The streets leading to Konoha's central plaza were awash in soft, pink, and red hues from the rows of lanterns lining the path, their glow casting a warm, intimate light on the bustling crowds. Overhead, colourful banners and streamers adorned with the kanji for love and happiness fluttered gently in the evening breeze, accompanied by floral motifs and delicate hearts.
The shimmering fairy lights twisted around tree branches and wire supports lent an ethereal radiance, their gentle flickering mimicking the quiet hum of activity all around. It was a festival of life and love—a spectacle of joy.
But for Sasuke, the radiance felt overbearing, too loud in its expression of warmth. He moved silently through the festive scene like a wraith, his black cloak billowing slightly as he passed. Beneath the cloak, his white shirt remained immaculately tucked into his dark trousers—a simple, crisp attire that stood out against the riot of colours surrounding him. Sakura had urged him to dress festively, but Lover's Day was an alien concept to him, a celebration he couldn't quite grasp. So he came as he always was: distant, stark, unyielding.
Sakura wanted to come with her girls, apparently to surprise Sasuke with her final look. Sasuke's heart warmed seeing the enthusiasm of Sakura, all he had given her was worries and pain, so to be the reason for her peace and smile was a change he appreciated. In search of the home, Sasuke was learning to appreciate the minuscule changes which were happening around him which were making his daughter cherish him and his wife satisfied with his presence.
He paused as the grand entrance to the main event loomed before him—a heart-shaped arch made of intertwining roses, wisteria, and peonies. Couples giggled and whispered as they passed beneath the arch, their hands entwined, faces flushed with joy, their excitement palpable in the air. Sasuke, however, strode through the arch alone, his expression as impassive as ever, pale and cool beneath the moon's watchful eye.
As he entered the plaza, the transformation of Konoha struck him like a wave of surprise. The village, once so focused on survival and duty, now breathed with the lightness of peace. This is what peace has brought, he mused, glancing at the vast open space that had been transformed into a haven of colour and light. The grounds were overflowing with flowers draped in graceful arrangements on every corner. The heavy scent of their perfume saturated the air, mingling with the aroma of festival food that wafted through the crowds.
Young couples darted from stall to stall and engaged in various activities that filled the space with laughter and mirth. At one stand, a boy threw mock kunai at heart-shaped balloons, eager to win a prize for his blushing companion. Nearby, a couple carefully tied red ribbons onto the Lover's Wall. A group gathered around a small stage, where performers passionately recited love poems from ancient scrolls. Others clustered at the artisan's booth, where a man painted delicate patterns on fans, his lover nestled against him, watching his work with soft adoration.
Someone somewhere was doing something, and yet, here he was, amidst it all, silently observing this world that had evolved so far beyond the life of conflict and duty he had known. His eyes roamed around to find a stall where he could drink some sake to soothe his nerves or an abandoned corner where he could take a puff of smoke.
Instead, he found a ghostly man cocking his eyebrow at him, waving a fan that surely he had painted, at him. Groaning, he moved towards him, "Sai," he regarded him flatly.
"Uchiha," Sai responded with his usual smile, eyes crinkling in an unnerving way. "How are you?"
Sasuke wondered, not for the first time, how much of Sai's expressions were real. Was there any genuine emotion behind that serene face?
"Fine," Sasuke shrugged, unwilling to divulge more.
"Look…" Sai unfurled the fan with a flourish, revealing intricate, delicate patterns. "I painted this for Ino."
Sai's genuine when it comes to Ino, Sasuke thought, a rare flicker of amusement passing through his mind. He nodded in response, his expression unreadable as usual. "Where is everyone?"
Sai gestured vaguely toward the crowd. "Shikamaru will arrive with Temari, but our women are coming together. Kiba's around somewhere... probably petting some dogs." He nodded toward the couples in the crowd, many of whom had brought their pets along as if Kiba could be found lurking behind any wagging tail.
Before Sasuke could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind him, "Sasuke-kun!" He turned to see Sakura approaching, her eyes shining with excitement. Sakura was dressed in the outfit he chose in the shop, accessorized with gleaming jewels and pink makeup that complimented her skin and matched her curled hair. She looked pretty like cherry blossoms. A rare smile touched Sasuke's lips as he extended his hand to her, and her eyes sparkled as she nearly ran to him, grasping his hand eagerly.
Since the awkward incident at the dress shop, Sasuke had pushed himself out of his comfort zone for Sakura. He couldn't allow himself to drift away again. It had taken effort—sometimes painful and strained—but it had eased the tension between them. The passive arguments had lessened, and Sakura seemed happier, even content. Good, he thought. But despite the peace, something in him remained unsettled. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was faking it, that his efforts were hollow.
He was doing all of that for her sake, and for their daughter, but deep down, he knew he wasn't being true to himself.
But she was getting something out of it, not him. Did he even want anything? Yes, the feeling of home!
But nothing was satisfying him, he still recoiled from her touch, and he still knew his efforts were more directed towards his daughter and for his daughter's sake. He still felt like he was not the one to whom Sakura should have been devoted, for he was too empty to provide her with anything of him. But she still demanded that, and he was obligated to give her something, anything, even if he dreaded it.
Her hand in his made her smile, so he swallowed the lump and quelled the noise bubbling at the back of his head.
Behind her, two more figures appeared—Ino, who was immediately engulfed in a bone-crushing hug by Sai, and Hinata, lingering quietly at the edge of the group. She was dressed in that cursed sleek, black dress, her makeup a subtle purple that highlighted the fairness of her skin. Unlike Sakura, who radiated joy, Hinata seemed a shadow of herself, her gaze fixed on the ground as she nervously twisted the gold band on her finger. She followed Ino and Sakura like a silent, timid shadow.
"How do I look?" Sakura's voice pulled Sasuke back to the moment. She was looking at him expectantly, her grip on his hand tightening.
"Pretty," he said softly, a small smile barely lifting the corners of his lips. Sakura beamed at him, and before he could react, she stood on her toes and kissed him lightly on the lips.
