The Black Lion , the Golden fox and the Blue Raven

by Naruko Hyuga 24

The Konoha 12 are sent to the academy at Garreg Mach in a foreign student exchange program in order to build relations with the people of Fódlan. This is a crossover between Naruto and fire emblem three houses/three hopes Naruto and Hinata have a harem if you don't like than don't read

20. love can't be explained

This chapter is not new. The next few chapters are essentially splitting what was originally Chapter 15 into three chapters to make it easier for readers to read the story. Eventually, when I'm done with the current arc that I'm currently writing, as of this writing, I will split what used to be Chapter 16 (which is now Chapter 23) into five chapters, one of which will be new, in order to make the reading experience better.

So, for those who have already read this chapter before, this is not new. I did not make that many revisions in this chapter, except for ones that contradict what I have established in my earlier chapter revisions and my new chapters, and to fix some errors in the way some of the sentences were structured. Other than that, barely anything has changed.

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Chapter 20 love can't be explained

The three houses had concluded their missions, although they did not arrive at the same time due to various events that had occurred. The Black Eagles arrived first, as they were not as far away from Garreg Mach as their counterparts. They arrived two days before the Blue Lions. People couldn't help but notice a change in some of the relationships between the students.

The golden deer have not yet returned from their mission to the Land of Waves, which worries the inhabitants of the monastery. If they don't return by tomorrow, they will send a search party for them.

In an unknown location, the organization Akatsuki was having a discussion about the current developments.

the unknown location

Itachi Uchiha was in a location close enough to Garreg Mach to be easily accessible, but far enough away to ensure there will be no one to spy on him communicating with the Akatsuki.

Multiple images appeared there were new faces he did not recognize and veterans that he had worked with for years.

"So I take it our enemies have been under-mined?" Asked Pain referring to the failure of killing Monica.

"Those who slither in the dark could be useful allies, but they're not the kind of people we should depend on." A masked man of unknown origin wore an orange mask that only exposed one eye.

"They are not dependable; they can betray us at any time. Their goal is to destroy the Church of Seiros and to start a war that will engulf the continent of Fodlan. After that, they have their sights on the rest of the world. Their alliance with us is temporary at best; they are not dependable in the long run."

Orochimaru made an ironic statement coming from someone who is not trustworthy himself.

"How ironic it is for Edelgard von Hresvelg, with her foolish and emotional decision to save that girl, to have inadvertently weakened Those Who Slither in the Dark, as it turns out, the girl has actually helped us advance our plans." said Itachi emotionlessly.

"That girl could be useful to us but like those who those Who Slither in the Dark those we should make alliance with the upper echelons in the Adrestia Empire that way when those enemies of ours are eventually dealt with it is us that has control not those Who Slither in the Dark."the orange mask suggested.

"Us controlling the empire from the inside a interesting proposal Tobi"Orochimaro chuckled.

"Our long-term goals is world domination if we control the empire with the vast resources on Fodlan the strongest obstacles in our way is Edelgard the future empress and Dimitri the next in line to be king and Rhea whose real name is unknown but highly suspected that she isn't human. Other than the individuals from our home continent they are the biggest obstacles."said Pain.

"What about Byleth Eisner along with his father Jeralt Eisner the blade breaker and his son are not something are not the kind of people we can take lately."the leader of the Akatsuki said.

Itachi laughed, as if the idea were ridiculous.

"The carrier of the foul star is weak and it's no threat to us", Itachi said arrogantly.

"Just because the Sharingan, negated his powers when you fought him with a clone, mind you, doesn't mean it will happen a second time. Remember the kind of power he possesses and the Crest he possesses is the most powerful of them. Once he learns how to utilize that power, the Sharingan affects will be negligible at best. Your best chance to have killed him was your first encounter with him. Things will not go exactly the same way the second time. Don't act all arrogant, Itachi, because of your bloodline. Don't forget your brother is still alive who has the potential to be as strong as you, if not stronger"

Orochimaru reminded him.

"The Weak fool was saved by his woman, if he didn't possess a Sharingan, I would have ended his life at the night of the massacre."

Itachi lied; he felt his vision fading.

"There are some interesting developments that have happened. Recently, I encountered someone with the Kyubi. She has long brown hair and green eyes, and she possessed a Sharingan." Tobi explained.

Itachi widened his eyes and became interested in another person with a Sharingan, which was impossible. He made sure to kill every man, woman, and child except for his brother Sasuke. There might be other survivors.

"That's preposterous! A random girl from Fodlan can't possibly have a Sharingan. You must be imagining it." he said to Tobi, contending with the idea that some random nobody could have the one of the greatest eyes on the planet.

"How is that possible? Those in Fodlan can't possibly have a kekkei genkai." Itachi refused to believe it.

"It's possible that anything could happen in a century or two, even if an ancestor left the continent and ended up in Fodlan. Anything could happen in a hundred years; you should know that better than anyone." Kakuzu scolded Itachi like he was an ignorant child.

He never liked him, a loser from a bygone era who's only claim to fame was fighting the First Hokage Hashirama and living to tell the tale; it was nobody special in Itachi's eyes.

"Who is this girl, and what is her name?" asked Itachi angrily.

"She was once part of what is called the Mittelfrank Opera Company; she was quite popular in Konoha before she retired at a young age, mind you, she's currently 18. Her name is Dorothea Arnault, and according to our intelligence from our spies, she's transferring to the Golden Deer House. She was once part of the Black Eagles, and was the only member from the commoner class in that house, which is normally full of nobles."

Orochimaru explained, taking pleasure in Itachi's ignorance.

"Makes no difference, she's trash."

Itachi said dismissively.

"She's not that far from it. She managed to use a powerful Jutsu on her first try and made a new one on the spot. She has the potential to be a threat to us in the future, Itachi." Tobi talked down to him as if he were a child; it pissed him off so much.

"A shame that someone so beautiful has to be an Uchiha even if she's only one by ancestry. It's still a shame her voice is a work of art." said a blonde haired man named Deidara.

"Enough of this nonsense! Itachi, Kisame, Orochimaru, you have your own missions; you will do them as ordered. This meeting is adjourned."

Holograms started to fade out any Itachi wanted to crush the damn glass ball that he was holding with his hand. The idea of another Uchiha ridiculous.

The fact that he had to stand this shit hole of a continent even longer made his blood boil. Nothing can be done you can't take any action you can't even go to the monastery where his brother is he has to go on another mission.

"We're heading to the Empire we have scum we need to forge alliance with."he said emotionlessly his partner followed him one day he will be the one that would leave the Akatsuki not that arrogant and ignorant full pain and a silly buffoon that calls himself Tobi the fact that it's Orochimaru in his spy they'll be getting the chalice of beginnings makes him sick.

Such scum should not be given a worthy task of getting such a powerful object that will be useful to the plans of the Akatsuki. He knows he will be ordered in time to grab it so he won't have funny ideas but until then he has to deal with fools.

All in good time hopefully his brother will be worth something the next time he encounters him.

Kakashi looked at the reports on the mission they'd been assigned. A lot of things just didn't add up. There was a mole, but how? No one in their group would ever betray such information about their location. It didn't make sense to Kakashi.

Then there was the revelation that Dorothea was an Uchiha descendant. The dangers the woman could potentially present if she wasn't properly brought under heel. An Uchiha under the control of one of Konoha's potential enemies is not something he can take a chance on. He went on a mission to track this girl down years ago, thinking that the 9-year-old girl he saw who was hiding and terrified was the same girl who's currently in his class.

The Clan Restoration Act, though his intentions were good, Hashirama never took it into consideration what it would be like in practice. It was state-sanctioned rape; none of the women who were the last survivors of a clan had any say or any bodily autonomy. They would never know freedom in their lives; it was one of the dark sides of Konoha that Kakashi wishes he could forget. The terrible things he had witnessed during his time in the Root Abu. He believes in the Konoha and the Will of Fire, but sometimes it is hard to believe when he is reminded of the harsh realities of what Konoha does to preserve its borders.

Things became even more complicated when taking into consideration the factionalism within the Konoha council, which was divided over which of the three nations in Fodlan. While there were those who wished to have relations with all of them, there were specific factions that wanted to have strong ties to at least one of them, and two of them were the main topics of contention.

There are those in the Konoha council who wish to ally themselves with the Kingdom of Faerghus, which is where Hiruzen Sarutobi advocated. As the values of Faerghus align more closely with the will of Fire, the Hyuga clan wishes to have a foothold there in order to spread their influence among the royal family of one of the most powerful kingdoms on the continent.

Their plan was for Hinata Hyuga to join the Blue Lions house and for her to marry the prince of Faerghus, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd. This would tie Konoha and the Holy Kingdom together, along with the Hyuga clan. In the one instance where Donzo is supportive of such an idea, he was on board. They all expected Hinata, who they've always thought was submissive, to do as she was told, but they would be proven completely wrong.

