Sorry, this took months to update! I apologize and as an apology, I wrote an extra-LONG chapter. And it won't be too terrible of a cliffhanger when the chapter ends.
XXXX
Tuesday
8:30 AM
To say he had a peaceful sleep would be an understatement. It was his best sleep in a while, especially knowing he managed to find a home so quickly. Usually, that sort of thing took weeks to finalize. However, he had a sneaking suspicion that the leasing agent only gave it to him due to who he was.
However, he didn't expect to wake up in the middle of the night hearing Naruto and Hinata arguing, followed by the front door slamming. He wanted to get out of bed to see if everything was okay, but the silence that followed the door slam was louder than the argument.
The creak of another door being opened, followed by Boruto's voice asking what all the racket was and Hinata telling him it was nothing and to go back to bed.
By the time morning came, breakfast was loud as it typically was with Boruto and Himawari chatting it up, but Hinata was oddly quiet and Naruto was missing. When the kids left the house, Hinata started cleaning the dishes. Sasuke didn't want to pry, but…
"Are you okay?" He asked.
Hinata didn't bother looking over her shoulder at him keeping her focus on the dishes. "I'm fine."
Sasuke frowned. "You don't sound fine."
After a few moments, Hinata huffed and turned off the water, turning to face him. Her white eyes were glossy, filling up with tears. She sniffed, dapping the corner of her eyes with the end of her palm, rubbing away the tears before they could fall.
"It appears I'm the one crying now." She smiled awkwardly. "Naruto-kun and I got into an argument last night. It's all my fault. I hurt him." Her eyes shifted to the floor as she wiped her wet hands on the apron she was wearing.
Crying women was something it didn't know how to handle. Sakura has cried many times in front of him and even then he barely knew what to do. Should he return the favor and console her the same way she did him? The initial moment being of in her arms as she rubbed his back in circles felt soothing. It took him back to his mother. When the moment was over, it was awkward for him. Hugging another woman who wasn't Sakura felt a bit strange, even if it was calming. He didn't want to feel that awkwardness again.
"Change your clothes into some active wear." He said.
She lifted her head, eyelashes wet from the crying. "Why?"
Sasuke smirked. He's going to comfort her in the way he knows best.
XXXXX
8:45 AM
Naruto hadn't said a word all morning. When Shikamaru arrived at work, he was surprised to find Naruto sleeping on the couch in his office. It had been months since he'd seen the blonde sleeping there. There was always something going on between Naruto and Hinata, and Shikamaru had been observing from the sidelines.
He remembered the time Naruto missed his anniversary because of a backlog of paperwork. Then there was the time Naruto showed up at the last minute for the Academy's award ceremony where Boruto received a reward for good behavior (a behavior that didn't last long as he got older).
There were more missed anniversaries. Apology dates that turned sour. A fun day with the parents at the Academy that Naruto skipped. For Himawari's birthday, he sent a shadow clone in his place.
Shikamaru could literally go on and on. He was surprised Hinata hadn't divorced him by now or struck him in the chest to knock some sense into him. But deep down, he knew that would never happen. Hinata had loved Naruto practically all her life. She supported him before anyone else did. And despite his absences, Naruto was deeply in love with Hinata. The married couple would never get a divorce.
Sometime after Kiba came in and threatened Naruto, he started going home on time and keeping his promises. Shikamaru assumed all was well and was honestly happy the Hokage finally got his act together. Yet, there Naruto was, sleeping on the couch earlier that morning. All morning, he looked irritated and barely said anything to the people who came into the office giving him more paperwork.
It was troublesome to get involved in the affairs of others, especially when he was already going through enough with his marriage. But Naruto's obvious bad mood was dampening the atmosphere.
Shikamaru cleared his throat. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but if you're having trouble at home, you need to sort it out. You've had this pissy aura around you all morning. You glared at Shiho just for asking how you were this morning. The poor woman practically stuttered her way out of the office because you scared her so badly."
He sighed, rubbing his forehead when Naruto said nothing and barely acknowledged him. "Look, I consider you a very good friend of mine, and if you want to get drinks after work to talk about it, we can. But try to stay focused. You're the Hokage. You need to have your head in the game when you're working. Do you understand?"
Naruto still didn't say anything, but he did stop reading the documents in front of him. When Shikamaru didn't think he'd say anything, he took that as his cue to leave, hoping it snapped him out of it.
"Let's go get lunch instead. I probably shouldn't be drinking any sake right now," Naruto finally said, looking up and smiling weakly at him.
"Sure. Lunch." Shikamaru smiled. "You can drown your sorrows over a nice bowl of ramen."
At those words, Naruto perked up a bit more. Ramen was always Naruto's go-to. But despite his smile, it didn't reach his eyes like it usually did.
XXXXX
9:15 AM
Hinata felt the sting of another blow as Sasuke's foot connected with her side. She winced, her attention wavering again as she tried to refocus on the sparring session. But her thoughts were scattered, and it showed. Sasuke's relentless attacks were too precise, too fast.
