State of Shock
Sacred
While most would question a sudden change in decision, Sasuke would not. He wasn't ready to risk the great mood Naruto had been in for the last couple of days. It seemed that the blonde was back to his happy self again, eating small portions of food while Sasuke watched.
It made Sasuke a bit uneasy, when he heard about the trip he and Ibiki was taking. The trip was compulsory for his ANBU training, so he wasn't going to cancel it. Yet, he was unsure if Naruto was going to be all right. The blonde was behaving like a child, after all. He would never be able to trust Naruto to eat properly.
Now, he couldn't really rely on Sakura either. He knew that she avoided Naruto like the plague the last couple of days, ever since her and Sasuke's fight. He was sure that she wouldn't see after Naruto if he asked her to. Not only because she had a lot on her plate as it was, but also because he was the one asking.
He. The father of her child. He. Her childhood crush. He. Sasuke.
He could only hope that Sakura would get over it soon, and that Kakashi, Sai and Kiba were watching Naruto.
UAUAUA
Hinata had never asked for much in her life. She had always stayed quiet and calm in her corner, believing that it was for the best if she kept out of the way. She didn't allow herself to comment on anything, nor speak unless spoken to.
Yet, when her cousin approached her, she could tell that he was carrying bad news. It made her nervous, and she wished that she dared to ask what was wrong.
"Hinata-sama," Neji said lowly. His pale eyes were narrowed, and her polite smile dropped under his stare. "Your father sent me."
Hinata bit her lip, refusing to show her cousin her distress. This couldn't be good.
"He said that you aren't allowed to see Naruto anymore."
Hinata noticed the lack of suffix, understanding that Neji had lost his respect for the mute blonde. From what Hinata had heard, Sasuke and Naruto had finally gotten out as a couple. It both saddened her and made her glad. She wished her love happiness.
Though, this was too much.
"What do you see in him anyway?" Neji continued, only adding insult to the injury. "He is not even a shinobi anymore. He's mute – worthless. Nothing but a shadow of his past self. Uchiha has turned him into a pathetic mess."
Hinata's ashen eyes started to tear up, and she ran from her cousin before the first tear fell.
The words she wanted to spit in his face – to defend her loved one – were not appropriate. She wanted to tell her cousin that Naruto was not worthless. He was not a pathetic mess, and he was not a shadow.
He may not be a shinobi anymore, but she, if anyone, knew how much he still trained. In periods. Naruto's life was in periods – not because he was pathetic, but because of the fate Sasuke had created for them both.
Some periods, Hinata knew that Naruto would still be very able to continue as a ninja. In other periods, Hinata wondered if Sasuke would keep Naruto alive at all. There was a word in her vocabulary that she had never used, yet, it fitted Naruto so perfectly.
She had yet to voice the word, afraid that it would make it real. She didn't want the word to be used, for she didn't want to be correct.
One day, she would tell someone. One day, she would tell the Hokage about her suspicion. If she did, maybe Naruto could be cured. Maybe Naruto could be his happy self again.
UAUAUA
"He's not a fucking baby, you know." Kiba's voice was low, and a small growl escaped the back of his throat. "That damn Uchiha should stop treating him like he was made out of porcelain. This is Naruto. Naruto with the will of steel, stubborn like a freaking... I don't know. Stubborn."
Shikamaru snorted in reply, secretly agreeing. His dark eyes were closed, even though the clouds were fluffy and pretty this summer day.
"Besides, I think Uchiha might have scared Hinata away. She's been busy the last two weeks. I know how much she likes coming to my place to meet Naruto. Strange, ne?"
"Very."
"Yeah," Kiba said with a sigh, not really sensing Shikamaru's sarcasm. He lied down, the grass tickling his neck. He tried closing his eyes, but he found himself staring up at the clouds instead. "Maa, Shikamaru... Do you think Naruto and Sasuke are going to stay with each other forever? I mean, the entire village is talking about them."
"It'll pass," Shikamaru muttered, talking about the gossip circling the village. He wasn't really interested in what Kiba was saying, but it was hard to ignore him when he was so loud.
Kiba didn't comment, seeing as he didn't know which way he wanted Sasuke's and Naruto's relationship to go. One part of him, the selfish part, wanted them to break up. Then, he would of course be the one to comfort the blonde. The unselfish part, the part that was in love, wanted them to stay together.
It seemed that Naruto was happy with Sasuke. Why, Kiba would never understand.
The Uchiha was arrogant, silent and over all annoying. Sasuke didn't have any positive features, no good sides. He was just a pure jerk, to Kiba at least.
"Why do you think they stay together?" Kiba asked suddenly, thinking that Shikamaru had an answer to everything. "I mean, Sasuke is a cold-hearted asshole, while Naruto is...well, not."
Shikamaru sighed through his nose, the sound of Kiba's voice making him frustrated. The way Kiba spoke – with unfinished sentences, leaving blanks – irked him. Yet, he found himself answering his honest belief.
"Sasuke and Naruto are made for each other. Uchiha is, as you so delicately put it, a cold-hearted asshole. The only one that is able to put up with him is Naruto, who is kind and loving. Stubborn, as you said."
Kiba grunted, keeping the line about Uchiha not deserving anyone to himself. Shikamaru, however, seemed to understand what Kiba was thinking.
The Nara sat up slowly, sighing. "You don't have a shot, Kiba. Give up and go on with your life. You're a ninja – none of us are going to live that long anyway."
"Now, that's not very optimistic, is it, Shikamaru?"
The comment earned Kiba a harsh punch.
To Be Continued
A/N: Reviews would be loved, dearest readers. You know I answer to every comment I get, so don't worry about that x3
