Author's note: I didn't think I would be able to update this week since I'm on holidays but look at what we have here. I couldn't resist updating as many things come to light in this chapter (most of them are subtle and foreshadow certain things).

Reminder that italics are for the character's thoughts.

Chapter 3:

Hinata froze, almost terrified that he had heard her. She gripped them hem of her yukata, taking a deep breath in. Then out. Hinata had hoped to Kami that he had not heard her. They were ten metres apart but she was certain there was a slight chance he may have heard her. Oh dear god, please don't turn around. After all, she was certain that his ears had been trained to hear the slightest noise just as her eyes had been trained to see the smallest of things. Suddenly, his head flipped around and his coal eyes met with hers. Hinata blushed, turning her head away immediately – Sasuke Uchiha had caught her staring. She peered back over to him and found his eyes on her still. She had planned to go to Neji's grave after to tell him about her progress in the removal of the branch seal. But as she continued to stare into the abyss of Sasuke's eyes she found herself unable to look away. For the first time, Hinata took the time to appreciate Sasuke's appearance. He's so …handsome. His jawline was so defined that Hinata had briefly wondered what it would be like to run her fingers down them. She noticed that he had trimmed his bangs. Although they still were long they had allowed his face to be seen more. He had discarded that awful looking poncho, allowing the eyes to appreciate his strong build. His eyes though. They were so dark, full of so much emotion that no one would be able to comprehend. The intensity behind his stare was enough for Hinata to be terrified of him. Uchiha Sasuke was a fellow dojustu user after all. He could kill her with one glance. That knowledge enough had stopped Hinata from entertaining herself with thoughts of the last Uchiha. She broke there stare off, looking in the opposite direction. She could feel the heat creeping up her neck. Why did I just stare at him for so long? Oh Kami. Hinata exhaled, peeking back at to where Sasuke was except he was no longer in sight. Grateful that he had vanished so quickly, Hinata stood up letting out a sigh. She had no idea what would enfold if Sasuke had not vanished. He was a dark mystery waiting to be unravelled.

xxxxxx

Sasuke released a heavy breath as he collapsed onto the ground. He brought his arm over his eyes, covering the suns forceful blaze. Naruto fell beside him seconds after, releasing both a heavy breath and laugh. Sasuke let a small smirk creep onto his face. It felt nice to know Naruto felt the same way. A spar between them was just what they needed. Naruto had returned two days ago but there long awaited spar had only occurred today. Both he and Naruto had conflicting and busy schedules to adhere to now. Naruto with his missions and preparations of becoming Hokage, and Sasuke with his new job in the Anbu and going through construction plans for the Uchiha district. The two saviours of the world had been so preoccupied with their own lives that they had hardly spoken. Sasuke could not deny that it had been an intense spar but it was just what the both of them needed. The intensity of their spar allowed the two shinobi to release a lot of their stress on one another. Sasuke glanced down over his severely battered body, Naruto was definitely stressed.
Sasuke sat up, reaching over for to fetch their water bottles.

He chucked one to Naruto, "Your girlfriend is weird."

Sasuke recalled their bump in the markets and that bizarre stare off at the cemetery. What in the hell was that? He decided he would decipher that later.

Naruto caught the drink, processing the statement through his mind. Suddenly his eyes went wide, "Eh?!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, hating to repeat the statement. "Hyuga, she's strange."

Sasuke closed his eyes, bringing the brim of the bottle to his mouth. He drank the water, waiting for Naruto to retaliate and begin shouting at him for insulting his girlfriend.

"Oh."

Oh? Fucking oh? Out of all the things to say, Naruto chose 'oh'. Sasuke had almost spat at out his water shocked by Naruto's response. He had planned to retort at Naruto however, upon turning around to face Naruto he decided against it. The bubbly blonde was solemn and miserable. His blue eyes that were normally filled with hope and happiness were void of that. Sasuke only saw despair and sadness.

"She's not my girlfriend." Naruto's voice was low, filled with regret.

