For my old readers who already read chapter 12 in Febraury, sorry for the most extremely late update. I had barely anytime to update since I was involved with school. I had barely anytime to make the next chapter. But I have finally have a chance to continue this story! I hope you enjoy Chapter 13!

Your Strength

Sasuke walked down the stairs and stare at Hiashi and Neji. At the corner of his eye, he saw Tenten smirk.

"I wonder what Sasuke do to Hinata-chan in her bedroom...He probably confessed his undieing love for her."

"Uchiha," Hiashi said.

"Yes?" Sasuke asked.

"Why were you in Hinata's room?"

"I-,"

"The Uchiha is having an affair with Hinata-sama!" Neji exclaimed. Tenten was suprised of what Neji said, but somewhat amused. For poor Hinata, she would have died at the spot. Her face became all red and she quickly covered her cheeks with her hands.

"How could Neji-niisan think of Sasuke-san and I? We are just good friends...I like Naruto-kun though...He is taking it the wrong way!" Hinata thought. "We a-are just g-good f-friends..." Hinata said quietly.

"Sometimes good friends turn into lovers," Neji said.

Sasuke butted in, "Sometimes, training practices between a girl and a guy turn into make out sessions."

"Who said that I kiss Neji-kun?" Tenten shouted.

"Sometimes, asking a certain someone to go somewhere with him turns into a date," Neji said.

"Sometimes, using byakugan is to find someone's chakra points turn into a perverted way to peek at the different gender," Sasuke said.

Hiashi, Tenten, and Hinata stood there hearing the conversation between the Uchiha and the Hyuga. They were all shocked and Hiashi didn't like how Sasuke stated the byakugan.

"The byakugan is only used for finding chakra points. No one in my clan is sick enough to peek at others," Hiashi interrupted, "and I would like to continue where we left off. Neji, do not interfere with my conversations. It is only between the Uchiha and me. Nothing else."

"But-," Neji was cut off.

"I suggest all of you to leave. Except, Hinata. I need to talk to you too."

Neji just nodded in agreement and walked outside, followed by Tenten.

The weapon mistress couldn't stop thinking about what Sasuke said about the byakugan. Tenten glanced at Neji while walking to the gates. She stared at his eyes and wondered if Sasuke was right.

Why would Sasuke say that? Neji isn't a pervert. He wouldn't do that. It's unlikely for Neji-kun to do that. The byakugan is only for finding chakra points and Hiashi even stated that. ...But what if there's a side I didn't know about Neji...That he probably reads Icha Icha Paradise...Nah, what am I thinking? I am just being paranoid... Tenten still couldn't get it off her mind.

"Neji-kun?"

"What?" He asked as they were walking to the main gate of the Hyuga compound.

"...Um." I just can't ask Neji-kun about the byakugan thing...Quickly changing the subject she was about to bring up, "...Why would you think that Sasuke was having an affair with Hinata-chan?"

"...The Uchiha is always around Hinata-sama. To me, it seems that he might like her. You know the Uchiha, how he is. He is a cold-hearted bastard that's for sure."

"But maybe you don't know the real Sasuke. Of course he is a bastard, but that doesn't mean he can't love."

"He is just using Hinata-sama to revive his clan."

"No he isn't. I know more than you do."

"What are you talking about?"

"I got to know Sasuke more since he started being friends with Hinata-chan. He is quite...err...Kami! It is hard to say this since he almost punched me two days ago! Nice...He is quite..nice."

"...I still don't believe you."

"Why were you in my daughter's room?" Hiashi asked.

"Your daughter took care of me because I was sick," Sasuke answered.

"Hinata," Hiashi turned his attention to his daughter.

"Umm...y-yesterday...I s-saw S-Sasuke-san f-fall off a t-tree... He a-also h-had the c-cold..." Hinata replied.

"It seems you two have the same story unless the Uchiha forced you to say that."

"W-what? But it is r-really t-true!" Hinata protested.

"Uchiha?"

"She is saying the truth. I didn't force her to. Let her have her own opinions," Sasuke said.

"Hmm...fine...You two are no longer in trouble, but that doesn't mean that I have to keep an eye on the both of you," Hiashi said as he was walking away from them.

"Hn," Sasuke said.

"But," Hiashi stopped and looked back to them, "Hinata, the next time you go on a date with Sasuke, tell me because I am coming with you. Remember the time you got your face stuck in marshmellows?" With that, Hiashi walked away from them.

