Hinata had prepared a bento. She had prepared a bento for Sasuke, to thank him. When she had finally come to her senses, and the fever had dropped, an image had crept into her mind. Sasuke's worried face, tirelessly repeating her name. It was strange to see that face and not another. To see dark eyes rather than light ones. Yet this was what had happened; Hinata's first thought when she woke up was of Sasuke. It was his worried image that had entered her thoughts first. Hanabi had told her that it was he who had found her, and brought her back to the Hyuuga estate when she was unconscious. She told him that he had carried her and burst into the estate to entrust her to her family. Hinata couldn't remember, not really. Hanabi had also told her that a few moments later Naruto had in turn burst into the estate, but that Hiashi had refused to take him to her bedside. Hinata didn't really know what to make of all this. She must really be in a pitiful state for her father to refuse something to Naruto-to the Hokage of Konoha. Her memory was failing her, like a strange veil falling over her recollections.

She remembered screaming-her irritated throat was proof of that-and vomiting. Only Sasuke's voice calling her over and over rang in her memory. The rest was lost-the fever had taken everything with it, memories and pain alike. Hinata wasn't fooled though; she knew what had triggered this delirious episode. She did know. But she would have preferred not to know. She simply couldn't-wouldn't think about it. It was too much. Too painful, too hard. It was an unspeakable, permanent pain. She wasn't ready for it, not yet-would she ever be? So Hinata did what she knew best. She'd taken to the stove and prepared a bento for Sasuke.

He'd probably laugh in her face, seeing yet more proof that her behavior was in no way that of a ninja. But Hinata was like that, had been brought up that way. You never stay in debt to someone. Especially not to another clan. Sasuke had done something for her, and Hinata thanked him. That was the order of things.

With her bento ready and the go-ahead from the clan's healers, she made her way to Sasuke's apartment. The apartment was empty but unlocked. Hinata entered, and stored the bento in the fridge. Strangely, she didn't feel ready to leave just yet. She didn't want to return to the heavy, tense atmosphere of the Hyuuga estate. Nor could she stay here without Sasuke's permission; she didn't want to overstep his boundaries.

Leaving the former ninja deserter's apartment, Hinata looked around. What had originally been a small garden was overgrown with weeds. The area seemed to have been left to its own devices-nature reclaiming its rights, vegetation growing out of control. Hinata knelt down. Then, without thinking, she began to pull out the weeds. Knees deep in the earth, nails dirty from pulling weeds, she worked hard. This place had potential, Hinata was sure of it. It just needed a little push, a little help to remove the bad elements germinating within. Hinata was aware of the metaphor; she understood that if she was pulling weeds here, it was because she was unable to pull those in her heart. The sun was now high in the sky, illuminating Hinata with its blinding light as she continued to work. She could feel drops of sweat rolling gently down her body; the muscles in her forearms ached, yet she continued to work frantically. For a moment, she felt a familiar presence beside her, but the next moment this sensation disappeared. She went back to work. She seemed unable to stop, unable to stop as long as there were weeds to pull. Unable to stop until the whole garden was restored to its former beauty, its former state. Impossible to stop until-

"What are you doing here?"

Hinata gasped. She'd expected anything but to see Naruto here. Her husband was standing beside her, a strange look painted on his face. Hinata hadn't even felt him approach, stuck in her thoughts and her work. Yet there he was, his hair blowing in the wind and his gaze intense. Hinata found him handsome, and indeed he was. His blue eyes-so blue-were fixed on her, watching her with intensity. Wrinkles on his face also testified to the concern that seemed to assail him. This seemed to snap Hinata out of her trance; she hated seeing that worried look on Naruto's face. She hated it because she knew she was always the cause of it.

"I-I don't really know," she answered honestly.

She stood up and awkwardly wiped her hands on her clothes. For a moment, her head spun and she almost fainted. As quick as lightning, Naruto materialized right beside her to hold her down and prevent her from falling. With her body pressed against her husband's, Hinata's breath came in short gasps, and on closer inspection she could see that Naruto's breathing seemed erratic too.

"I heard you'd been unwell," he said softly as he caught her hand in his. I wanted to see you right away, but your father refused," he added, almost bitterly.

Hinata offered him an apologetic smile, and without thinking about it she tightened their embrace even more. She felt good, in Naruto's arms. It was a feeling of security that enveloped her, a familiar feeling, or at least it had been. It was nostalgic. It felt good, she didn't want it to stop.

"I'm-I'm-I'm better," she stammered with difficulty.

And it was true that she was better. Right now, she was fine. But it couldn't last, she knew, nothing ever did. Then, with infinite gentleness, Naruto captured her lips with his own. He kissed her gently, enjoying every second of it. Hinata responded forcefully, kissing her husband eagerly. Their lips now crushed against each other with force-almost violence-and frenzy. They kissed as if the world around them no longer existed, as if they were alone on earth. Their hands wrapped around each other's faces, as if to draw them even closer. Tears streamed down both their cheeks, wetting their kiss and giving it a salty taste.

