Naruto always said he would do it, but Hinata was never sure.
Naruto was sure, and somehow he was right. There stood the man she never thought she would ever see again.
Sasuke Uchiha.
He stood in a cell that she was sure wouldn't hold him if he wanted out, with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Hinata felt sorry for him as he glared at them all. She wasn't sure it was fair that this was being made such an issue. Sasuke caught her eyes, but she didn't look away at first. She gave him a bow of her head, and his face scrunched. He wasn't even used to politeness.
They left him there to go to the Hokage's office to discuss. Hinata stood close to her husband, who wasn't happy.
"He has done no crimes to Suna directly. Why am I here?" Gaara frowned. "This does not concern us."
"I need your help!" Naruto exploded with frustration. "The other villages want him jailed or executed. It's easier if there is more than one village against them." Naruto looked at her for help, but Hinata's lips flattened into a line. It wasn't her he would have to convince.
"But I don't care what happens to him," This argument took this turn half a dozen times before she stepped in with her patience being tested.
"May I speak with Uchiha-san?" Both men stared at her. Gaara frowned. Tsunade let a twitch of a smile come to her face.
"I don't trust him," Gaara admitted, showing his actual fears. "I don't condemn him but have no reason to trust him."
"I'll be fine, he has no reason to harm me, and I'm sure he doesn't want to," Hinata assured him, but first, she needed to run to a shop.
"Uchiha-san?" Hinata rounded the corner to his cell. Sasuke didn't answer. Merely glared. He reminded her of Gaara in a bad mood. "I'm not sure if you remember me."
"Hyuga heiress, rather useless," Sasuke eyed her Suna clothing. "Always following the idiot around."
So Sasuke did remember, and Hinata remembered how cold he could be. "Former heiress." She corrected. Sasuke filed the information. Hinata was sure her sister and father already came to make their opinion of him. "Well, I remembered some things about you, so I brought you something." She held out a grocery bag with a container inside. "Not ramen, promise." Hinata offered it to him through the cell.
Sasuke sighed, snatching it from her, digging in the bag, and opening the bento lying inside. He seemed more annoyed with the contents.
"It's store-bought, sorry." Hinata hoped she remembered correctly. Rice balls and anything with tomato or so tomato paste rice balls sounds about right. "You are correct. I did follow Naruto-kun around when we were young, but I did notice some things about you as well. I hope you don't mind."
Sasuke set it to the side. She didn't expect to eat it in front of her. "So you're here to find a reason to condemn or approve of me?"
"No, I probably have no say in the matter. Whether Suna approves of you is ultimately up to Gaara or the council if he involves them and whether Naruto can convince him in your favor." Hinata settled on her knees in front of his cell.
"Then why are you here?" Sasuke laid his head back on the wall.
"I thought some non-hostile company would be nice. I didn't want to be in the room while Naruto-kun and Gaara were fighting. Nothing I will do is going to help until they've shouted for a while." Gaara would need some care after, though. He didn't like fighting with Konoha or Naruto and wasn't happy when an issue required him to argue with his friend. But it was healthy being able to not hold back because Naruto was one of the few that was on the equal ground that he wasn't afraid he would just kill in a real fight.
"You would rather sit with me?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." Hinata flattened her robe over her knees. "Though I am surprised you came back. I've formed no real opinion of you over the years. I never thought it was necessary." Sasuke broke Sakura's heart, and Hinata felt sorry for her, but she couldn't fault him for turning down her affections if he couldn't return them. He was harsh about it, but he also had a harsh life that would make anyone bitter and cold.
Hinata's heart ached for the three boys. Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara all had unfair childhoods that they couldn't control. Naruto and Gaara overcome them through friendship and care, but Sasuke took a different path. She couldn't fault him for it. The death of his entire clan would be hard to deal with. Sadly, she knew something she was sure he knew now. The frown and sudden wish not to look him in the eye must have tipped him off what she was thinking about.
"Did you know?" Sasuke asked. "About Itachi."
"The main branch knew, but I wasn't told till after you were gone," Hinata explained. "I'm sure my sister was informed and will consider it."
Sasuke threw a metal jail cup at the wall. "How come I was the last to know!" He shouted angrily.
The guards glanced toward her. Hinata raised her hand to tell him she was fine, hoping they wouldn't inform her husband. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Sasuke spat.
"I just am." Hinata bowed her head. "I hope you find some peace, Uchiha-san."
"What is it you do for Suna? You came in with them. You're not sealed, but your sister is head?" Sasuke was putting the pieces together, but she wouldn't make him guess. "Has the Hyuga finally decided on world domination through numbers?"
"I married the Kazekage. I came to represent Suna, though I was hoping we would have time for Hana-chan's wedding while we are here." Hinata told him.
Sasuke's nose scrunched, but he tilted his head, accepting the information. "Came to your senses on the moron, or was it political?" He was at least entertaining the idea that she had made a choice.
"Gaara and I married of our own will, but I was being pushed to marry at the time," Hinata admitted. "Gaara asked without seeking approval of the clan first." She worded it in the kindest way she could while still implying that he had insulted the clan.
Sasuke cracked a smile. It was nice having someone understand clan hardships firsthand. Even though he was young at the time, clan politics were drilled into him.
Hinata hummed a sigh. "I'm surprised you returned."
"I didn't exactly want to," Sasuke didn't look all that upset.
"It is hard to say no to him," Hinata noted.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "This village killed my clan. Why would I want to stay? He's lucky everyone responsible is already dead, or he wouldn't want me near this village."
"I understand." Hinata heard the door open.
"Mrs… Well, Hinata-san, your husband is asking for you." The nin stumbled over his words, finding no last name.
Hinata got up, brushing herself off. "Best of luck to whatever it is you wish for, Uchiha-san."
Sasuke eyed her, picking up the bento with a grunt of dismissal. Hinata smiled, heading out with the guard.
Gaara looked ready to pull his hair out. When his eye caught her, he immediately searched her for signs of distress.
Hinata gave him a smile. "Did you need something?"
"You," Gaara's shoulders dropped.
Hinata stopped to stand close to him. "Can we rest for a while?" She switched to the others in the room.
"I don't think we are getting anywhere today." Tsunade waved her hand, dismissing them.