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

Note: Last Chapter will be Chapter 23 not 25. Sorry for the confusion. So lemons begin next chapter which will be chapter 22, and transcend over to 23.

Another Note: This chapter contains a little bit of a sexual scene, just letting you all know. As always, enjoy!

The Beauty of Power

Chapter 21

Hinata was the woman he wanted to marry, and he would gladly do it right away. However, there was a hindrance in the way, and that was her father, Hiashi Hyuuga. He needed to improve his image for the Hyuuga head to give her to him. Sasuke really didn't need for her father to do so, she was already his, but he knew Hinata would want her father's approval. Now, the question became how was he going to do it? How would he, Sasuke Uchiha, change his image?

He certainly wasn't going to go around the village, and kiss some damn babies. Nor was he going to shake the hands of the villagers. They could all fuck themselves.

But, there was one way he could do it, it was an inevitable end that he would be faced when he decided to stay in the village with Hinata, and that was to become a part of Konohagakure once more. He had already come to the conclusion that Naruto would probably ask him this if he resided in there, so why not take advantage of it now? Why not take advantage of the blond headed nuisance's pathetic dream for him? It was an offer that the Uchiha heir knew that his old pain in the ass couldn't refuse. He would use Naruto was a means to improve his image so he could marry Hinata.

Sasuke silently chuckled to himself.

So it turned out the young jinchuuriki host was good for something.

However, he would need to run the notion by his fiancée before acting upon anything. The Uchiha heir laid in the bed, staring at the ceiling, and Hinata had her head rested on his chest. Her chest rose and fell, she ran her finger up and down his arm, gently, and Sasuke's free hand stroked her hair. It felt like silk running through his fingers.

Sometimes, they would just lay in bed, enjoying each other's company in a peaceful silence. It was something the Uchiha heir was very fond of.

" Anata." Sasuke breathed. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Is e-everything ok?" Hinata asked as she lifted up her head, and her eyebrows furrowed together in perplexity.

"Do you remember when I told you about the deal that your father and I made on the condition of this engagement?" The Uchiha heir began. "The condition that I have to improve my image in order for this marriage to take place." She nodded.

"I r-remember."

"Well, I have come up with an idea on how to do it." Sasuke informed. Hinata stared at him, shocked, and her lips parted.

"How?" Sasuke took in a deep breath through gritted teeth, and scowled.

"I've decided that I am going to become a part of Konohagakure again." The Uchiha heir informed. "That is how I will improve my image." The words felt like fire on his tongue as he uttered them. Sasuke watched her eyes widen, stunned, and speechless.

There was a silence exchanged between the two lovers.

"Y-you hate i-it here, you h-hate the village." Hinata stated, baffled. Sasuke smirked at her, lifting up, and he kissed the corner of her mouth.

"Ah, yes, you are right about that, but when we marry, I know you want to stay here." The Uchiha heir informed. "Your family, friends, everything you know is here. And I know that if I were to stay here, it would be asked of me to do this, all I am doing is expediting the process."

Hinata sighed, and she buried her face in his neck. "T-this is too much to ask of y-you, I will see if I can plead with my father, m-maybe I can change his mind."

"No, Hinata, you see with this decision, there is no persuasion to be needed, and my image will improve on its own as soon as everyone learns that I have joined forces with Konohagakure once more."

"Are you sure a-about this?" She inquired. "Would you b-become a shinobi again?"

Sasuke flinched at the word shinobi, and his jaw clenched. " I will not become a shinobi, you know I hate all of them except for you, that is one area that I will not bend to, but I don't know whatever the dobe decides when I run it by him."

"Because Hinata, I want to marry you as soon as possible."

"I do as well."

"Then, this decision of mine will make it a reality." The Uchiha heir stated. "Tell me, what do you think?"

"I will go with whatever d-decision you make." Hinata said as her hands moved up his neck. "I just don't want y-you to make any d-decisions on the account of me." Sasuke pulled away from her, and he poked her forehead.

"Too late. You are the only one who I allow to be a driving force with my decisions. I thought of this because of my desire for you."

"You're doing so m-much for me, thank you."

"There is no need for such trivial things like thanking me. So, I am going to go to Naruto's office now, then I will come back, and we can head over to the Hyuuga estate."

