FIRST ARC - CHAPTER 6: FATED PAIN
In the blink of an eye I can see through your eyes
As I'm lying awake I'm still hearing the cries
And it hurts, Hurts me so bad
And I'm wondering why I still fight in this life
'Cause I've lost all my faith in this damn bitter strife
And it's sad, It's so damn sad
Oh I wish it was over, And I wish you were here
Still I'm hoping that somehow
Song of the Chapter: (Shot in the dark - Within Temptation)
A Week Later
Hinata stood in front of the mirror, gently cradling the small but undeniable curve of her belly. Her fingertips brushed over the soft skin, lingering on the slight swell that marked the beginning of new life inside her. Her heart raced, both with excitement and trepidation. The thought of their child—a piece of her and Naruto, someone they would soon hold in their arms—made her chest feel heavy with emotion.
Her reflection revealed subtle changes. Her features hadn't altered drastically, but there were telltale signs of early pregnancy. Her cheeks had grown fuller, her lips slightly plumper with a delicate, darker hue around their edges. Her hips and waist had begun to soften and expand, making room for the tiny soul within her.
A pair of strong, tanned arms wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her into a familiar, warm embrace. Naruto's chin rested lazily on her shoulder, his unruly blond hair tickling her cheek. His sleepy blue eyes gazed at her through the mirror, reflecting a mixture of tenderness and mischief. His voice, thick with affection, broke the silence.
"Good morning, Hinata," he murmured, his lips pressing a soft kiss to the side of her neck. The heat of his breath sent a shiver through her, and her body instinctively leaned back into his warmth.
"Good afternoon," she corrected him, her hand drifting up to ruffle his tousled hair. It was longer than usual, coarse beneath her fingers, but comforting in its familiarity.
Naruto chuckled, nuzzling her neck, his voice a low hum of amusement. "Your fault for keeping me up last night…" His lips grazed her skin, playfully nibbling and licking as he laughed, the sound rich and carefree.
Hinata's cheeks flushed pink, her lips parting as she bit down gently, fighting the smile threatening to form. "Don't be shameless," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
He lifted his head, eyes gleaming with amusement, and turned her in his arms to face him. "You weren't so innocent last night either, princess," he teased, leaning down to plant light kisses on her cheeks, chin, and nose, before capturing her lips in a tender, lingering kiss. Hinata's arms slid around his neck, pulling him closer, while his hands gently cradled her face and settled on her lower back. His fingers slipped beneath her shirt, tracing slow, deliberate circles on her skin, sending warmth spreading through her.
With a soft push, Hinata pressed her palm against his chest, easing him back slightly. "We're invited to lunch… Ino-chan will kill us if we're late," she reminded him.
Naruto groaned playfully but nodded, letting her go with a reluctant smile. "Fine, I'll get ready, princess," he said, the affectionate title rolling off his tongue naturally.
Hinata's eyes lowered, her smile faltering as reality settled in. "Not a princess anymore," she muttered, more to herself than to him. The weight of no longer being the Hyuga heiress hadn't fully lifted, but it no longer cut as deeply as it once had. Her father's decision to sever ties had stung, but the bitterness was fading. If her father had truly loved her, would they have cast her aside so easily?
She never knew that carrying child was going to take away her identity, but then a thought crossed her mind, her eyes made her a Hyuga, her strength made her a Hyuga, and her relentless will to be a Kunoichi despite her struggles made her a person worthy enough.
So, Hyuga or not, she was worthy. She had a hard time grappling with the new realities, but she was determined to make it. For herself. For Naruto. For her child.
Naruto sensed the shift in her mood instantly. His hand gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Uzumaki princess soon," he said with a reassuring smile, his thumb brushing softly over her cheek. His ability to read her emotions, even when she tried to hide them, never ceased to amaze her.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun. For everything," she began, her voice thick with gratitude.
He silenced her with a shake of his head. "I'm the father of your child, Hinata. You don't need to thank me. You're giving me the greatest blessing—our family. I should be the one thanking you." His lips found her forehead, lingering in a gentle, reassuring kiss. He then dragged her towards the wardrobe, where he needed her sophisticated style sense to pick out something for him.
She picked out a white shirt, with the only formal pair of dark pants he owned for formal situations. "Here…" she offered, placing them in his hands.
As he took them, Naruto glanced at her with a playful glint in his eyes. "You know… people say we're too young to have a baby, but I think we're too young to receive worries from adults."
Hinata moved to the bed and sat on the edge, "Konoha's adults are traditional."
Naruto grinned as he unbuttoned his shirt. "No wonder Sasuke hates them."
"About Sasuke…have you told him that you want him to live with us here?" Hinata looked at the fidgeting lover of hers with keen eyes.
Naruto shook his head, sagging against the wooden door of their cupboard, "No. If I tell that bastard, he'd never return. I will force him…face to face," a nervous laughter erupted from Naruto which unsettled something within Hinata. "He hates being dependent. If I write him a message, he might take the offer as a sign of his weakness…which will push him further away."
Hinata nodded, understanding the predicament of Naruto's best friend who was travelling the world outside Konoha at the moment, taking missions in the shadows to protect Konoha for Naruto's sake, "Do you think…Sasuke-san can get along with our baby?"
Naruto paused, his expression turned thoughtful, "Get along?…if the bastard decides to stay in Konoha and spend time with us as a family...he might even love our baby…I know him well, he will give his life for my child in a heartbeat."
Hinata tilted her head to the side, "Why do you say that?" Curiosity piqued.
Naruto's smile turned solemn, "Because, Hinata-chan… people who've suffered alone know how to love more than anyone else. Sasuke's been through more pain than any of us"
Hinata added, reminiscing the pains of Naruto when he was a child, "So have you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto nodded, licking his lips and frowning, because Sasuke was always a serious topic for him, "I have. I agree…but I ended up having Iruka-sensei, and later on, pervy sage…Sasuke only had Itachi and his family and then his ruin came from the same person he loved the most."
Hinata smiled, wistfully, her chest beaming yet dropping at the same time, "I am glad he has you."
"I am glad to have him too." Naruto turned to the bathroom, but before he could go inside, he glanced over at her, "Once he returns, I am sure…you will love spending time with him, he is worth the effort, Hinata."
.
"Hinata…"
"Hinata?"
A snapping finger jolted Hinata from a reverie, her mind still wandering through memories with Naruto. She blinked, her surroundings coming into focus, jolting her. The familiar scent of untouched buttered toast before her and the rhythmic slapping of her baby's tiny hands on the table of his high seat pulled her back to the present. Her body stirred as she felt like she was snatched out of her peaceful life with Naruto.
She looked to her immediate right, finding Sasuke frowning down at her, "Were you…" his words halted as he licked his lips and waited for the right word to crack, but that never happened so he rounded the table and sat in front of her, settling on silence.
