Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, it's characters, or any aspect of it. It all belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
The Beauty of Power
Chapter 16
Hinata's cold only lasted for two days, luckily, there were no real important missions during her absence, and on the last day that she felt fully recovered, a huge mission started to come up. Naruto hadn't given anyone any specifics about it, but it was mandatory that she along with Sakura, Ino, Shino, and Kiba attend a meeting about it. The meeting was to be held at nine in the morning, but Hinata woke up before then. It felt a little odd to be back in her own bed since she had been at the Uchiha estate for the past couple of days. However, there was no doubt in her mind that she wouldn't have gotten better if it wasn't for him taking care of her. She couldn't help, but giggle to herself when she reflected back on how he took care of her.
He was so caring in an odd sort of way, but that was how Sasuke Uchiha was. She liked it, and…She liked him.
Nonetheless, Hinata wanted to pay back the Uchiha heir for her kindness, and she had a little time to spare before her meeting. So, the Hyuuga heiress decided to venture out into the market, buy something for him, and give it to him before she was deployed for the mission. Hinata left the estate early before any servants could catch sight of her, and object to her going out alone. She didn't want to burden them. She walked towards the market, turning the corner, going into the part that sold personal commodities of all sorts, and she stopped at a men's kimono kiosk. Men's yukatas flowed in the wind, and Hinata bit her lip.
She wasn't quite sure what Sasuke really liked? What his favorite color was?
"Excuse me, miss?" A young man came out from a rack of men's yukatas, and Hinata smiled at him, kindly. "May I help you will anything?"
"O-Oh, no, I-I am just looking." Hinata explained. "Thank you so much."
"Well… maybe I can help you out with your search?" The young man grinned at her, he had brown hair, and dark brown eyes. His skin was lightly tanned, and he looked about the same age as her. A slight blush was on his cheeks. "I don't mind helping out a pretty girl."
"O-oh, no, no." Hinata denied as she waved her hands in front of her. "I-I am just trying to figure out what I-I can buy for someone?"
"Oh, I see." The young man's grin grew wider. "A boyfriend or husband." Hinata turned red, and she looked at him, shyly.
"Yes…." Hinata said. Her voice mousy.
"Well… what does him like?"
"I-I am not sure."
"I see." The young man stated, a look of puzzlement came on his face, momentarily, and then it was soon replaced by a flamboyant expression. "Well, anything you buy him I am sure that he will like it."
"Thank you." Hinata bowed to the man, continuing on with her searching, and after the third or fourth kiosk, Hinata spotted one that had lines of stone bracelets laying down in front. The stone sparkled in the sunlight, Hinata strolled up to them, and she picked up a two of matching brackets. The stones were a shimmering blue, and the bracelets tied at the bottom.
"You have good taste." A woman walked up to her, and she smiled at her. "Is it for someone special to you?" Hinata looked at her, shocked, and then she nodded.
"h-how did you know?"
"That bracelet you pick up always attracts the attention of someone looking to buy something for their dearest one." She informed. "That is the purpose for the bracelet." Hinata nodded at her, wondering if she bought if the Uchiha heir would wear it, but wasn't it the thought that counted? Even if he didn't wear it, if he just accepted it would bring a sort of warmth to the Hyuuga heiress. She pondered it, but a smile settled on her lips.
"I'll take it, and can you wrap one in a box for me?" Hinata asked.
"Certainly." The young woman put the bracelet in a small box with a red ribbon, and Hinata put the other bracelet on. She headed, quickly to the Uchiha estate, and Hinata knocked on the door. Sasuke opened the door, leaning against it, and he crossed his arms. There were dark circles underneath his eyes, and Hinata frowned at him.
"Are you okay, Sasuke-san?" Hinata asked, concerned.
"Why?" Sasuke asked as he cocked one eyebrow, and Hinata looked down.
"Y-you just look tired."
"Well, I haven't been sleeping." Sasuke stated. "Anyways, why are you here, Hinata?" Hinata turned red in embarrassment, pressing her lips together, and a flustered expression spread across her face.
"Well... y-you see, I-I wanted to…" She began.
"Hm… what is it, Hinata." A devious smirk coming across Sasuke's face, he walked up to her, and brushed her cheek. "What has you so nervous?" Hinata turned red even more, taking the box out from behind her, and she held it out to him. She looked down as her hair covered her face.