The sudden affection caught him off guard, and it took all of his restraint not to flinch away. He forced himself to remain still, taking a deep breath as he tried to calm the unfamiliar anxiety that twisted in his chest.
"Thank you. You look amazing," Sakura whispered, her eyes full of warmth.
Sasuke resisted the urge to tell her that he looked the same as always. He didn't want to sour the night.
"So, what's the plan?" Ino chimed in, still hanging off Sai's arm, her excitement contagious.
"We'll play some games, there's a dance later, and then fireworks," Sakura said, her voice bright.
"Fireworks? They didn't have that last time!" Ino's eyes lit up. "Look what Sai made for me," Ino fanned herself with that god-forsaken purple and blue fan with intricate abstract patterns only that Sai could conjure.
Hope and wistfulness glinted in Sakura's eyes, "Beautiful!" she pouted. Before Sasuke could offer her anything, a loud blaring obnoxious noise pierced through the peaceful hum.
"Hina-chan!" Kiba's booming voice filled the plaza as he sprinted toward them, his energy as boundless as ever. Behind him, Shikamaru strolled lazily, Temari at his side. Kiba's appearance had changed since the last time Sasuke saw him—he had bulked up, his long hair brushing his shoulders, and his voice seemed louder if that was even possible. He enveloped Hinata in a bear hug, his large frame completely dwarfing her petite form. She was wide-eyed at the open affection from her teammate.
"You came back early, Shino-kun said that you'd be back next week," she glowed with a budding smile on her lips, shock from her eyes drained into pure ecstasy.
Kiba wiggled his eyebrows, "Yeah, finished the mission early. But that man is not here…even though I told him to attend!"
"Yes because he doesn't have a partner…" Sai cut in, "Well, you don't either. So what are you doing here?" Sai smirked.
"I always come to festivals for food." Kiba shot a glare at Sai, "Also Hina-chan is here, so I have some company," he nudged her arm and said.
Shikamaru groaned. "You're all way too loud."
Temari crossed her arms, smirking. "Suna's festivals are way better than this. This is child's play."
Ino clapped her hands, her voice ringing with enthusiasm. "Let's see whose man can beat Sai at fan painting!"
"So unfair, Sasuke doesn't paint!" Sakura whined, earning a chuckle from Ino who shrugged with a faint smirk.
Hinata mustered a smile, stepped in front of them and spoke, "You all go there, I want to explore…something else." Hinata shifted uncomfortably, her fingers twisting together. A thinly veiled loneliness hid behind those moon-like eyes. She came to torture herself despite Naruto's absence.
Ino's teasing smile faded, and she gently grasped Hinata's arm. "No way. You're not wandering off alone. You're going to enjoy this festival." A spark of familiarity or raw understanding lit up between them. For no apparent reason, Sasuke wanted to be aware of it.
Shikamaru, ever the lazy optimist, added, "Naruto told me he'd try to make it."
Sakura's voice softened, her eyes full of trust. "That's great, Hinata. Naruto always keeps his promises."
A dry chuckle escaped Hinata's mouth, surprising everyone which alerted her and she again lowered her gaze. Kiba threw his arm around Hinata's shoulders and spoke to her, "Come on, Hina-chan. You and I will tear up those games! What do you want to do first?" Is he that insensitive or is that their dynamic? He wondered.
"I…—" Before Hinata could respond, Ino clapped her hands.
"That settles it then, come on, Hinata! Kiba will be useful for once!" Ino twirled Hinata and laughed, "Let's go!" Hinata took a minute to be steady on her feet, and then with her wrist in Kiba's grasp, she was dragged towards a place where Sakura was dragging him too.
.
.
Painting was surely not Sasuke's forte, as evidenced by the muddled canvas of a fan in front of him. He sucked, disappointing Sakura who was hiding her dying need to make Sasuke win. Unsurprisingly Sai came on top, painting yet another artistic piece which Ino flaunted causing a stir with Sakura and Temari.
Surprisingly the next best one was Kiba, who painted that purple fan with a detailed scenery of a white dog beneath the shade of a tree and he offered it to Hinata who was as shocked as everyone else with his hidden talent, those burly hands and thick fingers definitely knew how to hold a brush stick, "It is Akamaru, I messed up one of his ears though, he looks so small in this."
"So small! Like our Genin days," Hinata chimed, her voice was like a gentle stream.
"You suck at this, Shika…but at least you have someone worse than you…" Temari laughed, smirking at Sasuke.
Sasuke huffed, "Sorry." He squeezed Sakura's hand.
"It is fine! You are better than them in other things." Sakura rolled her eyes at Ino, who responded by flaunting both of Sai's hand-painted fans with each hand.
Grown-up ninjas were really something else when they'd participate in daily life activities like the damn Lover's Day games. Who'd take Sakura and Ino seriously after witnessing them like this, who'd believe that Sakura and Ino who were having a battle of 'whose husband is better' were the ones who punched Kaguya and used Mind Transfer Justu in the fourth ninja war? The juxtaposition was jarring.
Peaceful times were eye-opening to Sasuke in various ways. He couldn't have moved on perhaps, but the world was beyond those archaic dark times, the world was happier, but he was still stuck in a loop of the past and unable to clutch at the happiness that lurked right in front of him…somewhere. Unable to fit in that strange new world.
Sasuke's gaze drifted. It wasn't the festival that unsettled him; it was the ever-present sensation of being detached. The lights blurred slightly in his periphery, the hum of laughter and conversation growing faint. His people were here, living in the moment, but Sasuke still felt like a relic—something pulled from the past, not meant to exist in this new age of peace.
"Flower crowning! We should definitely do that!" Ino almost jumped on the spot with a piercing voice that pulled him out of his thoughts, she pointed looking across at the booth where people were making crowns of flowers for their partners.
Something that Sasuke couldn't do, not that he didn't want to do, yes, he did not want to do it, but functionally, he couldn't. He had one arm. That activity required both hands.
