CCNote: Hi Everyone! I'm back and I am here to finish this story just as Katarina-hime wanted! Life has been so crazy since the last time I picked up my computer, but I think that I am finally in a place in my life where I can realize my dream. Becoming an Author! Katarina-hime and I talked a lot while I was in Japan for 3yrs. I got to see her family's daily life and she was a great source of comfort when I felt homesick for the US or stuck on my writing. I told her I wanted to be a published author one day and she made me promise she would see my work on shelves one day. Words cannot express how much she helped me so I need to make good on my promise to her even if she is no longer with us.

I will be leaving this story, Becoming an Uchiha, and a few others up on this site. Sleeping with the Enemy, A is for Uchiha, For the Love of You and all of the older stories will be taken down. I plan to expand on the stories I created and make them into what they were always meant to be-their own standalone novels. As I have grown as a person and as an author I know that I can take the magic of those stories create something more robust and vibrant. So please join me on that journey if you like. If not, I appreciate all of the support that's been given to me. Each and every one of you has had such a profound impact on my life and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You can find the new and much improved Sleeping with the Enemy on my under the name 'Writing and Curls' (haha at 30 I can't be under the penname college and curls anymore). You'll find the beginning to be familiar but I promise it gets juicy! Not only will my stories be available through p_a_treon, but I will also have Short Story commissions, BETA Reading for your personal works, Writing/Storyboarding tips, and much more as I evolve. PM me if you have any questions and as always don't forget to review!

Being Attacked

Sai, the Uchiha had decided, was neither an asset nor an ally. He preferred this arrangement over any other. There was no real history between them to sway their emotions. No betrayals or brotherly bonds. Training with him for a week was more like training separately. Their skills did not interfere with one another from what he gathered as he watched the artist work. He wouldn't have to worry about him on the field when things got rough. The pale shinobi could simply draw up an eagle and away he would go. Sasuke was positive that one of the biggest reasons Kakashi assigned Sai to be his partner was because he always had a Plan B…or C. Despite being teammates with Naruto and Sakura, Sasuke knew the feelings of loyalty that Sai possessed for them would not extend to him. In a way he appreciated that since it meant no guilt on his own part. No one to let down or lose.

Someone to lose…

The Uchiha watched at a distance from the village gate as Sai departed from Ino Yamanaka. A match he would have never guessed give the odd nature of Sai and the extroversion of Ino. Though perhaps she had changed over the years and mellowed out. He wouldn't know. Sasuke turned away from the pair as Sai kissed Ino's hand, a rare display of affection from his partner. Sai had someone to lose. Someone to return to. He would not give his life for that of a rehabilitated traitor. He wasn't an idiot like a few people he knew. His memories conjured the faint smell of lavender but he batted the thought away. He had no need for martyrs. Letting out a long breath through his nose, he pulled down his Anbu mask. Kakashi had said it was supposed to represent a snake with it's markings but he could care less. For as thick as it was, it didn't impede his range of vision and he could barely feel it on his face.

"Ready?" Sai asked as he bounded up to Sasuke's side.

Without any acknowledgement Sasuke proceeded out of the village. Their duty was to head North to quash a suspected underground human trafficking syndicate. Was there concrete proof that this group was committing the crimes they were accused of? No. Some women and small children had been disappearing but no one of note. Reconnaissance and rescue if needed was their mission. When presented, Sasuke had questioned Kakashi's decision to send Anbu in place of Jonin for such a simple mission. The man had simply replied that discretion in ally territory was their priority. That and he only trusted Sasuke as far as he could throw him. So a mind numbingly boring first mission it was. That was fine. He had nothing more to prove anyway.

…

"Let's stop for the night."

It was the first time Sai had spoken since their departure. Sasuke halted and turned to the man behind him. He wasn't panting. He didn't look fatigued. Why did he want to stop? It was going to take the full week to get to the North if they stopped every night and the sooner he could complete this bullshit mission the sooner he could go on the next one. As if sensing his thoughts, Sai crossed his arms over his chest.

"I know Hinata-san taught you better manners than this Hebi."

The verbal jab irked him enough that his sharigan flashed. Only for a second. An uncontrollable twitch. It was enough for Sai to raise his hands in mock surrender.

"We haven't even stopped for lunch. It doesn't matter how fast we get to the North if we are exhausted when we arrive."

