First Arc - CHAPTER 9: GUARD HIS PRINCESS
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"Why did you summon me, Hokage-sama?" Sasuke plopped on the seat opposite Naruto, who was swamped with documents laid before him. His tone carried a lazy, almost dismissive air, exhaustion seeping into his words. He let out a quiet sigh, leaning back into the seat, his lone onyx eye drifting over the cluttered room. "Naruto—"
Naruto snapped, his voice strained, "Just a minute, Teme!" His hand moved mechanically, signing document after document, his expression tight with fatigue. The cup of ramen beside him was long forgotten, the noodles swollen and cold, a sad reminder of his missed meals. Naruto's weary eyes bore into the inked papers, his hideous hair sticking to his forehead, and his Hokage robe hanging on his figure with wrinkled and unkempt.
"A minute is over!" Sasuke grunted, announcing his displeasure at being kept waiting. He leaned back on the chair. He cast his gaze around the room, scanning the dishevelled Hokage office for anything to occupy his time. His eye caught on a photo frame lodged on the wall, and his interest was piqued—A short-haired bluenette with a yellow-haired infant in her arms, her plump lips stretched wide into a full smile that reached her pale…lilac eyes. Beside her, his best friend had his arm thrown over her shoulder, melting his body with hers, a huge boyish grin plastered on his whiskered face as the camera captured their bliss.
There was something different in that photo, something that made Sasuke pause.
Hinata looked different. Naruto looked different.
They both looked…Happy, contended…in love.
What had shifted between then and now? He could sense the weight of time and change but couldn't quite grasp what had fractured the harmony captured in that image.
Before he could linger on the thought any further, Naruto finally broke the silence, his voice rough as he cleared his throat.
"Sorry, Teme." Naruto's voice was heavy, his frown deepening as he tossed another document onto the ever-growing pile. "I really don't have time today." He sighed; a weary, almost defeated sound. "But I need a favour. Just—don't be an ass about it. Please."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, rolling his eyes as he leaned forward, his fingers drumming impatiently on the desk. The papers rattled under the impact, loosening and scattering further across the already chaotic surface. "Just say it."
"There's this elderly couple Hinata visits… they live on the outskirts, between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Springs. It's a small settlement, practically a village now, mostly elderly people live there—"
His words were a growl, low and edged with warning. "Naruto, you don't have time and I don't want to give you extra time, so just…spill!"
"Please take her there, I will appoint this as an escort mission to you, you will get paid—"
Sasuke hissed, his eyes narrowed, and he straightened in his seat, his palm flattening on the desk."I don't need money for this, but why should I accompany her?"
Naruto let out a slow breath, running a hand through his sweaty hair. The shadows beneath his eyes deepened as he leaned closer, lowering his voice as if revealing something weighty. "You know about the rogue group terrorizing the borders of Konoha, Suna, Ame and Kumo. We've had reports of travellers being ambushed, and we still don't know the full extent of their strength. They've remained hidden for months, but the damage they've caused… It's unlike anything we've seen."
"Hn," Sasuke nodded. The rogue group had been the topic of several tense meetings, their attacks brutal and precise, leaving chaos in their wake. It wasn't just a threat—it was a growing problem, one they hadn't yet solved.
Naruto leaned forward, his arms dropping to his sides, the crease on his forehead deepened, his voice robotic, "Hinata won't cancel her visit and this time, she is taking Himawari too, I fear for her safety. She can defend herself but I still worry. I would be at ease to have her with you."
Sasuke shrugged, "Fine." He got off the chair, huffing at the prospect of escorting a princess as a mission. Naruto weakly smiled and handed him the scroll. He grabbed the scroll Naruto handed to him, detailing the mission, and glanced briefly at the route.
Without another word, Sasuke turned on his heel, the scroll tucked into his cloak. As he walked out of the office, the image of the smiling Hinata from the photo lingered in his mind.
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Sasuke trudged towards the hospital, slow and deliberate steps thumping on the cobblestone pathway. His scowl draped his face, illuminated by the sun hung high. The distance between Hospital and Hokage was short—No wonder Sakura and Naruto have their lunch breaks together —shedding that thought and trashing it in the corner of his mind, he entered the brightly lit hall of the hospital, with the scent of an antiseptic filling his nose.
The reception lady immediately took in his view and tucked her already bound hair behind her ear, a red flush creeping up on her cheek, Sasuke was almost tempted to flash his Sharingan to put her to an eternal sleep but he was too miffed to pay any attention anymore.
