Hinata's lips gently curved into a smile as she looked down at Ren, her four-year-old son, who was brimming with excitement, pointing at every little detail in the festival. His face bore the playful decoration of tiger face paint, his eyes shining with pure delight.
"Mommy, they're making cotton candy! Can we go get some, please?"
Ren's request was met with Hinata's nod, and they made their way toward the cotton candy stand.
Amid their quest for cotton candy, their attention fixated on the sugary treat, oblivious to the surroundings closing in. In an unforeseen twist of fate, an unexpected collision jolted them from their reverie. Bags tumbled, contents scattering across the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I should've been more careful," a voice apologized.
Hinata, still looking down as she gathered her belongings, replied softly, "It's okay."
As she reached for her scattered items, his hand accidentally grabbed hers. Slowly raising her gaze, Hinata finally looked at the person before her. "Itachi?" She uttered, a mixture of surprise and recognition in her voice.
"Hinata?What a coincidence!" Itachi Uchiha remarked, his identity now revealed.
Ren, ever the observant child, tugged on Hinata's hand and looked up at the stranger. "Let go of my mommy's hand," he piped up with an innocent yet determined tone.
Itachi, taken aback by the child's unexpected comment, glanced down at Ren and then back at Hinata. His eyes widened as he noticed the striking resemblance between the boy and his younger brother when he was a child. Confusion etched on his features, he couldn't help but question what he was seeing, knowing that Hinata was only supposed to have Neji with her.
Hinata hesitated, her gaze shifting between Ren and Itachi, before finally taking a deep breath. She looked directly into Itachi's eyes and spoke softly, "He's Sasuke's son."
Itachi's surprise deepened, his thoughts racing to process this revelation. A mix of emotions flickered across his face – astonishment, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of sadness. "Sasuke's son?" He repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Hinata nodded, a mixture of emotions playing across her own features. "Yes, his name is Ren."
Itachi's gaze softened as he regarded the boy once again. "He... he looks just like him."
Hinata's heart felt heavy with unspoken memories and emotions. "Yes, he does."
Ren, sensing the tension, looked up at Hinata and then at Itachi. "Is he a friend, Mommy?"
Hinata offered a small, reassuring smile to her son. "Yes, baby, he's a friend."
Itachi's eyes lingered on Ren for a moment longer before he returned his gaze to Hinata. "I see," he replied, his voice quiet.
As the weight of the moment lingered, Itachi's expression shifted, a subtle smile gracing his lips. "Well, it seems fate has a way of weaving unexpected connections," he remarked, his gaze still fixed on Hinata.
Hinata felt a faint blush rise to her cheeks, caught off guard by the subtle shift in the conversation. "Yes, it does," she agreed, her voice soft.
Itachi's tone held a playful note as he continued, "Although, I must admit, the festival is not typically where one expects to uncover family secrets."
Hinata chuckled lightly, the tension easing a bit. "No, it's not. Life has a way of surprising us."
While their interaction carried a hint of teasing banter, Itachi's curiosity remained. "Does Sasuke know about Ren?" He inquired, his gaze probing.
Hinata's smile faltered, her eyes briefly lowering. "No, he doesn't."
"Why doesn't he?" Itachi inquired, his curiosity tinged with a hint of something else.
Hinata's gaze shifted away, a brief moment of uncertainty crossing her features. "Well, when Ren was born, I wasn't sure if Sasuke was ready to take on the role of a father," she confessed, her words spoken with a mixture of vulnerability and nostalgia.
"Hinata…," Itachi's voice resonated with empathy and comprehension, his suspicion confirmed in her admission.
She sighed, her gaze fixed on the ground as she continued. "I was young, and given how much time has passed, fear took over. I started to doubt if he'd even believe me now."
A comforting hand settled on her shoulder, Itachi's touch gentle yet reassuring. "Hinata, your son bears an uncanny resemblance to Sasuke. It's hard to imagine he wouldn't believe you."
Sharing a quiet understanding, they both rose from the ground, leaving behind the items that had fallen to the ground. Hinata's voice held a touch of sadness, "He's probably moved on and forgotten about me."
A melancholic chuckle escaped her lips. "Besides, my focus is on my son now," she remarked, glancing down at Ren, who clung to her pants leg.
Glancing at his watch, Itachi's brows furrowed as he muttered an expletive under his breath. "Hey, I've really enjoyed reconnecting with you, but I'm pressed for time," he admitted, his tone tinged with regret. He retrieved a pen from his pocket and grasped Hinata's wrist gently, his touch firm yet surprisingly gentle. Swiftly jotting something down on her skin, he looked into her eyes with a serious expression. "Call me, alright? It was nice catching up with you!"
Having conveyed his message, he released her wrist and took a step back.
A faint smile graced his lips, his gaze a blend of reassurance and urgency. "Take care, Hinata," he spoke softly, before turning to leave, his belongings left untouched on the ground.
As Itachi's figure melded into the crowd, Hinata stood there, the inked reminder on her wrist a silent promise, and a newfound strength swelling within her.
"Yeah man! Let me ask Ino if I can go. Oh wait, hold up," Naruto's voice came through the phone, his words punctuated by intermittent pauses as if he was distracted.
Sasuke glanced at the paper in front of him, growing slightly impatient. Itachi had entrusted him with a task back in town, considering he's been stranded in America handling matters there.
Naruto's voice seemed distant, and Sasuke couldn't help but sigh, thinking he was stalling. However, his assumptions were replaced by understanding when he heard Naruto's voice again, this time clearly strained,
"Wait, don't touch that! Put it down, please."
