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. This is not Beta'd yet.

Chapter XXIV 2nd Part:

Sasuke may have told Hinata that everything will be alright but he was actually thinking of ways to confront the dobe if their paths will ever cross and not even his hime will stop him from what he wants to do. Hinata felt him tense as they were walking in the woods and asked Sasuke about it.

"Sasuke kun?"

Sasuke forcibly stopped his murderous thoughts, "Yes Hinata chan?"

"Is there anything wrong?" She asked nervously she can feel Sasuke's aura darken since the man described Naruto in wood country.

"No." He answered.

"But-"

"Hi-Hinata chan." Naruto said looking at both Sasuke and Hinata and saw each other's hickey on their necks making him jealous inside.

Sasuke growled and walked in front of Hinata blocking her from Naruto's view and said in a threatening tone, "Dobe."

"Sasuke will you let me speak with Hinata chan…please." Naruto pleaded.

Sasuke unsheathed his katana and activated his sharingan and he wouldn't mind activating also his rinnegan if needed and he'll make sure to kill him this time. Naruto stayed still not wanting to confront with Sasuke again after they almost killed each other during the war.

Hinata hugged Sasuke from behind and with a shaky hand afraid of what could happen, placed it above Sasuke's arm that was holding his katana and slowly lowered it kissing him on the cheek and said, "Please don't act reckless Sasuke kun, Naruto k-san only wants to talk."

Sasuke took a deep breath to calm himself Hinata kissing his cheek did the trick to put him back to his senses and sheated back his katana but he's sharingan's still active, "I'll let you talk with him but he better keep his hands to himself."

Sasuke stepped aside but didn't move too far just enough for him to her whatever they will talk about. Naruto wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, it was the war when he last saw Sasuke with that murder intent and he knows for a fact that Sasuke will not hold back this time and kill him. Hinata however was nervous, she didn't know how she's going to talk with Naruto the pain in her heart is still there and although Sasuke's slowly healing her and she likes him and maybe even love him but Naruto will always be her first love.

"Hinata chan how have you been…after the incident I mean." Naruto asked nervously scratching the back of his hair.

"I'm fine really…Sasuke kun's taking care of me well."

"I see, that's good to hear but it should be me taking care of you not him." Naruto said earning a deadly glare from Sasuke.

"You lost every right you have on her after you chose Sakura dobe!" Sasuke spat in anger.

"I know but let me explain. Sakura she…she used me Hinata chan she thought Sasuke will be jealous if he will see us together and chase after Sakura. However her plan didn't work because Sasuke married you…I broke up with her already you know."

Sasuke scoffed, however Hinata cried because she thought of Sakura as a friend but she hurt her for her selfish reasons. Sasuke upon seeing his wife cry went to her side and let her cry on his shoulder.

"What do you exactly intend in saying that? Are you hoping Hinata chan will forgive you since you are a victim also? Think again dobe Hinata will never be yours again." Sasuke said and walked away with Hinata away from Naruto.

"Wait you have no right to say that, you are only married for what 2-3 weeks. Hinata chan loves me since we are kids not you!" Naruto Barked in annoyance, he hates how Sasuke is acting like a perfect over protective husband.

"Why you!" Sasuke moved away from Hinata ready to pounce on Naruto.

"Naruto san's right."

Sasuke froze still at Hinata's words and felt his heart shatter at that moment, since they reunited after he screwed one time he thought Hinata was opening up to her she even told him she likes him but with the two words she said everything went crashing down on him. He was about to leave and find something to avert his anger for what happened but Hinata hold into his hand stopping him.

"Please stay Sasuke kun, you need to hear this."

Sasuke can only nod and Naruto who heard what Hinata said grinned like he always does.

"Naruto san's right that I love him since we were kids, he's my first love."

Sasuke closed his eyes to calm himself as he was listening to the words that are like Kaguya's spikes piercing through his body one by one leaving him in a pain unlike any other.

"Sasuke kun and I may only be married for 3 weeks but he's always there for me when my world shattered after you betrayed me with Sakura san when I thought I have nothing anymore." Hinata said looking into Naruto's blue eyes.