He knew the way to Sakura's office, where he was going to inform her about the mission to escort a princess. The medics in their pale uniforms exchanged glances, their murmurs tinged with assumptions too colourful for his taste.
The flicker of amusement in their gossip ignited a simmering fire of annoyance in his chest. Sasuke's fingers twitched at the desire to silence them all with a single look.
But…he had to endure. He had to control. Now that the control was second nature to him.
Without knocking, he entered her office pushing the half-ajar door, and saw his wife addressing a blue-haired lady. His eyes quickly swept the room, a space he hadn't visited in years. Sakura stood behind her desk, speaking with a woman whose soft voice he immediately recognized—Hinata.
"Thank you for volunteering this week, Hinata! I can't tell you how much it helps," Sakura's voice was warm, gratitude woven into each syllable.
Sasuke's presence pulled both women's attention. "Sasuke?" Her emerald eyes; once focused on Hinata, widened in surprise at the sight of her husband.
He only grunted in response, his gaze sweeping over the office as memories stirred. It had been nearly eight years since he had last visited this space when Sakura had first taken the position, eager and filled with hope.
The white walls that once felt stark were now a soft beige, adorned with framed certificates and accolades. The furniture had changed too—darker wood, more refined, as if it had matured with her career. To his left, a well-worn couch sat beneath a small table littered with open boxes of half-eaten dango, remnants of her busy lunches.
"Uchiha-san—" The familiar voice of the woman beside him broke through his thoughts. Sasuke's gaze shifted to Hinata, her lilac eyes wide and uncertain. Her hands were nervously entwined, hanging in front of her white lab coat. Habitual of seeing her in a purple-coloured apron, Sasuke's eyes lingered on the white lab coat well-fitted on her.
"Sasuke-kun, what a surprise!" Sakura's light voice, sweetened with honeyed affections.
Sasuke walked forward, standing beside the woman who he hadn't met for a few days because Sakura was home so Sarada preferred to stay at her home rather than Hinata's.
The last encounter was eye-opening for the both of them, considering Sasuke unwittingly bared his deepest self to her, through his own majestic eyes. He remembered being engulfed by the scent of Lavender and Jasmine to a point where her scent had clung to his cloak, his shirt, his hand and his face where her fingers had traced patterns out of curiosity.
Her clear and polite eyes had met with the crimson chaos he possessed, he remembered his chest tightening when she had breached the distance between them, her minty breath collided with his smokey one and the time had stilled. He was revelling in the surge of curiosity threatening to engulf him, which seemed way too familiar to the sensations that clung to him now that he stood next to Hinata again.
Sasuke, you need to shut your mind. The sane part of him advised.
So, he took a deep breath refocused his attention on his wife and began, "I came to inform you about a mission."
Her voice garbled, "You are leaving again?" Sakura's fist slammed on the desk, and her eyes darkened.
Sasuke shook his head, shoving his hand in his pocket, "Just for a few days. Escorting a princess."
"A princess?" Sakura's fuming anger vanished in thin air, a snort escaped her mouth.
"Hm," he nodded, slanting his observant eyes at the woman beside him who stiffened, "A Hyuga-hime."
"What?" Hinata blurted.
Sakura's light cackle echoed, "Ah! Hinata! She is going to meet some relatives…you are accompanying her?"
"Hn," he replied.
Hinata whirred on her spot, turning towards him, angling up her face to meet his while he avoided her and surveyed around the room, "You don't have to!"
He countered, his stare unyielding on her, revelling in the amusing crack he noticed on her mask, "Hokage's orders."
A weak but stern voice responded as she contested, "As if you ever listen to him!" Her frustration was evident on her face—reddened face, cold eyes, balled fists at her sides, lips pursed into a thin line count and heavy breathing.
The air thickened. Sasuke could feel the flames of his own annoyance fanning within him due to her tone, yet beneath it, a small flicker of amusement.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Hime…" The word was teasing but it had the effect. Hinata's expression twisted, her frustration bubbling to the surface, "Be on time."
Before that little princess could say anything, Sasuke had turned around, offering a curt wave to Sakura who was gaping at them and then he rushed out of the office, hearing a reassurance from Sakura directed towards Hinata, "Naruto is so protective over you, Hinata. You should be thankful-"
He stood for a few more seconds outside the door, hearing the curt response from the wife of his best friend, her tone was sharp, "I can take care of myself."