The noise on Naruto's end grew louder, making it harder for Sasuke to focus. "Naruto, are you there?" He asked, his patience running thin. He was met with a muffled reply from Naruto,
"Hold on, almost done. Just a sec."
Sasuke rubbed his temples, mentally counting to ten. The background noises persisted, and just when he was about to hang up, Naruto's voice came back, this time louder.
"Ino! Ino, can you take care of this?"
Sasuke's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the sudden volume, and he instinctively pulled the phone away from his ear.
After a moment, Naruto's voice returned, now clear and free from distractions, "Yeah, I can come. Sorry about that, man. See you soon."
Sasuke took a sip from his drink, his eyes periodically shifting toward the door where Naruto was expected. He sighed, focusing his gaze back onto his drink, only to be interrupted by a tap on his shoulder. Turning his head, he found a girl standing there.
"Hey. Are you single?" She inquired.
Sasuke regarded her with an unchanging expression. "Not interested," he replied curtly.
"Come on, I've seen you here a few times with your blonde friend. Why else would you come to the bar if not to hook up?" She persisted, her hand on her hip.
"I already told you, I'm not interested," Sasuke reiterated, his patience wearing thin.
"Oh, come on," she urged, running her hand down his chest.
Sasuke's patience wore thin, his fingers closing around her wrist in a firm grip as he leveled her with an unyielding stare. "You're annoying," he retorted, his words carrying a sharp edge. He released her wrist abruptly before lifting his drink to his lips and taking a measured sip.
The girl stared at him, her mouth agape.
Sasuke's tone remained firm as he added, "And just so you're aware, I'm waiting for someone." His gaze steady as he met her stunned expression. Undeterred, he took another sip of his drink, his demeanor unyielding.
The girl seemed taken aback, her attempt to flirt having backfired in an unexpected manner. She quickly recomposed herself, a mixture of embarrassment and irritation evident on her face. "Well, whatever. Your loss," she muttered, sounding defensive.
Sasuke's attention remained on his drink, his focus unwavering. He could sense her frustration, but he wasn't one to be swayed by such tactics. As the girl walked away, he allowed himself a small, satisfied smirk.
Returning his gaze to the door, he hoped to catch a glimpse of Naruto's familiar blonde hair. The bar was gradually growing more crowded, but he kept his patience, knowing his friend would show up eventually.
In the midst of the noise and chatter, Sasuke's attention was drawn to a familiar voice.
"Sasuke!" Naruto's exclamation carried above the din, accompanied by a light chuckle.
Sasuke's lips quirked slightly into a genuine smile as he turned toward Naruto's voice. Finally, his friend had arrived, and any lingering annoyance from the encounter with the girl dissipated. As Naruto approached, Sasuke raised his hand in a casual wave.
"Took you long enough."
Naruto slid onto the barstool next to Sasuke, grinning mischievously. "Hey, I had to make sure everything was set at home before I could escape for some guy time, you know?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes playfully. "Sure, sure. Don't act like Ino doesn't have you on a tight leash," he teased, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, you know how it is. Happy wife, happy life, right?"
"Yeah, I get it."
Their playful banter subsided as they both took sips from their drinks. After a moment of comfortable silence, Naruto turned slightly toward Sasuke, his tone growing more serious. "Hey, man, how's everything going with... you know, the therapy?"
Sasuke let out a sigh, his gaze fixating on the swirling patterns in his drink. "Approaching my fourth year," he murmured.
Naruto's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm proud of you for sticking with it, Sasuke."
Sasuke nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Hn. It's been... helpful, I guess. Hard, but helpful."
Naruto's grin returned, genuine and warm. "You're stronger than you think, you know? And having someone to share it with, like Ino and me, it really helps."
Their conversation continued, seamlessly transitioning from heartfelt discussions to light-hearted anecdotes about their respective lives. Time passed quickly as they enjoyed each other's company, the noise of the bar fading into the background.
As the evening progressed, Sasuke's earlier encounter with the persistent girl was nothing more than a distant memory, replaced by the camaraderie and support he found in his friendship with Naruto. The two friends laughed, shared stories, and even debated the finer points of their favorite ramen joints.
At one point, Naruto leaned closer and lowered his voice, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hey, speaking of relationships, have you ever thought about... you know, dating again?"
Sasuke's gaze turned thoughtful as he considered Naruto's question. "I've thought about it," he admitted. "But it's a bit complicated."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Complicated how?"
Sasuke let out a sigh, his voice carrying a tinge of melancholy. "I'm waiting for Hinata."
Naruto's gaze shifted toward Sasuke, a sense of surprise crossing his features. "Really, man? But we don't even know if or when she'll come back."
Sasuke's eyes met Naruto's, his expression revealing a mix of vulnerability and determination. "She was the only one who made me feel... at ease," he confessed. "That's why I've been going to therapy – to become a better person for her."
Naruto's gaze softened as he regarded Sasuke, his concern evident. "Sasuke, I get that you care about Hinata, but you've been waiting for four years, man. Don't you think it's time to consider moving on?"
Sasuke's expression remained contemplative, his eyes fixed on a distant point as he processed Naruto's words. "I know it might sound stubborn, but I can't help feeling that there's a chance she'll return."
Naruto's voice held a gentle urgency as he responded, "Sasuke, I know you two were close back then, but it's been years since you've seen each other. People change, circumstances change."
Sasuke's jaw tightened slightly, a mix of emotions flickering across his face. "I understand that, Naruto. But there's something about her... something I can't let go of."