A/N: I stumbled across a SasuHina picture on Pinterest, and for the life of me, I can't imagine Sasuke dancing, even though it was clearly depicted in the photo. But ok. *thoughtful smile*
If you want to look for the photo online, try searching for "Sasuhina dance pinterest". The artwork shows Sasuke in a sleek black outfit and Hinata in a flowing red dress and black heels, dancing gracefully in a sunlit street.
Disclaimer: I do not own the photo. All credit belongs to the original creator.
CHAPTER 01
The sunlight streaming into Konoha's grand wedding venue was warm and serene, completely at odds with Sasuke Uchiha's current state of irritation. Standing in the middle of a sea of white drapes and floral arrangements, he glared at Ino Yamanaka, who was waving a clipboard around like it was a weapon.
"For the last time, I'm not doing it." His voice was clipped, his tone cold.
Ino, however, was undeterred. "Oh, yes, you are. Naruto asked you, and if you back out now, it'll ruin everything. Do you want to be the reason Sakura's rehearsal is a disaster? I didn't think so!"
His eye twitched. Trust Naruto to rope him into nonsense like this. His self-proclaimed best friend had practically begged him to stand in as the groom for this ridiculous wedding rehearsal, guilt-tripping him with a, "You owe me, Teme! It's just one day!"
Now here he was, surrounded by chaos and wearing a suit that felt unnecessarily formal.
"You can't make me do this," he said flatly, folding his arms.
"Oh, I don't have to make you," Ino said sweetly. "Sakura will kill you if this rehearsal doesn't go smoothly. Your funeral, not mine."
Before he could retort, the sound of soft footsteps drew their attention. Standing hesitantly in the doorway was Hinata Hyuuga, holding a small folder and looking entirely out of place amidst the wedding decorations.
"Ino?" she began tentatively. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I just came to confirm the flower arrangements for the Hyuuga clan's banquet next week."
Ino's eyes lit up like she'd just spotted the solution to all her problems. "Hinata! Perfect timing!"
Hinata blinked, taking a step back as Ino marched toward her with the determination of a kunoichi on a mission. "I—I'm not sure what you mean…"
"Sakura's not here, Naruto's on some stupid mission, and I need a bride for the rehearsal," Ino explained rapidly. "And you're the perfect stand-in."
Her eyes widened. "Oh, I don't think—"
"Hinata," Ino cut her off with a dazzling smile, "you're elegant, you're polite, and you'd look amazing walking down the aisle. Please? For Sakura?"
She hesitated, glancing at Sasuke, who was now watching her with the same deadpan look he always wore. She felt her cheeks heat up under his gaze.
"I don't think I'm the right person—"
"Come on, Hinata," Ino pleaded, her tone turning theatrical. "Do you want Sakura to hate me forever because her rehearsal was a mess? You wouldn't do that to me, right?"
She opened her mouth to refuse but faltered when Ino gave her the biggest, saddest puppy-dog eyes she had ever seen. With a sigh of defeat, she nodded. "Alright, if it'll help…"
Ino clapped her hands together. "Great! Now stand over there next to Sasuke, and let's get started!"
Sasuke and Hinata stood side by side, both looking decidedly uncomfortable. Ino had shoved a bouquet of flowers into Hinata's hands and was now barking instructions at the flustered attendants bustling around them.
"I feel like I should apologize," she whispered, glancing at Sasuke nervously.
"You should," he muttered in a dry voice.
Hinata flushed. "I didn't mean to—Ino was very persistent…"
"She's always persistent," Sasuke replied, exasperated.
Before she could respond, Ino clapped her hands again. "Alright, let's rehearse the vows! Sasuke, take Hinata's hands."
His eyebrow twitched. "What?"
"You're supposed to hold hands during the vows," Ino said matter-of-factly. "Honestly, haven't you ever been to a wedding before?"
Hinata's blush deepened as she hesitantly extended her hands. He sighed and took them, his touch cool and firm.
