Chapter 1
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They talked. Talked for a long time. Sasuke sought to understand the meaning of her request, their conversation, at first, was an interrogation, where he dug deep enough until she expressed what was at stake at the core of it all. She had tried her best not to look him in the eye, but found it impossible, when his eyes would draw her in, extracting the truth from her lips. Hinata had expected cynicism and accusations. But the empathy Sasuke expressed made her finally look away, finding interest in her hands as she stared at her lap, where Kyuubi rested.
Kyuubi finally woke up, and the creature docilely stared back at her, with its yellow slit-demon eyes.
"Kyuubi-sama, What I did was shameless. Tricking you this way. Will you please forgive me?"
"You children of the Leaf are all the same."
Hinata tilted her head. She glanced at Sasuke, who shook his head in discouragement. She understood she wasn't supposed to respond to that.
"As you see, now that Kyuubi has calmed down, he understands. We wouldn't be here if our ancestors weren't the same way. The innate feeling of wanting to protect the will of fire."
She shook her head and smiled. "I was there at your Hokage inauguration. I thought all your heartwarming speeches were written for you, but now I see that's not true. You were very stuck up when you were my classmate, and didn't talk or look at everyone in school, so what changed?"
"When I was in school, I couldn't be bothered with forming bonds. All I wanted to do is spend every second with my brother. You could say being Minato's student changed me," Sasuke got up and turned towards the window to glance outside. He folded his arms behind his back and watched as several ninjas with wood and earth release tended efficiently to the aftermath of Kyuubi's rage and destruction, shaping the land from memories. Soon, it will be like it never even happened.
He turned to Kyuubi. "If I woke up one-day having visions of my brother's death, I also wouldn't hesitate. Kyuubi, how would you like her to remedy the situation?"
Kyuubi hopped off her lap, and onto the Hokage desk, turning to look at her. It sat down, its nine tails waving majestically behind.
"Your ancestors always sought to honor the contract. Hinata Hyuga, are you willing to risk your life to go out there and search for the other half of the tapestry?"
She nodded firmly.
"You love him that much," Kyuubi stated, not hiding its tone, coated with fascination.
She blushed. "It's not like that… Nothing like that at all,"
Sasuke grinned, walking her way. "Does Neji know you're here?"
"He knows I have business with you-"
His gaze trailed toward the door behind her. A knock came on the door, one of his clansmen opened the door and poked his head inside.
"Lord Sasuke, Neji Hyuga is here. He says he's worried and wants to see if his cousin is safe,"
Sasuke passed her, with his arms still folded behind him. "Tell him we'll be finished soon. And let him know I also wish to speak with him next."
"Roger that." His family member replied, door closing.
He turned to her. "Hinata, I'll tell you this, so you may prepare yourself. My big brother has been thinking. He has been thinking it's a good idea to offer a marriage contract between our cousin and Neji. How do you feel about that?"
"If he accepts, I will wish him the best,"
He opened the door and looked her way. "Hmm, I hope so, for your sake. I would hate for my beautiful cousin to be turned down because Neji doesn't wish to hurt your feelings,"
"I will protect his interest, and support him in any way,"
Sasuke smiled. He was pleased with her answer. Perhaps Kyuubi had misunderstood her attachment. The fox hopped off the table, and walked, rear leg first, then front foot, then rear leg again, front foot again until it made it all the way to Hinata. She had to look away. It was probably wrong to consider it cute.
"Kit, If you don't recruit a partner, there will be threats out there worse than death. I already know I don't have to remind you of this."
"Yes." She didn't seem to have anything to say on the matter, bowing respectfully, as respectfully as she could without giggling, because all she wanted to do was pick it up in the air and hug it. This creature, which can turn into a supernatural danger.
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Now that it was out in the open, now that Sasuke and Kyuubi knew about her visions, Hinata could feel herself being able to keep her selfish desire hidden, especially after speaking of the things that weighed down her mind and sullied her heart. She knew this because lately, when around Neji, a constant stream of thoughts repeated itself. It persisted. Like a pet or like a pest, over and over and over again. She wanted Neji to consider the proposition.
He had come to visit her, inside her small cozy room, a room that he seemed to have outgrown. She folded her hands on her lap, as Neji sat on a floor pillow and spoke from across.
"The Uchihas are seeking a permanent allegiance."
"Yes. I heard. A move like that will increase your chances of being Hokage, should something befall Lord Sasuke. I know it sounds like I'm thinking of ill things but-"
"My dad said the same thing."
"Um, is she as pretty as Lord Sasuke says?" Hinata said, feinting happiness.
"I've seen better diamonds. I live with one too. Hinata, I need to know, do you oppose this arrangement in any way?" The way he said it, it broke her heart. His words sounded like proclamations, and perhaps a confession. But if his demise is connected to protecting someone, she will not be protected. Just a few months ago, she used to be a branch member. And a few years ago, she used to be his guardian, ready to give her life for him. She would gladly continue this fate, proof of her love for him.