He is worth the effort, Hinata. Naruto's words about Sasuke rang loud in her ears, which she wanted to negate because looking at him, alive, sitting where Naruto could have been was tormenting.
It had been a week since he had forced himself into her life, wreaking havoc in his wake. He walked into her life as if a promise from Naruto had given him all the rights, and knowing Naruto, she could expect that from her lover. Naruto ended up entrusting Hinata and Haru to the man who shoved a blazing and blaring fist into his chest — why.
Hinata's head throbbed, her veins pulsing beneath her skin and she traced the thickness protruding. She tried to stand, but her body felt weak and unsteady. Last night's bout of vomiting had left her drained, and even the thought of food made her stomach churn. But for the sake of Haru, she stuffed her mouth with the tasteless toast, knowing well that she was going to puke it out too,
Her eyes locked on the man in front of her, a core mind-splitting memory of last week came rushing in with flashes — the mighty Uchiha kneeling in front of her, letting her yank him by his collars, taking her every hit and push.
Why. She wondered for the entire week.
She berated him with her lashing. Slapped him. Attacked him. Taunted him with blows of cruel words. Wounded his healed bruises of the past.
Nothing fazed him, or if it did, he masterfully concealed. Was this some trick of Sharingan?
Sasuke's presence was a constant irritant, a stark reminder of Naruto's absence. He sat there, casually munching on an apple as if nothing had changed. Hinata's anger flared, a tempest within her, which was her constant state for months but heightened ever since Sasuke had invaded her life.
Hinata dreaded facing people in her destroyed state, her torn remnants were pressing on her with affliction-filled punches. She did not need the world's eyes on her, judging her for lack of strength, pitying her for losing her body and hard-built chakra, questioning the state of her Byakugan. She did not need the heat of attention on her, because…she knew the reality all too well. The suffocating reality.
The Hinata who once felt confident in her worth, despite losing the identity of a Hyuga— that girl had died with Naruto, buried beside his tattered body. Her source of support was gone, and Hinata had never felt alone like that. But the audacity of the man who was the chaos in the flesh to say that he could be her shield, it baffled her to the core, a bitter insult from her fate.
Hinata hated being considered needy for anyone's protection, but after Haru's birth and Naruto's demise, the well-intentioned thoughts of even her friends like Kiba-kun and Sakura-chan, were like a sizzling iron rod jamming in her heart.
But Hinata was anything but an idiot, she was not a girl with pearly hopes and unrealistic dreams anymore — she had accepted that childbirth had taken a toll on her body, and she would never return to her original strength ever again, her Byakugan had weakened, her chakra depletion is questionable and causing her bodily functions in nonequilibrium. She herself had a medic-nin training from Tsunade-sama and Shizune-san, she could know the regressing mental condition, her constant fatigue and changes in sleeping patterns, frequent crying and bursts of anger, lack of appetite and digestive issues — all pointed to her post-partum trauma, burned brighter by the sudden loss of Naruto and prying eyes of everyone on her.
She was no fool. She knew what she had become.
And she couldn't look herself in the mirror for the same reason. Her reflection was a haunting reminder the weak sack of failure she was in the eyes of the world.
But then a small chubby hand always reached out to her day and night, even if she couldn't breastfeed or hold him in her arms for so long and that alone was enough motivation within her to continue somehow, anyhow. For him. For her beloved son.
But the world couldn't see her struggle; to accept the failure she was becoming yet to try to become the success she aimed to become for her son — it was a paradoxical thought, which kept her awake at night, made her daydream about a future she could create for Haru and cause her to zone-out with tempest of thoughts thwarting her being. Her world was busy counting her misfortunes and making her suffer with the reality checks which she did not need, as she was mature enough to have an acceptance.
Her conundrum had consumed her, Just like right now. Because she again was pulled out of a reverie by the snap of fingers.
"Hinata." Sasuke looked puzzled, his sole dark eye visible with curiosity pooling in.
"What?" She snapped. Her voice was another voice amongst the happy babbles from her son, who was fiddling with the soft toad toy in his hand.
Her eyes shifted to Sasuke's undeniable presence.
How dare he exist in a world, where Naruto couldn't. She knew if Naruto could hear her thoughts, he'd be disappointed, but her heart was engulfed in the fires of blame for the man sitting across her, watching her with silence.
He fished an envelope from his jacket, slid it across the table, and pushed it towards her, "Keep this."
"What is this?" She questioned, uninterested in any new trouble he cooked for her, "Another legal documents which you can use to further control my life?" Again a memory from one week ago burned in her vision; Sasuke entering her house, dangling a rolled parchment of Naruto's will which gave him partial ownership and rights to the house, Hinata remembered how her head buzzed with the intent to kill and how she even jabbed her chakra-leaden fingers with all her might at his throat.
Sasuke almost stammered, "Naruto's letter…for me." Hinata knew that Naruto had left behind letters for his loved ones, hers was crushed and hidden beneath the stack of clothes, so she could keep it away, for she lacked the courage to read his words, his last words.
Because the moment she read those, it would make his demise…real. A tangible loss. And Hinata did not possess the will to shatter her soul even more by knowing what was his last wishes or expectations of her. Naruto was…gone. It had been four months, two weeks, three days — yet the reality hadn't fully sunk in, her own impractical demise had been registered in her mind…but not his.
How could he die? How!
Oh yes. Thanks to the man sitting across from her, owning her life like he had any right to interfere.
She stared at the yellow envelope which looked like it was untouched with no apparent wrinkle unlike hers; a messy cursive 'Teme Sasuke' was scribbled on it with a bit of an ink smudge at the corner. The familiar writing of his made her heart skip a beat and a bile started to form in her throat. Her fragile hand shot up to her neck, where her fingers twirled with the silver toad-shaped necklace which Naruto gifted to her two days before Haruto's birth.
She gulped, "Why?"
Sasuke looked down at his plate then lifted his gaze to meet hers, "You can give it to me when you feel like I deserve to read this…"
Hinata dryly laughed, she still wanted to continue the game which he briefly had won before by making her feel helpless enough so she couldn't deny him, but she desired to cut him deep enough, break him beyond repair so he could leave her alone, "If it is up to me, then you won't ever receive it."
Sasuke shrugged, cocking his eyebrow. Arrogant.
"Have you read yours?" He asked, standing up and gathering the plates from the table from her side and Haru's seat.
She did not dignify him with a response as he wandered off to the kitchen with the stack of plates and cutlery. She knew that despite no response, her answer was loud for him. He was perceptive, as per Naruto.
Hinata kept on sitting at the table, softening her gaze at her baby who was well-fed and cheery. His striking resemblance to Naruto reminded her of another memory where Naruto and Hinata had argued about how their child would look like; Naruto had wanted a child with Hinata's hair colour, while Hinata had envisioned a mini-Naruto.