"Focus, Hinata," Sasuke's voice was calm but firm.
Hinata nodded, trying to clear her mind. She activated her Byakugan, hoping the enhanced vision would help her anticipate his movements better. But it didn't matter. Sasuke was a blur, his Sharingan eyes reading her every move before she even made it.
In a swift motion, Sasuke swept her legs out from under her and pinned her to the ground, her arm twisted firmly behind her back. She felt the cold ground against her cheek, and a wave of embarrassment washed over her.
"Today isn't my greatest," Hinata whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Sasuke said nothing, his grip on her arm loosening slightly. He helped her to her feet, his gaze steady and unreadable. Hinata avoided his eyes, her cheeks flushed.
She couldn't get the argument out of her mind. Naruto's words kept replaying in her head.
"I'm giving it my all! I'm doing everything you want and it's still not enough!"
"The way you look at me…it's not the same anymore."
"Do you even love me anymore?"
She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of last night.
"I... I'll do better," she stammered. She stepped back and took a fighting stance once more.
Hinata lunged forward, but Sasuke blocked her attack before it even landed, his hand gripping her wrist gently. His dark eyes bore into hers, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
"Let's take a break," he said softly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Hinata's breath hitched, and she nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She lowered her stance, feeling the weight of his gaze as she tried to steady her breathing.
They both found shade underneath the trees. Hinata sat on the ground against a tree, while Sasuke stood beside her, leaning his shoulder against the trunk.
"Hungry?" Sasuke asked.
Hinata shook her head at the exact moment her stomach growled. She hid her face in her hands, embarrassed.
"You didn't even eat breakfast this morning," Sasuke said, and she could hear the amusement in his tone.
Hinata pulled her knees up, folded her arms on top, and rested her head between them, still hiding her face. "I'm not hungry..." she insisted.
She felt Sasuke's hand on top of her head. She didn't even have the energy to lift her head. Naruto had said a lot of hurtful truths, but she felt so bad for how it ended.
"Hinata."
What started as Naruto trying to make love to her ended with him questioning her love for him, ranting about how much he did for her, and how he couldn't understand why she was still upset with him.
The look in his blue eyes held so much hurt. She was the cause of that. He stormed out of the house without looking back, ignoring her as she called after him and slamming the door behind him.
"Hinata."
Things were improving, but it would take her longer to feel secure. It had been ten years of him abandoning not only her but their kids. Yes, Konoha was his responsibility, but his family should have always come first. Instead, they were always last.
Yes, she was happy things were getting better, but she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"Hinata!"
She lifted her head. Her eyes immediately locked with Sasuke's dark eyes. He was kneeling in front of her, his hand still on top of her head. She pulled back, a bit startled by the proximity.
His eyes shifted slightly. She could see the concern in his eyes, mild worry etched in his eyebrows.
"There you are," he sighed, his hand sliding off her head. "Do you...want to talk about it?"
Hinata could hear the uncertainty in his voice. Sasuke had been there for her a lot lately. In the beginning, he somewhat intimidated her, but after getting to know him better, she realized he wasn't so scary after all. They were very similar in their introverted personalities, which led her to feel comfortable around him and lower her walls a bit. Sasuke had seen sides of her that took months to show even Kiba and Shino, her best friends. She felt...comfortable around him.
In a sense, he was becoming a closer friend. Though, she probably shouldn't tell Kiba that. He was very protective of his spot as her "bestest" friend, which he would gladly announce to everyone (particularly to Shino, just to push his buttons).
Though she would never admit it aloud, she knew they were friends, but she doubted Sasuke felt the same way about their friendship as she did.
Shifting her eyes to the side, she thought about it. Focusing back on him, she nodded.
"Do you want to talk here or over lunch?" he asked, smirking as her stomach growled again.
"Over lunch…" she gave in.
Sasuke stood, holding his hand out. She glanced at it for a moment before sliding her hand into his as he pulled her up. He opened his portal, which caught her off guard. She looked up at him, questioning.
"Where to?" he asked.
Oh. She hadn't thought that far. "Surprise me."
He looked mildly annoyed with the answer. But before she could come up with a specific place, he stepped inside the portal without waiting for her. She hesitated, then stepped inside. When she emerged on the other side, she found herself inside a cute little diner. It wasn't very busy, but it wasn't exactly empty either.
There were a lot of eyes on them...well, on Sasuke. Women watched him with blushes on their faces. Some tried to fix their appearance, hoping he would take notice of them. She followed Sasuke to an empty table in the back, realizing he probably chose it to avoid the attention he was receiving.
"You're still the ever-popular one, Sasuke-kun," she giggled as they took their seats.
Sasuke frowned. "It's irritating." He looked around, glaring at a group of women sitting across from them. They only blushed, whispering to each other excitedly when he looked at them. "Tch, not even glaring does anything anymore."
