Hiashi did not know how to react. He was completely taken by surprise. His eldest daughter and her husband sat before him. The Hyūga patriarch always figured Hanabi would be the one that he had to watch out for. Not Hinata… Never Hinata. And the husband! Hatake Kakashi! There had been many murmurs among the clan when he walked calmly through the gates of the Hyūga district that morning.

He hadn't had such a shock for years. Maybe ever. But he really didn't know what he was feeling. Or even if he was feeling anything at all. He just sat motionless, to a point where Hinata was starting to feel worried.

Hiashi Liked the Hatake, and he respected him… Then he went and married his daughter without talking to him first. There weren't even any indicators to tip him off in advance. It was completely out of the blue. Wasn't Hiashi supposed to feel livid? Perhaps he was, the man thought, but for whatever reason… he didn't. He was definitely a little miffed about it, but he did really like him. Was he going soft?

He had seen them together, interacting. It was obvious, even to him – before knowing anything- that they loved each other. There is a subconscious set to people depending on how they are feeling. The posture, movement, all of it. It was a language the Hyūga were well versed in. He could read it before they even said a word.

Perhaps he really was getting soft. He realized he wasn't angry at all. He even felt a spark of pride for the strength of will his daughter had exhibited, even if it was in defiance of her elder's wishes. He finally cleared his throat to speak.

"I suppose congratulations are in order. Though, elopement is not something our clan looks kindly upon. A formal ceremony must be arranged, especially when considering your position."

Hinata breathed out and brought her eyes up to her father's. "So, you approve, then?"

Hiashi mulled over his words for a moment, his eyes considering the man next to her. "I have no Issue with your choice of spouse. Kakashi is a great shinobi, and a good man. It is… unexpected, but," He paused a few moments more before continuing, "Yes, I suppose I will sanction this marriage. With that said, However, we must speak about some other things. I hope you did not make this decision without thought."

Kakashi finally straightened his head. His eyes traveled to Hinata. He was also wondering what her thoughts would be, but honestly, he would do anything she wanted.

"I have thought things through, Father. My decision… was one I made even based on the worst outcome I could think of. It did not deter me. So, I ask, what would you have my options be?"

He considered her for a minute before nodding his head, "Do you want to lead the Hyūga? You have worked hard and earned the right to do so. Against all odds. I can accept it if you want to live outside of the Hyūga district for a while, but to inherit this role means you will have to come back when it is time. Your Husband as well. You must live here, and you must keep our name. Your first-born child that presents the Byakugan must also keep our name. Or… you can impart your birthright to Hanabi, and step away from those responsibilities. You would, under Hyūga law, have your eyes sealed, and any children after you. I cannot allow the Byakugan out of our district, unprotected. Not even for Hatake Kakashi's sake. Nor would the elders allow it.

Hinata turned to look at Kakashi. He knew what she wanted, and nodded once in encouragement. Small sacrifices.

Hinata turned back to her father and lowered her head, "Yes, I would like to lead the clan when it is my time. We accept those terms. I will do what is required as the heir of the Hyūga. I am thankful for your benevolence, your wisdom, and your acceptance, Father."

They bowed deeply to the Patriarch. "I am also grateful for the consideration you have shown us. I wish to live with Kakashi outside of the Hyūga district for now. I feel that otherwise, we will not have the privacy we desire."

Her hand reached over to grasp Kakashi's calloused fingers.

She hadn't realized how heavy her apprehension was until it was gone. Somehow fate had been kind to them.


Team seven had been walking through town, heading to their usual training grounds for some sparring. Sasuke was still under house-arrest of a sort, but he had really leveled out after the war, and they allowed him to go on missions again with his team.

He almost felt like his old self, the rage had dulled, and he had been forced to undergo years of intensive therapy. He was a little bitter over that, thinking about how much it may have helped to be given as much care when he was younger. Before he had gone off the deep end, but their village had a long track record of neglecting the needs of orphans.

Either way, he had begrudgingly come to enjoy spending time with his old team. Even though they were still annoying idiots.

He still didn't really understand his old sensei, but they hadn't really been teamed up together much of late. They kept sending him off to handle other things. Sasuke figured it was because the Hokage was grooming him to take up the post.

