Hahaha ok, I can see that some people are a bit concerned about Sasuke's interest in Hinata. DON'T worry this isn't a SasuHina. Although it might seem like a Sasuhina at times this is a ItaHina. Their relationship will change drastically in the next chapter so please be patient :D
Soft hands clutched as tightly as they possibly could.
Her smile wavered, eyes filled with tears.
Hands reach out, but she pulls back in.
Does she want this to be hard for me?
Finally she is out of grasp, but she looks back hopeful.
What can I do? I thought.
The first time she raised her voice, asking for promises.
The light will come to pass, memories might fade.
Even so, I will find you.
I will come back to you. I will protect you.
I promise.
Why is it that they have the worst timing? Eye lids opened, to reveal black orbs with a hint of irritation. Turning his head towards the door, Itachi glared.
Mother? Or Father?
"Itachi my boy!"
Father. Ugh.
He sat up, without ever breaking his glare with the door. He ruffled his black hair slightly and stretched a little. He inhaled deeply, but instead of getting up he stayed still on his bed.
"If you don't open up I'll break through this door boy!"
Sigh.
Slowly his feet came in contact with the floor. He pushed himself off the bed and approached the door. As soon as the door opened, Fugaku burst in.
Itachi didn't even flinch, instead he ran a hand through his loose hair as his father caught him in one of his bone crusher hugs. Itachi lightly patted his dad's back trying his best to breathe.
Fugaku finally pulled away and held him by the shoulders.
"How are you?! Sleeping in eh? I understand your ANBU missions are coming on a roll soon, but that doesn't mean you can over-sleep boy!"
Itachi said nothing, his eyes half open looking at his father with and expression like he's saying 'Why are you doing this to me?'
"Come on, Itachi!" His father cupped his older son's hand.
"It's a beautiful day! Let's hang!"
Itachi narrowed his eyes, this time conveying a strict 'No.' through his expression.
He cringed as Fugaku pouted.
" I am only going to see you for another day before you run off and come back after god knows when!"
Itachi sighed.
Damn.
Itachi shrugged, which means 'sure whatever' in Itachi language.
"Yay!" Fugaku grabbed his son's hand and dragged him down the stairs.
As long as it's not with his weird kites...
"The wind is great today! The new kites I made will soar like a proud eagle don't you think!?"
Shit.
"Dear~" Mikoto chirped.
Fugaku stopped reluctantly and turned to the kitchen.
"What is it honey? I am taking Itachi out for kite-flying!"
Mikoto leaned back from the kitchen counter to look at the two from the door.
Fugaku was grinning like some excited kid while Itachi was at the back mouthing 'I don't want to fly kites.'
Obviously Mikoto didn't get it or she was trolling, because she replied "Good morning to you too Itachi-Chan!"
Mother!
"Oh, dear, what do you want me to make tonight?"
"Eh? What do you mean? Is there someone coming?"
"Dear! It's sake Saturday remember? Kagami and Shisui-Chan are coming over!"
"Oh!"
Yes! An escape!
"Well, I'll leave you two to your preparation. Maybe after I come back from – "
"Itachi, I am sorry. I know you were looking forward to spending time with me. Don't worry! I'll make a better kite for you when you get back!"
"Hn."
Itachi tried his best not to smirk triumphantly as he headed upstairs to get some more shut eye, return to his wonderland of dreams.
"Itachi-Chan, wait!"
What is it now, damn it?
"Yes, mother?" He sounded so terribly bored.
"Can you please go over to Kagami's place and ask him what time he is coming? I need to know when to prepare the food!"
"Just prepare it early and heat it up."
"That's a terrible thing to do! The food will lose some of its essence and flavour if you just let it cool and heat it up again later! Itachi-Chan how can you suggest such a horrible thing!"
Yes, Mikoto took her cooking very seriously.
I hate it when Sasuke is not here.
"Hn. I'll just go... tie my hair."
"Itachi-Chan~ Come here I'll do your hair for you! It's been so long since I've done that!"
