Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, it's characters, or any aspect of it. It all belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Author's Note: So I had this chapter typed a couple of days ago, and just finished finals for my junior year of college. So updates will be more frequent now. Anyways, enjoy!

The Beauty of Power

Chapter 18

The Hyuuga heiress laid on the ground, motionless, her chest rose and fell at a less than steady pace, and her breathing was shallow. The covers were pulled up on her, concealing her bandaged chest, and her lips were chalky white. She was pale, paler than usual, and almost looked like a ghost. A small table like tray sat next to her with a bowl of warm water, and a wash cloth. They had taken refuge in the Jyokujo village to attend to Hinata's wounds, Konohagakure was a day away, but they had to make sure that Hinata was stable enough to be transported there. Sakura did heal her, she had closed up the gaping hole in Hinata's chest, but Hinata was in desperate need for a blood transfusion. Hinata was given liquids every thirty minutes to keep her hydrated, sand he did swallow the liquids, but barely.

Nonetheless, in the midst of all this, Sasuke was surprisingly calm which make Sakura and the others incredibly standoffish. The pink haired kunoichi had seen a rage in him that she had never witnessed before, a hatred uncontained, and it was all because he witnessed Hinata being impaled. Furthermore, Sakura couldn't get the image of Yabuya out of her head, how he laid on the ground, gurgling noises coming from the base of his throat with eyes that showed no one was there, subconsciously.

Sakura had once seen that same dark chakra that emanated from the Uchiha heir, yes, she remembered it very clearly. It was when they were preteens and back at the academy. They were in the second stage of their chunin exams, and it took place in the Forest of Death. It was there, that she had been attacked by the sound ninja, Sasuke had received the cursed seal of heaven, and had tapped into it for the first time. She remembered the sadistic smirk on his face as he dislodged the sound nin's arms, yanking out it out of the ball and socket, and that chakra swirling around him that it made her sick to her stomach.

But, this time was distinctly different from then. The way he picked up Hinata from the ground, like a wilted flower, treating her carefully, and delicately. Sakura never knew what went on inside the mind of Sasuke Uchiha, but one thing was for certain. Hinata was the rock that separated an insane Uchiha from his usual stoic self, and if that rock was shattered, if Hinata was shattered then, Sakura was for certain they would see a very vengeful Sasuke, one that had never been seen before.

While the pink haired kunoichi worked on Hinata, Sasuke stayed away, in fact the whole time that they attended to her, he was nowhere to be seen. But, she knew better, he was watching from a distance, and if she missed up even to the slightest bit. Sakura would end up just like Yabuya. Sakura walked past Hinata's room, resting her hand on the edge of the door to slide it open, and just as it barely opened. She saw him. Sasuke was sitting next to Hinata, his back was towards the door, and he seemed to be staring off in some distance. She smiled at the sight, but gasped as she saw his face turn towards her. His sharingan was activated, an unsettling gleam was in his eyes, and she slide the door shut.

I'll come back later.

The pink haired kunoichi turned on her heels, heading the other way, and she quickly descended down the hallway.

XXXX

The Uchiha heir sat in the room, he stared at the window, and an intense expression was on his face. His eyes flickered to an unconscious Hyuuga heiress, he reached over a hand, and brushed her hair out of her face.

Get up, Hinata!

Sasuke scowled as he stared at her still closed eyes, and he traced the outline of her brow. He yearned to see those opal eyes of hers, to see her soft smile, Sasuke gritted his teeth, and his jaw clenched. He allowed this to happen, he allowed her to get hurt, and it was all his fault that she was in this condition.

What the hell.

What was this foreign feeling? Was it guilt? Ah, that was what it was.. He had never come in contact with such an emotion before. The question that he asked himself earlier once again resurfaced.

Did he love her? Love, was a notion he considered to be foolish, now… not so much. Sasuke thought that he was incapable of producing such an emotion, perhaps when he was a kid, he was aquatinted with it, and he thought that all remaining emotion of love died with Itachi. So for him to even fathom such a thing was beyond disbelief.

Hm… maybe it was love... who knows. To be honest, Sasuke didn't even really know how to even recognize the emotion of love, he had been alienated from it for so long. He knew basic concepts of it, but to recognize it in himself was something he was unable to do.

Regardless of whether love drove his actions or not, he was sure by now, this thing he had with Hinata was something far more than boyfriend and girlfriend. He had just killed for her, and he would do it again, no woman ever had evoked such things out of him. He thought that just dating the Hyuuga heiress would be enough to fill his desire for her, but it left him, wanting more and more. His thirst for her, for her essence, for every fiber of her being was unquenchable. She was the driving force behind all of his actions.

The door slid open, Sasuke turned around to see Kiba looking at Hinata with a pained expression, and Sasuke growled.

"Get out." he commanded.

