A/N: This chapter was also posted on AO3, but this chapter will have some edited changes and longer scenes, because I realized I forgot to include a few things that I didn't before. So, if you happen to have read this on AO3, there will be changes and I'll continue updating on here but not on AO3 for a while.
XXXXX
The atmosphere shifted to one of mild discomfort when Sasuke gently removed himself from Hinata's embrace. She observed him awkwardly turn his head away, though she couldn't help but notice the faint blush coloring the tips of his ears.
The moment Hinata's arms wrapped around Sasuke, she could sense his embarrassment mirroring her own. It was an impulsive move, driven by the raw pain she glimpsed in his eyes, a sight so rare in someone as guarded as Sasuke. Feeling him cry against her, she couldn't help but harbor a small sense of pride for being privy to such a moment. It made her curious, had Sakura, or even Naruto, ever witnessed this unguarded side of Sasuke? But, it would make sense that they most likely had.
"You know, Sasuke, I never took you for much of a crier. Should I feel special?" she said, a ghost of a teasing smile emerged.
Sasuke's reaction was almost immediate, his usual stoic demeanor attempting to reassert itself. "That stays between us, okay?" His words were firm, but the corners of his mouth twitched, betraying the struggle to suppress a smile at her playful remark.
Hinata's smile broadened slightly, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. "Looks like I've joined a very exclusive club."
The hint of a smile that had been threatening to break through Sasuke's stern facade became more pronounced, despite his efforts to maintain his usual composure.
She could see a subtle redness beneath his eyes, the faint trails where tears had once fallen. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.
"You're going to be okay."
Her words seemed to spark a change in him. Surprise briefly crossed his face before it melted into a smile, one that truly touched his eyes, casting a gentle glow that softened his usually stern features. This was a new expression on Sasuke, a smile that revealed a tenderness Hinata had never witnessed in him before.
The sight of Sasuke's genuine smile, so different from any she'd seen on him before, stirred something within her, leaving her momentarily puzzled by the sudden acceleration of her pulse.
Hinata's reverie shattered with the unexpected sensation of a flick against her forehead. Surprised, her hand flew to the spot, and her eyes, wide and questioning, found Sasuke's. A faint pout played on her lips, but before she could voice her mild protest, Sasuke's gentle smile halted her words.
"Thank you for being a good friend," Sasuke said, his index finger gently tapping her forehead again in a gesture that was almost affectionate.
A flush of warmth spread across Hinata's cheeks, her heart dancing to a quicker rhythm. To be recognized by Sasuke, to know he valued their friendship just as she did, made her happy. She hadn't realized he felt the same way.
"I should be the one thanking you," she whispered back, her voice soft, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
Silence surrounded them for a few moments. Just listening to the sound of the water flowing in the background.
"What will you do now?" Hinata asked.
Sasuke shrugged. "Not sure. I'll probably stay at a hotel for a few days before I find my own place and take a few missions to keep my mind and body busy."
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" She asked.
His eyebrows drew together, a shadow crossing his face. "What do you mean by that?"
"Divorce... it's not just a shadow you can lose in the sun," she started, her voice a whisper of empathy. "E-Emotions buried, they don't just fade…they grow, twist. You, of all people, Sasuke…"
His gaze, an unreadable veil, fixed on her, leaving Hinata adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Had she crossed an unseen line? Before she could retreat, Sasuke's silence broke, his voice a low murmur.
"I remember," Sasuke said, "your presence... it used to irk me," he confessed, his voice carrying a hint of old irritations. "Your timidity, your relentless spirit wrapped in self-doubt... I mistook it for a lack of will."
Hinata's frown deepened, the sting of past her was a bitter pill she did not want to talk about at the moment.
"Sasuke-kun, I…" she tried, only to be cut off again.
"But seeing you now," Sasuke continued, "I saw the change in you. The blossoming of confidence, the way you captured that fool's heart." His gaze, intense and searching, locked with hers. "Naruto praises your kindness, and I've witnessed it myself. Your concern doesn't go unnoticed, but understand, I've outgrown the shadows of my past."
She almost didn't know how to respond, but managed to speak. "I understand. I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"Enough with the apologies," Sasuke chided gently, a rare smirk playing on his lips.
Despite the complexity of their exchange, Hinata found herself smiling in response, a sense of relief washing over her.
XXXXX
Naruto's blue eyes drifted to the window, gazing out over the village that he had sworn to protect. It had been a few weeks since Hinata had returned home, and he had been going out of his way to make her happy. He fetched whatever she craved from the supermarket, planned dates to her favorite spots, and devoted himself to fulfilling her desires with a passion that only he could give her. He even canceled important meetings to spend a day on a picnic with her, showing through his actions his willingness to change and be the husband she deserved.