"Oh, okay, I wish you luck." Hinata said with a kind smile, and she kissed him, lightly. Sasuke lifted up, getting off the bed, and before he left the bedroom, he looked over at Hinata, smirking.

"I don't need luck."

The Uchiha heir made his way to Naruto's office, he gritted his teeth at the thought, and balled up his fists. He was not going to like this, not one bit.

However, Hinata was worth it.

Sasuke cursed underneath his breath, opening the door, and the young jinchuuriki host looked up at him, stunned. The Uchiha heir shut the door behind him, and a stoic expression was on his face.

"Well, hello, old friend."

"I am not your fucking friend." The Uchiha heir growled. "This is not some friendly encounter."

"Then why are you here?"

"I am here to make a proposition to you, one that I am pretty damn sure you won't be able to pass up."

"And what is that?" The blond headed Hokage asked as he folded his arms across his chest.

"Let me become a part of Konohagakure forces once more." The Uchiha heir stated. Naruto's eyes widened in shock, Sasuke could see that he had taken him aback for a moment, and then a wide toothy smile came across Naruto's face.

"You want to become a shinobi once more."

"No, did I say I wanted to become a lackey?" Sasuke hissed, icily. "I just want to join the force to go on missions, nothing more. And I know that you won't pass this opportunity up because you yearn to have me back here with you all." The young jinchuuriki host remained silent as a scowl settled in on his face. He stared at Sasuke, hard, and Sasuke stared back at him, aloofly. There was a silence exchanged between the two men.

"I do want you here." Naruto admitted.

Of course you do.

The young jinchuuriki host leaned back into his chair. "Okay, Sasuke, I will put you back on the team."

"But, I will in no way represent Konohagakure that is the conditions of this proposal." Sasuke growled, the blond headed Hokage opened his mouth to object, and then he nodded in compliance.

That is what I thought.

"Oh, and this stays between you and I, I know how you like to run that damn mouth of yours." The Uchiha heir derided.

"Why are you doing this, if you hate it so much here?" Naruto asked as he cocked an eyebrow.

"Circumstances have persuaded me to do this."

"You mean Hinata?" The Uchiha heir's hand rested on the hilt of his katana, and his ash burned eyes turned into red ones. Naruto held his hands up, quickly. "Whoa, I didn't mean to bring her up, I just asked."

"Mind your damn business."

"Okay, okay." Naruto said, trying to ease the situation. "I will make sure that you go on missions with everyone else, but the only difference is that you will be unaffiliated, there will be no attachments to you."

"Hmph!" Sasuke grunted. "And when is the next mission?"

"In a few weeks." The Uchiha heir nodded at him, taking note, and he turned around, ready to head out the door. "Fine, I will go on that one." As Sasuke was almost half way out the door, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder, and he hissed, knowing who the hand belonged to.

"I will enjoy having you back here, it will be like old times eh."

"Get your hand off of me." The Uchiha heir warned. "Or I will cut it off." Naruto removed his hand, and Sasuke headed out of his office, but not before he caught Naruto's one last comment.

"Yeah, it is exactly like old times."

No more than the Uchiha heir passed through the gates of his estate, Hinata met him, and she looked at him, concerned.

"What d-did he say?" Hinata asked, curiously.

"I told you it would work out." Sasuke stated as he took her hand. "Now let's go see your father."

"Un." He led her to the Hyuuga estate, and watched her knock on the gates. The gates opened, Hiashi met them, and his eyes narrowed, slightly.

"Hinata, Uchiha." Hiashi greeted. "What brings you two here." He was not the one to revere authority, hell, he detested it, but this was the man who was in between Hinata and him. So Sasuke bowed, and spoke.

"We need to talk." Sasuke informed. Hiashi stepped away, beckoning inside the gate, and his eyes never wavered off of the Uchiha heir. They were led inside of the Hyuuga home, and into a separate room. Hiashi sat down on his knees, and crossed his arms.

XXXX

Judging by the look on her father's eye, Hinata knew he wasn't going to be persuaded very easily, not that he wasn't before. Hopefully, the action that Sasuke took would be enough because she wanted to marry him just as much as he did her.