"I-I bought this for y-you." Hinata explained. She was surprised when he didn't take it, Hinata looked up at the Uchiha heir, and she saw him taken aback for once. The expression wasn't very clear, but it was there.
"Why did you buy something for me?" The Uchiha demanded. His eyebrows furrowed together, and he pursed his lips.
"I wanted to." Hinata said with a kind smile. "Now, please open it." Sasuke took the box, his eyes never leaving her face, and a cautious look on his face. Hinata watched his eyes narrow as he pulled out the bracelet, and she bit her lip.
"D-do you like it?" He didn't say anything just stared at her, and Hinata reached out her hands.
"M-may I put it on your wrist." The Hyuuga heiress took his hands, gently, slipping the bracelet on his wrist, and she tightened it. When she went to pull away, Sasuke grabbed her wrist, and he held it up, revealing the bracelet.
"Matching ones, I see." Sasuke murmured, quietly. He didn't seem to be talking to her now, but to himself. The perplexity written on all over the Uchiha's face made Hinata giggle.
Had he not ever received gifts before?
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The Uchiha heir wasn't quite sure to think about the bracelet on his wrist, he didn't mind it, it was just… odd that she would buy something for him. No one did anything like that for him... ever.
Sasuke pulled her towards him, she fell into him, and he titled her head upwards. His lips brushed along her jawline, and all the way up to her ear.
"How did you know that blue is my favorite color?" Sasuke whispered.
"I-It is?" Hinata asked, shocked, and then he noticed that she started to tremble. He grasped her shoulders, pulling away from her, and tears were in her eyes.
"Why are you crying?"
"I am so happy you like it." Hinata said with a blush on her cheeks. She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her jacket, and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"You idiot." He poked her forehead, she looked at him, stunned, and he gave her a smile. "If it came from my girlfriend, I'd probably wouldn't mind it."
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Did he just really…. Call her his girlfriend?
Hinata knew that they were dating, but she was quite unsure what he would see it as, romantic partners, just an infatuation, but now it was quite different, he had affirmed it to be quite more.
"G-girlfriend?" Hinata asked, absently. A look of displacement came across Sasuke's face, and he crossed her arms.
"What you don't like that or something?"
"N-No." Hinata stammered. "I-I just…didn't know you t-thought of me that way." She wrapped her arms around him, and buried her face in his shoulder.
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There was a silence exchanged between the two heirs, and Sasuke scowled.
"Why are you up so early?"
"I have to report in for a meeting about an important mission, I have to be going on soon." Hinata murmured against his shoulder, Sasuke let out a throated growl of anger, and she pulled away from him. He cupped her cheek, firmly, and brushed his lips against hers.
"And you were going to leave me here... again?" The Uchiha heir asked, icily.
And you are going to put yourself out there to get cut down by some worthless piece of shit?
"Well, I-I-" He cut her off.
"I am coming with you." Sasuke stated.
"w-what?" Hinata asked, baffled. "Y-you can't, at least I-I don't think you can."
"Hinata." Sasuke looked at her, intently. "I am Sasuke Uchiha, I do whatever the hell I want, and if I say I am coming then, I am coming. When do you have to be there?"
"Nine."
"It is almost nine now, we should get going." The Uchiha heir walked past Hinata, heading towards the gates, and he looked at her over his shoulder. Hinata stood at his front door, speechless. "Are you going to just stand there or are you coming."
"O-oh, yes, sorry." Hinata ran up to him, Sasuke headed out of his estate, and she touched his hand.
Sasuke was surprised at himself, his body acted on instinct without giving a second thought, he interlaced their fingers, and pulling her closer to him, ignoring the look of shock they were getting from the villagers.
He could see that Hinata was starting to become one woman that he wanted constantly to be close to him. His body craved for her touch.
Sasuke returned to his icy disposition as soon as he heard the irritating voices of the other shinobi on the other side of Naruto's office door, he also relinquished his hold on the Hyuuga heiress, and watched her push open the door.
"Hey, Hi-"
Instantly, their attention glossed over her, and focused on Sasuke. Sasuke walked into the room, and his hand rested on the hilt of his katana. He looked around the room, around at the speechless shinobi, and then back at a very baffled Naruto.
