CHAPTER 10

The quiet in the dining hall was short-lived. Just as Sasuke and Hinata finished their meal, the door to the inn swung open with a loud creak. A group of four rough-looking men stepped inside, their eyes scanning the room like predators searching for prey. Their presence immediately shifted the atmosphere, the hum of conversation dwindling to uneasy whispers.

Sasuke's gaze snapped toward them, his instincts flaring. They weren't ordinary villagers—they moved with purpose, their chakra signatures faint but detectable. His sharp eyes narrowed as one of the men, taller than the others and sporting a jagged scar across his cheek, stopped mid-step. His gaze locked onto Sasuke, and a slow, sinister grin spread across his face.

"Well, well," the man drawled, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "Look who we have here. Sasuke Uchiha."

Hinata's breath hitched under her hood, her lavender eyes darting to Sasuke. He remained seated, his expression calm but his body tense, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

The man continued, his grin widening. "Didn't think we'd ever get lucky enough to run into you. You've got quite the bounty on your head."

The three men behind him chuckled, their hands casually drifting to the weapons at their sides. The innkeeper paled, shrinking back behind the counter, while the other patrons quickly averted their gazes, not wanting to get involved.

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "And yet, here you are, thinking you can collect it."

The scarred man's grin faltered, replaced by a scowl. "Cocky, aren't you? Let's see if that attitude holds up when we drag you back to Konoha in pieces."

One of the men stepped forward, his hand reaching for his kunai. "You gonna come quietly, or do we have to make this messy?"

Sasuke's eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a deadly tone. "You won't get the chance."

Hinata's hand clenched the edge of her cloak as the tension in the room skyrocketed. She could feel the shift in Sasuke's chakra—it was sharper now, like a blade ready to cut through anything in its path. Despite herself, she couldn't help but worry about the chaos that was about to unfold.

The scarred man smirked, clearly misreading Sasuke's composure as arrogance. "Suit yourself. Boys, let's—"

Before he could finish, Sasuke moved.

In a flash, he was out of his chair, his hand gripping the first man's wrist with bone-crushing force. The kunai clattered to the floor as the man cried out in pain. Sasuke spun, slamming him into the wall with enough force to rattle the wooden beams of the inn. The other three bounty hunters barely had time to react before Sasuke's Sharingan flared to life, its crimson glow freezing them in place.

"Get out," Sasuke commanded, his voice cold and filled with venom. "Before you regret it."

The scarred man growled, his hand twitching toward his weapon, but the sight of Sasuke's Sharingan gave him pause. He glanced at his men, who now looked far less confident than before.

"You think you're untouchable, Uchiha?" the man sneered, though there was a tremor in his voice. "The bounty's not going away. There's nowhere you can hide."

Sasuke's lips curled into a faint, menacing smirk. "Then try your luck. I dare you."

The challenge hung in the air like a blade poised to strike. The bounty hunters exchanged uneasy glances, their bravado quickly crumbling under the weight of Sasuke's presence. Finally, with a frustrated growl, the scarred man motioned for his team to retreat.

"This isn't over," he spat, glaring at Sasuke before turning to leave. The other men followed, their steps hurried as they disappeared into the night.

The room remained silent for several long moments after their departure, the tension slowly dissipating. Sasuke turned back to the table, his expression unreadable as he retrieved his cloak.

Hinata finally broke the silence, her voice soft but tinged with worry. "Why didn't you—"

"Because it wasn't worth the effort," Sasuke interrupted, his tone curt. He glanced at her, his Sharingan fading. "Let's go."

Hinata hesitated, glancing at the stunned patrons around them. "Sasuke, what if they—"

"They won't," he said firmly, his gaze sharp. "They know better."

Despite his confidence, Hinata couldn't shake the unease settling in her chest. The encounter had been brief, but it was a stark reminder of the danger surrounding them. As she pulled her hood back over her head and followed Sasuke out of the inn, she couldn't help but wonder how long they could avoid the inevitable.

Far from the village, Neji and the others pressed on, their search growing increasingly desperate. Naruto's frustration was evident in the way he kept glancing at the horizon, his chakra brimming with restless energy.

"We're wasting time," Naruto growled, his voice tight. "Sasuke could be anywhere by now."

Kiba, walking beside him, shot him a sharp look. "You think we don't know that? He's masking his trail. It's not like we're taking a break here."

Naruto clenched his fists, about to retort, when Neji suddenly stopped, his Byakugan flaring.

"What is it?" Sakura asked, stepping forward.

Neji's gaze focused, his voice calm but urgent. "I see a village to the north. There are faint traces of Hinata's chakra heading in that direction."

"Then let's go!" Naruto said, already moving before Kakashi grabbed his shoulder.

