PART 6

"N-Neji-nii!!" Hinata stammered.

Flames danced around him, moving in closer to devour him. He regarded her with cold eyes, and a smirk played across his face.

"I see you've gotten stronger, Hinata-sama. And married," he added with a glance at Sasuke. "I'm sorry I don't have time to talk now, but we'll settle this match in the near future."

He turned, and Hinata reached out a hand to call for him to stop. But he had disappeared before the flames could engulf him.

As the fire grew weaker, Sasuke eyed Hinata carefully and realized that she was shaking in shock. He gently wrapped his arms around her and she relaxed.

The enemies had left along with Neji, and Sakura said sternly, "We need to report this to Tsunade-sama."

Naruto glanced at Sasuke and Hinata who had shocked looks on their faces, and asked innocently, "What's wrong?"

They didn't see Neji. Sasuke realized. He was about to say, when he changed his mind and replied curtly, "Nothing."

Hinata eyed with him in confusion, but he gave her an I'll-tell-you-later look.

Sasuke curled his fingers around her hand, and led her home. Sakura dragged Naruto with her to report to Tsunade.

Sasuke closed the door behind him, and Hinata faced him worriedly.

"Sasuke, why couldn't we just tell them that Neji-nii is alive?"

His black eyes met her white ones. "What do you think they will say? They will have us under constant supervision, and you know they won't give us a mission to search for Neji."

The pale-eyed girl sniffed softly, and Sasuke's eyes softened. "I'm sorry Hinata."

She smiled lovingly and replied, "No, Sasuke. Thank you. You're right, I just can't believe that he's alive. Do you think he hates me? The way he looked at me…"

Sasuke couldn't answer. Luckily he was saved by the banging on the door.

He swung the door open, and Kakashi almost fell into the room. Kakashi put a hand at the back of his hand, and smiled. "How are you guys doing? Sasuke, did you get her pregnant yet?"

Sasuke and Hinata turned a deep red color, and Sasuke muttered, "Why are you here?"

"I'm taking that as a no. I mean, seriously Sasuke, it's been 2 and a half months since you guys have been married. I was sure you would have-"

"Kakashi!!" Sasuke barked furiously, although he was a deeper shade of red than Hinata.

"Oh right. Tsunade-sama, might have you guys move to a place with surveillance. She'll have the ANBU guarding the place. But it's your choice."

Sasuke and Hinata's jaws dropped. House arrest??

"No." The two answered at the same time, in the same tone. Curt, and clear.

Kakashi whistled. "You guys were definitely meant for each other."

They threw him out quickly and strolled back in. Their minds thought about their situation.

Sasuke said aloud, "What is it with that hag? We can perfectly take care of ourselves, and we're the strongest in the village!"

Hinata replied thoughtfully, "Perhaps it's the fact that we are the last to have the blood of the 2 most powerful clans."

He contemplated this and then shook his head. "No, it might be something else, I mean, to have ANBU guarding us."

She agreed saying, "Yes, I'm just a disowned Hyuuga. I don't want the name Hyuuga. That's why I gave it up."

His charcoal eyes softened and he watched her lovingly. He pulled her into a kiss, and whispered, "I know."

XXXXXX

"Hinata-chan, I'm not going easy on you!" Naruto threatened. 10 clones surrounded her and launched punches at her. She jumped into the air gracefully, and landed behind them.

With her Byakugan, she struck each clone with gentle fist, until there were none left. Naruto appeared behind her with a kick in the air, but she blocked it and jabbed a finger into one of the chakra pores.

He collapsed on the ground, but amazing stood up quickly. As to be expected of the Kyuubi.

He threw a kunai at her, and while she was distracted formed a clone to attack her. She drew her katana and swiftly plunged it into the clone.

Fire ran along the edge and she threw it in the air. It spun around like a wheel on fire. The fire suddenly turned black and lashed out like a machine gun.