"Okay, now look at each other," Ino instructed with a tone leaving no room for argument.
They did, though Hinata immediately regretted it. Sasuke's mismatched eyes were as intense as ever, and she felt like he was staring straight into her soul. She looked away quickly, her heart racing.
"This is ridiculous," Sasuke muttered under his breath, though he didn't let go of her hands.
Ino ignored him. "Now, Sasuke, repeat after me: 'I, Naruto Uzumaki…'"
Hid glare could have leveled mountains. "No."
"Yes," Ino snapped. "It's a rehearsal, Sasuke! Just say it!"
Hinata bit her lip, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Sasuke Uchiha, Konoha's brooding hero, was standing in a wedding rehearsal holding her hands and looking like he'd rather fight Madara again.
His jaw tightened. He turned his head slightly toward Ino, his voice a low growl. "I'm not saying that."
Ino threw her hands up in frustration. "Why not? It's just a rehearsal!"
"It's humiliating," he deadpanned.
"Humiliating?" she scoffed. "You've fought wars, taken down gods, and now this is where you draw the line?!"
Hinata, sensing the tension, interjected softly, "I—I could say something instead…"
"No!" Ino said sharply, pointing her clipboard at Sasuke. "He's saying it. Hinata, you're doing great. Sasuke, grow up."
Sasuke sighed, clearly contemplating all the life choices that had led him to this moment. "Fine." He turned back to Hinata, his expression unreadable, and began in the most monotone voice imaginable: "I, Naruto Uzumaki…"
Hinata bit her lip to stifle a giggle. Hearing Sasuke Uchiha call himself "Naruto" was somehow both absurd and endearing.
"...take you, Sakura Haruno…"
At this, he hesitated, his gaze flickering toward Hinata, whose blush deepened. She looked so out of place, yet oddly fitting in this role. For a brief second, something in his chest stirred—an unfamiliar warmth he quickly pushed aside.
Ino cleared her throat loudly. "Keep going, Sasuke!"
He exhaled sharply and continued, his tone flat: "...to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you, in good times and bad, for all the days of my life."
Hinata struggled to maintain composure, her lips trembling with the effort not to laugh. "You're doing great," she whispered, attempting to ease his discomfort.
He shot her a look that clearly said, Don't encourage this madness.
Ino, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with excitement. "Now, Hinata, your turn! Repeat after me: I, Sakura Haruno…"
Her eyes widened in panic. "M-me? Oh, um…" She glanced nervously at Sasuke, who raised a single eyebrow, clearly amused at her predicament.
"It's just pretend," Ino coaxed, though her grin suggested she was thoroughly enjoying this.
Hinata swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper as she began, "I, Sakura Haruno…"
Sasuke smirked. "You're better at pretending than I thought."
She blinked up at him, confused. "W-what do you mean?"
"You don't sound like you're about to punch me," he muttered, referring to Sakura's usual temperament.
Despite herself, she let out a soft laugh, her nerves easing just slightly. "I suppose that's true…"
Ino clapped her hands. "Focus, people! Hinata, keep going!"
Still holding Sasuke's hands, she repeated the next lines, her voice growing steadier. "...take you, Naruto Uzumaki…"
"Do I have to shout 'believe it' at the end of this too?" he muttered under his breath, earning another stifled laugh from Hinata.
"...to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you, in good times and bad, for all the days of my life," she finished, her voice soft but sincere.
There was a brief silence as their eyes met. For a moment, the absurdity of the situation faded, leaving only the two of them standing there, hands intertwined. Her heart fluttered as she noticed the subtle shift in his expression—less irritated, more… thoughtful.
Ino, oblivious to the fleeting tension, clapped again. "Perfect! Now, the rings!"
"The what?" Sasuke sharply asked.
"The rings," Ino repeated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You can't have a wedding rehearsal without practicing the ring exchange!"
"I don't have a ring," he deadpanned.