That plan has been completely shut down due to Hinata's act of defiance, who decides to join the Black Eagles and, like her mother before her, defies what others expect of her. Kakashi wonders how his act of defiance will affect Konoha in the future. He hopes it won't be for the worse; he doesn't trust the Adrestian Empire. It is an empire that is corrupt to its core, as Kakashi has learned about the empire's history. Despite it being the most powerful of the three powers in Fodlan, it is a shell of what it once was.

Nobody took it into account that there was a strong friendship between Hinata and Edelgard, and they were really close. This mistake Kakashi hoped would not cost Konoha dearly. Hinata is the princess of the Hyuga Clan and the heir, regardless of how much her father wants to deny it.

The person who would join the Blue Lions was the person everyone thought would join the Black Eagles: Sasuke Uchiha, his former teammate on Team 7. This is what they all hoped would happen in Konoha, especially the Pro-Empire faction. Sasuke, being an Uchiha, the last of them, could have potentially found a suitable match to produce strong children. They were hoping Edelgard would be that match, due to her family's crest.

Though unlike Hinata Sasuke did not choose the Blue Lions as an an act of defiance with Kakashi thinks about it now he chose them because his heart was with them and not with the empire. Sasuke barely talked to any of the of the Lords Edelgard he barely shared any words with her Claude he barely said anything. yet Dimitri was the person Sasuke spend the most time talking to he saw how Sasuke interact with the blue lions especially with that Mercedes woman a change Sasuke the darkness it is eyes was dimmer than it was when he first entered the monastery.

What would be the impact of Sasuke's choice? How did the council react to Sasuke's and Hinata's choices, and what would the council think about it? it was hard to get any news from Konoha in the monastery he would likely know when he returns. There are those who would support Sasuke's decision, as the last Uchiha having a friendship with the prince would benefit Konoha. However, Sasuke cannot marry into the nobility since Dimitri has no sister to marry. It seems like Sasuke and Hinata both acted in defiance by going against the expectations people had placed on them.

Most of the Konaha council wanted to see an alliance with the Adrestian Empire which out being the main man in charge of it was Danzo Shimura. The he factions couldn't see eye to eye when it came to which would benefit Konoha more. the reason why most of the council supports the Empire is because of their resources and how they like to expand their influence and the most efficient way of doing that in the Empire faction is to have its own ambassadors. they believe the best way to secure konoha security is to have the most powerful Empire on the planet which is what Adrestia is.

Kakashi didn't particularly care to involve himself in politics whether it's in his own country or a Ford one but it was becoming unavoidable. the students that he teaches which majority of them are from Leicester who are concerned about it's neighbor Almyra invading due to how close they live to the border.

Kakashi was getting ahead of himself, thinking about all this, he had paperwork he had to take care of, he had to report to the archbishop when he came back, but one day that bothered him more than anything was the fire that happened when they were battling against Goto's men. The mercenaries that he hired when Kakashi arrived along with Gaara, there was nothing but charred remains and ash.

flashback 6 days ago

"what happened here?"asked one of the locals who saw charred remains Kakashi couldn't believe what he was seeing in front of him never has he seen such brutality.

Goto was cruel and vindictive, something he knew for sure, but the way he was killed was brutal: it was like anything Kakashi had ever seen. He went inside to were Goto's body was, or what was left of it. His head was completely severed; it was hard to tell what had cut his head off. It couldn't have been a sword; the force of the blade was too great. For the looks of it, it was an axe. The bodies were mutilated brutally before they were burned. What was there to be gained by this?

"Such brutality whoever killed Goto wanted to cover their tracks. They're definitely not from here, probably from one of the foreign lands." said a woman with long purple hair who wore a mask that was standard for those in Abu. She wore a porcelain mask.

"Yugao, I didn't expect to run into you here of all places." Kakashi remarked as he studied the remains of all the people that were killed in brutal ways. Yeah, she was right; they were killed by people not from here.

He walked next to the body of a woman whose skull had been split open."I was passing by on my way after completing my latest mission. I didn't expect to run into you. Why are you here?"How much could he volunteer? Though he was under the Hokage's orders, as much as he was under the Archbishop's orders, he could have volunteered too. Much information would be given without jeopardizing security, but she was Abu, so he felt safe.

"My class was sent on a mission by the archbishop herself. Can't really say much more than that." The woman didn't seem to be satisfied with his answer.

"Why would the archbishop of Garreg Mach send you on such a mission, when any ninja from Konoha or any of the locals could have easily done it?" Yugao asked. That's the question he wanted to know, and he wanted to know from the very beginning.

"I don't know if it doesn't make sense to me. Perhaps to build relationships between the nations for the students to see what the outside world looks like? I don't know, I don't know what goes through her head. I don't even know what goes to the Hokage's head sometimes. Perhaps they both communicated and this was their way of having the students connect further together while on a mission outside the monastery. She didn't look convinced by his reasoning."

She took off her mask, and in the rare instances where she did so, only when she was alone with Kakashi.

"Be honest with me, Kakashi. What do you think of this program?"

She asked his honest opinion.

They were opposed to it on principle, exposing their secrets to foreigners or contaminating their youth with foreign influences.

He didn't believe any of that, but he also understood the fear of those guarding their deepest secrets, especially those like the Hyuga.

That there were those who were against it because of Itachi Uchiha, who used all the training given to him by the Church of Seiros, which wiped out one of the strongest clans in Konoha in a single night. He couldn't help but see the merits behind it; he also saw the benefits of how it increased understanding and tolerance for people of other cultures.

"I think it's a program worth pursuing, but there are those who would keep us isolated and others who wish to expand our influence for the wrong reasons."

Kakashi gave his best answer that he could without exposing his true opinion.

Yugao put her mask back on, knowing it was time for them to part ways again because she had to return home on her latest mission.

"I do have one last thing to ask before I go which house did Hinata and Sasuke choose the Hokage would like to know a considering you're in the area I can get first-hand knowledge and not secondhand."he knew he would be asked us he told her everyone that that joined the respect of houses.

"The Konoha council won't like that Sasuke and Hinata choose opposite houses, they were expecting them to choose house. I hope it doesn't compromise our security." Yugao said fearing the future.

She left, as if she weren't there. He knew there was nothing more to be found here. His students were about to leave. He turned his back on Goto and his men and started the long journey home.

Kakashi needed to rest; he was overthinking when he came back, he wouldn't have time to rest; he had a feeling things would be far more complicated from now on. He laid down on his bed and closed his eyes, hoping that his worst fears wouldn't be realized about the potential future ahead.

He was lying down on his bed when his class returned from their mission. He was rushed to the infirmary because his wounds weren't as bad as they could have been if it had been a normal injury caused by a sword. His father wasn't anywhere to be found, considering he was on a mission much to his anger. He needed answers but he couldn't get them.

He couldn't help but feel guilty when he gave in to his impulses and slept with his student. Feeling dirty, he felt like he took advantage of her. What made it worse was his powerlessness when he encountered the man with red stripes. He felt disoriented and weak and useless. Had it not been for Marianne and her mysterious power, he and everyone else would have been killed.

His powerlessness over the nightmares he had continued, with the deaths of his friends at the hands of that monster, it was almost a month since it happened, and it still felt like yesterday. Even though the memory never technically happened, it still felt real to see her getting crushed.

Why wasn't his father around when he needed advice? He felt completely lost, like a child for the first time. With no idea what to do, he felt like a child for the first time.

He would not be teaching at this time, as he was ordered by a blonde woman who he didn't recognize to stay in bed until he was fully recovered.

He saw her enter his room. She walked towards his bed, doing her checkup on him to see how his health was holding up. He wanted to know who she was.

So, he decided to ask her a question.

"Excuse me, but what's your name, Miss?" he asked her.

"My name is Tsunade, a medic ninja from Konoha. You should consider yourself lucky that you'll be able to return to teaching as soon as you can. If it weren't for me, you'd be bedridden for a month." This made him feel completely useless.

"You're also part of the program; why didn't I see you the first day I was here?" he asked her.

I wasn't here on the first day I got here; it was about a week ago, and a few other people were too. You'll meet them when you recover; one of them is a boy who will join one of the other houses." Another boy he thought, "Who was he?"

"Are my students okay?" he asked the older woman worriedly.

"Oh they'll be fine, I'll teach them until you're well enough," the woman answered.

"You?" he asked Tsunade skeptically.

"Yes, I won't be too hard on them. Some of the students are ones I'm familiar with myself." From what he had heard, Tsunade has a reputation of being intense with anger and a scary woman who becomes even more terrifying when she is truly angry.

He almost feels sorry for his students.

"you know there was a girl who was worried and wouldn't leave the hallway until I ordered her to. This caused him to look down in shame.

"Is she okay? He asked the woman referring to Marianne.

"She's pretty shaken up, but physically she's all right. Marianne is her name, isn't it?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes, why?" The woman looked like she had to choose her words carefully."

"Are you familiar with kekkei genkai?" Tsunade asked, shaking her head as if not knowing what she was talking about.

