Two
A lilac-scented scroll had reached Sasuke two days after his meeting with the head of the Hyuuga clan. Placed on the bottom of his door, the scroll was sealed with a thread of electric-blue chakra. The young Uchiha grabbed the scroll, but didn't open it immediately. For that, he needed to get some exercise first. And only when his body had suffered could he discover the answer to his request. Since his return, Sasuke had taken to training in the Uchiha forest. The same forest in which he had trained alongside his brother and his family when he was younger.
But today, the forest was empty, and nature seemed to have reclaimed its rights over mankind. Where there had once been a peaceful clearing, weeds had grown wildly, roots had grown long, and brambles seemed to be invading the space. Yet Sasuke wasn't moved. The clearing was just as he remembered it, just as he remembered it in his mind: all was chaos and anarchy.
First, Sasuke practiced his Shuriken throwing, as he had done so many times with his older brother. First, he threw his ninja weapons without using the particularity of his pupils. Even without his sharingan and Rinnegan, the young Uchiha had perfect vision and aim. His eyes were especially useful in real combat situations, to anticipate his opponents' movements or to plunge them into various genjutsu. Having hit all his targets several times, Sasuke decided to work on his taijutsu next. He was well aware that working on this alone was far less interesting for his progression than working in pairs, but Sasuke couldn't bring himself to find someone else to share his training. It had been a while since he'd returned to Konoha, but he'd never resumed group training. Sasuke spent most of his time alone.
"That's enough for today," the young man murmured at last, after performing one last routine against an invisible enemy.
He grabbed a flask of water from his canvas saddlebag, and slid the water down his throat. He took long sips before putting the canteen away. The young man then let out a long sigh before running a hand over his forehead, wiping the sweat from his face. He retrieved all his weapons from the clearing, and after a moment's calm, the young man headed back to the Uchiha district. It couldn't have been much later than nine o'clock. The Konoha sun was rising in the sky, and it was going to be a beautiful day. Sasuke wasn't taking advantage of the radiant star, however, keeping his eyes firmly lowered to the ground. The young man walked slowly, letting his arms swing along his body at a particularly slow pace.
Arriving in front of his home, the dark-haired young man kicked off his shoes and pushed open the front door. He never locked the door. "Who could have the courage to enter this cursed place?" he often thought. The house the young man had moved into on his return to Konoha was not his childhood home. He had chosen another house, one in which he had no memories and where it was therefore easier to establish himself. The house was sparsely furnished, but that was to Sasuke's liking.
When he had chosen this house, it was Naruto who had brought him the bare necessities. The two young men continued to see each other, and the fox demon's host was notably the only person whose presence Sasuke could bear for more than a few minutes. Indeed, despite his return, Sasuke had remained alone most of the time. The young Uchiha couldn't find the courage to mingle with village life again. He couldn't find the courage to mingle with the village that had wanted his clan exterminated. Naruto was the only one who had the courage to come and look for him in the Uchiha district. As for the other members of Team 7, they still seemed rather uncomfortable in his company. The few times Sasuke had seen his teammate, he'd noticed that the pink-haired girl didn't dare look him in the eye. What's more, she always seemed on the alert, ready to confront him at any second. Long gone were the days when the girl's eyes were always fixed admiringly on him. As for the man who was now the sixth Hokage, he hadn't really given him much time since his return to the village.
Sasuke made his way to the kitchen and placed the parchment on the table. Before opening it, the young man decided to pour himself a cup of tea. He'd never been very good at making a good cup of tea-his mother was the best-but he found it hard to do without this beverage. The young man chose a green tea and heated the water. Waiting for the water to come to the boil, he stripped off his cloak and sweaty T-shirt. Finally, the young man grabbed a cup and, after steeping his tea in the teapot, helped himself. His beverage placed on the table, he sat down in turn. After taking a sip of the scalding liquid, he reached for the parchment. Gently, breathing a little of his own chakra into the seal's thread, he unlocked the electric-blue protection. It disappeared, allowing the young Uchiha to unroll the scroll. Sasuke then read the missive.
"To the attention of the head of the Uchiha clan: Sasuke Uchiha,
After studying your request, the Council of Elders of the Hyuuga clan has decided to give you Hinata Hyuuga as your wife. The young woman has been informed of this news, and is ready to fulfill her next wifely duty. You are invited to meet her in two days' time at the Hyuuga clan chief's house. After that, you'll both go to the Hokage to sign the marriage contract. Your wedding will then be announced to the public the following day. Finally, eight days after receipt of this missive, the marriage will be celebrated and Hinata Hyuuga will become Hinata Uchiha."