"But-" Naruto about to say but Hinata cut him off.

"Sasuke may be a cold person due to the tragedy in his life but he helped me face my heartbreak from you and he's doing everything he can to please me. I like Sasuke kun the way he likes me and I am starting to fall in love with him as well and I will not ask for any husband but him, I'm sorry Naruto san but whatever we had was in the past, my present and future is now with Sasuke kun."

Naruto felt his world come crashing down on him, whatever chance he had will never be returned. How could he be so dumb and let go of Hinata, he's reasons and blaming on Sakura will not change Hinata's feelings towards Sasuke of all people for her to fall with. He envied Sasuke since they were kids for everyone likes him while he was the unwanted and he had to earn people's respect by protecting everyone and following his nindo to the core, but now he envies him so much he want to fight with him to death right now.

Sasuke released a sigh of relief after hearing what Hinata said, she admitted not only to him but to Naruto as well that she likes him and starting to love him. Hinata although she hated Naruto for what he did she also felt sorry for him that Sakura only used him like a good person she was, she hugged Naruto and he can't help his tears from falling at that moment.

"I'm sorry Hinata chan, it should have been us but I was weak I thought I was strong but I'm not yet strong enough."

"Maybe in another lifetime Naruto san, we may not be husband and wife in this life but we can always be friends and I'm sure Sasuke kun will always be your friend also."

Sasuke only replied with a hn not sure if he will consider him again as a friend.

"Thank you Hinata chan, I'll be leaving now I just dropped by Keisuke's workshop to deliver a new trade policy with Konoha and Sasuke if you ever hurt Hinata chan you know I won't hesitate to kill you."

"I'd rather die first before that happens." Sasuke said.

"Glad to hear that. I'll see you back in Konoha I guess." Naruto said and left.

Hinata almost collapsed into Sasuke's arms, "Are you alright Hinata chan?"

"Hai, I'm just stressed out from our encounter with Naruto san. I don't know how I'm going to face him but when I saw you there I knew that I am not alone."

Sasuke kissed the top of Hinata's head and said, "We should be heading out to the workshop then we'll call it a day so you can rest."

Hinata nodded and they walked together hand in hand.

Naruto felt heavy walking, he was crying since he left Sasuke and Hinata this was the worst rejection of his life for he never thought that the only person who loved him will reject him. But like what he said to Hinata he was weak for if he was strong and believed in Hinata's love he wouldn't have succumbed to Sakura's advances. Now there is no turning back, Hinata made her choice and the worst part is that he's the one who pushed her away.

Keisuke's workshop is the largest workshop in the wood country their workshop is well known to the shinobi world with their works varying from compounds, mansions, houses and offices. The owner and chief engineer Keisuke have only one son named Tetsuya who acts as the general foreman on their projects, their workers are all master carpenters and masons able to do anything the client wished.

"Keisuke sama someone is here to see you."

"Who is it?" Keisuke said scratching his thick beard slouching against his wooden chair.

"Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Hinata."

"The name sounds familiar, how about you let them in and prepare us some tea as we talk."

The worker nodded and excused himself to call on Sasuke and Hinata to let them inside Keisuke's cabin. Keisuke was roughly by the age of early 40s with a well built body produced by the years he had been working as a logger and an engineer, his black hair are spiky with a thick beard covering all of his jaw and his hands are rough for doing manual labor a lot.

"Welcome, wait you look familiar…oh I remember you are Hiashi sama's eldest daughter never thought you'll be married soon though." Keisuke said looking at Hinata.

"Hai he's my husband Uchiha Sasuke. We are here because we want to ask your expertise in rebuilding the Uchiha compound."

"Uchiha compound but that was totally destroyed, it will take a year at least to rebuild it depending on your designs. Have you come up with a design already so we can start as soon as possible since we have no project now after renovations are done after the war?"

"Hinata chan and I haven't made our decision on our design yet, we are still to wait for Sai's sketches we will be seeing after our honeymoon."

