It's a short chapter, but I hope you all enjoy it.

XXXXXXXX

Hinata's eyes drifted open, catching on the sharp flicker of lights above her. The scent of antiseptic hit her, strong and clinical, unmistakably the smell of a hospital. Her heart tightened as she tried to lift herself up, but a gentle hand on her shoulder urged her back down. She flinched at the unexpected contact, feeling a rush of vulnerability sweep through her.

"Sorry, Hinata," a voice murmured, concerned. "Do you need anything? Water? Food?"

Disoriented, she blinked, the edges of the room around her sharpening as she tried to focus. The curtain drawn around her bed offered a muted sense of privacy, but something about it felt fragile. Slowly, she turned her head, finding Naruto's worried face beside her bed. His eyes were fixed on her, lined with worry.

Her voice came out faint, unsteady. "Naruto-kun…why are you here? Why are you in the Land of Stone?"

A tight smile crossed his face, forced and shallow. "Sasuke sent you back," he said, his voice catching as he spoke. His gaze dropped briefly as if he were gathering the right words. "He told me what happened…he thought it was safer for you here. Sai and Sasuke are continuing the mission."

The words hit her, stirring memories she wished she could bury. The flash of rough hands gripping her, the weight of fear that had paralyzed her, the sickening sense of powerlessness. She swallowed hard, her throat dry, her hands gripping the thin hospital sheet as flashes of the incident flooded back. The laughter, the way she felt trapped—her pulse quickened, her breath catching in her chest.

Naruto shifted, reaching out, but his hand hovered uncertainly before he pulled it back, clearly unsure. His fists tightened, his knuckles turning white, mirroring the frustration and helplessness she felt. She could see it in his face—the conflict, the anger he didn't know where to place.

The curtain moved again, and Sakura stepped into the room, her face soft with concern but her presence steady. She approached with care, her gaze meeting Hinata's as she settled beside the bed, opposite Naruto.

"Hinata," Sakura said gently, her voice carrying a quiet relief, "I'm so glad you're awake."

Hinata nodded slightly, her mind still tangled in the confusion and weight of the memories. Sakura looked at her, seeming to understand the depth of her silence.

"Hinata," she continued, a slight pause in her voice, "I need to ask you a few things. If it's too much, please tell me." Her eyes softened, full of concern. "Would you like Naruto to stay?"

Hinata's voice failed her, but she managed a faint nod. She glanced at Naruto, who returned a small nod, his gaze unwavering as if anchoring her.

Sakura's expression grew serious as she leaned forward, her tone still gentle. "Can you tell me what you remember?"

The words stuck in her throat, each one feeling like a weight she had to force out. "He…he grabbed me," she began, her voice almost a whisper. "I tried…but he was too strong. I couldn't…I couldn't stop him." Her hands tightened on the sheet, the sense of helplessness flooding back. "It felt like…no matter what I did, it didn't matter."

Sakura's hand found hers, a steadying comfort that grounded her. "You did everything you could, Hinata. You're safe now."

A shaky breath escaped her. "I got him off me somehow. I don't even know how…but I did." She looked down, ashamed. "Then Sasuke…I remember him."

Sakura's expression remained calm, and patient.

"I remember hearing…his screams," she continued, her voice barely audible. "Sasuke told me to close my eyes…I didn't see what he did. But the sounds…it was enough." She looked away, recalling the glimpse of Sasuke's face streaked with blood—blood that wasn't his. The question rose in her mind, but she was too afraid to voice it. Had Sasuke killed him?

Naruto's voice broke the silence, thick with guilt. "I should never have sent you…if I'd known…" His fists clenched tighter. "This is my fault. I put you in danger."

Sakura turned to him, her voice firm but understanding. "Naruto, you couldn't have known. None of us could." She paused, her tone softening. "You did what you thought was best. Don't carry that blame."

Naruto's shoulders sagged, his face etched with regret. After a moment, Sakura spoke. "Maybe you could give Hinata a little space for now?"

He nodded reluctantly, his expression still shadowed with guilt. Rising from his chair, he gave Hinata one last look. "I'll check on you soon, Hinata," he promised quietly before slipping out of the room.

Sakura's focus returned to her. She took Hinata's hand, her touch a comforting presence. "Hinata, none of this was your fault," she said softly. "You did everything you could."

