A/N: Small mention of NaruSasu at the end, but not as detailed as I would've liked as the chapter already got too long.

Review please!

Chapter 27

Kiba, who had been watching the scene with growing agitation, clenched his fists. His overprotective nature for Hinata kicked in.

"What the heck is going on here?" Kiba growled, his eyes narrowing. "Hinata doesn't need this kind of attention. I'm not letting anyone mess with her."

Naruto, standing nearby, sensed the tension in the air. Concern etched across his face, he stepped forward, leaving Karin a few ways behind, and placed a hand on Kiba's shoulder.

"Easy, Kiba. Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe this is just another one of Guy-sensei's weird teaching methods," Naruto suggested, attempting to diffuse the situation.

Kiba, however, remained visibly upset, his protective instincts in full force. "I don't care if it's Guy-sensei's lesson or not. No one messes with Hinata like this."

Ino, catching wind of Naruto's concern, shot him a look. With a conflicted expression, she hesitated before admitting, "Look, I... I might know something about Sasuke and Naruto that you guys don't. This... it's complicated."

Ino exchanged a knowing glance with Sakura, who stood behind her. The unspoken connection between them conveyed a shared realization that there might be more to Sasuke and Naruto's relationship than met the eye.

Sakura had been suspecting it for quite some time now, especially after Karin's remark the other day at their outing and the other times she had caught Naruto making similar comments. Ino had also hinted strongly to Sakura that there was more to their relationship than met the eye but hadn't said much as they hadn't exactly gotten a chance to chat about it.

Sakura leaned in closer to Naruto, her expression shifting from disapproval to a subtle understanding. "Naruto, spill it. What's going on here? And don't think you can keep secrets from us."

Naruto hesitated, glancing around to ensure their conversation remained discreet. He sighed before finally admitting, "Alright, but keep it quiet. Shikamaru knows, and he spilled the beans to Ino already, so I guess I don't have much of a choice before you find out anyway. Sasuke and I, well... we're more than just friends. It's a secret we've been keeping."

Sakura's eyes widened with realization, and she shot a quick look at Ino, who raised an eyebrow, also catching on to the revelation from the man himself. Ino nodded subtly, confirming that this was what she knew, signalling that they needed to tread carefully.

Kiba, still visibly agitated, interrupted, "What's the secret? What does it have to do with Hinata?"

Ino shot a warning look at Kiba, cautioning him to keep his voice down lest Karin or anyone else heard them. She shook her head. Men were so slow in catching up to these things. She then turned back to Naruto.

"Alright, Naruto. We get it. But what's this got to do with the romantic show Sasuke's putting on with Hinata?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, looking conflicted. "I don't know. Sasuke doesn't usually go public with anything, especially our... situation. This is strange, even for him. Maybe Guy-sensei pushed him into it for the sake of 'teamwork.'"

"Your situation?" Kiba asked again, growing more frustrated, still unable to understand what Naruto had meant.

Naruto, sensing his confusion, decided to shed more light on the situation. "Look, the girls understood this; Sasuke and I are more than just friends. We're together. I've always been protective of him, and we've faced our fair share of challenges. But lately, Sasuke's been talking about wanting to build a family... With Karin."

The revelation hung in the air, leaving the group momentarily speechless.

Kiba opened his mouth once more, his brain slowly picking up and comprehending the first part of Naruto's revelation for now. "YOU'RE TOGETHER WITH-"

Sakura leapt up to him from behind, grabbing his left shoulder to tip-toe as she kept her balance and clapped a hand to his mouth to stop him from yelling what he finally understood out loud.

His widened eyes turned to her as he shifted his head and then down to where her fingers touched his lips as a blush spread across her cheeks at the contact. She was very glad that she stood behind him. The electric shock this contact had given him was enough to silence him. She felt him inhale and his muscles relax.

She jumped back, hiding behind Ino. Her face felt burning hot and she knew he was looking at her too.

They all struggled to reconcile the image of the stoic Sasuke with the idea of him desiring a family. The mention of Karin's name only added to their bewilderment and they collectively turned to look at her. She was staring at the display herself, frowning. Her chakra sensory was perhaps stronger than most here.

