CHAPTER 10

A week later, Hinata found herself walking toward the training grounds, where Sasuke had requested to meet. It wasn't a casual invitation—Sasuke didn't do casual—but a direct order to refine their "coordination" for future missions.

When she arrived, Sasuke was already there, practicing with his katana. The sharp sound of steel slicing through the air echoed across the clearing, and Hinata couldn't help but pause to watch.

He's incredible, she thought, her heart fluttering slightly despite herself. His movements were fluid and precise, each strike a display of his unparalleled focus.

Sasuke seemed to sense her presence because he stopped abruptly and turned to face her. "You're late."

"I apologize, Sasuke-san," she replied, bowing her head slightly.

He sheathed his katana and stepped toward her, his gaze sharp as always. "We need to improve how we work together. Your ability in the last mission was… surprising, but your movements aren't fully refined yet."

Hinata tilted her head slightly. "You're saying I need practice?"

Sasuke gave a small nod. "Yes. You're strong, but strength isn't enough."

There was no malice in his tone—just blunt honesty.

Hinata smiled faintly. "I see. Then I'll work hard to improve."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, as though her calm acceptance had caught him off guard. "Good. Let's begin."

The session began with drills—chakra control, quick strikes, and basic coordination exercises. At first, Sasuke seemed disinterested, as if expecting her to fall short.

But as they moved into sparring, his expression changed.

Hinata's movements were fluid, her strikes controlled, her Byakugan activating seamlessly to react to his attacks. Sasuke increased the intensity of his strikes, testing her reflexes. And Hinata—despite her racing heart—met him blow for blow.

At one point, his katana swung in a sharp arc. Hinata ducked low, chakra flaring as she delivered a quick strike to his forearm, forcing him to pivot back to avoid her hit.

He stopped abruptly, stepping back as he regarded her with a faint glint of intrigue. "Your form has improved."

Hinata straightened, breathing heavily but keeping her gaze steady. "Thank you, Sasuke-san."

"You're not holding back," he observed.

Hinata blinked. "Should I be?"

For the first time, Sasuke's lips twitched—so faintly she almost missed it. "No."

The sparring session continued, growing more intense as Sasuke pushed Hinata harder. His strikes were faster now, more precise, and Hinata met him with equally fluid movements, her Byakugan predicting each step. The clearing was filled with the sound of shuffling feet, chakra bursts, and the sharp exhale of breaths.

Sasuke lunged forward suddenly, his katana slicing in a faint arc aimed to disarm her. Hinata spun quickly to avoid him, her palm glowing faintly with chakra as she pivoted to strike back.

But her foot caught on a small root she hadn't seen. She stumbled just slightly—enough for Sasuke to close the distance.

In an instant, they collided.

Sasuke grabbed her wrist instinctively to steady her, his other hand landing against her waist to keep her from falling. The movement brought them far too close—so close that their faces were mere inches apart.

Hinata froze. Her lavender eyes widened, her breath catching as she stared into Sasuke's sharp, stormy gaze.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Time seemed to stand still.

Sasuke's grip on her wrist loosened slightly, but his hand didn't pull away. His dark eyes searched hers, his expression unreadable, but there was no mistaking the subtle shift—his guarded calm faltering for just a fraction of a second.

Hinata could feel the warmth of his breath, the proximity overwhelming her senses. Her heart pounded so loudly she was certain he could hear it.

Too close. This is too close.

But she didn't pull back, and neither did he.

"Careful," Sasuke said finally, his voice low and quiet, almost softer than she had ever heard it.

Hinata swallowed, her cheeks turning faintly pink. "I… I'm sorry," she whispered, though her voice barely carried.

Sasuke blinked, as if realizing their position. He released her wrist and stepped back abruptly, his usual stoic mask slipping back into place as he turned slightly away.

"Focus on your footing next time," he said curtly, though his voice lacked its usual sharp edge.

"Yes, Sasuke-san," Hinata replied softly, her composure returning as she straightened.

But as Sasuke walked back to his starting position, she caught the faintest flicker of something else in his expression—confusion, perhaps.

Her own heart continued to race, and she pressed a hand lightly to her chest. That… was too close.

As they sat under the shade of a nearby tree after sparring, Sasuke watched her quietly. Hinata pretended not to notice, focusing on calming her breathing.

"You've changed," he said suddenly.

Hinata looked up at him, her lavender eyes calm. "You've said that before."

"It's still true," he replied, his gaze lingering on her. "You're not like the Hinata I knew."

Her heart skipped a beat, but she chose her words carefully. "People change, Sasuke-san. Especially when they realize what they need to do."

Sasuke didn't respond immediately, but his gaze didn't waver. Finally, he said, "Hn. Don't let your guard down. We have an upcoming mission."

Hinata smiled faintly. "I'll be ready."

He stood and started walking toward the forest edge, his katana strapped neatly against his back. Hinata watched him go, her expression neutral, though the moment the back of his figure disappeared into the trees, her face flushed a deep red.

She finally allowed herself to process what had happened. Her fingertips brushed against her wrist absentmindedly—the spot where Sasuke had held her to steady her earlier.

We were so close…

Her face heated at the memory. His sharp eyes, his stoic expression, the way his grip had felt so strong yet somehow careful. The fact that their faces had been just inches apart played on a loop in her mind.

She buried her face in her hands, her heart pounding all over again.

Good grief. We almost kissed.

The thought sent another wave of heat up her neck, and she groaned softly to herself.