"Sakura, I won't be able to do it," Sasuke leaned down to whisper at Sakura's ear, she turned around, brows furrowed, "I can not." He pointed at his stump and the frown eased, yet again a sad smile made its way on her lips.
At one point Sasuke had thought that if he couldn't give her his mind or heart, he could give her his body…but in some instances, he couldn't even give her that.
"It is okay." Sakura smiled, "You don't have to feel uncomfortable. Don't worry." She gestured at him to forget it, with a swat of her hand in the air but the lingering need was evident in her understanding eyes. A spark of guilt burned within him to see her that helplessly accommodating.
No matter what he did, how much he forced himself, he couldn't bring the satisfaction that she sought from him. There were a few moments that made Sasuke feel melancholy, that towered over him like a shadow of thunderclouds, bursting and crackling over him with a familiar sting that he could never really pinpoint — the moment he just shared with Sakura was precisely that.
The ache was there. The rain of helplessness was there. But where? He never knew.
"Hinata, Hana is here. I will just go and meet her," Kiba announced rather loudly to her. He rushed away after ruffling her hair, she was not a kid. Sasuke had the urge to roll his eyes.
She stood silently for a moment, while the others walked ahead, except him, for he was observing her dilemma. Her head lifted, and she looked ahead, her eyes didn't follow the path Ino and Sakura were excitedly taking. Instead, she diverged her path and walked away from them.
Sasuke's gaze drifted again, catching a glimpse of Hinata as she quietly stepped away from the group. Her black dress flowed around her, shimmering under the soft lantern light. Her midnight hair looked raven as a soothing breeze whipped through those locks. She moved like a shadow, a quiet presence slipping unnoticed through the crowd, heading towards… the Lover's Wall.
Something stirred within him—curiosity, perhaps. Or was it empathy? He wasn't sure. Both of these emotions that Sasuke hadn't carried for many people.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura called out, putting a pause in his curiosity. His eyes darted to her, and with a gesture of her hand, she was calling him towards the booth. With long strides, he found himself with his wife who was picking flowers for her crown.
"You know…it is a lover's festival, why are we spending it together," Temari inquired. A valid concern.
"We will part ways after spending some time together. Kami, you are so eager to snog Shikamaru," Ino chirped as she smoothened a petal on her palm.
Shikamaru uttered, "Whatever…I am going to give her a tour." Instead of Shikamaru, Temari ended up putting a flower crown on Shikamaru, earning a gruff inexplicable retort from him. She playfully shoved him and they both turned on their heels and went away hand in hand.
Sakura giggled, shoving Ino, "Tour."
Ino huffed and winked, "Is that what kids call it these days."
Yet again, Sasuke felt like a bystander in his own life. Unable to belong, unable to fit in, unable to even exist in his own way.
Sakura finished her crown of pink and red petals, she nudged Sasuke to wake him up from his thoughts and wore it in front of him. Her eyes blinked with new shine, "How is it?"
He straightened the crown slightly, forcing a smile. "It looks good."
"Do you want to do something else…Ino is finishing up and they'll go on their way?" Sakura scooted closer, putting her palms on his chest. He stiffened, breathing another long deep breath, calming his tensed nerves.
"Whatever you like," Sasuke replied, his voice quieter now. He tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear, his touch light but enough to send a faint blush across her cheeks.
Sakura tapped her chin, and pouted, "Lover's wall? I want to tie a ribbon there."
He nodded, she looped her arm around his and continued to lead the way, "What is the significance of it?"
"After the war, people lost their loved ones. So they'd tie ribbons to the grill outside of Konoha's cemetery." Sakura leaned her head on his arm, "Once this festival started, people started this tradition as a gesture of love, not just loss. However, some people still come to this festival and tie their ribbon as a sign of the loss of their lover too."
"Why ribbon? What does it mean?" Sasuke frowned, unable to understand.
Sakura chuckled, "Nothing really. It is just an act, Sasuke-kun. Not every act has to have a deeper meaning."
They approached the iron wall, an intricate grill with winding designs that provided endless nooks and crannies for people to tie their ribbons. It was a vibrant mosaic of reds, pinks, and blacks, fluttering gently in the evening breeze. The crowd around the wall bustled with excitement, people stretching, reaching for the highest spots as though those places held more significance. Sakura motioned toward a basket nearby, filled to the brim with ribbons.
"Pick a ribbon from there," she told him, her voice bright with excitement.
Sasuke reached into the basket and instinctively grabbed a black ribbon.
"Not that one," Sakura's hand shot out, snatching the ribbon from his grip. Her sharp gaze softened when she saw his confusion. "Black is for loss, Sasuke. Get a red one—it stands for love. Pink is for a crush or infatuation."
He blinked, processing the delicate but rigid rules of this ritual. None of it made much sense to him, but he complied, reaching again into the basket. Everything was going over his head, he was unable to grasp the severity of those acts.
His hand brushed against something soft—another hand. He looked up and found Hinata standing in front of him, her lilac eyes meeting his in silent surprise.
Neither of them moved at first, their gazes locked as if time had paused just for that moment. Her hand was as delicate as her presence. Their stares remained interlocked, none of them made a move to look away until some other people began to thrust their hands in the basket too.
He picked up the red one abruptly and was about to pull away, but then his eyes followed how Hinata picked a black ribbon.
His lips parted, short breathy gasps escaped his lips, words tumbling back inside him. He thought to stop her and explain to her the science and significance of colours. But then his mind paused him, jolting him with the reality that perhaps, she was really tying the ribbon for the loss of a lover. Because Naruto was nowhere to be found.
Sakura's voice brought him back. "Sasuke, over here!" She stood by the corner of the wall, holding on to a section of the grill, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
He turned back towards Sakura, who eagerly waited at the corner area, holding on to the grill where she wanted her ribbon.
She pressed it to her lips in a brief, affectionate gesture before tying it securely in place with a side glance at Sasuke. With precision, she tied the ribbon.