"Sai is the one doing your sketches? You are lucky he's the best artist out there and drawing designs for your compound will be a piece of cake to him. Since you have no design yet we can't discuss the work time and materials to be used, I'll wait until you come up with a design and we'll talk again I am a scroll away you don't have to bother coming here again since wood country is far from Konoha."

"Hai, thank you Keisuke sama."

"Do you have any place to stay here or are you retuning back to konoha?" Keisuke asked.

"No we have no place to stay yet but we'll be resting here in the wood country for a day or two before we continue our journey." Sasuke said.

Keisuke stood up from his chair, "Follow me."

Sasuke and Hinata followed Keisuke where he led them to a cabin not far from his.

"You stay here for free until how long you want to. Consider this my gift for your wedding your food storage will be restocked daily by one of my workers. You can also go fishing and swimming down the river there's a boat raft you could use. I hope you both will enjoy your stay here." Keisuke said handing over a set of keys to Sasuke.

"Keisuke sama this is too much we could stay in one of the inns in the city." Hinata said.

"No, as I said earlier consider this my gift. I'll have to go I still have to review the new trade policy with your country." Keisuke said leaving Sasuke and Hinata alone.

"He's kind for a man looking so rough." Sasuke said while opening the door to their cabin.

"Hai, he didn't even want to ask for payment from us."

After closing the door, Sasuke pulled Hinata roughly to him and kissed her with so much passion that Hinata's knees are giving up but before it could happen, he pushed her to the wall with his right hand cushioning her head to not hurt her. He then raised her legs to wrap it around him making him grunt in pleasure as he continued to kiss and suck her neck earning a sweet moan from Hinata. He wanted to take her right there especially when his left hand accidentally ghosted over Hinata's breast that made her moan his name sweetly in his ears but thanks to his self control he will not do it, instead he returned his left hand to her thigh to support her weight and kissed her in the lips again where their tongues tangoed inside. When the need for air was needed that was the only time their lips separated and he slowly dropped Hinata's feet to the ground leaving them both wanting for more.

After their breathing returned to normal Sasuke said while nipping at Hinata's neck, "I wanted to do that after you admitted your feelings for me in front of the dobe, you got me scared there for a minute hime when you agreed to what he said but you told him you are starting to love me."

"I feel sorry for him though he lost everything for his mistake Sasuke kun." Hinata said preventing a moan to escape her lips with Sasuke's ministrations.

"He's lost my gain. Damn bitch Sakura for hurting you both. I'll let her have a piece of my mind when we return." Sasuke said growling as he licked Hinata's hickey he gave to her a few days ago.

Hinata moaned when Sasuke liked her hickey and said, "Sasuke kun…maybe she loves you too much…to do such a thing but…that doesn't mean you can hurt her."

"I won't hurt her physically if that is what you are implying I have Karin to do that for me." He said before leaving feather kisses on Hinata's collarbone having a hard time to control himself from kissing the exposed valley of her breasts.

Hinata can feel the butterflies in her stomach flutter with what Sasuke was doing and she want him to feel it as well or maybe more since she can already feel him pressing hard against her and she blushed remembering what happened last time they were too intimate. Gathering all her courage with shaky hands she rubbed her hand on Sasuke's chest making him moan even if his upper clothing is on the way of the feel of her hand.

"Hinata chan, I may not be able to control myself anymore with what you are doing. Hime we can stop if you are not yet ready." He said huskily.

Hinata stopped rubbing his chest and rested her head on Sasuke's shoulder, "Are you starting to love me as well Sasuke kun?"

"No, I am in love with you already Hinata chan."

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, follows, favorites. This is the second part of chapter 24 and I am terribly sorry for the short chapter I posted yesterday for I was very sleepy last night and I decided to cut chapter 24 into 2. I will be posting chapter 25 after the holy week that means I will not be updating next week that's why I wrote the second half soon. Kindly write your thoughts for the second half and your ideas for the next chapter. I know Naruto didn't receive a beating from Sasuke but what Hinata did hurt him as much as a full charged chidori damage he'll receive.