A tear slipped down Hinata's cheek, shame and anger mingling as she met Sakura's steady gaze. "I thought I was strong enough," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "But he made me feel…like I was nothing."

Sakura's grip tightened gently, her eyes full of understanding. "What happened was terrible. But don't let it make you question your strength. The fact that you're here, talking with me now…that takes more strength than you know."

Hinata closed her eyes, another tear slipping free as Sakura's words settled over her. The pain still lingered, but Sakura's presence, her support, eased it just a little. She wasn't alone in this.

Sakura continued, her tone a quiet reassurance. "You're not facing this alone, Hinata. We're here for you. Take all the time you need, and remember—you have people who care about you, who believe in you."

Hinata took a deep breath, feeling the weight lighten slightly.

Sakura's hand lingered on Hinata's shoulder. "You can stay here as long as you need, Hinata," she said gently. "Take all the time you need to process. When you're ready to leave, you'll have the support you need. No one's going to push you."

There was still a nagging question lingering in her mind. She looked up at Sakura, hesitant. "Does…does anyone else know what happened?" The idea of anyone else knowing made her chest tighten.

Sakura gave her a reassuring smile, her voice firm. "No. The only people who know are me, Naruto, and the medical staff. It's confidential, and it will stay within the walls of this hospital. You don't need to worry about anyone finding out."

Hinata nodded. The knowledge that it would remain private eased her mind, yet the fear of being seen as fragile, even by those closest to her, still lingered.

Sakura gave her shoulder a light squeeze, a silent message of reassurance. "If you ever need to talk, or if there's anything else you need—whether it's advice or even just someone to sit with you—you know you can come to me anytime."

Hinata met Sakura's gaze, a quiet gratitude in her own. "Thank you, Sakura," she whispered. The words felt so small compared to the weight of her emotions, but she meant them with every part of her.

Sakura offered her a soft smile. "I'll check in on you later, alright?" She stood slowly, pausing before stepping away, as if to let Hinata have control over her space.

Hinata watched her leave, the room falling into silence. For the first time since waking, she let herself breathe fully, feeling the empty quiet settle around her. Sakura's presence, her assurance, lingered like a faint warmth in the room. She hugged her arms around herself, her mind wandering back over everything that had happened. The memories still hurt, each one cutting deep, but now they felt just a little less suffocating.

XXXXXXX

Later that night…

The house felt empty. Too empty. Hinata sat curled in her bed, wrapped in her blanket as if it could somehow shield her from the memories circling her mind. The day had slipped by in a strange blur, and while she was grateful that Naruto had offered to keep the children for the night, the silence left her alone with her thoughts in a way she hadn't anticipated.

She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, feeling its familiar warmth but unable to shake the chill beneath her skin. Images from the mission replayed over and over, fragments piecing themselves together into something she wanted desperately to forget but couldn't escape. Her mind kept wandering back to Sasuke. To that moment when he'd looked at her, seeing her scared and shaken, and had made the call to send her home.

Her heart twisted as she thought about how she must have looked to him, broken and defeated. She could only imagine the quiet pity in his eyes. The thought made her feel small, weak. She hadn't been able to hold her own, hadn't been able to finish what she'd set out to do. Instead, she'd had to rely on someone else to rescue her, to bring her back here.

She swallowed, feeling the frustration and self-doubt rise in her chest. All her training, all the strength she'd worked so hard to build—it had all crumbled in an instant. She clenched her fists under the blanket, her nails pressing into her palms as she tried to make sense of it, to find some justification, but the truth was painfully clear.

She had failed.

A deep sense of disappointment settled over her, and she bit her lip, the shame and anger warring inside her. How could she ever expect anyone to believe in her, to trust her strength again, when she hadn't even been able to protect herself?

The knowledge that Sasuke had likely opened a portal to bring her back felt like another blow. A reminder that he'd had to go out of his way, altering the mission's course to take care of her. She knew it was a practical decision—he hadn't done it out of pity, or at least, she hoped he hadn't—but the feeling of being a burden, of disrupting their progress, gnawed at her. She couldn't shake the sense of inadequacy, the feeling that her presence had been more of a hindrance than a help.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket as she fought to hold back tears. She hated this feeling, this hollow emptiness that had replaced the quiet confidence she'd once carried. She felt like she was spiraling, and each thought only pulled her further down, back to the helplessness she'd felt in those moments. The moments she wished desperately to erase.

