hi! thought in italic , dialogue in " ", POV alterning and Naruto's still not mine.


Chapter 6

Sakura Haruno was many things.

She was a proud kunoichi of the Hidden Leaf Village: Konohagakure.

She was an exceptionally talented medic.

She was a respected public figure and a Sanin in the making.

And she was a great friend to many.

Correction. She had been a great friend.

Sakura hadn't been feeling like a great friend lately. She wasn't even a good friend anymore from her own unbiased assessment. She didn't even need to think that hard to see how much of a shitty friend she'd been.

After a night of tears, strawberry ice-cream (No sake for pregnant women) and deep self-reflection, she had deduced that she had a veritable tour of apologies to make:

To Sasuke whom she stalked mercilessly throughout the years. Clinging to what she now realized was nothing but a childhood crush turned fixation.

She was ashamed to admit that she wanted him to contort himself to fit an image she made up in her own mind.

She was arrogant enough to think that she could change him, that she was entitled to his affections just because she knew him best. She thought that she could "fix him" not knowing it wasn't her place to do so.

Sakura had naively fallen for the mirage of the morally grey misunderstood villain that was supposed to care for her and only her.

Which in retrospect was stupid considering that Sasuke didn't even have a moral compass in his days as an avenger. Even more so that she was still holding out hope after he tried to kill her.

Twice.

Worse was that after he made it back to the right path leaving (most of) his darkness behind, she was so consumed by her own misguided (misplaced) feelings that she failed to consider his own.

Feelings, he had made abundantly clear after everything settled down post-war:

He was just not that into her.

He only saw her as his teammate. A friend, when she was not declaring her undying love with more enthusiasm than Rock Lee doing laps around the village.

Letting go had been hard. It was still hard to abandon that dream (delusion) .

And then there's Naruto to whom she also needed to apologize to.

For all the times she had thoughtlessly dismissed his confessions, violently clobbered him on the head whenever he was nice to her. For the times she took comfort from him and made him promise to bring back Sasuke to her, not caring if she hurt him in the process.

For all the times she stomped on his feelings. And refused to acknowledge her own.

She had been so hung up on Sasuke that she missed what was right in front of her all along.

It took him asking Hinata out, for her to finally understand that she was going to lose him.

Because Hinata wasn't just a newly converted fangirl who wanted to date the newest hero of Konoha. Hinata has been carrying a torch for Naruto for years.

And if Naruto started seeing her, she knew it was only a matter of time before he falls in love with her. For who wouldn't be captivated by such a beautiful soul?

Faced with the prospect of losing both her teammates coupled with the scars of the war, Sakura went on a bender with Tsunade and ended up on Naruto's doorstep with a final bottle of sake they shared.

She took advantage and regretted it the very next day. She had done the unthinkable and broke them up for her own selfish reasons.

Naruto being used to her dismissals; thought he had been the one taking advantage of the emotionally vulnerable pink-haired kunoichi. Ridden with guilt he tried to make amends with Hinata.

It has stung to get a taste of her own medicine.

But Hinata wouldn't budge. At least she had more self-respect than me had been Sakura's thought.

Sakura thought she had none those days. Especially when she took advantage again without being honest about what she wanted.

Karma really was a bitch. Hinata decided to forgive Naruto and try again.

Sakura begged him not to tell her about what happened between them. She had already hurt the blue-haired kunoichi enough.

She thought it was justice to watch the object of her (denied) affections ride off into the sunset with another woman.

Oh the irony of it all.

They all ended up tangled in her mess when that stick turned blue.

How is she ever going to be able to look Hinata in the face again? Another one she needed to apologize to. But she was a coward and couldn't face her; especially since she suspected that her own feelings for Naruto might be more complicated than she thought.

And so here we are.

Sakura whipped her tears and took a deep breath as she looked at her reflection in the mirror of one of Konoha hospital's bathroom.

Stupid pregnancy hormones.

There are a lot of things she had to do to start feeling like a semi decent person again.

Telling Naruto about her pregnancy had been a first step in the right direction even though she ended up blowing up his life.

Another thing to feel guilty about.

