Thank you so much to these people for reviewing: km987001, KatrinSH, and a guest.
Katrin I hope you had the happiest of birthdays. The SH community would be lost without you.
ooOOoo
Interlude:
Fugaku did not expect Sasuke to amount to much. Sasuke came to that realization one spring when he was six.
That day started off as normal. It was sunny and cool and he spent all day outside. As he walked into the house, with feet muddied from standing on the lakeshore, and his mouth and fingers singed from failed katons. He took off his sandals and wiped his toes on the doorway rug so he did not get the insides of his house shoes dirty. Then, he tiredly walked into the kitchen to fetch water for his abused throat.
His father sat at the kitchen table, idly cracking open and chewing walnuts. The window next to his head illuminated his dark hair and gave it a brown halo but also caused his eyes to slightly squint. From his seat, he could turn his head slightly and have a full view of the lake. However, he stared at Sasuke, like a viper in wait.
Sasuke did not know whether to say something or not. Choosing the 'not' option, he waited in the doorway for a long second. When his father's squint deepened, Sasuke stuttered forward to the sink.
"Still haven't gotten it." Fugaku commented idly.
Sasuke's cheeks were already hot from all day in the sun. Now, they felt practically volcanic.
"No, Sir," he mumbled.
"Tch," Fugaku sucked at his teeth. "Can't face me and talk about your failure like a man?"
Sasuke turned, knowing his father would become angrier if Sasuke did not respond to the taunt.
"No, Sir," he said louder.
"You're not a genius like your brother and cousin," Fugaku said. "And you're a follower, not a leader."
Sasuke wished he could get spanked instead of this tongue-lashing.
"And we need leaders in the Police Force. We need true men who are able to take charge. If you were half as talented as your brother, I'd consider keeping you. Train you to be better."
Sasuke wanted to cry.
"So because of that, I've decided to do what your mother has been asking of me for years." Fugaku smirked. "I'm sending you to Tsunade. Let the women take charge of you."
ooOOoo
Uzumaki Mito founded the Academy during wartime. A talented cryptologist and seal-master, she felt disrespected by her male colleagues who dismissed her because of her gender. She founded her female-only spy agency in her homeland.
After becoming betrothed to Senju Hashirama, she declared her Academy free of ties to any government, and moved operations to Konohakagure. The spies were successful, efficient, and sought-after by many clients.
Mito's daughter expanded operations to accept men. Men became support specialists to the woman team leader.
A woman was always a team leader. Always.
Men like Fugaku always derided the Organization. They believed the men who worked there were emasculated, were lesser humans.
But Mikoto was a former agent. And she thought Sasuke could grow as an agent and support specialist.
So with two bags packed for his long stay, and a kiss pressed to his head, she sent him away.
ooOOoo
Sasuke liked the Academy. No one treated him like a failure, but no one expected him to be the best either. Maybe his father was right, because Sasuke liked not having to take charge all the time. He liked taking orders.
They taught him to fight, to lie, to crack codes, to take scraps and make a functional radio. He learned how to identify edible plants on long survival hikes through the forest. Kurenai gave him his first sharpening kit, and he spent long nights in his dorm room sharpening weapons for the class.
He found his place.
ooOOoo
Sasuke found Hinata underneath the tree closest to the classroom door. She held a flower between two fingers, twirling a wildflower between her fingers. She stared at it with unseeing eyes.
Quieting his steps was second nature now. However, he made noise deliberately as he walked over the grass to her. After seven years in class, he knew that Hinata hated being startled.
This was a safe place. He did not blame her for relaxing her awareness.
"Hyuga," he said once he stood only a couple steps away from her. He closed the gap and lowered himself into a squat. "Are you ready to pick your team?"
Hinata blinked out of her haze. "U-uh, excuse me? What?"
He shrugged. "Today is the day all the girls pick their team," he stated the obvious. "Is that why you're out here? You're trying to think of who to pick?"
She stared at him like he spoke a language she should know, yet did not. "I... I don't think we've... talked much."
Heat blossomed on his cheeks and he rubbed one on his shoulder in embarrassment. He barreled forward. "I want you to pick me."
She sucked in a startled breath. "What?"
Forcing himself to look at her, no matter how hot his cheeks felt he repeated: "Pick me."
She shrunk backwards. "B-but... you're in the top position. You're the highest ranked boy. Sakura and Ino have first and second dibs. There's no way I can p-pick you."
He scowled at the mention of the other girls. "They think they like me. But I want to work with you, not them."
"I-I don't have seniority," she continued to protest.
"But Kurenai does. If I ask, if you ask, she'll say yes."
Hinata's cheeks were red too. She dropped the wildflower on her lap and twisted her fingers together.
"Why?" she whispered.
Sasuke did not know how to explain. From glimpses, it seemed clear that her father treated her like the way his father treated him. Or that she was always kind and quiet and treated everyone the same, no matter who they were. Or how she smelled like lavender and menthol after she made salves for the class. Or how sometimes his cheeks got hot and his tongue refused to work whenever he had the chance to work with her in class.
If he had to support anyone, he wanted it to be her.
"I... Um..."
"Uchiha Sasuke!" Kurenai's voice cut through the awkward moment. "You have a visitor."
Sasuke leaned into Hinata. "Think about it," he whispered before bounding off to join his teacher.
Her face was solemn as she led him to her office. Inside, his mother stood from her seat in front of the desk. Kurenai stepped out and closed the door behind her.
"Mother?"
"Oh, Sasuke."
Understandably, since he had not seen her in years, she looked different. More gaunt, paler. Tired. But her eyes still glittered with joy as she placed her palms on either side of his face and inspected him.
"Oh my baby," she sniffled. "You're as tall as me now."
"Mom?" He lightly grasped her wrists to ground himself. "Why are you here?"
Her banked tears broke containment and started falling down her face. It alarmed him.
"Mother, why are you crying?"
"You're... Itachi... Itachi was injured on patrol. We need you back home. Your father wants you back."
Before Sasuke knew what was happening or how to stop it, he was whisked back home. His fledgling dreams, his acceptance of his future disappeared in an instant.
ooOOoo