In the quiet of her empty home, surrounded by shadows and memories, Hinata hugged the blanket around herself, willing it to keep her safe, to make her feel whole again. But no matter how tightly she held it, the blanket couldn't shield her from the ache within her chest. She didn't know how to face this, how to pull herself out from the weight of her own thoughts.

Hinata heard the knock echo through the house and froze, debating whether to ignore it. But something urged her to move, and with a sigh, she slid out of bed, wrapping her blanket around her shoulders before heading downstairs. She opened the door slowly, unsure of who to expect.

Sakura stood there, a gentle, tentative smile on her face and a bottle of wine in her hand. "I thought…maybe you could use some company," she said softly. "But I can go if you'd rather be alone."

The sight of Sakura, standing there with that quiet kindness, made something warm bloom in Hinata's chest. She gave a small smile and stepped aside. "No, please come in. I'd like that."

Sakura's face softened with relief as she entered, glancing around before looking back at Hinata. "Do you have wine glasses?"

Hinata nodded, motioning towards the kitchen. "Yes, I'll get them for us."

Sakura placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you go sit down? I'll handle it. You could use a break."

Hinata smiled at Sakura's thoughtfulness. She walked into the sitting area, curling up on the sofa, trying to settle herself. The quiet rustle of Sakura in the kitchen brought an unexpected sense of ease. A moment later, Sakura returned, holding two glasses of red wine and handing one to Hinata.

"To friends and…taking one step at a time," Sakura said with a gentle smile, raising her glass.

Hinata clinked her glass against Sakura's, her smile widening as she took a sip. The wine's warmth spread through her, relaxing the tension she hadn't even realized she'd been holding.

"So," Sakura said, her eyes sparkling with a touch of mischief, "I've heard you were a bit of a bookworm as well when you were younger. Is it true?"

Hinata chuckled, feeling herself ease into the moment. "Maybe a little…I spent more time with books than people, that's for sure."

Sakura leaned in, eyes wide. "Let me guess. You secretly wrote poetry?"

Hinata's cheeks warmed, and she nodded, laughing. "Only a few, and they were terrible! I'd hide them from everyone."

Sakura laughed, her voice light and genuine. "Oh, don't worry. I used to write in a journal, like a 'future ninja goals' list. I found it the other day, and I couldn't believe how cringeworthy it was."

They both laughed, their laughter filling the quiet space around them, breaking up the heaviness Hinata had felt since returning home. She looked at Sakura, grateful for her presence, for bringing in this bit of light she hadn't realized she needed.

"Thank you for this, Sakura. You didn't have to come here…but you did anyway. I really appreciate it," Hinata said, her voice soft but filled with meaning.

Sakura placed a hand over Hinata's. "You've been there for so many of us, Hinata, in ways you probably don't even realize. It's about time someone was there for you too."

The evening continued with easy conversation, Sakura and Hinata sharing stories from their childhood, laughing at embarrassing moments, and learning new things about each other. Sakura confessed a few silly moments during training that left them both in stitches, and Hinata found herself sharing secrets she'd never spoken aloud, feeling comfortable in a way she hadn't anticipated.

They leaned back, wine glasses empty, both with tired but content smiles on their faces.

"I haven't laughed this much in ages," Hinata admitted, a soft smile lingering as she looked at Sakura.

Sakura laughed, her eyes bright. "Me either."

Suddenly, Sakura grinned mischievously. "You know, I have a secret I've been dying to tell someone."

Hinata's curiosity was piqued. "Oh?"

Sakura took a dramatic sip of her wine, causing Hinata to giggle. "Well," she began, her cheeks tinting a light pink, "I've been secretly going on dates with someone."

Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's wonderful, Sakura! I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks," Sakura said, her smile growing. "It's someone you know, actually."

"Really? Who is it?"

Setting her glass down, Sakura tapped her fingers nervously against her knee. "It's Lee."

Hinata blinked in astonishment. "Lee? As in Rock Lee?"

Sakura nodded, a shy smile on her face. "I know, I was surprised too."

