Chapter 3: The Waiting Game.
On top of missions, and training with Neji. Hinata began her training with Lady Koharu, and during the night, Itachi would show her the different jutsu and secrets of the clan. Then sometimes at midnight he gently took her hand and led her to the refurbished bedroom. This time he wanted her on top. That had been a different and yet pleasurable experience.
" I will gone for a few days" Itachi began as they lay side by side.
" is everything alright?" she asked.
"Everything is fine but I have a few more things to do before I settle here temporarily.."
"Tachi? " a new nickname she began to call him. "Why don't you see a doctor to get better?" she questioned
Itachi sighed and surprisingly drew her closer into his arms.
" I am ready to die. I have lived a short but hard life. It's time to pass on the flame.."
His hand then drifted to her exposed abdomen.
" a flame that will grow in a warm household, without the pressure of clan politics. Or hate in their heart. So while I am gone, please be careful and don't tire yourself out too much. You are always welcome here as it is your home."
Before Hinata could say anything a snore filled the room.
The next morning at the Hyuga estate, Hinata sat down to breakfast with her father, her sister, her aunt, and Neji. A platter of fruit in her hands.
" I made fruit salad," she announced softly.
" ooh that looks great big sis!" hanabi cheered.
Her father and Neji agreed but her aunt stayed silent. Matter of fact her aunt was staring at her hard.
" is something wrong Aunt Miho?"
" you look exhausted. What have you been doing?" her aunt questioned.
" oh erm, just .. training a lot.."
" training so hard you have black circles under your eyes?" her aunt pressed.
Hinata opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a knock.
"Enter." Her father commanded doing a double take at her. A look of concern in his eyes.
" lord hiashi. The Hokage has sent an anbu requesting you and Lady Hinata in her quarters immediately."
Hiashi and Hinata stood following the messenger out.
A little while they found themselves in Lady Tsunades makeshift office. Lady Koharu was next to her.
" thank you for coming. I won't take up much of your time but the council has offered a request I think you would like to hear."
" very well." Her father nodded.
" unbeknownst to your clan, Hinata had been working with me in the afternoons. I think it would be a great idea if someone with her skill set worked with the medics versus being on the front lines."koharu announced.
Hiashi's eyes widened.
"When did this happen?"
" Oh a few weeks ago. she and I have been working tirelessly as you can see." Koharu gestured to the tired-looking girl.
"Is this what you want Hinata?" He questioned her catching her off guard.
" yes, father. I will be able to help my comrades a little more this way."
" very well. Hinata will be moved as a medic for the war."
" I would like to spend a few moments with her if you don't mind?" koharu asked.
" not at all. Hinata please be on time for dinner this afternoon. "
With a bow, he left his oldest in the presence of the Hokage and the elder.
"What is going on? What game are you playing? "Tsunade snapped at koharu.
" oh, nothing former pupil of mine. Just training someone in areas you failed."
With that said koharu motioned Hinata to follow her.
When they were in a more private place, koharu pulled Hinata off to the side.
" child! You look like death! What have you been doing?"
"I've been busy," Hinata admitted.
Koharu snorted. " oh yes, I see that. Does Itachi have you up in the wee hours of the night hmm?"
Hinata turned red and koharu laughed.
"come child we will go to my house and I will fix you a breakfast that will help fatten you up. You are eating for two now."
"but it's only been a couple of weeks!" Hinata exclaimed. " I can't be… I can't be pregnant yet can I?"
" child you look like death and if Itachi is taking care of you the way I think, you're going to be pregnant by the week." Koharu laughed.
Hinata blushed and followed after her.
…..
Koharu's home was full of different shades of red and brown. It was very pretty.
Her opinion of the older had changed over the past few weeks. She wasn't the manipulative shrew that tsunade often called her out on. Koharu truly thought she was doing what was best for the village. But even the best decisions can lead to horrible consequences.
"Koharu sama, am I doing the right thing?"
"you cannot look back now child. All you can do is look forward. Now sit and I will up something for us."
Fifteen minutes later, miso soup and an omelet were placed in front of her.
