Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto.
That summer day of August was particularly warm, but Hinata did not mind. She had always preferred warm weather to cold Winter days. The trip back to Konoha had turned slower than what she would have wanted to though. She sighted inwardly, there wasn't much she could do, Konohamaru was having a hangover and had puked twice since they left Yumegakure no Sato.
"I'm so sorry Hinata-neechan..."his voice was raspy and he looked so miserable, that Hinata thought that was punishment enough.
"At least the mission was a success!" He said excitedly, giving the thumbs up, but just as soon his face turned green, went to his knees and retched again. Hinata helped him out by holding his forehead and rubbing his back. He gave her a weak smile. "Nee-chan, if it wasn't because Hanabi would kill me, I would marry you..."
Hinata smiled at him gently, but wasn't impressed." Mhh, I'm sure Hanabi would love to hear that when I get back." His face fell immediately in horror. "Nee-chan...I was joking..."
"Hai hai. Here, have some water. This is what happens when you act irresponsibly. The mission was a success, but we are still Konoha ninjas, it is our duty to represent the village well. Konohamaru, how old are you? Almost 20 right? And also a Jounin..." She sighted loudly, "what am I gonna do with you...?" her tone of voice was gentle, yet there was an edge to it. Hinata loved his sister dearly, if she was going to be dating the boy, he better learn to behave himself.
Looking back to the previous day, it had really been a bad idea to separate and enjoy the town's festival on their own. But then again, had that been the case, maybe she would have never found the almost abused girl, along with him, and been able to deliver her from that fate.
A dim, almost imperceptible smile came to her lips, remembering the dark stranger.
When she first saw him in the tea shop, she had been instantly scared. His white skin contrasting with his dark hair and eyes, reminded her too much of a person she just wanted to forget. The intense gaze he had fixed on her, did not help matters, and so she left. But he followed her, much to her surprise.
The black katana she had been admiring reminded her of Tenten, who loved weapons. The intricate dragon design on the hilt was particularly fetching, and so she entertained thoughts of buying it for her.
Men did not approach Hinata in general. Hanabi usually said that she was too unapproachable. Always giving a vibe of 'unavailability' , that she looked too refined, almost haughty, giving the notion that she was too good for them . 'No matter how beautiful a woman is, a man will not come near them if he knows he will be rejected', she would always say. Hinata would always smile and pat her sister's head accepting her words. It was truly unintentional on her part, but that worked fine for her.
It had been startling when the handsome stranger approached her, and talked to her. She found it entertaining seeing him trying to impress her with his swordmanship. He was very good with it, she would admit, but she could do the same with her hands. Nonetheless his information had been useful and thanks to him she did not waste her money.
She had laughed at his stories from his childhood days, but had found herself utterly embarrassed when he bought her food. To her amazement, she had found herself enjoying his company, yet that had not been the highlight of the day. Seeing him defend that girl from those brutes, broke something deep in her. The myriad of feelings that inundated her had been overwhelming to say the least. Despair, joy, incredulity, amazement, anger, it was hard to identify them all, but it had been even harder to reign them all in. With great effort she managed to contain them, thanks in part in her directing her thoughts on healing the girl's bruises. Her heart went out to the young woman, yet his voice, hard and terrible telling them 'You do not do that to women', still replayed over and over in her mind.
Hinata's cheeks warmed and she swallowed, she had felt attraction, desire, something she thought would never feel towards a man, and it had frightened her. Her heart still warmed thinking of that kiss, her very first kiss. His lips had been so gentle, so warm, that it still brought butterflies to her stomach every time she thought of it. Yet her fears and insecurities won her over and she ran away, like the coward she believed herself to be deep down.
When she reached Konoha that fateful day, she had been surprised that nobody had noticed her absence. At the clinic they had thought she was with her clan, and her clan had thought she was at the clinic. She had been so hurt and bewildered that she had not known what to do.
She washed her body, bleeding herself raw with scrubbing, and had burned his clothes. She had known they were his because of the pants. The sensation of self-disgust would not leave alone. What would people think of her? What would her dad, her clan...Naruto-kun would think if they knew she was not chaste any more? Would they call her Uchiha's whore? Would her father look down on her with disgust at her weakness? Would Naruto look at her with pity? Kiba would have surely wanted revenge, and she could not have that. She had been sure that the little respect she had managed to gain from her father would have been instantly lost. She could not bear that as well.