One of your students has a kekkei genkai: Hinata Hyuga has the Byakugan; Marianne, on the other hand, has something completely different. She has a kekkei genkai from a clan that we thought was extinct. I have no idea how it's possible, but she's possessed the powers of what is called in my home continent, the Yuki clan. I don't know how a descendant from that clan ended up here. It could be during the war states era or sometime after the founding of the five Great Nations. Either way, the fact that she is one of the last known survivors, you probably don't know this, but in the Land of Water, there was a war involving clans with kekkei genkai. The wars were over fearing the power of clans like the Yuki. Those who possessed any abilities that resembled that of a kekkei genkai hunted down to the last child."

This made him full of rage; nobody chooses to be born with these gifts.

" Though her having a crest should make it impossible for her to have a kekkei genkai." What did she mean by that?

"What do you mean?" he asked the older woman.

"I don't know much about the specific, but having a crest and a kekkei genkai shouldn't be possible for the most part anyway; not much is known about crests back at my home continent. Those who have studied crests extensively would know more than I, but I believe though it's heavily dependent on kekkei genkai. Who knows? More research would have to be done for answers."

He had other questions that he wanted to know what happened to those who just want to live a normal life. He wanted to ask Marianne if she wasn't the kind of person who would want to live with such a power.

"What happens to those who are just trying to live a normal life?" he asked Tsunade, fearing the answer.

"Many of them have it hard when you have such abilities that are feared. What if your children manifest these abilities? It's the fear of every parent with a bloodline that is considered dangerous. Many of them don't survive. Many of them are killed, most of those who were born with a kekkei genkai - see it as a curse rather than a blessing."

Marianne has a lot on her plate, but she can't think that she's cursed. He won't allow her to have that idea.

"Stay where you are. I know what you're thinking." The woman spoke as if she could read his mind.

"I can't let her think that she's a curse please let me speak to her."he said to her pleadingly.

"you're not going to help her if you're going to reopen the wounds that I went through hours closing. you shouldn't let your emotions control your judgment you're better than that you are a professor her teacher are you not?"she asked him as it reminding of their position.

"Yes"he reluctantly answered.

"Listen, you're not the first professor or the first teacher to fall in love with their student. I'm not going to judge you for it, nor am I going to tell anyone, but you need to sort out your own feelings for her before you do anything. Your mind is a mess. Marianne has her friends to support her in the Black Eagles. You need to rest."

Tsunade wasn't being judgmental, but he couldn't just do nothing.

"I've seen that look on too many men who have survived experiences in war that should have killed them. I've seen it too many times; it doesn't matter what land I'm in—whether it's in the continent where I'm from or here—it's still the same. My one word of advice: Byleth Eisner, tread carefully. That girl, Marianne, she's in love with you. I could see it in her eyes, and I can see it in yours. These are delicate matters."

He had no rebuke for that.

"I'm telling you because you should know now stay where you are doctor's orders."

Tsunade walked out of his room and shut the door.

"I have to get stronger to protect her," he said aloud, not caring if everyone heard him.

"First you have to recover before you can do anything; you won't do her any good if you don't rest your body and mind." Sothis advised him.

"Those eyes, I felt like I couldn't even connect to you. I felt like my senses were being distorted; they made me feel uneasy. I felt like our connection was severed, like a part of myself didn't exist. I look into those red eyes." Byleth shivered at the memory.

"I know exactly what you mean about those red eyes. When I'm around them, I feel uneasy because you have to fight with your eyes closed and it messes with your senses. I would recommend starting to train yourself to be less reliant on sight and more on hearing and other senses."

This is giving him good advice that he would have to follow as soon as he recovers enough to even train. He can't depend on her power completely, nor can he use it as a crutch.

But those memories, of his friends death and Marianne's death and the night he gave in to his impulses.

He felt dirty; he felt as if he had taken advantage of her, which made him feel so much shame. Part of him thought he should stay away from her to protect her, but another part of him couldn't bear the idea.

Loneliness was too unbearable before he met her. He felt alone. People didn't say it out loud, but they thought he was a freak. The one thing that terrified him more than being powerless was being alone.

"That woman is right on one thing: you do have to sort out your feelings with Marianne. There's no way you can go on like this; your mind is a mess right now. You feel guilty over what happened that night? I'm not going to judge you for what you have done, giving in to your impulses, but know that she willingly gave herself to you; she wanted to be with you that night as much as you wanted to be with her. It wasn't one-sided. Both of your passions were real and genuine. If there's one thing I should have taken into consideration when I warned you about her falling in love with you, it was you falling in love with her."

Sothis said to him sympathetically.

"I should stay away from her for her own sake but when I think about that idea I get terrified she's the first person to ever truly accept me for who I am. everyone else saw me as a freak she was the first one ever"He couldn't finish what he was saying he didn't notice it there was a tear dropping which was not unnoticed by Sothis.

He is alone. He has to sort out his feelings. He couldn't have faced her until he did.

They were at the cafeteria. They had two days off. Dimitri was eating with his classmates. He especially noticed a change between Hinata and Ingrid; they were much closer than they were before he took a look at them holding hands and laughing together, even kissing. It perplexed him. He knew they spent a lot of time together in the month that she transferred into the Black Eagles, but the last thing he expected was Ingrid falling in love with Hinata.

"First, Naruto has a harem, and now Hinata?" remarked Sasuke, who couldn't help but grin. Dimitri couldn't help but notice the change in Sasuke he wouldn't get involved in his relationship with Mercedes, which wasn't his affair to interfere with.

Sasuke had lightened up in the past few months. Then Sasuke had a serious look on his face.

"Dimitri, I was wondering if you could help me with something."

Sasuke asked his friend.

"Of course, anything for a friend. What do you need?"Dimitri asked Sasuke, having a good idea what he was about to ask.

" I was wondering I could use some advice on what to get Mercie for her birthday next week."Sasuke asked, blushing as he realized he had already found out her birthday. He thought, "then again, Sasuke and Mercedes spend a lot of time together. These things were bound to be found out eventually.

"I don't know what I can say to Sasuke. I think just giving her a gift would make her happy."

Dimitri was speaking from his experience, but Sasuke shook his head.

"I want to show her how much I appreciate her and where I'm from. We make our gifts with our own hands to show the people who are precious to us." Then it clicked to Dimitri.

Sasuke asked his friend.

"Of course, anything for a friend. What do you need?"Dimitri asked Sasuke, having a good idea what he was about to ask.

" I was wondering I could use some advice on what to get Mercie for her birthday next week."Sasuke asked, blushing as he realized he had already found out her birthday. He thought, "then again, Sasuke and Mercedes spend a lot of time together. These things were bound to be found out eventually.

"Just be yourself, Sasuke, and if you believe making a gift for her would be your way of showing your appreciation, then what's the hold-up?" Dimitri asked him.

"I don't have the resources, so I"Sasuke felt embarrassed for asking Dimitri for a favor; this wasn't something he was used to

."Just tell me what you need. I'm pretty sure Felix and Annette could help find what you're looking for."Sasuke signed in relief that he didn't have to completely elaborate.

"Thanks, I won't forget this, Dimitri." Sasuke said just as the conversation ended. Annette and Felix, along with the rest of the Blue Lions, sat at the table. Dimitri knew this conversation had to end because Mercedes would know about what Sasuke was planning.

The two transferees from the Blue lions were all so on the table Neji had a look of apprehension on his face when he saw Hinata and Ingrid laughing together.

"happy aren't they?"Mercedes remarked."are you okay? Mercie" Sasuke asked worried.

"I'm fine Sasuke kun. I like to ask Hina something if you don't mind." Mercedes asked.

"She's your friend of course,"Sasuke replied. She excused herself from the group and went to where Hinata and Ingrid were. Annette decided to leave the group too to support her friend much of the confusion of Sasuke.

"You know, Sasuke, I'm glad you lightened up. It's actually more pleasant to be around you now." Sylvain said in a teasing manner.

"Whatever"Sasuke said hiding that he enjoyed his company.

"You know I'm kind of shocked you two aren't dating yet." Sylvain said aloud, which caused everyone to roll their eyes.

"We don't have that kind of relationship." Sasuke said, shutting it down.

"Are you trying to convince us or yourself?" Sylvain challenged.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sasuke asked, his face turning red.

"It is obvious to everyone in the Blue Lions will except that banshee anyway; what's stopping you? What's the holdup?" Sylvain asked him.

Sasuke hesitated for what Dimitri can see in his eyes he was considering saying something.

"She has better options than me," he said sharply, though the way he said it was a form of insecurity.

"This is really pathetic, Sasuke. You act all confident when you're in the dueling ring, yet when it comes to Mercedes, you get cold feet?" Sylvain said, now annoyed.

"Can we please change the subject?"Sasuke requested which caused every one of the table to recoil Felix knowing his discomfort decided to change the subject to something that he would be more comfortable talking about.

"How's your training with Catherine going?" Felix asked, having returned a few days ago.

"Catherine Sensei is a swordsman worthy of respect. she has high standards for her students she doesn't tolerate anything but excellence. I could have asked for a better instructor to teach me."Sasuke said as a form of respect.