Hinata laughed. She wasn't surprised in the slightest. Sasuke was, and always had been, a handsome guy.
"It's not funny," he said, turning his attention back to her.
"It is," she replied, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.
Sasuke snorted, ignoring her as he caught the attention of the waiter. The waiter came to their table with a bright smile on his face.
"What can I get for you?"
Sasuke looked at Hinata. "Get whatever you want," he said, sliding the menu towards her.
She opened her mouth to protest, but he gave her the same look he did at the restaurant when he paid for her meal. At that, she kept her mouth shut and glanced at the menu.
"I'll have okonomiyaki and green tea," she pointed to the picture of the grilled pancake.
"Two green teas, okonomiyaki, and omusubi with okaka," Sasuke added, grabbing the menus and handing them to the waiter. "That's all."
The waiter wrote their orders down, collected the menus, and stated he would bring their food right out. Once he was gone, Sasuke folded his hands together and rested his chin on top of them.
"You didn't have to do that, Sasuke. I can pay for my meal…"
His frown deepened. "Don't. If I wanted you to pay for your meal, I wouldn't have said anything. Besides, I don't mind it. Stop worrying so much."
She shrunk into her seat. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun."
"Another thing, just say Sasuke. You keep switching. I prefer just Sasuke," he said, glancing down at the drinks menu the waiter left behind. "Who is drinking this early?" he mumbled.
"Sorry."
Sasuke sighed, looking up from the menu. "Don't apologize. It's fine. Just don't let it happen again."
It took her a moment to realize he was joking. His face was so stoic until he smiled.
When their food came, Hinata was happy to start eating. After a few moments of enjoying the food, she began.
"About last night…"
Flashback
Naruto had his arm wrapped around her waist, his hand sliding up her shirt. His lips planted butterfly kisses behind her neck.
"Naruto-kun…" she blushed when she felt his fingers playing with her nipple.
"Hm?" He continued.
"Sasuke-kun heard us last night. We better not…"
Naruto froze for a moment. "He did?"
"Well…he heard you. I told you not to be so loud." She turned her body around to face him. Their noses were almost touching.
Although it was dark in their room, the moonlight outside provided just enough light for her to see the redness on his face.
When the kids weren't home, they both tended to get a bit loud in the heat of passion. However, Naruto was always a bit louder, which secretly turned her on hearing him moaning. Of course, no one knew that side of her aside from Naruto.
"I will just keep it down tonight." He leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers.
She could feel his hardness poking against her thigh. After their first time having sex, it was awkward and shy, but soon that awkwardness faded and Naruto developed a hungry appetite for sex. His drive became high, as did hers, but now…
"I kind of just want to sleep tonight. Maybe tomorrow," she managed to say in between his kissing.
He pulled back and just stared at her. "Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I'm fine."
"Oh…well, alright then I guess. We'll take a rain check tonight." He kissed her forehead and turned his back to her.
Just as she was about to turn around herself, she felt Naruto shift to sit up and turn on the bedside lamp. He looked down at her, staring deeply into her eyes. She could see that he was searching for something.
"Are you still mad at me?" His voice was low, but she heard him loud and clear.
"What do you mean?"
His eyebrows furrowed. "You know what I mean. Are you still mad about that night…?"
Oh, he wanted to have that conversation now. Okay, she thought to herself as she sat up also, looking down at her hands.
"I'm not upset."
"But?" He pressed.
"You have to realize, things aren't going to just change overnight for me. I told you that it might take time."
"But it's been a while since then, hasn't it? You should have forgiven me by now. I mean, I've been here haven't I?"
She looked at him. He looked confused and hurt. She opened her mouth to respond, but he kept talking.
"I've been coming home every night on time. I've been spending more time with the kids. We go on dates. Our sex has been amazing! If I could do that with you all day I would. You know how much I love you, Hinata." He paused, "I'm doing everything you wanted me to do. I'm making an effort! Why can't we just move on?"
Hinata flinched when his tone raised a bit higher than expected. He placed his hand on top of hers, apologizing for his tone.
He continued. "I just don't get it. I've even been behind on my work, just to make you happy. And yet you still..."
"Wait. Are you doing these things because it's what I wanted or because you wanted to?" She slipped her hands away from his.
"Of course, I want to spend time with you and the kids, but I do have a duty as the Hokage. I can't play house forever. There's work that eventually has to get done. I can only use my shadow clones for so long."
His words were like daggers to her heart. Why would he say something as cruel and selfish as that? Appalled, she slid away from him and got out of bed.
"I can't believe you just said that." She stared at him with wide eyes.
For a split second, her husband looked as if he regretted his words, but he too stood and held his ground.
"You knew that I always wanted to be Hokage. You knew that when you married me. Things get busy, Hinata."
"Too busy for your family? You talk as if it's not a big deal and I should just forget all about it! But it's been ten years of neglect. Ten! I can't just get over that in a day. Not in a week or month. You broke my heart that night! To see you at a bar…drinking with another woman, who clearly likes you, instead of your wife!"