"Father." Hinata began as she bowed to the ground. "Please, I beg of you to hear, Sasuke out."

XXXX

"And what pretell may that be?" Hiashi's opal eyes bore into Sasuke face, and Sasuke looked at him, intently.

"That deal we made, you and me, about this marriage taking place, about my image."

"What about it?" Hiashi asked, sternly. "You have done nothing of to improve it so far, so this engagement is still null and void."

"It is not." Sasuke said, coolly. "I have just joined Konohagakure forces once more, you can go ask your Hokage now." A hint of degradation was in Sasuke's voice as he pronounced the word Hokage. Hiashi's eyes widened, slightly, and he pursed his lips.

"An Uchiha joining Konohagakure after he sought so effortlessly to destroy it." Hiashi stated. "Now, isn't that something." Hiashi's gaze flicked to Hinata. "Are you prepared to do this? You will no longer belong to the house of Hyuuga, and you will no longer be the head of this clan."

"I am." Hinata informed. Hiashi eyes lingered on Hinata and then, he closed them.

"The only reason why I agreed to this is because an alliance between the Uchiha and Hyuuga clan would prove to be beneficial in a lot of ways." Hiashi stated. "I know about you, Uchiha, I know what you have done, I know your hands are stained with blood. So let me tell you this, Hinata. If he proves to be something else in the course of this, something totally different from whatever you think him to be now. You will have to deal with it on your own."

"I u-understand." Hinata murmured, lowly.

XXXX

No, you're wrong, Sasuke is different now.

Hinata knew that the Uchiha heir would never hurt her.

"This is foolish, Hinata, so you think that joining Konohagakure is sufficient enough to improve you image huh?" There was a silence in the room, causing Hinata to shift uneasily, and Hiashi held up his hand. "I will give you two my blessing."

Hinata looked at her father, shocked, and speechless. The Uchiha heir smirked at the Hyuuga head, and Hinata bowed again to her father.

"Thank you, father."

She couldn't control the happiness threatening to burst out of her chest.

"The marriage will take place in a couple of days." Hiashi dictated. "And it will be a private ceremony that is how it will work." Hinata nodded at her father, and she stood up.

XXXX

Before they walked out, Hiashi cleared his throat. "Oh, and Uchiha, I will be keeping an eye on all of your actions as you operate within the force here."

The Uchiha heir didn't answer Hiashi, he just glanced at him, and then followed Hinata out of the Hyuuga estate. When they got on the other wide, he was met with a kiss, and it caught him off guard for a moment. However, Sasuke relaxed, and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pressed her lips against hers hard, allowing his tongue to delve in, and caress hers. He didn't allow her to breathe, only when he pulled away was she able to take a breather, and Hinata smiled at him, shyly.

"I'm so h-happy." Hinata said with a bit of elation.

"Hm... really?" The Uchiha heir asked as he stroked Hinata's hair. A slight smile played on his lips. "I thought you would be happy when I go buy you your ring." Hinata giggled at him, and he took her hand.

"Let's go."

Sasuke led Hinata in the ring ship, her fingers were interlaced with his, and the same young man from before saw the Uchiha heir. He ignored Sasuke, Sasuke grimaced, and walked up to the desk. The Uchiha heir clicked his tongue, and the young man looked at him with a cocked eyebrow.

"I thought you didn't need my help." A displeased look came across Sasuke's face, his eyes turned red, and his lips set in a definite line. Hinata gasped at him, the young man began to tremble, and he backed away. The Uchiha heir leaned over the counter, and his hand moved to his katana.

"I need fucking help, now, and if you don't provide it to me."

"Yes, yes." The young man said, shakily "excuse me, I think something is wrong with me today, I am out of it."

Hm… that's better.

The young man's eyes flickered to Hinata, and he smiled at her, warmly. "Hello miss, is there anything that you and your err….fiancée were looking for in particular."

"Um…" Hinata began. "It was a small sliver band with a diamond shaped stone."

"Oh yes, I think we have that one still, it is very popular." The Uchiha heir watched the man walk away, and Hinata elbowed him. Sasuke looked at her, she pointed to her eyes, and shook her head. He knew what she meant. Sasuke smirked at her, wavering his hand as his eyes faded to their normal ones. They were led to the same ring as seen before, and Hinata looked at Sasuke.