At least, one of her wishes came true.
Hinata's dainty fingers danced on Haru's cheeks, caressing him lightly, something he enjoyed during his nap times which used to make him erupt into a gummy-smiley sleepy baby. A rush of soothing shivers ran along her spine as she pressed her head down on the table and wistfully gazed at her baby as if he were the entirety of her world.
He was. Haru was her world.
He was her lifeline.
Sasuke's presence came around, dampening her peaceful mood, solemn shadow cloaked her all of a sudden. "We have to take him for sealing today."
Sealing! She mentally groaned, her child did not deserve to have a nine-tailed beast within him, by a miracle or whatever, all Hinata wanted was a simple hassle-free life for Haru and then Sasuke came bearing news which rattled the already crumbling setting stones of her life.
Another pang twisted in her heart, clenching at her chest, his father deserved to be there to take care of these matters, yet Haru was rid of such basic necessity. A fatherly figure to ensure his safety.
Hinata lifted her head from the table, "I know," she mumbled, her voice betraying her as her tone trembled, pointing at the roiling fear causing her discomfort, making her have nightmares last night with the fear of what was going to be Haru's fate with a nine-tailed beast inside him. "I won't take him to Orochimaru's base-"
Sasuke craned his neck, a groan erupted out of pain then he interrupted her, "Don't worry, I have taken care of everything. It will be done in Hokage's tower."
His reassuring words held no warmth because they felt hollow, and the absence of Naruto's softness and warmth pierced her soul even more.
"Be ready, we will leave in ten minutes." With that, he disappeared towards his room, his words were stern and cutting, barked towards her. An order. A command. She loathed the dependency, she detested his gloating presence.
Memories didn't always soften the pain, sometimes they were shrill and puncturing to the heart, and that's what Naruto's memories were doing to Hinata.
.
.
.
Sasuke continued his steady pace, walking side by side with her through the biting wind that whipped across the snow-laden streets of Konoha. The cold air stung his face, and the sun, hidden behind thick clouds, offered no warmth, leaving the village in a muted orange light. His heavy boots splashed through puddles of slushy snow, while her smaller steps sank quietly into the wet ground, soaking her shoes. Despite the layers of thick clothing wrapped around her, her frail frame remained noticeable. Her arms, encased in stiff leather, held their child close—one arm securely under the baby's small bottom, the other supporting his wobbly head, just as Kurenai had instructed him during his sessions with her.
Sasuke broke the silence between them, his voice low and steady. "I've arranged for Kakashi to use the basement of the Hokage Tower for the sealing."
Her footsteps slowed, and she turned her head slightly towards him, her long, dark lashes wet with tiny droplets of misting rain. His gaze lingered for a moment, and his mind betrayed him—Why are you noticing this, Sasuke?—before he forced himself back to the present. Her lips, slightly chapped from the cold, trembled as she licked them nervously. She'd been biting down on them the entire walk.
"Orochimaru—" she began, her voice uncertain.
"He'll be there," Sasuke cut in, his tone clipped but measured, "under Kakashi and Tsunade's supervision." His eyes fixed on the towering building in front of them, where the large metal doors of the Hokage Tower glistened with a layer of frost. "And mine," he added, as they neared.
"Every month?" Her voice wavered with worry. The thought of having Orochimaru near Haruto gnawed at her, a fear she couldn't shake. It weighed heavily on her already anxious mind.
He nodded, understanding her concern but unable to offer more comfort.
They entered the Hokage Tower, which buzzed with activity. People hurried through the halls, carrying stacks of documents. Genin darted by, laughing and stumbling in their clumsy excitement, with their sensei trailing behind, out of breath from chasing after them.
As expected, the chaotic sight stirred something in Hinata. Her pace faltered, her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She gripped Haruto tighter, pulling her scarf up over her nose as if shielding herself from the overwhelming energy around her. Without a word, she quickened her steps, heading towards the Hokage's office.
"Not there, Hinata." Sasuke caught up to her, gently placing a hand on her arm to stop her due to which she flinched with a yelp. He gestured towards a narrow staircase leading to the basement. "This way." His voice was calm, almost soothing. Kurenai had advised him to maintain a steady demeanour around Hinata; new mothers were sensitive, she had said, and picked up on the energy of those around them.
They descended into the basement, where the flickering glow of torches lit the stone walls, casting long shadows as they walked. The air grew warmer, though the heavy atmosphere remained tense. Sasuke pushed open a wooden door with a gentle shove, entering the room ahead of her.
Hinata trailed behind, her breath shallow but silent. She was a ghostly figure, shrouded in black from head to toe, her presence blending into the shadows, though the cooing baby in her arms, wrapped in a bright blue sweater, added a small flicker of life to her sombre form.
The room was modest in size, smaller than the one where Sasuke had once been interrogated. A sturdy wooden table stood in the centre, where Tsunade sat, her sharp eyes inspecting a stack of papers. Behind her, Kakashi stood with his usual relaxed posture, casually peeking over her shoulder at the documents.
The room smelled faintly of chemicals, sterile and cold. Overhead, dim lights flickered, casting uneven shadows along the stone walls, which were cracked and peeling with age. At the far corners of the room, ANBU members were busy sketching sealing marks, their precise strokes filling the air with quiet focus.
Sasuke recognized them immediately—Inuzuka, with his loyal dog by his side, his hands quick and steady. Another with tinted shades and an ANBU mask dangling from his arm, likely Aburame. And the last, with ghostly pale skin, painted the intricate symbols with eerie precision, his skill almost unnerving.
Near the far end of the room where another room was nestled with its long and heavy metal door, leaning casually against the metal door, stood Orochimaru. His pale skin glowed under the dim light, and his smirk was as vile as ever. He pressed his thumb onto the documents that Shikamaru extended to him, his slitted pupils scanning the text with a sense of satisfaction that turned Sasuke's stomach. That same dirty smirk… He should have stayed dead, Sasuke thought, his hands curling into fists at his sides.
Sasuke felt a sharp tug on his sleeve, and when he glanced over, Hinata's trembling hand was gripping his jacket, her nails digging into the thick fabric. He could see the anxiety pooling in her pale eyes, wide and fixed on the two girls near the shelves—Ino and Sakura. Their curious stares were all too blatant, making the room feel tighter, and more suffocating.
Hinata's breathing quickened, shallow and erratic. She lifted her chin in a shaky attempt at composure, her lips parting as she struggled for breath.
"Hinata—" Sasuke's voice was low, his concern palpable.
Her words tumbled out between ragged breaths. "What is all this... I thought it would just be us—"
He unlatched her hand from his arm but then much to her dismay, gripped her wrist gently, pulling her towards the desk where Tsunade and Kakashi were deep in conversation. She stumbled into the chair he pulled out for her, her body tense and rigid as she shot him a look, her eyes burning with questions and restrained anger. "Sasuke!"