Sasuke adjusted the strap of his bag in response before taking to the trees for shelter. There was no need to set up a tent as it would consume precious time in the morning to take it down. Or at least that's what he told himself. The truth buried deep down was that when he was too comfortable he had nightmares. It was as if his brain was trying to process all of his trauma during his unconscious hours. Down below he could hear Sai grumble before making his assent.

It took a while for his companion to make himself comfortable in the trees. When he did, he fell asleep surprisingly easily. Sasuke huffed incredulously. The man was more carefree than Naruto but at least he didn't snore…

…."You know you can't have any contact with Naruto and Sakura for awhile."

Sasuke nodded as he absently watched the pair in question below march towards the Hokage Tower. They had been harassing Kakashi every day for months. It was the same thing at the same time every fucking day. Where was Sasuke? Why can't they see Sasuke? Is Sasuke ok? Blah Blah Blah. It was ad nauseum and he was sure he should feel something. Anything.

These two clearly cared for him but he could barely muster the effort to feel emotions. The medicine he took now to combat the pain in his eyes subdued everything. It kept him complacent …compliant. Without Hinata around to ease the chakra connections around his eyes, the build up returned. Little by little the pressure built but with one little pill he could ignore the pain.

"Sasuke." Kakashi said, snapping the Uchiha from his thoughts.

One dark eye scrutinized him, brow furrowing in the process.

"Do we need to lower your dosage?" the Hokage asked. "The drug Tsunade gave you is experimental at best and shouldn't be taken for prolonged periods."

"If I die early you can consider your worries over." Sasuke shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets.

He knew his reply did nothing to comfort Kakashi but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything these days.

"All of this will blow over eventually. The Hyuuga will allow you to interact with others that have contact with Hinata eventually. They can't keep you the social pariah forever."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. The day Hiashi allowed him to be seen walking the streets of Konoha freely is the day Hinata was carted off to some damiyo for marriage. Safely free from any possibility of running into him. Outside the door was the familiar morning commotion of Naruto and Sakura banging on the door, ready to demand answers. Without a word, Sasuke exited through a side door that led to the Hokage's private quarter. His purgatory since the day he burned the Hyuuga dojo to the ground…

…Absently Sasuke rubbed his left eye. The pressure was a dull throb now that he'd taken the chance to rest. Annoying. It was almost worse than the searing pain of Hinata-the Hyuuga- working on him. Sasuke internally cursed himself for allowing her image to once more come up in his mind. He needed to block her out. Forget about her. She had been willing to give up her very freedom for him. He couldn't allow that to happen.

Not again.

….

Hinata awoke to the sound of a bustling village outside her window instead of the morning rays of the sun. After a few days in Kumo she found the sun to be a distant speck in a cold grey sky. Sometimes it appeared behind a thick curtain of clouds, gracing her with it's rays. Most days it remained hidden. She found it a pleasant change of pace but missed the lush green of her home and the feeling of the sun on her rubbed the sleep from her eyes and proceeded to get to pack for the next leg of her mission.

A solo mission.

The thought of going alone wasn't as intimidating as it once had been when she'd first started as a kunoichi. No longer was she afraid to get hurt or become queasy at the sight of blood. She had a job to do. Simple as that. Mechanically she glanced around her suite to make sure nothing had been left behind-not that she'd brought much in the first place. A cold chill ran down her spine as she did so. As though someone was taking account of her as well. As rude as it was to use her byakugan indoors she activated her bloodline.

This paranoid feeling had been getting worse with each passing day. Was it her own prejudice and trauma skewing her judgement? Quickly she scanned her immediate area. No unfamiliar chakra signatures in her immediate vicinity. Chouji was asleep next door. Outside of both their doors were their usual guard. On the first floor Chouji's girlfriend, Karui, was sipping coffee and reading the paper. All completely normal.

Sighing, she deactivated her Byakugan and left the room. Outside her door she bowed appreciatively to her guards, a little deeper than usual due to her respect for their service these last few days. The men didn't acknowledge her gesture but that didn't bother her. She was more than accustomed to cold men. Inwardly she smiled to herself as she looked at Chouji's door. He certainly wasn't a cold man. It was nice to have someone so warm and open. He was the kind of man that wore his heart of his sleeve but instead of it being a weakness…it was truly a strength...