"You have no idea how lucky you are, not many students get to be trained by her. You're the first foreigner to be trained by her personally. People don't usually get trained by her unless they're going to join the knights or swear themselves to the next king of Faerghus. It's a great honor, Sasuke. Don't take her for granted."

Sylvain advised in a serious manner, not normal for him, but there was always more to him than what was on the surface.

"If doing what is required gets me closer to becoming strong enough to kill that bastard, then I'll do it, even if I have to become a Knight. Nothing else matters." Sasuke said darkly. Sasuke was giving small tidbits of information, even if it was in subtle ways, he was opening up about what happened to his clan and his classmates, even if it wasn't directly. The darkness inside of him, Dimitri could still see it. Despite all the friends that Sasuke had made, and Mercedes being someone he could trust, Dimitri was similar in that way.

"That man we encountered would have killed us all if it weren't for Mercedes." remarked Ashe. Dimitri had no idea what they had dealt with, but he had heard from both Mercedes and Ashe about a raven-haired man with a black cloak and red stripes. That's all he knew about Itachi. Sasuke was reluctant to talk about him; the only person who probably knows anything is Mercedes, and he wouldn't push her for information he doesn't want to abuse her trust or Sasuke's.

"Itachi Uchiha, my village has been trying to hunt down that treacherous dog for years without success." said Neji, he had barely spoken since joining their class.

"What exactly happened? I mean, I don't know anything about what happened with the Uchiha clan massacre. Why would one of their own people kill their own clan?" Dimitri asked, he couldn't ever picture himself doing such a thing.

"I don't know, I have no idea what went through his head or what kind of sicko goes around killing his own family and clan. The only thing I do know is he was once respected and now he is reviled in my village. "Neji finished Sasuke said nothing when he was done with his food Sasuke excused himself from the group.

"Very smooth, Neji. You had to bring up what happened to his clan." said Tenten angrily.

"Well, our classmates don't know anything about what happened; they deserve to know something. After all, they're going to go to Konoha eventually, and they're going to know about this anyway." Neji replied defensively.

"Your highness you should focus on eating the last thing any of us need is for you to not be able to concentrate on your studies because you haven't eaten lunch"Dedue pointed to where his food was he signed.

"course I don't want to waste the efforts of the cooks here" he ate the food in silence along with the rest of his class all thinking the same thing about the Uchiha clan massacre and the impact it had on Sasuke.

The more he thinks about it the more he realizes how much him and Sasuke have in common the tragedy of Duscur and the Uchiha clan massacre both of them suffer survivor's guilt both of them believe they did not deserve to survive Sasuke and Dimitri didn't have to tell each other this for Dimitri to know that's what Sasuke thinks at times it's went Dimitri thinks before he goes to sleep when he hears the voice is in his head demanding vengeance for their deaths.

"Avenge me, you pathetic wretch", his father said.

"It should have been Dimitri," said Glenn.

He shoved the voices down to the deepest depths of his mind as much as he possibly could he could not let his friends see him like this.

"I wonder where the Golden Deer class is? They should have been back by now," asked Felix.

"I think they'll be back, something must have happened on their mission, they're probably on their way home as we speak."Dimitri said, not wanting to have this conversation again.

The rest of the class ate in silence he would be lying if he wasn't worried about Claude or Naruto especially for Hinata's sake he would not want his friend's heart to be broken if it was found out that Naruto was dead.

With Mercedes and Hinata

Mercedes just arrived on their table with Annette not too far behind her Hinata noticed a sad smile on her friend's face.

"Are you alright Mercie Chan?"asked Hinata Ingrid noticed as well the look on her face.

"So you and Ingrid?" Mercedes asked her knowing what she was about to ask Ingrid finished for her.

"yes"Annette was surprised.

"Does Naruto know about this?"asked Mercedes,"me and Naruto Kun agreed to share each other with those we love."Hinata said without hesitation." but you and Ingrid it's so sudden"remarked Annette.

"Ann Chan, I can't explain why I love her. Love is complicated. I never expected to fall in love with someone so quickly, but Ingrid is important to me." This surprises them both.

"She speaks the truth; I love Hina Chan. I can't explain it. I fell in love with her; she's wonderful. I felt like my heart was being pulled into three; I couldn't choose between them. I wouldn't be able to be happy if I was forced to choose. Me and Hina Chan love each other, and we love Naruto and Dorothea too." Ingrid explained she wondered how they were going to make this four-way relationship work? though that didn't concern her at the moment Hinata's friend needed her.

"Well, as long as everyone is happy, that's all that matters", Annette said supportively.

Hinata looked at Mercedes; she knew she was going to ask something.

"Hina, I'm lost"

Annette looked at Hinata, who was also looking at Annette, and Ingrid.

"How do you know when you're in love?"

Mercedes asked Hinata, trying to understand what was going on in her head.

"It's hard to explain the people that are precious to me when I'm near them. I feel stronger. I feel safer. I feel like I can be anyone and anything. Naruto-kun, I feel like the sun is shining bright with Ingrid Chan. I feel protected and Dorothea san just hearing the sound of her voice and just being near her makes me feel at ease. It's hard to explain. Mercie-chan, love is not an emotion that can be explained easily." Hinata answered the best way she could.

"Is that how you see it, Ingrid?" asked Mercedes.

"Yes, Naruto is like the sun, as Hina-chan says, and Dorothea's presence is soothing, and I feel safe. Hina-chan is like the sun to me, just like Naruto. I love them all. I don't care if it's irrational; that's how I feel, and I would die for them."

She hated when Ingrid talked like that, but she said nothing because she couldn't control how she felt; it was part of her culture; it was a part of who she was; she loved that about herself, but also was terrified at the idea of sacrificing herself for others; she didn't want to lose any of her "precious" people.

"How does Felix make you feel if you don't mind me asking you Ann Chan?"asked Hinata Annette didn't think she would ever be asked this question.

"He makes me feel happy and safe he likes even the parts about me I don't like like my terrible songs"everyone in the on the table laughed.

"I don't know I kind of like it I think it's kind of cute"Hinata said with a smile.

This made Annette turn a deep shade of red.

"It's ridiculous that anyone could like such terrible music. The lyrics have no meaning."Annette insisted.

"Does it really need to have meaning if your boyfriend loves it?" asked Ingrid making Annette thinking seriously about her relationship with Felix.

"You're right, I suppose. I do love him, Felix. I wouldn't trade him for anything. Yeah, there are parts of his personality that may irritate me sometimes, but that's why I love him all of him." She remembered the first time she and her boyfriend kissed. It was on their first date, and it was nothing special at the time. However, Felix listened intently and called it the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.

Everybody just saw what they wanted to see of Felix; he was actually much softer than people saw on the surface. The way he acted was only for people not to see the real him in the inside: a man with depth who cared greatly for his friends and dealt with his grief in a different way than others.

When she thinks about it, it's no wonder Sasuke and Felix became friends; it's because they're so alike in their dealings with grief over loved ones and betrayal.

"Have you told Felix this?" asked Hinata.

"No, I haven't, and I don't have the courage yet." she admitted.

"Then what about you?" Hinata asked Mercedes, who barely touched her food.

"I want to protect him. I feel hopeless. I don't feel worthy." Hinata knew that feeling only too well.

How does he make you feel? she asked Mercedes.

"He accepts me for who I am, and he's the first man I've met that doesn't covet my crest. He just looks at me as me. I feel safe around him. I know he has a deep darkness in his past that he doesn't really want to talk about, but I want to save him from it. I want to protect him from it. He makes me feel safe and wanted. He respects my beliefs and listens patiently.Everyone says Sasuke is cold and stoic, but there's much more to him than that. No one knows the real Sasuke; they only know what's on the surface."

Her feelings were deep Annette had no words how her friend feels.

"I didn't expect to be drawn to someone like him, now that I got a chance to know him even a little, I want to be there for him to support him. I want to make him smile to be happy so he never has to go through the pain that he went through again. But how can I help him? I'm so useless; he has better options than me." She noticed tears falling down her friend's eyes.

"These feelings I don't know what they are, I don't know why I have them, I can't control them. Is this how you felt about Naruto when you first found out?"

Annette knew what she was getting at; she couldn't believe it. She was going to finally admit it; she didn't think it would happen so soon.

She turned around and faced Hinata. The two were looking into each other's eyes.

"Yes"Hinata placed her hands on Mercedes.

"I can never be worthy of him"she buried her face on Hinata's chest. Mercedes was usually the one that was comforting people; it was never the other way around this worried Annette.

" Yes you can and you are don't think that" Hinata said to her softly

"Why does it hurt?" Mercedes asked Hinata.

"Love is complicated; there's no rational reason to love someone or to be in love with someone. It just happens."

Annette could relate to this; Hinata would have made a great Blue Lion. Annette thought.

"I love him, I can't help it" Mercedes admitted aloud to her friends.

