Chapter 14: Promised Transition (Second Arc: Choice)

Hinata stirred in the bed, sweat pooling in the nape of her neck, quiver slithering through her limbs and rendering her helpless and caged in her bed. Her eyes fluttered open, burning with tears. Her heart thrummed in her ears, clenching at her chest. Her hands clutched the blanket on her chest, with tremors coursing through her fingers. Her lips parted, ragged gasps echoing in her sunlit room.

The darkness that had invaded her sleep and haunted her, slithered into the cracks of her recovering sanity to carve another anguish within her, another fear.

The warm glow cast over her as she sat on the bed, her bones aching and stomach churning. Her eyes darted around, looking for her son's familiar scent and voice. But the room was silent, causing her mind to reel and race. She felt a pressing weight on the crown of her head. Her tears slid down her cheeks, panic surging in her throat, and she yelped, realizing the absolute absence. The loud quietness swept across her room.

She yanked the blanket off her frame and hopped off the bed.

Sniffling, she bolted out of her room, uncaring about the state of her unruly hair, the lack of robe over her silk shorts and buttoned shirt and the sleep still clinging to her eyes. Her bare feet thumped against the wooden steps as she descended downstairs, rushing towards the living room, where she glimpsed at the unfolding scene that calmed the nervous flutters in her chest.

Sasuke sprawled over the couch, sipping on his tea while Haru was plopped on his lap, nibbling on the boiled carrots. She leaned on the wall and sighed deeply, touching her chest. The trembling in her hands subsided and she wiped off the tears clinging on her eyelashes.

Her heart remained a weight in her chest, for the way her panic closed up her throat and turned her mind into a hollow maze; it propelled her to wish for the ground to burst open and swallow her existence.

Sasuke's eyes lifted. He looked at her over the rim of his cup and, with a narrowed gaze, suspected the tumultuous state. Hinata's shoulders sagged, her posture sunk, and the anguish addled her brain enough to make her freeze in the doorway. His eyes on her…felt intrusive.

She gulped, averting her gaze. The twisted sensations still crawling over her skin, kept her scorching on edge, the flashes of her nightmare still stinging and pounding at the back of her head.

She saw Sasuke putting the cup down on the table before him. Then he gently took the empty bowl from Haru and carried him to the crib. Haru cooed as he snuggled himself with his soft toys. Sasuke turned around and walked towards her.

She wanted to rush back upstairs and hide under her covers. But her feet were coiled to the invisible energy of the ground, tethering her to the reality of facing him again as she remained naked with her fears and insecurities bare on her.

"Something happened." He stepped into her space and spoke as if he didn't have a question but rather a confirmation of her situation.

She shook her head, lowering her gaze. "No."

He grabbed her by the chin, one finger under her chin to angle her face up, forcing her to confront him. He raised an eyebrow as he scoffed, "Hinata, I know you."

"Is Haru alright?" she croaked out, biting her lip to suppress the sob.

His hand slid up to cup her face, his thumb caressing her cheek, wiping the dampness of the tears that she didn't know streamed down her face. His voice was low and calm as he said, softness lacing his tone, "Yes. I fed him baby carrots, as you do…boiled with milk."

She confessed, "I had a nightmare."

He nodded, "And?"

Hinata breathed, scooting closer to him, her legs felt numb and she couldn't stand so he grabbed her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers and led her to the sofa, pushing her to sit. He knelt in front of her, his hand still clasping hers, his warmth seeping into her coldness as he nodded his head, asking her to continue, "Sakura and I met last night, she was…telling me about a civilian's case where a baby…barely six months old, passed away because he was alone, left in a crib, crying and he…ended up lying on the stomach, he c-couldn't lift his face and couldn't b-breath—"

Hinata could see the way he let her take the pause and swallow the sob, he let her save her dignity, for she had embarrassed herself multiple times by breaking down in front of him. He squeezed her hand and sighed as if juggling with the choices unknown to her. She sucked in a sharp breath, mirroring the paradox that was going through his mind as well, she attempted to come across as a steady presence but her feet tapping the ground frantically, her sobs-struck voice and trembling hands gave away the storm that was roiling inside her.