"I am Hinata's friend as well." Kiba said with crossed arms. "How is she doing, any changes?"

"How would I know?"

"You have been in this room all day since Sakura left." Kiba informed. The Uchiha heir didn't say anything, he just got up with an agitated expression on his face.

"You're getting on my nerves." He exasperated. Sasuke began to walk out, but Kiba stepped in front of him. The Uchiha heir looked at him, icily, and his hand rested on the hilt of his katana. "Do you want me to fulfill my promise?"

"Look." Kiba said as he ran his hand through his brunette hair. "We all know that you care about Hinata."

"Out of my way Inuzuka."

"I just wanted to say that I didn't think you were capable of such a thing."

"Of what?" The Uchiha heir asked, curtly.

"Of caring about someone other than yourself." Kiba stated as his eyes flickered to Hinata. Sasuke grabbed Kiba's shoulder, tossing him out of the way, and Kiba clicked his tongue. "What th-"

"There are a lot of things that you don't know about me." The Uchiha heir hissed. And with that, he slid the door shut behind him, leaving Kiba standing there, speechless.

Hinata was healed one last time before they made their way to Konohagakure, the Uchiha heir watched them place her on it, and Sakura and Ino carried it long the way. As expected, when they had reached Konohagakure, the shinobi had sprung into action, and Hinata was rushed into the hospital. Sasuke withdrew himself from all of it, disappearing into his estate, closing himself within the confines of the walls.

XXXXX

Sakura walked into Naruto's office, and Naruto looked at her, concerned.

"What happened?" Naruto asked. "What happened on the mission, how did Hinata end up like that?"

"The princess, Satsuki was involved into an elaborate scheme to kill her father, and we were caught up in it and at the second checkpoint, we were attacked by a group of men. Apparently, these particular group of men have been seeking to assassinate her father, the princess had been involved with the leader, and it was during the attack that Hinata got hurt."

"Where is she?" Naruto asked as his jaw clenched, and he balled up his fists.

"Dead." Naruto's eyes widened at her in shock, and his eyebrows furrowed together. "How?"

"Sasuke killed her." Naruto's lips parted, slightly, and Sakura nodded at him. "He was ambushed as well, and she attacked him."

"And the leader she was involved with?"

"Also dead, he was the one who attacked Hinata." The blond headed Hokage smirked at her, and he crossed his arms.

"Killed by Sasuke as well wasn't he?"

"Yes."

"I see, and where his the father?"

"Dead, Satsuki killed her father and so did the leader." Naruto shook his head, and he looked back at the window.

"I am sorry, I should have been able to recognize it." Sakura shook her head.

"Actually, I don't think that anyone would have suspected anything about her if it wasn't for Sasuke, he is the one who realized that she was hiding something." There was a silence exchanged between the two.

"Hey, Sakura, how did it feel, having Sasuke on the mission, did it feel like the old days." Sakura pursed her lips, and she nodded at him.

"Yes."

"It would be nice to have him back here would it?" Naruto murmured, lowly.

"Naruto…" The pink haired kunoichi's voice trailed off, and she touched Naruto's shoulder.

"Sorry, Sakura." The blond headed Hokage said with a loop sided smile. "I hope Hinata-chan will be okay."

"She is in the best care." Sakura assured. "And there is one thing I know about Hinata."

"And what is that?"

"That Hinata-san is a strong woman."

XXXX

Hinata didn't know how long she was out, but she woke up to flowers and bears in her room. It was early in the morning, and the nurses were just changing shifts. She gasped as all the memories of her being impaled flooded her mind, and she touched her chest. The hole was no longer there, just a faint scar, and she sighed to herself. She stared at the bag of blood going into her arm, her limbs felt heavy, and weak. But, it didn't take long for everyone to realize that she was awake, and Hinata soon found her room filled with all her friends.

"We are so glad that you're okay, Hinata!" Kiba sighed with relief. "You gave us quite a scare."

"I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to worry anyone."

"There is no need to apologize." Naruto said with a grin. "Just get better." Hinata nodded at him, and a kind smile came on her face. The concern of her friends, Naruto taking time out of his busy schedule to see her made Hinata's chest swell, but she also felt a little empty. She began to wonder where the Uchiha heir was.

Had he come to see her? The Hyuuga heiress didn't let it keep her from enjoying the company of all her friends, they stayed till the evening fell, and began to leave one by one. Ino was the last one to leave, the whereabouts of the Uchiha heir made Hinata anxious to the point where she had to ask.

Ino poured her glass of water, handing it to her, and Hinata took it. She stared at the glass and grimaced.

"D-do you know w-where Sasuke-san is?" Hinata asked, curiously. Ino shook her head.

"No, sorry."

"Do you know by a-any chance if he has c-come to see me?"