"I can't tell him right now I'm scared; I don't want to ruin the friendship that we have built. If he doesn't feel the same, I couldn't bear the rejection."

Nothing was said for a few moments until Hinata spoke.

"Tell him when you're ready." Hinata told her.

"Have you told Naruto?" asked Mercedes, which caught Hinata off guard.

"No", she replied. How could she tell Ingrid that she loves her, but not Naruto? She thought no, she wouldn't interfere in her friend's love lives.

"I plan on telling him when he returns." Hinata said with determination.

"I'm telling him too" Ingrid said. Annette couldn't understand how Hinata and Ingrid could possibly share the same person it was not something she could ever see herself doing.

"Thank you, Hina. I believe I know what to do now. Thank you. You're a good friend."

Mercedes smiled warmly and pulled away from her. Before, she heard Ingrid say one last thing.

"It will work out, I believe it." Ingrid said using one of Naruto's catchphrases.

"Thank you I appreciate your support"Mercedes replied.

She left to see the sunset with the man she loved but wasn't ready to reveal her feelings for yet.

After she left, Ingrid wondered if it was the right thing to do to tell her? Annette was wondering the same thing.

"I had to tell her something Ann Chan I'd been through same thing; I don't wish that on anyone."Hinata said to them both.

"It's a shame you didn't join the Blue Lions; Hina, you would have been a great addition to our house. You're so kind and strong and friendly with everyone; there isn't anyone that I can think of who has anything bad to say about you."

Annette said smiling.

As if to ruin the moment and as if reading their minds, Sakura looked at the trio with hatred, especially at Annette and Hinata.

"Where's Sasuke Kun and who is this damn woman that's seeing him?"Sakura said with jealous fury. Ingrid wanted to shove her against the wall she couldn't stand this girl damn it. Why does she have to ruin such a good moment?

"Sasuke can see whoever he wants." Annette said with contempt.

"Fuck you, you stupid girl! It's because of you that my grades are as bad as they are. Teachers' pet." This angered Ingrid and Hinata

"Leave my friend alone"Hinata said to Sakura barely able to keep her anger in check.

"What are you going to do? The week and useless Hyuga you and the pathetic rejects of yours only won the mock battle by sheer luck."

Hinata activated her Byakugan and slammed Sakura hard against the wall, causing everyone to look at them.

earlier with Marianne and Benedetta

Marianne was eating the usual, she wasn't speaking; it was almost as if she were in deep thought.

"Are you okay?" Benedetta asked her concerned friend.

"I'm fine. I'm just overwhelmed by all the people here." She said quietly.

"I know what you mean. It's so busy there's so many people that make the monastery almost feel not as safe as it once did. I can't put my finger on it. I can't explain why." Benedetta replied.

"I know that feeling ever since that power came out of me. I don't know what to think anymore."

Marianne said, her hands trembling.

"Without you, we would all be dead. Marianne, please."

She felt useless; she wanted to comfort her friend.

"It's not just that I'm worried about Hilda; she's the first friend I've ever had. I don't know how I would take it if something happened to her; she's important to me."

This was obvious to her, what Benedetta had learned about Hilda from Marianne. She's her best friend and a constant source of comfort in her childhood when she had lost her parents.

Nobody was there for her, except Hilda, up until recently. Before she came to the monastery, Benedetta had no friends, except one whom her father had beaten to the brink of death. Other than that, she had no friends. She was a prisoner in her own house when she left and came to the monastery; it was like being free for the first time. Despite being uncomfortable around people, at least she didn't have to look over her shoulder anymore.

She never told anyone about him; she didn't want to relive the trauma or the memories of him strapping her to a chair. Marianne noticed her spacing out.

"Are you okay?" Marianne asked herself, aware of what she had just done. She was about to respond when they both heard a loud thump and Hinata yelling at Sakura about to crush her windpipe with a chakra aura forming around her left hand.

Earlier with Monica

Monica didn't really want to sit where Dimitri was, but she supposed she'd have to deal with it for the time being. Dimitri is her girlfriend's stepbrother after all. Dimitri sat at their table for old times' sake; she supposed because they did spend a lot of time together in the Hyuga compound.

"I've heard what happened on your mission, Edelgard. I just came here to see if you were all right. I hope I'm not disturbing you." Dimitri asked politely.

"I'm fine Dimitri why aren't you with your friends?"Edelgard asked Dimitri.

"I can't check to see how you're doing?"he asked faking feeling offended.

"I heard what happened on the mission. Wish Professor Byleth a swift recovery. Dimitri said sincerely, meaning it."

"I've been meaning to ask about this Byleth. What is it about him that draws people to him?" Asked Monica. Figuring she would get an outsider's perspective, outside of her class, in order to gauge how everyone sees her professor compared to everyone else.

"I think he's a man of integrity and someone who commands respect. I see how he gives feedback to others, even those who are not in his class. I've seen him go out of his way to help. He embodies what it means to truly be a Knight. He embodies the best of our values that many Knight's don't practice themselves." Dimitri considered himself ashamed, as he realized most Knights were vain and didn't really care about others.

"Do you still have a crush on Hinata?" Monica asked, remembering Dimitri's blushing face when he first laid eyes on her when they first arrived at the compound 7 years ago.Dimitri's face was pink.

"I was a boy then, you cannot hold that against me." he said, barely able to keep himself under control.

"Not that you would have had a chance anyway, because of Naruto." said Edelgard, chiming in.

"There's something you should know." With a serious expression on his face, Dimitri looked like he wanted to reveal something important.

"Why are you so serious, Dimitri?" asked Edelgard.

"Sasuke and Hinata were not supposed to be in the house, as they are currently in." Dimitri said, shocking both Edelgard and Monica.

"What do you mean? They weren't supposed to be in the houses they are currently in; I'm lost." asked Edelgard.

"Haven't you wondered why Neji isn't in your house, even though he's Hinata's retainer?"

Dimitri asked this made sense considering that Neji is part of the branch house; he should be in the same house as Hinata, but they're in separate houses.

"I still don't follow." Edelgard said.

"Remember when Sasuke first joined the Blue Lions? There were many staff members who were shocked and surprised, and also disgusted and disappointed, because Hinata had joined the Black Eagles, which wasn't supposed to happen. It was supposed to be the other way around."

Why was he revealing this? What did he have to gain?

"You're going to have to start from the very beginning because none of this makes any sense. No student in any house is ever coerced to choose a house by default. We're all given a choice, except in rare cases where we don't get to choose if we are royals to our respective nations."

Monica stepped in; she had to know what was going on.

"It's best that I start from the very beginning."

Dimitri was about to begin when he was interrupted by a loud thump and Hinata yelling.

Monica knew that if they didn't do something, Hinata would do something she would later regret.

Dimitri went ahead of them in order to stop her from making a mistake that would cost her everything.

"It is one thing to insult me, but to insult Benedetta Chan and Marianne Chan is another thing entirely. Or, any of my friends—you better shut that mouth of yours, or I'll shut it permanently. Do I make myself clear, Sakura?"

She looked like she would go through with it; she saw an aura of chakra forming on her hand.

She didn't care, after all those years of how she had bullied her, how she had treated Naruto, how she had treated Ino, and how vindictive she had been acting towards her friends. She was about to make her shut up permanently, when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Dimitri, Edelgard, Monica, Marianne, and Benedetta behind her.

She realized what she was about to do and set Sakura down.

"She's not worth it, Hinata." Dimitri said to her gently.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"This crazy bitch tried to kill me, and you're not even going to stick up for me?"

Sakura said it hatefully to Dimitri.

"You provoked her; you invited that response. You should be grateful that I stepped in."Dimitri said coldly.

"Of course you would side with the freak." Sakura said to Dimitri disrespectfully which made Hinata want to slam her again but Ingrid placed her hand on her shoulder.

"she isn't worth it Hina Chan"Ingrid said trying to reason with her she had never seen her so angry before.

From the look in her eyes, she could see her hatred for Sakura.

" How fitting that Naruto would date a loser like you, and for that loser not even to be faithful to her own boyfriend!" She said spitefully. Before Ingrid could do anything, another lifted Sakura up. This time it was Benedetta surprising everyone.

"I'm tired of hearing you, you disturb what was a peaceful lunch with my friend, you insult me and Marianne in front of everyone. Next time you speak, I will be the one putting you in the infirmary."

This surprised everyone that Benedetta of all people would be the one to threaten Sakura. She looked at her with hate and disgust.

Than She let her go, Sakura clenched her fists, looking at her and Marianne with hate.

"Go figure, Naruto and Hinata would be friends with a bunch of rejects.

" It was Ingrid's turn now to threaten Sakura; she was getting sick of hearing her voice.

"Say one more word about Naruto or Hinata, and I won't hesitate to put you in the infirmary. Don't mess with me or my friends or my girlfriend. Do you understand me, banshee?"

It was one thing for Hinata to lose control, but for Ingrid as well.

"I will find out who Sasuke Kun is, seeing one way or another; he's mine, no one else." Sakura said in her delusional rantings about how everyone is out to steal her man. This made her sick.