Naruto jumped behind bushes but the fire devoured everything. Finally, he had nowhere to hide. Hinata slid her fingers over the hilt of her blade, and lunged at him. He could barely dodge them, and suddenly she kicked him hard in the stomach, causing him to double over. With an open fist, she slammed it under his chin causing him to fly into the air.

She appeared on top of it and slammed a kick at his shoulders, sending him crashing into the ground.

Naruto groaned in pain and raised a hand in surrender. Hinata was crouched in front of him with a smile. Every since she was disowned, she's had strange smiles, like you could never tell what emotions were behind them, Naruto noted. He probably had broken bones, but with the fox's power, they healed quickly.

Sasuke who was sitting on a tree branch judged the battle. He wondered if there was anybody else in the village who could challenge him and Hinata.

"Wow, Hinata-chan is pretty strong isn't she? I've never really seen her fight."

Sasuke said, "Sai, do you want to try her?"

Sai regarded the offer then shook his head. "I've fought you once and lost. She's as strong as you, so I won't be able to defeat her. It would be pointless to fight useless battles."

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"Naruto-kun forgot his ANBU meeting."

Naruto slapped his own forehead, and cried, "Aw, crap! Sakura-chan's going to be so pissed!"

With those words, the two disappeared. Sasuke smiled at Hinata and commented, "ANBU in Konoha aren't really strong, eh?"

Hinata smiled softly, "Perhaps, but we know how our friends fight, and they don't change."

The Uchiha boy nodded and they went to grab lunch. They sat on a bench in the park with bento boxes in their laps.

Leaves danced around them. Sasuke watched Hinata with a look that he never showed others. She was beautiful with the wind blowing back her sleek hair, and her white eyes smiling.

He snapped back into reality when a familiar voice cried, "Sasuke! Hinata! Hey, come on! Tsunade wants to see you!"

They sighed in annoyance and followed Ino to Tsunade's office. Tsunade had Shizune talk to Hinata in another room about something to do with chakra system.

After Hinata left, Tsunade turned to Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke. Are you sure that you don't want ANBU guarding you and Hinata."

Fury boiled in him. "Why are you doing this?"

Tsunade didn't look at him and faced the window. "Why else? I wouldn't want you to lose the one you love. That's already happened to you. To many of us."

"And what of it?" His voice was cold and like steel. Blood lust filled him. He couldn't think straight. It almost burned into his mind, and the worst thing was, Tsunade saw it in his eyes.

Still, she provoked him. "Do you really think you are strong enough to protect Hinata? Or will she be protecting you as always?"

The atmosphere was murderous. Then he couldn't take it anymore. Pain erupted in him. Horrible memories flooded into him.

Fire ran along his feet and leaped at Tsunade. She jumped out of the way, and Sasuke couldn't see the look on her face.

Blood. Blood. Take away the pain!! His head screamed. Lightning shook in his hand and in the distance, he could hear yelling.

He was seized from behind, but he broke free kicking the person behind him in the process. Kiba crumbled to the ground.

Blood. Kill!!

The door burst open, and Hinata stood with wide eyes. "Sasuke!!"

But before she could appear at his side, a ninja lunged at Sasuke with a kunai. She kicked the ninja hard and he flew out the window. She battled with him, and slowly, hints of blood lust formed in her eyes.

She ran to him, and buried her face in his chest, holding him tightly. His blood lust was destroyed just by her touch. He returned her embrace, relaxing slowly.

Tsunade cleared her throat and spoke, "Uchiha Sasuke and Hinata. You are under arrest."

The couple glared at Tsunade and Sasuke growled, "Why?"

"For attacking your own comrades. What have you two become? This is for your good along with others."

Chains snapped over one of each of their wrists before they realized it. They were chains that stopped chakra.

"Sasuke!" Hinata cried reaching out with her free hand.

He, too, reached out. This couldn't be happening.

Their fingers brushed each other before they succumbed to darkness.