Sasuke tried to reassure her, "Haru is fine. He is healthy—"

She pulled her hand away from his, covering her face with both of her hands and shaking her head vehemently. Her voice came out cracked and muffled as she interrupted him and let her fears spill over, "But I was neglecting him a lot…right? You saw it, even you needed to step in when I couldn't hear him cry and had a breakdown in the shower, remember? I made the same mistakes too, what if you weren't there, what if I was late…what if I was way more selfish than I already was…my son c-could have…he…—"

Sasuke leaned forward, taking her hands off her face, her reddened eyes stared back at him and she noticed the concern in the abyss of his dark eyes. He assured again but her heart still leapt at the possibilities of her worst fears, "Haru is fine, you didn't do anything, I was here…"

She shrieked, "But if you weren't!"

"Then Naruto would have been there. So, don't worry, don't dwell in these what ifs!" Sasuke's frown deepened, his jaw set and his voice sharp.

"I…I…am—"

He seethed, rolling his eyes, "You worked hard to pick yourself up, and you are doing better, are you going to let it all go and fall again—"

"Of course not, Sasuke," she winced. "I want my son to rely on me and see me as a strong figure for him…more than you. I am sorry, but I want him to see me first, I am his mother! So, I won't go down that path again…but I get scared too!" Ever since Haru's birthday had passed, the lingering fear of losing her son to him, heightened. Haru's reliance on Sasuke was heartwarming but for a mother, who was the second choice to her son, it was heart-wrenching.

"I understand—" he closed his eyes and sighed, nodding, yielding to her.

She leaned forward, her face an inch away from his, her anxiety knotted inside her. She could feel his hot breath on her face, she felt as if he was taken back, but he didn't pull away from her. She bit her lip, contemplating if her question would demean her, but she didn't let the worries weave through the maze of her mind anymore and asked, "Am I a good mother?"

He tucked the loose strand behind her ear, his fingers brushed against her cheeks and left a trail of specks of his heat. She shut her eyes momentarily and gasped. "You do not need my validation, Hinata." Something within her kept on twisting her organs, her chest continued to feel tight and knotted as if something was going to tear. Perhaps, her heart.

"I need it." She heaved a sigh, "Because…you have seen me at my worst, so I want to know if I have become better if I am worthy of being Haru's mother…if I deserve him—"

"Shut up!" he rebuked, standing up instantly, glaring down at her. She felt like an insignificant thing as she looked up at him. "You gave birth to him, you do everything for him, you are attentive to him, you pushed yourself out of your miseries for him…why wouldn't you deserve him?" he raised his voice when he retorted back.

The way his voice was sharp, cutting into the cloud of grief hanging over her, it made her shiver. The blood drained from her face, making her face look blanched. She bent her head, slowing her breathing, her exhales became even with her effort and her mind finally cleared up. His words ended up subsiding a brewing pressure, even though her grief was a vice grip on her, but Sasuke at times could make her wrench herself free from its brutal grip.

She lifted her lashes, looking through them at him. The tense clawing pressure teeming in his eyes eased into a simmering annoyance he often carried. She pushed herself off the couch, pulling down the hem of her shorts. A shudder ran through her, blurring her vision momentarily but she held herself, firm and unshakeable. "Promise?" she breathed as she stood against him, hands intertwined in front of her, eyes filled with unshed tears but resolute.

"I wouldn't lie to you." He spoke, flatly, as if he was asserting a universal fact.

"I want to be his priority, I have not been fair to my son, I need to make him trust me!" she mumbled, her worries were endless, and her insecurities were nipping at her sanity now and then. "I will never let anything happen to him, I will never avoid him, I will sacrifice myself for him and I need him to know that! My son has suffered a great deal…because of me—"

"Stop blaming yourself!" he grimaced.

She shook her head, saying, "That is true." She continued, "I haven't been anyone's first priority so maybe I am selfish in wanting my son to pick me, choose me, over you and everyone. I want him to trust me…like he trusts you—"

Sasuke's eyes darkened as he snapped, his voice held a suspecting tone, and a string of disbelief was coiled around his words, "You were never anyone's first—"

"Never." A wry smile glinted on Hinata's face, the shadows of longingness shrouded her as she felt herself shrunk at the realization.

"But—" he quipped back.

She snickered, bitterly, "Naruto? His first priority was you." Her truth felt like a leaden weight in the air, making his breath hitch and hers quicken.

After a brief pause, he scoffed. He released a sharp exhale and looked around, he pushed his hair back, his fingers tangling in his dark locks. The pushed-back hair revealed his Rinnegan, the air thrummed with the pressure of the chakra oozing out of his godly eye. Frustration gleamed in his eyes, the fury sparkled in the way his jaw clenched and he stepped closer, breathing heavily on her.