"You r-really don't have to."

"Try it on." The Uchiha heir urged. He looked at her with an unfathomable expression, Hinata smiled at him, and she took it out of the small box. She slipped it onto her finger, and Sasuke stared at her hand, quietly, and then his eyes flickered to the man. "How much is it?"

"Oh, it is quite expensive." The young man said, haughtily. The Uchiha heir's jaw clenched at the man, his eyes narrowed, and he reached into the pocket. He pulled out a wad of yen, laying it on the counter, and Hinata looked at him, shocked. The young man's eyes almost popped out of his head and his mouth dropped.

"I think that is enough."

"Sasuke, w-where did you get all t-that money?"

"I lived a nomadic life, I have to have some money." Sasuke stated. "Is that enough." The man looked at him, speechless, and he nodded.

"More than enough."

"Good."
"Would you like me to wrap it up?" The young man offered.

"N-no, may I wear it o-out?" With a nod from him, Hinata beamed in delight, wrapping her arms around Sasuke, and the Uchiha heir couldn't help but smile. He nestled his face in her hair, and he enjoyed the warmth of his lover in his arms.

XXXX

The whole way home, Hinata stared at her hand, shocked at the ring on her hand, and Sasuke chuckled at her.

"What?" Hinata asked, as a blush rose to her cheeks.

"It will not disappear, Hinata." the Uchiha heir teased. She looked at him, sourly, and shook her head as she outlined it with her fingers.

"I know, it is j-just so b-beautiful."

"Well, then it suits you." She still couldn't believe it, the ring was more than just a ring, and it was what would bond her to Sasuke in such a way that she could cry tears of joy.

XXXX

As soon as they entered the estate, Hinata went to say something to Sasuke, but was cut off when Sasuke pushed her up against the wall. She gasped at him, and he pinned her down with his body. He had both arms on her sides, staring at her, intently, and her lips parted. She reached up a hand, stroking his cheek, and Sasuke groaned. He leaned over, pressing his lips against Hinata's lips, their lips molded into each other's. Sasuke sucked on her bottom lip, and she moaned against his mouth. His hands moved up her stomach, and to her breasts, where he squeezed them, gently. She gasped, her back arched against him, and another moan escaped from her mouth. Hinata ran her hands down his neck, and into his shirt where she stroked him from his clavicle down his sternum. He let out a low groan, pulling away from her, and he stared at Hinata, intently. Hinata's face was red, her lips were parted, and swollen from their kiss. The sight of her, her fingers on his bare skin, and the feel of her soft breasts in his hands made his member stiffen. The Uchiha heir leaned over to her, licked her lips, and he moved his hands underneath her shirt. Her skin was soft underneath his touch, he caressed her breasts, enjoying the feel of them, and she mumbled his name. Sasuke continued to fondle her pale mounds, she bit her lip, fighting back moans, in hopes to conceal them.

Sasuke trailed his lips along her jawline, and then descended down her neck where he sucked on the soft flesh.

"Do you like this?" The Uchiha heir asked, curiously. Hinata didn't answer him, but her moans became louder. Her hands moved down his body where she traced the contours of his abs.

The Uchiha heir groaned, and Hinata took her other hand, knotting her fingers in his hair.

She felt good.

Sasuke hissed, he grabbed her hips, rubbing his erection against her womanhood through the fabric of their clothes, and she gasped at him, shocked.

"w-what are you doing?" Hinata asked, dazed. The Uchiha heir met her eyes, and he kissed her.

"Enjoying your body." He buried his face in her neck, rubbed up against her again, and she moaned once more. Her hands ran up his body, and rested against his neck. Seeing Hinata like this, feeling her up against him was just a tease, he wanted to remove all her clothing, and have sex with her everywhere. The Uchiha heir began to ponder the places where he would take her, on the bed, on the floor, against the wall, in the shower, the possibilities were endless, and he would screw her hard. But, he needed to wait, just a little longer, in a couple of days she would be his.