Figuring out her feelings for said blond was another thing she needed to accomplish before facing the biggest casualty of her mess: Hinata.

Deep breath Sakura. One problem at a time.

But for now, she had to swallow her shame and start telling people about her condition.

Starting up with Sasuke.


Sasuke reclined on a bench in one of many of Konoha's lush parks. Eyes closed and breeze playing with his hair, he was the picture of calm and serenity. A picture he knew was about to get shattered by the arrival of the two loud mouths he called teammates.

Ah he can already hear the sound of their footsteps.

But strangely enough; no incessant chatter followed. No shouting to get his attention.

Curious about this one in a lifetime occurrence, Sasuke opened his eyes to peer at the duo approaching him with solemn expressions.

If Hyuuga hadn't unknowingly spoiled the news, he would've thought somebody's life has ended.

Maybe in a way it did.

After the trio exchange the necessary pleasantries which were on the awkward side of things; with Naruto being quiet and Sakura avoiding his gaze. They settled for an unsettling bout of silence.

Naruto cleared his throat.

"hmm Sasuke, there's something I….eh….We… wanted to tell you"

Sasuke waited for his friend to get his bearings. He glanced at Sakura who was fidgeting with her hands, a clear sign of nerves.

"As you know I broke…well, more like….Hinata broke up with me….Technically…And the reason…"

"I'm pregnant!" blurted out Sakura abruptly. At Sasuke raised brow she stammered " with…his..well"

"I'm the father." Naruto exclaimed as the pink-haired kunoichi threw him a look of gratitude.

Both held their breath.

It was all unnecessarily dramatic in Sasuke's opinion.

"Were you trying to?"Sasuke asked with his usual monotone voice.

"No, it just…happened" answered Sakura blushing.

"Ok. Are we happy or are we exercising our legal right to choose?" Sasuke continued with the same disinterest.

Pink eyebrows rose almost to her hairline. Which considering her unfortunately wide forehead was quite the feat.

"I. No, we're..happy?" said Naruto questionably reaching for Sakura's hand which she allowed him to take.

"Yes" Breathed the emerald eyed kunoichi "we are." She said before retracting her hand from under his.

Huh. So there's no we.

Faced with the Uchiha's silence Naruto continued "We wanted you to be the first to know. You're the first person I told aside from…" He trailed off

"Hinata." Sasuke said enjoying how her name rolled out of his tongue smoothly and how it made both of them uncomfortable.

"yes" said Naruto glaring at his friend who in turn raised an eyebrow at him. Sakura glanced at both their faces not understanding this silent exchange.

"well," Sasuke rose "Congratulations you two" He said his expression softening.

"I hope it has his hair." He said before walking away.

Both soon-to-be parents exchanged bewildered looks then smiled knowing that their teammate was being sincere. That is until Sakura realized that he might've just insulted her hair color.


Hinata picked up her pace as she made her way to the training ground.

Because Heiresses do not run down the streets like commoners. Thank you very much. Unless they were being a badass ninja.

Is something her sister might've said.

However, Hinata was more concerned by being late and inconveniencing the Uchiha who has been kind enough to offer what amounted to be remedial training since she missed the first sessions.

It was a requirement for medical-nins with battle skills to attend training sessions offered by active ninja on duty as a part of the exchange program.

Hinata herself missed two; one with a fellow jonin and another with an Anbu operative. She was too busy overseeing her own end of the deal. But Sasuke was kind enough to make another one for her.

How thoughtful.

Hinata had come to appreciate the Uchiha's hidden kindness. Not many saw it behind that outwardly cold demeanor and bad reputation.

Sasuke Uchiha might not show it, but he was deep down a kind individual.

He always visited his subordinates who ended up at the hospital or asked for updates regularly.

She caught him once drinking strawberries juice offered to him by a persisting old woman. He hates strawberries.

It was quite funny to watch the faces he made once the old woman turned around but still continue drinking it once she looked his way again.

Some fearsome ex-avenger. Defeated by an old lady!

Hinata muffled a giggle at the memory. She made her way towards the empty training ground.

Stopping at the middle, she looked around wondering where the instructor was.