She tightened her fists by her side, trying to stop herself from the tears she felt threatening to spill out.
"Do you know how embarrassed I was waiting in that restaurant for you? I waited for almost two hours! You never came…never. The Hokage can't even spend time with his own family because the village is more important to him. More important than his children. More important than his wife!"
She wanted to remain strong, but she felt the tears already falling.
He sighed, frustrated. "You know I don't mean it like that. You're putting words into my mouth!" His voice started to get louder.
"Then what do you mean, Naruto? Tell me so I can understand." She heard her voice raising as well.
"I'm giving it my best and it's still not enough! I'm getting tired of it. I feel like I'm not good enough for you anymore."
"Wh-What?" She stumbled back, caught off guard by how the conversation flipped. "You feel like you aren't g-good enough for me? Where did this come from?"
Why did it feel like he wasn't hearing where she was coming from? Why was he flipping everything around?
"I'd do anything for you, Hinata. Anything! I'd bring you all the stars in the sky if I could. I know that I wasn't the greatest, but I've been trying my damnedest to make you happy these past few months. I've already moved past everything and you're still stuck in the past! Be here, with me! In the present!" he yelled.
"I can't believe this…" she mumbled, trying to make sense of how it got to where it was now. Was she in the wrong here?
He kept his blue eyes on hers. His frown softened just a bit. "You don't know how you look at me, but I see it almost every day now. You don't look at me the same anymore." He trailed off. "Do you even love me anymore?"
"Of course I do."
"You say that, but your eyes tell me something different. I told you that I apologized for that day, but you can't even move past something so insignificant."
Hinata stumbled backward. "I-Insignificant?"
Before she even realized what she was doing, she walked up to him and slapped him hard across his face. He looked in shock for a moment, his cheek red, until it shifted into an expression she had never seen before. Anger.
He went to their shared dresser and pulled out a pair of pants and a shirt, mumbling to himself.
"Now my mood is ruined," was the only thing she heard him say, as everything else was incoherent.
"What are you doing?" she asked, watching as he put on some clothes.
"Naruto-kun?"
"I can't deal with this shit now. I can't be around you," he continued, more to himself than to her.
What was happening?
He walked past her without sparing her a glance, opening their bedroom door so roughly that the doorknob put a hole in the wall.
She walked after him. "Where are you going?" She grabbed onto his arm, but he yanked it away from her without looking at her and continued down the stairs. The main door slammed hard behind him, causing the family portrait that was hanging on the wall to fall, the glass shattering.
End of flashback
"So that's what happened…" Hinata finished, omitting the beginning part due to the embarrassment of their intimate moments. "It's all my fault. I hurt him. I have never seen him look at me like that before."
Sasuke was silent. She couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"Anyway, don't tell him I told you anything. Please."
She could see him clenching his jaw, but he nodded.
"Anyway, I remember hearing that you finally found a place. That's exciting, huh?" She smiled, trying to change the subject.
"Hn."
"When do you move?" she asked.
"Sunday."
"Oh. Will you be staying with us until then?"
"Hn."
The atmosphere shifted, and she hoped she hadn't soured the mood. They both remained silent, eating their food. Once they were finished, the waiter returned.
"I hope you enjoyed the food?" He was beaming, which brightened the mood a bit, but Sasuke was still quiet.
Hinata nodded. "We did."
"I can get the check for you unless you'd like dessert?" He lingered, eyeing Sasuke.
"No, I think we're…"
Sasuke cut her off. "She'll have a cinnamon roll."
Hinata whipped her head in his direction, surprised.
"I'll get that right away for you, Uzumaki-sama!"
The waiter was gone before she could stop him. She looked at Sasuke questioningly.
"Did you not want it?" he asked.
She shook her head. She definitely wanted and needed it. "Thank you, Sasuke."
He said nothing, remaining silent for the rest of their stay at the diner.
XXXXX
12:30 PM
Naruto sat at the counter of Ichiraku Ramen, the familiar aroma of pork ramen filling his nose. But today, the scent that usually lifted his spirits felt distant, almost muted. He stared into his steaming bowl, the noodles swirling in the broth, but he hardly noticed. Each bite felt mechanical, his mind elsewhere, wrapped in a fog he couldn't shake.
Next to him, Shikamaru was quietly eating his bowl of ramen. The silence between them was heavy, thick like the clouds Naruto felt pressing down on him.
Naruto picked up his chopsticks, but they felt foreign in his hands. He twirled some noodles, lifting them to his mouth without tasting them. His mind wandered, but he couldn't grasp any particular thought.
"Naruto," Shikamaru's voice broke through the haze, but it sounded far away, distorted. Naruto barely registered it, continuing to eat mechanically.
"Naruto," Shikamaru repeated, more insistent this time. He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, a rare gesture of concern from the usually laid-back shinobi. "Are you okay? You haven't said a single word since we got here."
