Chapter 2: Anchors


"What is so great about him anyways," she'd slur a bit, leaning on her hand while holding her drink with the other. "I mean, I never found him that interesting…why is everyone so crazy about that boy?!"

Shikamaru would only shrug and tell her to calm down with her yappin' because she was becoming troublesome; he wanted a drinking buddy, not a wife. Hinata had giggled at this, and told him that maybe he should be looking for one by now and that "he wasn't getting any younger!"

It had been a couple of rough days for Hinata, with the constant paperwork and hyper Genin in need of mission assignments, that she had found herself in the bar more frequently. Her usual two drinks had turned into four then six…and by then she had lost count. She had laughed to herself as she remembered the fifth Hokage, and to be honest, she began to understand why the Godaime had developed such habits.

Being a ninja is tough; being ninja in love is even tougher.

Having the pressure of knowing one tiny mistake could result in failure, and that failures in the ninja world most often mean death.
She might tease him at times, but because of this, she understood Shikamaru and his life choices. In fact, she envied him.

He had grown up knowing, much like everyone else, what it means to lose people close to you. But he didn't need revenge (like Sasuke) and he didn't need to cling onto every bond no matter how broken (Naruto and Sakura). He just needed to accept people, and take every bond he ever makes with a grain of salt. Sure, he might miss out on a wife and kids, but in the end does it really matter?

"You enter this world alone and you leave this world alone," he would say.

And that's what made Shikamaru Nara a true ninja. She only wished Naruto would open his eyes.

"And here I thought that smart people were more positive," Hinata said.

"On the contrary," Shikamaru took a sip of his beer, "the more you know, the more you realize you don't know. And that's a depressing thought. Think about that for a while."

That was his way of saying 'we're done talking for now, just drink your beer'. But she was okay with that; she enjoyed the silence as much as the next introvert.

Hinata's friendship with Shikamaru had grown over the years. It was a subtle friendship, one that only few knew about; because of their quiet and reserved selves, they weren't the type of friends that would go about town, being rowdy. And when it came to missions they were strictly comrades and kept professional.

It all started back when Kurenai's and Asuma's baby boy was born. They had begun to help Kurenai, and though awkward at first, they soon grew acquainted with one another. After one particularly chaotic afternoon of babysitting the energetic toddler, the finger-paint covered duo decided to stop by a local bar for a much needed drink. The rest was history.

They had become a strange set of anchors for each other, more than either would care to admit.

Tonight marked the fifth night that Naruto was away, with no sort of sign if he was okay or not. Shikamaru took note of that after he saw Hinata had switched from her usual beer to just straight whiskey.

"I think you've had enough, Hinata," he pulled the glass toward him and finished it in a gulp. "I think you should head home."

She rubbed her eyes, much like little kids do when they are tired. "I suppose you are right…"

"I know it seems tough right now, but you need to get a hold of yourself. I'm sure he's fine."

"How would you know?"

Shikamaru tapped on the bar, "Can we get a couple of waters over here?" he shouted towards the barmaid, "and I just do."

Hinata chugged the water until the cup was empty. "Yeah, but-"

"No buts. Remember what I told you?" He slid his own glass of water towards her.

"Life is tough, get over it?" She chugged the second glass.

"Slow down with that, you'll puke. And no; the other thing."

She put the glass down, and hiccupped a bit. "Never lose sight of your responsibility."

"Exactly. And what's your responsibility?"

"Don't be a drunk, because I have a meeting tomorrow morning with the elders?"

He nodded his head and Hinata stood up off her seat, a bit wobbly. She slapped down a couple of notes to pay for her drinks, and bowed slightly to Shikamaru before she exited the bar. On the walk home she proceeded to puke, twice, into unsuspecting bushes, and then later cried belligerently into her pillow until she felt completely pathetic inside her empty house.

The meeting with the elders went as uneventful as last time. They blabbered on about their conservative views and how against they were regarding her husband's ideas about the village he was so bent on changing, yet was never there to actually fulfill.

But her day was not over yet when a summon slug appeared on her desk, as she was filing out another document. "Lady Hyuuga," the slug spoke with a high-pitched female voice, "I have a message for you."

"What is it?" her heart began to beat quickly.

"I am to inform you that your husband is very injured, but still alive. The mission was a success. The team should be back to the village in a matter of days. Do not worry for his health, as Lady Sakura is treating both of them the best she can."

Her eyes filled with tears, and she was about hug the slimy slug before a thought hit her. "Both? Both of them?"

"Yes. As I mentioned before, the mission was a success."

"So h-he did it? He saved Sasuke?"

The slug's face softened a bit, as much a slug's can. "Yes. The Uchiha man is being brought back to Konoha. I must go now!"

"W-wait-"

"Lady Hyuuga, I assure you, all your questions will be answered in a matter of days. Good bye!"

As relieved as she was to hear Naruto was okay and successful at reaching his long-term goal, she couldn't help but shake off the feeling of emptiness inside her.

Will Naruto begin to see clearly again? Will they finally be able to start a family, albeit five year a little late? Will things go back to normal?


It didn't go back to normal.

The first night went as expected; he needed time to recover and rest, so she stood by his side as per usual. That was fine; what wasn't fine was the look in his eyes, and the way he would drift off in the middle of her speaking, and just stare out the window.

Since Naruto always recovered pretty fast, on the fourth day he took the seat of Hokage yet again, and that is when she began to really notice the change in him. He stopped laughing as much, and whenever an overly-enthusiastic Gennin team would show up in his office to ask for a mission assignment, he would not tease them or show them his famous perverted jitsu( something he once called 'the best part of the job'). Instead he would give them a smile, one that never truly reached his eyes, only to send them off after.