The determining factor had been though, in fact, Naruto. She found him a day after, terribly sad, and told her all that Sasuke had been doing in the outside world. Hinata realized then, that the avenger was truly lost. What he did to her was just one of many, and saying anything would not have made a difference when his punishment came, whenever that were to happen. He was now an S class nukenin, a wanted criminal in all the ninja world. Telling Naruto of his friend's actions would have surely broken his heart.
She did not cry, she refused herself such commodity. Yet at night, red eyes and seeking hands would invade her flesh in her dreams. Not dreams, they were nightmares. She lost count how many times her own screaming woke her up in a tangle of sheets and sweat. How many times she lied to Ko and Neji-niisan that she was fine, just stressed out with the war. She knew they did not believe her but they never pressed.
And then the war came, and Neji died, and Sasuke came back to help the alliance. And Hinata did not know what to feel or think anymore, she just knew that she did not want any contact whatsoever with him.
She had truly tried to forgive him. She knew that Sasuke was not the same man she had encountered that fatal day, yet in her heart, she could not manage to let it go.
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"Hinata-chan..." sing-songed Konohamaru feeling notably better, "you know you were amazing the other day, I did not know you were such a smooth talker. That old geezer's face was priceless...I wanted to punch him so bad..." Hinata chuckled.
"Now, now Konohamaru, punching him would have never gotten us anywere...In this kind of job, you have to be patient, you can't let your feelings be involved because the moment they do, you lost. "
"I know, I know, still. You were so cool. I can't wait to tell Hanabi what an amazing oneesan she has." Hinata's cheeks blushed lightly, and said nothing else.
A few years after the war, Hinata started taking diplomatic missions for the village. She studied really hard for it too. Politics, economy, geography. She immersed herself on learning and missions, aiming to forget her tormentous past and yet she learned too quickly that escaping did not solve the issue. Nevertheless, despite everything, she refused to fall into depression and self pity. Perseverance, that was her way of the ninja.
Privately, she gave up on love and in ever getting married but professionally she promised herself she would truly be the best she could be. That meant giving up her birthright as future clan leader, because a Hyuga heir was expected to marry and produce heirs, and she adamantly refused to do so. There was another reason for it though. One that she only confided to her father in private. Hinata was a war hero, a respected kunoichi in the village and sealing her with bird cage mark would have been a great no no, when it came to clan and village politics. But who could save Hanabi from such fate? Who would defend her? Her, who had been still a child during the war, barely 12 years of age. Hinata had a great group of friends and high ranking individuals (including Tsunade, Kakashi and not to mention the Inuzuka, Aburame and Sarutobi clans) to back her up if it ever came down to it. But who could protect dear Hanabi? A young girl that had still to prove her worth to the village.
It had not really been a hard decision for Hinata to make. She loved her sister dearly and if she were to be completely honest with herself she had been very relieved. Being a clan leader was no easy matter, specially being a Hyuga clan leader.
Undeterred by her response, Hiashi had still attempted to find spouse for his oldest daughter. During the last five years she had rejected seven omiai attempts and two arranged marriages. Well three really, counting the last one, right before she left the village for her latest mission. Hinata had calmly and patiently told her father that no she did not wish to meet, least of all marry Suna's Kazekage's First Aide and older brother.
Hinata still remembered her father, right after they got woken up from the Infinite Tsukuyomi, he had gone straight to find her. She still remembered his countenance, first desperate and then relieved at seeing her alive and well. She had never seen her father look so old then. And that night, when everyone lain down to rest, after providing medical aid to anyone who had been in need, he hugged her and she slept in his arms. It was the first time her father had hugged her since she was a toddler and she had cried while he told her how proud she had made him.
It had truly been a good mission.
Tenzo Enro, the leader of Yumegakure no Sato, had decided to increase the price of coffee, going against an agreement arranged the previous year.
"So, Konoha has no more capable shinobi now, and they had decided to send a little girl? Ah?" The man bristled, "we will not lower the price, a typhoon three months ago destroyed a main bridge and it is taking time and resources to get it fixed. And that is final."