Naruto blinked, the question finally penetrating the fog. He turned to look at Shikamaru, seeing the worry etched in his friend's eyes. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words felt heavy on his tongue. He managed to mumble out, "Sorry, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru sighed, his expression softening. "You don't need to apologize."
He felt like a complete asshole. The guilt gnawed at him with each passing moment amplifying the regret that weighed on him. How could he have treated Hinata like that? He couldn't even pinpoint exactly what drove him to react so harshly. It was like his anger clouded his judgment and made him say things he wished he hadn't.
The image of Hinata's face was tattooed on his mind. She had always looked at him with such support and love in her eyes, but when that look started to fade it hurt. That hurt turned into frustration that he was having a hard time hiding, but he hid it well. He thought, just maybe he could push down that feeling and continue to pretend it wasn't there.
'Why did I act like such an idiot?' he thought, gripping the chopsticks tighter.
The amount of anger that seeped through his veins felt like someone else had taken over, leaving him to deal with the fallout out of his own selfishness. He knew he'd been wrong, that much was clear.
"If you need to talk…I'm here." Shikamaru said.
"Thanks."
Naruto was too ashamed to even utter a single word about what happened. Anyone with ears would be able to tell he was in the wrong.
The rest of lunch was spent in silence, but Naruto felt grateful Shikamaru didn't push him to talk. After lunch, Naruto paid for both of their meals. Just as they walked out heading back to the Hokage Tower, Sasuke approached them.
Intense black eyes met sad blue eyes.
"Let's train." Sasuke spoke.
"I can't right now. I have to head back into the office." Naruto said.
"It won't take long." Sasuke pushed.
He didn't know what it was but the energy felt…off. However, some training might do some good. Maybe he'd feel a lot better afterward. Naruto looked at his advisor, smiling awkwardly.
Shikamaru looked between them, sighing while shaking his head. "Don't be long. You have a lot of meetings today and I don't want to deal with it all by myself."
"Thanks, Shikamaru! I promise I won't be long!" Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Lead the way."
Sasuke said nothing and teleported within a blink as Naruto followed, knowing exactly where he was going. When he arrived at team seven's old training ground, he barely had time to settle down as Sasuke charged right at him without warning.
The Uchiha didn't waste any time. He launched at Naruto at a speed that was almost impossible to track. Naruto barely managed to block the first punch, the force of it sending shockwaves through his arms. He countered with a Rasengan, but Sasuke dodged effortlessly, his Sharingan eyes predicting every move.
"Shit!" Naruto muttered, frustration building. He created shadow clones, hoping to overwhelm Sasuke with numbers. But Sasuke was relentless, cutting through the clones with his Chidori, the crackling electricity illuminating the darkening sky.
Sasuke was going all out. It was only the beginning, and it felt more like a real fight than training. If he were going to go the extra mile, he might as well.
Naruto could feel the Nine-Tails chakra bubbling up inside him, and he let it flow, his body enveloped in the fiery aura. He charged at Sasuke, their fists colliding in a burst of energy. But even with Kurama's power, Sasuke was overpowering him, his attacks precise and devastating.
With a roar, Sasuke unleashed one of his most powerful attacks, "Indra's Arrow!"
It caught him off guard. The energy hit Naruto like a freight train, sending him crashing through several trees. The impact left him breathless, his body screaming in pain. He struggled to his feet, panting heavily.
"Cool it, Sasuke! It's just training!" Naruto shouted, trying to catch his breath. But Sasuke was already on him, his eyes cold and unyielding.
Sasuke's attacks were relentless, each blow landing with bone-crushing force. Naruto tried to keep up, but he was being pushed to his limits. The ground around them was torn apart, craters forming from their intense fight.
Finally, Sasuke pinned Naruto to the ground, his knee pressing into his chest. Naruto struggled, but Sasuke's grip was ironclad. He coughed up blood as he felt Sasuke's knee digging more into his chest.
As Sasuke raised his fist, Naruto braced himself for the impact. But instead of hitting him, Sasuke slammed his fist down beside Naruto's head, creating a mini crater.
Naruto's face was throbbing. He looked up at Sasuke, who seemed almost untouched by the fight, aside from a single cut on his eyebrow.
"What in the hell is your problem?" he asked, his voice raw with pain and frustration.
Sasuke stared down at him, emotionless. "I needed to blow off some steam," he said coldly before standing up and walking away, leaving Naruto lying there, beaten and in pain.
XXXX
3:00 PM
Hinata walked through the village, trying to clear her mind from the argument she and Naruto had the previous night. As she turned a corner, she heard a familiar voice.
"Hey, Hinata!" Kiba called out, waving as he approached.
Hinata smiled at the sight of her old friend. "Kiba-kun!"
Kiba grinned, his energy as infectious as ever. "You too! Guess what? Things with Tamaki have gotten way better. We talked through some stuff, and I think we're finally on the same page."