"Done?" Sasuke asked as he noticed her closing her eyes for a moment in front of her ribbon.
"Yes. I prayed," Sakura offered him a small smile with a tinge of natural blush on her cheeks.
He offered his silence, "Good."
She peered around, her hand entwined with his, "Oh, Hinata!…Sasuke," Sakura turned to him, looking up, "You give her company. I will fetch some food for myself. You want anything?"
"Sake?" He sighed.
She glared, slapping lightly at his chest with a playful groan, "After the dance!"
Sasuke approached Hinata cautiously, making his space amidst the crowd that enjoyed hitting each other. Her tiny frame was trying to tip-toe and reach a higher spot on the grill. Her laughable attempts amused him as he noticed her delicate shoulders tensed with effort.
He neared her with each step and once he was a step behind her, he ensured to rattle her, "All this effort for a …black ribbon?" He shouldn't have said it, he regretted the moment she yelped like a kitten and lost her momentum, he steadied her with a grasp on her bare arm which was cold and soft. Everything about her was delicate.
She gulped as she faced him, "Uchiha-san."
A drape of sadness cloaked her, his presence must have revolted her now that he unintentionally taunted her. Her fists clutched the ribbon with force, her knuckles turned white. She lowered her gaze, her dark eyelashes fluttered against her pale face, as she breathed harder and harder, suffocated by his imposing presence.
So…he stepped back. Pulling her away from the crowd of hoodlums latching on the grill for their dumb ribbons. He didn't touch on the matter that her ribbon was still in her grasp.
"Sakura went to grab a bite, you want anything, Hyuga?" He asked, trying to divert the attention to the best possible alternative, food.
A blaring shriek, "Hina-chan!" Oh, fuck off! He groaned at the approaching figure of a man who was a vexing bug for him, for no reason, or perhaps because he was noisy. "I am sorry, my sister gets quite demanding at times. You know her."
"It is alright, Kiba-kun." That woman finally lifted her head, looking up at her old teammate, avoiding the man; him, who was right beside her.
Before Sasuke could slip away, Sakura arrived, holding three wraps, "Hey! One for you." She handed one to Sasuke. "One for our Hinata," she shoved it in her hand, giving her no excuse to deny. "One for me," she chirped as she pulled apart the packaging and took a huge mouthful.
"What about me?" Kiba grumbled.
Sakura pouted, which then turned into a smirk, "Nothing for you."
"Kiba-kun, you can share it with me." That meek woman offered to Kiba. Her teammate patted her head followed by a shake of his head, she is not a child! Sasuke was getting affected, for no reason.
"This is yummy!" Sakura moaned, "Last year, TenTen and I crashed the festival…ended up so drunk that Naruto had to come and pick me up, he got me this and I had been obsessed with this," she finished recalling her past.
At the mention of Naruto's name, Sasuke noticed the subtle shift in Hinata. Her hands froze, the wrap halfway unwrapped, and her lips pressed into a thin line. The light in her eyes dimmed, her expression growing paler. Without a word, she handed the wrap to Kiba, murmuring something about not being hungry with a forced smile to Sakura before walking away, her small figure disappearing into the crowd, with Kiba trailing behind her.
He had watched Hinata in her home, with her kids, with an unrestrained laugh and brighter energy — but the woman who had arrived at the festival wasn't the same one.
Sakura's unintentional mention of Naruto just added to her sufferings, evident in the way her lips had a downward turn, her makeup was unable to hide the paleness peeking out and the shadows under her eyes.
Sasuke didn't feel the need to let Sakura know that she shouldn't have done that because he himself had done the damage with the remark on her attempts to tie the black ribbon.
.
.
The thumping of music started to be felt beneath his feet, drumming in his ear and causing the hair to stand on his nape; the people around them let out hoots as squared dance floors at several spots were lit up. The environment before the music was manageable for Sasuke's nerves as everyone was busy with different activities, causing less noise, and less drama.
But now, suddenly the attention of every pair was on the multiple dance floors, noise around him continued to rise, and people who were once tolerable to Sasuke started to become trite and annoying like Ino who was arguing about the kind of music that was to be played. Genin days all over again, troublesome.
The air buzzed with excitement, and the sounds of laughter, footsteps, and the occasional cheer melded together into an overwhelming cacophony. He exhaled sharply, struggling to find a center of calm amidst the chaos. The eager shouts of festival-goers had already started to wear on his patience.
His narrowed eyes scanned around, the upbeat excitement regarding an act as bothersome as dancing was befuddling. "Let's dance, Sasuke-kun." Oh Kami, No! It was one thing to dance, but it was a whole hassle to dance with one arm. Sasuke was quiet and frozen on the spot, unable to think.
He wanted to say 'No', but Sarada had asked him to make her mama happy during the festival. So, he stepped into his 'good father' shoes and with those, stepped over his own wishes.
"Look Kiba is taking Hinata too…" she pointed at a distance, to a dance floor where people were gathering and so did that woman who cooked well and had a laugh like twinkling stars.
He gruffly accepted, "Okay." His jaw clenched and eyes tired.
Sakura almost beamed with a jump, "Let's go."
On the dance floor, the sweet nothings people were muttering to their partners were audible, causing Sakura to flush and sneak suggestive glances at Sasuke. His hand was tightly wrapped around her waist, while hers was looped around his neck, the calm tempo of the music made it a bearable task for Sasuke because he was content with just swaying with the wind.
She tilted her head against his chest. A small, barely audible sigh left her lips as she kissed his chest lightly. He sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes looking up at the clear sky dotted with stars with the hope of some miraculous strength with which he could bear the new changes that were thwarting his existence.
"I love you," Sakura muttered, "I am glad you came even if you don't love these festivals," she pulled back a little, while they sped up their moves. Her words echoed in his head.
He twirled her, then guided her back to him with a gentle pull, her body almost pressed on his, "I had a good time." His voice was flat, his words tasted foreign.