His hand curled around her neck, his fingers digging in her nape as he pulled her face closer in a way that she winced. His heaving chest brushed against hers, and the proximity pulsed with charged tension. His dark gaze travelled over each line on her face, lingering longer in the depths of blankness in her eyes, barely contained rage pulsated in the way his fingertips felt scorching on her nape.

He gritted, "I am not talking about Naruto!" He punctuated every word, seething, his annoyance toppling over, "Don't you see anything or anyone around, despite everything?"

She gulped, her hand lifted to grab the front of his shirt to steady her frame as he towered over her, engulfing her in his presence. His chakra rumbled the air, causing her to drown. "Sasuke…" she whispered, her calling was a plea, a plea to not cloud her mind even more.

He asked, his voice hollowed, "Nobody's first, Hinata? Nobody?"

"Hm?" she hummed, feeling the clammy palms. Her mind was left puzzled, his visible and livid vexation made her feel dizzy. What did Sasuke want? she wondered. What did he mean? She asked herself.

"Aren't I enough?" his scowl deepened, reddening his face. The indignation filled in his tone tugged on her heartstrings. "Don't you see what you are to me? My first and only priority?"

Her eyes went wide, her throat clenched. Her blood ran cold, her gaze flickered everywhere but his face, which was rendered broken with an amusing yet desperate wrath.

"Seek your son's love, be his first choice. But at least don't be fucking blind and learn to acknowledge—" With his every word absorbing into her brain, scalding her, she let her sanity carve a path through those words to concoct a response, a response that could do him justice.

Before his feeling of betrayal could be flamed further, she hurtled through every thought known to her, to find something for him, that was enough. The morning wind whistled through the curtains, along with the song of the birds chirping outside which mingled with the conversation Haru was having with his soft toys in the crib. The awareness of their surrounding finally settled for her, reminding her that the bubble of him and her, burst with the intensity of his fractured calm.

She cut him off, expressing the truth she could find within her, "You are enough…for me."

Two weeks ago when Haru had turned one, the reality of her life became crystal clear, she understood what she had and what she had lost, the grief of her losses still ached but she had the right to acknowledge the ones who were there for her, despite everything. So, she didn't feel any shame in confessing. However, his reaction caught her off guard. He looked as if the world he lived in was an illusion, and the stark reality that shrouded him was a blessing he never prayed for.

They lapsed into silence…again. She felt a quiver on his fingertips that firmly held her nape. She felt her voice strangled. Her ears reddened. His eyes softened but remained blank, his rage gone and the snarl curled onto his mouth dropped in an instant.

His hand slid down from her neck and his steps retreated; however, the glimpse of gratefulness shadowed his features, tracing every line of his face, sparkling in the paleness of his complexion.

He turned on his heel, leaving her alone, amidst the cackles of her son and the beatdown of the heat pouring from outside.

She gulped and plopped down on the sofa.

She lifted her palms and touched her flamed cheeks, shut her eyes and breathed heavily. Enough? He was enough?

Yes, he was.

Her eyes shifted towards the crib, and her answer made sense.

Yes, he is definitely enough.She stared ahead at the space where he stood and reassured herself with the truth.

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Another bright morning filtered through the curtains and illuminated her house. She relished the scent of Jasmine wafting in the air as she cleared the dining table. Haru's giggles and Sasuke's grunts echoed from Sasuke's room, and Hinata bit back the urge to roll her eyes at the budding jealousy tightening her chest every time she caught her son with Sasuke, cackling and squealing in pleasure.

But the rational part of her soothed her, as Haru's happiness was the utmost priority.

A knock at the door broke her thoughts. Setting her cup down in the sink, she moved to answer, surprised to find Sakura standing there.

The pink-haired kunoichi's eyes were sharp, as though she'd been searching for someone for hours, yet her smile was polite. Sakura and Hinata along with Ino had started to pick up their friendship and Hinata was grateful to see the warm welcoming arms of her peers who were more than ready to ignite the flames of their friendship again after everything that she had done to distance herself from the world.

"Hi, Hinata!" Sakura leaned in for a quick hug.

"Sakura-san, come in." Hinata smiled.

"As much as I like to sit with you and relax, I am here to pick up a fossil!" Her mouth curled into a snarl. Tightening her fist, she entered into her house. The door shut behind them as Hinata led Sakura towards Sasuke's room, understanding what Sakura meant.