Sasuke took note that Hyuga Hinata was a touchy subject from that moment on. Something had happened between the two of them. Sasuke was not sure what but it must have been something horrendous. After all, Sasuke recalled the two of them dating before he had left the village. Naruto had even asked Sasuke advice about how he should go about asking for her hand in marriage. Naruto wanted to marry her. That knowledge was alarming enough for Sasuke to know something had happened.
Sasuke's concern must have been noticeable to Naruto as he immediately punched Sasuke's arm, grinning.

"It's nothing Sasuke. Hey! – You're still coming to the festival this weekend right?"

Years later it still irked Sasuke to know that despite hardly showing any emotions on his face Naruto could easily read him. Sasuke scowled, understanding that Naruto didn't want to talk about Hyuga Hinata.

"I don't have a choice do I?" Sasuke stood up, throwing the bottle at Naruto's face. "You and Sakura have nagged me nonstop, it's annoying. I'll go but only so I don't have to deal with Kakashi's nagging as well." Sasuke walked away from Naruto, with his hand in his pocket. "You're all so stubborn," he muttered.

Hinata hit the wooden post with her palms consecutively. Again! She went faster this time, ignoring the stinging of her palms. Hinata was beyond angered. She bit her lip as she slapped the wooden post, taking out her anger on it.
Hinata could not believe the nerve of the Hyuga council. They had called for an audience with her this morning only to enquire about her relationship status. Hinata gritted her teeth, as she stepped away from the wooden post, moving into a fighting stance. With precision and speed, she began to kick the post.
The council demanded that she get married soon in order to produce an heir. It is a requirement as the Head of the clan, she sneered at that. She knew that! Hinata would be imprudent to think she did not need to produce an heir. But it's too much. The timing and request of it all was wrong. She was not ready. Hinata still had many emotions to sort out. Thus, she retorted to the council that Hanabi was a suitable heir for the time being. She preferred not to say that, but if it would get the council off her back for a while, then Hinata would use it in her favour.
She performed a round house kick onto the wooden post, quickly moving closer to the post to smash her palm into it. Hanabi's still young; she doesn't even know what she wants. Yet, Hinata was nineteen years old and even she didn't know what she wanted. Angered by that idea as well, Hinata continued to attack the post. Nonetheless, none of that anger compared to the annoyance and guilt she felt when the council enquired about Naruto. They believed he was a worthy suitor as he was the hero of the war; he was hard-working, determined and the next Hokage. I know all that already. Hinata wanted to scream at the elders and rip her hair out. She knew that Naruto was worthy. She knew that from the beginning, when they were just little children. Naruto was not worthless, it's me. I'm the unworthy one. She was grateful that the council at least did not ask why she stopped her relationship with Naruto. Perhaps they assumed that due to the timing of her father's death and her inauguration as Head that it had been too much for her at that time – which was somewhat true. Hinata stopped attacking the post as she felt her hands begin to bleed. She wiped the crimson onto her thighs, uncaring what the Hyuga maids would say to that.

"You can't execute a perfect gentle fist if your palms are ruined."

Hinata jumped and let out a squeak. She turned around, finding Sasuke behind her.

"Uchiha-san! How – How, long have you been there?" She stammered out. Hinata released a heavy breath, wiping the sweat off her face.

Sasuke sneered at her, "For someone who has 360 degree vison you're quite blind."

Hinata blushed and turned away from Sasuke. He's supposed to have heightened senses yet he managed to walk straight into me...hypocrite. Hinata was annoyed; she obviously did not have her byakugan activated so it was impossible to see him from behind. Unless… he's insulting my skills to not even hear him approach! Hinata turned back to face him, her eyes narrowed at him. She had hoped he disappeared but apparently he had other ideas.

"Do you need something Uchiha-san?" She asked. Hinata would compose herself and refrain from being rude. However, he was making it quite hard.

"No."

"Oh – Okay." He was at it again, with his onyx eyes staring right into her. Hinata felt like Sasuke was reading her like an open book. Right now she felt like he had been deducing her every being and worth. His gaze was alluring yet terrifying. What is he thinking? She had learnt to control her blushing but yet whenever she faced Sasuke her confidence seemed to crumble. Sasuke's stares had continuously left her feeling like a delicate snowflake. She didn't know why but it was infuriating. She had grown past her awkward self but when it came to him she caved in. Perhaps it was due to his absence in her life. After all, she never had to directly deal with him in the past. Sasuke took a step closer to her, leaning down so his face was hovering right in front of her. His eyes had never moved from hers. Hinata blushed at his scrutiny and immediately turned her head away, biting her lip.

