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 XVII:

"Did Sakura visit you already?" Tsunade asked who was checking up on Naruto.

Naruto slumped his shoulders as he stared at the window while seated in his bed, "Yes but I can't forgive her yet not because I am being selfish or anything but for what happened my emotions and head are in a mess now and being alone will help me think clearly. I hope you understand granny Tsunade you are like a mother to me you know?"

Tsunade sighed feeling sorry for him and happy that Naruto considers her as his mother, "I hope you can fix things somehow with Hinata, Sakura and now Sasuke with him being Hinata's husband and all."

Naruto scoffed, "Lucky teme, it should have been me not him married to Hinata chan. I don't know why I hurt her granny Tsunade I love her too you know but (almost to tears). But when Sakura opened up to me her feelings I believed her and because I've been in love with her for so long, and I let her use me and choose her over Hinata chan who truly loves me. Why am I such a fool granny Tsunade if I am a fool do you think I still deserve the title of hokage in the future?"

"People in love do foolish things Naruto remember that and what happened is another test for you if you can handle your own personal problems and duty at the same time without affecting the other."

"That is easy for you to say granny Tsunade for you didn't have anyone special in your life." Naruto returned.

"Just because I didn't marry it meant that I don't have anyone special in my life. Unfortunately for me he died already trying to protect us by knowing what his former student weakness was." Tsunade cried remembering how Jiraiya sacrificed himself.

Naruto turned to look into Tsunade who was a strong kunoichi who came from a family of hokages crying and looking so broken, he felt sorry for her he didn't know that the perv sage and her are in a relationship. "I'm sorry I didn't know that you and Jiraiya sensei are together."

"Of course you wouldn't know, we kept our relationship a secret and planned to reveal it when it peace was obtained, however he died before we reached this era of peace. That leaves me alone and him living only in my heart and memory. You see Naruto sometimes you have to sacrifice in line of duty over your feelings."

Naruto nodded, "I hope I have a strong heart like yours granny Tsunade."

Sasuke walked together with Hinata in the forest to return back to the inn she was staying at.

"How about you Sasuke kun where are you staying?" Hinata suddenly asked.

"Anywhere actually, you see since I left I have been going anywhere and sometimes I don't bother checking in an inn. I retreated back to my avenger days when I would stay in caves or top of trees on fear of someone will find me. To answer your question I am currently staying in a cave behind the waterfall." Sasuke answered as he pointed his finger at the waterfall in front of them.

Hinata giggled, "You are lucky I am not part of the Sasuke recovery team before or I would have caught you, seeing how I was able to find you now."

Sasuke placed an arm around Hinata's shoulders, "Lucky me indeed, sometimes I wonder if Konoha ninjas are dumb or what for not finding me but you my wife changed that belief of mine for you found me."

"Is that a compliment coming from you Sasuke kun?" She asked looking at him noticing his obsidian eyes sparkling.

"Yes and Hinata chan must thank me for I rarely give out any compliment." He answered with a smile

Sasuke didn't know how Hinata of all people was able to make him smile and happy not only once but twice already in a day, he remembered what her sister told him that Hinata will melt his steel heart. With their current status now as friends liking her or maybe loving her is not impossible, especially after she told him that she's giving them a chance together and to help her forget the baka. Although he hated what he did to Hinata, with how things turned out now he was somewhat glad he did it for it opened new doors for them unexpectedly.

Hinata on the other hand likes this Sasuke, he was different from what she knew about him. She knew him being the silent and dangerous type and she was also scared of him before because of his cold attitude and glares. Sasuke's avenger life and being under Orochimaru's tutelage didn't help his reputation towards Hinata but when he told her he'll marry her to save face and how he slowly let her into his life made her trust him and give him a chance after his mistake. Maybe knowing him and him knowing her will help them like each other and maybe love in the future, it I ironic to think that she the only girl who didn't want his affection will possibly love him and hopefully Sasuke will also let her in his heart.

Noticing their pregnant silence Sasuke spoke, "How about you wait for me here while I get my things?"

Hinata thought what he said but this is also a chance to know him more by seeing how he actually lived during his avenger days, "Ano Sasuke kun is…is it okay if I come with you?"

Sasuke didn't know why Hinata would like to go with him but if he wanted her to trust him again letting her into his dark world is necessary, "Hn sure."

Sasuke held into Hinata's hand as they were walking towards the cave behind the waterfall, he lit as they entered and Sasuke deactivated the seals of traps he placed in the area before lighting up a torch.

"I always put traps around the area I am staying at to alert me of anyone's presence in case I fell asleep or to instantly kill the intruder." He explained and placed the torch in the wall and arranged his things in the bag Hinata prepared before.