Sasuke, please come back soon.
"Hn."
His eyes slowly fluttered open, getting used to the light. He opened his eyes only to be taken back by wide ivory eyes staring at him. He flinched and sat up immediately. The girl slightly flinched as well before blushing furiously and looking away.
Sasuke cleared his throat.
What the hell was that?
"T-Thank you, S-Sasuke-san."
"Hm?" He turned back to her and raised a brow.
"F-For helping me." The girl never looked at him once.
"Hmph." The boy smirked.
"You're really stupid you know that."
"E-Eh?" She sounded slightly hurt.
"Why the hell did you push me away? Because of that I had to drag you back here. What, you didn't think I could handle it? I certainly would've handled it better than you did."
The girl finally looked up at him and shook her head. She rested her elbows on the grass and lifted her body up slightly.
"I-It wasn't that I-I just didn't want you to get hurt."
What?
"So you wanted to get hurt instead?"
"N-no! I-I just felt like I needed to help!"
"Why? I didn't need it, then and now I don't need your help."
"I-I just..." The girl sighed before sitting up as well.
"Y-you want to protect the people w-who are precious to you."
Precious? What is she talking about?
"S-Sasuke-san, you're my f-friend. And my f-friends are precious to m-me. I n-never want to see them g-get hurt."
He was at a loss for words, he just sat there staring at her again.
Friends? Why? He fought with her, she lost to him. He talked to her after a year of not even glancing at her once to test her abilities. Is that what she calls friendship? He is a friend?
She, is weird.
A loud yawn startled the two, Sasuke immediately stood up stepping away from Hinata to avoid any misunderstanding.
Naruto stepped out of the tent with outrageously unruly hair, looking like he'd just been through a hurricane. Lee came out looking like his usual self; hair still glossy and in place, eyes round and gleaming with passion.
"Good morning, Hinata-san, Sasuke-kun!" Lee greeted.
"Don't shout bushy-brows! My ears hurt ya know!" Naruto complained. Does he even listen to himself? The blonde looked around for awhile, still a little disorientated before catching the two individuals; Sasuke seemed to be cleaning up the remnants of the campfire and Hinata was sitting up straight on the grass and flashing him a warm smile.
He rubbed his eyes for awhile, before returning the smile.
"OK, now that all of you are up go get ready. We leave for the search after breakfast."
"Yes, sir!" Lee nodded.
"Yeah, yeah... bastard." Naruto muttered.
"We move towards the east from here. I have a feeling that it's going to be lurking around there."
That's where his kage bunshins were when they were extinguished.
The three nodded, and it was back to how it was before; Lee and Naruto in the front while Hinata and Sasuke were trailing behind them.
After walking quite a distance from the campsite, Sasuke commanded.
"Hyuuga,"
"Hai." She muttered 'Byaakugan' before activating her bloodline limit, searching the area 360 degrees without even moving her head.
Feeling a little uneasy whether to surface the question, Sasuke just decided to get it off his chest. It has been bugging him for awhile.
"Hyuuga," he whispered.
"H-Hai?" Hinata didn't even turn to look at him; concentrated on searching. Her eyes were still fixated to the front but he knew she was listening.
"You know you talk in your sleep." He said beforehand, teasing her. He smirked slightly when her cheeks dusted with pink.
"S-Sorry..." She whispered almost inaudibly.
"So, who's Ken?" Her eyes widened and her blush intensified.
She talks about Ken in her sleep?!
Sasuke's smirk got even wider but he felt slightly disturbed by it.
Ignoring the feeling, he waited for her answer without pressuring her further so that she won't get the impression that he cares so much.
"K-K-K-Ken is my c-cat." Sasuke raised a brow.
"Cat?" The girl nodded.
"Well, he must be one hell of a cat if you talk about it in your sleep." Sasuke smirked, trying to catch her lie. Instead of looking away or squeaking or do whatever girl's do, she just nodded.
"How does this cat look like?"
"H-He has black fur and n-nice eyes," She smiled.