"A sad taste," Hinata thought as she stepped back. Catching her breath, she plunged her gaze into Naruto's. And for the first time in her life, she was unable to read him. For the first time in her life, the ocean of Naruto's eyes was indecipherable. She couldn't perceive any emotion, couldn't read or guess at any of the feelings that might assail her husband. It was so strange; just when she thought the kiss had brought them together, she felt that it had driven them even further apart. She almost felt her heart crack; she couldn't bear it. She wasn't strong enough-probably never would be. She needed Naruto, needed him in her life. She needed to be by the side of the one who'd been through the worst with her, the one who knew. She needed to be with him, always with him. How could she imagine living without him? How could she ima-

"Hina-I"

"I want to go home. To our home."

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. Hinata was as surprised as he was; she didn't really know what had gone through her mind. She was so afraid of being alone, alone with the pain. When the surprise wore off, Naruto's face broke into a smile. He couldn't help but kiss her again before lifting her in his arms to take her with him. And as quick as a yellow flash-for fear she might change her mind-he took them home.

"I know you're sleeping with him."

Sakura didn't seem surprised by Sasuke's statement. He didn't even know what he was doing there. Earlier that morning, on his way home, he'd caught Hinata getting rid of the weeds growing in front of his house. Just as he was about to lecture her - who did she think she was - he sensed another presence. With surprising speed, Naruto had materialized before his eyes and in Hinata's arms. He had then witnessed-with intense embarrassment-their reunion, and the kiss they had shared. It had set him off. He was furious, and he didn't even know why. A familiar feeling, a mixture of anger, hatred and sadness had crept into him as he watched the two lovers share a passionate kiss. When-finally-they'd left, he felt angry. He needed to take out his anger on someone, needed to find someone to blame for these strange feelings that were assailing him. And he'd found it. It was already late in the day, the sky turning pink, when he had finally spotted his former teammate.

"What do you mean, Sasuke?" she finally replied, tucking a lock of her pink hair back behind her ear.

Sasuke was stunned by his teammate's calm. She was serene, almost amused. A mischievous smile played across her lips as she looked up at him. Her green eyes were devoid of animosity or sentiment. She was just looking at him. It was a strange contrast to the muted anger inside him. Why was he angry? Why wasn't she?

"I know you're sleeping with Naruto," he repeated, trying to calm the trembling of his hands.

For a moment Sakura's face froze-frowns furrowed and lips pursed-but the next moment she was back to normal. Her face was relaxed and she even let out a little laugh. Sasuke's chakra surged-ready to come out of him, ready to fight, ready to defend-

"Naruto isn't happy with her."

She'd said it in a confident, sure voice. She held her head high-absolutely not ashamed of her behavior. Sasuke wanted to shake her, to bring her back to normal feelings. How could she react this way? How could she stand it? How could she stand herself?

"I just saw them kissing like two horny teenagers," Sasuke admitted, almost embarrassed.

The image of the kiss came back to him like a spear being driven slowly into his heart. He didn't like it. Didn't like it at all.

"It won't last. It never does," she answered softly. They're not happy, never will be again, she added even more softly.

She almost seemed sad for them. She seemed to know more, as if she held some secret he didn't know. It was so strange. She didn't blame herself for committing adultery with Naruto, but seemed saddened by the state of his marriage. She was sleeping with him, but felt sad for him, for Hinata too. She was crazy, it couldn't be any other way. Something in her mind was wrong.

"He doesn't love you," he said harshly.

He wanted to hurt her, to hurt her, to break through her strange shell. He wanted to open her eyes, to show her that there was nothing rational about her behavior. Show her that even though Naruto was sleeping with her, he loved his wife. He only loved Hinata, that she was nothing.

She burst out laughing. A loud, mocking laugh. She was crazy, she was really crazy.

"You're wrong, Sasuke," she told him, still laughing. You've never been very good with feelings," she reassured him with a smile.

Sasuke couldn't contradict her. He didn't understand everything about love, but anyone who saw the way Naruto looked at Hinata couldn't ignore the fact that he loved his wife. Even if his behavior had changed, his love remained present. Sasuke was certain of it.

"You think because he sleeps with you-because he can't resist his disgusting urges-he loves you?

Sasuke felt like throwing up. Decidedly, he would never understand his fellow human beings.

"That's not why he loves me," she replied firmly. He loves me because I love him, and she doesn't love him anymore. And I love him because he loves me."

It was cryptic, and nonsensical. Yet for a moment, Sasuke felt he understood. Naruto had always needed love, recognition, human warmth. He needed to be loved, admired, watched, listened to. And Sakura? Well, it was the same. She lived for others, needed others to need her. She thrived on the support she could give others. She depended on being depended on. It was insane, toxic almost.