Hinata's smile widened genuinely this time. "That's wonderful to hear, Kiba. I'm really happy for you both."
Kiba nodded, his excitement palpable. But then his expression softened, and he looked at her with a hint of concern. "How about you, Hinata? Everything okay on your end?"
Hinata's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly tried to compose herself. She didn't want to worry Kiba about her troubles, especially when he was finally feeling good about his own relationship. She put on her best bright smile. "Everything is fine, Kiba. No worries at all."
Kiba studied her face for a moment, his eyes searching. Hinata could see the doubt there, but he didn't press the issue. He just nodded slowly. "Alright, if you say so."
Hinata felt a pang of guilt but kept her smile in place. She didn't want to burden Kiba with her problems. "It's really great to hear that things are going well with you and Tamaki. You both deserve to be happy."
Kiba grinned again, though his eyes still held that shadow of concern. "Thanks, Hinata. I was on my way to see Shino. Want to come along?"
Hinata's smile brightened. "I'd love to."
As they walked together, Hinata couldn't help but feel grateful for Kiba and Shino's presence in her life. They had been her support system for so long, and their friendship meant the world to her.
As they continued walking, they ran into Sakura and Ino. Hinata hadn't seen much of Sakura since her divorce from Sasuke, but the pink-haired woman appeared fine, her usual strength and determination shining through.
"Sakura! Ino!" Kiba greeted them with his usual enthusiasm.
"Hey, Hinata, Kiba," Sakura replied, smiling warmly.
Ino grinned. "What's up, you two? Out for a stroll?"
"Just heading to see Shino," Kiba replied. "How about you guys?"
"Just finished some shopping," Ino said, holding up a couple of bags. "Sakura was helping me pick out a new outfit."
Kiba snorted. "Every time I see you, you're always shopping. Don't you have enough clothes?"
Ino rolled her eyes. "At least I know how to dress. Unlike you, who still wears the same jacket from years ago."
Kiba scowled. "Hey, this jacket is vintage!"
Hinata and Sakura exchanged amused glances, both finding the bickering between Kiba and Ino more entertaining than anything else. They had always argued like siblings sometimes.
"Well, I think Kiba-kun looks fine," Hinata said, earning a grateful nod from Kiba.
"Thank you, Hina-chan," Kiba said with exaggerated politeness, shooting a smug look at Ino.
Ino huffed but didn't seem genuinely upset. "Whatever, dog boy. Just don't blame me when people mistake you for a stray."
Hinata giggled. Despite everything, she was lucky to have such friends in her life.
As the four were chatting, Hinata felt a sudden chill run down her spine. She looked up to see Shizuka approaching them. Her heart skipped a beat, not wanting to engage with her.
"Well, well, if it isn't Uzumaki-sama," Shizuka said, her tone dripping with false sweetness.
Hinata forced a polite smile. "Hello, Shizuka."
"I hope Naruto is doing much better," Shizuka continued, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.
Hinata's confusion was evident. "What do you mean?"
Shizuka mockingly acted surprised. "Oh, you didn't know? He seemed rather down last night. But don't worry, I took very good care of him." She smiled smugly, her words hanging in the air like a poisonous cloud.
Ino bristled, clearly seeing Shizuka's attempt to rattle Hinata. "What do you mean by that?"
Shizuka ignored Ino and turned to leave. "See you around, Uzumaki-sama," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
As she walked away, Kiba muttered under his breath, "What a bitch."
Sakura looked puzzled. "Who was that and what just happened?"
Ino's expression was serious. "That was Shizuka."
Sakura's eyes widened. "That was her?"
Ino turned to Hinata, her face softening with concern. "Are you okay, Hinata?"
Hinata nodded, trying to keep her composure, but her mind was racing. What did Shizuka mean by saying she took care of Naruto? Considering he never came home last night, the implications were troubling.
Sensing Hinata's distress, Ino and Sakura quickly made a decision. "Come on, Hinata," Ino said, linking her arm with hers. "Let's go out and have some fun. It'll take your mind off things."
Kiba looked dismayed. "Hey, she's hanging out with me and Shino!"
But Ino and Sakura were already dragging Hinata away. Ino called over her shoulder, "You can see her another time, dog boy. This calls for a girls' day!"
Hinata looked over her shoulder, mouthing an apology to Kiba as she was pulled away.
XXXX
9:00 PM
Hinata stumbled into her house, her vision swimming and her movements unsteady. She fumbled with her shoes, trying to kick them off but failing miserably. "I'm home," she managed to slur out, her voice louder than she intended.
Her children, Boruto and Himawari, came running at the sound of her voice. They started talking at the same time, each trying to tell on the other. Their voices overlapped, and Hinata struggled to hang on to their words, her head spinning from the alcohol.
"Mom! Boruto took my toy!"
"She broke it first!"
Hinata squinted, trying to focus on their faces, but it was a losing battle. Just then, Sasuke appeared. "Why don't you give your mom a moment. Go watch TV or something," he said calmly.