He heard the wistful shade in the way Sakura's words rolled off her tongue, a whine beneath her words, a retort disguised as a reassurance, "But it is his love for you."
Hinata offered her farewell, her gravelly voice left no space for Sakura to sing songs about Naruto's protectiveness or love anymore, "I will take my leave."
Sasuke took his leave, moving forward, quick steps booming on the tiled floors. A clawing tingle prickled his chest, the longing and yearning displayed in the way Sakura dreamfully mentioned the supposed love, attention and protection of Naruto; reiterated his suffocating thoughts in his mind, about being a failure of a husband.
The bewilderment, the question, the pain remained the same, for Sasuke towards Sakura—if I don't fulfil your expectations, then why are you with me? Their relationship had been hanging on fraying threads for years, the solitude in the relationship she kept so dear to her heart was breaking her from inside, yet she was unable to let him go, yet she was continuing to live a life undeserving of her and unknown to him.
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The quiet hum of the forest surrounded them, the trees were scarce, and the sun brightly filtered through the canopies, warming Hinata and Himawari, along with the shadowy presence behind her. Hinata's mind had been occupied in the web of aggravation since the morning at the hospital. The way Sasuke had called her a 'Hyuge-Hime' made her feel weak and privileged. Naruto had never appointed a guard for her ever before, she had been visiting the Sato Family for years. So why now?
Her body slumped under the melting sun, sweat clinging to her nape and her forehead, glistening on her pale skin, reddened by annoyance. Her daughter skipped ahead, a small backpack on her back. Munching on a bar of chocolate and scanning around the forest, Himawari had quietly eased into her first-ever travel. Hinata kept a watchful eye on her as her interest wandered and propelled her to check out new blossoming flowers at the edge of trees or chase a rabbit skittering in the bushes.
But amidst the bursts of her attention towards her daughter, the thought cut her. Naruto considered me unable to protect myself. Her insides burned in distress, perhaps she was overthinking but at the moment, with a looming presence behind to guard her, she moved ahead faster with a fogged mind fraught with dismay.
As per the route, Hinata knew that they'd be stopping for some time at the small stream nearby, so she picked up her pace, reaching out to the hand of her daughter to keep her by her side. The terrain began to shift subtly, the forests began to dense, and the canopies above her struggled to filter the dipping orange sun, allowing the chill in the wind to seep through her sleeves into her skin.
A shudder ran up her spine, the stillness of the evening draped a cloak of silence. The crunch of leaves beneath her feet broke the quietude, the forest stretched before her, swallowing them. The wild ferns and creeping vines around them added a touch of grimness to the once-bright scenery.
A brisk gust swept through the trees, carrying the crisp scent of pine and wood on its back. It tugged at Hinata's senses, stirring a memory buried deep within her—the man walking a few paces behind her bore a scent strikingly similar to the forest's fragrance, only sharper, richer, laced with the smokiness of a distant fire. The cold air curled around her face like an invisible veil, and her thoughts drifted back to their last encounter, the closeness she had shared with her guard.
Sasuke's scent had clung to her then, more profound than the forest's, tinged with smoke, like the remnants of something once ablaze. Now, the dampness of the leaves and moss weighed down the air, smothering the serenity that the pines would have otherwise provided.
Sasuke announced, his voice low, "We will stop by the stream for some rest. Collect firewood as you go on."
Hinata's steps faltered for a moment before she continued to begin her trudge again. Unnerving silence befell upon them again as the evening continued to darken and deepen. She bent to gather twigs, starting with the smaller, brittle branches scattered on the ground before snapping off low-hanging limbs from the trees. The smell of wet wood filled her nostrils, as she crouched lower, feeling for larger logs hidden beneath the rotting bed of leaves. The bark was coarse beneath her palms, biting into her skin.
The mist began to rise from the ground, curling around their ankles and clinging to the base of the trees.
Himawari yelped at the swirling mist, "Mommy!"
She assured, patting the crown on her daughter's head, "It is just mist, I am right here."
Satisfied with the haul of an armful of firewood, Hinata began walking ahead, moving swiftly. A small stream gurgled nearby, its cold water tumbling over the smooth stones and filling the thick and still air with a melodic sound. Fatigue began to settle within her bones, the swaying little body of Himawari ahead of her indicated the tiredness aching in her daughter as well.