Yet, in his quest to be there for Hinata, his workload had piled up, gradually eating into the time he could spend with his family. Hinata was understanding, but Naruto knew her patience wouldn't last forever.
"Hokage-sama. You have a visitor," came Shiho's voice, snapping him back to the present.
Naruto swiveled around in his chair, finding Sasuke standing in the doorway, a certain heaviness in his aura. After a brief nod of thanks to Shiho, he was left alone with his friend. Naruto's gaze narrowed; their last encounter at the training ground had been tense, but now the air between them felt surprisingly calm.
"Sasuke? Are you okay?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.
"Sakura," Sasuke started, his tone cutting through the silence. "Have you spoken to her lately?"
Naruto's head shook, confusion knitting his brows. "No, what's up?"
A heavy sigh escaped Sasuke, his lips a tight line. "Seems I'm the bearer of news, then."
Naruto leaned in, urgency etching his features. "What news? Sasuke, you're scaring me."
"We're getting a divorce... Well, technically we broke up. We never officially married…" Sasuke's voice trailed off, a hint of regret in his tone.
Naruto felt as if the floor had dropped beneath him. Divorce? He was aware they hadn't had a formal wedding, a fact Sakura had always glossed over, but he had never pressed the issue. He knew their relationship had its strains, especially with Sasuke's absences, but a breakup was something he hadn't seen coming.
"Why? What happened?" Naruto's voice faltered.
"Remember that issue you poked your nose into? That's part of it." Sasuke's reply was pointed, a shadow crossing his face.
Naruto's cheeks flamed, memories flooding back, unwanted. "Ah…"
Sasuke continued. "Sakura... she's not as sure of herself as she appears. Doubts, accusations... it was tearing us apart. Staying would've bred resentment sooner than I'm willing to admit."
Naruto was speechless, struggling to process what was just said. Standing, he approached Sasuke and placed his hands on his shoulders.
"Crash at our place, will ya?" Naruto's voice was warm, his hands resting reassuringly on Sasuke's shoulders.
"In that madhouse of yours? I'd go nuts being that close to you," he said, the corners of his mouth twitching.
Naruto puffed out his cheeks. "Hey, no way I'm letting you sulk in some dingy hotel room. Not on my watch. You're stuck with us—chaos, ramen, and all. Besides, you might help keep the kids in line, well more so Boruto. Himawari is an angel most of the time."
Naruto added, "Got a couch in my office that doubles as a bed. It's no five-star, but Hinata'll throw in one of her fluffy blankets. You'll sleep like a log."
Sasuke hesitated. "Really okay?"
"Sasuke, you're more than just a friend. You're my brother. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you." He grinned.
XXXXX
Hinata slipped off her shoes at the genkan, her eyes briefly glancing at a pair of shoes she didn't recognize, but figured it was one of Boruto's friends.
"I'm home," she called out.
The sound of the television blared through the house, competing with Boruto's loud remarks at his video game. It seemed unlikely that anyone had heard her over the noise. Shaking her head, Hinata decided to head upstairs. The idea of a peaceful shower, away from the noisy living room, was appealing and then soaking in the bath.
As Hinata made her way upstairs, the noises downstairs faded into the background. Approaching her bedroom, she noticed the door to their private bathroom was closed, and the sound of a shower running was audible. A playful smirk tugged on her lips at the thought of scaring Naruto. Quietly, she opened the bathroom door, expecting to see her husband.
However, the sight that greeted her was entirely unexpected. Instead of Naruto, she found Sasuke Uchiha in the shower, completely naked and in the middle of showering. The water cascaded over his well-toned, muscular body, she caught a brief look at his missing left arm, before her eyes gazed over to his right arm, his hand deftly maneuvering the handheld showerhead over his soapy chest, but paused when he noticed her presence.
Their eyes met in a moment of stunned silence. Hinata's face flushed a deep crimson as the realization dawned on her. Her world spun for a brief second before she fainted.
XXXXX
As Hinata's consciousness slowly resurfaced, the muffled sounds of an argument reached her ears. It took her a moment to orient herself, but she soon realized it was Naruto and Sasuke's voices, their conversation strained and hushed.
"Why didn't you tell your wife I was using the shower?" Sasuke's voiced, annoyed.
"I didn't even know she was home!" Naruto exclaimed.
