Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto and its characters; I also don't own His Stand in Bride by Michelle Styles which is the inspiration for this story. Any events written in the story that is similar to real life events is purely coincidental. This is not Beta'd yet.
Chapter XVI:
Sasuke had no place in his mind he was going to when he left Konoha, he just let his feet take him wherever it would lead him. He spent his time fighting anyone who got on his bad side and spends money in gambling dens not caring if he won or not but most of the time he's winning, as promised since he left he never drank any alcohol. Even though they were only together for a few days, Hinata's presence completes him and he longs and misses her a lot. She was his opposite the only one who can put him on check when he's about to lose control and losing her meant losing everything again for Sasuke.
Hinata did not waste time in searching for Sasuke, she searched town after town asking for him to anyone. She's not only concerned for his safety and well being but Hinata also wanted to be with him again. Her search narrowed when she encountered an old man who told her a story of a man who destroys anyone who stands in his way and leisurely spends his money on gambling dens. Hinata asked the old man to describe the said man but was only able to describe "had unique crimson colored eyes when angry".
The men who were inside the gambling den raised their weapons ready to attack both the hooded man and Hinata. The hooded man removed his hood revealing Sasuke who had grown stubble with a distraught face unlike his clean face with a certain glamour he had before he left Konoha.
"If any of you lay a finger on my wife you'll be joining those three fools, if you still want to live let us go in peace together."
"Who do you think you are to warn us off? Everyone kill him and when you are done killing him everyone can take turn on his pretty wife!" The gambling operator said and everyone inside the den raised their weapons ready to strike Sasuke.
Sasuke with sharingan activated threw his poncho and unsheathed his katana and activated the sword of kusanagi jutsu and prepared himself for any attack that will come his way.
"Please stop it everyone Sasuke san and I didn't come here to cause some ruckus. I was only looking for him and what he did to those 3 men are not intentional he only killed them because they threatened to harm me. For what my husband did, I am asking for your forgiveness in behalf of him." Hinata said kneeling.
Hinata knew that Sasuke can easily take care of everyone inside the gambling den but she didn't want him to commit any bloodshed especially in the time of transition which is the period after the war and peace are being maintained. Doing any un necessary bloodshed may start a war again and that is what she didn't want to occur again.
"You are a fool to think we will listen to your begging just because you want to keep your husband safe!"
"I am not only begging you for my husband's safety but for the whole shinobi world as well. We are now living in peace and having bloodshed here may instigate a war that's why I am begging everyone to just let me and my husband go." Hinata again begged.
Hesitantly the gambling operator lowered his weapon, "Fine but neither one of you can return here for if I see anyone of you inside my den we will not hesitate to kill the two of you. Now both of you leave before I change my mind!"
Sasuke deactivated his sharingan and ran towards Hinata and held her hand as they both ran away from the gambling den.
After Tsunade was done checking on Sakura's nose that was hit by Ino, she talked to her sincerely for Sakura is like a daughter Tsunade will never have.
"Why did you do it Sakura?"
Sakura frowned and said, "It was never my intention to betray Hinata chan, but Naruto is Sasuke kun's best friend and I thought that if Sasuke will see me and Naruto always looking happy together he will be jealous and eventually he'll go after me. It just so happen that Hinata chan is at the wrong place at the right time."
Tsunade sighed deeply, "But your plan backfired didn't it? I never expected that you of all people will stoop so low just to achieve what you want and you hurt not only Hinata but Naruto as well and when Uchiha learns of this what do you think his reaction will be? He'll despise you for what you did to Naruto who is his best friend and to Hinata who is now his wife that from what I heard from your fellow rookie 9 he's very possessive of. You lost not only Sasuke but also Naruto and your fellow rookie 9 who hates you for what you did to poor Hinata."
Sakura's tears fell from what Tsunade said. She felt miserable for what she did and even she can't forgive herself for hurting a lot of people.
"If you are planning on making things right again, you can start with earning Naruto's forgiveness who's heart you played with."
Sasuke and Hinata were deep in the forest when they stopped running.