"He is always running away! Always!" Sakura grumbled, pinching the throbbing center between her brows.

Hinata replied, "He is enjoying himself here."

Sakura groaned as she pushed the door open, "Yeah, but what about his limbs? He finds the lamest excuses to get away from the regular check-ups."

The sight that greeted them was unexpected for Hinata's friend but not for Hinata herself, she had become accustomed to seeing the change of fate unfolding every time and everywhere. Sasuke was on the floor, his palms splayed over the ground as his arms lifted him up, flexing with each turn and twist of his movement, pushing him up and down from the floor. The sweat trickled down from his hairline to the nose bridge. Hinata didn't miss the way Sakura's sour mood vanished when she saw Sasuke, and the detail of her eyes travelling from Sasuke's face to the bare upper body made Hinata uneasy at her side. She fidgeted on the spot, gulping and averting her eyes.

Hinata shifted her attention—away from the paleness and lean muscles flexing and twisting in front of her—to her son who was perched on Sasuke's shoulder, his tiny hands holding onto his Dada's wide shoulders, while he cheered, "Up…Up…"

However, another presence was there, leaning against the wall, his posture slumped and face covered by a mask. Dark eyes swept over the room, assessing the quiet that had suddenly dawned upon them. Hinata's eyes met Kakashi's and she moved away from the door, feeling the crinkly-eyed suspecting look from the Hokage on her.

"Your form is good, Sasuke-chan!" Kakashi said, rubbing his chin. He earned a glare from Sasuke, who huffed at his teacher. "But I believe, Haru-chan is adding at least seven kilos…"

Sasuke rolled his eyes and continued to follow his push-ups, as directed by Haru sitting on his shoulders, leaning down to nuzzle his face in his hair or squeaking delightfully. Hinata saw the flicker of amusement swimming in Sakura's gaze, stunned but in awe, she continued to gape at Sasuke with her jaw dropped.

"Well…I am here…to get Kakashi sensei," Sakura cleared her throat as she shook herself off from staring at Sasuke. Hinata felt the heat rush to her cheeks instead at the scene unfolding before her.

Kakashi feigned innocence, playful glint shone in his dark eyes as he addressed Sakura, "Sakura-chan! I was about to visit you, I got busy with our Haru-chan's games—"

Sasuke grumbled, glancing up, "He didn't stop you, get out."

"Sasuke!" Hinata paced towards him and shunned him for speaking to the Hokage like that. She crouched down to grab Haru from his back, but his head snapped towards him and he threw a glare at her, she sighed and let Haru's arms circle around her neck and pull him in her lap. Sasuke hissed under his breath and staggered off the floor, his ragged breath, hot and uneven blew over her face as he stood near her, eyeing the gleam in Haru's eyes.

Hinata gulped, unable to look up at him. He stepped closer, bending his neck to press a feather-light kiss on Haru's forehead. His stoicism cracked and the tenderness slipped, exposed to the people around him but he couldn't care less. His eyes, sharp and focused, were assessing Haru who extended his hand to play with Sasuke's hair, mumbling, "Up…Dada…"

Hinata pulled back, distancing herself from the heat emanating from Sasuke, she heaved a deep sigh and said, "Haru needs a bath and…you too," Hinata gave a glance over the sweat-dripping half-naked Sasuke standing in front of her. He winced and rolled his eyes, grumbling about the interference of everyone in his fine morning.

Kakashi leaned away from the wall, walking up to his medic-nin, "Sakura-chan, I will come with you, let's go!" Kakashi's voice broke the thickening energy building up in the air. He ruffled Sakura's hair, eliciting a yelp out of her as he broke her trance.

"Bye, Hinata." Sakura blinked and smiled. "Sasuke-kun…let's come to the dinner tonight, even sensei is joining, and Kazekage is visiting—"

Sasuke moved towards his cupboard, rummaging through his clothes as he answered, flatly, "No, thanks."

The disinterest of Sasuke cut through Sakura, even Hokage could see the shudder that ran through her at his bluntness, "Sakura, let's leave, I have other commitments, so you must check my well-being on priority…" She nodded and both of them slipped out of the room.

Hinata's gaze turned to Sasuke, boring into his muscled back, adorned with scars, white and crimson. Her expression grew grim at the sight of those slashes, those bruises and burns. Her fingers flexed, and a spinning urge rushed through her veins to trace those scars and let her chakra flow under his skin, healing everything that he had endured.