After a few more daunting minutes, they reached the clearing, nestled among the trees, hiding a stream of clear water in between. The sky above had darkened the view, however, thin streaks of moonlight spilt through the canopies and illuminated them.
"Mommy! Can I sleep for a while?" Himawari turned around and looked up with sleep-dazed eyes, a pout on her lips.
"Of course, let's set up our camps here," Hinata passed a small smile and let Himawari drop her twigs and kindling on the damp grass, overgrown with wildflowers.
In continued silence, she began setting up two camps and laid out their bedrolls near the edge of the clearing, the ground soft and damp beneath her fingers as she smoothed out the fabric. The cool air nipped at her skin, and a shrill tingle shuddered her.
To her left, Sasuke had already sparked a fire to life, its crackling warmth drawing her attention. He fed small twigs into the blaze, his face bathed in the gold and orange glow of the flames. The larger logs eagerly caught the fire, the hungry flames licking their edges, their heat growing stronger, more intense with every passing second. The flickering flames danced in the cold and crisp air, filled with the smell of burning wood.
"Come here," Sasuke raised his head, his onyx eye catching the firelight, its dark depths gleaming.
She zipped the tent of Himawari after offering her food and a water canteen, "Good night." Hinata, assaulted by the nipping chill air, walked towards the fire, knowing well that it was going to warm her but also burn her.
She sat across him, the flickering fire warded off the chill as she settled on the grass. Her knees were drawn to her chest, her arms hugging her frame, rubbing her skin harshly to evoke a heat within her skin. Her chin rested on her knees as she stared into the fire, her eyes stinging and tearing up.
She was unsure if the tears were caused by the burn of the sputtering fire and the stinging breeze or by the thought that, after years, she finally had a partner in her travels.
Her visits had been alone, despite her constant requests to her husband during the initial four years of her marriage, to accompany her to Sato Family who was like a family to her, but she was met with a kind refusal, in the name of duty.
But tonight, there was someone else waiting by the fire. That thought lingered, unsettling but oddly grounding at the same time.
"He knows you can take care of yourself," Sasuke began, catching her attention.
She lifted her head, looking back at him amidst the dancing flames obscuring the view. "Then why are you here?"
"Because…confidential," he commented, "But since you are sulking…There is an active rogue ninja group, terrorizing the travellers and stealing confidential documents…Not just Konoha, but other villages too." Hinata's eyes glaringly widened, "They are concealing themselves and getting away, we are not sure how…which is why he wanted me to tag along."
She gulped, a sensation of puzzlement crept up within her, "I have Byakugan, I can find hidden—"
Sasuke chuckled, "Hyuga ANBUs have fallen prey to them too."
"Oh," she quietened. Her mind raced, worrying about her clansmen. Other than that, a twisted thought found a way to coil itself around her, So, did Naruto really care enough to be protective? After years, a blooming serenity rushed in her veins, spreading from the pit of her stomach and washing over her, warming her up more than the fire crackling before her.
She blinked rapidly, trying to push the warmth away, to smother it before it took hold—because it was a false hope—but it lingered, refusing to let go until the man before her spoke.
Her thoughts of Naruto couldn't be prolonged as the Sharingan-wielder, the Uchiha Patriarch, probed, "So, why are we going to this place…to meet some elders? They are not Hyuga."
Hinata noticed an arched eyebrow, a shadowed expression lit up by the echoes of fire shading his face, "After the war, in one of my missions with my team…we encountered severe weather on our way back to Konoha and I was separated from my team, this family…Sato's family had given me shelter for weeks and tended to my injuries…I was a few weeks pregnant with Boruto so they saved my child too."
"So you meet them to thank them?"
"They don't have any children, I just visit them to…show some…love. They met Boruto and this time, they wanted to see Himawari so I am taking her as well," she unfurled her sealing scroll and pushed the packed biscuits towards the man and kept the sweetened one to herself, "They are salted biscuits."
He leaned forward to take the box, placed it on his thigh and dug in. A few more minutes of silence had occupied them, tightening around them, knocking the breath out of her lungs. She heaved a deep sigh, "Sorry for my…behaviour and trouble over this trip—."
"Who knew that the Hyuga-Hime had spunk," he shrugged as he remarked dryly, sipping on his canteen. His eyes had a playful glint, *a mocking glint. "*Trip is fine, Konoha suffocates me. Time outside the village might do me good." The gleam of mock dissolved into a hardened stare.