Hinata winced, her head throbbing lightly as she tried to open her eyes. She heard Naruto's voice again, laced with a hint of irritation.
"Great, just great. My wife faints at the sight of my best friend's naked body."
Her eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing she saw was Naruto's face, hovering above her, his his twitching eyebrow in contrast to his worried tone. "Hey. Are you alright?" he asked, his smile somewhat strained.
Hinata managed a weak nod, her cheeks still burning with embarrassment. She caught a glimpse of Sasuke, now fully clothed, before quickly averting her gaze. "Why was he in our shower?" she managed to ask.
Naruto smiled sheepishly, "Sasuke's staying with us for a bit. Himawari was using the main bathroom, so I told him he could use ours. I didn't hear you come in. I was going to tell you as soon as I knew you were home."
"The TV was too loud," Hinata remarked, a note of mild reproach in her voice.
Naruto chuckled when Sasuke glared at him. He rubbed the back of his neck, "I guess that was my fault."
Gathering her courage, Hinata dared a glance towards Sasuke. His face was the picture of calm, no sign of discomfort or embarrassment from the earlier incident. Yet, the memory of the unexpected shower scene clung to Hinata's mind, stubborn and vivid. Feeling the heat rise in her cheeks once more, she quickly diverted her eyes from his unfazed expression, wishing she could erase the all-too-clear image that had imprinted itself in her memory.
She sat up, as Naruto placed his hand under her arm to help her up. "I'm going to be a bit late preparing dinner. I hope that's alright?" She glanced at the time, feeling a bit embarrassed still.
"Don't worry about that. We'll order in tonight. You just relax, my beautiful wife!" He grinned, kissing her cheek. "Come on, Sasuke. Let's give her some privacy." Naruto motioned for Sasuke to follow him.
She watched as her husband and their new housemate leave the bedroom, her gaze lingered longer on the latter.
XXXXX
Dinner at the Uzumaki household…
The dinner table was smoothered with an uneasy quiet. Boruto and Himawari's curious gazes were fixed on Sasuke, their scrutiny bordering on intrusive. Sasuke could feel the weight of their stares, a silent interrogation that had him second-guessing his decision to accept Naruto's offer.
"Sasuke's gonna crash with us for a bit," he had announced, as if discussing the weather.
"Why's he staying here?" Boruto's question was blunt, making Sasuke's eyebrow twitch.
His instincts kicked in, his mouth opening to craft a response, likely sharper than necessary. Before he could speak, however, Hinata intervened.
"Sasuke is going through a tough time, and it's important to support friends and family when they need us,"" Hinata explained, her voice carrying a warmth and an authority that left no room for further questioning.
Boruto and Himawari exchanged a glance. Acceptance flickered in their eyes, a silent agreement to welcome Sasuke without further inquiry.
Sasuke mentally exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful for Hinata's timely intervention. Her ability to navigate the delicate conversation had spared him the discomfort of delving into personal matters he was hardly ready to discuss, especially not with Naruto's children.
The Uchiha's gaze shifted to Naruto, who was eagerly devouring the tonkatsu ramen they'd ordered for dinner. Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at the sight; some things never changed, and Naruto's love for ramen was certainly one of them.
After a while, Sasuke found himself drawn into the lively exchange, observing Naruto's interaction with his family. There was a warmth and ease in Naruto's demeanor, a side of him Sasuke rarely saw during their youth.
A realization dawned on him. He was witnessing the family life Naruto had always dreamed of, a stark contrast to the loneliness that had once defined both their childhoods. A part of Sasuke felt a surge of happiness for Naruto, coupled with a silent hope that his friend would continue to cherish and nurture what he had and not ruin it with Hinata.
Amidst the chatter, Himawari's innocent question caught Sasuke off guard. "Uncle Sasuke, were you and Mom friends when you were kids too?"
Sasuke hesitated before replying, "We barely spoke."
Naruto chuckled. "Sasuke was practically glued to me and Sakura. He barely spoke to anyone else. Right, Sasuke? Couldn't bear to be apart from us," he teased, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Sasuke shot Naruto a withering look, his irritation barely concealed. "Hardly. I simply tolerated your constant noise," he retorted, the corner of his mouth twitching in a reluctant half-smile.
Naruto leaned in, his voice playful yet challenging. "Oh, come on, Sasuke. Admit it, you were the shyest one of the bunch. Always brooding in a corner unless I dragged you out."
"You two haven't changed a bit from your academy days," Hinata giggled.
The playful accusation brought a momentary pause to their argument, he and Naruto exchanged sheepish glances, a hint of red tinging their cheeks.