Hinata turned to Sasuke and said, "S-Sasuke-san..."

"Yeah?"

"U-um..." Hinata started to poke her fingers together, "a-about...what happened two days ago...,"

"Do you want to walk with me?" Sasuke asked trying to change the subject.

"Huh?" Hinata asked in confusion. She was trying to find out about what was going to happen two days ago while they were dancing.

"I said, do you want to walk with me?"

"But...w-what about m-my f-father?"

"It is just a walk. Nothing big actually. He doesn't have to know," Sasuke said with a smirk.

Hinata blushed and nodded. They walked through the main gates and saw Neji and Tenten standing near a tree. To Sasuke and Hinata, it looked like to them, they were waiting for them. Neji glared at raven-haired boy and walked up to him. Tenten following a few feet back of him. Hinata had a feeling something bad is going to happen. Maybe a fight?

"Uchiha," Neji said.

"Hyuga," Sasuke replied.

"I can't believe that Hiashi let that pass by."

"Maybe he likes me more than you."

"Yeah right. I have been a great tribute to the Hyuga clan."

"Maybe that Hiashi likes me so much, he is going to adopt me. And I am going to be your step-brother."

"And have another older brother to kill?" Neji smirked at him. Sasuke activated his sharingan and grabbed Neji's shirt. Tenten grabbed Neji away from the Uchiha.

"Neji-kun! Why did you say that? You idiot!" Tenten yelled. Neji took her hand off his shoulder and shook Sasuke's grip away. He looked back at Sasuke and glared. After a few seconds, they walk away while Sasuke was glaring draggers at Neji's back. The Uchiha was about to run at him, but then he felt a hand on his arm. He looked back quickly, still with his sharingan activated. He saw Hinata, frightened by him.

"S-Sasuke-san,"

"What?" He asked. His sharingan went away as he calmed down once Hinata's grip loosed.

"Do y-you still want t-to w-walk?" Hinata asked with a smile. Sasuke's face expressed soften and he replied with an "Hn."

After a few seconds, Sasuke blurted out, "Sorry for today."

He saw Hinata's eyes widened. "W-what?" She asked. I don't understand Sasuke-san...Why would he be sorry? He was sick!

"If I wasn't sick, you wouldn't be in this mess. Also, now your father and cousin are going to keep an close eye on me."

"B-but...it was t-the r-right thing t-to do! Y-you shouldn't b-blame it on y-yourself. I-it was out o-of my o-own choice, S-Sasuke-san."

Sasuke just remained silent until Hinata asked, "Do y-you still w-want to take a w-walk?" The Uchiha nodded and with that, they left the Hyuga compound as fast as they can.

"Ugh! I can't believe I have to wash some old granny panties! I could have been in a romantic date with Sasuke-kun right now!" Sakura complained. They were already at their mission and all of them were stuck with chores, except the senseis. Naruto came over with some more laundry for the pink-haired kunoichi to wash.

"Here's more Sakura-chan!" Naruto said with a wide smile...along with some sparkles in his eyes.

"Ugh, more the merrier? Tch, right..." Sakura mumbled. The old lady appeared behind Naruto. Her hair was grey and she wear a simply kimono. Just a red slash and that was all. She was carrying a cane that helped her walk. She has brown eyes.

"Hmm, it seems you are doing well!" She said.

"Oh, it's no problem Hikari," Sakura said with a forced smile. Kami, I just want to smack you with your own granny flab...

"Aww, you are such a strong man," Hikari said.

"Thanks! I am pretty strong! Check out this muscles!" Naruto said as he flexed for them.

"I wasn't taking to you little girl, I was refering to the man washing the clothes."

...

"WHAT?" Sakura shouted, "I AM NOT A MAN!"

"Yeah! Sakura-chan is my girlfriend!" Naruto said.

"I AM NOT YOUR GIRLFRIEND!"

"Huh? little girl , how could you say that? You are a girl. You can't possibly say that you date a girl!"

"But I have a boy name!" Naruto said.

"Isn't your name Naruta?"

"No! Naruto!"

"Naruta?"

"...N-A-R-U-T-O! Naruto!"

"...Huh? I couldn't understand you. Naruta, you got to speak louder. As for your...boyfriend."

"I said I am a girl!"

"No no! How could that be! Your name is Sakoro!"

"...I"M GUNNA KILL YOU!" Sakura yelled as she pushed over the water bucket and ran to Hikari. Naruto grabbed her and pulled the pink-haired kunoichi away from the old lady.