"Hello, Hinata-chan. It's been a while," Tsunade's voice, soft but commanding, cut through the tension.
Hinata's eyes flickered to the former Hokage, her body shrinking as if Tsunade's presence alone was too much to bear. Tsunade sat across from her, elbows propped on the table, chin resting on intertwined fingers, her sharp gaze bearing down on Hinata like a weight. It was too intense; Hinata looked away, her shoulders curling in on themselves like she was trying to disappear.
"Get to the point—" Sasuke started, but Tsunade's swift reflexes silenced him with a paperweight she flung his way. He caught it easily.
"Brat, don't rush me," Tsunade snapped, her tone holding no patience for his bluntness.
Sasuke had no time and patience to entertain all the drama that came with Konoha's older generation, or even younger one by which he was surrounded, so he rolled his eyes and looked up towards the rigidly standing Kakashi. Sasuke let out an exasperated sigh, his eyes boring into Kakashi, the gravity of the situation hadn't escaped him as it seemed.
"Well, Tsunade-sama," Kakashi said, his voice calm but firm, "Sasuke is eager to keep things moving." He received a sharp glare from Tsunade but didn't flinch.
It was then that Orochimaru's voice slithered into the conversation, smooth and hissing, like the man himself. "Kakashi-san, I must commend you on maintaining your reputation as the famously tardy Copy Ninja, but my methods require strict punctuality."
Sasuke groaned under his breath. "Shut it, Orochimaru."
The snake-like grin that spread across Orochimaru's face was enough to make Sasuke's skin crawl. His voice took on a mocking tone, laced with dark amusement. "Ah, Sasuke-kun, always so brash. Stepping into the role of father so soon... how noble."
Sasuke shot to his feet, a storm brewing in his chest. His fists tightened, aching to release the building pressure, the familiar surge of lightning chakra itching to be unleashed. "Say one more thing, Orochimaru, and I'll rip that slimy tongue out of your mouth."
Orochimaru feigned innocence, a hand over his chest as though Sasuke's words had wounded him. "Now, now. Is that any way to speak to your former sensei? The man who—might I add—is here to help protect that precious, vulnerable child?"
At Orochimaru's thinly veiled threat, a visible tremble jolted Hinata's frame, and that led to something inside Sasuke to snap. In the blink of an eye, he had Orochimaru pinned against the wall, his hand wrapped around the Sannin's pale throat. Orochimaru's mocking expression faltered as Sasuke's grip tightened, cutting off his air, and turning his skin an unhealthy shade of grey.
"Sasuke, back down," came a measured voice from behind him—Sai, appearing as stoic as ever. The ANBU were already moving, three figures materializing like shadows.
But Sasuke wasn't listening. His voice was low, lethal, as he leaned in close, his words like venom. The suggestive threat towards the vulnerability of Haruto drove him mad with a hunger to rip off the skin from each inch of his sannin-sensie's body, "You so much as think about harming Haruto, and you'll see a side of me you won't live to tell about." Sasuke drew himself closer to him, whispering his burning words with hot breath on his face, asserting a dominance that Orochimaru deep down detested.
Kakashi's hand fell on Sasuke's shoulder, a silent command. "Let him go, Sasuke."
But the rage, was endless, boiling beneath his surface, attempting to spill out, causing the havoc.
A whimper however caught his attention and made him loosen his grip on Orochimaru, he glanced back, Hinata patting the back of an irritated Haruto who was grimacing and sputtering cries. Haruto, in her arms, was fussing, tiny hands swiping at the air as his face scrunched up in discomfort. Sasuke's shoulders sagged, his hand falling from Orochimaru's neck as he turned fully towards her.
His feet instinctively moved towards her, he dragged the chair, turning it to face hers and sat there, "What happened to him?"
"He has eaten, he had enough sleep, I don't know-" Her voice was breathy and shaking, frowning brows deepened, soft comforting mutterings to her baby while she rubbed his back.
Babies tend to get cranky at unfamiliar faces or unfamiliar places, even at times when there is a hostile environment…even if it is not deliberate, like a busy lane in a store which could be considered hostile for a baby. Kurenai's voice rang in his ears, reminding him of a detail that he definitely should have considered.
Sasuke's shoulders slumped, "I am sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. It must have rattled him."
Hinata tilted her head to the side and gaped at him. As if shocked by his level of understanding.
"We have to proceed with this quickly. Everybody, take your seats," Kakashi announced.
Everybody settled down on the lined-up wooden chair, only Kakashi stood in between.
The room shifted as the gathered shinobi found their places. The weight of what was to come hung in the air like a thick fog. Kakashi stood at the front, the calm authority in his voice steadying the room. "You are here because you are trusted, both for your abilities and your connection to Hinata and Haruto." Hinata's eyes dipped, unable to face the familiar people around her. Haruto seemed to have calmed down, rubbing his nose on his mother's cheek with whispered babbles.
Kiba stripped his ANBU mask and committed a sin of ANBU then he jumped into the announcement, "Is Hina-chan alright?" His voice loud and shrill, made Sasuke wince.
The awkward tension broke as murmurs rose among the group, but Kakashi pressed on, ignoring Kiba's outburst. "Haruto, the son of Naruto and Hinata, was born with the Nine-Tails inside him. To protect him, we've developed a sealing method—one unlike any that's been attempted before, we have never had a case in the entire continent where any tailed beast was born instead of being sealed into the host, hence this seal would require monthly sessions. Since Haru is just a baby, we are unsure about the Nine-tails inside him too, so it is a necessary precaution, we know about Naruto's belief in unsealing the tailed beasts but this is a risk we can't take with a baby."
The room fell into stunned silence, the reality of the situation sinking in. Hinata's eyes darted to Sasuke, wide and searching. "You promised you'd be my shield... now you need help from everyone?" Her voice trembled with disbelief, a bitter laugh on her lips.
Sasuke met her gaze steadily. "I will be your shield, Hinata. These people are entrusted with this knowledge to support you... in case something happens to me."
"You all are privy to this, to assist a Nine-tailed of Konoha," Kakashi's tone turned strict, "Three ANBUs; Wolf, Raven and Spider, will be the ultimate guards. In case of any emergency, anyone of you must remain with Haruto at all costs, you all are not allowed to take missions together, at least one of you should be here. Preferably Shino, the spider. Shikamaru will be the one who will be authorized inside the sealing room or this room which is itself sealed for protection of Haru if ever the need occurs. I, the sixth Hokage and Tsunade-sama with Sasuke Uchiha to remain at any cost with Orochimaru whenever he performs seal."
Hinata's grip on the chair tightened. "I have to be there. I won't let you do this without me."
"Of course," Kakashi assured her with a gentle smile. "No one's going to keep you out." A tender care which he always used to show to Sakura during their Genin days.