"Sasuke-kun, you might not recall, but during an Uchiha and Hyuga banquet, Itach-san tried introducing us, but you didn't seem to want to be bothered getting to know me," she chuckled, but he could hear the hurt within her words despite her smile.
Sasuke, momentarily caught off guard, searched his memories for the event Hinata mentioned, but he couldn't remember.
"Sorry…I don't remember," he apologized.
Hinata shook her head. "It's fine. It was such a short interaction, I'm not surprised you don't remember."
Suddenly the table fell silent, Sasuke gazed into his steaming bowl of ramen. The rising warmth brushed against his skin, nudging his thoughts toward Itachi. A quick glance toward Boruto and Himawari revealed their puzzled expressions; their young minds likely held only fragments of stories about his brother, if any.
"I'm done for tonight," Boruto announced suddenly, sliding his bowl aside with a clatter that cut through the quiet.
Not long after, Himawari followed suit, her departure further quieting the room until only Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata remained.
With the children gone, Naruto's mood shifted playfully. "How about some sake? Feels like the kind of night for it, especially for you, eh, bastard?" He smirked.
Sasuke exchanged a glance with Hinata, who responded with a gentle shrug and an encouraging smile, silently affirming Naruto's suggestion.
"Sure," Sasuke smirked.
XXXXX
Multiple drinks later…
"You should've seen it, Sasuke! Boruto, that little rascal, decided it'd be a great idea to paint the entire living room with his food. Hinata walked in, and her face—" He paused, mimicking Hinata's shocked expression, which only made him laugh harder.
Hinata, her cheeks a lovely shade of pink from the sake. "I was more impressed he managed to get it on the ceiling. I still don't know how he did that…"
"Sarada, when she was two... she used to mimic my stance, you know, trying to look all serious like me. It was... adorable." He paused. "I just wish I'd been there more, seen more of those moments."
Sensing the conversation veering too close to the edge of Sasuke's recent heartaches, Naruto quickly pivoted to a safer subject. "Anyway, let's not dwell on the what-ifs. Tell me, how's training with Hinata been? She's not too tough on you, is she?"
Sasuke's mood visibly lifted with the shift in conversation, appreciating Naruto's efforts to keep things light. "Her gentle fist technique is strong, it's forced me to adapt."
Hinata playfully added, "And you have kept me on my toes. It's not every day I get to practice dodging a chidori."
With a sly grin, Sasuke replied, "Maybe I should hold back a bit, then. I wouldn't want to intimidate you."
Hinata chuckled. "Intimidate me? That might happen when Naruto finally beats me in shogi."
Naruto, taken aback by the playful jab, puffed up in mock offense. "Hey, I'll have you know I've come close... several times! The board was... it was uneven, that's all!"
Naruto observed, a hint of surprise in his eyes, as Hinata and Sasuke exchanged a knowing glance, soon followed by Hinata's infectious giggles and Sasuke's subdued chuckle. The sound caught Naruto off guard, but the warmth it stirred in him was undeniable. Witnessing the interaction between his wife and Sasuke made him smile. Hinata's compassionate nature had a way of drawing out a more open, jovial side of Sasuke, a side Naruto valued deeply.
Naruto glanced at the clock, noting the late hour. "It's getting late, we should head to bed…" His gaze lingered on Hinata, his intention clear yet unspoken.
Sasuke's snort cut through the moment. "Gross. I don't want to hear any weird noises while I'm here."
His face turned a deep shade of red. "Wh-Wha...? That's not what I meant!" Naruto stammered, flustered by Sasuke's blunt remark.
Hinata could barely muster a response, her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Sasuke's expression remained unamused. "We're all adults here. I know that look, and I'm serious. I don't want to hear anything."
The table was engulfed in an awkward silence, Naruto and Hinata too mortified to respond. Seizing the moment to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere, Hinata quickly began collecting the dishes, her movements hurried. "I'll just... clean up," she mumbled, retreating to the sanctuary of the kitchen.
With Hinata gone, Sasuke turned to Naruto, his tone shifting. "It's good to see you two getting along so well," he remarked.
Naruto looked to his wife busying in the kitchen and smiled. "We have been."
As the night drew to a close, Naruto found himself alone with his thoughts. He had a strong suspicion that Sakura would be seeking him out sooner or later to tell him about the divorce. The thought of Sakura's inevitable questions about Sasuke hung like a heavy cloud. He knew the conversation was unavoidable, a delicate dance between preserving Sasuke's privacy and honoring Sakura's right to know.