CHAPTER 13

The crackling fire cast flickering shadows along the cave walls as Sasuke sat leaning against the rough stone, his arms still wrapped around Hinata. The warmth of the flames had done little to chase away the chill in the air, but her presence against him was enough to keep her from shivering.

His dark eyes remained fixed on the fire, his expression as stoic as ever, but his body betrayed him. The pain from their earlier fall—crashing through branches and plunging into freezing water—nagged at him. A sharp sting in his side, bruises along his arms, and the burning scrape on his shoulder reminded him of the chaos they'd escaped. He shifted slightly, biting back a grimace. It hurt, but he refused to let it show.

Sasuke was used to silence, to isolation, but this was different. The weight of another person—her soft breathing, the faint warmth of her presence—was unsettling in ways he couldn't quite understand. It kept him from fully focusing on the pain, though whether that was a good or bad thing, he wasn't sure.

His grip on her shoulders tightened slightly as her head shifted against his chest. She was asleep now, her breaths slow and even, her body finally relaxed after hours of tension and exhaustion. Sasuke glanced down at her, his gaze lingering on her serene face framed by her long, indigo hair.

She's too trusting, he thought, his jaw tightening. Even now, after everything, she lets herself fall asleep like this.

The thought irritated him, but he couldn't bring himself to move. Her warmth, her presence—it was disarming. She wasn't trying to manipulate him, to use him for power or ambition. She simply… existed. And that simplicity unnerved him more than he wanted to admit.

His ribs protested as he adjusted his position, a fresh wave of pain flaring beneath his skin. He clenched his jaw, willing it away. This wasn't the time to show weakness—not even to himself.

Her hair fell lightly against his arm, and an unfamiliar scent reached him, a soft, floral aroma, faint but distinct. He blinked, his brow furrowing slightly. She smells like... jasmine? The realization made him tense, as though even acknowledging it was some kind of weakness.

He tilted his head back against the cave wall, his dark eyes narrowing. What am I doing? he thought, irritation flickering through him. She's just a hostage. A tool. I shouldn't be thinking about how she smells or how soft her hair looks. This isn't supposed to matter.

But it did matter, no matter how much he tried to push it away. The vulnerability he'd seen in her earlier, the way she'd spoken to him with quiet strength despite her fear—it stirred something in him, something he didn't want to name. She didn't look at him with judgment or hatred. She looked at him like she wanted to understand him. And that terrified him more than anything else.

Sasuke's gaze shifted back to the fire, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. She's just like Naruto, always trying to see something in me that isn't there. Always hoping for something that doesn't exist.

The pain in his ribs throbbed again, sharper this time, but he refused to acknowledge it. He'd dealt with worse. For now, it didn't matter. What mattered was the steady weight of her against him, her trust in him despite all logic.

As her breathing remained steady against him and the faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, Sasuke couldn't stop the small, treacherous thought from creeping into his mind.

Maybe it's not so bad… just for tonight.

He tightened his hold on her slightly, the action instinctive and unthinking. His dark eyes softened ever so briefly as he closed them, exhaustion tugging at him despite the persistent ache in his body. The fire crackled softly, its warmth and light a rare reprieve from the cold reality outside. In that quiet moment, Sasuke allowed himself to relax—if only a little.

Morning crept in quietly. The dim sunlight filtered weakly into the cave, Sasuke opened his eyes, his senses sharpening instinctively. His gaze swept over their surroundings before settling on Hinata, still asleep against him. Her head rested lightly on his chest, her soft breaths steady and calm. The faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, tugging at the edges of his focus.

For a moment, Sasuke didn't move, his dark eyes studying her sleeping face. The tension she had carried the day before had vanished, replaced by an almost serene peacefulness that felt entirely out of place in their situation.

She's too calm, he thought, his gaze shifting briefly to the cave entrance. She shouldn't trust me this much.

Hinata stirred, her lashes fluttering as she slowly woke. She blinked up at him, her lavender eyes hazy with sleep before widening in realization. "Sasuke…" she murmured, her voice soft and unsure.

He shifted slightly, loosening his grip and leaning back against the cave wall. "You should've moved back to the fire," he said flatly, his tone neutral.

Hinata quickly sat up, her cheeks flushed as she smoothed her hair. "I… I didn't mean to fall asleep like that. I'm sorry."