Hinata smiled gently at the older man, nodding in understanding and drinking a bit of tea. In reality, anyone that knew her would had known it had been a condescending smile.
"I understand Tenzo-sama," she continued "yet what I don't understand is why is such thing affects the trade route. If I am not mistaken, that bridge you are referring to borders Takigakure no Sato, on the opposite side of Hi no Kuni..."
"What you are saying...!" The older man interrupted Hinata, but she continued unperturbed." Furthermore, Tenzo-sama, coffee is a commodity consumed mainly by medium to high-class citizens, which is around 40% of Konoha's population. Yet coffee is not a product as popularly consumed, as let's say green tea. I will go so far to say the product is consumed by, at most 15% of the village's inhabitants. That makes the market's demand kind of limited doesn't it? Your village also require's iron and copper, all of them necessary materials for any developing town, which we provide. Prices which, we so graciously if I may add, lowered, as per last year's agreement. The prices of iron and copper you are receiving are the lowest we have given to any other village. Therefore Tenzo-sama, if you so desire, this little girl can go back to Rokudaime-sama an let him know of your decision. But be assured that I have been given full authority to let you know that copper and iron prices will go back to their original one... Aah? 18% increase, right Konohamaru?"
"Hai, Hinata-san." He responded promptly.
Hinata calmly took another small sip of tea, enormously pleased. The older man's face had been livid, she noticed. She already knew what the meeting's outcome would be.
Kakashi had almost begged her to make the old man acquiesce. Apparently Konoha's upper chain of command subsisted on coffee. Kakashi had been very clear, if the price of coffee went up, his life would turn completely and utterly miserably.
Hinata had a feeling he was being just a bit melodramatic. But oh well, it not like she was the Hokage and knew how that life went.
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Sasuke woke up that morning forlorn.
It was mornings like those when an urge to drink alcohol would come over and engulf him. He never indulged in it though. He knew how that path went down and it was not pretty. And so he decided to do what has been on his mind for a few months now. Go back home.
Good old ass-kicking Naruto always managed to put him in a good mood. Not that he would ever come out any better out of it though. They would both usually spend a few days in the hospital right after, much to Sakura's vexation. It was all for the sake of fun and games, they never really fought seriously, not anymore, like the last time when they both lost an arm. After all, Naruto was truly and genuinely his best friend.
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"...Hinata, I hear your last mission went well." Said Hiashi placing a black piece on the igo board game and taking a few white ones.
"Hai, chichi-ue." She added a white one taking one of Hiashi's.
"I only hear praises for you from Kakashi...mh, that was a wrong move." (tack), he placed another piece.
"Surely he exagerates chichi-ue." Hinata moved another piece and sipped some of her tea.
"I doubt it, the son of the White Fang of Konoha does not give praises for nothing." Well, thought Hinata, I just saved his derriere from the anger of a bunch of beaurocrats...Hinata hid an amused smile by sipping some more tea, at her own thoughts.
"So..."
"Hai chichi-ue." She knew what was coming next, and she sighed.
"What are your plans for the future?" (tack) He moved a black piece.
"We have gone over this already chichi-ue." (tack) She moved a white one.
"Yes, but you never give me a straight answer." (tack) His turn.
"I do, you just don't want to hear it chichi-ue." (tack) Her turn.
"I want to see you married and with kids, daughter. I want grandchildren." He was frowning now, and Hinata was getting a bit exasperated. She had gone through this with her father too many times.
"I thought you just wanted me to become a strong kunoichi, chichi-ue."
"You know exactly what I mean Hinata."He sounded strained. He knew her game, she was treating him like a child now and that always managed to get him in a bad mood.
"No I do not, you need to make up your mind chichi-ue." Hiashi's next move removed a bunch of her white pieces. She had lost the game.
"Hinata...do not get that tone with me." Hiashi looked gravelly, but then Hinata raised her eyes to him, with a smile on them.
"I lost", she said after a moment and made a cute gesture with her lips. Her father's anger instantly dissipated.
"I have to go...I still need to finish the mission's report." She got up, keeled next to him and continued with a small voice.
"Otosan, I'm sure Hanabi will give you plenty of grandchildren. We already talked about this..." She kissed his forehead while holding his cheek with a hand, and raised to leave. She only called him that during the most private moments. Hiashi never showed it but he loved it when she did that.