There was a surprised lilt in her voice, "Really? I am happy to hear that." That was it. He made her happy. That was all that was needed. He fulfilled his obligation towards himself, her and their daughter.
Compromises from his end could definitely make their marriage work, all he had to do was just keep on going and doing whatever was asked of him.
But…that was not him. Sasuke wasn't made for that, he aimed to be free, to be at home. And all that…that he was entangled with, wasn't bringing him closer to the home he sought or the liberation he craved. His daughter's smile however was one thing that healed those dark corners of his, which he never even thought of exploring.
Sakura was happy because Sasuke acted his part, his part of being her version of the perfect Sasuke. Sakura had built her image of him, a perfect man shaped by her dreams, but he wasn't that man. He was far from it, and pretending otherwise only magnified the cracks in their fragile world.
Sasuke wasn't perfect. He was flawed. He couldn't continue the act of being a perfect man of Sakura's dreams.
As the music paused, his hand slid away from her waist, and she took the opportunity to step back. "TenTen just got here—mind if I catch up with her?" she asked before he could dampen the mood by asking for some space for himself.
He nodded, thanking the Gods above who somehow for the first time showered some mercy on him with that reprieve. He and Sakura walked down the dance floor and diverged their paths, Sasuke went towards the one counter which had his interest piqued; the Sake bar.
While the majority of the people were busy with another round of music blasting in the air or the fortune teller booth that had the couples lined up in a long row, the almost empty, devoid-of-crowd Sake bar was too tempting.
Hopping onto the stool, he asked, "One serving." He leaned on the desk, forehead almost touching the smooth wood with his thoughts blurring. But a sneeze made his eyes wide open and his drowsiness slipped away. He turned his head slightly and the woman of many shades was sitting beside him, two stools away, gulping down a glass of sake that was filled to the brim.
"I hope it is light," he commented, wondering at his own self, why did you even speak, Sasuke?
She glanced towards the source of the voice, her eyes had a sheen of haze glazing them, her lips were wet and as if she heard his thoughts or followed the direction of his foggy gaze, she licked her lips, tasting the remnants of the sake that glistened.
"Hm," she hummed, nodding.
The server brought him his share as well, which he grabbed with fervour and gulped down in one go, but he could feel the eyes of a Hyuga on himself. He slammed the glass back on the wood, wiping his lips with the back of his hand.
For Naruto's sake, he questioned, "Did you eat anything?" He remembered Naruto asking him to see to Hinata's well-being during the festival. He didn't really have any chance to do that but he thought food was a neutral matter in which they could indulge.
She averted her gaze, mumbling a low response, "Yes." Her skin was damp with the sheen of sweat under the glow of warm light dangling overhead, her cheeks tinged pink with the hot sensations slipping in her body from the sake.
"I didn't even need to feel the chakra spike to notice the lie," Sasuke tapped the wooden table before him with his knuckle.
She avoided any response. Her ignorant attitude was bothering him, surprisingly though, because he always sought to be ignored by people. But the woman who fed him tomato curry laughed that damn laugh, apologized for the dress shop incident where she wasn't at fault wasn't similar to the one beside him, inhaling sake.
If she had to be that gloomy, then she could have simply avoided all this and stayed at home.
He grabbed the beef wrap that Sakura bought for him from his inner pocket and slid that delicacy which was cold by now towards her, "Eat it. Don't drink on an empty stomach."
She stared at the crumpled-up offering, lying limp on the table with the sauces spilling out and staining the packaging. Then she bit on her lip, chewed on it for a few daunting seconds, looking at some distance which he was sure even she didn't know. Her fingers twitched against the glass in her hand.
He groaned, "Hyuga, just eat it!" Pinching his temple, rubbing the spot, he continued, "Don't die yet, I have yet to eat more of your satisfactory cooking."
And there it was.
A giggle.
A silvery laugh.
That damn laugh.
His eyes shot up to meet her face, the onyx and purple clashed with soft lilac ones, noticing the pallor shedding from her face for a moment, revealing the crimson shade on her cheeks. Her hand shot up to grab the food he offered. She took out the packaging and then with small bites, continued to eat like a meek little mouse as he watched the colour return to her face and warmth resurfacing in her cold eyes.
"Thank you, Uchiha-san," she bowed her head a little, hopping off her stool and then whirled on her heels, leaving him behind.
Sasuke stared after her, the ghost of her laughter still echoing in his ears. He needed that chest tightening to go away. Her laugh was so delicate. It buzzed in his head with a faint echo. "Another serving," he called out, wishing to submerge himself in the crispy and dry taste of the drink yet again, relishing the warmth radiating and engulfing his body, numbing his thoughts and her laugh.
.
.
Hinata continued to walk away from her friends, hiding from Kiba who was making sure that she wasn't left out and enjoyed the activities that were to be shared between the lovers. But since her lover wasn't present, she had no qualms of enjoying there. She merely went to tie that black ribbon out of petty stubbornness, to rid a memory of six years ago from her mind.
Back then, she had tied a red ribbon after sneaking inside the festival, filled with desperate, almost childlike hope for a future where Naruto would return to her heart.
But that didn't happen. As expected.
So a persistent need gnawed at her, and she had to tie the black ribbon signifying that she lost her lover. She wanted to have a symbolic farewell. Was he ever her lover? Now, as her fingers twisted the black ribbon, a sob-wracked laugh escaped her. How naive she'd been. She ventured deeper into the forest which had a shorter route to her house. But it was the clearing under the canopy of tall trees which she wanted to visit. Her place of comfort, her home.
Her heels pained her feet but she dragged them through the twigs, moss, beds of fallen leaves and pebbles, continuing her journey. She walked further into the forest as the earth underfoot became uneven and the roots tugged at her heels, the festival's distant sounds gradually fading behind her as the quiet hum of nature embraced her senses.
Her mind wandered towards a memory where Sasuke had noticed her attempts to tie the black ribbon. The mortification that shadowed her face must have been laughable for him. He already had witnessed her passive-aggressive attitude towards Naruto in the dress shop then at his house and now the ribbon, she felt appalled. He was witnessing the way control and patience were slipping away from her, and she was agonised by that.