"Hn." Sasuke stood up straight and turned on his heel. He left Hinata without saying word. As his figure disappeared into the distance Hinata's shoulder slunk, relieved that he was gone.

Xxxx

Sasuke made his way to the arranged meeting place, ignoring the stares and whispers of the female population. He realised, it was the first time he had adorned a yukata publicly since he was a mere child. His yukata was a simple blue, with no detail except the Uchiha emblem sown onto his back. Sasuke did not think he was arrogant but he was not ignorant. He knew that he was attractive; many females had professed their attraction to him, so that had to say something. Sasuke scowled – there are so many people. He should not have agreed. But the one, simple word 'yes' had managed to make Naruto and Sakura so god damn happy. He was a man of his word unfortunately. So he could not back down nor could he forget that he owed his two team mates a lot. After all, there constant belief in him had guaranteed his freedom and pardon for his past crimes. Although, I only killed Danzo but that bastard had it coming. Tch.
As he began to near the meeting spot, Sasuke spotted Sakura with the others of Rookie Nine and the two remaining members of Team Gai. She looks pretty. Despite having no interest in females half his life, he wasn't stupid. He did have fantasies and hormones.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura waved at him, excusing herself away from the man wearing an ugly yukata. Who in their right mind would wear something so green? He immediately connected it with Rock Lee. As if on cue, Lee had turned around and flashed him a smile.

"Ah, Sasuke! What a honour it is for you to join us on such a youthful –"

A girl with two braided Chinese buns smacked Lee on the back of his head. "Lee, don't be so loud!"

Sasuke felt tension in his neck, the girl was right – Lee had been loud. Too loud.

Sakura padded up beside him, smiling. She brushed down her pink yukata and greeted him. "Naruto's going to be a little late. But this is pretty much everyone."

He looked around, and began to place names on everyone. The girl with buns he learnt was Tenten, as Lee had apologied to her for his loud tendencies. Beside them was Ino, chatting away to Kiba as he scratched Akamaru's ears. Behind them was Shikamaru, leaning against the tree looking as bored as ever. Choji was beside him, eating a packet of chips and Shino had stood there as well, quiet as ever. There still the same people.

Sasuke turned around to face Sakura, "Where's Hyuga?"

Surprised by his question, Sakura jumped. "Hinata-chan? Oh… well knowing her she won't come."

Sasuke raised his eyebrow. Hyuga Hinata seemed to be the only person in this village whom had changed. He was certain she was the festival type of girl.

Suddenly, Kiba called out, "Nah, Hinata-chan will be here today. She said she'll be late because she's got a meeting with the council."

"Hinata-chan says that every time Kiba," Ino piped in.

Kiba scratched his cheek, "Yeah but this is different –"

"Hey guys! Sorry I'm late…what's different?" Sasuke tilted his head, to see that Naruto had arrived.

He noticed that the air had somewhat got tense. It was as if all of them had suddenly been walking on thin ice. So it seems like everyone knows that Hyuga is a touchy subject.

It was Sakura who broke the silence, putting her hand on Naruto's arm, "Apparently Hinata-chan's coming."

Sasuke watched as Naruto eyes became wide and his breath hitched. In seconds, a sincere smile appeared, reaching to his eyes. Naruto looked up at the sakura tree they stood under, his eyes glistening with hope and a sudden peace.

"Hinata will be here."

Everyone excluding Kiba and Shino had looked at Naruto shocked by his statement.

Kiba grinned, "Heh, so you do remember."

Shino adjusted his glasses, "Naruto would be foolish to not remember."

Naruto laughed, scratching the back of his head. A hint of blush tinting his cheek, he's embarrassed. Naruto turned around to hide his face from everyone, staring at the sakura tree. He extended his arm above his head, reaching for the flowers.

"It's the Hanami festival, a flower viewing festival. It's Hinata's favourite festival dattebayo." Naruto clenched his fist, "She'll be here."

thanks for reading, please review! xx