As promised, here is Chapter 5... I've already got Chapter 6 done and ready to go too. Starting on 7... thank you once again for all the follows, reviews and favorites. I enjoy opening my e-mail now :D Also I apologize if anyone is OOC... I am trying my hardest. I might be making Hinata TOO timid, which who'd of thought :P Enjoy.

Hinata felt a ray of sunlight hit her in the face and she opened her lavender eyes slowly. The gash on her forehead throbbed a little bit, but she figured once she was up and walking around it would feel a little better. She sat up in her bed and ran her fingers through her hair. The rain had stopped completely, and it was a new day. With Naruto awake, Hinata felt too shy to go and visit him. Besides, he probably found out about her spill the other day and that embarrassed her enough for her face to go red. There was now a gap in her routine. Swinging her legs over the edge of her bed and began to get dressed for some morning training. It was something she did with her sister almost every morning and it was one of the only ways for them to bond. Normal sisters went shopping together, braided their hair, or talked about normal girl stuff. But as ninja, and especially daughters of Hiashi, they were dignified kunoichi. Hinata followed Hanabi out into the middle of the yard and stood in position.

"So who was that boy you were walking with yesterday?" Hanabi asked nonchalantly as she lurched forward to attack. Hinata raised her eyebrow for a moment then thought back to yesterday. Oh… Her sister almost sent a fist into her jaw but Hinata quickly dodged it. It surprised her more than anything that she was asking her about boys.

"Um… that's Uchiha Sasuke." She said between breaths. Hinata followed each punch with a block and began to put up more of an offense. Her sister was very quick and sharp while they spared. It would normally make anyone else jealous to have their younger sister excel so well. But Hinata was too kind. She was very proud of her sister. Hanabi smirked and she seemed intrigued as she began to interrogate.

"So that's the guy who destroyed the village? He sure is cute."

"N-No. Well, kind of. I mean…I guess." Hinata cringed at her poor response, but her sister didn't give her an opportunity to recover.

"Father wouldn't approve." Hanabi said simply. Hinata inhaled and dodged yet another close punch to the shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed and Hanabi wasn't sure if it was from the training or the thought of being paired with Sasuke. It certainly was a strange thought that Hinata forced out of her head pretty quickly. There was a reason that Hinata was drawn to Naruto and it was because even with the darkness of the nine-tailed fox, he still emitted light everywhere he went. He didn't let that burden him and he didn't let that get in the way of his dreams. Sasuke lived, breathed and almost gave up his body for darkness. The thought of Orochimaru made her sick to her stomach. Was revenge really worth all that? Hinata remembered Naruto's persistence in bringing back his best friend and no one ever understood that. Sasuke betrayed Konoha on more than one occasion.

"Approve of what?" Neji's voice interrupted their conversation as he walked out onto the wooden walkway that surrounded the yard. This caught Hinata off guard and one of Hanabi's punches finally made a land on her sister's cheek. She knelt down on her knees, a signal to 'hold on', and glanced up at her cousin.

"N-Nothing." He crossed his arms with a frown. Hinata rubbed her cheek and forced a smile. "Good job." She said to her little sister. Hanabi beamed. She had the approval of her father and of her clan, but Hanabi always secretly felt her sister's approval was the most important.

"I can take over from here." Neji said and Hinata took full advantage of that. She bowed and made a beeline for the bathroom. Hanabi smirked and turned to her cousin.

"How's that, Neji-niisan?" He smiled slightly and patted the top of her head. It was as if Neji had eyes in the back of his head… he watched Hinata run off and something seemed odd about her lately. Once in the bathroom, Hinata filled her cupped hands with cool water and then splashed her face. It felt good on the gash and also good on her sore cheek. Her eyes gazed up at her reflection and she watched the droplets roll down her face. Hinata hoped that the punch wouldn't leave a bruise. Her skin was so pale that everything always looked worse than it really was. She frowned at herself and wiped the water off with a towel. Hinata was never really one to be aware of her womanly features. In fact, she made sure everything was well hidden behind her jacket.