He was her husband's best friend. His judgements must have been painting her as the bad guy. Not that Hinata still carried concerns for other's opinions, but somehow the possibility of Sasuke who never knew her, knowing her through the mishaps between Naruto and her made her head throb.
Her thoughts halted as she felt surrounded by thicker and darker trees with their roots twisting above the ground. The dense canopy above filtered the moonlight into soft, dappled patterns on the forest ground, casting long shadows that shifted with the gentle sway of branches.
The air grew still, heavy with the earthy scent of soil and distant flora. Birds had long since quieted, and only the occasional rustle of a small animal skittering through the underbrush or the whisper of a breeze through the trees disturbed the silence.
Hinata emerged into a beautiful clearing, ringed by the willowed trees and rocks mounted with leaves covering them. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the small, still lake nestled between the rocks. The water shimmered, catching the light like a mirror, each ripple from fallen leaves creating a soft, hypnotic rhythm.
She stepped closer to the lake, her footsteps quiet, barely disturbing the serene environment.
She unbuckled her heels and tossed them aside, the grass underfoot was soft, springy, and dewy as she knelt near the edge of the lake, dipping her fingers to feel the cold slithering up her skin. She let her hand linger just beneath the surface, feeling the lake's calm, steady pulse.
Contrastingly, hot tears pooled in her eyes as the haunting silence made her feel truly alone, but unlike the loneliness at the festival, she felt at ease as well with a gentle ache pulsing within her.
She straightened as she rose. Her heart felt heavy, her mind throbbed with painful memories and her soul beckoned her to just let go, to live for herself. She gazed down at the still water, glistening with the reflection of the moon, she took a step forward and gathered her chakra on her feet. The purple glow swirled around her feet as she walked on the surface of the lake, lightly cherishing the feeling of cold water gently lapping against her ankles.
She remembered how she loved dancing on the water. She had danced with Kiba in the festival, unable to stop her mind from conjuring the presence of a blue-eyed, whiskered face shinobi. She craved the touch of his strong arms around her waist instead of Kiba, his laughter in her ears instead of Kiba's affectionate words, his blue eyes twinkling at her instead of her friend's sympathy-filled stare. She foolishly still desired to have Naruto there.
But here, as she moved slowly on the water with her eyes closed, her skin prickled by the cold wind and her body swaying with the rhythm of the wind—she didn't desire Naruto. She hummed a song to herself, that only she knew and relished in the rushing and oozing feeling of calmness draping her every inch with each sway of her hips. The wind tugged at her hair, sending it fluttering around her face.
She extended her hands to her sides as if to hug the air surrounding her, her fingers curling around the invisible air in a graceful motion, a small smile tugging at her lips with the lightness that suddenly embraced her being, the pain of heaviness that she had been carrying for so long diminished.
Her movements became more fluid, more freeing. Her arms lifted towards the sky and her neck craned upwards, her face flushed under the beams of moonlight gleaming down at her, her body kept spinning in a delicate pirouette. With one leg raised backwards like a curve to land into another precise pirouette, the water gently splashed with the movement and the cold water kissed her ankles, ripples erupting on the surface as a response.
Her memories of her childhood and teenage years flashed in her mind where often she found herself savoring the calmness of dancing on the water. Much to her father's dismay, who attributed yet another hobby of hers as a sign of weakness.
But she could never explain the feeling of freedom she felt. Her blood rushed with each turn, her mind eased with every splash of water, and her heart thrummed in ecstasy with every ripple she caused in the water. The night wrapped around her like a lover's embrace.
Her breath came out in soft pulses, each movement of her arm felt like a release of tension from her body. Her movements slowed, more deliberate, more defined, the ripples extending further and rattling the stillness of the water with her swaying twirls.
While the world around her basked in the scent of their lovers, she delighted herself with the calming scent of pine and wet sand.
Her movements came to an abrupt stop as a shiver ran up her spine, alerting her…to someone's presence around her, shattering the trance which bestowed her with utmost pleasure.
She muttered, "Byakugan." Her eyes were directed towards the thick dark trees ahead, hiding the pathways to the clearing and the person invading her home.
The recognition caused her heartbeat to constantly thrash her chest, shock scorched her face turning her pressed lips into an o-shaped, her Byakugan retreated and the nerves around her eyes eased into flat skin. Her gaze swept over the willow-draped trees, behind which a man she didn't want to see in her current state, stood with a stoic look masking his curiosity. The heat crept up on her cheeks, and she heaved a deep breath to compose the wild fluttering mess within her.
With a steeling resolute voice, she asked, an edge of sharpness in her tone, "Did he tell you to keep an eye on me?"
Her Byakugan pulsated again, noticing the cracks in the stoic mask on that man. His body stiffened, his composure cracking for just a moment before he straightened, stepping away from the tree he had been leaning on. He sighed, as if resigning himself to the situation, and began walking toward her. His footsteps were slow, and deliberate, as though he was giving her time to process his presence.
Her Byakugan retreated again and her pale eyes met his dark eye, "Uchiha-san, did my husband tell you to be my bodyguard?" She kept her breathing steady even though she wanted to drown in the same lake she was standing on. Shame chewed at her resolve.
"He wanted me to check if you ate and enjoyed," he stepped closer, a scowl on his face. "Not particularly bodyguard."
"Oh," she said, licking her lips. Stepping forward on the water with a slow push of chakra. "I thought you offered me food to keep me alive for…my cooking," she remarked, trying to divert the attention from the fact that he had watched her dancing alone on the water under the moonlight, on the Lover's day, without a lover. Loser. He must have thought of her like that.
He picked up the conversation's divergence, indulging her to save her from any embarrassment. Sasuke's mouth twitched, a small smirk forming on his lips, "I don't follow his orders," he admitted, "but his request had its benefits. Like your cooking. So, keeping you alive wasn't entirely selfless."