"This is an office of the so called Hokage eh?" Sasuke derided. "This is a shitty place."
"What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, shocked.
"It is simple really." Sasuke said with crossed arms. "I am going to go on whatever the mission you are going to assign to Hinata. I am assuming that it is a huge mission considering you devoted a meeting to it." The Uchiha heir's sharingan activated as his eyes flickered to Sakura and Ino then to Kiba and Shino.
"Are there are no objections here?" No one uttered a word, and Sasuke grunted to himself.
That's what I thought.
"Why do you want to go?" Naruto asked, a smirk across his face as his eye diverted between Hinata and him.
"That is none of your fucking business." The Uchiha heir growled. "And I am sure that you are dying to have me fight on your side once again like I did during the war." A hint of sarcasm was in his voice mixed in with contempt.
"Your damn right I'd like to." Naruto confirmed. "Okay, Sasuke, you can go."
"You should know by now that I will do whatever I please on it."
"I know, but somehow I think you have a different…incentive than your own." Sasuke's eyes narrowed at his statement, and his jaw clenched.
Naruto was right. Fuck.
"What is the mission about?" Ino asked, curiously. Her question alleviated the heaviness in the air.
"Yes, sorry, you all have been assigned to escorting a princess from the Rakuhogi village to the Zasoku village where she will be marrying the prince there." Naruto informed. "The reason why you have to escort her is because there are those who don't agree with the marriage and will so anything even harm the princess to stop it. So, you all have to protect her."
"Is she here?" Sakura asked, curiously. Naruto nodded, and almost as if on cue, the door opened up. A young woman stepped into the room with floor lengthen white hair, and pallid white skin. She had gray eyes, and full red lips. She had on a pink kimono made of the finest silk, she had a slender body, and beside her were two men who carried naginatas strapped to their backs. The woman was the epitome of Asian royal beauty.
"Hello, I am Satsuki, Princess of the Rakuhogi village, it is a pleasure to meet you all." Satsuki bowed, and Shino adjusted his glasses.
"Have there been many attempts on your life to prevent this marriage?" Shino asked, coolly
"Yes there have been, my marriage is to help settle a long feud between my village and the Zasoku village." Satsuki explained. "And there are radicals in the village who will so anything to make sure that it doesn't take place." Her voice was sweet and like velvet.
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Hinata stared at the woman, she was absolutely beautiful, but there was an uneasiness about her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, nonetheless, Hinata still kept a kind smile on her face, and listened to what Satsuki had to say.
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Sasuke stared at the woman, his eyes narrowed, and he walked over to Hinata. His eyes moved to Hinata, she seemed to be listening, intently to what the woman had to say, and he began to wonder if she noticed it. His eyes flickered back to Satsuki. There was a certain darkness in her eyes, an untamed bloodlust, and a hidden agenda.
Satsuki met his eyes, and he resisted the urge to unsheathe his katana.
"Oh, I didn't know that an Uchiha resided here." Satsuki said in surprise. "I am honored to be in the presence of one, and a Hyuuga as well."
"The honor is all mine." Hinata said with a bow.
"The Zasoku village is in the land of the mist, but it will take you guys a couple of days to get there, so we have checkpoint and places that the princess will be staying at." Naruto informed. He handed a scroll to Sakura, and she placed it in her pocket. "The first checkpoint is in a small village called Kazahahui that the princess's father has connections with."
"Okay." Ino said with a nod.
"You guys leave now, and I will see you will get back." Everyone left the room, descending down the hallway, and Hinata looked at Sasuke. Sasuke kept his eyes on Satsuki, she was laughing with Ino, and her movements were graceful. It made him sick. He was babysitting care of some sliver spooned bitch who had some kind of hidden intention. He didn't like the gleam in her eye, and he sure as hell didn't like the fact that she acknowledged him or Hinata.
"Hinata." Sasuke said. "Have you noticed it?"
"What?" Hinata asked, perplexed.
"About the spoon fed woman." The Uchiha heir's eyes moved to hers, his onyx eyes stared into Hinata's pale ones, never taking a look forward to see where he was going.
"She is a kind, p-pretty woman… but, there is s-something off about her." The Hyuuga heiress's eyebrows furrowed together. "I am not quite sure."