"Are you...coming tonight for dinner?" Hinata smiled gently back to him, she could perceive desperation in his voice, albeit well concealed.
"Hai," and she left.
Hiashi let his shoulders sink after his daughter left. She reminded him too much of Hisana, his late wife. His kind and gentle wife, who had never been a ninja.
His relationship with his daughter was a good one, he could say that. However, he could not help but feel guilty every time he thought about the way he treated her during her younger years. His harsh treatment would build strong character, he had believed back then. A soft-spoken, gentle woman would not survive the clan's council of elders. He had been wrong. It was precisely that humble and gentle bearing that the clan needed the most. Meekness wasn't weakness, but power under control. He knew that now.
He always suspected that something had happened to her before the war. People did not commonly wake up in the middle of the night screaming, and Hinata, as far as he knew, had never been a child that suffered nightmares. Neither Ko or Neji were able to tell him why though, the closest people to her in the clan.
It was a few years later that he talked to Kurenai, her sensei and she confirmed that indeed, something bad did happened, but it was not her place to tell him what.
Hiashi, despite being the young woman's father, never felt confident enough to ask her, as if he had no rights, although he suspected a few things. Maybe it was better to let that go, whatever it was, but it worried him that his daughter did not want a family of her own. The times were peaceful enough, the likes of which it had never been seen before, perfect to start families. And besides, he really wanted grandchildren, her grandchildren, with or without the byakugan. He did not care, he just wanted his lonely daughter to be happy.
Hiashi finished his tea. He won the game with Hinata, yet couldn't help but feel like he had been the loser.
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Sasuke arrived to the village two days later, under the hot afternoon sun. Home sweet home, he thought tiredly.
He went directly to the two ninjas on duty at the main gate, to show his Id. The woman, who was incredibly young, threw him shy appreciative looks while the guy was visible cross by the woman's reaction. Yes, everything was like usual in Konoha for Sasuke.
He gave the man his Id without saying a word, the man's nasty look turned to one of shock when he read his name. Sasuke could tell because he left his mouth slightly open. Sasuke smirked, "Hm," was his answer and picked back his Id.
He walked slowly towards the Hokage tower. The village had grown considerably, since he left it three years ago. He could tell.
He was tired, and the only thing in his mind was a hot shower and sleep, but Kakashi had requested him before he left the last time, to check in with him every time he got back. He wasn't sure why, but he had a pretty good idea.
The red Hokage tower, despite being a new building looked just like the older one. You would think people would like a new architectural design, but whatever pickled their tickle, really. Sasuke did not care one way or another.
He did not recognize anyone while he walked, and the people around did not recognize him as well. Have I really changed that much? Women along the way kept throwing him saucy looks, some more daring and obvious than others. It was unnerving, sometimes they made him feel like a piece of meat, like in that moment. Although, well, if he were to be completely honest with himself, sometimes he did not mind.
He reached the tower, Id in hand. Every time someone would stop him, he would just show his Id and state "Uchiha Sasuke", as he continued to walk up, without giving the person a second look and see the expression on their faces.
A very annoying looking shinobi stopped him at the Hokage's office door, declaring rather snobbish that the Rokudaime was busy at the moment and that he had to wait.
Sasuke was not in nature a patient man, yet he endured 15 minutes outside. 15 very long minutes in which he just really wanted to strangle the irritating man. Seriously, he had to be older than the pesky annoyance.
"This is as far as I'm gonna wait", he said loud enough for the other man to hear and went directly to the door, opened it rather loudly and entered with no qualms, amidst the protests of the younger shinobi outside.
Kakashi was...he could not tell exactly at first. He had been leaning back on his chair from what he saw the first moment, yet he straightened himself rather awkwardly and clumsily when he heard the door bang open, causing some papers and desk items to suddenly fall haphazardly to the ground. Sasuke narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Kakashi was never awkward or clumsy.
"Ah...Sasuke?"
"Hm".
"Eh, Udon you can go, it's fine." And he laughed nervously. Something was definitely up with the man.
Udon left, and Sasuke walked closer to him with narrowed eyes. "What a surprise Sasuke, I did not expect you..." He was nervous...and embarrassed. That was too strange, Kakashi never showed such emotions, unless...