"A-and he is really warm." Judging by the way she described him, it didn't seem like she was lying about it. Eh, best not think too much about it he thought.
If she says Ken is her cat, then he is her cat. So what? It doesn't bother him. Not at all.
Suddenly the girl came to a halt, her body jerked slightly and Sasuke immediately stopped upon noticing this.
The other two idiots in front paused as well, glancing back.
"What's going on?" Naruto peered.
"I-I see it! The Kuro Tsume!"
"You have such nice hair, Itachi-Chan." she combed her fingers through his black silky hair.
"Hn."
"You get that from me." She whispered.
Itachi smiled slightly. Mikoto pulled out her hair tie and started tying her son's hair just the way he likes it.
"Mother, please don't tell me you're tying my hair with some girly scrunchie." Itachi sighed, making Mikoto giggle.
"At least this way the girls would find you weird and stay away from you?"
"Hm, good plan." Itachi smiled as his mother hit him lightly on his shoulder.
"Silly boy, don't worry it's just a normal hair tie." She patted her son's back and he stood up and stretched.
"Itachi-Chan, you really are so handsome!" Mikoto clapped her hands together as she eyed her son, as though she was admiring her handy work.
"Mother, you sound like those crazy fan girls." Mikoto giggled.
"It's a real wonder how you don't have a girlfriend yet..." Mikoto looked at her son, with a familiar expression. Itachi sighed, he knew what was coming.
"Mother, please don't start."
"You know you can tell me Itachi-Chan!"
"Mother..." Itachi sighed.
"I don't care if you don't like girls! I just want you to be happy!"
"I am not gay!" Itachi laughed slightly at his weird mother.
"So you just, don't like anyone? Really? Not even a crush? After seventeen yeas of living?"
Itachi kept silent, only one person came to mind. But not like he can disclose that to his mom.
"I think I did have a crush back at the Academy... then I realized it was just a phase." Itachi smiled.
Mikoto giggled. "Oh you; just go!" Mikoto waved him away smiling.
"I'll be back."
"Come back soon!"
Just wants me to be happy... eh?
They couldn't really believe what had just happened; the Kuro Tsume was a tough bastard, but the tranquilizers did their work. Tsunade really knew how to keep a beast down. Sasuke quickly took out the scroll he was given, opened it revealing a seal. Sasuke released the seal and held the scroll up towards the Kuro Tsume. Once the beast was temporary sealed into the scroll, the team chorused a sigh.
"We did it! The Kuro Tsume has been taught about the power of youth!" Lee passionately ranted.
"I think he was thought about the dangers of shinobi with tranquilizers." Sasuke raised a brow at Lee and was slightly happy to earn a giggle from the Hyuuga girl.
"Ok! Let's go home! I miss Ichiraku ramen ya know!"
The travel back home was uninterrupted and they managed to arrive at the gates by nightfall. It was dark and most of them were totally beat from it all.
"Do you think if I knock Teuchi-O-san would open the shop?"
"Highly doubt it."
"Well then it's good I saved some cup ramen back at home ya know! See ya!"
"I better get going as well. I have to wake up early to train! Good night Hinata-san, Sasuke-kun! It was nice working with you! Shall we meet again someday to hone our youthful skills against each other? We can deepen our bond of friendship and satisfy our burning passion through our fists and - "
"Uh, I think you should get home, Lee."
Hinata bit back a giggle.
"Yes. I shall see you two again!" And he was off (Finally).
Sasuke stood still, facing the streets of Konoha, avoiding Hinata. Hinata turned and bowed before the boy. "G-Good –bye Sasuke-san. I-It was nice working with you."
She turned on her heel, ready to get a good night's rest.
"Hinata." The girl stopped in her tracks. Eyes widened slightly, lips curved into a smile.
He called me Hinata.
"H-Hai?" She turned.
"It's dark. I'll walk you home."
"E-Eh? Oh, n-no. It's okay really. I-I – "
"Oh just come." Sasuke sighed. He didn't like people turning him down when he offered something.
