AUTHOR SAYS: Hey again people! Hope the reading is going well, I've gone over all my chapters for the first time ever and I gotta say, WOW. It's so nostalgic going over it, but it's way better when there are others who read it and leave reviews. THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS! I won't stop this story until I complete it. If I do take some leave then I will make sure everyone is aware, but safe to say, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE! :) YOLO!

ALSO: I forgot my password not long ago, thank GOD I had a back-up.

R&R PLEASE

Legend:

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

"Jutsu"

Previously...

"Hinata." Naruto whispered.

"Hai, she was with him when i went to do a check up." Sai said.

"He's not one to toy with when she's with him." Shikamaru voiced, "Right, Naruto."

Naruto didn't know how to answer him, 'That's right, she's with him.'

Chapter Twelve

Don't Cry

Present Day

"Hey Ino, what's up?." Chouji wondered, he happened to see her upon buying a fresh packet of chips. After devouring more before that.

Ino sighed, "Shikamaru just finished confirming something with me." She whispered. 'By force.' She thought.

Chouji sat beside her on the bench. At times like this, he knew whenever Ino was down, something obviously bad had happened. He took two large handful of chips and shoved them into his mouth before stuffing the empty packet into his pocket. With a burp and a large sigh, he placed a hand on Ino's shoulder.

"Ok, spill." He said, bubbly as ever.

Ino giggled, 'You never change.' She thought.

"Sakura won't be amongst us anymore." She said, turning serious.

Chouji blinked confusedly, "What do you mean?."

"That brawl I heard about the other day on the streets, that was Hinata and Sakura." Ino clenched her fists, "Sakura almost killed two civilians."

"Is this what Shikamaru was going to speak to us about?."

"No, Shikamaru can't tell us these types of things and even if he didn't, there were witnesses everywhere that day. Everyone in the village is talking about it."

Chouji snorted, "It's probably just a rumor, Ino, so relax." He said.

Ino shook her head, "It's no rumour, I heard It first hand from the Hokage's mouth. Sakura won't be a ninja until a year is up, which means she's a civilian until then. What's worse is that she's had her wrists binded so that she can't use chakra anymore."

"Whoa.." Chouji said, wide eyed, "..That's pretty deep, eh?."

"Yeah."

"How did you..-"

She cut him off with a smile, "Sai let me share his body."

Chouji just blinked, "Sai?."

"Mmm hmm." She hummed, then she blushed, "I forgot to break the jutsu after the meet."

"And?." He pressed, she was hiding something, he could tell.

"Sai came across Sasuke and Hinata afterwards. They were...-" Ino shook her head and stood up suddenly, "Thanks for listening Chouji, you've always been a good listener."

Chouji stood to, "Aww comeon Ino, what were they doing?."

"Yeah, what were they doing?." A newcomer asked, three forms materialized before them.

"Kiba! Shino! Neji!." Chouji greeted. Akamaru was no where in sight.

'Oh man.' Ino thought miserably, the three males were sizing her up and waiting for an answer. Neji in particular decided today was a good day to be up in her face, literally. She took a step back only to feel her back connect with something. No someone. Ino turned her head.

"Yo!." He greeted.

"K-kakashi-sensei." She fumbled over her words. If he found out she knew everything that transpired at that meeting, she'd definately be out of action for a while. That mean't no wages and having to scab off Shikamaru and Chouji. The thought made her shiver.

"What's up?." The silver-haired man asked.

Ino glared at the males in front of her, said glare meaning, "Dont. Say. A. Word."

"We were just hanging out, talking about life, how are you today?." She said in one breath.

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, "I'm fine. You seem jumpy, is everything ok?."

"Totally, anyway Kakashi-sensei we have to go.." She looked at the boys, "..right?."

They got the message and disappeared on the spot. Ino waved, "See you around sensei." She left in a sprint.

'Look at all this commotion.' Kakashi thought chuckling, 'Things are going to get harder from here, Sasuke.'