For the first time, she wondered if Naruto would prefer her better if she wore something different. Her father would certainly not approve if she decided to wear anything less and it wasn't in her nature to flaunt. Hinata closed her lavender eyes and scolded herself. She shouldn't have to change in order for someone to love her. Heartache was so much worse when you were old enough to understand. When she was younger, just seeing Naruto from a distance made her happy. And even in the three years he left Konoha, she missed him dearly. She was happy when he was happy. Hinata opened her eyes again and sighed. But she wasn't happy. She always pictured herself by Naruto's side, but then again, Hinata often wondered if her father would allow it. Arranged marriages weren't as common in their clan as they used to be, but at her last birthday celebration, the elders mentioned something of it.

She left the bathroom and returned to her room before her father could catch her. She was enjoying her time away from home more and more and as long as she trained, it kept both Kurenai-sensei and Hiashi happy. Hinata began to get dressed for the day and ran a quick brush through her long hair. She frowned and thought about Hanabi's words about Sasuke earlier. It was true, he did add to the damage of the village but it wasn't entirely his fault. It didn't settle right in her stomach at the fact that Uchiha Sasuke had little to no friends in his life. Aside from his team, there was no one for him to confide in. Would anyway really put it past him? The boy had no family. In fact, he practically witnessed the demise of his family and friends. Hinata walked towards her window and looked in the direction of the Uchiha District. There had to be something she could do.

The birds chirping awoke him and Sasuke groaned. He almost wanted to take back the words he said to Tsunade about the stiff bed at the hospital. The ground was way worse and he rolled over in his sleeping bag. Sometimes his pride put him in worse situations than if he just accepted someone's help. Sunshine seeped in through the broken roof above him in the Police Headquarters and he yawned. It was truly a strange feeling to be back "home". He sat up and rubbed his forehead. The pain in his leg was beginning to feel better, but he knew he should take it easy or he'd be hobbling around forever.

Sasuke began to wonder what his next move was. Whenever Tsunade would bring him the materials, he could start to re-build. But the point was that…Sasuke knew nothing about construction. It was times like this where he began to regret burning all the bridges he had in his past. He had ideas on how he wanted it to work, but it was like telling a child to drive a car. It could be done, but it would be awful.

"Hello?" Sasuke heard a voice calling in the distance. He stood up cautiously with the crutch under his armpit and also grabbed a kunai out of his pack on the floor next to him. He peeked out from the entrance into the building and saw an old, grouchy man stepping over piles of concrete. Who the hell…? He had never seen the man in his life and no one had the right (or need) to come into the Uchiha District. Sasuke walked out in view and leaned on his crutch. His dependency on it was becoming less and less each day. Tsunade would be proud.

"Who are you?" He asked and gripped the kunai a bit tighter. The man who was about average height and bald…so he really wasn't that threatening. He looked at Sasuke's kunai and smirked.

"So you're the damn Uchiha that I gotta help?" Sasuke raised his eyebrow and then threw the kunai at him. The old man laughed as he dodged it. "Damn you, Tsunade." He muttered under his breath. Sasuke suddenly began to feel territorial as the old man reached to the entrance to the old Police Headquarters. He glared at him.

"You have no right to be her-"

"The name is Masaru. I've been told by the Fifth Hokage to begin restoration on the Uchiha district." Masaru looked around at the rubble and sighed. This was a big job for one man, but he had to repay his debts. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. He specifically told her he didn't want any help. But his thoughts went back to the whole not knowing about construction thing.

"I told her I didn't need her help."

"Shit's tough, ain't it, kid? I'm not here because I wanna be. Besides, I come with the supplies." Masaru said. He reached into his pocket and took out a small burlap pouch the size of a soda can. Sasuke observed this carefully. The old man opened the bag and pulled up a chunk of tobacco then popped it in his mouth. Sasuke frowned. The man was going to help him or not—he had to by order of the Hokage. He sighed heavily, and walked back inside the headquarters. Masaru chuckled, his belly bouncing, and then spit to the side.

"Alright, kid. Here's the deal—I'm here to help you for three months and three months only. That is all I owe to the Hokage so the speed is up to you. I can work as slow as a damn slug if I need to." Masaru said and he turned to walk away. Sasuke thought for a moment as he was rolling up his sleeping bag. Ch… this old man. He pulled on his shoes and zipped up his jacket before he limped back out.

"Old man," Sasuke said and Masaru turned around.

"Hmm?"