"Agreed." The Uchiha heir affirmed. "And because of that look in her eye, I don't want you to leave my sight for one moment during this mission." Hinata smiled at him, nodding in compliance, and soon there was a silence exchanged between them. They walked outside there was a carriage, and Satsuki was lifted up into it by her guards. The carriage took off, and they followed behind it.
"M-may I ask you something?" The Hyuuga heiress walked along side Sasuke, Sakura and Ino walked in front of them, Shino and Kiba walked along both sides of the carriage.
"Un."
"H-how did y-you know that I picked up on her?" Hinata asked, curiously.
"Because you are perceptive, Hinata." The Uchiha heir said with a smirk, and he clicked his tongue. "And let me ask you a question, why did you call her beautiful?" He saw her look at -
"You don't think so?"
"No." Sasuke scoffed.
You surpass her in all areas especially in that department.
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-Later on that same day-
The journey had been mostly quiet, they were almost near the Kazahahui village, the first checkpoint. Hinata stayed beside Sasuke, sometimes, he would reach out a hand, and brush the outline of her eyebrow without anyone looking at them. Satsuki was fraternized with all of them except for Hinata, but she spoke too soon. The princess pulled back her curtain that was obscuring the view of inside, and she made eye contact with Hinata.
"Hyuuga-sama, can you come here, please." Hinata smiled at her, walking forward, and hearing a growl come from the Uchiha's mouth. She felt his eyes bore into her back as Hinata approached the carriage.
"Yes, Satsuki-sama?"
"I appreciate such a strong woman protecting me on this mission." Satsuki said with a smile. "I have heard nothing but good things about the shinobi who come from the Hyuuga clan."
"Thank you, and you can call me Hinata."
"Hinata, what a beautiful name, I am so glad to have someone here who can relate." Satsuki stated. "We're both women of high statuses, you know how it is to always be the target of someone."
It was at that moment, that a Kunai flew past Hinata's head, lodging itself into the side of the carriage, and Satsuki let out a horrified scream. Hinata activated her byakugan, turning in the direction, and there were three men who were coming at them in full force. Shino stayed by Satsuki's carriage, Sakura and Satsuki's guards took on the first man while Kiba and Ino took on the second man. They had on the masks of demons, their bodies were fully cloaked in armor, and third man ran up to her. He had on the mask of a red colored demon with yellow horns curled onto the top of the mask, and he had a sickle and chain in his hand. It spun around in a fierce centripetal motion, that was when Sasuke moved in front of her, and he unsheathed his katana. Hinata winced at the sound of steel clashing with one another, but she took advantage of the third man's distractedness. The Hyuuga heiress could see his chakra spiking wildly, he did no efforts to conceal it, and she hit the spots where she saw the chakra coming out of. The third man grunted as he struggled against Sasuke, and at the same time having his chakra deplete at a high rate. With a growl, the third man turned around and he tried to cut down Hinata in hopes of trying to end her attack. Hinata turned the other way, the sickle cut her cheek, and Sasuke's katana went through the third man's chest coming out from the other end.
The Hyuuga heiress gasped at him, his red eyes were cold, and blood trickled out of the man's mouth. Sasuke tossed the man aside, the body sliding off his blade, and she saw a killer intent was all over his face. Sasuke turned towards her, walking up, and wiped the blood that trickled down her cheek.
"Red doesn't suite you well." Sasuke informed as he pulled his blood stained hand away from her. Hinata stared at him, shocked, and then she looked at the carriage. None of the men seemed to be attacking the princess, Shino stood beside it, quietly, and that was when she wondered.
Was the target really Satsuki? There was only the kunai lodged in the carriage, and although Satsuki looked horrified. Hinata could see a faint glimmer of a smile on her face, and it sent a shiver down Hinata's spine.
All of the men were killed, Satsuki thanked all of them for saving her, and they made their way to the village as fast as they could. Luckily, they reached the village at the dawn of evening where they were taken in by an elderly woman and her husband that turned out to be Satsuki's great grandmother. The home was big enough to fit all of them, Kiba, Shino, and Sasuke were all put in one room, and Hinata, Sakura, and Ino put in another one.
Satsuki's great grandmother and her husband prepared everyone a big dinner. However, the dinner was far from quiet, there were questions about how long Satsuki had been receiving the attacks, and if there were anyone that she knew specifically that would harm her.