No, no, don't think about it like that. It was an accident. Just an accident.

Still, her heart refused to calm down, thudding wildly against her ribs. It felt almost unnatural—too loud, too fast, like it was trying to burst out of her chest.

She pressed a hand lightly over her heart, feeling its erratic rhythm. Why does it feel like this?

How could someone's heart behave so wildly from a mere accident? Being so close to Sasuke, seeing the intensity of his gaze—it had to be unhealthy for her well-being.

If it feels like this just being close to him, she thought nervously, then what happens if we… actually kiss?

Her face flushed impossibly deeper at the thought, and she shook her head fiercely, pressing her palms to her cheeks to cool the heat.

"No," she muttered to herself, her voice quiet but determined. "Focus, Hinata. This isn't some romance novel."

Yet despite her best efforts to calm herself, the memory lingered in her mind—Sasuke's face mere inches away, his voice low and steady, his presence overwhelming in ways she wasn't prepared for.

How am I supposed to survive this engagement? she wondered, her hand still pressed over her racing heart.

She let out a soft sigh, finally rising to her feet and making her way back to the Hyuuga compound.

The next day, Hinata sat quietly at the table in a quaint cafe, her hands wrapped around a warm cup of jasmine tea. Across from her were Sakura, Ino, and Tenten, each immersed in a lively conversation that added a cheerful buzz to the cozy atmosphere.

"I'm telling you," Ino said with a bright grin, leaning forward with her chin resting on her hand. "This year's festival is going to be amazing. I've already got my outfit picked out. It's going to be unforgettable."

Hinata tilted her head slightly, intrigued but unsure what festival Ino was referring to. Sakura rolled her eyes playfully and took a sip of her coffee. "You say that every year, Ino. What's so special about this one?"

"Oh, come on, Sakura! You know how fun the Ties of Spring is," Ino replied, her excitement growing. She turned to Tenten, who was stirring her coffee. "Don't tell me you're not looking forward to it either?"

Tenten shrugged with a small smile. "It's not bad. I've always liked the archery contests. But you're obviously more into the, uh… romantic side of it."

Hinata listened intently, piecing together fragments of the conversation. She had noticed the bustling energy in the village recently but hadn't known the cause. Now, she wondered if this festival explained the busy streets and cheerful atmosphere.

"Romantic side?" Hinata asked softly, her curiosity piqued.

Ino's eyes lit up as she turned to Hinata. "Oh, absolutely! The Ties of Spring Day is all about celebrating connections. Officially, it's a day for games, dancing, and community-building, but it's really an unspoken way for people to express their feelings."

Sakura smirked as she chimed in, "It's the event where people give tokens to their crushes or someone they admire. Ino loves it because it's basically a matchmaking event in disguise. I'm surprised you didn't know, Hinata—it's one of Konoha's most famous annual traditions."

Ino stuck out her tongue. "Don't pretend you're above it, Forehead. You're just mad because Naruto always drags you into every single game, whether you want to join or not."

Hinata smiled faintly, her interest deepening. "Tokens?" she asked.

"Yes!" Ino gushed. "Each woman gives a token to the man she's interested in—a charm, a flower, or even a treat she's made herself. If he accepts it, he's agreeing to let her grant him a favor later. And if she's serious about him, she can tie something around his wrist to claim him. That means no other woman can give him a token. It's… so romantic!"

Hinata's lavender eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected such intricate customs to surround the festival. It sounded like a mix of innocent fun and subtle rivalry.

Tenten leaned forward with a teasing grin. "Oh right, Hinata, you've never gotten to join in, have you? Neji wouldn't let you. He's way too protective of you," She turned to Ino, smirking. "And who are you giving your token to this year?"

"Shikamaru," Ino declared without hesitation. "He's been dodging me for years, but this time, I'll make sure he can't escape."

Sakura laughed. "Good luck with that. If anyone can out-strategize you, it's him."

"I'll find a way," Ino replied confidently before turning to Hinata. "What about you, Hinata? Are you planning to participate this year?"

Hinata hesitated, her thoughts briefly flickering to Sasuke. She shook her head lightly. "I'm not sure yet," she said softly.

"You should!" Ino insisted. "It's such a great chance to have fun and maybe make a connection. Besides, you've got a certain… glow these days. You'd definitely turn heads."

Hinata's cheeks flushed, but she smiled politely. "Thank you, Ino. I'll think about it."

"Speaking of turning heads," Sakura said, leaning back in her chair, "guess who still hasn't attended a single festival?"

Tenten snorted. "Sasuke?"

"Of course," Sakura said, rolling her eyes. "Every year, people wonder if he'll show up, and every year, he doesn't. I don't know why anyone even bothers hoping."

Ino sighed dramatically, while teasingly glancing at Hinata. "It's because he's Konoha's most eligible bachelor. Everyone secretly wants to tie something on his wrist. But yeah, it's not going to happen—especially now that he's engaged."

Hinata remained silent, absorbing the information. Sasuke's absence at such events aligned with what she knew of him, but the festival's customs intrigued her. She couldn't recall the anime or manga ever mentioning such a festival, which only made her curiosity grow. She wondered if this could be an opportunity to strengthen their bond—to navigate their unusual relationship within the framework of village traditions.

As her friends continued their spirited discussion, she sipped her tea quietly, a small smile on her lips. She couldn't let her hopes get too high—after all, they'd said Sasuke never attended. Still, it would be nice to join in the festivities and participate in the games for once.