Flashback

Kakashi's POV

Day 9 of Training - 21 MORE DAYS TO GO before Jounin Exam

I was coming back from saying a small piece to Obito and Rin when I heard it. The sound of training was evident. At first, I thought it was maybe some Genin training for the hell of it, but then the chakra I felt had the hairs on the back of my neck sticking up.

'Sasuke.' I thought.

An unpleasant chill ran up my spine. Whoever he was sparring with sure wasn't Naruto, far from it. In fact this delicate but large chakra I felt in the midst of it all felt serene, calming, gentle. Only one person's face popped into my mind when I placed everything together. Hinata Hyuuga. I'd heard the two were training, something to do with Hinata trying out for Jounin. I never would've guessed out of all the Chunin, Hinata would try for it.

'Hmmm.' I thought as I created two clones.

I looked to my left at the first one, "We need the new edition of that book, you know what to do." My clone chuckled and left.

Onto my second, "I have a meeting with Gai." My clone sighed and nodded. He materialized out of my vision before I could apologize. As much as I wanted to hang with the over-excited Taijutsu master, I'd rather turn my attention to something refreshing, something new. No, maybe not new, something that was already there. Sasuke's possessive love for Hinata.

I took off towards their building chakra. I settled upon a tree and masked my chakra in doing so. "Come to watch as well." A not so enthusiastic Shikamaru whispered beside me.

"Something like that." I said.

We stayed still, silent for almost two minutes. Hinata was being pushed beyond her limits.

"She's improved." Shikamaru whispered.

My eyes focused in on her face, "Your right..." I noted, "Her expression shows it all."

Shikamaru sighed, "Even though I think his methods of training are psychotic and insane, it's somewhat logical that someone like him would train her."

I nodded my head, "That's why they call you a master strategist."

"Troublesome, if you ask me." He said, scratching the back of his head, "I for one know I wouldn't be able to lay a finger on her without feeling guilty and I'm positive many would feel the same. As for Sasuke, he has no remorse. In his eyes she's merely an underling."

I glanced over at him, "Underling?."

"Basically, he will train her until she meets the requirements to stay beside him. Maybe even in time she'll be able to stand as his equal."

We turned from our conversation.

"Bunshin Daibakuha." We heard Sasuke mutter.

"He's fast." Shikamaru said.

I lifted my headband up to better see what Sasuke would send her way. I frowned, Hinata had the Byakugan, so using a clone that would explode at any given moment was wasted. She would be able to detect which was which in a matter of seconds. I was stunned suddenly when dozens of clones of said person appeared. I lowered my headband down, Sasuke truly was frightening person.

"The blast created is considerable and could potentially kill an attacker engaged in hand-to-hand combat. If Hinata isn't careful, she could die." Shikamaru stated seriously.

I tensed, 'Just how far will you go? Sasuke." I thought.

Hinata was up against twenty. If she could keep dodging then her situation wouldn't look as bleak. I heard some rustling beside me and my eye followed the sound. I knew Shikamaru to be calm at best, he showed true Shinobi skills during the war and was not a man of recklessness. But now as we knelt beside one another watching this battle unfold, the strategist beside me grew anxious, worried almost.

I gave him a pat on the shoulder, "Sasuke wouldn't use a technique like that if he knew she wouldn't be able to handle it."

"This is Sasuke we're talking about."

My gut twisted, "Anything can happen, let's have faith in her abilities." I said calmly, hoping to put the young man at ease.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu." Hinata murmured. Clones of herself appeared, exactly the same amount as Sasuke's.

"I see." Shikamaru said, "She knows by now that the clones Sasuke created are commanded to explode if he wanted. If her Byakugan is as honed like Neji's, then she should be able to pick out the real one and take him down."

"Don't think it's gonna be that easy." Sasuke growled, he and his clones begun to do a fast string of handsigns, "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu."

'Hinata.' I thought, shocked.