"I see..., were you masturbating?" Sasuke words were very blunt and unexpected. A loud thunk of something hard hitting the wooden desk was heard coming from underneath, yet Kakashi had not moved. His brows pinched though. He was caught.
"Ah, nevermind, sorry. You were getting a blow job." Sasuke could see a little red showing on the bit of skin over the mask. "I just hope it is a woman." He taunted further. It worked.
"Hey!" A woman's voice was heard from underneath the table, and she came out.
"It's always good to know my sensei has not turned gay but..., Inuzuka Hana? Really?Isn't she like...20 years younger than you or something?" Sasuke was enjoying himself at that point, at his old sensei's expense, he deserved it, for making him wait.
Kakashi, whose embarrassment for being caught had already passed, had collected himself and did not fall to his student's taunting, but Hana did.
"I am not twenty years younger than him, just eight..." She said with increasing bashfulness.
"Hana, don't mind him. Sasuke, it's good to know my kawaii angsty student has now a sense of humor."
"I waited 15 minutes outside because you were, according to the bothersome being at the door, busy. And you were getting a blow job." He said deadpanned.
"Now Sasuke don't be jealous, it's very unbecoming." Kakshi's eyes were creased in a smile now.
"You know what, I just came to tell you I'm here. I'm leaving." He turned to leave, but Kakshi called him one last time.
"Hey Sasuke,"
"Mh?" he did not turn.
"It's good to have you back." Kakashi was sincere.
Sasuke never turned, but smiled lightly, made a hand gesture in farewell and left.
"Well, that was embarrassing. I think I just lost my pupil's respect" Said Kakashi when he was finally alone with the Inuzuka.
"Yeah..." She was really embarrassed, as seen by her still red cheeks.
"So..." he said.
"So..." she answered.
"Mh...should we continue?" He sounded hopeful.
"...ok." Was her demure answer. Kakashi smiled stupidly.
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The entire Uchiha compound had been destroyed by Pain, and it did not exist anymore, but the area where his parents' house had been, was still owned by him. He really had no use for all the compound's space and his parents' house was quite some acres in area. A lot for just one person, in anyone's opinion, but it was his childhood home, even if it was just the space. It was good for him, least he did not have to see the dark blood stains on the wood no more.
Naruto had begged Tenzou to rebuild his house, and like the good pushover he was, acceded tiredly. Not that he minded that much. He owed a lot to Naruto after all.
He needed a bath first, and so he went directly to the sentÅ, he doubted his house had the electricity on and despite the warm summer day, was in the mood for a scrubbing hot bath.
He was completely lost in thought, but Sasuke was not such an inattentive person as to not notice the orange monstrosity walking towards him, along with his ghostly double.
Naruto was almost in front of him and so Sasuke was about to say something when he was completely ignored and bypassed by the two friends, leaving Sasuke with his mouth half open and discomposed, not that he showed such emotion on his face but still...
He glimpsed sudden orange on the corner of his eyes, and saw Naruto walking backwards in a rather comical fashion.
"Teme...?" Naruto looked at him oddly.
"Dobe." He said impassively.
Naruto widened his eyes. "Sasuke, what the heck man, you are starting to look like the Madara dude..."
"Naruto, you say that again, and I will punch you in the throat." Was his quiet response. Naruto did not doubt him for a moment.
"Long hair...the eyes..."Naruto looked slightly freaked out.
"Naruto..."Sasuke warned him.
"Ok, ok, really missed you man..." Naruto's hug was so strong, Sasuke was sure any other person would have suffered a broken rib.
"That looked so sweet... kind of gay though." Sai, who had been ignored for the moment made himself present.
"Shut up Sai! You are the one always comparing dick sizes!" Sasuke really did not want to know.
"But Naruto, you do have a small dick. Good afternoon Sasuke-kun." Greeted Sai amicably.
"That's because you have an elephant's trunk, dumb-ass!" Sasuke really really, did not want to know.
Voyna, I really need to do a Hana/Kakashi, I keep making them give each other oral sex in my fics, I need to have them have some real some, really. Lol.
Note: Yumegakure no sato is a real village in Naruto, but no matter how much I tried to find the location on the Naruto maps, I couldn't so I made that up.