But, she choked on her own sob as she realized that her chakra still dwindled, her control still faltered and her skills still needed a desperate recovery.

"What is it, Hinata?" he asked as he shut the cupboard and turned to stare at her, holding a pair of slacks and a shirt.

Hinata's muscles tensed, and Haru careened in her arms as if sensing the disturbance rumbling his mother's mind, she gasped, "Kazekage is visiting, you should—"

Sasuke scoffed, mild irritation tore through his plain expression, "That Gaara isn't anyone to me!"

Hinata could think of a thousand incidents where Naruto had shared with her the stories of Sasuke's blatant rudeness, "Be respectful, he is Kazekage—"

"Do you see me being respectful to our Hokage?" he cocked his head to the side and smirked.

She kept her expression placid, as she mustered the courage to keep the conversation going, "Kakashi-sama is like a father to you—"

His jaw tensed and his eyes narrowed, the stealth with which he approached her—like a panther, like a snake, like a man on a hunt— he seethed, "No, he isn't." His nose flared, and the depth of his gaze burned, "Or maybe you are right, because Kakashi doubts me, just like my father did," he scoffed, the facade of indifference draped over his face, hiding the crackle of ache surging through him at the revelation.

"Why?" she crouched on the floor, sitting on his futon, dropping Haru on the ground. He buried his face in Sasuke's pillow and entertained himself with the soft toy with ringing bells. Hinata sat cross-legged near him, glancing up at Sasuke, as if ready to hear what he offered of his past. "You were considered a genius—"

Hinata eyed the muscles in his arms tense, a savage restraint in the curled fists at his sides, his clothes crumpled under the assaulting grip. "Only after my father's favoured genius massacred everyone." He shrugged, dry cough escaped his mouth. But the pulsing tremble on his lips was faint, however, not unnoticed. Even without her Byakugan, she could see the innate desperation hanging on people. Perhaps, her own painful experiences made her resolute enough to catch such subtle essence of aches. "I surpassed him by being the avenger," he chuckled.

"Did you have a nightmare again last night?" she asked, her hand tangled in the gold locks of her son.

He looked at her, dumbfounded. Unaware of her interest.

The clock hit the hour, its sharp clicking noise echoed, but his voice was sharper as he disregarded her stiffly, "Not your concern—"

She mused, unwounded by his cutting words. She breathed, lamentingly, "If I could access the Hyuga garden, I would have made you some salves and teas for nightmares—"

He arched an eyebrow, his eyes flashing. He questioned, stunned, and impressed, "You can do that?"

She bit her lip as she mumbled, "I used to do that." She lowered her gaze, refocusing on the plump cheeks of her son lying on the futon, kicking his feet and fists in the air. "If I were in my best condition, I could have healed all of those scars on your back—"

Sasuke turned back, padding towards the bathroom. His voice came out as harsh but Hinata was unaffected by the newness of his curt tones, despite the softness that he often carried when she was on the brink of destruction. "They are not your responsibility."

She sighed, swallowing the guilt rising to her throat, "We are not your responsibility too but you still—"

"Hinata!" he raged, "how many times do I have to tell you that you don't owe me anything—"

"I understand." She kept her head bowed. She heard the click of the doorknob, before Sasuke could retreat into the bathroom, Hinata's squeaky voice reassured him, "I do not know of your father, but you are Kakashi's favourite, always has been."

His mouth set into a hard line, "Is this one of Naruto's musing—"

"My observations as well," she defended as well, her head snapped up to find him leaning on the doorway to the bathroom, turned to her, a skeptical look spread across his face. "You can rely on him."

"Nowadays, You finally sound like the girl Naruto talked about," he stared at her, unblinking.

Her face twisted in surprise, "What?"

He explained, "His Hinata and…my—the Hinata that I met were always very different. But now…not very much. Now you are becoming someone he used to mention a lot."

Her heart leapt to her throat, and her instinctual fear and guilt camped in her mind but she straightened up her spine and steeled her resolve to ask him, "Isn't that good? I used to hurt you a lot back then, didn't I?"

"I don't know. A burnt child can lick the ashes off the ground if it helps him breathe." He swiveled around, huffing, "I am habitual of pain, Hinata. I became habitual of pain from you too, at one point, you didn't hurt—"

Hinata wrestled with what to say next because he attempted to clearherconscience by freeing her from her sins despite the devastation he had to endure from her. So she let him know that she could read him too, "You can't lie, Sasuke."