Sasuke watched her, a flicker of something he couldn't quite name passing over his features. The room was full of people—strong, loyal shinobi who would protect her and Haruto with everything they had. But the fear, the doubt, still lingered in her eyes.
"Sakura will be Haruto's primary medic, no exceptions. You are to prioritize his well-being above all else. If for any reason you are unavailable—whether tending to critical cases or other emergencies—either Tsunade-sama or Ino-san will step in. Let me stress this again: no other medic aside from the three of you is to treat Haruto. His seal could become unstable even during something as simple as a common flu, and we cannot afford any mistakes. I want to express my gratitude to Tsunade and Ino, who have agreed to volunteer their time."
"As long as I can support Hinata, I will be there," Ino's voice was steady but filled with conviction. Her words drew Hinata's gaze. Hinata stiffened slightly, her head snapping toward Ino. A soft blush crept up her cheeks, a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability making her avert her eyes quickly.
"Is that understood?" Kakashi's voice rang through the room, calm but firm.
A murmur of agreement followed though the gravity of Haruto's situation seemed to settle over the group like a thick fog. Sasuke observed how each of them—Hinata's closest friends—was willing to shoulder the burden, standing by her and Haruto despite the enormous responsibility. There was no fear or reluctance in their eyes, only determination.
Hinata's breathing, which had been shaky and uneven, began to even out. The nervous tapping of her foot against the floor came to a halt. Sasuke could see the way her tense posture softened, the overwhelming anxiety that had gripped her starting to loosen its hold. Her tear-filled eyes spoke volumes, a silent thank you to her friends who had chosen to stand with her through this unimaginable trial.
"We'll begin the first sealing session now. I'd like everyone to stay nearby, just in case." Kakashi's words were careful, but firm.
Hinata immediately shot a worried glance at Sasuke, her voice coming out in a strained whisper, "In case? What? Are there risks?" Panic flickered in her voice as her eyes widened, her thoughts spiralling into fear.
"Precautions, Hinata," Sasuke replied, his voice low. He wished he could offer her more comfort, but even he couldn't ease the tightening knot of dread she felt in her chest. His own uncertainty mirrored hers, though he kept it buried deep, hidden behind his calm facade.
Her eyes searched his face, desperate for reassurance, but Sasuke could only offer her the truth. And it was a truth neither of them wanted to face.
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Inside the sealing room, a metal bed with a thick mattress and clean sheets was in the middle. Orochimaru unfurled some scrolls on the bed, Tsunade kept her watchful eyes on his every action while folding her arms with defiance on her chest. Kakashi stood beside Sasuke and Hinata. Hinata's frame started to tremble with each passing minute, Sasuke turned to her, and her pale eyes were fixated on the bed where her son would lie down. Sasuke was a boy who never knew how to reach out and console, which made him helpless around Hinata.
"Sasuke-kun, please bring your son to the bed here." Orochimaru gestured to the bed, with an exhausting smirk on his punchable face.
Sasuke chose to ignore his jab, turning to Hinata again who held Haruto tighter to her chest, her eyebrows carried a frown and her bottom lip jutted out and quivered. Her state pierced whatever resolve he mustered within him, the guilt of being the reason for Naruto's demise hit him harder, tying his feet to the ground, and freezing him. You should have been here, Naruto. I don't know how to do this.
Kakashi picked up on the unsettling and punishing turbulence choking Sasuke's insides, he moved towards Hinata and picked up Haruto cautiously, Hinata's hesitations were on the tip of her tongue but they came out in sputtered whimpers.
And then it began…
Orochimaru stood with a steeling stance, his fingers moving with precision to form hand seals, the ground circling the bed glowed with red round patterns pulsating with shaking energy. Naruto's son lay on the bed, small and fragile, undeserving of the procedure. He was still, but the moment Orochimaru whispered the first chant, his little body tensed.
Sasuke felt like his throat had needles jamming into it, he couldn't fathom the torture on the child. He diverted his gaze to Hinata, her hands were clasped together, white-knuckled, her breath coming out in shallow, quick gasps.
Orochimaru extended his arms over Haruto, palms downward, and with each motion, more seals appeared in the air above the child, spiralling like chains of energy.
Haruto whimpered softly at first, a delicate sound that broke the heavy silence, but soon, the soft whimper turned into a sharp cry. His small frame began to twitch and jerk uncontrollably. Hinata took a step forward, her instincts screaming at her to run to him, but Sasuke's firm hand on her shoulder kept her in place, for now.
The swirling seals in the air latched onto Haruto's body, wrapping around him like invisible chains. Orochimaru's fingers moved faster, weaving the last of the seals, his voice echoing eerily as he muttered the incantations. Haruto's cries grew louder, more desperate. His tiny fists clenched tightly, his whole body arching off the bed in agony.
"No!" Hinata gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears welled in her eyes, her body trembling as she struggled against Sasuke's grip holding her caged from behind. "He's in pain! Stop—stop it!" Her voice cracked the anguish in her tone clear. Sasuke squeezed her arms from both sides tightly, to hold her back.
As Orochimaru's hands made the final seal, a brilliant flash of light erupted from the markings on Haruto's skin, spreading across his abdomen like molten fire. His scream pierced through the room, raw and heart-wrenching. The boy's body convulsed, his bright blue eyes wide with terror and pain, his fisted hands reaching for help in the air. It was as though the Kyuubi itself was clawing at his soul from within, the beast resisting its imprisonment with every ounce of its fury.
"Stop it! Orochimaru, please!" Her voice was hoarse now, choking on sobs. "Give him back, give him back to me!" She pushed forward again, only to be restrained by Sasuke's arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her back. She fought him, her nails digging into his arm, her body thrashing as her legs kicked against the air, trying to claw her way toward her son. She fought, wild and frantic, trying to reach the bed.
Kakashi's subtle gesture to Sasuke was all it took to solidify the weight of his decision. He knew this would push Hinata further into hating him, but he had no choice. He had to be the villain today. Orochimaru, slightly fazed by the chaos, continued his work, his focus sharp. The glow from the seal began to settle into Haruto's skin, fading into the pale canvas of his chest, leaving behind a faint, swirling mark—an intricate design reminiscent of Naruto's own seal.
But Hinata's wails filled the chamber, each cry more desperate than the last. "No! No! Haru, please—!" Her weeping was distracting Orochimaru.
Sasuke's heart twisted at the sight of her. Her eyes, wide and drowning in tears, locked onto him in disbelief as he stepped in front of her. He could feel the surge of her desperation, her frantic energy pulsing through the air. Without a word, he grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not unkind, and dragged her out of the sealing room. The heavy metal door slammed behind them with a resounding thud, cutting off the sounds of the ritual and leaving a suffocating silence in its wake.