"Is danger always around you back then?" She asked curiously.

Sasuke sighed not sure how much he can open up his avenger life before to her with it being full of unpleasant memories reminding him of what he become before, "Yes, you can never be so sure when you are a missing nin, sometimes it's your comrade who will stab you in the back that's why I don't trust anyone."

"How about now?" Hinata didn't know why she wanted to push her limits to Sasuke but she must trust him again.

Picking up his bag he looked into Hinata's eyes and said, "Honestly I don't trust anyone in the village anymore after learning the truth behind my family and clan's murder but since I married you I am trusting you alone that's why I am telling you things about my past although I am not sure if I can tell you everything about it with it being dark and all. But with you I'm sure you can help me trust another again."

"I'm glad you trust me. How about we both stay together in the room I am staying at then we'll depart tomorrow." She said blushing knowing her words have double meaning to it but she trust Sasuke to not repeat what he did the last time they were alone in their room.

She's letting me stay in the same room as her again after what I did.

"Hn if it's alright with you then it is fine by me."

Reaching the inn which is in the small town near the gambling den, the innkeeper greeted them.

"Welcome back Mrs. Uchiha, I assume he is your husband Mr. Uchiha." The innkeeper said with a smile.

Sasuke was taken aback but nonetheless happy that Hinata is now using his surname which is the norm with them being married, but for her to openly use it only meant that she liked it being an Uchiha.

"Yes, we would like to ask for dinner to be served in our room." Hinata said politely.

"Do you have any specific menu you like to be served?"

Hinata glanced at Sasuke and nudged at him.

"Any would be fine but I would like some fresh tomatoes served" Sasuke answered.

"Shall I be serving you sake Mr. Uchiha?"

"No. Tea would be fine for us."

"Alright we'll be serving your dinner and teas in 30 minutes hope you two will enjoy your stay here."

Sasuke followed Hinata to her room and asked, "Mrs. Uchiha you know that suits you right?"

Hinata kept her silence and her face down.

"No need to be shy to me Hinata chan, what exactly did you tell the innkeeper?"

"I told him my husband had been away for some time to do research and that we both agreed to meet here that's why he immediately assumed you are my husband, which is correct by the way."

"Oh, so that's the reason why he knew I am your husband. I wonder how you assumed already that you will see me here in this town."

Hinata opened their room and they both entered, she sat at the bed while Sasuke lay his bag down and sat beside her.

"I met an old man in the outskirts of this town and described a man who closely resembles you that's why I knew you are here."

"And you immediately knew it that I will be going with you?"

"Hai…because even if you don't want to I will still convince you to go back with me for I will not return back to Konoha without you."

"Why, to save your face again?" He inquired in a calm voice.

"No because we…we are now married and as your wife it is my duty to find you and return with you back at Konoha because it is my nindo to abide to my duty."

Sasuke can't help but admire his wife more with her sense of duty, not only did she manage to make him smile 3 times already in a day but she had a nindo of living by her duty and accomplishing it. How come people thought her to be weak is a mystery to him for her nindo is enough to make a shinobi strong. Missing, longing and hearing her nindo made him want to kiss her.

He inched his face near her and asked, "Is it alright if I kiss you now?"

Hinata nodded slightly and Sasuke slowly kissed her.

After a short sensual kiss Sasuke parted his lips from hers, "We can continue kissing if you want to but if you don't want to it's alright with me."

"Ano…" Hinata said blushing.

Sasuke hugged her, "It's alright embracing you is enough, like I promised you before you are the one with the go signal on how far we are going to. I don't want to hurt you again like before because of my stupidity."

Hinata also missed his warmth and scent, although they were only together for a short time since they got married Sasuke's warmth and scent are already imprinted in her memory.

"Sasuke kun…where are we going to tomorrow?"

"We'll go to a hot spring I guess."

"Hot spring?" She asked looking at him.

"Kakashi sensei gave me a pass into a private hot spring as a gift to us in our wedding. We can at least take a rest there for a few days before going to Suna and pay Gaara sama a visit, then we can go to wood country to find carpenters and engineers who will work for our home, then to the metal country for our future business, and finally to raikage sama to deliver your package."

"Oh but we only have three weeks left in our leave." Hinata whinned to their itinerary for three weeks is not enough.

"That's okay we can extend our leave since Kakashi sensei's aware that we are spending our "honeymoon" together. I'm sure he will understand."

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, favorites, follows. Gaara will appear in next chapter so if you have any suggestions on what he will do to make Sasuke jealous, kindly leave a review. I also have a good news to everyone for I'll be posting a new story here in fanfiction which is a Sasuhina also by this week so better watch out for it.