Naruto dashed into the restaurant, his breath heavy from the rush. "We're late for the reservation, but we made it," he panted, trying to catch his breath. Ino followed closely behind, joining him at the entrance. Their arrival, however, was met with disappointment as the host informed them that their table had been given away.
A frustrated groan escaped Naruto's lips as he glanced apologetically at Ino. The situation seemed hopeless, their special evening threatened by circumstances beyond their control. But Ino, ever resourceful, took a subtle action as she stood beside Naruto, casually shifting a ring she wore on her pointer finger to her ring finger.
"I apologize, sir, but it's actually our first wedding anniversary," Ino spoke up, revealing the ring to the host. "We encountered a delay due to the babysitter's unexpected absence. Is there any way you could accommodate us?"
The host sighed, considering their request. "Let me check for you," he said, walking away to assess the availability of a table.
Naruto stared at Ino, surprise evident in his eyes, but he couldn't help but find her actions alluring. He leaned closer to her ear, his voice low and playful. "Damn, that's incredibly hot... wife," he whispered, his arm snaking around her waist, pulling her gently closer.
A blush crept onto Ino's cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and amusement dancing in her eyes. The intimate moment between them, despite the setback, created a flicker of warmth amidst their frustration. They were a team, facing challenges together, and Naruto's words only reinforced their bond.
The host returned, a small smile gracing his face. "I managed to find a table for you. Congratulations on your anniversary," he said, leading them to a secluded spot in the restaurant. Naruto and Ino exchanged grateful glances, grateful that their perseverance had paid off.
As they settled into their seats, Naruto couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for the woman in front him. Leaning forward, Naruto's voice took on a flirtatious tone. "You know, babe, we make a pretty convincing married couple. Maybe we should consider making it official."
Ino's lips curved into a playful smile, mirroring Naruto's flirtatious demeanor. She played along, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and affection. "Oh, really now? Are you proposing, Naruto?" She teased, her voice filled with faux surprise.
Naruto chuckled, his fingers lightly tracing circles on the back of Ino's hand. "Well, you never know. Maybe one day," he responded, his words laced with a hint of sincerity.
Itachi sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. "So you're telling me that no one is running the American building, and why is that?" He remained silent as he listened to the worker on the other end. "Hm," he hummed, sighing again as he leaned back in his office chair. "Alright, I'll head over there," he said, hanging up the phone promptly. "Incompetent workers, I swear," he muttered, lifting the screen of his laptop and pulling it closer. He looked up flights to America and groaned at the thought of an 8-hour flight.
Why? Because an employee in charge of the building decided to get murdered in an alleyway…
As he finalized the flight bookings, the sound of the front door slamming shut caught Itachi's attention. He rose from his seat and stepped out of his office, spotting Sasuke leaning against the door frame, holding a bottle in his hand. Itachi scowled as he noticed his brother's disheveled appearance.
"What are you looking at?" Sasuke growled, his demeanor clearly affected by alcohol.
Itachi let out a sigh and approached him, firmly taking the bottle out of his hand. "Sasuke," he said, his tone firm but concerned. "What's wrong with you? Ever since Hinata left six months ago, you've changed. You act like you didn't care about her, but your behavior suggests otherwise. I can't keep arguing with you about this because it's like talking in circles."
Sasuke stared back at him with a blank expression, not because he was disinterested, but rather because he was heavily intoxicated.
Gazing into Sasuke's eyes, Itachi's own frustration gave way to a deeper concern. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he had witnessed this downward spiral before, a haunting reminder of their shared past. He knew that Sasuke had been struggling since Hinata's departure, and it was evident that he was using alcohol as a means to cope with his pain. Seeing Sasuke like this, Itachi couldn't help but feel torn between his responsibilities at work and his responsibility as a brother.
He contemplated the flight, thinking about the urgent matter he needed to address in America. However, his heart pulled him towards his brother, knowing that Sasuke needed support and guidance during this difficult time.
"Sasuke, I can't keep watching you go down this path," Itachi said firmly. "You need help."
Sasuke's blank expression flickered with a hint of emotion as he struggled to respond. Itachi knew that getting through to him in his current state would be challenging, but he had to try.
"I care about you, Sasuke," Itachi continued, his voice filled with concern. "I'm worried about you, and I won't stand by and watch you self-destruct. You don't have to go through this alone."
Sasuke seemed to waver for a moment, his emotions conflicting with the alcohol-induced haze. Itachi knew that reaching his brother now might be a difficult task, but he was determined to get through to him.
After a few moments of silence, Sasuke finally spoke, his voice slurred but tinged with vulnerability. "I... I don't know how to deal with this pain, Itachi."
Itachi placed a reassuring hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "I understand that it's tough, but turning to alcohol and sex won't make the pain go away. We can get through this together, Sasuke. You don't have to carry this burden on your own."
Itachi's words seemed to reach Sasuke, as he nodded in acknowledgment, his guard slowly starting to come down.
Throughout the night, Itachi remained by Sasuke's side, providing a supportive presence as his brother slowly sobered up. They had a heart-to-heart conversation, where Sasuke finally opened up about the emotional pain he had been carrying since Hinata's departure. Itachi listened with empathy, reassuring him that he was not alone and that he would be there to help him heal.
As the morning sun peeked through the curtains, Sasuke looked more composed than the night before. The pain was still there, but Itachi's presence had brought a sense of comfort and stability to the situation.
Later that morning, Itachi reaffirmed his decision. "I'm going to America to handle some business, but I'll be back when I can. In the meantime, promise me you'll take care of yourself and seek support if you need it."
Neji watched with amusement as Hinata struggled to reach something across the table, her growing baby bump preventing her from reaching comfortably. He couldn't help but chuckle as he effortlessly handed her the salt.
Hinata pouted playfully, scolding her brother. "As my brother, you should be helping me during this time," she murmured softly.
Neji smirked and looked at her mischievously, replying, "Well, as your brother, it's also my job to annoy you at every chance, pregnant or not."
But as tears began to well up in Hinata's eyes, Neji's smirk faded into a frown. He hadn't meant to upset her so much. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Hinata," he said sincerely, rising from his chair and approaching her as she slumped forward, covering her face.
Seeing her shoulders shaking, Neji's concern deepened. He gently rested his hand on her back, intending to comfort her, only for Hinata to burst into laughter. He was taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor.
Hinata gazed up at him, her face tear-streaked but still filled with laughter. "I'm sorry," she managed to say between laughs. "It's the hormones," she sniffled.
Neji let out a sigh. "I should have given you the salt when you asked for it."
Hinata wiped her face, tears still streaming. "Yeah, you should have," she said softly.