So, when his eyes picked Kakashi out from the crowd, they stayed lingering. He hadn't seen him in months now. His back was towards them, and neither Naruto nor Sakura seemed to notice. Something struck Sasuke as strange. He had noticed two delicate hands on the white-haired Jounin's back, hugging him.

What…?

The Uchiha craned his head as they walked by, trying to sate his curiosity. Not that he really cared, of course. Then he noticed the glint of a stone on her hand.

Now Sasuke was sure the crazy old man had really lost his mind. He always figured his morals were a bit shady. Was that a mistress…??! In broad daylight! The audacity.

But then he made it far enough to see her face. To see another ring on the hand that was caressing her face.

Sasuke's eyebrows were pulled together in disbelief, and his mouth opened in surprise, "What the fuck?"

Sakura and Naruto were startled by the sudden outburst, and looked at him. Their conversation dying.

Naruto gave Sasuke a squinty-eyed look, "Oy, teme. What's got you all…" Naruto's eyes had followed Sasuke's, and his words had trailed off to nothing. What the fuck, indeed.

Team seven watched wordlessly as Hinata smiled at the touch. They were both completely oblivious of the onlookers.

Sakura was the first one who broke out of her shock. She cleared her throat, "Well, good for Hinata… Maybe we just… keep walking? Pretend we didn't see them?"

Naruto gave her a look of alarm, "I can't do that! No way! What if Kakashi sensei is being perverted! Hinata-chan is too innocent!"

Sakura smacked him across his head, "Oh wake up, Naruto. She isn't an idiot! They look happy. So maybe they are flirting. So, what? Hinata can choose for herself. She is a grown ass woman."

Sasuke glanced over to Sakura, "Apparently neither of you dimwits noticed, but they are wearing rings. So, I think this is more than just 'flirting…' I think they are together."

It was at this point that Hinata had finally noticed the gawkers. She made eye contact with all of them and felt the heat rise to her cheeks at their dumbfounded faces.

"Oh dear," she whispered. She thought she had more time. Kakashi watched her face change color, and looked over his shoulder. Of course, it was his team.

He leaned down and whispered in Hinata's ear, "Want to give them a show?"

"Kakashi!"

He eye-smiled at her, "I'm kidding. Let's go blow their minds."

His hand wrapped around her waist in a familiar manner, and they made their way over to team seven, who had realized what was happening, and were trying to school their expressions back to something resembling composure.

Sakura didn't think she had ever seen her sensei look so happy. And she had certainly never seen him act so familiar with another woman.

"Yo. It's been a while."

Hinata had no idea how he could act so nonchalantly. She felt her cheeks burning still. Her fingers gripped his shirt a bit tighter.

Sakura was trying to be pleasant, and had a smile on her face, "Hi Sensei, Hi Hinata. Hope you have been well. I imagine you both have something you want to say to us…?"

She trailed off her question expectantly.

Naruto didn't wait for them to answer. "Are you guys dating?!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, what a dobe.

Hinata squeezed his shirt tighter, and spoke quietly, "a— actually, Kakashi and I are married."

Naruto almost passed out from the shock. Sakura on the other hand felt the fiery passion of secret love, and had to fight not to fangirl right in front of them. Ooooh this was juicy. She wanted to run to Ino to brag about her intel.

She held herself back, "I don't remember seeing an invite, surely there's a reason for this?" She teased, prying for more.

Hinata looked up at Kakashi, and her eyes softened. "Gomen, Sakura. We will have a formal ceremony… I just didn't want to wait for permission."

Even Sasuke's eyes were bugging out of his head at that statement. He didn't know she was so bold.

"Damn." He said bluntly.

Hinata laughed.


Naruto could have sworn he was in an alternate timeline. Some sort of weird voodoo magic had taken parts of his reality and mushed them up all wrong.

He was sitting at the bar, nursing a pint of vodka. Sasuke was next to him, sipping on ginger ale. He wasn't allowed alcohol for another three years or so. Which was unfortunate, since being sober around drunk people is not fun at all. And Naruto was trying really hard to be drunk. It took a lot, since the Kyūbi burned the alcohol out of his system quickly.

"I think they've been replaced. We should do something about that. Right teme?"