"Neji-nii-sama, what you need is someone who will be your equal. Lord Sasuke speaks highly of this person. For him to believe she's worthy of you, speaks high volumes."
"Then you must've forgotten how you used to run around saying that one day you'd be my wife," A silly dream of a branch girl, she had wanted to say, but she only smiled. She got up, ready to escort him out of her room before he could get her to blurt out her feelings. No one deserved him, not unless they were ready to lay down their life for him, because he was just that precious. The most important person in this world.
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She screamed as she practiced against a dummy, destroying it on the last kick.
"Hmmmmm. Scary." Someone said from behind. She turned around, wiping a bead of sweat.
"Lord Sasuke, to what do I owe this visit?"
"I came here for two things; To thank you, because Neji has accepted the offer. He mentioned your praises convinced him that my cousin was worthy. For that, you have my gratitude. And also, I came here to remind you that Kyuubi has given you a mission. It's been a week, and you're still here."
"I'm waiting for my partner, Tenten, to come back from a mission."
"The best course of action that would please Kyuubi is for you to leave. Why don't you wait for Tenten in the next town over? Kyuubi will be a peace after it sees you leave."
"I see. Then I'll be off by tomorrow morning. When Tenten gets back, can you relay to her that she should meet me where it all started?"
"Can't do. The message is vague enough to be a secret code. Tell me where you'd be setting off to, and I'll relay the message to her,"
She ran her fingers through her hair and heaved a sigh. If he starts connecting the dots, then he'll know it was Nenma who she had stolen the tapestry from. She didn't want to get any former Leaf ninja in trouble.
"I'll be heading out first thing in the morning, to the Rain village."
He grinned and said, "My old teammate lives there. If you happen to see him, give Nenma my regards, will you?" She understood that this was a tactic. He often spoke this way, hinting that he knew something and waited for her to reveal it all. She had gathered this much about him from his previous interrogations. Or perhaps he knew more than he let on.
She crossed her arms. "You say he was your teammate, but he was never part of team 7,"
"I was his team captain when we were both Anbus. He always spoke about a mysterious Hyuga with the darkest hair. I guess I was mistaken in my assumptions,"
She twitched. So he knew.
"Safe travels, Hinata," Sasuke said, while sending a peace sign her way.
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Sasuke was sitting in his office, meditating, when suddenly he fell asleep. In his dream, he was standing in a field of fire. The flames were all around him, and he was surrounded by the sound of screams. He looked around, and he saw that he was in the middle of a war. Shinobis fighting and dying all around him, with Kyuubi standing amidst the fire. The monster was bigger than ever before, and it was terrifying. Its fur was red, its eyes were yellow, and it had nine tails, all of which were on fire. Though Sasuke felt terrified, he knew he had to face it as he was the Hokage. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, always defaulting to talking it out before trying violence.
"Kyuubi, I know you're angry," Sasuke said. "I know you've been through a lot. The tapestry was torn, but I want you to know that I'm here to help you."
It didn't say anything. It just stared at Sasuke, growling, glaring with his yellow eyes.
"Hey, why don't you tell me your name," Sasuke said. "I want to know who you really are."
It took a step forward in the middle of the fire, and spoke for the first time.
Sasuke woke up under Kyuubi's soft taps. He was sweating, and his heart was racing, finding the dream confusing. For the rest of the day, Sasuke sat in his office, contemplating Kyuubi's real name. He had always felt a connection to Kyuubi, a kinship that he couldn't explain. And yet for some reason, he had never asked, and the demon had never volunteered the information to any previous Hokage.
Kyuubi was a powerful demon, but Sasuke knew that it was more than that. It was a creature of immense sorrow as it had seen the pain, the suffering, and the death of those it cared about.
Sasuke shook his head. He didn't know why he was thinking about this now. He had more important things to worry about. But he couldn't help but feel like there was something more to Kyuubi than he knew. When Kyuubi wasn't around, Sasuke continued to study the worn-out and tore depiction of its likeness. He tapped his finger on top of the tapestry, wondering if Hinata had made it to the Rain village yet.
Suddenly, an image of the brightest blue eyes and the blondest hair popped inside his head.
Wait a second… who was that?
Nenma's father?
Why was he thinking about the Lord Forth Hokage right now?
Sasuke's finger stopped tapping.
Hold on, The Lord Fourth had also been known to be a collector of artifacts. Hinata was going to the Village of Rain, where Nenma was. His old teammate would often brag about having inherited cool things from his dad. Hmm, Minato Uzumaki. This was worth following up on. While Hinata was out there searching, it wouldn't hurt to cover some grounds locally.
Sasuke pushed his chair back and folded his cloak on his arm. He knew one of Minato's favorite places where he could invite him to. The cozy spot that sells ramen.
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Hey, ty for the follows :)