"He's crazy." Shikamaru said.

The tree we were on shook violently as the clones exploded with intense ferocity. Commanding them to attack while each summoned that technique, it was suicide. I covered my face from the debris, I couldn't believe he would do something reckless like that. All I could recall before we were left stunned was the sound of Hinata's clones poofing out of existence. I only hoped that Hinata had pulled herself out of it. When the air had slowed to the point where I could open my eyes, the training ground they were once standing on was demolished.

"I can't sense Hinata." Shikamaru said, sweat-dropping.

I tried to sense for both of them. Sasuke suddenly materialized out of nowhere, he was standing we he was previously.

"Come out, Hyuuga." I heard Sasuke demanded.

I saw a slight movement from beneath the ground. My eyes widened a fraction more, Hinata bursted upwards from the ground with her fist blazing, a blue lion visible. Relief washed over me at seeing her. Sasuke dodged her attack and jabbed her square in the stomach. Hinata coughed outloud, grunted in obvious pain and began to fall forward. If my eyes could fall out of there sockets they would, because these very eyes watched an angry but slightly concerned Sasuke catch her.

"He caught her?." Shikamaru said, amazed.

"Underground, eh?." Sasuke said.

I heard Hinata gasp before she quietly said, "H-hai, I...remember Nar...-"

Sasuke grabbed her chin roughly, "You remember what?."

"N-noth...nothing." I heard the poor girl say breathlessly.

"Let me guess." Sasuke hissed, "It's something Naruto did."

Shikamaru clicked his tongue, "Of course. It's the same type of move Naruto used to beat Neji when they fought in the Chuunin exams."

"Really?." I say with interest. I wouldn't have a clue, I was with Sasuke at the time.

"Don't think of the dobe..." Sasuke spat, releasing her aching chin, "..while your with me."

I really felt for Hinata at this point. Through the pain she must've been feeling, she stood as straight as she could, "H-hai...I...won't.."

"Enough." Sasuke said, I could practically feel the anger, frustration, and if I wasn't mistaken, the jealousy radiating off of him, "Go home."

Hinata shook her head stubbornly, "I can...keep...going."

'Even in that state, she still wishes to continue.' My eyes softened at that thought. 'You've come along way Hinata.'

Beside me Shikamaru stood readying to leave, "She'll be fine."

I straightened up, "You trust her with Sasuke?." I ask emphasizing his name.

He smiled lazily at me, "I trust Hinata."

"Touche."

End of Flashback

Present Day

"Achoo."

Sasuke was about to place a hand on her forehead, when Hinata mistook his action of affection and batted his hand away. Sasuke clenched his teeth together angrilly. Hinata felt her heart stop, she hadn't mean't to make him angry so soon after they finally got out of bed. She wanted to crawl under a rock.

Panicked, Hinata waved her hands in front of her, "I thought..-"

"You thought I was going to hit you?."

"I...-"

His hand met her forehead, "It's not a cold."

All fears melted away from his now received affection, Hinata blushed, he was actually concerned for her, "Hai, it's not a cold."

Sasuke smirked, "Something else?."

Hinata's blush intensified, she shook her head hurriedly and opened the door, "Since we're going to train, will Manda-sama be joining us today? I'd really like to thank him."

Sasuke brushed passed her, suddenly annoyed, "Hn."

"Ano...-"

"Warm up laps, go." He barked.

Hinata didn't question him, she all but 'eeped' and began running. Sasuke watched her go, then spat on the ground, "Fucking cock block." He muttered, going to a knee.

The ground began to shake.

AUTHOR SAYS: IN MY STORY SASUKE ONLY HAS TO PLACE HIS HAND ON THE GROUND AND CALL FOR MANDA WITHOUT WORDS. ALSO, I KNOW IT'S NOT MANDA HE USES DURING THE WAR, IT'S AODA. I JUST LIKE MANDA BETTER, HE'S MORE SINISTER! YOLO.