"You should have not searched for me." Sasuke said coldly.
Sasuke was happy when he saw Hinata and wanted nothing but to be with her again but from what happened when they last saw each other, he can't hurt her again. And to prevent it from happening again he will push her away and bear with the loneliness and guilt alone.
Hinata was taken a back with his coldness but continued, "You are my husband Sasuke san and as your wife it is my duty to find you and be reunited with you."
"Yes I am your husband only because I married you to save your face from the community of Konoha not because I like you or anything. And since I have done my part it's about time I leave you for I live for myself alone and no one not even you will be a part of my life." Sasuke said in a raised voice to make Hinata hate him more and leave him.
Hinata was almost to tears and although Sasuke wanted to embrace her and tell her everything he said now was a lie, he can't for he's doing this not because he didn't want her beside him but because he was afraid of hurting her again. Sasuke turned his back on her and started walking away but Hinata hugged him behind and cried on his back.
"You don't have to lie Sasuke san for I know none of the things you said now are true, because if you really don't want me in your life you would have left the day after our wedding and you would not be leaving your letter for me saying you will do anything to make me trust you again. I would have caught up to you at the Konoha gate but I was held back when I had a talk with Kurenai sensei."
Sasuke slowly raised his arms and held Hinata's arms tightly wrapped around him.
Hinata turned Sasuke to face him and look into his eyes as she said, "I searched for you so I can thank you for marrying me when Naruto kun left me, to forgive you for what you did the last time we met and that I would like us to have a chance together and help me forget my feelings towards Naruto kun."
Sasuke knew what Hinata's words meant and after not knowing how to be happy again after his family and clan are slaughtered by his own brother and living only for revenge, he felt happy again and smiled genuinely. Hinata smiled and embraced him, although their relationship was just beginning both of them knew that their lives will never be the same again if they were apart.
"Since we lost a week of our honeymoon already, where would you like to go?" Sasuke asked.
"How about we go get our things first and you clean your face for you look stressed with that stubble of yours."
"Anything you say Hinata chan."
"Hinata chan?" She asked blinking.
"Since you told me that you are giving us a chance I think it will be better if we call each other on more friendly terms, you can call me Sasuke kun."
"Hai you are right Sasuke kun, let's meet outside the inn I am staying at then we'll both decide where we'll be going next."
Sakura went to Naruto's hospital room and brought some fruits with her, Naruto felt her chakra presence and even though he was in pain he turned his back on her.
"You don't have to visit me just because you pity me or you are faking concern towards me."
"Naruto kun…"
"Only Hinata chan can call me Naruto kun…it will do me better if you will just leave, I can't face you again Sakura not yet."
"I'm really sorry-"
"Save your sorry for Hinata chan."
Sakura left the fruits in Naruto's bedside table and left crying.
"I'm sorry Sakura but my wounds are still fresh from your betrayal."
"Don't you think Naruto and Sakura's punishment are a little light?" Kiba asked to Neji.
"Yes but it's not the physical punishment that weighs more it's the emotional one, besides I'm sure Uchiha will give him a beating if he goes near to Hinata sama. As for Sakura..although Hinata sama is a forgiving person it will take time for her to forgive her and Naruto as well."
Author's Note: Thanks for the follows, favorites and reviews. Sorry for the delayed update I have been working out in the gym to lose weight and whenever I go home I am already tired and can't write anymore for I am sleepy that's why I updated it today instead of Wednesday or Thursday. Kindly leave a review on your thoughts about this chapter and what you would like Sasuke and Hinata do on their honeymoon which will happen on the next chapter, for your reviews is my fuel in writing this fanfic. Sorry but no M rated scenes because aside from there is no beta reader yet, Sasuke and Hinata cannot make love unless they are already in love which will not happen anytime soon because I want to develop their relationship slowly from friendship to companionship and eventually as lovers. For our Gaara lovers out there he'll be making his presence known soon and another good news, I re read my other sasuhina fic which i didn't upload for years and i will be continuing it so better watch out for it you can see it in my profile. For any grammar, typos and wrong spellings I am sorry.