Sasuke grunted, "You're an idiot."

Naruto shifted his glare towards his best friend, "How am I an idiot?"

"You're just fucking dense, okay? Or maybe you just pretend to be when it's convenient for you. But no way was that not Kakashi and the Hyūga."

"She always seemed so shy and nervous before. But... I don't know. There are other times where she was so strong and resolute too." Naruto looked mopey.

Sasuke looked him square in his eyes, "Maybe you just never saw who she really was... I'm pretty sure she was in love with you." He sat back in his chair.

Naruto scratched his head, "Yeah, but that was like six years ago. And I didn't want to hurt her feelings because I really like Hinata-chan, but I think I did anyway by trying not to."

Sasuke's eyes widened, "Damn, you knew? That's pretty shitty. Maybe it's all the fucking therapy talking, but you shouldn't lead people on like that. It's cruel."

Naruto took a gulp from his vodka and winced at the taste. "That's rich, coming from Mr. Cruelty, himself. I know I didn't handle it well. I can see that pretty well in hindsight. And I'm not proud of it, okay?"

Sasuke scoffed, "Yeah, yeah."

Naruto shot up, "Fine! I will go over and apologize right now! To both of them. I'm pretty sure I accused Kakashi Sensei unfairly too."

Sasuke stood up to grab onto his best friend's collar and stop him, but he slipped just out of his reach, "Fucking wait, dobe!"

Naruto was awful to handle even without substances interfering, and Sasuke was sweating. He wanted to let the blonde idiot do whatever he would do and go home, But he couldn't. He knew the dumb fuck would cause him more hassle if he let him go alone. It always came back to bite him in the ass.

He groaned and paid the bartender for their drinks, and then hurried out after him.

Fucking Naruto!


Hinata was curled against Kakashi on his couch. She liked his apartment, it was simple and comfortable, but they knew they needed to start somewhere fresh.

She could still see the remnants of the mess he made in the kitchen. The mess he had left there months ago. He had opened the door when they got back, and shut it immediately. Then he had turned to her with a guilty and apologetic face.

"Sorry, looks like I forgot to clean up before I left."

She could tell he was feeling remorseful, and that it was about more than a simple mess, but she touched his face and looked him straight in the eyes, "It's okay, Kakashi. Show me. We can clean it up together."

They had done just that. She had helped him scrub his dried blood off the floor. "I can definitely see why you collapsed back then."

"Yeah," he had mumbled with shame.

His tone pulled her attention back. She crawled over to him and cradled his head against her chest. "It's okay, Kakashi. You don't need to feel bad. I'm not here to judge you. You have treasured me so well, and treasured yourself for our sake. This is in your past now. You should feel proud about that."

Now, she watched his face as he read his book. His hand resting in the crook of her neck, drawing patterns mindlessly on her skin as his eyes flicked back and forth across the pages.

It was driving her crazy. She grabbed his hand and softly bit one of his fingers, her eyes never left his face. She drank up the flutter of expressions over his face. Surprise morphed into desire.

"Those seduction missions taught you more than you should know."

"My affections are not a weapon, Kakashi." She spoke softly. Almost taunting.

"Tell that to me again, I dare you. I certainly don't remember teaching you that." He set his book down carefully.

Her lips pulled into a smile, and she flipped over and crawled onto his lap, straddling his waist. His hands rested on her hips, but still, he was drawing designs on her flesh.

"Do you like my body so much?"

He grunted, "Yes." As she kissed him on his neck.

Her breath was hot on his skin.

"I like yours too."

She trailed kisses up his neck and jaw, leaving kiss marks of her own. Though nothing nearly as beautiful as the bite that had left a small array of scars on her throat.

"I liked it when you bit me." She said softly near his ear. Oh man, she would have been absolutely mortified to say that out loud, if only she had been able to focus on her words.

Kakashi could feel a pleasant shiver run down his spine, and a low growl started deep in his chest.

"I never knew you had such a perverted side," Kakashi teased. "Do you want me to bite you more?"

His hands had traveled down to massage her thighs.

"Mmm" she hummed in agreement, "only if you want to."