"Of course you don't," Ino said with a dramatic sigh. "Luckily, I've got backups!" She reached into her bag and pulled out two plastic rings from a children's toy set. "Here you go! Now, Sasuke, slide this onto Hinata's finger."
He stared at the cheap plastic ring in his hand, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. Still, he turned to Hinata, who held out her hand hesitantly.
"Sorry," she whispered, her cheeks pink.
"It's not your fault," he replied quietly, slipping the ring onto her finger with surprising gentleness.
Her breath hitched at the unexpected tenderness of the gesture.
Ino practically squealed. "Hinata, now it's your turn!"
Hinata fumbled with the second plastic ring, her hands trembling as she tried to place it on Sasuke's finger. Her nervousness made it harder than it should've been, and Sasuke raised an eyebrow as she struggled.
"You're overthinking it," he said, his voice softer than usual.
"R-right," she mumbled, finally managing to slide the ring into place.
They stood there, hands still touching, plastic rings glinting in the sunlight.
Ino sighed dreamily. "You two look so good together."
Both Hinata and Sasuke snapped out of the moment, their faces turning red as they pulled their hands apart.
"Can we get this over with?" Sasuke muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.
They were still standing awkwardly in front of the "altar," the echoes of their cringe-worthy vows still hanging in the air, when Ino clapped her hands once more.
"Great! Now, for the dance rehearsal!" she declared, her voice high-pitched with excitement, like she had just found the perfect ingredient to make everything even more mortifying.
Sasuke's face instantly darkened. "A dance?" he muttered, the word practically a curse.
Hinata's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't exactly the best dancer, and now, standing in front of Sasuke with an audience of none, she was about to be forced into some slow-motion nightmare.
"Yes! A dance!" Ino said, beaming like a madwoman. "Naruto and Sakura's wedding dance has to be perfect. It's a tradition, and I will not let this slip through the cracks. You two will be perfect practice partners!"
"Why are we doing this again?" he asked, clearly already regretting his decision to even step into this debacle.
"Because Naruto asked you to! And Sakura… well, she's busy with the emergency operation, so, again, she asked me to make sure everything goes smoothly," Ino explained with an exaggerated eye-roll, as if Sasuke should understand the gravity of her situation.
Hinata wanted to shrink into the floorboards. "I-I'll try my best…"
"Good!" Ino didn't miss a beat. "Now, let's start with the basics!"
She pressed play on a boombox that had been suspiciously hidden behind some chairs. The soft strains of a romantic song began, the kind that made people think of sunsets and candlelight dinners.
Sasuke groaned. "Next time, I'm sending a clone."
"Would your clone be any more cooperative?" Hinata whispered back, a small, teasing smile tugging at her lips. She ducked her head slightly after the comment, as if surprised by her own boldness, but the faint pink on her cheeks betrayed her amusement.
Ino was already bouncing on her toes, clapping her hands again. "Okay, okay, I know you're both super talented, but I need this to be perfect. Sasuke, you're the groom, so you need to lead, okay? It's not that complicated."
He glanced at her with a look that clearly said, Are you out of your mind?
"Hinata," Ino added with a grin, "you're the bride. Just let him lead."
Hinata gave a hesitant nod, though the nervous energy radiating off her could have powered the entire village.
"Alright, now hold hands."
Sasuke stretched out one hand, and Hinata, though completely mortified, placed hers into his with a soft, graceful motion. The contrast between their hands was striking—his large, calloused palm versus her small, delicate fingers.
"Now," Ino continued, "you'll start by swaying gently. Like this." She demonstrated, swaying exaggeratedly to the music, almost toppling over in the process.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her, as if hoping she'd just vanish. "You want me to sway?"
Ino threw her hands up dramatically. "Yes! It's a slow dance, Sasuke! It's a wedding rehearsal!"
He sighed, rolling his eyes as he reluctantly took a step, and Hinata, with a deep breath, tried to follow his movements.