Hinata averted her gaze, turning her head toward the stream where the moonlight glinted off the water like tiny diamonds. "Not a Hime anymore."
"Hn," he gruffly added. "Once I've seen the place, I'll make the return trip faster using the Rinnegan."
Hinata stood, brushing the dirt and grass from her trousers, her movements stiff as if trying to shake off the emotions clinging to her skin. "Thank you, Uchiha-san."
He lifted his head, capturing her in his unwavering gaze, "Hokage's Orders, Hyuga."
She never thought she'd come to that conclusion one day but her newly budding friendship with Sasuke was testing every ounce of patience she possessed; at times he'd suffocate her, or at times he'd liberate her or even sometimes, he'd make her breath, but most of the time…he'd annoy her last nerve.
He treated her as if she amused him and he wanted to play with her, according to his whims.
Sasuke Uchiha was many things—fascinating, perplexing, and maddeningly unique. He was a puzzle she could not solve, a riddle she couldn't quite crack. She didn't know what to make of him, couldn't read his reactions or decipher his unbidden moments of humour or decide if she wanted his presence in her life or not.
But the last few days in which he didn't come for lunches or dinners, her house had definitely felt empty, despite the presence of Naruto, who had come back and spent the weekend with her and their children as promised.
But even her walls were accustomed to the lingering smell of pine and burned wood, even her children were habitual of a powerful presence filling the seat which belonged to their occasionally present father and even Hinata herself had her eyes darting towards the door often fidgeting, despite being engulfed by the strong arms of her surprisingly available husband during the whole weekend.
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In a few hours, they were about to reach their destination.
Sasuke continued the journey in silence, the stillness between him and his companions enveloping the trail like a thick fog. Hinata walked ahead, her hand clasping her daughter's, while Himawari prattled on about her mother's relatives. *Occasionally, she directed her bright eyes at Sasuke, asking about his journeys beyond Konoha's borders. He had to grind his words, avoiding spilling the detailed horrors he had once marred the world with.
The terrain around them had softened, the tall oak trees thinning out enough to let the golden warmth of the sun bathe the earth. When they reached a stream, its waters shimmered like melted silver beneath the sun's touch, warmer than expected for the season.
Sasuke surveyed the area with keen eyes, while Hinata and Himawari were washing up.
"Uncle Sasuke, you can go to the stream now!" Himawari bounced towards the rock where he sat, facing away from the direction of the narrow clearing they had found. She giggled as she collected flowers blooming around the thick roots of the old trees webbing the ground.
"Himawari," he said in a low voice, extending a hand toward her, "stay close. Don't wander off." Her grin widened, blue eyes gleaming as she took his hand with an obedient nod, though her enthusiasm never wavered.
When they returned to the clearing, Hinata was smoothing her damp hair, her pale skin glowing under the sunlight. She looked up at him as he approached, alert yet composed. "Uchiha-san, we can wait for you—"
"Just wait in the tent. Don't go far." His tone left no room for debate, and she nodded, leading Himawari toward the camps they had set up a few feet from the stream. He watched as their silhouettes disappeared into the tent, the fabric of the entrance rustling as it was zipped closed.
He pulled out the sealing scroll from his pocket and unfurled it, and clean clothes were unpacked and laid before him. He sighed, shuffling the shoes off his feet and unhooking his cloak which slipped off him and pooled around his feet, his heavy-sheathed Katana rested on the boulder with his new pair of clothing.
With a practised, almost ritualistic ease, he stripped away his clothes and stepped into the stream, the warmth of the water a sharp contrast to the residual chill lurking beneath the surface.
The water wrapped around him like a balm, soothing his muscles. He let out a low groan, the tension melting from his body. After a quick rinse, he emerged, droplets trailing down his skin, and dressed swiftly in clean attire: a grey shirt, dark pants, and his customary cloak.
"Hinata," he called out, perturbed by the droplets of water dripping from his wet hair strands.
She stepped out of the tent, barefoot, with a clean towel in her hand. Wordlessly, she offered it to him, her expression soft but expectant. He left her standing there, holding the towel aloft, as a small, disgruntled pout formed on her lips. Sasuke lifted his hand with a faint smirk, allowing a concentrated swirl of chakra to coil around his hand. He raised it to his head, and the quick breeze from his wind jutsu dried his hair instantly.
"Done." He smirked.
She sucked in a deep breath, as if annoyed. Her momentarily shut eyes flickered open and inspected every lineament of his face. It wasn't the first time, but previously, she had stared at him with fascination when she was breaching his walls and tracing her fingers along his skin but now, she looked like she wanted to snort and punch.