She stormed out, nothing was said for almost a minute until Hinata spoke.

"I hate that bitch so much", Hinata said, clenching her teeth.

It was rare for Hinata to voice her hatred for anyone, and when she did, it was serious and that person was truly awful.

"This is unbecoming of you, Hinata-sama. Your father would not be pleased by your conduct."

Ingrid looked and saw a man who looked older than Hinata and from the looks of it, he was part of the same clan. He was part of the Blue Lion.

"I won't let her disrespect my friends, Neji."Hinata said as respectfully as she could.

"I understand how much you hate her; she pushes my patience to its limits as well, but it reflects badly on you. I don't want Hiashi-sama to think lowly of you."

He said with concern.

"This is not the Hyuga clan compound", Hinata said with controlled anger.

"No, it isn't, but it reflects badly on us and the clan when you act the way you do. We are representatives of our clan." Neji said in a controlled manner.

Retainer? Ingrid wondered why he was in the Blue Lions rather than the Black Eagles.

"I don't want anything to do with the politics of the clan. I thought I finally escaped from the damn politics here, but now I have to deal with it even at my one place of refuge. I don't want to hear it Neji, just leave me alone."Hinata stormed off

"I'm sorry what just happened?"asked Annette.

Ingrid was wondering the same thing.

"It's nothing you two should be concerned about" Neji said as he went back to the table to continue his studies.

"It concerns me", Ingrid said, not wanting to put up with him dismissing her.

"This is a matter of the Hyuga Clan, not something that should concern an outsider like yourself."

He said this with a voice cold as ice.

he turned his back on her and walked back to the table where his classmates were.

"Wow I did not expect that"Ingrid turned around and saw it was Monica who was alongside her girlfriend Edelgard. The girl that they rescued had yet to get a debriefing due to the Knight's having their hands full putting down The last remnant of the rebellions that were almost started while she was away on her mission to help rescue the red-haired girl.

"You know something?" Ingrid asked Monica.

"Perhaps I do, but it's best that I don't tell you. I don't intend to reveal personal information about my friend without her consent. If you want to know, you'll have to ask Hinata yourself."

Monica answered.

She couldn't leave her girlfriend like that; she had to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, Annette." She nodded and understood; she parted ways with her friend and went to Hinata's quarters.

He didn't mean to storm off like that; he just didn't like even mentioning his brother's name, and it made him sick. Whatever comes to Itachi, he didn't even want to mention his name; it was like spitting out venom from his mouth, which is how much he hates his brother.

"Everything you love will turn to ash", the dream Itachi said. The training with Catherine was harsh, yes, but Sasuke was starting to notice results; even in the short time the training had started, he had noticed improvements in his techniques; even though it wasn't what he was taught back home, he wasn't complaining about his prodigy status; it didn't take him as much time to learn some of the same lessons that Catherine taught to her other students. Though he had a long way to go, he wouldn't be able to beat her in a fight anytime soon; she was far too strong and far more skilled than he was.

Even without that strange-looking sword, she can beat him easily, even with her arms tied behind her back, because of her skills and experience.

He was about to practice alone when he saw a green-haired girl looking at something near the pond. Her eyes were also green, and her hair was in a strange style compared to how Sasuke usually sees girls. Her hair was at the front, unlike most other girls, who usually wore their hair at the back. She dressed modestly, more so than most other girls he had seen. There was an otherworldly presence about her that he couldn't explain.

The girl noticed that he was watching her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I spaced out." said the green-haired girl. How did he miss someone like this? He had been in the monastery for four months and he didn't notice a girl like this was here. There's no way someone like this wouldn't have appeared on his radar.

"It's not a problem" said Sasuke awkwardly.

"Are you Sasuke Uchiha?" asked the girl with green hair.

"Yes, I am. No offense, but I hope you're not a fan girl." Sasuke remarked. The girl giggled at that.

"Oh, I can never be a fangirl. I don't even know what that means."

Another girl who wasn't a fan girl, this was something he didn't mind at all.

"What is your name?" Sasuke asked her.

"Flayn" she answered. He couldn't help but notice that this girl seemed much older than she looked; he couldn't explain why the way she carried herself, the way she spoke, seemed to be of someone much older than her 17 years.

"Something on your mind, Sasuke?" asked Flayn.

"Yeah, I was wondering why I haven't seen you before." Sasuke asked her. He noticed a girl tense but she quickly changed her expression.

"My big brother doesn't like it when I talk to people; he's a little overprotective." She has a brother; no wonder he thought.

"Especially doesn't like it when boys try to hit on me or ask me out on dates." She giggled as if remembering all the times her brother chased away any potential admirers of hers.

"Well, lucky me; I don't have any interest in you in that way." Sasuke remarked.

"Sasuke, if you don't mind my asking, are the rumors true about you and Mercedes?" Sasuke had no idea what she was talking about.

"What do you mean, what rumors?" he said, his face turning red with embarrassment.

"Maybe it's nothing, I'm not opposed to the idea love is a very complicated thing and it can't be explained. Nor is it rational."

The girl was speaking as if she knew from experience; the more she spoke, the more Sasuke picked up. She was much older than she appeared.

"Love, I can't feel that way about her. We've only known each other for almost two months now. That's just not it."

He couldn't finish the thought. The girl looked at him as if she understood what he was thinking.

"It's not rational, Sasuke. It's not supposed to be."

Why was he comfortable talking about this in front of a stranger like Flayn? Something about her made him feel comfortable for some reason. In fact, he feels like he's been getting softer since he came here.

"You'll find out in time; there's no need to rush", the girl advised. She was wiser than her appearance indicated; she had an innocent-looking appearance, but she was anything but innocent in her eyes. He could see years of pain and loneliness; he didn't have to be a Hyuga to see how lonely this girl was.

"I noticed you were eyeing the pond over there" Sasuke remarked, changing the subject.

"Oh yeah, well you see, there are some really tasty fish I want to catch in there, but my brother won't let me fish for them."

That's what she likes.

"I suppose I can catch some for you, it shouldn't be too much trouble, Flayn-san"

Sasuke said the girl lit up.

"Really Sasuke, you're willing to do that?"

The girl asked him.

"yeah just let's keep this between us. I wouldn't want to be killed by your brother."

The girl giggled at that.

"of course it'll be just between us. Sasuke" Flayn smiled happily.

Sasuke asked the man if he could borrow a fishing rod, which he handed it to him. Sasuke didn't have much experience fishing; the girl sat by him as if waiting for him to give it a try. He did what his father had instructed when he was a child about fishing: he waited patiently and then a fish bit into the bait that he put on the fishing rod. He pulled it, which was a heavy one with enough force. He forced it up and it was a gigantic fish. The girl was excited.

"Thank you Sasuke, I'm looking forward to eating this. You know the rumors about you; they're not true."

He was confused as to what Flayn was getting at.

"They say you're cold and stoic, but I don't see that you're much more than that. Much more, I wish I could be your friend, though my brother wouldn't allow it."

The girl said sadly. He felt comfortable around this girl, not in the same way he felt around Mercedes. He felt a kindred spirit. She was lonely. Would it be such a bad thing to have another friend?

It didn't matter that she was at the opposite gender; there's nothing in the law that says a man and a woman can't be friends.

"We could be friends if you want, We don't have to tell anyone." The girl looked conflicted.

"You be willing to keep it even from your"she was almost smiling when she was about to say.

"me and Mercie we're just friends we're not"the girl giggled as if she thought it was funny.

"Oh Sasuke of course I'll be your friend though we can't tell brother of course."The day was about to end.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go now. It was nice meeting you." said Flayn as she walked away and left.

Dimitri, Mercedes, and Flayn are three lonely souls. Was it a coincidence? Sasuke thought after failing to defeat a clone of his brother. He had to get stronger so he could protect those important to him.

He sat on the bench and waited for Mercedes to watch the sun going down.

Sasuke didn't notice when Mercedes approached him; he was so focused on his thoughts that she sat right next to him and leaned on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"I'm fine" he could tell something was wrong by the tone of her voice.

"Are you okay?" asked her, concerned.

"I've been hearing rumors about us; everyone says we're dating. It's nonsense, right?" she remarked, is this what was bothering her?

"Would you like it if it weren't?" Sasuke asked her; she didn't answer right away.

"I'm not opposed to the idea; it's just happening so fast."

He put his right arm around her, thinking about it. Would it be such a bad thing? Sure, she's five years older than him, but what does that matter? She's mature, she isn't a fangirl, and she respects his boundaries. It's not like they haven't taken their relationship further when they were on their trip; the relationship had not been the same since that night where she was in the rain and he couldn't take her crying anymore. He wanted to come for her; he didn't think about it. He thought they could still be friends after that night, but he can't see her as a friend anymore; he sees her as something more.

"If you're fine with it, so am I my angel."Sasuke said, smiling warmly.