The missive was then followed by a list of protocol advice on what to wear, what to talk about and what etiquette to observe during the various ceremonies. Sasuke simply skimmed through the list. That wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was that his request had been accepted, and that at last he would be able to rebuild his clan.
After the interview with the Elders, Hinata had locked herself in her room. And there she had cried. She'd cried for a long time. Sobbing against this decision that wasn't hers. But above all, the young girl cried over the fact that her dream had just crumbled. Naruto would never be her husband. She could never be the wife of Konoha's young hero, never bear his children. Instead, she was destined to be the wife of the former deserter, of the man with the darkest clan in the village. And she had no say in the matter. All she had to do was obey. It was her only duty since she had been dethroned as clan heiress in favor of her younger sister. The girl's crying had exhausted her and she had finally fallen asleep.
The sound of a bird woke her up. Hinata suddenly opened her eyes, and immediately recalled the events of the previous day. It was all very real. In a few days' time, she would become Sasuke Uchiha's wife, and there was nothing she could do to change that. The young girl sighed and stood up. She then passed in front of her mirror to assess the damage caused by her night of crying. Her face was even paler than usual, with dark circles under her pearly eyes. Her hair resembled a bird's nest and her cheeks looked hollowed out by all the tears she'd shed. Hinata heaved a heavy sigh. As the young girl prepared to return to her bed and roll into a ball, she thought for a moment about her team. "I can't let them learn this from anyone but me. I've got to tell them," she finally thought, taking a deep breath. The girl then grabbed her hairbrush, and decided to get ready to meet her teammates. She owed them that much.
After sending them a message, Hinata went to the place where she had arranged to meet her team-mates. Hinata had arranged to meet her friends from team eight on training ground n°12. It was on this very spot, when they were still young genins, that they had first trained together. The pearl-eyed girl didn't have to wait long for her comrades. They had arrived only a few minutes after her. The two men hadn't even had time to greet their comrade when she was already telling them the news. A moment of silence fell over the three friends. And it was Kiba who first broke the silence.
"MARRIAGE? What do you mean, you're getting married?" he exclaimed, coming so close to the young girl that she could feel his erratic breath sweep across her face.
Hinata lowered her eyes, already ready to burst into tears. Shino stepped forward and grabbed the young Inuzuka by the hood of his outfit, forcing him to step back.
"Kiba, calm down, will you?" urged the young man from the Aburame clan, before resuming. Let Hinata continue and tell us more.
The young girl let out a deep sigh. Telling them that she would soon be getting married had already been difficult, but the worst was yet to come. Now she had to tell them who her husband was going to be. And it was the reaction to this news that Hinata dreaded most.
"I, uh, the elders have summoned me to tell me that they intend to give me in marriage," she began, keeping her eyes riveted to the ground. And uh, it's going to happen in eight days in the Hyuuga district, she added in a voice that was almost off.
"EIGHT DAYS FROM NOW?" Kiba couldn't help reacting in a burst of voice.
"Let her finish," Shino replied in a soft but firm voice.
Hinata could sense that her friend from the Aburame clan also seemed upset by the news, but that he was trying to keep calm so that Hinata could finish.
"I, I'm going to marry Sasuke Uchiha," she finally announced, her voice almost breaking on the last accent of her sentence.
And then, two cries erupted at the same time? "What?" exploded Kiba and Shino at the same moment. And Hinata couldn't help but recoil at this reaction, as if for a second she'd been frightened by the two men in front of her. Shino immediately caught her movement and calmed down within a second. He then elbowed Kiba to force the latter to calm down too. Once again, a heavy silence fell over the three comrades. But this time it was the young man from the Aburame clan who broke the silence.
"Listen, Hinata, I don't know the habits and customs of the Hyuuga clan very well, but can't you refuse? he asked in a gentle voice.
At the sound of his voice, the young girl raised her head a little and for a moment met her friend's gaze. And it was this gaze, full of friendship, compassion and affection, that prompted the young girl to become a little more confident and answer.
"When the Elders make a decision, you have to respect it, otherwise you bring dishonor on the clan," she informed them, daring to glance this time at her friend from the Inuzuka clan.
The young man seemed totally disoriented. And, above all, angry. His fists were clenched and his shoulders were shaking. Hinata knew her friend's impulsive nature, which is why she was particularly afraid of his reaction.