"He'll never have the guts to leave her," Sasuke finally murmured, more to himself than to his pink-haired teammate.

"I know," she replied, her voice breaking on the last word.

He was about to question her again when he saw a powerful bluish-purple chakra move at full speed to the edge of town. He immediately recognized whose chakra it was, and from the look on Sakura's face, he realized that she did too. She heaved a sigh and shrugged her shoulders as if it were just a minor inconvenience. In that instant, he almost wanted to slap her. Almost.

"Maybe you should go and see her-

And before she'd even finished her sentence, he'd disappeared.

Few people knew that the byakugan allowed its user to read lips. Hinata usually used it on spying missions to bring information back to the village. It was an extremely useful tool, but today, tonight-the night had fallen-she'd used it to spy on an entirely different kind of conversation. Part of her knew she shouldn't have, that ignorance would have been kinder.

Her chakra materialized between her palms, forming two bluish lions, and she crushed them against a tree. The tree fell under the force of the impact, disturbing the birds that had nested there. They flew off with a loud noise. She was mad, she wanted-needed-to destroy everything around her. She needed to unleash her rage, her anger, her pain. She wanted to scream, to shout, to destroy. Destroy, destroy, destroy.

Destroy, destroy, destroy.

Destroy all that remained to be destroyed. She already was. She had been for a long time.

How could he? After all they'd been through? After the unspeakable pain that had taken hold of them? After Kazuya? After Mei? How could he? Kiss her today, when his lips had already been on someone else's? How could he bring her home, eyes sparkling and smile frank, and make love to her? How could he? How could he make tender love to her when he'd made it to someone else? How could he? And how could she have believed him? How could she have kissed him? Touch him? Make love to him after so long? How could she? How could she not have realized? How could she? How could she? How-

"Hinata"

She recognized his voice immediately. She turned like a fury before pointing an accusing finger at him. He stood there, his eternal cloak draped over his shoulders, his hair swept back in front of his eyes. He looked worried, and Hinata thought it didn't suit him at all. She didn't like seeing that worried look painted on his face. No, she didn't like it. Sasuke wasn't worried-was never worried. He was nothing at all. Did he even have feelings? She ignored the cruelty of her thoughts-she was furious.

"You knew?" she belched as she approached him.

He let her approach and opened his arm as if to invite her to come against him. What did he want? Did he think she was going to take refuge in his arms? Did he think she'd cry against him? Did he think she was only capable of that?

Was she really that weak?

"I-

"You knew! You knew and you didn't tell me!" she screamed, swinging her fists against his chest.

She wasn't pounding hard, just kneading her chakra, drumming against his chest. Her fists crashed into the ribcage of the ex-deserter ninja. Sasuke let her. Why did he let her? Why was he letting her? Why didn't he stop her? Why didn't he tell her to stop her circus? To pull herself together? Why?

"I wasn't sure," he said finally after a moment.

He grabbed her hands and wrapped them around his. Two hands in one. She was trembling with rage. Yet she let Sasuke's cool touch envelop her. His skin against hers, she could almost feel the electric chakra bubbling up inside him. He was calm though, but Hinata could feel that beneath the surface he was as furious as she was. It felt good. To know that someone else was suffering-that someone else shared the same feelings as her.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, placing their hands on his heart.

She could feel it beating frantically. The disordered beating of his heart echoing hers. She rested her head against his chest. It was hard, and rather uncomfortable. Beneath her, Sasuke tensed-when was the last time he'd been hugged? He let her, though. She didn't cry. Her eyes remained dry. Hinata wasn't surprised; she was in shock. The tears would come later. Would he still be near her then?

"Let's go," she finally said in a breath.

He questioned her with his eyes, his lips twisted into a weird grimace.

"Let's go! Get me out of the village, let's go on a mission, I don't know. I can't stay here. I can't stay here another second," she exploded at him.

For a moment she saw him thinking. He seemed to be weighing up the pros and cons of such a request. His eyebrows furrowed and his gaze distant, he seemed lost in thought. Hinata expected to hear him refuse. He was going to tell her that she shouldn't react like that, that she should go home, that she had no right to disobey the Hokage, her husband.

"Fine," he finally agreed, looking into her eyes.

Black and white. White and black. They seemed to lose themselves in each other's gaze. After a long moment, they looked away.

He bit his thumb until it bled, bringing out his invocation. Hinata then saw a small white snake with yellow eyes. He reached into his cape pocket and pulled out a small piece of parchment and a quill. She watched as he quickly scribbled down a few words before handing it over to his snake.

"You'll give this message to the Hokage when we've gone," he ordered the snake.

The snake seemed to nod, then she saw him disappear into a smoke screen.

"Why?"

"We're not deserting. We're going on a mission. We have to warn the Hokage," he replied, before activating his violet pupil.

A strange passageway materialized behind them. "So this is the power of the Rinnegan," she thought, dumbfounded. He grabbed her hand, and together they crossed the passage. They disappeared.