"B-But the Uchiha compound is –"
"Not that far. Stop whining at let me walk you home. Geez I thought Naruto and Lee were the noisy ones." He rolled his eyes earning another soft giggle from the girl beside him.
"A-Alright, Sasuke-san."
"Stop that." He growled.
"E-Eh?"
What's up with this guy?
"Stop calling me Sasuke-san. Just call me Sasuke."
"B-But –" She immediately shut herself up when she was given one of his intense glares.
Better just do as he says...
They walked in silence the whole time, they both stopped near the Hyuuga compound and Hinata turned to him and bowed.
"T-Thank you so much S-Sasuke-sa – S-Sasuke."
Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek to hide his smirk.
"Hn." He looked at her for awhile and realized she seemed a little uneasy as though she wanted to say something.
Just walk away.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"What is it?" She flinched.
"Do you want to say something?" She looked up at him for awhile, looking slightly scared. Then suddenly she smiled as though an idea came to mind. She gestured for him to take off his bag.
He raised a brow but shrugged it off anyways. He looked slightly puzzled as she walked around him to his back. Before he could turn to question her, his body immediately tensed at the feel of tiny, soft digits tracing his back. He stiffened then stepped back and faced her, blushing slightly.
"What the hell was that?" Hinata blushed furiously, looks like it doesn't work on Sasuke like how it does on Itachi.
"W-Well I-I w-when I c-can't –"
"Forget it. Just, forget it." Sasuke almost face palmed. He sighed and looked down until warmth of his cheeks faded before looking directly at her again.
Damn it.
Without a word, he walked past her.
"G-Good night." She voiced out.
He grunted in reply, without looking back.
He felt slightly regretful for some reason... like maybe he should have just let her...
No! It was just, weird! I would never allow someone to touch me!
Ignoring his thoughts he raced back home, for once happy to go back to his crazy house.
"Kampai!" The two older men chorused.
Shisui and Itachi were both on the couch watching their fathers get drunk and their mothers giggle and chat. Both found themselves smiling a little at their crazy parents.
"Kagami-san seems a little happier than usual."
"Yeah, I guess he misses your dad."
"But they see each other every week."
"Aw, won't you be sad if I wasn't here?"
"I'd celebrate."
"Bitch."
Itachi smirked.
Everyone's heads turned to the door when it cracked open.
"Tadai-"
"SASUKE!" The two old men chorused
"Sasuke-chan!" Shisui and the two ladies chorused.
"Hmph." Itachi's smirk widened.
Finally.
Sasuke sighed but seemed to be in quite a good mood.
"Sasuke! How was the mission? Was it a success?" Fugaku hiccupped
"Hn."
"Oh, my son!" Fugaku cried opening his arms expecting Sasuke to charge in to them.
Not happening.
"I say, this calls for a toast!" Kagami announced.
"Oh, please." Sasuke rolled his eyes as they got up with their sake in hand. The two moms at the back giggling away.
"You guys are just embarrassing. You just want a reason to get another bottle of sake."
"Precisely." Fugaku winked.
Sasuke shook his head and approached to two on the couch.
He took the offer as Itachi patted the seat between him and Shisui.
"Haihhhh" the boy sighed.
"Long day?" Itachi ruffled his little brother's hair.
"Yeah." He exhaled.
"So how was the mission? Did anyone get in the way of the great Sasuke-sama?" Shisui grinned, expecting him to say something arrogant like he usually does.
Itachi too waited for his answer, wanting to know if he'd bring Hinata up.
"Nah. It was okay. Kind of interesting I guess."
Two older boys shared looks, both surprised. Itachi shrugged, then went back to looking at the two drunkards.
"I-I see." Shisui glanced at Sasuke from the corner of his eyes.
Is that... a smile?
All right! I sped up the process and wrote chapter 10 as fast as I could.
There will be a time skip in the next chapter and maybe a few new characters awaiting :D
Thanks for reading you guys! Don't forget to leave a review :D Love ye
-Callme.e.t.