Memories of Lee's youthful enthusiasm flooded Hinata's mind. She recalled how passionately he'd pursued Sakura during their academy days, his declarations of affection both earnest and a bit overwhelming. "I remember how he used to express his feelings for you," Hinata said, smiling. "He was always so...spirited."

Sakura laughed lightly. "That's one way to put it. Back then, I didn't really appreciate it. But lately, we've been running into each other more often."

"How did that happen?" Hinata asked, settling more comfortably as she listened.

"Well, we started chatting whenever we crossed paths. I began to see a different side of him. He's incredibly kind and attentive. He notices the little things that most people overlook," Sakura explained, her eyes softening. "He remembered my favorite flowers without me ever telling him and surprised me with them one day."

"That's so sweet," Hinata said sincerely.

"It is," Sakura agreed. "Though, we did have an awkward moment when we ran into Tenten."

Hinata noticed a flicker of discomfort cross Sakura's face. "Oh?"

"Yeah, it was...tense. There are some unresolved issues between them, mostly concerning their son," Sakura admitted. "But Lee assured me that it's something I don't need to worry about."

"I'm sorry to hear that. But I'm glad he's been good to you," Hinata said, offering a supportive smile.

"Thank you," Sakura replied, blushing slightly. "I think he might ask me to be his girlfriend soon. He's not exactly subtle."

Hinata laughed softly. "That sounds like Lee."

They both sipped their wine, the atmosphere growing lighter. The warmth from the drink and their easy conversation began to ease the weight Hinata had been carrying.

"Do you remember when we were in the academy?" Sakura asked, a nostalgic smile on her face. "Naruto was always getting into trouble."

Hinata giggled. "Yes, he was quite the troublemaker."

"I used to wonder why you had a crush on him," Sakura admitted playfully. "Back then, I couldn't see past his antics. Of course, I only had eyes for Sasuke."

Hinata felt her cheeks warm. "Well, Naruto-kun had a way of surprising people. He was always so determined."

"True," Sakura agreed. "And look at him now. He became someone we can all be proud of."

Hinata's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly masked it. "Yes, he did."

Sakura seemed to notice. "You know, when Sasuke brought you back, Naruto was beside himself with worry. He didn't want to leave your side not once. He stayed there until you woke up. Though, before that Sasuke and I had to convince him to stay. He wanted to go back to…" Sakura trailed off and waved her hand, dismissively. "Either way, Sasuke-kun took care of it and you're safe."

Hinata looked down at her glass. "I... I didn't realize."

Hinata's mind drifted to the memory of Sasuke's face as he held that man by the throat, his expression cutthroat, eyes filled with venom. She could still feel the chill that went through her as she'd looked up, barely able to recognize him in that moment.

But then there was that other moment, the one that stood out most—the gentleness in his voice when he'd told her to cover her eyes. He'd softened for her, almost as if he didn't want her to see what he was about to become. It was a strange, fragile kindness in the midst of that rage, like he'd wanted to shield her from the depths of his darkness, from the violence she hadn't needed to witness.

And the last look he gave her before she blacked out—the concern, the almost frantic worry that had slipped past his guarded expression—stayed with her, making her heart tighten. Despite how she was feeling about herself, the anger and shame she carried, he'd gone out of his way to protect her, to shield her.

"...He's a good husband," Sakura's voice suddenly cut through, snapping Hinata out of her thoughts. She blinked, heat rising to her cheeks at the realization that she'd been caught not paying attention because she was thinking about Sasuke. She turned to Sakura, heart pounding.

"Sorry, what?" she asked, startled.

Sakura smiled, a bit softer this time. "Naruto. I was just saying, he's a good husband."

Hinata's lips pressed into a small, forced smile. "Yes, he… he is." Right…the divorce. She still didn't know. Taking a deep breath, Hinata decided it was time to share her own secret. "Sakura, there's something I need to tell you."

Sakura's expression turned attentive. "What is it?"

"Naruto and I...we got a divorce almost two months ago, well tomorrow marks two months," Hinata confessed. "We haven't told many people yet."

Sakura's eyes widened in shock. "Oh, Hinata, I had no idea."

"It's okay," Hinata reassured her. "His dedication to work created distance between us. There were other things, misunderstandings that complicated matters." She really didn't want to go into the Gaara situation.

"I'm so sorry," Sakura said softly. "I didn't mean to assume."