….The smell of sizzling, grilled pork wafted over the occupants of the small abode. It filled their nostrils and despite not wanting to eat, even Hinata wanted a bite. The supplies they'd brought with them for their journey were plentiful and nutritious but they were nowhere near as tempting as this. Even her own cooking paled in comparison. Although she remained neutral on the outside, her companion looked ready to jump across the table when Karui entered the room. In her arms she held a plate of piping hot pork chops which she set in the middle of the table. She then quickly left to get more from the kitchen. Before she could return, Chouji had already taken one of the pork chops off of the plate with his fork and was biting into it. The meat was still so hot it shocked Hinata that he could stand it. Did his tongue not burn? There was no sign of pain on his face. Instead was a look of pure euphoria.

"That's it!" He declared just as Karui reentered the room with more food.

"What's it?" Karui asked.

"You're coming back with me."

"What-"

"Or I'm staying here."

"Chouji-"Hinata started softly. If they offended the Kumo by slighting their hostess things would not end well. Of course no one paid her any attention.

"Which do you prefer?" Chouji asked the confused hostess.

"Are…are you trying to ask me out on a date…because of my cooking?"

"Anyone who can cook like this has more than my undivided attention!" he declared, waving another piece of pork chop on the end of his fork.

"That's a terrible reason."

"Then I guess I'm staying here."

"What-why?"

"To find better reasons."

Chouji's answer was short as said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world to do. Karui on the other hand frowned but the dark blush on her face told a different story. Hinata's eyes darted between the two of them mesmerized. Love should be this uncomplicated. How she envied them…

….She would have knocked on his door to say goodbye but after the antics of last night she felt it was best to let him remain asleep. As she made her way downstairs her guards continued to follow her. They were under orders to not let the shinobi out of their sights while they were within the capital city. Hinata didn't mind them but it was annoying to have a tail.

Outside of the home the streets were filled with people going to work, saying goodbye to loved ones, or meeting up with friends to go to school. Kumo was a happy, peaceful place. After the traumatic events of her youth she would have never believed that these villagers would be…just like her own people. Complex individuals with their own hopes and dreams. It was a wake up call that she'd desperately needed. The world was changing and she needed to as well. Otherwise she would be left behind.

It took half a day but she finally reached the board of Kumo's jurisdiction, ready to continue her journey north. The Raikage knew of her solo mission so the tail that had been following her should fall away the moment she stepped over that imaginary line.

Only…they didn't.

They had followed for a second too long. Their steps too careful-as if they didn't want her to know. That was laughable. She may not be the strongest, but she was still a Konoha kunoichi and a Hyuuga at that. She paused for a moment under the guise of checking her bag-using their naivety of her skills against them.

Activating her byakugan she was able to note three chakra signatures in the near vicinity. Two behind her and one waiting up ahead. Their chakra wasn't stable like that of a well trained shinobi. It wavered as if they were not concentrating very hard on remaining hidden. Were they truly underestimating her or did they want to be found?

Either way, she was outnumbered and the only thing she had on her side was the element of surprise. Pulling out a kunai from her bag she hurled herself forward at full speed towards the chakra signature up ahead. It took only moments to reach her target clad in all black behind a tree. No village head band detailed where they hailed from. That made her job easier. Swiftly she knocked the figure from the branch with a kick down to the ground and fell into a broken heap.

They weren't dead. Their groans and yelps of pain let her know that. However she did not let down her guard. Her other two tails had heard the commotion and were quickly approaching. Hinata leapt to the boy on the ground and put her kunai at their throat just as the two tails approached them. A hostage would be useful leverage against her stalkers.

"No one said she was trained." A male voice grumbled.

"She's a Hyuuga, of course she was trained you idiot." Replied another. "That doesn't mean she won't still be a snack for the leader."

Hinata remained still as the figures approached from left of her field of vision. Two men of equal stocky build appeared; their faces completely covered save for their soulless eyes. One of them eyed her position over their third accomplice and held up their hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Now little Hyuuga, put down the kunai." He said, his voice dripping with honeyed words. "We would hate to see you hurt yourself."

Hinata ignored the request and placed her blade closer to the writhing man's neck beneath her.

"Why are you following me? You aren't the Raikage's men."

The two men chuckled and took a step closer.

"No. But we are your biggest fans."

A chill ran down her spine at his words and more chakra signatures suddenly registered to her field of vision. This was a trap.

CCNote: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be up soon!