Oh yes, he wanted to. Even now, when he saw a flash of the scar he had left on her, he couldn't explain the feelings that welled up in him. He loved it. And he loved that she loved it too.

She was tugging at the hem of his shirt, so he helped her take it off, exposing his toned torso. She leaned down and kissed his sternum. Her hands followed the symmetrical scars trailing down his chest and reached for his pants. He caught her wrists.

"Why am I the only one getting undressed?" He brought her hands up and kissed them sensually.

She didn't want to steal her hands away to take her clothes off, so instead she pressed herself against his bare torso. She could hear his heart pump with excitement as she rubbed against him. She kissed him on the side of his mouth, and pulled his hands to her breasts.

"I want to feel you inside me."

Kakashi didn't know that he could feel so turned on. He liked it when she was assertive. His eyes darkened with passion as he growled out his gruff response, "Then take your clothes off."

She took her sweet time, torturing him as the clothes inched off her body. His hand trailed down her stomach, and cupped her over her underwear, causing her to squirm in his grip.

She bit her lower lip and Kakashi wanted to taste it, so he pulled her back to him to kiss.

His hand had traveled under her underwear and he was pleased to find that she was already quite ready for him.

"Fuck." He groaned as she undid the zipper of his pants.

He entered her slowly. It was so wondrous, feeling every small progression.

He could feel her try to move under him, but he held her hips still. He wanted to drive her crazy, and he could tell it was working.

When he finally made it all the way in, he held her to him firmly. His teeth ghosted along her throat, and he felt her shudder against him.

"Do you feel me inside you?"

She sucked in a ragged breath, "Unh. I do" she shuddered.

"Good."

He thrust against her, making her gasp at the sudden movement.

His hands released their firm grip on her hips, and she was free to move again. And she did.

For the amount of erotica the man read, he had considered himself pretty tame, but now he found himself wanting to try everything. Perhaps he was just caught in the heat of the moment.

But he did have the thought in the back of his mind that they shouldn't be doing this on the couch in the living room. They hadn't closed the curtains. That thought, regrettably, had lasted only a split second before it was out of his mind completely. So, when a certain blonde decided it was a smart idea to bang on their door and yell for them, Kakashi's heart nearly jumped out of his throat.

The neck he had been thoroughly enjoying had popped away from his mouth. Simultaneously, Hinata had clenched around him in surprise. A groan left his lips.

Her fingers reached up to lightly cover his lips. Her eyes were wide, and her bare chest heaved up and down.

"What do we do?" She whispered.

"I don't know. Ignore him?" Kakashi offered through her fingers. "Continue?"

Hinata looked at the man's beautiful smirk, and she wanted to. Instead she asked, "will he go away if we ignore him?"

God be damned if they were seen. Kakashi decided he really didn't care. He licked her fingers, and ground into her slowly.

"I certainly hope so," he panted.


As unlucky as he was, it was Sasuke who got a regrettable eyeful. He had caught up to Naruto and was trying to pry him from their sensei's apartment when he passed by the window and glanced in without thinking. They were busy.

"Fuck! Dobe, get your dumb, drunk ass off of this door. It's too fucking late for this. Fuck!"

Naruto looked sad, "Do they not want my apology?" His face squashed on the door as the Uchiha's cheeks changed hues from the mortification of what he had witnessed. He cursed his luck. Why didn't they close the damn curtains?!

Sasuke was thankful Naruto was too out of it to notice the embarrassment that had crept over His face. He really didn't want to have to explain anything at the moment, he wanted to pretend he had seen nothing at all.

"Now is not the time for this! Apologize to them in the daytime. And when you're sober! Not fucking now! Let's go!"

He managed to pull the disheartened blonde away, his grip like a vice around the other man. "You are too old to be acting like this."

"But I have to… Hinata-chan, and Kakashi-sensei… I was rude to them."

"Yeah, dobe. That's really nothing new. You aren't known for your tact. Now come on. Let's take you home."

Naruto got quiet and sulky, "Yeah."

Sasuke led him away, his eyes furiously trying to blink away the image that was lingering there. He decided that he needed to talk to the Hokage, though she was no fan of his, and convince her to either let him drink again, or cut the dumb blonde off. There was no way his drinking habits were worse than Naruto's.