"Sakura-chan! Control yourself!" Naruto said.

"CAN'T YOU SEE THIS PINK HAIR?"

"Yes, quite. You dyed your hair pink so that it will attract ladies. Such as Naruta. Tough guys wear pink, eh?" Hikari said with a wink.

"DON'T YOU SEE THESE BOOBS?"

"What are you talking about sonny? I don't see anything. It's flat."

Sasuke and Hinata walked near a river bank. The Hyuga looked at Sasuke and thought about what happened two days ago. ...Was Sasuke-san really going to kiss me? But aren't we just friends? I remember when I was crying on a tree and Sasuke came up to comfort me. He told me that one day that Naruto-kun will notice me.

Hinata then felt heard someone's presence. She turns her head to see Sasuke. "O-oh! H-hi Sa-Sasuke-san. I-I wa-was ju-just ta-taking a-a break fr-from pra-practice."

"Tell me the truth. Why are you crying?" Sasuke asked as he sat down next to her. Hinata blushed as she felt Sasuke's shoulder rub against hers.

"I-its no-nothing im-important."

"It is to me."

"Wh-what?

"Nothing. Just tell me." Hinata pointed at Naruto and Sakura. The pink-haired girl was laughing because Naruto accidentally hit Ino because he was showing of his muscles.

"….."

"I-it ju-just th-that Na-Naruto-kun i-is ju-just s-so ha-happy with Sa-Sakura-chan…" Then Hinata felt something on her head. It was Sasuke's hand. Then she remembered something. She remembered someone touching her forehead yesterday. It was the same hand. Hinata blushed as Sasuke patted her head and then played with it.

"Maybe one day he will notice you," he said.

Sasuke-san knows of my feelings towards Naruto-kun. He has been comforting me because maybe I was feeling sad or alone. ..But...my life did feel happy since Sasuke-san and I started being friends. Since that day...The day Team 7 and Team 8 ate together at Ichiraku Ramen...That's where everything started. I remember how Sakura-chan, Naruto-kun, and Kiba-kun went to the restroom. Shino went outside, leaving Sasuke-san and I alone. It's like that was perfect timing... Hinata was deep in her thoughts. She was too deep in her thoughts that Sasuke gave her a weird expression. Hinata was still loooking at Sasuke. It has been a few minutes since Sasuke noticed and it is still going on.

Why is Hinata looking at me? "Hinata," Sasuke said.

Hinata finally smacked out what she was thinking and noticed what she was doing. She noticed that during her thoughts, the Hyuga was looking at Sasuke the whole entire time. She immediately blushed and said, "S-Sorry, I didn't m-mean t-to! I w-was just t-thinking."

Oh, she was just thinking. "Hn." Then something popped in Hinata's mind.

"S-Sasuke-san,"

"Yeah?"

"I was t-thinking...If you w-would want t-to train with m-me. I-if that's okay w-with you!" Hinata said while waving her arms. She was already embrassed. Why would Sasuke-san train with me? Why did I even asked that! It was out of the blue! It just came to me.

Sasuke just stared at her. Hinata was soon having her doubts. "I-it's okay. I c-can train by-,"

"I would like to see the Hyuga heiress's training improve," Sasuke interrupted Hinata. He gave a smirk while Hinata felt delighted.

She smiled and said, "Oh S-Sasuke-san! T-thank y-you!"

"Let's train...near that tree. By the lake," Sasuke pointed to a white cherry blossom tree. The tree was close to the lake which was nice and has a nice view to it. Hinata nodded.

Once they were at the tree, Sasuke said, "Do you want to become stronger?"

Hinata nodded, "I need to i-in order t-to impress m-my father."

"Well, you are going to be my student...for now."

"S-So do you w-want me to call y-you something in p-particular?"

"Unless you want to call me something."

"...S-Sasuke-sensei?"

"...I don't like how that sounds."

"W-What about 'm-master'?"

"It sounds like you are my slave or I own you."

"Umm...U-Uchiha-san?"

"Sounds like Hiashi would say or Neji. But without the 'san'."

"S-so..."

"Just call me Sasuke."

"O-okay. I am r-ready to learn Sasuke."

...Sasuke just paused. He never heard Hinata just saying his name without 'san'. I really didn't mean to call me just 'Sasuke'...but I do like the way she just said my name without the 'san'. ...I am just going to keep it.

"S-Sasuke?"

"Sorry, I just never heard you say my name without the 'san' before."