Boruto looked concerned, his eyes flicking between Hinata and Sasuke. "Alright," he said reluctantly, taking Himawari by the hand and leading her away.
Hinata continued to struggle with one of her shoes, muttering a thank you to Sasuke. She barely registered his amused tone as he said, "I never thought I'd ever see a drunk Hinata."
"It's all Naruto and Shizuka's fault," she mumbled, her words slurring together.
Sasuke's brow furrowed in confusion. "Shizuka? What did she do?"
Hinata finally managed to get her shoe off, tossing it aside with a sigh of relief. "She said…" Her voice trailed off as she noticed a cut on Sasuke's eyebrow. Her drunken haze lifted slightly, replaced by concern. "What happened?"
Sasuke looked away, dismissing it. "It's nothing."
But Hinata wasn't having it. She grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards the stairs. However, with each step, she found it increasingly difficult to maintain her balance. "Come on," she insisted, her voice wavering. "We need to clean that cut."
Sasuke looked at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You can barely walk, Hinata."
"I can walk just fine," she retorted, stumbling but still holding onto his hand tightly.
Sasuke snorted but didn't argue, letting her lead the way, even if it meant half-dragging her up the stairs.
When they finally reached the bathroom, Hinata directed him to sit on the toilet. "Sit down," she commanded, rummaging through the cabinets for the first aid kit.
Sasuke complied, watching her with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What happened?" he asked again, his voice softer this time.
Hinata didn't respond immediately, her focus entirely on finding the kit. When she finally did, she turned to him and leaned in, carefully working on his cut. Her fingers were surprisingly steady despite her intoxication.
As she leaned closer to apply the ointment, she realized just how close she was to his face. The proximity made her heart race, but she pushed through, finishing the task. When she finally pulled back, the room seemed to spin even more violently.
"I think I'm going to be sick," she mumbled, feeling her stomach churn.
Before she could react, she threw up on Sasuke's shirt. The mortification hit her instantly. "I'm sorry," she managed to say, too embarrassed to look him in the eyes.
Sasuke sighed, his expression unreadable. He didn't say anything, just sat there, letting her compose herself, the amusement gone from his eyes.
Hinata had never felt so mortified in her life. She couldn't even get herself to look Sasuke in the eyes.
"Why don't you go lay down," he said, standing up, holding his shirt out, looking down at her vomit.
"I'm s-so sorry, Sasuke-kun. Let me…"
"Just Sasuke and it's okay. Just go lie down, and I'll come check on you in a moment."
Hinata nodded, walking shamefully out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. She barely had the energy to remove her clothes and managed to fall on top of the bed.
She couldn't get Shizuka's words out of her mind. Naruto would never cheat on her, would he? No. He wouldn't. Or did she upset him so much that he sought Shizuka out? The thoughts swirled in her mind, making her head spin even more.
"My head…" she moaned, clutching her temples.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her spiraling thoughts. She lifted her head to see Sasuke standing in the doorway with a new shirt on and a glass of water in his hand.
"Come in," she said weakly.
He walked into the room, his steps silent and sure. He placed the glass of water on the bedside table and looked down at her with a mixture of concern and something she couldn't quite place.
"Drink this," he said, handing her the water.
Hinata sat up slowly, taking the glass with shaking hands. She took a sip, the cool water soothing her dry throat. She felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, the embarrassment overwhelming her.
"Thank you, Sasuke," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Sasuke nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You need to rest. We can talk about everything later. Get some sleep," he said softly, standing up to leave the room.
Hinata reached out and grabbed his arm before he could walk away. "Can you stay a bit longer? Keep me company?" she asked weakly.
He looked down at her, his expression unreadable for a moment until he nodded. She patted the spot next to her for him to sit down. He hesitated but did sit on the edge of the bed.
"I ran into Shizuka. She said she saw Naruto last night and how she cheered him up..." she admitted.
Sasuke said nothing, but let her talk, so she continued.
"It ruined my mood even more."
"So you decided to drown yourself in alcohol?" He smirked.
She smiled sadly. "Ino-chan and Sakura-chan wanted to cheer me up."
"How is she?" Sasuke asked slowly.
"She seemed fine, but after a few drinks..." she trailed off, not knowing if she should say more.
"Hn." He was quiet for a few seconds before continuing. "Don't worry too much about it. You need to rest and maybe not drink so much next time. I don't think I want to be covered with vomit again." He smirked.
She smiled, reaching over to grab her cup of water, and took another sip.
"Get some sleep, Hinata." He stood up and headed towards the door. "Thanks again," he said, pointing to his cut.
She yawned, placing her cup back down on the table as she snuggled into the blankets. "Be more careful," she mumbled as she closed her eyes.
As she was drifting off, she thought she heard Sasuke say, "You didn't do anything wrong." before saying "Goodnight," and closing the door behind him.
But she was too tired to ask him what he said.