Hinata managed a weak smile, the lump in her throat growing tighter. The thread of confidence holding her together threatened to snap at any moment, and all she wanted was for him to leave—leave her to wallow and revel in her quiet misery, unobserved. "It was unfair of him to ask you," she said quietly, her voice barely holding steady. "You should be with Sakura-san."
"You left drunk... that idiot would've had my head if you were found passed out somewhere," he shrugged, trying to play it cool as if he didn't notice the tension between Naruto and her, as if he didn't perceive the oddity of his absence at the festival which was solely for couples.
Hinata followed with a small snicker, lightening up the mood, "As you can see…I am not drunk. You should go back. Fireworks will start soon," she advised.
He nodded, his gaze almost pinned on her with a squinted look as if he had lingering thoughts about her, he most definitely has, Hinata…he saw you dancing on the water, alone and miserable. Her sanity from the back of her head yelled at her.
His voice was firm as he asked, "You coming?"
With shame and exhaustion again rushing in her veins, she lowered her gaze and mumbled, "No, I will leave for home after some time."
He swiveled on the spot, turning away from her, "Ino wants to do something-"
"I don't have my lover with me for all that," she interrupted, lifting her eyes to meet his for the briefest moment. The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but she forced them out to push him away.
Sasuke's expression tightened, but he said nothing more. He vanished with the speed of light.
Hinata stepped off the water, her bare feet sinking into the cool earth as she settled onto a rock facing the lake. The stillness that had once been her solace now felt heavy and oppressive. Her trance had been broken, shattered by his presence, and now all that remained was a gnawing emptiness and sizzle of shame coursing through her veins. She felt exposed and caught in a vulnerable state in a way that left her raw and aching.
The barren wasteland of her loneliness was somehow at the forefront of her mind again. She felt bare and broken. Tears pricked at her eyes again, but this time she didn't hold them back. The sobs came in quiet, breathy gasps, each one a release of the pain and shame that had been building inside her. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold together the pieces of her shattered composure.
It was insane how Hinata was dominating the silence, rendering herself free in the dark and quiet — yet when someone else encroached on her space of solitude, she was instantly reduced to a perished rubble, which was her existence.
Another string of insecurity shuddered her frame, making her realize that staying there wasn't a wise decision anymore and she should have left for home. She let the burn of tears stinging her eyes subside with a heavy sigh. She rose from the rock, stretched her arms and craned her neck to release the tension, but the skittering noise from behind caught her attention.
Before she could activate her Byakugan, a figure staggered into view. Definitely not Sasuke. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair wild, and his skin tanned. A loud contrast to Sasuke who was as pale as the moon.
His movements were clumsy, his steps uneven as he limped toward her, muttering incoherently under his breath. He held a sake bottle in his hand, lifting it to his mouth only to grumble when he found it empty. With a frustrated grunt, he hurled the bottle toward the lake. Hinata yelped, quickly stepping aside to avoid the glass as it shattered on the rocks nearby.
The man's bloodshot eyes met hers, and for a moment, they stood in awkward silence. He took another stumbling step toward her, and Hinata swallowed her heart racing. "Do you need help?" she asked softly, her voice uncertain.
"Hyuga eyes?" he slurred. A sinking feeling washed over her, due to which she dropped the idea of helping out a drunk man. She attempted to dash towards her tossed footwear but a sweat palm grasped her arm. A cold dread crept over her, chilling her resolve as she realized the situation was taking a turn she wanted no part of. "You look like Hokage's wife."
She voiced out her words in a gentle manner, hoping that the man wouldn't need her gentle fist, "Let me go."
"You young bird still hasn't lost her taste…" The man's lips twisted into a sneer, his breath reeking of sake as he leaned closer. "You are a true beauty indeed." His clammy hand held her tighter and the other hand rose to touch her collarbone.
Her Byakugan flared to life, veins bulging around her eyes as chakra surged through her body. Her once gentle gaze turned deadly, and the shift in her energy made the man hesitate, his smirk fading into uncertainty. "Get away from me," she growled, her voice cold and sharp. In an instant, her fingers jabbed at his arm, striking near his chakra points with precise, controlled force.
He backed away, dodging some of the hits with his speed. His eyes widened, the haze leaving his vision, his stance stronger and defensive. A retired shinobi.
"Kitten has claws," he whispered to himself mainly, lunging at her again with the benefit of his towering size, his strong hands held her forearms, preventing another hit of chakra on his body. Thinking of him as a civilian, Hinata had gone easy on him by targeting the areas around the nodes.
But since he wanted to learn the hard way, she breathed out a sigh and channeled the chakra in her shoulders and arms to counter his strength but his cutting words pierced her heart and stomped on her budding strength, "How come the Hokage had left his beauty alone on lover's day like that? Rumors are true then," his stinky breath washed over her ear as he leaned down to her face, "Are you not worthy enough for the Konoha's hero, princess?" he spat his venomous words, putting an end to the rushing adrenaline that fueled her strength to fight and get that man off her.
The words landed like blows, each one striking at the heart of her deepest insecurities. Her body went rigid, her breath catching in her throat as his taunts took root in the cracks of her resolve. Her Byakugan flickered out, the veins around her eyes retreating as her focus wavered.
The pain from a stranger's words smothered her courage and slammed her back to her core issue, the aspect of her worth. Her mind went silent yet again, unable to make her grapple with the emptiness that threatened to chip away at her soul. His grumbling finished and he left her forearms, which made her arms go hang limp at her sides.
But before he could do further damage, a swirling mass of black haze caught up to him in a blur from behind, twisting his arms fiercely, "Stay away!" A rumbling growl got the drunken man to step back, but before he could run away, he was punched in the guts swift and sharp, causing him to puke out filth from his mouth. The gurgling noise from the man shook her out of her mind-boggling stupor.
"Uchiha-san," she almost shrieked seeing that the man was coughing out blood and Sasuke standing over him like a reaper.