Sasuke's gaze flicked to her, his expression unreadable. "You talk too much," he muttered, standing abruptly. "Pack your things. We're leaving."

Turning his back to her, Sasuke reached for his cloak, his movements oddly stiff and deliberate. Hinata, still flustered, watched him out of the corner of her eye as she began folding her own cloak. Her brow furrowed when she noticed the subtle wince in his posture, the way his hand lingered briefly on his ribs before he straightened.

"Sasuke… are you hurt?" she asked hesitantly, her soft voice cutting through the quiet.

"I'm fine," he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

But Hinata wasn't convinced. Her sharp eyes caught the faint discoloration on his side where his shirt shifted, the telltale signs of bruising. Concern tightening her chest, she activated her Byakugan without a word, her gaze scanning his chakra points. Her breath caught when she saw the chaotic disruption in his flow, the imbalance radiating from his core.

"Sasuke," she said more firmly this time, standing. "Your chakra points… they're damaged."

He stiffened, turning slightly to glare at her over his shoulder. "Don't waste your energy. I said I'm fine."

Ignoring his dismissive tone, Hinata stepped closer, her hands clasped tightly. "You're not fine," she insisted, her voice steadier now. "If you keep pushing yourself like this, it'll only get worse. Let me help."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. After a long pause, he sighed, the faintest edge of irritation in his voice. "Fine," he muttered. He tugged his shirt over his head with one swift motion, tossing it aside. Then, instead of turning away, he sat down directly in front of her, his sharp gaze fixed on her. "I'm not turning my back on you."

Hinata froze, her cheeks burning as her eyes darted anywhere but his. She had treated and seen men without their shirts on during countless missions—Kiba, Shino, Neji—but there was something different now, something about Sasuke that left her unusually flustered. His lean, muscular frame was covered in faint scars, and the stark vulnerability of his exposed body contrasted with the usual guardedness in his expression.

"Well?" Sasuke snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin.

"I… I'm sorry," she stammered, shaking herself out of her daze. "I'll start now."

Hinata's breath caught in her throat when she saw the bruises marring his skin. Dark patches of purple and blue dotted his ribs and shoulder. The sight made her left heart clenched. She hadn't expected to see this much damage. He was strong, she knew that, but the bruises were undeniable. He wasn't invincible.

She knelt beside him, hesitating again as her hands hovered over his ribs. Get a hold of yourself, she thought, willing her focus to return. You've done this before. This is no different.

Sasuke's glare darkened, and his voice cut through her inner turmoil. "If you're going to help, stop wasting time."

Flustered but resolute, Hinata let her chakra flow to her hands. She pressed gently against the damaged points, the warm glow of her healing energy spreading through him. Her touch was light but firm, each motion precise as she worked to ease the imbalance.

Sasuke watched her closely, his dark eyes unreadable. Despite his irritation, he felt the pain in his ribs begin to subside, the tension in his body easing slightly.

"You're surprisingly useful," he muttered, his tone clipped, though not entirely dismissive.

Hinata blinked, momentarily surprised by the comment. Then, a faint smile tugged at her lips as she met his gaze. "Thank you… I think," she said softly, her tone laced with a hint of playful confusion.

Sasuke raised a brow, caught slightly off guard by her reply. "You're too soft," he muttered.

"And you're too stubborn," Hinata replied, her voice light but steady.

He scoffed quietly but didn't respond.

When she finished, Hinata sat back, her gaze meeting his. "You should rest more," she said, her voice soft but firm. "This will help for now, but you still need to be careful."

Sasuke stood without a word, brushing dirt from his cloak. His movements were smoother now, though his expression remained stoic. "Let's go," he said, his tone as firm as ever.

Hinata nodded, gathering her belongings and following him out of the cave. As they stepped into the crisp morning air, the unspoken tension between them lingered, fragile yet undeniable.

The rescue team had reached the area near the cave. Neji stood on a rocky outcrop, his Byakugan activated as he scanned the terrain below.

"They're close," Neji said, his voice calm but firm. "There's a faint chakra signature—two of them—just up ahead."

Naruto clenched his fists, his blue eyes blazing with determination. "That's gotta be them! Let's move!"

Neji's gaze flicked to the cave as the team advanced, his jaw tightening. Hinata-sama, hold on.

Author's Note:

Review pretty please? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
I've reread and edited this countless times, but if you still spot any errors, please bear with me.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I may not reply immediately, but I will eventually! :D