"Why Sasuke? Everyone seems to have forgotten but he deserted Konoha anyway!" Kiba exploded, pointing an almost accusatory finger at the pearl-eyed girl.
"It certainly wasn't me who chose, Kiba! Hinata replied in a moment of courage. You don't think he's the one I'd have liked to marry," she replied, her mind focused on the image of a boy in an orange jumpsuit with blond hair.
And sensing that the conversion was now in vain, the young girl fled without a word or a glance for her former team-mates from Team Eight.
The meeting was to take place in the back garden of the Hyuuga chief's house. It was a place with an enchanting atmosphere that Hinata particularly appreciated. She liked to go there to garden, to read, or simply to meditate in this little corner of paradise. But today, for the young girl, her Garden of Eden was looking like hell. It was in the place she loved most that she would officially meet her future husband.
The encounter was scheduled for afternoon tea. A wrought-iron table had been set up in the center of the garden, along with two armchairs covered with brocade sheets. The Hyuuga family had spared no expense, probably with a view to dazzling their guest. Their meeting was also to be face-to-face, although Hinata suspected that many of her clan would be using their Byakugan to observe them.
When she got up that morning, Hinata noticed that a large box had been placed at the foot of her bed. Cautiously, she had lifted the lid of the box and discovered, protected by tissue paper, a sumptuous navy blue yukata embroidered with immaculate pearls. Having found it on the morning of this interview, she had realized that it would be wise to wear it for her meeting with Sasuke Uchiha. She also decided to match it with a pair of ivory gloves. A maid attended to her grooming and brushed her hair until it became a shimmering iridescent cascade.
All day long, the young woman had felt her heart beating at breakneck speed. And strangely enough, it was only when the arrival of the heir to the Uchiha clan was announced that her heartbeat seemed to calm.
As Hinata waited for her guest to enter the garden, she stood erect, lowering her head slightly to the gravel on the ground. The young girl then heard the sound of footsteps approaching her. She waited until the sound was close enough to position herself for a curtsy.
"Uchiha-san, so-be welcome," Hinata articulated, keeping her pearl gaze riveted on the ground.
"Hinata Hyuuga," a husky voice replied.
Hinata raised her head to find herself face to face with Sasuke Uchiha. The young woman hadn't seen him since he appeared on the battlefield during the 4th Great Ninja War. She knew he'd been back in Konoha village for some time, but she hadn't run into him yet. She found him changed from the way she remembered him. His hair was much longer and a long, raven-colored lock of hair fell across his face, hiding his Rinnegan eye. He wore a traditional ninja outfit, all in black. His face had retained its hard, haughty features, but the eye you could see seemed filled with unfathomable sadness. Finally, hidden beneath a jet cape, his missing arm was nowhere to be seen.
"Please sit down," she then urged him, striving to appear assured and serene.
The young man nodded and took a seat on one of the two armchairs. Hinata then decided to serve the tea in silence. When she had finished, she sat down in turn.
"Do you like the yukata?" Sasuke asked dully.
Hinata immediately began to blush. She'd thought the yukata was a gift from her father. It hadn't occurred to her at all that it might be a present from her future husband. The young girl was embarrassed. "I should have thanked him already!" she thought shamefully.
"Oh, I, uh, I I thank you Uchiha-san, it's superb," she replied, her cheeks crimsoned with embarrassment.
The Uchiha heir raised an eyebrow and for a brief moment seemed amused by the girl's confusion.
"Very well," he nodded, grabbing the cup Hinata had served him.
He brought the container up to his lips and slid the scalding liquid down his throat. Then he placed the cup back in front of him.
"You're going to be my wife. You'll have to stop blushing and stammering unintelligibly. You're going to be the wife of the head of the Uchiha, so you must be strong, dignified and proud in all circumstances," added Sasuke, glowering at the young girl.
This made Hinata feel even worse, even though a hint of anger was beginning to seep into her. "Who does he think he is? I know I'm going to be his wife, but he has no right to dictate my behavior!" she thought, frowning. Then, to hide her emotion, she grabbed her cup and downed her tea in one gulp. Invigorated by the beverage, the young girl regained her composure.
"Very well, Uchiha-san," she replied with as much composure as she could muster.
"After our union, you can get rid of the formalities and call me Sasuke," he told her, rising from his seat.
He then moved to Hinata's side and bent down in a kind of reverence. At the same time, he grabbed her gloved hand and kissed her ring finger.
"Thank you for this pleasant moment, Hinata. I look forward to seeing you again at the signing of the marriage contract in the company of the Hokage," he said before taking his leave.