She all answered the questions with no and a while. Satsuki was nonchalant with all her answers.
Causing Hinata to believe she knew much more than what she was leading on. She made her way towards the bedroom, but Hinata was shocked to see Sasuke standing outside the bedroom door.
"W-what are you doing h-here?"
"I told you not to ever leave my side so you are sleeping by me tonight." The Uchiha heir informed. "We're waiting till everyone is asleep, and then you'll be sleeping out here in the hallway. Hinata nodded at him, smiling at his protectiveness although he would never admit it, and everyone fell asleep. She went inside of the room, quietly, and grabbed a blanket.
Sasuke sat down on the ground, he kept his eyes forward, and Hinata sat down beside him.
"Now, go to sleep, Hinata." The Uchiha heir commanded.
"What about you?" Sasuke flashed her a cold look, and she knew not to press it any further.
"M-may I sleep on you?" Hinata asked as a faint blush rising to Hinata's cheeks
"Do whatever you please, I don't care." Sasuke said with a shrug. She laid her head against his shoulder, and was surprised when he lifted his arm to press her closer against his body. It didn't take long for the Hyuuga heiress to fall asleep, but not before she caught sight of Sasuke leaning back his head, his eyes coming to close, and a look of contentment on his face.
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A faint noise woke the Uchiha heir up, his sharingan activated on instinct, and he saw a shadowy figure walk past the hallway. His eyes narrowed.
I think it is about time I paid a visit to this princess.
Sasuke moved away from the Hyuuga heiress, and he lied her down on the floor.
The Uchiha heir walked down the hallway, heading towards Satsuki's room, and his grip on his katana tightened. As her bedroom door came into sight, the door was slid open, and Sasuke hid behind a wall. He watched a man leave the bedroom, a look of satisfaction on his face, the same demonic mask as the men that they face earlier hung loosely around his neck, and Satsuki peeked her head around the door. Her face was flushed red, her kimono was so open that it barely concealed her breasts, and they exchanged a passionate kiss. Soon, the man disappeared.
The Uchiha heir unsheathed his katana, he waited a few moments, and then headed towards her room. Sasuke slid opened her door, Satsuki was adjusting the hem of the second layer of her kimono, and she gasped at him. Her hair was disheveled, she went to scream, but the Uchiha heir pressed his katana against the base of her throat. Her hands fell to her sides, they were wide in dismay, and he growled.
"I know you are hiding something." Sasuke hissed as his grip tightened on her neck, she continued to look at him, shocked, and then her eyes narrowed at him. That bloodlust that he saw in her eyes finally rearing its head.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Satsuki said. Her voice still menacingly sweet and dark.
"You just had sex with some random man?" The Uchiha heir stated. She opened her mouth to answer, but he cut her off. "No, you knew that man didn't you?"
"I see, I should have known that I couldn't get anything past the eyes of an Uchiha." Satsuki said with a sadistic smile. "But, I didn't realize that your Hokage was so gullible."
"I am not with any village especially not Konohagakure." Sasuke informed. "I could care less about how you worked your charm on him, and I don't care about him, but your charm won't work on me."
"I figured that it wouldn't."
"Look, I really don't care what or who you do, you can screw anyone you please, your guards, that man, I really could careless, but I know you are calculating something." Sasuke stated. "And I really am not in the mood to hear all about it, I am here just to warn you."
"Warn me about what?"
"Perhaps, it is because I am in such a good mood that I have decided to give you a warning." Sasuke spoke as a sadistic smile came across his face. "Or maybe I lied, maybe your charm is working on me a little after all."
Now, he knew he was just being a dick.
" Here is my warning, in the mist of all your planning or whatever, no harm better come to Hinata, because if it does, I will make sure that this face that everyone seems to be smitten with.." A chuckle came out of the Uchiha's throat, and she gave him an intense yet fearful look. "I will see to it that when I am done with you, not even the Gods will be able to recognize you when I send you into the afterlife."
Despite this warning, Sasuke knew that she wouldn't heed it, and he was prepared to extract his promise. It was all just in a matter of time.
Please review the story, I would greatly appreciate it, and I hope you all enjoyed it as there will be more to come- FireGladiator.