke said coldly, a smirk playing about his face as the Hyuuga's face paled.

"Oh my god, you're gay?" Naruto shouted, pointing a finger at him.

"And you're in love with SHINO!?" Kiba added, staring at him. Shino, who had been standing beside Neji, slowly began to edge away.

It took everything in Tsunade's power to keep a straight face. She turned to Neji herself and raised an eyebrow. The Hyuuga glared at her.

"I'm NOT gay," he said, folding his arms across his chest, "and the Uchiha's only trying to change the subject. I don't think the engagement between him and my cousin should continue, since he obviously can't be trusted."

Sasuke paled.

"You can't do that, it was Hinata's choice," he argued, his eyes narrowed.

"She didn't have much of a choice to begin with," Neji replied coldly.

"Enough!" Tsunade shouted before the two could get in another fight. She continued when she was sure she had their attention. "Sasuke says he did not sleep with Hinata, you four don't believe him. We will simply get Hinata herself in here to tell the truth, and then we will decide what to do. Does this satisfy everyone?" They all nodded, and Tsunade sent for the heiress.

The few minutes wait seemed endless, especially to Sasuke. He was absolutely livid. Why did everyone always assume the worst about him? Sure, he didn't have a great history, but he had come back, he had changed. Okay, so he hadn't changed that much, but he had changed a little. He could feel it – he was lighter somehow, almost happy. He didn't find Konoha nearly as annoying as before, he didn't find people nearly as annoying as before. And he loved Hinata, why couldn't everyone just accept that and stop accusing him of taking advantage of her?

He was interrupted in his musings when the door opened and Hinata entered. She stopped when she saw the amount of people in the Hokage's office.

"You wanted to see me, Hokage-sama?" she asked softly, her eyes sending questioning glances to all her friends before landing on her fiancée.

"Yes, Hinata-chan, I wanted to ask you a question. Are you sleeping with Sasuke?"

Hinata's head snapped towards Konoha's leader. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, her face turning from red to purple, then very, very pale. Sasuke suddenly moved towards her and caught her before she could hit the floor in a dead faint.

When she came to, she saw that she was still in the Hokage's office and everyone was staring at her. She was supported gently in Sasuke's arms, and when she recalled why, she buried her head in his shirt, wishing she could just disappear. Sasuke placed a hand on her head and whispered for her to just answer the question quickly.

"No," she whispered, her cheeks red, "we haven't – w-we haven't done anything like that."

"There, does that satisfy you lot? Sasuke's been a gentleman and Hinata's virtue is still intact," the Hokage said wryly, turning to everyone else and conveniently blocking Hinata and Sasuke from their sight.

"Now I just want to say one more thing," she continued, and her eyes narrowed in anger, "Hinata and Sasuke are grown adults and are engaged. What they do or do not do is of no concern to you. I trust them both to be sensible, and you lot, who call yourselves their friends, should do the same. Now get out of here, you have two blocks of city to repair and many apologies to make."

They all filed out of her office except for Sasuke and Hinata. Tsunade sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"You two can take the rest of the day off. Hinata, see to his wounds, maybe take a picnic somewhere or something, away from the village idiots," she said, sitting down. The two nodded and left. As soon as the door closed behind them, Tsunade reached down into her drawer and pulled out a sake bottle. She didn't care what Shizune said, she needed a drink.

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I'm sorry about the lateness, hope it was ok. Seems a bit disjointed to me, but then, this whole story has been very episodic, so I guess it's fitting. Hope it doesn't annoy anyone too badly.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!