He mocked, cocking his brow, "Another bit of information from Naruto?"

"No," she shook her head as she scrambled off the floor, pulling Haru in her arms who waved at Sasuke. She confessed, "I have started to know you too, Sasuke."

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Hinata, Sakura and Ino sipped on their orange juices and chewed on their snacks as they faced the three men, lined up, in front of them. Sasuke sat, clad in a white zipped robe, beside him, Sai sat ramrod, clasping the sleeves and helping out Kiba who was fidgeting on the spot, grumbling about how long the sleeves were and how his hair was left uncovered.

"So, we will have our babies…paint you!" Ino cheered, "How exciting!"

"How troublesome." Shikamaru groaned as he entered the hall, where sofas were pushed back, and the wide expanse of clearing in the middle was carpeted with white sheets. The small pots of paints were lined up.

Kiba sneered, "How did you come up with this?"

"The importance of visual activities for children can not be ignored," Sai added, his smile warming the room.

"Whatever, come on, Mirai-chan." Kiba extended his arms towards Mirai, who waddled toward him with a huge grin. Inojin and Haru were crawling, nudging their toys forward and racing after them. Haru held on to the corner of the sofa and steadied himself as he stood, squealing, "Mama!"

Hinata's lips curved into a smile. She pushed herself off the sofa and moved towards Haru, holding his tiny hand in hers, his softness a balm to her bruises. She led him closer to Sasuke, whose blank face contorted. A small smile erupted on his face at the way Haru took his heavy steps with his mother's assistance.

"You all are white sheets of paper for them!" Ino twittered.

Mirai had already begun smearing hand prints on Kiba's chest, his white robe had a burst of colours popping. Kiba hissed at the way Mirai jumped on him, adding a bold red splatter of pain over his face. Ino knelt on the floor, guiding Inojin towards Sai, dipping his little hands in the paint pots and brushing them over Sai's robes, causing Inojin to erupt in a string of fluttering giggles.

Haru plopped on Sasuke's lap, and Hinata sat beside them holding out the tray of paint for him, Haru dipped two fingers in two different paint slots and stared at the thick paint dripping and sliding from his fingers before a grin, teasing, hung at the corner of his pouting lips. "Dada!" he cheered and began colouring his shoulder. Sasuke shifted in his place, and one of his hands snaked around Haru, keeping him steady. The other fisted at his side, his eyes watching Haru intently, with adoration but with amusement as well.

"Never thought I'd see Sasuke-kun like this," Sakura called out. Hinata threw a glance over her shoulder at the back, noticing the awe and yearning striking the pink-haired kunoichi's face. The way her green eyes shone with affection for the man who cradled her son, the way her smile stretched wider on her pink lips for Sasuke who sat beside Hinata—she felt out of place…as if she intruded…as if she sat where someone else should have sat.

Hinata turned her gaze towards her child, surprised to see Sasuke's eyes already on her, as if peering at her crumbling mental state and the bursts of insecurities. He turned to focus on Haru who slipped down his chest and brushed bright colours on his abdomen, "More," Haru babbled. Her heart swelled at the way Sasuke kept his patience in check with Haru, his tensed shoulders slumped gradually with each handprint her son left on him as if he was branding Sasuke and Sasuke allowed, letting his guards crumble for her son.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, the fleeting moment intensified and added to her son's joy when Sasuke tightly grasped Haru, flushed against his chest, and flicking a small dot of blue paint over his cheek and nose, a loud chiming laughter from Haru echoed in the room, "Dada…more." Haru wriggled out of his grip, rolled off his lap and began clawing his fists in paint pots then drawing them closer to his face while Sasuke leaned back, to protect his face, grunting in feigned annoyance.

Hinata covered her hand with her fist, stifling the chuckle as Haru climbed up his body and rubbed his hands on his pale face, colouring him blue and red. Sasuke huffed and puffed as he glared at Haru, gritting his teeth, Hinata saw the speck of endearment glinting in his stern eyes. Haru pouted and didn't seem to falter, Sasuke's mock anger didn't deter him at all. He believed he had a claim on his Dada and he continued to jump on him, snuggle in his chest and poke his cheeks which made Sasuke growl.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the hall with a golden hue that softened its corners and bathed the scene in a dreamlike warmth. Laughter echoed off the walls, mingling with bursts of vibrant colors and the elated smiles of friends and family.