She wheezed, a subtle roll of her eyes which caught his attention, "Show off, Uchiha-san."
"Whatever, Hime," he retorted, testing the nerve. Her face paled at first, as if drained of colour, before flushing pink, then red. Her jaw tightened, lilac eyes sharp as they glared at him.
The calm and empty exterior she wore so well slipped, and her gaze darkened with unspoken irritation.
Sasuke's lips curled into a slow, deliberate smirk. He wasn't entirely sure why the title bothered her so much—it was, after all, fitting. She was the Hyuga Princess. It wasn't like he was taunting, he was simply amused by her dismay, the more it invigorated her, the more he was propelled to do it, unknowingly.
With a sharp turn, Hinata stormed back to the camp, her footsteps heavy against the ground. Each thud seemed to reverberate through the earth, the poor grass crushed beneath her feet as she gathered her belongings. "Hime," he thought again, the word replaying in his mind like a teasing melody.
Sasuke settled himself by a nearby boulder, unfurling a map and laying it across his lap. He scanned the parchment with sharp, calculating eyes, tracing the possible routes to their destination. Their standard path had been blocked by deforestation from the Sound Village, forcing him to find a new, safer trail. His brow furrowed as he considered the variables, particularly the presence of Himawari, and the need for caution.
Almost half an hour later.
A soft scent of lavender drifted past him, pulling his attention without the need to look up. Hinata stood beside him, a silence prompt from her end to begin her journey again. She offered no questions, only quiet company, which he appreciated as he finalized a route.
He finally raised his head, Hinata leaned against the bark of the tree, her unnerving eyes trained on him. He didn't have time to speak—before either could react, a sudden charge electrified the air. His body moved on instinct. In a heartbeat, he was on his feet, hand shooting out to pull her close, shielding her against his chest. The familiar skeletal frame of his Susanoo ignited around them, purple ribs curving overhead, deflecting a deadly rain of kunai that tore through the air.
Her Byakugan flared to life, veins bulging around her eyes as chakra flowed sharply through her body. Yet despite their combined vigilance, the onslaught hadn't been detected. His voice dropped to a low whisper, laced with disbelief.
Sasuke's partial Susanoo nullified the brunt of sharp Kunais continuing to rain down on him.
"You checked the perimeter, didn't you?"
"Yes," she whispered, her hand fisting the front of his cloak. Her voice trembled. "I didn't see anyone. Himawari..."
His crimson eye blared to life, "We are at a distance from the camp, I will handle this here and hide the camp with Genjutsu."
The Susanoo retreated and Sasuke turned around, his scarlet and purple eye aiming to turn the assailants into an electrocuted mess, his blood burned in his veins, and the rush of Chakra pulsing around him crackled the air and elicited a whimper from the woman who was behind him.
As his Susanoo flickered out, the tension in the air escalated. His eyes burned with a fierce glow, locking onto the enemies emerging from the trees. Three figures cloaked in white, faces obscured by masks, slid into view, their movements a blur, as if they were nothing more than apparitions. Their hair swirled around them like black halos.
Hinata's voice, barely a breath, sent a chill down his spine. "Sasuke... I can't see their chakra pathways. It's impossible. I see yours but...not theirs."
The rogue ninjas. Their unknown concealment Jutsu.
Naruto had spoken of them in the Kage meetings, their crimes growing in scope, yet they moved unseen, untouchable and were titled The Saints. Rage flickered in Sasuke's blood.
Outraged by the disturbance in his semblance, Sasuke moved like the wind himself, unsheathing his Katana in a blur and lunged to land a slash, which was blocked by the two saints crossing their hands with their palms clenched to fists, black chakra coiled around their forearms and created a veil that pushed back on Sasuke's attack.
What the fuck was that?
Sasuke's mind raced, a molten fury seeping into his veins. He glanced toward Hinata—only to find her locked in battle with the third Saint. The brute was enormous, towering over her with bulging muscle, his dagger whistling through the air as it sliced toward her. But Hinata moved with a dancer's grace. She spun, dodging the weapon by a hair's breadth, her chakra flaring to life. With a low sweep, her kick sent him stumbling back, a flash of her bluish chakra searing his body.
Sasuke's chakra raced in his veins, while hers flowed. His attacks scorched, hers froze.