She and Koharu ate in silence. Hinata savored every bite of her meal. It was a simple breakfast yet it was delicious.
"Now, two things we must do. First, let's take a pregnancy test, and two, I am going to show you how to poison the enemy and then remove the poison. "
…
Itachi coughed blood into his napkin. The disease was taking a toll on him. he was glad he made it this far.
He found the secret entrance and was quick to dodge a kunai thrown at him.
"who goes there." a female voice called.
"Konan… it's me." Itachi answered.
"Itachi?"
"Hello."
"Itachi!" she exclaimed running towards him, stopping just inches before him.
"Konan, it's been a while. How are you?"
"It's been tough. Amegakure is moving forward though. Are the rumors of war true?" she asked.
"yes. it is, Madara and Obito are on the rise. However, that's not why I appeared here. Where is Kisame? I need to talk to you both."
"up here itachi, long time no see. What brings you to our parts?" Kisame questioned.
Itachi sat down before them, leaning against the wall.
" I need your help… in protecting my wife and future children."
…
Hinata walked down the dark section of the Uchiha district. Even though pein destroyed everything in the village, the Uchiha distract remained untouched. It was already rumble anyway but wouldn't be that way for long.
Hinata could already see the shops and children running down the path. It made her wonder what this place looked like when it was thriving.
She stopped, however, when a busted streetlight turned on. Under its ominous glow stood two people. A man and a woman.
"h-hello?" she called out.
The woman cocked her head at Hinata and then turned to the man.
"I think she'll do the boys justice don't you dear?"
"I guess." The man grumbled.
There was a sound of a slap, the man rubbing his cheek.
"fugaku!" she scolded.
Hinata's eyes widened.
Fugaku? That was the name of Itachi's and Sasuke's father? Then that means this woman is their mother but…how? They're dead!
"what I meant to say was I think the girl is going to make a great matriarch." He said lamely.
"don't mind him dear. He's just grumpy. Anyway, thank you for taking care of our sons and our grandchildren. We know they are in safe hands. Live in happiness Hinata."
With that said a golden glow appeared and the former parents were gone.
"…wow…"
It seemed the parents had given their approval.
The next three weeks went on in routine. With Koharu's help, she was able to become a very steady hand in medical jutsu.
But at night Hinata's thoughts trailed to her absent husband.
He only said a few days but it's been weeks. Was he ok? Was he hurt? Where did he go anyway?
Silence was her only answer.
The next morning, Hinata found herself at breakfast again, this time her grandfather and aunt were present, alongside Hanabi and her father.
It was a silent occasion as always, her father turning to her and asking " Hinata how is training with Lady Koharu going?"
"very well father," she answered. Hinata then reached for the pickled vegetables and was about to put them on her plate, when the most rank smell reached her nose.
She was quick to put the bowl down and cover her mouth and nose. However, it was too late. She could feel the bile coming up her throat.
She made a mad dash out of the wooden structure they called home and made it to the bushes outside just in time.
All of her breakfast and all of last night's dinner came up.
"lady Hinata?" ko called
"im alright ko. Just a little sick."
"If you're sick you should rest." He told her.
"Hinata sama?" neji called out.
"im fin-" Hinata didn't get to finish because bile once again was coming up.
After ten more minutes, and many bottles of water, she felt a little better.
"my lady lord hiashi wants to see you." ko told her.
"im sorry Ko he will have to wait. I need to see Lady Koharu. I'll be back."
…..
The knocking on Koharu's office door made the elder stand up.
"It's open. What in heaven is the emergency?"
The door swung open to reveal her new protégé, the latter looking pale and a little scared.
"Hinata? Whatever is the matter?"
"Well, the smell of pickled vegetables makes me sick and I puked three times today. Once at home and twice on the way over here."
"nausea and throwing up, eh? Sore breast?" Koharu asked.
"yes very sore actually."
"well let's try that test. The first one we took a few weeks ago was negative but this one might be it for sure."
Ten minutes later, Hinata and Koharu were looking at a positive pregnancy test.
"Congratulations Mrs. Uchiha. You are indeed pregnant."