"When do we begin?" Sasuke looked to the side, as if feeling shy about getting help from someone. Masaru snickered and spit again.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning, bright and early. Oh, here. Tsunade wanted me to give you this." He walked back up to Sasuke and handed him an envelope. Sasuke took it curiously. What is she up to? Masaru scratched the top of his head.

"Make sure you're ready for some heavy liftin'. Got any friends to come help out?" Sasuke put the envelope in his pocket and scowled to himself. How do you tell someone you don't have any friends? Naruto was still in the hospital, and quite frankly he wanted to keep it that way. He was the only person Sasuke considered a friend. Everyone else avoided him like the plague and he was fine with that. After being gone for three years and then coming back only to destroy the village, he wasn't the most popular person right now.

"Just don't be late, old man." Sasuke said and turned around to walk away. Masaru felt the veins in his forehead pop out.

"Damnit, will you stop callin' me an old man?!" Uchiha Sasuke smirked as he entered the old Headquarters building. Masaru sighed heavily and he, too, smirked. That kid was a pupil of Orochimaru's. Not so tough anymore, huh. Sasuke leaned his crutch up against the wall, and sat back down. The wind whistled through the cracks in the old building, but it was still very stable. He thought back to how his father spent many long hours here. Father… I'm trying.

Sasuke heard footsteps again and he rolled his eyes. That old man was really beginning to irritate him. He decided to ignore him and remain seated on the floor. After a few seconds of silence, Sasuke heard a loud thud and an 'oof'. He got to his feet and used his crutch to go out to investigate who was bothering him now.

"Oww…" Hinata sat up and rubbed her knees. Sasuke didn't exactly welcome her with open arms. Why was everyone just waltzing into his area today? The wind tossed her hair around and she sat there for a moment. Ugh, how embarrassing... Her cheek was still sore from her sparring match with Hanabi earlier, and now her knees were added to the list of things that hurt. Hinata slowly got to her feet and looked around. Once her eyes locked on Sasuke, her face turned beet red.

"S-S-Sasuke-kun!" She looked down at her toes. Sasuke shook his head.

"What do you want, Hyuuga?" He asked irritably. Hinata bit her lip and suddenly something came to mind. She saw the item she was looking for laying on the ground a few feet away. Sasuke watched her walk to pick up what looked like a packed lunch. Hinata brushed the dirt off the handkerchief it was wrapped in and she walked over to the entrance of the Headquarters.

"I wasn't sure…if you had eaten anything yet today." She held it out to him and he stared at it. Sasuke hated charity and everyone was so willing to just treat him like he was a beggar lately. But he couldn't stand it when she fretted so he snatched it from her. It surprised her when he took it and she looked up to him with a smile.

"H-how is your leg?" Sasuke had never met someone who went out of their way to do things for others and not gain anything from it. He was the complete opposite—rely only on yourself and never show your weakness. Unless it was something of value for him, he usually never had a second glance at something.

"Why are you here?" He said and turned around to enter the building again. If one more person made him get up, he wouldn't be happy. Hinata followed hesitantly and looked around. It was dusty in the old Headquarters, and she noticed Sasuke had made his own little area in a corner of the main room. He grunted as he lowered himself next to his backpack with the lunch in his lap.

"I just worried about you, I suppose." Hinata said quietly as she sat down across from him. He eyed her for a moment. There was no reason for her to worry—did she not know he was an Uchiha? Sasuke could take care of himself.

"Worry more about Naruto." Sasuke said almost bitterly. It surprised him more than it did Hinata. Her soft eyes looked away from him. She knew Naruto was getting plenty of attention at the hospital as he recovered. He didn't need her there. There was a silence between the two as Sasuke opened his lunch. Inside he found white rice with vegetables and fried fish. Every few seconds, he could glance up at her to make sure she wasn't snooping around for whatever reason. Sasuke learned long ago never to trust anyone. The Byakugan was an amazing kekkei genkei and almost as good as his Sharingan. He'd had to remember to ask her more about it when he felt more apt to holding a conversation.

Even though neither said a word while Sasuke ate, it was refreshing to him to have some company. Although he could go for weeks on end without any human interaction, there was something about just having another presence there that made him feel more content. He looked up at her for a moment and noticed she was staring at the box sitting next to his backpack. Sasuke recalled her saying it emitted a kind of chakra and he wondered more about it.

"Hyuuga. What kind of chakra is in the box?" He asked. She bit her lower lip and without a word she activated her Byakugan.