The lively atmosphere was almost enough to distract her, almost enough to let her forget—but not entirely.

Children's giggles punctuated the air as their small hands dipped into bowls of paint, smearing bold streaks of red, blue, and yellow.

Yet, amidst the warmth and cheer, a hollow ache coiled in her chest. Hinata's lilac eyes drifted over the faces in the room, instinctively searching for a presence she knew wasn't there—a pair of bright blue eyes, a familiar grin, and a voice that could light up even the darkest of moments. Naruto's absence struck her like a cold wind, sharp and unrelenting, as it always did in moments like that.

It had been nearly a year since he was taken from her…since his warm, unyielding presence had slipped from her life. The memory of that moment—the moment her world fractured—was an indelible mark on her soul.

Next month, it will be a year. She thought, her heart thumped wildly. Naruto should have been here. He should have been the one with a paint-smeared robe, tossing Haru into the air and laughing along with him. He should have been sitting beside her, their fingers should have been intertwined as they watched their son grow and play.

Yet…Hinata and Haru were happy. Content. Enough. They were Enough.

Haru was relishing in his gleeful life. He squealed with infectious laughter.

Hinata managed to smile, brightly, widely and truly. Despite the loss. Despite the grief.

The transition felt surreal, felt like a sin…but it was necessary to feel alive, to feel closer to the life she wanted to live for her son.

I hope you don't mind, Naruto. She mused.

Her spiralling thoughts crashed violently against the confines of her strained mind, like waves against a battered cliff. Before she could steady herself, a firm hand gripped her wrist with unyielding precision, pulling her abruptly into the heart of the chaos. Vibrant splashes of colour whirled around her, a cacophony of laughter and shrieks of delight ringing in her ears.

Hinata stumbled, nearly landing in Sasuke's lap as he shifted with calculated ease, positioning her squarely in front of him as a shield. His smirk was subtle, but the teasing glint in his dark eyes betrayed his intent. His voice, low and velvety, rumbled close to her ear.

"Paint on your Mama, little one."

Her breath hitched sharply. "Sasuke," she protested, twisting to look over her shoulder, her words faltering as she caught sight of his face—closer than she'd expected. Pale skin, painted in red and yellow, looked smooth. The heat of his breath brushed against the delicate curve of her neck, sending an involuntary shiver cascading down her spine.

Pressed against her back, his chest was firm, radiating warmth and the faint, steady pulse of his chakra. The strength of his presence enveloped her, grounding and overwhelming all at once. His arm, strong and steady, wrapped around her waist, anchoring her in the intimate closeness of the moment. Her body fit into the protective cradle of his splayed legs, and she became acutely aware of the ripple of taut muscles beneath his shirt.

Hinata's cheeks burned a deep crimson as she tried to avert her gaze, her hands bracing against his arm in a futile attempt to create space between them. But Sasuke remained unmoving, his grip gentle but resolute, a silent declaration that she was, for now, his shield.

Haru's gleeful laughter bubbled up, breaking through her flustered haze, and she glanced back just in time to see her son's tiny hands, smeared with an explosion of colours, reaching toward her.

Hinata felt something wet trickling down from her calf and found Haru splashing paint on her legs. "Haru, no…!" she softly denied.

"Haru, yes!" Sasuke announced from behind.

Hinata wanted to elbow Sasuke's chest as she squirmed in his embrace. Her chest felt like a cage, making it impossible for her to breathe. The headiness radiated from her, appalled her.

"Stay still, Hinata," he leaned in closer to her ear, his lips almost brushing against the shell. She felt a sharp pain in her dry throat, "I don't bite," his deep chuckle rumbled within her bones as she paused her attempts to worm out of his grasp. His voice was dangerous yet serene, his proximity was suffocating yet liberating, his touch was burning her through her clothes yet chilling her to the bone—he remained a conundrum she couldn't figure out, the glimmer of his renowned madness often peeked through in moments like that, and…rattled her, beyond comprehension.

She rested against him, letting her son play with them, ignoring the curious eyes of people around them. The exhilaration in the moment felt real, too real, that it shadowed the absence of Naruto and the presence of the world around them. She cherished the buzz of the crackling transition propelling her forward, towards the destination where she could finally breathe and smile.

The vibrant chaos around them seemed to fade, leaving only the three of them locked in a moment suspended between laughter, intimacy, and fleeting vulnerability. The transitioning life she was experiencing eclipsed the grief that burdened her heart.