Hinata shook her head. "Don't worry about it. We've been working through it, and things are better now, at least as friends."

Sakura reached out and placed a hand over Hinata's. "If you ever need anything or just someone to talk to, I'm here."

A genuine smile spread across Hinata's face. "Thank you, Sakura. That means a lot."

They continued talking, sharing stories from their past. Hinata found herself laughing more freely again, the weight on her chest easing as the hours wore on. They reminisced about their academy days, laughing at shared memories and marveling at how much they'd both grown.

"You know," Sakura said thoughtfully, "I never realized how much we have in common."

"Neither did I," Hinata agreed. "I'm glad we had this chance to talk."

"Me too," Sakura replied warmly.

"Thank you again for coming tonight," she said sincerely.

"Anytime," Sakura replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "That's what friends are for."

XXXXXXX

Land of Stone…

The moment Sasuke sent Hinata through his portal back home, he turned back, only to feel the drain of his chakra settling like lead in his bones. He wouldn't be able to create another portal. It didn't matter—he had to get Sai and himself out of there without being seen. Sai lay unconscious, sprawled out from whatever happened to him earlier, and Sasuke doubted he'd wake up anytime soon.

Navigating the narrow corridors undetected, he heard voices echoing down the hall. He paused, his attention caught as a man called out to someone named Yoshimaru. Sasuke leaned just enough to catch sight of the group.

Yoshimaru stood amidst a throng of men, a sinister grin stretched across his face as he laughed, two women draped lazily over his arms. He looked a few years older than Sasuke—maybe closer to Kakashi's age, but with a cold, taunting arrogance. His hair was slicked back, and his smile seemed to have no warmth, just a kind of emptiness that sickened Sasuke. Rage twisted in his stomach. Every fiber of him wanted to lunge forward, to tear the man apart like he'd done to the one who'd laid hands on Hinata.

He took a deep breath, clenching his jaw. Not now. Sai needed to be moved, and they were both vulnerable. He turned back, but as he exited the narrow corridor, his path was blocked. He'd have to go through the crowd at the front. It would be risky, with Sai slung over his shoulder, but there was no other choice.

As he entered the dim, smoky room, he tried to keep against the walls, slipping through clusters of people lost in drink and conversation. The ring was empty now, but men still shouted, while cigarette and cigar smoke hung thickly in the air. He muttered under his breath, glancing at Sai's limp form. "You're making this really damn difficult, Sai."

"Well, looks like someone's trying to get some fresh air." A voice spoke from nearby, casual, mocking.

Sasuke looked over to see a boy watching him, a teenager, with a lopsided grin. He was thin, his hair wild and untamed, and his gaze had a peculiar gleam. Sasuke dismissed him and kept walking.

The boy followed. "You're covered in blood," he observed, tilting his head. "Were you one of the fighters? 'Cause I didn't have a great seat, couldn't really see what was happening."

Sasuke moved faster, his grip on Sai tightening as he tried to ignore the kid, feeling blood from the earlier fight drip near his eye, irritatingly close. The boy continued on, undeterred.

"If you walk out the front door like that," the boy went on, "they'll scoop you up for questioning faster than a rabbit hops to avoid the butcher's knife."

Sasuke's patience wore thin. "If you don't have another way out, buzz off."

The boy just laughed, his eyes bright with amusement. "Follow me, then. You're a funny guy."

The boy moved quickly, darting into shadowed corners and slipping through tight spaces like a snake. Sasuke's vision was blurring slightly, his exhaustion setting in as he tried to keep up, but the boy led him efficiently, weaving through the chaos until they were outside, the crisp night air hitting his face.

Setting Sai down on the ground briefly, Sasuke wiped his eye, his gaze flicking back to the boy, who watched him with a strange mix of amusement and…something darker. Unease gnawed at Sasuke, but he kept his face impassive. "Who are you?"

"Daisuke," the boy said simply, and his smile twisted. "You're the Uchiha with the 'creepy white-eyed woman,' right?"

The words froze Sasuke's blood. His gaze sharpened, and he straightened, clenching his fist to keep his anger in check. "Who are you?" he demanded, taking a step forward.

"Hey, no need to get all worked up," Daisuke said, laughing as he took a half-step back, though he didn't look frightened. "Is that Hyuga woman with you?" he asked, ignoring Sasuke's question.