XXXX
11:20 PM
Sasuke sat in the quiet of the night, his mind racing with thoughts that kept him from sleeping. He was pissed, more than he had been in a long time. The way Naruto had treated Hinata was unacceptable. Knowing that Naruto had gaslit the poor woman into thinking everything was her fault only fueled his anger.
He clenched his fist, remembering how he wanted to confront Naruto immediately after Hinata told him everything that happened. But she had asked him not to say anything, so he respected her wishes. One way or another, he was going to find a way to crack the blonde's skull.
If he couldn't tell Naruto what he knew, he was going to use training as a way to fight him and he made sure he went all out on Naruto. He wanted Naruto to feel the pain, to understand the depth of his betrayal. In a sense, Sasuke felt like he was defending a helpless woman, even though he knew Hinata could handle herself just fine. But her feelings became something he felt fiercely protective over.
Hinata had slowly become a very important person in his life. Naruto was his best friend, his brother. Even though Naruto annoyed him to the high heavens sometimes, he was still his best friend. But with Hinata, it felt different. He felt comfortable around her, more than he had with anyone outside of Naruto and Sakura. She was becoming to be his best friend.
There was a side of him that he showed to Hinata, one that even Sakura hadn't seen. They could banter and he was never annoyed. They laughed together. Opened up to one another, and even acted silly with each other when no one was around them. He still couldn't forget that stupid face he made during dinner while Sakura went to the bathroom. Hinata has been stood up by Naruto, and he just wanted to put a smile on her face, to distract her.
It worked, and he felt proud of himself for managing to make her laugh. It was a small victory, but it meant a lot. Seeing her smile, even for a moment, made him realize how much he cared about her well-being.
Naruto needed to get his act together, but for now, he would keep an eye on Hinata, offer her the support she needed, and ensure her that she wasn't alone.
Sasuke sat up and decided to get a glass of water downstairs. As he walked down the stairs, he heard faint noises from the kitchen. He could see Hinata sitting at the kitchen table with a cup in her hands. She looked lost, staring into the steam rising from her cup, her face reflecting a mixture of sadness and worry.
"Couldn't sleep?" He asked.
Hinata looked up at him, smiling weakly, but she didn't answer. He sat down in the chair across from her, studying her face.
"Has he come back yet?" he asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it.
Hinata shook her head, placing the cup back down on the table. "No." she hesitated. "What if he's with her?"
"He's not," he said firmly.
"But how do you know that for sure?" Her eyes pleading for some reassurance, some hope.
That anger towards Naruto resurfaced again, but he managed to push it down. He understood her fears, and her doubts, but he also knew Naruto better than most. He wouldn't stoop that low, would he?
"Naruto wouldn't do that. Not to you, not to his family. He's just being an idiot."
Tears filled her eyes, as she nodded, gripping her cup tightly. "I want to believe that."
Sasuke stood and approached her as he pulled the chair next to her out and sat next to her. She looked over at him, lips trembling. He could see the exhaustion in her eyes and he wished that he could do more, say more to ease her mind, but for now, all he could offer was his presence and words.
"He'll be an idiot to ruin his relationship with you over a woman like that. And if he is with that woman, I'll kick his ass for you." And he meant it. He'd do it fifty more times if he needed to.
He felt Hinata gently tug on his sleeve. Her eyes shifted sideways, her body fidgeted nervously.
"C-Can…I…can y-you…" She stammered, leaning forward, then back, clearly struggling with her words.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her behavior. "What is…?" he began, but before he could finish his sentence, Hinata wrapped her arms around him, catching him completely off guard.
He stiffened for a moment, not used to such close contact. But as he felt her trembling in his arms, he realized she was seeking comfort. The same comfort she had provided to him not too long ago.
Awkwardly, he wrapped his arms around her, trying to offer the comfort she sought. It felt strange at first, but as he held her, he focused on providing the warmth and support she needed. Her trembling gradually lessened, and he could feel her beginning to relax in his embrace.
He tightened his hold slightly, resting his chin lightly on her head. "It's going to be okay," he murmured, hoping his words would provide some measure of comfort.
Hinata buried her face in his chest. He sat there, holding her, and realized that he didn't mind this moment. It felt natural like he was meant to be there for her, just as she had been there for him.
Finally, Hinata pulled back slightly, looking up at him. "T-Thank you," she whispered.
Sasuke nodded, giving her a small, reassuring smile. "Anytime," he replied, knowing that he meant it.
For Hinata, his important friend, he would always be there.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to showcase how both Sasuke and Hinata trust each other enough to let their guards down around each other. Although they both have acknowledged that they are friends, neither have admitted aloud that their bond has strengthened to the level of best friends.
In the next chapter, we'll see what Naruto has been doing and what really happened when he ran into Shizuka, some bonding moments between Sakura and Hinata, and some more bonding time with Sasuke and Hinata.
Don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you think will happen or what you'd like to see! Until next time!