He leaned towards her without thinking, not caring if anyone saw them; he kissed her, it felt right to him. She didn't resist him; she kissed him back. He wrapped his arms around her waist, she did the same for him. The passion of their kiss was like they were in their own world this was not like it was the first time they kissed. He didn't even care if Sakura saw them. Nothing could ruin this moment for them. Then, much to their disappointment, it ended almost too fast. They broke away, taking a deep breath. He couldn't believe what he had just done, but he didn't mind it.

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to keep it under wraps for now" Mercedes said he agreed with that they didn't want anyone butting in on their relationship; it was no one's business.

He noticed something in her eyes. She had been crying earlier. He wanted to ask her, but decided against it when he saw her smile. He wanted to protect that smile; he would ask her at another time.

"Would it be okay if lay with with you tonight?" Mercedes asked Sasuke.

He knew what she was asking; she was asking them to take their relationship further. Common sense would tell him this was happening too fast, but like his new friend had earlier told him, don't rationalize it. They'll both figure it out. Love wasn't an emotion that could be explained; was love what he felt towards her? He couldn't confirm or deny it. He wanted her; he didn't know how, if he could resist now that she had offered herself to him, especially since they've laid together multiple times before this moment.

"Anything for you, my angel." Sasuke said as he kissed her on the lips. He didn't know what he did to deserve such a woman. He didn't want to sleep through the nightmares; she protected him from them. He felt completely useless and lost without her. He wanted to protect her from the nightmares as well. He knows she has them because of the lives that she took. He wants to protect her smile.

He picked her up bridal-style and headed off to his room.

He opened his door to his quarters and shut it behind him. He didn't know what was coming over him. He didn't like to see her cry. He wanted to make her forget, even if it was just for one night. He kissed her with even more passion and needed the first time she returned it. He didn't fight his growing feelings for her. He didn't care. He just wanted to make her forget, whatever pain she had gone through in her past. He felt her hands behind his back as they switched positions, with her on top. Her ponytail was undone due to the roughness of what they were doing.

"I want to make you even for tonight to forget that terrible night"Mercedes said referring to the massacre. She started to remove her dress and tossed it to the floor fully exposing her body there was no fat despite how her clothing looked everything was perfect. She had an hourglass figure absolutely perfect Sasuke thought though it wouldn't matter if it wasn't she would still be beautiful to him.

She noticed Sasuke liked what he saw."You're beautiful, Mercie."Sasuke said with affection.

"All men have said that."She replied. Sasuke made her face him.

"I'm not just referring to physical; I'm referring to everything. I don't feel worthy."

Sasuke admitted as he gently touched her and played around with her body, kissing her on the neck. She moaned.

"You're the only one I'll ever let touch me, Sasuke-kun." She said to him, meaning it: no one can touch her but him. Even if she has to go the rest of her life never lying with another, it wouldn't be the same. He removed her bra and tossed it to the floor, then he sucked on her breast, playing with the one that wasn't in his mouth.

He was gentle. This is what she loved about Sasuke. He took his time; most men would want to rush and get straight to the main event, but Sasuke wanted to savor every moment.

"You could be a little rougher, Sasuke-kun," she said to him encouragingly.

He was a little rougher, which made her almost scream loudly enough for the whole monastery to hear.

"Let it out," Sasuke whispered in her ear, and she did.

Liquid came out of her breast and she screamed in pleasure; he continued to stimulate, as she moaned more; she didn't want him to stop; she wanted him to be rougher. As if he could read her mind, he continued but he used one hand and with his left hand went to her lower region and started to go where her entrance was.

As she moaned, he suddenly inserted his index finger into her entrance. It took everything she had not to scream; she had never felt such pleasure even when she touched herself at that region. At times, she thought about Sasuke doing the things he's doing to her now. It was nothing compared to the real thing; even though they had done it before, this was nothing like those times because they were back at the monastery, and Sasuke was not holding back.

"Fuck", she moaned; she never curses normally, but it was hard not to; he was a natural; despite him not having much experience, this was their third time, it felt like Sasuke was a veteran, even though he wasn't.

He moved his right hand over her breast and stopped briefly before removing her panties and tossing them to the floor. She was completely naked for him to see.

As if self-aware, Sasuke removed what was left of his clothing until there was nothing covering his body; she didn't get a chance to admire it for long because Sasuke resumed playing around with her vagina.

Instead of using his fingers, he was using his mouth; he was eating her out. He was; she covered her mouth with her hands, trying to suppress a scream. It was too much; the pleasure was too much. He wasn't gentle anymore. . He spread her legs further in order to increase the pleasure even more. She jerked her head around, unable to stay in one spot because of how intense the pleasure was. Sasuke was giving her.

Lust and love, that is what was consuming her. She was lost in it. Most would condemn her for what she is doing—sex before marriage—but she had already committed that sin multiple times. It didn't matter if she didn't do it one more time. There's nothing in the faith that says anything about sex before marriage as long as it's love and not purely lust.

She felt her first orgasm of the night. "Fuuuck" she screamed as she released her liquid on him. It didn't matter if it was messy; she didn't care. In fact, Sasuke looked at her with lust and something else. She knew what he was about to ask her. Their bond was so strong that she was able to read his thoughts without him saying anything.

""you don't have to be gentle this time Sasuke Kun. please be as rough as you want to be"Mercedes said with a smile. Sasuke had a shy look on his face he felt extremely nervous Mercedes had to reassure him.

"It's fine, you're not going to hurt me, I'm not made of glass." Mercedes said, which caused Sasuke to insert his member inside of her. He was gentle about how he did it, despite her insistence that he could be rough. He still wanted to be as gentle as he could. at first he went slow he wanted to gradually go faster she could read his mind as if knowing the reason he wanted to start off slow before they went extremely rough. he wanted to savor the moment and treat this as if it's their first time despite them making love multiple times by now. he was tending to her needs more than his own.

No words were needed as he gradually went faster. She didn't pay attention to the time as the night sky shined on them as Sasuke continue to go faster. She felt tears fall through her eyes felt she heard him moaning her name as well as he continued to go faster. He held on to her back their bodies pressing against each other as he continued to go faster. the world did not matter to her was this what Hinata thought when she ever made love to her partners.

Sasuke was moaning as loudly as she was, and he continued to thrust faster. She didn't care if he rearranged her insides; she felt like she was in heaven as Sasuke continued to make love to her, kissing her neck.

"You're so tight, oh fuck you feel amazing." Sasuke said in a seductive tone.

"Faster, Sasuke-kun! faster!" She didn't care if anyone heard her or if even Sakura heard her.

She didn't know, and she didn't care; she felt Sasuke cum in her for the first time. She felt the bed rock hard; they switched positions, and this time she was riding him.

"You're so sexy and beautiful, my angel," Sasuke said as he continued to thrust even faster. She should feel exhausted, but she felt him play with her breasts as he continued to rearrange her insides with his member.

He played around with her breast as a continued to thrust inside of her.

"Ahhhh Sasuke kunnn" She felt herself cum; she didn't hold back. Sasuke continued his pace, and the pleasure she was feeling even after she cummed made her want him to continue going faster to continue making love to her to make her forget about all the bad things she had been through when she had to flee her home when she had lost everything.

She wanted it to be even in a small way to make him even for a time. Forget about that awful night when his brother killed his clan.

Sasuke was reaching his limit; she knew this. "Mercie I" he said. "Cum in me, Sasuke-kun." She felt herself come again as Sasuke was about to reach his limit.

"Mercie"

Sasuke screamed as he released the pleasure ecstasy she heard in his voice. He pressed his lips against hers. She felt his seed inside her womb. She would have screamed his name if she wasn't kissing him.

They both collapsed; Sasuke was covered in sweat and so was Mercedes. Her hair was messy, but the Sasuke she was beautiful; everything about her.

"That was incredible" Mercedes said, barely able to speak after the intense love-making they just did.

"I can't believe you're inexperienced you are natural no matter how many times we make love it feels fresh like it's our first time." Mercedes said.

"I wanted to be a good lover for you, Mercie. I wanted you to forget about everything that had happened, even if it's just for the moment you become precious to me." Sasuke admitted, not ashamed of how he felt.

"you don't have to you're fine as you are and you did a fantastic job"she smiled warmly remembering what they did just now.

"we might have kept up half the monastery doing what we just did."Sasuke joked she laughed he loved that laugh he loved her smile it's what drove him to her in the first place.

"I'll protect you, Sasuke-kun, from your nightmares." Mercedes said to him with conviction.

"I'll protect you from people who would do you harm. I'll never let anyone—and I mean anyone—do anything to your smile ever again. Your smile is the most precious thing to me. As stupid and corny as that sounds, it's the absolute truth." She smiled at his confession.

"I'm tired; I can't even keep my eyes open." Mercedes confessed.

"Neither can I." Sasuke admitted he buried his face in Mercedes' chest.

Mercedes kissed him on the forehead and she fell asleep.

He'll protect her; he won't let anyone hurt her, especially the smile she gives him. It's more precious to him than anything back home.