"I can't say for sure." Ino stated. "In fact, no one has seen him since you have been here." A sullen feeling washed over Hinata, and she pursed her lips. Ino took notice of the sad Hyuuga heiress, and she smiled at her. "He is probably just busy with something."

"Yeah, I guess he is."

"He really cares about you, Hinata, so no worries." Hinata looked at her, shocked, and Ino twirled her blond locks around her finger.

"Look, Sasuke didn't exactly take it well when you were cut down in front of him." the blond headed Yamanaka informed. "I had never witnessed a killer intent in him before firsthand like Sakura and Naruto had, but I saw it then."

"What do you m-mean?"

"The man that cut you down, Hinata, Sasuke put him in a vegetated mind like state." Ino informed. Hinata's eyes widened, and her lips parted, slightly. "Seeing you like that pushed him over the edge, Hinata, he even threatened all of us if you weren't healed, and believe me he was very serious about it. But, he stayed in your room the whole time that you were unconscious."

"I don't understand, Sasuke, I think that no one does, but you are important to him." Ino informed. "That I am sure of." Hinata smiled at her, and Ino put her hand on her hip.

"And when were you going to tell me that something was up between you guys, I mean I knew, but you could had told me." Hinata turned red, and Ino walked over to the hospital bed, sitting down.

"Now spill, please, I am dying to know." Ino said as she titled her head. "How did this all come about?" Hinata bit her lip, and she looked down at her bed sheets.

"It just k-kind of happened."

XXXX

The Uchiha heir walked into Hinata's bedroom, she was laying with her back turned, and he crossed his arms. He saw the covers around her body tighten.

"I thought you w-weren't going to come… ever." Hinata murmured.

"And what makes you think that?" Sasuke asked as he approached her bed. He pulled up a chair next to it, and sat down. She moved in the bed to face him, he could tell that she seemed to be hurt by his temporary absence and he scowled.

"You haven't been here in a couple of days, and I-I was starting to think that y-you were forgetting about me." Hinata face turned grim, and the Uchiha heir clicked his tongue.

"Hinata, that is foolish." Sasuke as he looked forward. Hinata reached out a hand towards him, Sasuke took it, and she squeezed his hand, gently.

"I heard what y-you did, what you did to Satsuki and that m-man who attacked me."

"What about it?" The Uchiha heir's eyes bore into Hinata's face, and she bit her lip.

"You killed them because of me."

"Yes, I told you I would kill for you." He saw a perplex expression come across her face, and Sasuke sighed. "I would kill anyone... if you asked me too… and if you got hurt." The Uchiha heir avoided Hinata's eyes as he said this. "I would kill them."

"Is that what you feel for me?"

"Yes."

"And what about you, a-are you alright?" Hinata asked concerned. "I saw that y-you had something on you…." Sasuke looked at her, agitated, and he growled.

"You are the one in the hospital bed and you are worried about me, just stop, it is annoying, Hinata."

"I'm sorry, I j-just can't help it." Hinata said with a smile. "Is t-that so wrong?" Sasuke remained silent. "Is something wrong?"

"No." The Uchiha heir saw that she didn't look too convinced by his answer, and she nodded at him, not pressing it any further. There was a silence exchanged between the two, and Sasuke stood up. "I'm leaving, you need to sleep."

The Hyuuga heiress grabbed his wrist, and she shook her head. "P-please, don't leave, you can stay here." She stared at his back, and he balled up his fists. He turned around with an unfathomable expression on his face, pulling away from her, and she looked at him, shocked. He walked up to her, cupping her face, and pressed his forehead against her forehead. His eyes lowered, and her lips parted.

"You're driving me to do unspeakable things, Hinata." Sasuke informed.

"Is that a bad thing or good thing?"

"Who knows?" The Uchiha heir shrugged. "Both, bad, I don't really care anymore. You are making me weak, Hinata, and the worst thing about is, that I don't even care, in fact, I welcome it." He chuckled, halfheartedly. "What the hell did you do to me, Hinata?"

"N-nothing."

"You broke me that is what you did." Sasuke pulled away from her, titling her head, and he traced her lips with his fingers. "You broke me with these, with that smile of yours." The Uchiha heir leaned over, pressing his lips against the corner of her mouth.

"Are you okay, Sasuke-san?"

"I don't even know anymore." Sasuke chuckled, lowly. "When do you leave here, Hinata?"

"Tomorrow why?"

"I don't want you to go back to the Hyuuga estate, I want you to stay with me at the Uchiha estate." She tried to pull away from him, but he grabbed her shoulders. He nuzzled his face in her neck, taking in her scent, and she blushed.

"What are you saying?"

"Are you objecting?" A displeased look came across Sasuke's face, and Hinata shook her head.

"But, to live with you, my father w-would never go for it, we would have to be engaged, and y-you would have to be my fiancée." The Uchiha heir remained silent, and Hinata smiled at him. "And we-" He cut her off.