"Not so fast," Kakashi warned. "If Sasuke's there, he'll be expecting us. We need a plan."

Naruto shook him off, his determination blazing. "Fine. But whatever the plan is, it ends with bringing Hinata back."

Kakashi nodded, though his eyes remained serious. "Agreed. But let's make sure we don't lose anyone else in the process."

Back at the Inn

The room was dimly lit by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. Hinata lay on the small bed, her cloak folded neatly on the chair beside her. The day's events replayed in her mind, each moment sharpening her awareness of the precarious situation she was in. Across the room, Sasuke sat against the door, his katana resting in his lap, his posture rigid. He hadn't said much since they'd returned, his silence even more unnerving than his sharp commands earlier.

Eventually, exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted into a fitful sleep.

Some time later, Hinata stirred, her senses alerting her to a faint sound in the quiet room. Her eyes fluttered open, and it took her a moment to recognize the low, muffled noise coming from where Sasuke was seated. She turned her head toward him, her lavender eyes widening in surprise.

Sasuke's head was tilted back against the door, his expression tense and strained. His breaths came in short gasps, his fingers twitching against the hilt of his katana. A soft moan of distress escaped his lips, his body shuddering slightly as if caught in some unseen battle.

Hinata sat up, concern tightening in her chest. He's having a nightmare, she realized. The sight of him—usually so composed, so unyielding—now vulnerable and shaken was startling. She hesitated, unsure of whether to wake him or leave him to his dreams.

"Sasuke," she called softly, her voice barely above a whisper. When he didn't respond, she slipped out of the bed, padding quietly toward him. His breathing grew more erratic, and a faint tremor ran through his frame.

Her heart clenched as she knelt beside him, her hand hovering uncertainly over his shoulder. "Sasuke," she said again, this time a little louder. "It's just a dream. You're safe."

He flinched, his head jerking slightly to the side as though warding off some unseen assailant. "No…" he muttered, his voice low and pained. "Stop… I didn't…"

Hinata's resolve hardened. She gently reached out, her hand brushing against his shoulder. "Sasuke," she said firmly, her voice steady and soothing. "It's okay. You're not there anymore."

His body stilled slightly at her touch, but his face remained drawn, the torment of his dream refusing to release him. Acting on instinct, Hinata shifted closer, slipping her arms around his shoulders. She guided his head gently into her lap, her fingers brushing lightly against his hair.

"You're not alone," she murmured softly, her voice like a balm against the tension in the room. "Whatever you're seeing… it's over now. You're here."

For a moment, he resisted, his body stiff and unyielding. But slowly, the tension began to ease. His breathing steadied, and the pained furrow of his brow softened. Hinata's fingers moved gently through his hair, her touch light and comforting. She couldn't explain why she felt the need to console him—why she cared—but seeing him like this stirred something deep within her.

She leaned back slightly, her own exhaustion pulling at her now that his restlessness had subsided. The rhythmic sound of his breathing, now calm and even, lulled her into a sense of quiet reassurance.

Without realizing it, Hinata's eyes drifted closed, her hand resting gently on his shoulder as sleep claimed her once more.

The soft light of dawn filtered into the room, bathing it in a pale glow. Sasuke stirred first, his senses sharpening as he registered the unfamiliar warmth beneath him. His eyes opened slowly, and he froze as he realized where he was—his head resting on Hinata's lap.

Her soft breathing and the way her hand lay lightly on his shoulder told him she was still asleep. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, confusion flickering through his mind. How had this happened? The last thing he remembered was falling into an uneasy sleep by the door.

His gaze shifted to her face, serene and calm despite everything they had been through. She looked peaceful, almost otherworldly in the morning light. Sasuke's jaw tightened as he carefully shifted out of her grasp, moving to sit upright against the door once more.

He glanced at her again, irritation warring with something else—something he didn't want to name. "Foolish," he muttered under his breath, though it wasn't clear whether he was chastising her or himself.

Hinata stirred, her eyes fluttering open. For a moment, she seemed disoriented, her gaze shifting to him as she sat up fully. "Sasuke… are you feeling better?"

Sasuke's expression hardened, his tone clipped. "What are you talking about?"

"You… you were having a nightmare," Hinata said softly, her voice hesitant. "I thought… I thought it might help if you felt someone was there."

His eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "I don't need your pity."

Hinata flinched slightly at his tone but held her ground, her lavender eyes steady. "It wasn't pity," she said simply. "It was kindness."

Sasuke turned away, his hands gripping the hilt of his katana. "Don't do it again."

Hinata nodded, though her gaze lingered on him. You carry so much pain, she thought, her heart aching at the memory of his restless sleep. But you won't let anyone help you.

The room fell into silence once more, but something had shifted between them—something neither of them was ready to acknowledge.