"Sasuke!" Hinata shouted at him, she was trembling, her face soaked with tears, her eyes wild with a mixture of fear, rage, and overwhelming pain. "Let me go!" she screamed, her voice cracking with raw emotion. Her feet dug into the floor as she struggled, but Sasuke was relentless, becoming the devil again, this time for her benefit.
"Hinata, enough," he muttered through gritted teeth, his own voice tight with suppressed emotion.
With her one free hand, she punched Sasuke's chest repeatedly, Sasuke grunted but didn't let go, his muscles tensing as he absorbed the impact. Sasuke stood his ground, his face hardened into a mask of stone.
"My son is in pain, you bastard! You dragged me away from him! He needed me!" Her fist pounded against his chest, her strikes fast and wild, fueled by her grief. She didn't care how strong Sasuke was, didn't care that her punches barely moved him—she needed to release the torment swirling inside her.
He let go of her wrist, so she could rain her painful assault on him without restrain. Hinata lunged at him, fists flying. Her hands flew, striking him square in the chest. The impact reverberated through his body, but he barely flinched, to keep the mask intact.
"How could you?" she screamed, her voice hoarse as her hands found his chest again, this time trembling, not striking. Her palms pressed against him, shaking with the effort it took to hold back another outburst. "How could you let them hurt him like that? He's just a baby—he's my baby! You promised to protect him! You promised!"
She again rained blows against his chest, her strength failing as her body shook with sobs. Her chakra flared and flickered, weak but still potent. She struck again, her chakra-laden hand hitting near his chakra points, and Sasuke grunted as pain shot up his arm, numbing his right side. Still, he refused to move, refusing to let her break through him.
His voice was sharp, concealing the turmoil churning within him, "It is a necessary step, Hinata. You know that too!"
Her anger, her sorrow, it was all understandable. But they couldn't lose control. She attempted to pass by him, towards the door. But he blocked her path, she groaned and her Byakugan pulsated, veins spread around her eyes, she channeled her energy in her chakra-laden palms and hit him near his chakra points, which made him wince and held his right arm by his left, almost knocking him out.
She kept on hitting him, thankfully, her chakra was weak at the moment and her hits were barely strong enough to block his chakra points but they were dominating enough to cause him shooting pain, "Necessary? How could you say that? I watched him scream in agony, Sasuke. I felt it. That pain, that terror—he's just a child! My child! And you dragged me away from him—how could you be so cruel?"
Her tears continued to stream down her face, the force of attack dulled but she ensured to just keep hitting his chest, her fingers jabbing his neck, but he kept his hands around her, caging her to him.
"Sasuke-kun…" Sakura who among everyone was standing a few feet away from them, voiced out her concern for him with a murmur.
Shino and Kiba were moving towards him and Hinata. Sai held Ino who who got uneasy by the chaos unfolding in front of them.
But Sasuke shook his head, signaling for them to stay back. This was his pain to bear, and no one else's.
"I hate you, I don't trust you!" Hinata's frail frame shivered as she looked up, red-rimmed eyes throwing daggers at him, piercing his soul, carving a new pain in him, "You forced me out of there, away from my child, just like you took away Naruto from us…you…you bastard…you cruel…" her voice trailed, ending in breathy murmurs which Sasuke couldn't comprehend, but he knew they were words thrown at him to cut him. Her voice whipped at him, and the world around him blurred. Her pearly eyes were aching with tears burning in them.
Her body kept on thrashing, struggling to get out of his hold, his right arm was taking a toll from her Chakra-laden hits, losing mobility with every hit.
But he still wrapped his arms around her tightly, pressing her body to his, he had enough, he had to calm her down, she was wasting her barely there strength on him out of grief and frustration, "Is it enough, Hinata? Are you done?" He leaned down to whisper in her ear.
Her body spasmed in his grasp as he held her tighter in a bone-crushing hug, the first girl he willingly cradled in his arms, but she was busy attempting to land her fists at his chest, how unfortunate for Sasuke. Sasuke could feel her thumping heart, her hot breath on his neck, her sniffles ringing loudly in his ear and tears staining his shirt.
"Trust Naruto's judgement of me, Hinata. Please. Please." Sasuke begged, his voice breaking, the stoic mask he donned faltered and broke, showing the agony etched on his pale ashen face, because Hinata was right, he took away Naruto from them, he was a bastard.
"Please," he begged again, unable to control her sobbing and her fists trying to push on his chest, her fingers clawing on the fabric of his shirt. She was the first girl he begged.
"Let me…see my son…" She croaked out, in between her sobs.
"I promise, I will protect him, Hinata." He buried his head on her shoulder, the strength of his faltering as her chakra seeped inside his skin, jolting his muscles, his body began to ache.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed against him, her fists pounding weakly into his chest before sliding down, clutching at his jacket, finally stopping her incessant attacks.
Her voice cracked as sobs racked her body. "He is a baby…Sasuke…just six months old, he doesn't…deserve…" Her voice which was blaring before, was now reduced to muffled whimpers of pain. Her outburst dulled down. Her words dissolved into sobs, her body sagging against him as if all the strength had drained from her.
His arms around her loosened, and she looked up at him, her lips quivered and the seething vanished from her eyes, only helplessness remained, a mother's love could make a woman like Hinata go against a devil like Sasuke, impressive. "It was the only way," he rasped.
Her hands slid up from the flaps of his jacket to his collar, and she pulled him down and closer to her even more, her minty hot breath fanned his face, "I can't take this…" she breathed out.
He cupped her face, cold with tears soaking on her skin, his thumb caressing the cheek with a weak swipe, "It is just one time…Orochimaru said that the other sessions won't hurt."
She sniffled, "But—"
His eyes were half-lidden, pain in his arm sizzling within him, burning his veins, "I assure you."
Hinata's body shook with another wave of sobs, and despite the anger that still simmered inside her, she couldn't push him away. Her heart was too shattered, too raw, and she was too exhausted to fight anymore. Her breathing was uneven and ragged.
"I just… I couldn't take it…" she whispered, her voice so small now, almost lost in the vast emptiness of the corridor. "Hearing him scream like that… I couldn't handle it, Sasuke. I just want him safe. I just want him to stop hurting."
Her head dropped, forehead resting against his chest, and her hands finally loosened their grip on his collars. She didn't say anything more, too consumed by the grief and fear that still gnawed at her. He lifted his head, his hands loosely snaked around her waist still, keeping her collapsing frame steady, pressed to his own which could fall anytime too. He put his chin on the crown of her head, his eyes squeezed shut and he let out a deep breath, attempting to quell the pain surging within him, because if he fell then Hinata would too and he wouldn't let that happen.
A familiar voice woke him up from his dazed state, "Sasuke-kun, you are not okay." His eyes fluttered open, his vision blurring but he could see her pink hair. Sakura was coming towards him.
He squeezed Hinata's frame a little before he called out, "Shino and Sakura…" his voice drawled, coaxing a painful hiss out of him.