"Well then, we will just have to fix that now won't we?" A baffled expression fell over Hinata's face, and Sasuke stared at her, intently.

"I-I don't understand."

"I want you as my fiancée."

"Y-you want to marry me?" Hinata asked almost dazed.

"If that is what it takes to have you by my side constantly without any interference then yes?" Sasuke stated. Hinata's eyes widened, he saw her speechless, and he cocked an eyebrow.

"Are you objecting to it?"

"No, not at all." He could see her still processing it all, and he smirked at her. "You just have to talk to my father… and…" Her voice trailed off.

"Just be prepared for tomorrow, I will be here to come pick you up."

"O-oh, okay." And with that, Sasuke left Hinata's room as he felt her eyes bore into his back.

The Uchiha heir made his way to the Hyuuga estate, Hiashi opened the door, and he stared at Sasuke, intently.

"Uchiha." Hiashi said with crossed arms.

"I want to marry your daughter." Sasuke informed. Hiashi's eyes widened a bit, a look of surprise came across the usually composed Hyuuga head, and then they narrowed.

"Why?"

"I have my reasons."

"And what makes you think that I will agree to it."

"Because, I know that you want to do anything for the Hyuuga clan, and ensuring that the safety of the main house is a goal that you cannot deny." Sasuke looked at Hiashi with a cold expression, and Hiashi pursed his lips.

"And you think that you are capable of such a thing?" Hiashi asked, sternly. "That you can protect her better than a Hyuuga member?"

"Yes." The Uchiha heir affirmed, cockily.

"And what makes you think that I will agree to this? She will no longer be the heiress to my clan if I allow this to take place." Sasuke didn't say anything, and Hiashi's face darkened.

"Why do you want to do this?" He didn't answer.

"Is this out of some form of love?"

"I don't know."

"Hm… interesting." Hiashi stated.

"But, I know that you are a man who has interests." The Uchiha heir said with a smirk. "and an alliance with the sole heir to the powerful Uchiha would prove to be beneficial to you, and I know that the Hyuuga clan is highly reputable, and you will do anything to protect that reputation, so just think Hinata Hyuuga, unmarried female, hanging around me, that tarnishes your image a little don't you think, her hanging around someone that will not be her future husband." Hiashi may had had a hard expression, but Sasuke could tell that he knew that he was right.

"Fine, but this will be private arrangement between us, because Uchiha, you don't exactly have a good reputation, you are a murderer and a traitor, and you have to prove to others that you are not, you have to rebuild your image."

"Tch, whatever." Sasuke turned on his heels, heading out of the Hyuuga estate, and he stopped when he got half way down the road.

This agreement, this arrangement, this engagement to Hinata would give him more time, time to think things out, time to think about what he truly felt for the Hyuuga heiress, and it would be a way for him to ensure her protection from others.

And just to think, it will all start tomorrow.

XXXX

The Hyuuga heiress stayed up all night, staring at the ceiling in complete and utter disbelief. Sasuke Uchiha wanted to marry her?

She would have thought that a marriage proposal would have come another way still, but it was unique in a sort of odd way.

Did she see herself with him? She did. Hinata assumed that she would marry someone that her father arranged for her, never to Sasuke Uchiha.

Did he love her? Maybe he did or didn't.

But, she loved him.

Yes, that was it, he proposed marriage because he wanted to protect her, but she knew that he would never admit to it. Tonight was something that she would have never anticipated, but she looked forward to it.

She looked forward to becoming the fiancée to Sasuke Uchiha.

-The next morning-

No more than the sun arose over the horizon, Sasuke was there, and Hinata opened her eyes to see him standing by her bedside.

"You're here?"

"I told you that I would be." The Uchiha heir said with a smirk, and he laid her clothes on her lap as she pulled herself up in the bed. "Now, get dressed, I'm going to take you out of here." Hinata smiled at him, nodding, and he stepped out of the room to give her some privacy. She stepped out of the bed, slipping on her usual attire, and Hinata struggled to put on one of her sandals. She gasped as hands came around her wrists, she looked up at him, and the Uchiha heir stared at her, raising an eyebrow.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to g-get on my s-sandal." The Uchiha heir sighed, and beckoned to the bed.

"Sit down, and I will do it for you." Before Hinata could say no, Sasuke had already pushed her onto the bed. She watched him put on her sandal, her cheeks turned red, and she reached over a hand. Her hand rested on his head, her fingers interlacing in his raven hair, and the Uchiha heir reached out his hands. He lifted her off the bed like a child, and she couldn't help, but see him smile. She met his smile with a kind one.

I love you, Sasuke.

"Come on, I'm getting tired of this place, let's go."

"G-go where?" Hinata asked, giggling.

"To your new home... with me."

Please review the story, I would greatly appreciate it, and I hope you all enjoyed it as there will be more to come- FireGladiator