"Wait, so Sasuke wants to build a family with Karin, but he's also together with you?" Ino asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

Naruto nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. I know it's unexpected, but we're all cool with it. He and Karin have been spending a lot of time together. I guess he's serious about it. But this romantic show with Hinata - it's throwing me off too. He… um… He also knows Hinata confessed to me. Maybe he's just trying to make her feel better?"

Sakura sighed, trying to process the information. "Naruto, that was ages ago. I've long since stopped giving Sasuke the benefit of the doubt about anything."

Kiba looked at her and studied her expressions. She continued looking away. He wondered if both him and Hinata had been wrong. Naruto just admitted he liked Sasuke, and Sakura appeared honest when she remarked her distrust about Sasuke. Then who was it that she liked? He would eat his own shit if it turned out to be Yōichi.

Ino voiced the shared worry that lingered in the air. "What about Neji? He's out there risking his life on a mission, and when he comes back, he'll walk into this tangled mess. How is he going to take all of this? You really think no one here will tell him about this… whatever is happening?"

Sakura, contemplating the situation, nodded in agreement. "We don't want to add more stress to an already dangerous mission. Neji deserves honesty, but we need to be strategic about it. Let's support Hinata and make sure she's ready for whatever comes and ask her what's going on. Maybe this is just harmless."

-x-x-x-x-

Guy-sensei broke their conversation as he applauded. "Well done, Sasuke and Hinata! You've shown us the beauty of teamwork. Remember, the path to greatness is often walked with a companion by your side! Now, let's return to the classroom."

Both Sasuke and Hinata kept a straight face as they bowed, reserved in their acknowledgment, sharing a nod of mutual respect. They recognized the unexpected harmony they had achieved in the name of teamwork. Hinata scurried away, not looking at anyone else.

Her friends lay in wait for her. The atmosphere was tense as they gathered in the classroom once more, unsure of how Hinata would respond to their inquiries.

Ino, taking the lead, began cautiously, "Hinata, we need to talk about what happened during Guy-sensei's lesson. It seemed like Sasuke was, you know, courting you, and we want to make sure everyone's on the same page."

Hinata, her gentle demeanor in place, looked genuinely puzzled. "Courting? No, I don't think so. Sasuke and I were just following Guy-sensei's strange lesson. I didn't feel like he was courting me."

Kiba, his protective instincts still on high alert, pressed further. "Hinata, are you sure? We just want to make sure everything's clear and if Sasuke was doing something which made you feel uncomfortable, especially with Neji being away on a mission."

Hinata's expression shifted from confusion to mild offense. "I don't appreciate being doubted. Neji is my fiancé, and my loyalty is to him. There's nothing more to it."

Ino, sensing Hinata's discomfort, tried to ease the tension. "We're just trying to understand, Hinata. Things got a bit confusing, and we want to make sure we're all on the same page."

"We don't want Sasuke taking advantage of you while Neji is away," Sakura added. "We're just concerned."

Hinata's frustration grew, and her voice took on a firm tone. "I understand your concern, but I'm not hiding anything. Neji means everything to me, and I won't let anyone cast doubt on our relationship."

The group, realizing that pushing further might strain their friendship with Hinata, backed off. As Hinata asserted her loyalty to Neji, a silent understanding passed among them to talk about this matter later.

However, Hinata couldn't shake the lingering sensations from the unexpected encounter with Sasuke. The sparks of electricity that danced between them remained a secret she chose to keep to herself, adding a layer of complexity to the emotions she harbored but didn't express. The unspoken tension hung in the air as she navigated the delicate balance of friendship, loyalty, and the untold stories that threaded their intertwined lives.

By the end of the class, as Guy-sensei struck a final pose, and, despite the unconventional teaching methods, they had gained valuable insights into the true essence of teamwork.

As he exited the room, Guy-sensei turned back with a thumbs-up and a grin.

"Remember, my youthful students, teamwork makes the dream work! Believe it!"

"Yeah!" Naruto agreed, though a bit half-hearted than he had been at the beginning of the class.

And with that, the door closed, leaving them all to reflect on the unexpected but oddly enlightening lesson they had just experienced.

-x-x-x-x-

As they exited the classroom, Kiba was telling Hinata about the unexpected news they had learnt as they left together.

"Naruto and Sasuke, together. I mean… Naruto AND Sasuke…" he kept repeating in a loop, still unable to process the gravity of the situation.