"It's just a normal kind, although it's not as strong as before." Sasuke furrowed his brows and looked over at it. He wondered if breaking the seals on the scrolls had something to do with it. He reached out to grab it and open it. A photograph stood out to him the most as he looked at it. There was a man he didn't recognize with what looked like his father as a young boy. Around his neck, he wore the same necklace that sat in the box. Sasuke then picked up the necklace and he heard Hinata shift.

"U-Uhm that necklace has chakra in it." She said softly. He looked back at the pendant and a small smile spread on his lips. His father left him something of importance. Maybe he would ask Tsunade about it later if he felt like dealing with her. Sasuke shut the box and the breeze blew through the building once more. It made Hinata's long hair dance around her shoulders and Sasuke watched it. He always liked long hair. Maybe it was because his mother and all the other women in the Uchiha clan almost never cut their hair. She noticed him watching her and her cheeks began to get red.

"H-Have you gone to see Naruto-kun yet?" Hinata tried to will away the redness in her cheek, and she breathed a sigh of relief when he looked away.

"He's got enough people to give him the attention he wants." Sasuke said as he packed away the empty box his lunch came in. Hinata felt like he was making a jab at her.

"Yes… I hope he's doing well." She felt bad that she hadn't gone to see him yet. Maybe, if she could muster up the courage, she would go see him later that day. Sasuke leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He normally wouldn't care what she did, but her logic was all over the place. First, she went to visit him every day while he was in a coma. And now that he was awake, she had yet to see him. Women were so strange and unpredictable. Especially Sakura—she claimed her love for him based merely on what she perceived of him. She had no idea who he really was, and that always bothered him. Of course it was unlike him to be thinking of half of these things. Revenge was the only thing on his mind but now that it was gone, what was there to do? There was nothing to plan and nothing to get stronger for.

"Um, is there anything else I can get for you?" Hinata interrupted his thoughts. He ignored her and she bit her bottom lip—clearly a habit developed out of anxiety. "It's supposed to get cold tonight an-"

"I don't need your charity, Hyuuga." Sasuke could feel himself beginning to get angry.

"But I-" She stopped herself when he opened his eyes to glare at her. Sasuke had a short patience and Hinata was surely testing him. Her cheeks grew warm again. Hinata couldn't pinpoint the reason why she was trying to reach out to him. Maybe it was because she recognized the sadness inside and knew what it was like to be so alone. No one bothered to tend to her loneliness as a child—it was only high expectations for the heir of the clan. Her father loomed over her day and night and she often wondered why the Hyuuga name wasn't already handed over to her sister or Neji for that matter. Hinata just felt this feeling deep down in her chest that said Uchiha Sasuke needed a helping hand, even though he would never admit his weaknesses. The silence was back and he decided he wanted to be alone. Sasuke pushed forward the empty box of food as if to say 'thanks, now get the hell away from me'. Hinata reached out to take it when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. She yelped, partly out of surprise and partly out of fear.

"Who hurt you?" He asked flatly, and stared at her forehead. Hinata leaned on the palm of her hand when he released her wrist. She was red with embarrassment. Of course, if she told him the real reason why, he would only scoff at her. But Hinata was an awful liar.

"A-Ah I fell the other day." Hinata murmured. Sasuke closed his eyes and smirked. She sat back and brought a hand up to brush her bangs. It hid her gash well.

"Didn't your sensei teach you anything? A good ninja is quick on their feet; they can't afford to trip and fall. The enemy can always sense your weaknesses if you're careless." Sasuke said as if he was lecturing her. She looked down and nodded. He reminded her of Neji with his tone of voice and condescending body language. Shino would always grab her jacket when she'd lose her balance during training and even Akamaru would nudge himself behind her to keep her from falling. It seemed no matter the amount of time spent training, she would never amount up the expectations of anyone; not even Uchiha Sasuke. Hinata picked up the box and got to her feet.

"Thank you. I'll try to remember that..." Her voice trailed off and he felt his stomach drop for a split second. The tone in her voice was marked with sadness and it made him feel strange. If Sasuke felt bad at all, he certainly didn't show it on his face. Instead, he ignored her and closed his eyes again. He heard her footsteps fade until he could only hear the sound of birds and the wind whistle through the building. There was no way in hell he was starting to get soft.