Sasuke cursed underneath his breath, and his lips moved to her ear. All of his movements ceased, and he pulled his hands out of her shirt. She groaned in between her pants. "I can wait just a little longer, and then you are all mine, there are a lot of things to be done as well... I am sure you want to make wedding plans."

Hinata turned a red that Sasuke couldn't even begin to describe the color, and covered her face, bashfully.

"I do." Hinata admitted. The Uchiha heir pulled away from her, and it looked like she was going to pass out. Sasuke looked at her, smirking, and he brushed a hair behind her ear.

"You okay, anata?" Hinata gulped, and she pushed him away. She ran into the bedroom, and he chuckled as she shut the door behind her.

He had to give her time to recuperate.

- A few hours later-

Sasuke sat on the bed, Hinata laid up against him, and she had on a light green shirt with a pair of white shorts. His fingers moved up her legs to her shorts leg then repeated the same motion. He liked how slender her legs were, how soft they were. His face was nestled in her hair, and the thumb of his other hand rubbed over the ring.

"Hinata." The Uchiha heir breathed in her hair. "I need to tell you something face to face, I told you when you are asleep, but it is no good if I do that."

"What is it?" Hinata looked at him, their foreheads pressed together, and Sasuke sighed against her lips.

"I love you, Hinata." Hinata's eyes widened in shock. "After my brother's death, I really thought love was a stupid emotion, so easy to manipulate, and was for the weak, but you have changed my mind."

Hinata's lip quivered, tears spilled out of her eyes, and she smiled at him. The Uchiha heir reached up a hand, wiping away a tear off her cheek, and he rested a hand against her cheek. She closed her eyes, touching his hand.

"I love you too." Hinata affirmed. "I d-didn't tell you because I f-figured that you weren't ready yet. I didn't w-want you to leave me."

"Hm… well, you don't have to worry about that, I will never leave you, Hinata…ever." And with that, the two lovers remained silent as they basked in each other's touches.

"I am g-glad that my father said it would be a private ceremony." Hinata spoke, finally. "I don't want anything e-extravagant."

"But, I know that you want your friends to be able to see it as well right?" Sasuke confirmed.

"I do, but t-that would require a second ceremony."

"Then do it." Hinata gasped at him.

"Really, you don't mind?"

"I wouldn't have said it." Sasuke stated. "I really don't care for any of your friends, Hinata, but it is not just about me, it is about you as well, and you'd like them to be there, so I will tolerate them this one time."

Hinata smiled at the Uchiha heir. "Then how about doing an s-second ceremony separate from the one my father is setting up for us? I can invite everyone there, it will be kind of like an r-reception ceremony."

"Where?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow.

"There is a gazebo in a park not too far from here, the p-park doesn't get a lot of attention, and it overlooks the l-lake." Hinata proposed. "I would like it there."

"Sure whatever, you want."

" W-what kind of food should be served?" Hinata asked, curiously.

" Just so something simple like punch and cucumber sandwiches, I don't want you to overdo it."

" Oh that sounds good, We'll do that." Hinata lifted up, and got off the bed.

Sasuke groaned, feeling her warmth escape him. "Where are you going?"

"I need to make invitations." The Uchiha heir couldn't help, but smile at Hinata as she pulled out the utensils to make wedding invitations.

XXXX

Hinata was delighted to make wedding invitations, she would ask Sasuke what color they would be, if the ribbons around them should be lace or not, and he would just shrug, and tell her whatever she wanted them to be.

She decided to make the invitations the shape of the Uchiha clan's fan, and line it with the colors of both their clans with lace ribbon, and some beads.

Hinata sat on the floor doing them, she had an idea that the invitations would take a long time, but she needed to give them out to everyone tomorrow.

XXXX

The creation of wedding invitations lasted late in the night, Sasuke saw Hinata nodding off as she clipped the shape of one, and he walked over to her. The Uchiha heir placed a hand on her shoulder, she looked up at him, and wiped her eyes.

"Let me finish this l-last one."

"No, finish in the morning." Sasuke commanded. He scooped her up in his arms, and by the time, he had reached the bed, Hinata had begun to fall asleep.

Even though, it was around the corner, the Uchiha heir was impatient, he couldn't wait to have Hinata as his wife.

And for everyone to know Hinata as the wife of Sasuke Uchiha.

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