Without hesitation, she followed up, her body a blur as she spiralled into a high kick, her foot laden with Chakra. The blow connected, smashing into his head with bone-cracking force. The Saint staggered, dazed, giving her the opening she needed.
Sasuke's attention shifted from her to his own predicament.
A dark orb of chakra hurtled toward him, thrown by the Saints in unison. His Sharingan spun, reading the movement instantly. Fire surged in his throat, and he spat a searing fireball forward, the blazing heat colliding with the orb of black wind. One of the Saints recoiled, clutching his chest, as black bile spewed from his mouth.
Gross.
Before Sasuke could press the advantage, the ground beneath him erupted. Branches shot up, snaking toward him like living vines—Wood Release. But he was faster. Lightning crackled at his feet as he leapt, bolts of electricity tearing through the earth where he'd stood. The air buzzed with the tension of his chakra, and his voice rang out like a sharp whip.
"What do you want?"
The Saints didn't answer. They didn't need to. Wind spears formed in their hands, black and swirling with destructive power. They hurled them at Sasuke, who deflected each strike with his katana, his blade slicing through the murky darts of wind with precision. His fists blazed with lightning, and he drove his Chidori straight into the heart of their defenses.
The veil of black wind cracked under the assault, but they held strong.
Enough.
A sharp burst of chakra enveloped Sasuke as his Chidori Nagashi activated, lightning surging across his body in a brilliant, blinding field. His body became a weapon, slamming into the Saints with crushing force. His katana followed in a swift arc, slicing through their white cloaks, blood spilling in crimson streaks across the pure fabric.
Finally, an audible reaction from the saints penetrated the charged air.
A shrill scream.
Once Sasuke's Chidori Nagashi came into contact with them, his Mangekyo Sharingan spun and black blood trickled down Sasuke's face; the dark flames of his Amaterasu ignited and shattered their illusions of invincibility and mauled at them from head to toe. They continued to writhe and shriek on the floor, every inch of them being engulfed by the black flames.
Sasuke staggered back, his vision blurring momentarily as the sharp pain in his eye blacked out his sight.
When his vision returned, he found Hinata still locked in combat, dodging the last Saint's daggers with deft precision. She continued to thwart him with Kunai's rain, which he masterfully blocked with his wind defense. Hinata's feet planted on the ground, she panted, her Chakra coating her body dimming with each laboured release of breath, blood pulsed from her mouth, and her thudding heart…could be heard by him.
The saint barreled towards her fallen frame, but before Sasuke could jump into the fight, Hinata's hand yanked the invisible wires with a sharp flick of her wrist that only his Sharingan could see, looping around the assailant's body.
The Saint froze mid-leap, his body convulsing as Hinata's paralyzing chakra surged through the wires, binding him like a puppet.
With a final, violent spasm, his body slammed into a nearby tree and crumpled to the ground, almost lifeless.
He was caught in her masterfully woven trap. She had tirelessly encircled him, darting her Kunai at falsely missed aims to trap him in her wires.
She rose, despite the agony biting into her thigh. Her eyes burned with determination as she bolted toward the fallen saint. Sasuke followed closely behind, his gaze intense, as if waiting for her to land the final blow—a blow she deserved after fighting off an enemy alone.
Concern swept over Sasuke as his eyes flitted over the bruises blooming on her arms, a gash on her thigh, soaking her trousers wet with blood bursting forth. Her hand clamped on her thigh, pressure slamming on her as she breathed harshly to land a quick deathly blow. Her free hand gathered Chakra in her palm to gently rid him of his life.
Then, a snarl from behind.
"Stop."
The voice rang out like a death knell, chilling them both. Sasuke's Sharingan flared, while Hinata's Byakugan snapped towards the source. A figure emerged from the swirling light—a towering man, cloaked in white, holding a squirming Himawari. The child's cries pierced the air.
Hinata's scream was raw, filled with anguish. She lunged, ignoring the pain ripping through her leg. Kunai flew from her hands with a fury, aimed at the enemy who merely batted them aside with a dagger, the metallic clink echoing in the chaos.
From the corner of his eye, Sasuke noticed the saint, the one impaled by Hinata before, stirring behind them. In a blur, the saint hurled a final, desperate strike—a curved dagger aimed at Hinata's back. Sasuke's kunai intercepted it with deadly precision. His katana flashed and swung on his neck, and the saint's head tumbled from his body, blood splattering across the ground as his head landed on his blood-soaked lap.