Hinata finally understood that Naruto telling her that he liked someone else had held a ring of truth in it all along, and he hadn't just said it to brush her off, and nor was he still obsessed with Sakura.

"So that means Naruto does not like Sakura," Hinata continued softly. "But we still don't know who is it that Sakura likes as you now don't believe it's Sasuke. Though the flowers she received are apology flowers from Yōichi and they are quite beautiful. And she has agreed to meet with him for dinner sometime in the future, but you don't think it's him either."

She looked at him carefully as he sighed in resignation but didn't make any comment.

"Was Guy-sensei's class in teamwork actually useful?" she probed further. "You don't hate the mention of a normal guy's guts anymore for making advances on Sakura?"

Kiba's fangs bared as he clenched his teeth, but relaxed them soon after.

"You know what? I guess you're right. I'm actually a lot less frustrated with him."

She looked back at him in surprise. He was trying to make his expression unreadable, but he could never hide anything when Hinata studied him like that.

"Spill," was all she said calmly. "What's really running in your mind?"

"You don't get it Hina!" he whined. "She… She touched me. She actually put her hand on my mouth to stop me from speaking but her fingers smelled so nice, Hina," he insisted. "And I could feel it, I could feel a connection. And I think she felt it too."

"Didn't you tell me you made plans with Tamaki again?" she asked. "A girl who is actually interested in you, right? While Sakura has also made future dinner plans with another boy? And we still don't even know who is it that she likes? Why must you continue to make things so complicated?"

Kiba sighed, dropping the topic. They walked in silence for a few moments longer, both of them processing their own bits of information.

"Kiba, how does it work though? How can you be in a relationship with someone, and at the same time plan to have a family with someone else?" she asked, reapproaching the topic of Naruto's and Sasuke's relationship dynamics.

Kiba looked at her sideways and hesitated before speaking, "Well, Hinata, some people are built that way, they can have multiple affairs at the same time and it doesn't bother them. They have this… understanding you can say. It's called being in an open relationship. And I think in this case, Naruto has to decide if he wants to be part of a throuple, if he hasn't already made up his mind that is."

"So they are not satisfied with having one partner?" she asked innocently, confused.

He scratched the back of his head. "It's not just that. Some people like to… experiment with other people as well. They give their partner permission to… um… relieve themselves physically with others. You know, to keep things interesting. Sometimes, people get bored of doing the same thing with the same person."

"But… doesn't that mean their relation is not strong enough that they need other people to fulfil their desires?"

"Well, you and I may think like that, but some people think that their connection is actually stronger and their trust level is unwavering. They keep things purely physical. While others just don't like to be tied down. They fear commitment. There are other reasons too."

Hinata shook her head. She failed to comprehend how one person could not be satisfied with one partner. Was loyalty truly a joke now? Even further, she couldn't understand how a person could have multiple relationships at the same time. Isn't it hard enough to juggle one?

She couldn't even imagine Neji looking at another girl. She would be extremely hurt if she even heard about any of his past relationships and she figured the less she knew, the better.

"What about loyalty?" she asked, looking at Kiba.

She knew he was still hurt after Sakura, and any man even flirting with her sent him over the edge. But even Kiba was discussing having physical relations with another girl while his heart still pined over Sakura, and he was distracting himself as a way to get over her. She remembered the conversation Naruto and Lee were having on their mission, about being open perverts or whatever, and wondered if boys were just programmed differently.

"They keep the emotional aspect different from physical. You see, even for me, it didn't matter as long as Sakura returned to me at the end of the day. I knew she didn't feel for me as strongly as I felt for her. But my feelings were that strong that I didn't care, even if she told me she wanted to see other people physically, as long as she stayed with me too. I wouldn't think of it as failure on my part for being unable to satisfy her, no. Sometimes, a person just has a larger appetite and requires diversity, I know that. And I, I just wanted her attention as well. I thought I could convince her to stay and be exclusive. Maybe I was just being selfish."

"I think Sakura was the one being selfish," Hinata remarked. "And you're the insanely jealous type. You attacked Yōichi for what? How could you have ever been ok with it?"

"That was different. I thought it wasn't consensual. I thought he was taking advantage of her."