Maybe I'm early.

Suddenly, Hinata's ears picked up the telltale sound of a kunai coming her way.

Hinata caught the sharp weapon inches before it pierced her shoulder and immediately hurled it back to its original trajectory. A second set of shurikens ended up buried in the spot where she used to stand as she gracefully flipped out of the way while activating her Dojutsu.

A flicker of dark purple chakra appeared behind her promoting her eyes to widen. She hadn't seen this type of speed since the war.

Her reflexes took over and she delivered a series of fast chakra filled jab at her attacker.

None made contact.

As she spun to continue. Fingers wrapped firmly around her wrist stopping her next attack. She immediately released chakra out of the tenketsu in her wrist disabling the chakra flow in the hand holding her and burning the skin.

"Hn. Not bad." The stranger said.

"S-sasuke-san!" Hinata stopped.

There stood before her, the last Uchiha in all his glory. His stance was relaxed. He wore what he wore earlier today: A black high collar shirt with the Uchiha emblem on its back with dark pants and sandals. His dark hair had a blueish hue to it in the sun. It complemented the color of the Rinnegan quite nicely.

Hinata never had the chance to look at it up closely. There was something mesmerizing about its patterns.

"What was that last bit after I stopped your attack?" Sasuke asked bringing her out of her trance "I've never seen Neji use it"

"it's an idea I've been playing around with" Started Hinata " The Hyuuga style focuses mainly on releasing chakra from the fingers or palm to disrupt an opponent's chakra flow"

"Hn" He gently released her wrist.

"w-well, technically chakra can be released from any tenketsu point in the body" She felt her cheeks warm under his attentive gaze. "it's not as perfect or precise as the gentle fist, but it's enough to muck up small pathways and the burns would jar most."

The lavender-eyed kunoichi gasped as she realized that she did burn him. Faced with a potential injury all her nerves evaporated as she took his hand in hers and immediately started soothing it with healing chakra.

"I'm sorry Sasuke-san! My Father was right it's a stupid idea."

"It's resourceful."

Hinata blinked.

Anything less than perfection was dismissed in her household, especially coming from someone who struggled quite a lot with the classic Hyuuga fighting style.

Whenever she develops a new technique, she usually waits until it's polished before showing it off. Not that it ever impressed the elders much. Any non-traditional technique was worth nothing in their eyes.

But she had been so excited about the idea of using chakra expulsion from any tenkensu for more than just the defensive style of Rotation, that she made the mistake of mentioning it to her father at breakfast.

He of course immediately dismissed it. "It's not like you're ever going to surpass your current level" was what he said.

"We'll be starting with simple taijutsu to build up your physical strength and speed before you can show me what other neat little tricks you have up your sleeve." Sasuke interrupted her thought.

"I..What?" Hinata was more confused now "You're going to train me?"

"Not good enough for you princess?" He smirked

"No. I just thought you'd have a Hyuuga do it. Neji-nii-san or another of my clansman in Anbu." Hinata answered a little irritated by the moniker.

"From what I heard despite being the Hyuuga princess" he seemed to put an emphasis on the word 'princess' as if he knew it would irritate her more "You like to deviate from your clan traditional style, so a diverse training partner would be more beneficial."

More like she utterly fails at her clan techniques that she has no choice but tinker with them.

But he doesn't need to know that.

"Aren't you out of my league Sasuke-san?" Hinata asked now utterly failing at hiding her irritation. It looks like the stress and anger of those last few days were about to boil over.

"Afraid I'll mar your pretty skin?" His smirk widened.

"You're the one with the burned hand" Hinata didn't know what possessed her to throw her common sense out of the window. This was Sasuke Uchiha she just sassed he can kill her with his little finger.

He however seemed even more amused.

"Okay, princess. Let's see what you can do without your fancy dance moves. Taijutsu only spar. No Chakra. No Byakugan"

Oh, she was so going to wipe that smug look off of his face.

She took her battle stance, eyes narrowing. And then she was off.


Hinata lay sprawled on the grass under the shade of a tree, breathing heavily.

They've been training for hours. The sun was almost completely gone now. And she hadn't landed a single hit.