"Do y-you want me to c-call you Sasuke-san?"

"...No, Sasuke seems fine. Simple and short. Now continuing the lesson."

"W-what's the f-first lesson?"

"Stop your stuttering."

"W-what?"

"Stop your stuttering. It makes you look weak."

"I-I-,"

"You are already stuttering."

"B-But-,"

"You are stuttering."

"I-,"

"Stuttering."

"Sasuke-,"

"How many times to I have to tell you, stop stuttering."

"Can you just please let me have a chance to talk, Sasuke?"

"You stop stuttering. Congratulations," Sasuke said with a smirk. He extended his hand for a hand shake. Hinata smiled, and bowed instead.

"You are my sensei, right?" Hinata said. She was trying to be careful not to stutter. It was too hard to hold it, but Sasuke had to smile. He forgot that he was the teacher for the day.

"Looks like I forgot. Now on to the next lesson. The real lesson."

"The real lesson?" Hinata asked.

"Yeah, it is almost the end of the day. I guess we were walking about the lake for too long. It is almost sunset and your father would wonder where you have gone."

"Good point. So I guess...we should start." Sasuke nodded and positioned himself in front of the tree.

"Sasuke, w-what are you doing?"

He didn't respond. He did his battle stance and just focused the tree. Within a second, there was a loud bang.

"S-Sasuke!" Hinata shouted. She ran up to Sasuke and saw a huge dent in the tree.

"This is you lesson. Unless, you want to go back and help your stuttering." He stepped back a few feet away, "now you try and demonstrate what I did."

Hinata nodded and positioned herself on the side of the tree since there was already a dent on the frontside. She focused and slowly backed up her right arm. She made her hand straight and then as fast as she could, hit the tree. The bang wasn't as loud as Sasuke's. Her dent was smaller too.

"I...I...failed..." Hinata said.

"Don't give yourself up that so soon. Your enemy would find your weakness someday, but that doesn't stop you. Now this time, when you back up your arm, don't do it slowly. Fast. Fast hit and backing up. Now do it again."

"But...happens if I can't do it. The tree can't stand this hitting that much longer."

"Then we would find another tree. And another, and another and so on, until you get it right."

"H-happens we don't finish before sunset?"

"Tomorrow, then the next day, then the next and until you get it right. Also you stuttered again." She apologized and continued what she was doing.

Hinata stood on the opposite side of her hit. She positioned herself and focused. Then she thought about everything. How she tried to prove her worthly-ness to her family, but she was always compared to Hanabi or Neji. The disappointment on her father's face everything time she tried to do a routine, but kept messing up. Not perfecting it within two tries. Then she thought about the trees in Konoha.

I don't want to keep hitting trees and ruining them. Soon, there would be no trees left! I have to perfect this! Come on Hinata! You can do this!

Then, within a second, the tree fell into the lake. Hinata blinked. She was...shocked what she have done. She turned to Sasuke, who was also surprised. He was beaten. His hit was nothing compared to Hinata.

...Hinata...just...knocked...down...a..tree? Beginner's luck... "U-um..W-well..Uh..."

"No stuttering Sasuke." Hinata said with a smile.

With that, Sasuke couldn't help but smile back to her, "Now..Now that's what I wanted."

"Oh thank you Sasuke-san!" Hinata said, "you have been a great teacher! I can't believe I did that...But it was all thanks to my teacher."

"You are welcome." What happened to just calling me Sasuke? I guess training is over...

"I can't thank you enough. You helped me stop my stuttering, also it was quick too and you improved my strength."

Her strength... "But you did it yourself too."

"Thank you again Sasuke-san..."

"For breaking down the tree, I will give you a day to fully improve on your stuttering,"

"I will...work on it. But I am trying hard not to stutter."

"You are already doing a good job on it already."

"Thanks to you Sasuke-san."

Sasuke was already home and it was sunset. He walked Hinata home, but stopped at the main gate so he won't get caught. He thought about today. He felt good of himself. He finally put Hinata's stuttering to a end and improved her strength. Her strength...

The Uchiha took out his journal from his desk and wrote-,

Entry 13

Your strength. Your strength is better than mine. It showed a big improvement to me. It showed how determined you were to make yourself better. It only took two tries. Now that I am postive that you can defend youself now to anything. I wish that one day, I could tell you how strong you are. Mentally and physically.

He closed his book and his eyes. The Uchiha thought again about the day. How Hinata knocked down a tree. ...I looked like a wimp.