"It is nothing, he deserves it," he turned around to face her. Looking down at her hand, he gently held her forearm and his fingers traced the faint red mark from that man's grip, his muscles twitched on his face, and he looked up to find her eyes at him, "You were doing good. I didn't interfere because you could handle him…you let his words get to you, are you stupid, Hyuga?" His grip on her forearm turned a touch tighter as he pulled her towards him with frustration and a faint tinge of concern lacing his words.
Something inside Hinata snapped. Enough. Enough of the pity, enough of the judgment. Enough of everything that had been weighing her down that night. She didn't need Sasuke Uchiha lecturing her on strength and resilience—not now, not today.
She was allowed a moment of vulnerability. So what if someone's rude words affected her painfully? So what?
It had been years, she had the right to fall and crash! Nobody could always stay upright, the miseries could leave people in shambles. But she didn't have the will to voice it out to Sasuke.
Her pale eyes flashed with anger as she yanked her arm free from his grip, her chest rising and falling rapidly with the force of her emotions.
Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed off, heading toward the narrow path that led through the thinning trees and eventually to her home. Her mind was a swirling mess of emotion—pain, shame, frustration—and in her mental haze, she barely noticed the sharp twigs and jagged stones digging into her bare feet. The discomfort was nothing compared to the storm raging inside her.
She kept the pace quickly because, behind her, she could feel his presence following her. His stubbornness pressed against her like a shadow, unwilling to let her slip away so easily.
"Hyuga!" he called out. Sharp and insistent.
Hinata's breath stuttered, sobs rattling her chest with painful gasps as she pressed onward, her pace unbroken. Each step felt heavier, the world around her blurring through the hot sting of tears.
"Hyuga, wait!" His voice grew louder, no longer a request but a command.
But she wasn't his follower.
So she ignored it. Twisting the gold band on her finger to quell the anxiety of unawareness of her reactions, she puffed out deep breaths. Hinata was left angered by that man's statement, and Sasuke brushed aside the impact of those humiliating words with such ease, which caused Hinata to seek solitude again, far away from him or anyone.
Yet fate had other plans. Like a gust of wind, she moved swiftly, but Sasuke moved faster—like lightning. He appeared before her, his sudden presence startling her, and before she could react, her body collided with his solid frame.
"Stop," he commanded again, his voice low and rough as his hand gripped her arm. She tried to pull free, but his hold was firm, unyielding. She didn't have the will or interest to fight him.
"I'm going home," she muttered, her eyes fixed on the path ahead, resolutely avoiding his piercing gaze.
"Hn," came his curt response. Without another word, he tugged her towards a fallen tree log nearby, pressing her down to sit.
Hinata complied, too drained to resist further. Her fingers curled nervously in her lap as she glanced up, confused to see him kneeling before her. "Uchiha-san…" Her voice trailed off, her frown softening into bewilderment.
"You're a bit of a crackhead, you know that?" he said, his voice suddenly softer, though still edged with a strange mix of amusement and exasperation. He placed the discarded heels she had left behind beside him, then fished a handkerchief from his pocket.
Without waiting for her protest, he lifted her foot, wiping away the sand and twigs clinging to her skin.
She winced as he plucked a small splinter from the sole of her foot, her heart thudding in her chest. "You don't have to—"
"Here," he offered her the footwear, and she slipped her trembling feet in there without any question. Her embarrassment rounds with Sasuke had no end, one way or another, she found herself in his line of sight, doing something stupid or awkward or miserable.
She sheepishly apologized, "I am sorry, I overreacted."
Sasuke tilted his head, studying her for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "You're something, Hyuga." A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips, so faint it was almost imperceptible.
Before she could question him about his vague comment on her, the blasting noise of an explosion of fireworks echoed around them, they both looked upwards at the clear sky startled, it was bursting with multiple colours. Brilliant reds, blues, and gold blossomed above them, painting the world in vibrant light.
For a fleeting moment, her heart soared with the beauty of it all — her colourless life was shaded in the popping colours of the world, and her soul jumped at the beautiful display of love in the sky.
Hinata's gaze drifted back to Sasuke. He was still kneeling in front of her, his head tilted back, watching the sky. The flickering colours danced across his pale skin, casting hues of violet and indigo on his sharp features. His dark hair fluttered in the breeze, momentarily revealing the gleam of his Rinnegan, glowing eerily in the multi-coloured light.
His indulgence halted and he dipped his gaze down, away from the sky.
As he met her eyes again, a sharp pang of reality thwarted her, he should have been out there during the fireworks with Sakura, "Uchiha-san, you need to leave! Fireworks-"
"Hm." He stood up, brushing off his knees. With a flick of his hand, a swirling vortex of purple energy opened before her. It pulsed and shimmered like a tear in space, waiting. "Step through. You'll be home instantly."
She stood up, protesting, "But I want to walk-"
Sasuke's expression darkened, and his gaze pinned her in place, unwavering and stern. "No. It's not wise. Go home."
Reluctantly, she moved toward the swirling portal, casting a final glance at him over her shoulder. The swirling energy mesmerized her, its strange mechanics foreign and unsettling, but she felt his presence behind her, close, his hot breath warm against her neck as he urged her forward.
"It won't hurt. Just step in," he muttered, his voice rough with exasperation but strangely comforting.
"Thank you," she whispered under her breath, her words barely audible as she stepped into the vortex. It swallowed her in an instant, the world around her dissolving into a blur of purple light.
When she emerged, she stood at the doorstep of her home. The night was quiet here, the sky above her empty and colourless. The fireworks weren't there, and with that reality, the fleeting vibrancy that had briefly lit up her world had vanished. She stared up at the empty sky, her chest tightening.
The colours were gone. Just like her life's palette.
She hoped that Sasuke had managed to watch another round of fireworks with Sakura.
A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you leave a review and fav if you like it!
This chapter was so hard to write for me, I wanted to get the exact 'feel' that was in my head and it took me seven whole days of trial and errors.
What do you think is going to happen? How will SasuHina become more than acquaintances.