She suddenly caught sight of Sasuke walking with Naruto and Karin while walking towards the kennels to pick up Akamaru. A strange tension enveloped her, making her breath catch in her chest. She stopped suddenly, mid-conversation. Kiba, noticing her sudden change in demeanor, looked at her with confusion, sensing something amiss.

"Hinata, what's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost or something," Kiba remarked, concern furrowing his brow. He didn't need to follow her gaze, he had smelt Sasuke, and his face scrunched in disgust.

Hinata, trying to compose herself, managed a forced smile. "It's nothing, Kiba. Still a bit tired from today's training and the mission, that's all."

Kiba, not entirely convinced but choosing not to press further, nodded reluctantly. "Alright, if you say so. But if something's bothering you, you know you can talk to me, right?"

Meanwhile, Sasuke, who had noticed Hinata's reaction, couldn't shake the growing unease within him. He had never anticipated that a simple training exercise would entangle him in a web of emotions he had long tried to avoid. The fear of these emotions interfering with his goals and missions cast a shadow over his otherwise stoic exterior.

Sasuke met Hinata's gaze briefly, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. In that moment, they both carried the weight of unspoken emotions and the recognition that something had shifted in the dynamics of their interactions.

As Hinata left with Kiba, the air remained charged with unspoken tension. The intricate dance of emotions continued to unfold, each member grappling with their own feelings, loyalties, and the unexpected twists that had woven their lives into a tapestry of complexity.

Sasuke reflected on his past interactions with Hinata, and he couldn't deny the shift in his feelings. What had initially been fueled by competitiveness and a desire to assert dominance over Neji had evolved into something more complex. The casual flirting, once a means of proving a point, now carried a weight of genuine attraction. He had always found her attractive, but he had assumed that it was a game to him, and he was playing to win. And Hinata did not appear the type to become a part of a harem, nor someone who had casual flings.

Hell, she was engaged. She had willingly chosen to spend her life with one person. And Sasuke felt... possessiveness.

The realization unsettled Sasuke. He had always prided himself on maintaining emotional detachment, viewing relationships as potential distractions from his singular goal. Yet, the growing attraction he felt toward Hinata seemed to defy his intentions.

As Sasuke grappled with the realization that he was losing control over his emotions, he understood the necessity of maintaining distance. Every encounter with Hinata seemed to stir a storm within him, and the lack of control irked him. The teasing and flirting, once sources of amusement, had transformed into something deeper. Hinata's mere presence became a catalyst for a quickened heartbeat and a sense of vulnerability he loathed.

Sasuke recognized that he needed to stay away, not only to protect his own goals but also to spare Hinata from the unpredictable turmoil he felt within. The uncharted territory of genuine attraction unsettled the carefully crafted walls he had built around himself. He would have to avoid the kennels, or keep an eye out and make sure he never ran into her.

Meanwhile, Hinata grappled with her own internal conflict. The heightened emotions she experienced in Sasuke's presence left her questioning the nature of her feelings. Was it merely a response to sexual frustration, or did it signify something more profound?

She reached home and clung to the letter Neji had left, finding solace in the anticipation of his return. The explicit desire he expressed in the letter fueled her hope that the return to their intimate connection would dispel any lingering confusion.

Her Neji, who respected all her wishes. Went with her idea of remaining chaste, throttling his own desires, respecting her wishes over his own. Loyal, sweet Neji who did not comprehend that she desired so much more and that her stupid idea of chastity was just that... Stupid. She couldn't even fathom betraying him by even thinking about another man. Hinata reassured herself that once Neji was back, things would return to normal, and the unsettling emotions she felt in Sasuke's presence would be relegated to a fleeting moment in time.

As soon as he was back, she would jump his bones, and all would be well again. Sasuke would be the furthest thing from her mind.

Sasuke did not return to his own apartment, but went with Naruto. As soon as they reached indoors, he grabbed Naruto's hair and pulled his head back, administering a smoldering kiss on his lips which left him reeling.

He grabbed on to him tightly as he was pushed down on his back and welcomed his tumultuous thrusts. His eyes drifted to Karin as she watched them, casually taking a sip of her drink before putting it aside and unbuttoning her blouse.

He felt her study his expressions as his pupils just rolled back, and he lost himself to the moment.