He is growing feelings for her, He doesn't fight them or desire 's the one person he wants to protect. It's another reason to get stronger.

He came to the realization before falling asleep that he was in love with this woman, but he wasn't ready to tell her. He lacked the courage. He had fought against his growing feelings for her for the past month since they started talking, but the truth was, these feelings of love, he had felt them since the first day he laid his eyes on her. He had been in denial up until this point, but even knowing these feelings, he still was afraid of telling her.

Until he was worthy, until he was strong enough, he couldn't tell her because that was the Uchiha way: men didn't tell the women they loved how much they loved them unless they could protect them.

He didn't fight his feelings; he accepted them.

He drifts off to a peaceful sleep, with the woman he loves beside him.

---

With Hinata

Hinata heard a knock on her door. She knew who it was before she even opened it. It was Ingrid, and she didn't want to talk about it. Even here, even at this place so far away from her clan's politics, she still couldn't escape it.

All she wants is a place to be left alone, where she could be at peace. Having Neji here is a constant reminder of the expectations her clan has for her to find a suitable husband and choose a house that would benefit the clan. She defied her family on both accounts.

Before she could indulge in her thoughts, she heard a knock. She got up and opened the door, and saw it was Ingrid. She let her through. Then, Hinata sat on her bed with Ingrid right beside her.

'What happened earlier with Neji? I have never seen you so angry before. Can you tell me what's going on?"

Ingrid asked her concerned about what happened earlier. her; she had no idea where to begin.

"Can you imagine living in a household where everything and everyone is scheming and backstabbing towards you, or even family members can't be trusted? Now can you imagine your own father looking at you with disgust compared to your younger sibling? All of my life I have been a disappointment to him. The elders of the clan look at me with contempt. I am nothing in Konoha. I'm only a genius and gifted here because there's barely anyone to compare me to. I'm not as gifted as Neji or Hanabi; I'm nothing."

Hinata felt a tear fall even in this place; she still has to deal with the clan. All she wants is freedom: freedom to love, freedom to choose the kind of person she wants to be, not what her clan wants her to be.

"You're wrong, Hina-chan. You are strong, just because your father says you're not, just because your clan says you're not, doesn't mean they're right. You're the one that almost single-handedly led the shy girl squad to victory in the mock battle. I witnessed what you could do first-hand; you defeated Dimitri, a feat nobody in Fodlan could claim. You kept us all alive on the mission, you are the reason why Monica was saved. Who knows what would have happened without you?"

Ingrid, who wanted to say that she was speaking with passion, Hinata responded as if she were looking down at the floor.

"They wouldn't see it that way; they would see me as being weak and useless. They would."Hinata couldn't finish before Ingrid snapped.

"Who cares about what those damn elders on the other side of the world think? They're not the ones that have seen what you can do, they're not the ones that have seen you get stronger, they're not the ones who properly trained you, helped guide you, or made you make rapid improvements. That was our professor; he did that. He did what they failed to do. Dorothea isn't here, nor is Naruto, and I don't think they would want you to have this train of thought about yourself either. I won't allow it, Hina-chan."

She lifted Hinata's face so that she could face her.

"I would not fall in love with a weak woman, and neither would Naruto or Dorothea. I want you to see what we see."

She had never been spoken to with such passion before, other than by Naruto when they made love for the first time.

But he had never once told her he loved her; she wants to believe he does. Ingrid told her first Naruto hasn't.

"Don't think such foolish thoughts Naruto loves you and I love you please push those thoughts from your mind."

Ingrid kissed Hinata her clan would not approve of her action she didn't care Ingrid was her Knight her protector her lover she was all those things.

"Tonight, Hina Chan. Even if it's just for one night, I want to you to forget everything about your clan and just focus on me."

For one night at least Ingrid would wash the pain of the past away because that's what she would do for a Naruto and Dorothea if they were here.

Ingrid kissed Hinata she didn't give her a chance to say anything. Ingrid wanted her to forget about what her cousin said to her at the cafeteria about everything about her clan the moment. It was Ingrid's turn to comfort her.

They removed each other's shirts and tossed them to the floor, disregarding the first layer. The second, which was thinner, showed more skin due to its thinner fabric.

While Hinata has been the dominant one in their past few encounters, Ingrid wants to be the one to do it this time. She undoes buttons on Hinata's undershirt fully, exposing her breasts.

"It's not fair," Hinata said, pointing out that Ingrid was still wearing her undershirt. She took care of it quickly and tossed hers to the floor. Unlike Hinata, who doesn't wear a bra at all due to her being uncomfortable wearing them because of her breast size, Ingrid tossed hers to the side, fully exposing both of their chests.

It was skin against skin, unlike last few times when Hinata was dominant. It was Ingrid; she played with her breasts and kissed her neck.

"Oh", Hinata moaned quietly.

"You don't have to hold back.", Ingrid whispered in her ear.

she sucked Hinata's breast and gently bite them them to harden.

"Oh fuck"Hinata moan the sudden pleasure she was getting when Ingrid was speeding up her rubbing of her breast with with her mouth and her right hand she was squeezing Hinata's right breast while licking sucking and gently biting on her left her head jerked.

"Oh God"Hinata moaned as liquid came out of her breast. Ingrid sucked it like a hungry animal and then pressed her lips to Hinata's, tasting her own liquids in Ingrid's saliva.

"I wonder what your pussy tastes like," Ingrid said in her dirty talk as she went to her entrance and spread Hinata's legs.

It felt like an eternity before Hinata felt a tongue in her. She grabbed the bedsheet tightly. Ingrid was digging deep.

"Oh fuck"

Hinata normally doesn't curse, but it was too much; it was hard for her not to moan in pleasure.

Ingrid was great with her mouth; she was experienced, which wasn't the first time she had eating Hinata out, but this time was different. This time, Ingrid was like a hungry animal, hungry for a meal.

Hinata was crying, the pleasure was unlike anything she could of other than when Naruto did this to her. Only he was able to give her the kind of pleasure that Ingrid was giving her now; she wasn't as good at pleasuring her lover this way as Ingrid was.

"Oh God", Hinata screamed as she came hard. Ingrid wasn't wasting any, consuming as much as she could. Which only made Hinata even more lustful; she wanted to fuck Ingrid, but before she could get up, Ingrid was doing something else: she was putting her pussy near Hinata's.

Hinata know what she was going to do. she started to rub her pussy against hers Ingrid was now starting to moan as loud as he knows it was.

"Oh my God fuck fuck"Ingrid moaned as she continued to speed up her pace Hinata helped her by also rubbing against her.

"Oh God, Oh God, Hina, Hina, Hina"

Ingrid moaned as she came, Hinata did the same.

"Ingrid, Ingrid, oh God, oh God"

They both screamed each other's names, not caring how loud they were. The orgasm that he hadn't had was nothing like she'd ever had, even with Naruto, it was different. Lesbian sex wasn't the same as sex with a man.

Neither of them paid attention to how loudly they were. She felt Hinata's tears coming out, and Hinata screamed. Ingrid kissed her lover passionately on the lips.

They did not pay attention to the amount of time that had passed; it was a little over two hours.

She wrapped her arms around her waist; making their faces inches apart from each other.

"I don't know what I would do without you," Hinata admitted.

"Neither do I," Ingrid responded.

Ingrid could tell from the look in Hinata's eyes that she wanted to say something.

"All my life, I had to hide who I was: a bisexual girl who is mostly attracted to girls to the point where I questioned if I was even bisexual at all, even with my feelings for Naruto."

Hinata admitted.

"Wait, what?" Ingrid asked, surprised at Hinata.

"I told you the Hyuga clan is socially conservative; I had to suppress who I was; I overemphasized my crush on Naruto to hide my bisexuality. Even here, the nuances of being bisexual are often ignored because people either assume you're attracted to men or women only, with no in-between."

Hinata said. Ingrid understood that too.

"When I first met Dorothea 3 years ago, I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I."

Hinata placed a hand on her shoulder to quiet her.

"You don't have to reveal something so personal, Ingrid Chan. Whatever special time you two had together, you don't have to reveal it to me."

Hinata said this softly.

"I know what it's like suppressing your sexuality, I was forced to do that despite the fact I was deeply in love with Dorothea; I would have given up everything for her, even my dreams. This was something she never told anyone; her feelings for Dorothea were deep, the only feelings that came close before Dorothea was Naruto."

"Things aren't quite like your first love, I know how you feel."

Hinata said, thinking of Naruto.

"I Love you, Hina Chan, but I can never stop loving Dorothea. No matter how much time passes, that can never change. I can't do that even for you."

Hinata replied, "I have loved Dorothea as long as I have loved Naruto. I Understand only too well. And I don't blame you."

This shocked Ingrid. Hinata loves Dorothea as long as Naruto?

"I'm tired", said Ingrid as she yawned.

"I am too"said Hinata.

"Good night, my knight" Hinata said sweetly.

"Good night, my beloved" Ingrid replied back

The two women fell asleep in each other's arms, oblivious to the hardships of the present moment.