Shino and Sakura stood in front of him, the vivid concern mapped on Sakura's face, her teary eyes scanned his crumpling frame holding an unconscious Hinata.
Yes, she fainted. After punishing him again and again, she fell too. But it was okay, Sasuke could take anything she offered, he was hers to punish. She was not his atonement but his responsibility.
"Shino, I can't carry her to…" His voice was choked, the tone was raspy amidst the heavy breathing. Shino didn't have to listen further, he inched closer and held the conscious body of Hinata with a delicate hold, dropping down to carry her body in his arms. Sasuke's hazed eyes followed the movement, Sakura stepped into his space, her hand over his arm, Sasuke held her wrist, "Go to her, heal her."
"But you—" Her voice came out as a sob.
"Her. Go to her, please." The second time he begged a girl, but for Hinata.
The jolts of pain coursing through Sasuke's body intensified, searing his nerves like molten fire. Each pulse radiated from his limp right arm, travelling down his spine, twisting his insides in agonizing spasms. His breath came in ragged, uneven bursts, his chest rising and falling as if each inhalation scraped against shards of glass lodged in his lungs. His knees buckled beneath him, feet slipping as if the ground had suddenly vanished. His back slammed against the cold metal door, and he sagged against it, gasping for air, the pain crashing over him in relentless waves.
His left hand instinctively clutched his limp right arm, fingers pressing into flesh as if sheer willpower could force it to move again. But the damage was too deep, the chakra points she had struck now throbbing, deadened under her chakra-laden blows. Every twitch of his muscles sent electric shocks of agony rippling through him. His neck, tender and bruised where Hinata's fingers had jabbed, felt like it was screaming with each tremor that pulsed through his veins.
The door behind him creaked, its cold surface shifting as it opened inwards, and his body, drained of strength, collapsed backwards. Before he hit the ground, strong arms caught him. Sasuke's dazed eyes flickered open, struggling to focus through the haze of blinding pain. The world around him blurred, but he could still make out the familiar mask and silver hair of his former mentor.
"Sasuke." He recognized Kakashi's voice. His mind was fogged with the molten pain swirling beneath his skin, he needed relief. His onyx eye met Kakash's hooded ones, he raked his eyes over Sasuke, seeing the limp arm and the stiff neck.
Kakashi said, looking inside the room, "Tsunade-sama, you need to heal him."
"Haru—" Sasuke's voice was a strained whimper.
"He is fine," Kakashi assured while Sasuke couldn't move his neck to see what was going on inside the room but there were no piercing wails from Haruto, which caused a relieving sensation in his brain.
The last thing he remembered before he was knocked out for his treatment, was being dragged towards a long bench by Tsunade while Kakashi cradled Hinata's son, sleeping with his chin against Kakashi's shoulder.
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Sasuke's eyes fluttered open, and the world around him slowly came into focus. The dull grey of the room sharpened, revealing the peeling paint on the ceiling beams where warm lights hung, casting a soft glow. He squinted against the brightness, his body protesting as he shifted on the hard bench beneath him. It felt like he'd been lying on jagged stones, his muscles sore and stiff from the prolonged discomfort. He groaned, pulling himself upright, his legs dangling as his feet found the cold, rugged floor.
He scanned the room, the chemical-laden air swirled and the hall was still stretched out with a melancholic air draping over the people scattered.
A memory of what had happened an hour ago played like a tortuous genjutsu in his mind. Frustration simmered within him.
He rubbed the back of his neck, craning the neck to see if the stiffness was gone. It was. He rotated his arm, which was harshly immobilized, only a slight hiss escaped his mouth but other than that, his limb was healed.
Hinata was still unconscious across him, on another uncomfortable bench. Kiba was crouched down, near the leg of the bench, stroking her hair, while Shino stood like a guard beside his friend who couldn't keep his hands to himself. Kakashi, Sai and Shikamaru were huddled on the small table in the corner, scrolls unfurled before them on their laps. Ino, Sakura and Tsunade were dotting on a sleepy baby who Ino cradled in her arms, his golden hair shining under the warm lights, the same baby whose wails gutted Sasuke from inside an hour ago.
He never knew that he was that sensitive to babies. Haruto's weeping during the seal sliced open his own heart and clawed at his resolve which he didn't want to crumble in front of Hinata.
If he was that affected, he couldn't fathom the intensity of afflictions that Hinata as a mother must have felt. Her reaction to her son's suffering was valid and understandable.
"Who knocked me out?" He growled, catching the attention of the people who were busy with their conversations.
"I did, you reckless brat." Tsunade's glare shot across the room from her position at the main table. "Do you know if Hinata had her full strength, she could have done some severe damage?"
Sasuke defended, knowing well how Hinata was simply lashing out, thwarted by her helplessness, "She knew her failing strengths, she knew how much damage she was doing. I know the intent to kill…she doesn't have it in her." He cleared his throat, "But thanks for the concern, didn't know the fifth liked me that much." He smirked, earning a gruff guttural groan from her.
She began, "Her state of mind-"
"Is questionable, I know it. But…she was in shock and…pain." He rose from the bench, stretching his neck and arms, crossing the distance between him and Hinata.
"Next time, don't be that self-sacrificial." Tsunade sternly added, refraining from arguing about Hinata, "It doesn't even suit you, you selfish prick."
Sasuke only listened, and then ignored.
He stood near her bench, her delicate and feeble body was without a shiver, for once, finally. "Sakura…" He glanced back at the ladies.
"I calmed her down and replenished her chakra. She needed some sleep." Sakura and Ino walked up to him.
"Thank you," he murmured to Sakura, but his eyes were on a blonde baby held in a comforting blanket in the arms of Ino.
"Is he…okay?" He questioned, eyeing the flushed whiskered cheeks which had a twinge of red. His lips puckered, attempting a sucking motion, as if he was feeding on air. Babies are weird.
Ino nodded, "Yes, Tsunade-sama healed his disrupted chakra pathways, his vitals were checked and there was no internal damage." She patted his back softly, "Seal was successfully placed."
Haruto was stirring, blinking his eyes open and letting out a soft gurgle. "Ah you woke up, little prince." Ino kept on cooing at him. Flicking his cheek gently, she held him upright, placing the hand under his bottom and one on the neck as he held her blonde strand and tugged it. He has some weird fascination with hair. Sasuke thought.
"We need to leave." He said it to himself, looking to his side at Hinata who was still unconscious.
He knelt near the end of the bench, "Hinata."
She didn't listen. Stubborn.
"Sasuke…she needs medical attention." Sakura placed her hand on his shoulder.
Sasuke huffed, "I know. But…" he trailed off.
Ino added, "Could you convince her…since…you live with her now."
Kiba's gravel grunt was directed at him, at the new reality of Sasuke being her housemate.
Sasuke shrugged. "I will try. She doesn't listen though."