What a privilege it was, to finally feel the tenderness of life.

.

.

.

The sun poured through the canopy of leaves, and the crisp morning air hummed with the soft rustle of falling leaves, crunching under their feet. Hinata breathed heavily, sweat made her shirt stick to her skin.

"Come on, Hinata! Not gonna go easy on you just because it has been a while!" Kiba grinned, jumping and shuffling on the spot, kicking the stones off the ground. Hinata offered a small smile as she wiped the sweat beads off her forehead with the back of her hand.

Hinata countered with her familiar stance. It had been two years since she stepped on training grounds, and ever since her pregnancy, she fell off from the life of a shinobi. Her confidence had dipped and was barely raised enough for her to even entertain the idea of training with Kiba and Shino.

But bringing herself back to the life of a shinobi was her goal to achieve for Haru's sake.

Her body ached, her Byakugan barely managed to reach an acceptable distance, and her chakra drained off from her every pore. The sun climbed higher, burning her skin. Her speed barely managed to dodge the circling from the Akamaru, who lunged at her. Her palm glinted with the faint glow of her chakra as she thrust the air with the crackling chakra to push back the approaching kikaichū of Shino.

The noise of grunts, the hiss of kikaichū and the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground made the training ground alive. The veins pulsing around her eyes ached, and the flicker of her past self flashed before her distorted vision, mocking her.

Hinata's wallowing pressed heavily on her, she almost missed the blur of white and brown, but Hinata sidestepped the initial strike from Kiba lunging at her without warning. She pivoted from her spot, with a yelp, holding her stomach with a wince. The impact of Kiba's force sent a shockwave through the air, Kiba grinned as he stumbled back. "At least you got the defensive instinct," Kiba nodded at her, his sharp and victorious eyes softening. "You will be back, Hinata-chan! No worries at all. We are here for you."

"Thank you," Hinata rasped as she straightened her back, twisting her waist in a circular motion to get the throbbing pain to crack and loosen up her tensed muscles.

Before she could manage her laboured breathing, she felt the vibrating buzz in the air as Shino's insects swarmed towards him. She pressed her feet on the ground, rumbling the cracked stones, her chakra-infused steps spun as she attempted to create a rotational barrier that could send the insects scattering. She almost managed to succeed, but her barrier couldn't hold on for much longer as her spinning faltered with an abrupt crash of her chakra.

Shino pulled back his kikaichū, letting Hinata plop down on the ground, almost on the verge of wailing at the lack of strength. Kiba rushed towards her, panting and shouting out words of encouragement, "It is okay! We just started."

"You managed to hold on for this long, it is impressive." Shino offered his hand to her, she gulped and lowered her gaze, extending her hand to hold his in shame. Akamaru barked in affirmation, wagging his tail as he trotted over to Hinata, nudging her hand with his nose.

Hinata stood, brushing dirt from her knees as she looked between her teammates. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of belonging—a connection to the past that still had a place in her present. Kiba clapped her on the back, his grin infectious. "Let's make up for lost time. Lunch at Ichiraku's—my treat. Let's celebrate having Team 8 back together."

"I need to go." Hinata wrung her hands at the front, looking at the ground. "Haru…"

Shino held Kiba's shoulder, pulling him back. He nodded, "I understand."

"Next week…It is Naruto's death anniversary…" Hinata choked, "Please visit him—"

"Of course, Hinata." Kiba gasped, "No need to mention. We are here for you, as I said. All of us." Kiba nudged Shino, who looked up and fixed his glasses as he nodded.

"Thank you…it feels…good to do this." Hinata felt the comfort of familiarity create a symphony within her, swallowing up her miseries, even if it was for a moment.

Hinata felt the impending grief glaring at her, but at the moment, she chose to let the rush of calmness of the moment consume her. She chose to stare at the bright light shining at the end of the tunnel, the act of waiting for a glimmer of peace was punishing but she chose to not wait, but move forward.

Next week was going to rip her apart, string by string, flesh by flesh. But Hinata had learnt a lesson that all things could pass, all things!

She was ready to let the emptiness break her apart, but she was also prepared to gulp the anger, the agony and the misfortune.

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A/N: FAVS AND REVIEWS ARE MY LIFELINE!
THINGS ARE GETTING INTERESTING FOR FATED SASUHINA...

If you haven't read my other fic 'WILTED PETALS' then you can give that a chance too, that is also SasuHina, with drama and angst! ;)