To her credit, she did her best. Her feet shuffled awkwardly, unsure of how to coordinate with his stiff movements. Her heart was racing, not because she was in any danger but because she could feel the heat of his proximity. It was unnerving, and yet, there was something oddly reassuring about the way his hand rested on her waist.
Sasuke's stiff, robotic movements didn't help. They were a far cry from the fluid grace that Ino expected, but at least he wasn't stepping on her toes—yet.
"Great! Now, spin!" Ino called out, clapping her hands.
He gave her a deadpan look. "What?"
"Spin! It's the traditional twirl!"
"Traditional what?" Sasuke was done. He was absolutely done. But, to his credit, he tried—he attempted to give Hinata a slow, awkward twirl that had her stumbling and clutching his arm for balance.
"Oh!" she gasped, almost tripping over her own feet.
He quickly grabbed her waist, pulling her back into his arms, their faces inches apart now. For a brief, fleeting moment, Hinata's heart skipped.
"I'm sorry," she muttered, cheeks flushed.
"Don't apologize," Sasuke replied in a low voice.
"Awww!" Ino squealed from across the room. "That's the kind of chemistry I'm talking about! You're perfect!"
Both of them looked at Ino like she was a wild animal.
"What do you mean 'chemistry'?" Sasuke muttered, clearly more annoyed than anything else.
"Well, you're supposed to be getting married, aren't you?" Ino teased, a sly smile curling at her lips. "You're practically glowing with wedding-day bliss!"
His frown deepened. "I don't glow," he muttered, looking down at Hinata, who was doing her best to suppress a giggle at the ridiculousness of it all.
"Okay, okay," Ino interrupted, making a swooning gesture with her hands. "Let's try the twirl again, but with more enthusiasm this time!"
Sasuke looked like he was about to explode. He clenched his jaw, his hand firmly grasping Hinata's, as he gave her another half-hearted twirl.
This time, however, he was so tense that he spun her way too fast, sending her flailing, her feet sliding out from underneath her.
"Ahh!" Hinata yelped, arms flailing wildly.
"Whoa!" Sasuke snapped out of his daze, quickly grabbing her around the waist and pulling her back toward him.
Their faces collided with an awkward thud, and for a brief, beautiful second, it felt like the whole world had stopped. Hinata was in his arms, her heart pounding in a way that had nothing to do with the dance. His breath hitched as he held her close, an unfamiliar warmth filling his chest.
Ino cheered from the sidelines. "See? That's it! That's what I'm talking about! Perfect chemistry!"
Sasuke opened his mouth to retort, but Hinata, clearly trying to regain her composure, gave him a soft, gentle smile.
"I—I think we're getting better," she said, her voice a little breathless, but sincere.
"Sure…" he murmured, his hand still on her waist, his voice suddenly quieter, softer.
The music continued to play softly in the background, but the dance had slowed down. Ino, clearly oblivious to the odd shift in the air, was still clapping and cheering, clearly pleased with the progress. Sasuke and Hinata, however, were no longer paying attention to her.
His hand lingered on her waist as she stood in front of him, her eyes a little too wide and her heart racing far more than the simple dance should have caused. Her fingers, still lightly clasped in his, felt warm, but it wasn't the warmth of a normal handshake. It was something different. Something he didn't have a name for yet.
The twirl had been a disaster, but as he held her close to steady her, he realized something strange. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on. She wasn't complaining. She wasn't nervous, either—just steady, calm, and surprisingly at ease. Maybe it was because she wasn't demanding anything from him.
"I think we should… maybe try the twirl again?" Hinata asked, her voice small but hopeful.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, his grip tightening ever so slightly around her. "You're not afraid of falling again?"
She smiled shyly, shaking her head. "I'll try to be careful this time."