"That wasn't bad for a first attempt." Sasuke said head leaning against the tree's trump, eyes closed.

Hinata looked at his profile, he didn't have a single scratch. His clothes were as tidy as they were before and he didn't have a hair out of place.

While she was sweating, dirty and probably had leaves in her hair.

Hinata pouted, it was unfair to be that genetically blessed.

Sasuke smirked almost as if he could read her mind.

Maybe he can, little is known about the power of the Rinnegan.

"I take back every nice thing I ever said about you." Hinata mumbled under her breath.

"you've said nice things?" he asked eyes still closed.

Hinata's face colored, she didn't think she spoke that loud.

"Next time I'll let you use chakra" He continued not bothered by her silence.

"Next time?" Hinata squeaked

"You didn't think I was done with you, did you?" Sasuke said now looking at her.

"I thought the project was ending" Hinata only managed to turn her head towards him. She still couldn't move a muscle.

"True. You'll help me alleviate my boredom and I'll help relieve your tension."

"Tension?" Hinata asked. When he only raised an eyebrow, she flushed remembering the tirade she subjected him to about her Naruto troubles.

Now that she came to think of it, the blond Hokage didn't even cross her mind all afternoon. She does get the same reprieve at work but she also sees Sakura there daily. Coupled with the stress of the ER, she wasn't in the healthiest mindset.

"Okay" She answered with a sigh.

"No need to make that face. I'm much better company than your usual training partners." Sasuke said.

"Debatable" She mumbled.

"Much better looking than." He managed to get a laugh out of her.

"That doesn't mean much. Sasuke-san is much better looking than everyone else." She giggled at his… teasing?

"You've been paying attention to my good looks. Ne Hyuuga?" Sasuke smirked.

"Shut up." Grumbled Hinata blushing.

Yep, definitely teasing.

The Uchiha's smirk widened at her reaction. It seemed like exhaustion and teasing brought out her boldness.

"It's late. We should go." He said giving her a break.

"You go ahead Sasuke-san. I don't think I can stand for another hour or two." Hinata sighed closing her eyes.

She heard a rustle of clothing then felt arms under her knees and lower back. Hinata squeaked as she found herself in Sasuke's arms. Bridal Style.

"It's ok, I can make it on my own." She said with an unusually high voice, her face aflame.

"Ever tried interdimensional travel?" He asked completely ignoring her protests.

A black hole rippled into existence. Sasuke stepped through without waiting for her response.

A shiver ran down Hinata's spine as they passed through the portal. One second, they were in the clearing under the darkening sky and the next they were in her bedroom.

It was jarring.

"I saw the room in Neji's mindscape once. I figured all that lavender can only be yours." He said lowering her down on the bed.

Alarm bells rang in Hinata's head. Sometimes she forgets that the Uchiha was on a whole other caliber compared to the rest of them. His Sharingan alone was a force to be reconned with, add to it his newly developed Rinnegan.

Hinata couldn't help but be intimidated.

"A bunny. Why am I not surprised?"

But then he goes and says things like that making her smile and easing her back to that sense of new familiarity.

He looked absolutely ridiculous. The most feared missing-nin in recent ninja history holding a stuffed animal in her bedroom.

"That's mister Bun Bun. He used to protect me from monster under the bed." Hinata said with a small smile.

"Then you'll sleep safely tonight" Sasuke said handing it to her.

"Sasuke-san"

"Hn"

"Thank you for today." Hugging the stuffed toy to her chest. Hinata looked up at him. "The training and taking my mind off of things"

"Sure. What are friends for?" He said ruffling her hair slightly.

It did not help its current state.

Sasuke left using the same portal they came in from, leaving behind a tired but beaming Hinata.

Friends.

She liked the sound that.


AN: A small Sakura POV to convey that she did absolutely fuck up but she's not a completely horrible person. I'm not a fan of choosing one character and just completely bashing it. Ok not true. But for this story I'm trying not to bash. Too hard.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Keep the reviews coming please. They absolutely motivate me to keep writing.

Stay tuned

-love Lady Thunder Storm.