Hinata had grown from concerned to furious. Her husband's health and well-being was at stake, and there was one man she needed to confront about it, because damn it all to hell if it wasn't his fault.

"Uchiha!" she banged on the door of a crummy apartment; since she was the one doing the paperwork recently, she took it upon herself to give the asshole traitor the worst living space.

"What?"

He opened to door to reveal himself. He looked the same as she remembered him, save for the few new scars around his arms and one on his cheek.

"What did you do to my husband?!"

"You're Naruto's wife. Hm." He went to close the door, but Hinata stopped him. Was this guy always that rude?

"What did you do?" she asked again, voice a bit more stern.

"Tsukuyomi."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"What…what did you make him see?!"

He grunted a bit and shoved her arm off his door harshly. "What he wanted to see."

He slammed the door this time, but Hinata didn't try to stop him. Anger built up inside her.

She really needed a cigarette right about now.

But instead she tried to pry open the door. How could someone just barge into her life, cause pain to her loved ones, and expect "Tsukuyomi" as a reasonable excuse?! Within the ninja system there are morals to be held, and you are to take responsibility into account. This guy, this Sasuke Uchiha, had no respect for other people. It was disgusting to her; the fact that someone like him went through so much and yet couldn't take anything out of it…
How could people like him even exist?

"I demand answers!" she banged against the door some more. "Stop thinking that what you suffered through was harder than any of us!" She screamed, her voice echoing down the hallway, "you don't know what anyone else has been through! That's a pathetic excuse to shut people out and I demand to know what kind of sick, twisted torture-"

The door suddenly opened, revealing the stoic Uchiha. The lack of light in his apartment cast a dark shadow over him, making his glare appear almost sinister.

"Who the hell are you to speak to me like that?" He said in a harsh voice, and Hinata swears to this day she saw steam coming out of his nostrils. A bit startled, she attempted to back away, but Sasuke stepped forward. "Don't you know who I am? I am not responsible for what happened to your precious husband, do you understand? He came to me with intent to kill -"

"He would have never-"

"Do not ever interrupt me." He hissed back. "As I said, he attacked me with killer intent, and I did what was only logical. I spared his life and followed his request, so you should be thanking me instead. And as someone who comes from the second rate Hyuuga clan, you need to address me with respect."
Hinata widened her eyes at this guy's words. Second rate?! The Hyuuga?! Was this guy serious? He must have seen through her shocked expression, because he continued his rant.

"Tell me Hyuuga, do you still brand your branch family with that monstrous seal?"

"W-we-,"damn her stutter was coming back. She couldn't retort; she was stunned, not only at the amount of information he knew, but at his general cold attitude.

"Or, did you finally stop branding innocent people?" He crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow. "Let me guess- they had to because your pathetic self was captured yet again and another one of your uncles had to be sacrificed."

"You bastard!" She screamed, but couldn't make her legs move. It was like they were rooted to the ground.

Sasuke continued.

"Didn't your idiot husband promise to change the ways of your clan? Did he ever get around to that?" The glare wasn't disappearing. Hinata balled her fists and tried to glare at the dark-haired bastard; he was ugly. An ugly, ugly person who didn't deserve the friendship and love that Naruto nor Sakura gave him.
"Or was that your cousin Neji? Didn't he want to change the clan because you caused his father's early death as well? And what happened to that, Hyuuga?" his last words were almost a whisper.

Hinata positioned herself in the juuken stance. "Do not speak of my brother like that!"

"He should have let you die when he had the chance."

"Kya!" A swift set of coordinated kicks and punches began to rotate around Sasuke, who in return dodged every single one. With her final palm, Hinata aimed towards his heart with much strength, only to hit a support beam that held the wall of his apartment. As she watched the wall crumble in slow motion, Sasuke kicked her at full force. She flew across the hall of the apartments, many of whose doors were open by now. The neighbors watched as the Hokage's wife fell on the floor with a loud thud. She lay there, trying to catch a breath from the unexpected attack, as she saw a pair of feet walking slowly towards her. She stood up, shaking, and wiping the blood that ran down her face. That kick really was something; even though she felt numb at this point, Hinata knew there were a few ribs broken, and perhaps her left arm. Her head had also busted open a bit from the fall. "Don't," she hissed between tired breaths, "Don't…come near…me."

Sasuke's smirk was plastered on his face. "Unless you are pregnant, I wouldn't be too worried about that kick. There's no need to cry." He spoke with sick amusement.

Fuck you, fuck you fuck youfuckyou, was all what ran through Hinata's head and she finally stood up all the way, holding her arm and hunching over. Sasuke really knew how to push her buttons, but what he didn't know was that if anything, Hinata knew how to take a punch. She's known all her life, and the thought of that made her smile a bit sadistically on the inside. She had to get rid of him; he was keeping Naruto anchored to his past when all he needed was to be cut off so he can swim ahead.

And Sasuke can drown in the darkness.

Even though this conversation with Sasuke was not over, she knew better than to continue fighting with innocent bystanders watching. She was going to give Sasuke a piece of her mind, and next time, she will be prepared.

"I'll be seeing you again soon," she limped down the stairs without turning back, leaving behind a trail of bloody drops.

"I'm looking forward to it," his smirk went away quickly as he saw the curious eyes of his neighbors watching him.

"What the fuck are you staring at?"