Sasuke's Sharingan flared, his fury barely contained as he watched the boy. "If you don't start talking, you're going to wish you'd never spoken at all."

Daisuke seemed to relish Sasuke's rage, his gaze fixed on the Rinnegan and Sharingan. "The legendary Uchiha eyes in person," he murmured, awed. "It's terrifying, really."

Sasuke's patience snapped. His chidori crackled to life in his hand, a blue-white glow illuminating the shadows. He lunged, piercing the boy's shoulder, his voice cold and merciless. "Talk. Now."

Daisuke fell to his knees, his face contorted in pain as he gasped. "Don't…kill me…please…"

"You should've thought of that before playing games with me," Sasuke growled, pressing harder, his thoughts wild and uncontained. The images flashed through his mind—Hinata's torn clothing, her fearful gaze, the sickening satisfaction he'd felt when killing the man who'd dared to touch her. The sounds of that man begging, pleading. Sasuke had promised he wouldn't hold back if anyone hurt her, and he'd meant it with a depth that twisted inside him now.

Daisuke's screams rang out, but Sasuke barely registered them. He wanted this boy to suffer, to feel every ounce of pain that his mere existence had dredged up in Sasuke. He didn't notice Sai stirring beside him, nor did he hear Sai's voice telling him to stop. He could see only red, an all-consuming rage that pulsed in time with the electric crackle of his chidori.

But then something changed. Daisuke's screams shifted into laughter, high-pitched and manic. Sasuke hesitated, his chidori fading slightly as he looked down at the boy.

Daisuke clutched his shoulder, blood soaking through his fingers, but he wore a crazed grin. "The pain…exhilarating," he panted, his eyes wide. "You really are as merciless as they say."

"Then start talking," Sasuke demanded, his voice low and venomous.

Daisuke's grin only widened, his voice a murmur of satisfaction. "The kekkei genkai bloodlines…they're experimenting, finding ways to combine them."

Sai moved closer, his expression tense. "Experiments? How does this connect to the scroll of seals?"

Daisuke's eye twitched as he held his arm, wincing but still watching them with a twisted pleasure. "The scroll…it's all part of the plan. To control the bodies…stronger together…binding the power within the blood."

Sasuke narrowed his gaze, every nerve on edge. "Why do you know all this?"

Daisuke's expression turned cryptic, playful, as he tilted his head. "Why, indeed? Maybe I'm just a curious bystander. Maybe I'm a little closer to it all than you'd think."

Sasuke took a step closer, anger surging again. But before he could press further, Daisuke's form began to waver, misty edges curling away from him like smoke. He smiled, his face fading, leaving only his voice lingering in the air.

"Tell the Hyuga woman I hope we meet again," he whispered, his laughter echoing even after he'd vanished completely.

Sasuke stood there, his mind racing, anger and frustration boiling beneath his calm facade. Sai watched him closely, frowning. "Where's Hinata now?"

But Sasuke didn't answer, his fist clenched as he turned, striding away into the shadows, leaving Sai to follow or not.

XXXXXXX

Sasuke ignored the sound of Sai's voice echoing from the other side of the bathroom door, clenching his jaw as he focused on the bloodied cloth in his hand. He ran it over his face, wiping away the smears of dried blood on his skin, but his nerves hadn't settled. His mind was a tangle of anger, guilt, and an unsettling protectiveness he was still wrestling with. Hinata's torn shirt, the fear in her eyes, her vulnerability—every image burned into his memory as if he'd seen it moments ago.

When Sai knocked for the fourth time, Sasuke swung open the door, his expression stormy as he met Sai's gaze.

"What do you want?" he snapped, shoving past him, making his way to the room.

He moved to the edge of the bed, the one Hinata had been lying in the night before. He sat there, running a hand through his hair as if trying to steady himself. But the anger hadn't faded, and Sai's presence was only bringing it to the surface.

"What happened, Sasuke?" Sai's voice was cautious, his usual detachment softened with worry.

Sasuke shot him a glare, the fury in his eyes barely contained. "You really want to know what happened while you were unconscious?" His tone was cold, laced with anger he couldn't hold back. "Hinata was violated because you weren't strong enough to protect her. Because you were unconscious."