Kiba spat, "Yes because you are a stranger."
Sasuke's patience ran cold, "Ironic coming from you, because if she wanted to listen to you…she wouldn't be running away from you."
Before Kiba could argue back, Hinata let out a gentle murmur 'Haru', her eyes slowly flickered open, her hand unwittingly raised to rub her eyes. "We have to leave." Sasuke caught her attention, as his onyx eye met her lilac-tinted bloodshot eyes.
Her face was devoid of any expression until the awareness hit her, morphing her face into a canvas of worry. She harshly pulled her body up on the bench, swinging her legs off it and slamming on the floor. Sasuke lifted himself from the floor.
Her lips parted, and a weary whisper escaped, "Haru-" but her exhaustion was apparent in the droop of her shoulders and the paleness of her face.
"He is fine," Sasuke assured, glancing to the other side at Ino.
Her eyes darted to her son, she abruptly stood up and without speaking to anyone, she stepped in towards Ino with her arms lifted to carry Haruto but Sasuke pulled her by the arm, "No." He shook his head, "You can't even stand on your own."
He passed by her, allowing himself the courage to yet again do the daunting task of carrying a baby, he had Kurenai's pointers jammed in his head about it, Haruto easily slipped into his grasp, with an enthusiastic smile.
Hinata argued, "You don't know how to carry a baby-"
"I know it." He flexed as he pressed the baby to his chest, holding his neck for the support. Kurenai stressed about the neck part crazily.
Sasuke noticed how Hinata was feeling shadowed by all the people, unable to find an escape, her fists were clenched till they whitened her knuckles and her head lowered to hide herself from the curious eyes of everyone, especially Sakura and Ino. Then suddenly, she covered her mouth and looked up, eyes wide.
"Great, now you want to vomit…see how I am the better fit to hold your son-"
His gloating seemed to override her shock, as Shino guided her towards the bathroom, and she rushed towards it.
"Does she vomit a lot?" Sakura asked, frowning.
"Yes, forces herself to eat but then vomits out in the next hour or two."
"This is really damaging, no wonder her body isn't healing. She really needs to get her treatment." Sakura rubbed her temples, worry led to a strange pallor on her face."
Sasuke knew Hinata was running away from the world, but Sasuke also knew that she did not intend to hurt herself deliberately, she was making her end of effort by eating and sleeping, but her body didn't listen, and she didn't listen to her body and mind. Both stubborn. Mind and body yelled for medical assistance, while she called out for solitude from the world.
Whatever effort she was making, she made for her son.
Her son…who was eagerly bobbing in his grasp, fist little fists rubbing his eyes, and blowing bubbles with saliva while squealing with a big smile. His small hand was tugging on his bang as he stared at the visible Rinnegan with a wondrous joy filled in his big blue eyes. Soft gurgles escaped his lips as he nuzzled his face into his cheek, babbling 'ah' 'nah' 'bah', which Sasuke couldn't decode despite the genius of his mind.
Haruto, however, wasn't finished exploring. With the intense curiosity only a baby could have, he began patting Sasuke's face, his tiny hands feeling the contours of his sharp jawline, and the sharpness of his cheeks. Sasuke's stomach twisted, a flutter of unfamiliar nervousness making its presence known. The absurdity of it all—the Uchiha heir, battle-hardened and stoic, undone by a giggling child—didn't escape him. He felt out of place, overwhelmed by the baby's unfiltered joy and the gentle, yet chaotic energy that seemed to calm the room.
Ino smiled, "Aw Sasuke, he likes you."
Weird baby; confirmed.
Haruto continued to explore Sasuke's face, while the others watched keenly, Ino gushing in the background. Sasuke's stomach twitched, flipping nervously with a bubbling sensation. His frayed nerves from the entire onslaught were soothed with the giggles and coos of the baby who seemed like he was having a conversation with himself. Hinata arrived with Shino trailing behind her, her feet were wobbly, and even the suffocating air swayed her frame.
Before he could say something, Haruto then decided to press his gummy mouth against Sasuke's cheek in an attempt to 'bite' him. Though toothless, the wet, soft sensation caught Sasuke off guard. The baby's drool slid down his cheek, sticky and warm. His eyes widened, but the relentless little boy wasn't finished.
Then he unlatched his mouth from Sasuke's cheek and went back to blowing bubbles with his saliva. Weird. Weird. Weird. Before he could again say something to Hinata, Haruto's tiny hands clutched Sasuke's face, palms pressing against his cheeks as he giggled and attempted to bite his nose next by pushing his face on Sasuke's with soft giggles. The little gurgles of joy bubbled up again, resonating through the silent, heavy atmosphere of the room.
"Never thought I'd ever see this day," Kakashi arrived with a chuckle, "He seems fond of you."
Sasuke knew that the ordeal of Haru liking Sasuke was vexing for Hinata, so he ignored Kakashi and Ino who were laughing about how Sasuke-kun was a baby's favourite human. He turned to Hinata who was gulping and staring at the ground, her fingers clasped the edge of her jacket tightly and the long midnight hair draped over her face, almost concealing the frown on her forehead and quivering on the lips.
"Let's go, Hinata."
"But Sasuke-kun…I'd like to talk to Hinata," Sakura called out.
The mere thought of confrontation of any kind was jarring to Hinata, evidently expressed by her quick response in turning around and dashing towards the exit.
Sasuke followed, glancing back at Sakura, "Not now, Sakura," he nodded at her as a farewell and led the way outside, carrying a baby who was content in playing with his hair strands and eating his cheek.
As they walked outside the Hokage tower, Hinata pulled up her scarf again to hide herself from the public and the biting wind. She looked back to check if Haruto was covered to the neck, her hand pulled his beanie back down to cover the baby's ears.
"Tsunade said that he is fine," he felt the need to reassure her.
"All I know is…he was in excruciating pain…which he didn't deserve." She tucked Haruto's jacket tighter, wrapping the blanket with a firmer grip as her son kept on taking his limbs out of the blanket to hold onto Sasuke's face and swing his little legs with chirping.
She huffed at her multiple attempts and then chose to walk ahead.
"I will keep my promise, Hinata," he looked at the baby in his arm, heedlessly his hand caressed his cheek, feeling the soft silky skin underneath the pad of his thumb which had bruises from the use of his sword.
Hinata's walk paused for a moment hearing him promising her the safety of her son, but then she continued ahead, without a word. Sasuke chose to walk closely behind her, so if in case she fell…he'd be there to catch her.
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A/N: REVIEWS AND FAVS ARE APPRECIATED.
I initially wanted to make the starting POV of Hinata extremely sad but then I went for bitter tone, which was aligned with her Post Partum depression.
Also, NEXT CHAPTER, we will dive more into Hinata's state of mind and why has she become like this, through another very important and pretty character of narutoverse, GUESS!!