The moment she spoke, it was as if a weight had lifted from his chest. He found himself genuinely looking forward to the idea of making it right. He adjusted his stance and gently, almost carefully, spun her again—this time with the right amount of fluidity. Not too fast, but fast enough to make her dizzy in the most delightful way.
This time, she didn't flail. She spun with him, her feet moving in perfect synchrony, her dress swishing just the right amount to make her look like she belonged in a dance hall, not a wedding rehearsal gone wrong.
For just a moment, they were perfect.
The song swelled, and the two of them lost track of everything else—the awkwardness, the rehearsal, Ino's incessant clapping, even the ridiculous vows from earlier. There was just the two of them, swaying gently, their faces close, but not quite touching.
Ino, suddenly realizing she had become a spectator instead of a director, let out a contented sigh. "See? That's more like it! This is the perfect moment for a kiss, don't you think?"
They both froze, eyes wide in unison as if a switch had flipped. They snapped out of their little bubble, their faces a sudden shade of red, the dance forgotten as the reality of their proximity hit them at once.
Sasuke awkwardly cleared his throat, quickly distancing himself from Hinata. "We're not... We're just practicing," he said, his voice a little more gruff than usual.
Hinata, too, took a step back, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Y-Yes, just practicing..."
Ino, seemingly oblivious to the sudden tension between them, clapped her hands again, satisfied with her "plan." "Okay, okay! You two are absolutely perfect! I knew it. I just knew you were the ideal pair!"
He looked at her, his face impassive, but his eyes had that rare flicker of discomfort. He was relieved she didn't press for a kiss—he wasn't sure how he would've reacted.
But Hinata... Hinata was still standing there, a little too aware of the soft hum of music that still filled the air, a little too aware of the fact that Sasuke had held her so effortlessly.
For a brief moment, their eyes met again—this time, neither of them looking away. It wasn't awkward. It was soft. It was... an unspoken understanding.
Sasuke's voice was quieter than usual when he spoke, almost hesitant. "You're not... bad, you know."
Hinata blinked, not sure if she'd heard him right. "W-What?"
He glanced at her, his eyes still holding hers with a rare intensity. "You're not bad at this... dancing thing."
Her breath caught in her throat. He'd said it so simply, yet it felt like something much deeper. And there was a fleeting look in his eyes—a soft, almost reluctant smile that tugged at the corner of his lips.
Her heart fluttered in her chest. She didn't know what to say, but somehow, she found herself answering, "T-Thank you. You're not... bad either."
Sasuke couldn't help but let out a soft, almost imperceptible chuckle. It was enough to make her cheeks flare red again, and before she could think, she found herself speaking again, her voice softer than she intended. "It's strange, but I think I actually enjoyed this… somehow."
He nodded, his expression still unreadable, but there was something in his eyes now—something that made her heart beat just a little faster. "Yeah. Me too."
There was something undeniably quiet, yet meaningful in the moment that passed between them. The music swirled around them like a distant echo, but all Hinata could focus on was the subtle warmth of Sasuke's hand brushing against hers once more.
Before she could speak again, Sasuke stepped back, his usual aloofness returning. But this time, his gaze lingered on her just a second longer. "You should go ahead and talk to Ino. I'll get out of your way."
She smiled softly, grateful for his kindness. "Thank you, Sasuke."
As she turned to leave, her heart still fluttering in a way that made her wonder what, exactly, had just happened between them. She glanced back at him, only to find him already watching her with that same unreadable expression.
Ino, finally noticing the tension that had dissipated, grinned from ear to ear. "I swear, if I didn't know better, I'd say you two were secretly dating."
Hinata felt her face heat up at Ino's teasing, but Sasuke—ever the master of composure—didn't show any sign of embarrassment. He simply turned to leave, a fleeting glance back at Hinata lingering in the air between them.
As he exited the room, he muttered to himself, It was just a practice... right?
But somewhere deep down, he knew it wasn't just about the rehearsal anymore.
It was something more. Something that neither of them were quite ready to name.
But it was there.
And it had already begun.