Sai flinched, his face paling as the weight of Sasuke's words sank in. After a beat, he asked hesitantly, "What exactly happened to Hinata?"

Sasuke's fists clenched, his voice lowering as he recalled the moment he found her. "I just told you. She was...attacked. I got there just in time to see her fighting back." He paused, his eyes darkening. "But she shouldn't have been alone in that. I shouldn't have had to see her like that."

A long silence stretched between them as Sai processed Sasuke's words, a mask of regret settling over him. He seemed at a loss, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as he looked down, visibly shaken.

"It's my fault," Sai murmured, his voice nearly a whisper. "She went through that alone because I couldn't protect her. I…I should've been there."

Sasuke's anger surged, spilling over as he spoke, his tone biting. "You're right. It is your fault." But even as he said it, he felt the sting of his own words. The raw pain in Sai's expression forced him to swallow back the venom that was laced in his anger. He muttered, "I didn't mean that."

Sai didn't respond, his face carefully impassive, but Sasuke could see through it. The guilt, the self-blame—he understood it well. He knew exactly how much it weighed on him because he felt it too. He took a breath, trying to steady the turbulence within him.

After a pause, Sai spoke, his voice barely audible. "What happened to the man who…?"

"He's dead," Sasuke interrupted, his tone colder than before. "I made sure he suffered."

Images of the encounter flooded his mind, the dark satisfaction he felt as he twisted his kunai into the man's skin, relishing every plea, every choked gasp for mercy. He remembered the look of terror on the man's face, the helplessness he felt beneath Sasuke's fury, the final moments as he took his last breath. Sasuke hadn't held back. And he didn't regret a second of it.

"We're going back out tomorrow," Sasuke finally said, breaking the heavy silence. "First thing. We'll find that kid. And we'll drag him back to Konoha."

Sai nodded, still shaken. "How are you planning to find him?"

"I planted a tracking device on him before he vanished. He's not getting far."

Without another word, Sasuke moved to the bed, pulling back the covers and lying down, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. The adrenaline from the night's events was beginning to wear off, leaving only the ache of exhaustion and a lingering anger simmering beneath it.

In the darkness, Sai's voice came again, softer this time. "I'm sorry for…earlier. I understand why you were upset. I'd have done the same if it were Ino."

Sasuke didn't say anything. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Hinata's face. Her tear-filled eyes, the way she clutched at herself, vulnerable and frightened in a way he had never seen before. The memory gnawed at him, feeding a possessive anger that felt both familiar and foreign.

In the darkness, Sai's voice broke the silence, soft but pointed. "You know, Sasuke, it's obvious you care about her," he said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. "I saw it in the way you… reacted. You wouldn't have been so furious if you didn't…love her."

Sasuke went rigid, his breath catching. Love. The word hit him with the force of a blow, a word he hadn't let himself connect to her before. For a moment, he felt defenseless, stripped bare. Was that really what this was?

He'd told himself for so long that he didn't feel things that way, especially not for Hinata. She was his best friend—Naruto's ex-wife. But as Sai's words lingered, he felt a flicker of something he'd never let himself acknowledge before. Had it been there all along, buried under months, maybe even longer than that, of denial, or had he only started seeing her like this recently? Either way, it dawned on him that maybe he'd been a fool not to realize sooner.

He'd told himself it was just friendship, loyalty. But his rage tonight, the intensity of his need to protect her, had said otherwise. A realization struck him. He'd never felt that fiercely for anyone in this way. And the truth sat heavy and certain in his chest. He did care about her. More than he should. Maybe, even, he loved her.

Turning away from Sai, he forced his eyes closed, willing the weight of sleep to come. He felt a mix of emotions he didn't know how to name or tame. Love wasn't something he could take lightly, not with his history. Yet here he was, faced with it, unable to deny the pull she'd created within him, one that had been there longer than he wanted to admit.

XXXXXXXXXXX

We found out two things in this chapter. Sakura has moved on, meanwhile Sasuke finally realizes his feelings. But I wonder how he will proceed now…

I still plan on updating this upcoming week with a much longer chapter packed with some good goodies, but I just wanted to update with this short one for now. All of your comments really push me to continue writing this story. Thank you again! Please let me know what you think will happen next? And what about this Daisuke and Yoshimaru situation…?