The taller saint groaned, tightening his grip on Himawari. "You shouldn't have done that." His hand wrapped around the child's neck, and a tendril of wind coiled around her body like a snake. Hinata's shower of the last two Kunai darted towards him as he kept switching places to land himself and his captive further away from Hinata.
Sasuke's Rinnegan pounded at the back of her eye, stabbing soreness ached as a slash in the time-space sparked and the tear widened with a deep purple colour beside Hinata.
Sasuke threw his Katana that landed in front of Hinata who sent a sharp glance at him, brows deepened and face contorted with a twisted expression. Sasuke in a quick flash, swapped his place with Himawari and his Rinnegan switched Himawari with his Katana in front of Hinata.
Himawari slumped in Hinata's arms, while Sasuke's worried eyes were focused on the mother and daughter as he yelled, "Leave."
Hinata's steps faltered with resistance on the tip of her tongue; bloodied and marred, her mask of indifference and strength cracked as she contemplated leaving Sasuke alone.
Sasuke was hammering his charged and arresting fist at the wisp-like existence of the saint, who had a tightened jaw and dark green eyes staring back at him as he clobbered back at Sasuke with his fists.
Sasuke's burning damage on his abdomen from the high jump and a brutal kick laced with Chakra, made the saint cough out blood and it spattered on Sasuke's cloak.
His eyes darted towards Hinata who was picking up Himawari in her arms, wincing in pain. His eyebrows twitched, his gaze unwavering on her while his streaks of fire curled around the throat of his opponent, his feet hardly ever touching the ground as lightning powered his steps and jumps.
The saint had his eyes opened finally after the onslaught of Sasuke's attack through fire and fists, his composure filling strength in his slumped and bruised body, Sasuke tasted blood on his tongue as his attention on Hinata cost him a hit of a barrage of wind bullets slicing his cheeks.
They need to leave!
He threw his Kunai pouch towards Hinata, who scrambled forward to pick it up, "Leave," he barked as his Katana clashed with another wave of wind veil, almost piercing it to touch the flesh of his enemy. The portal he sliced open for her, throbbed in the air, she reluctantly stepped into the portal, "I'll come to you, I promise, just leave—"
The battle wasn't over. Sasuke barely registered her leaving before a dagger slammed into his sternum, forcing a ragged breath from his lungs. The saint appeared from a gust of wind, grinning viciously as the blade twisted deeper into Sasuke's chest. Pain surged through his body as the blood continued to drench his shirt, but the smirk tugging at Sasuke's lips told a different story.
"Uchiha—?"
"Yes, your worst nightmare." The smirk on his lips ebbed away the hold of restrain he was forcing upon himself. Because his portal had safely sucked in the two people he was concerned about, so now he had free rein, and he could be himself. He could be brutal.
"You are outnumbered—"
With a swat of his Amaterasu-laced hand, the body of his *almost-*dead opponent flew above his head and hurtled somewhere in the back, withering into nothing but ashes of his black flames.
He saw that his opponent wasn't bluffing, because a group of white-cloaked saints were approaching the black-cloaked devil with bleeding eyes.
He lifted his face, forgotten pain still twisting inside him, but his Sharingan bled darker, as the scenery turned into a smoke of red and black, rendering every one of his enemies useless.
They tumbled on the ground, and their sacred silence broke as the Genjutsu of the Last Uchiha scorched every nerve of their brains and their convulsing bodies begged for mercy as they were plunged deeper into the abyss of crimson torture.
"I am never outnumbered, you fools!" His chest heaved, blood dripping down his shirt, but his lips curled into a snarl.
.
.
.
Hinata cradled Himawari in her arms, gently rocking her daughter to sleep inside the dim cave where Sasuke had teleported them. The sky outside had darkened, and only the faintest sliver of light slipped through the entrance. It had been nearly half an hour since she had left Sasuke behind with the attackers. Though she knew he was among the strongest shinobi in the world and capable of protecting himself, a tight knot of worry still twisted in her chest.
Her own injuries had been hastily tended to—a deep gash on her thigh from when the white-cloaked assailant's dagger had plunged into her flesh, soaking her trousers in blood. Her face bore bruises from his harsh blows, and her arms were scorched with burns from his Chakra-infused strikes. But Hinata had managed to heal herself enough to ensure she could protect Himawari if another threat appeared.
She layered her jacket on the cave floor, laying the sleeping Himawari down gently and brushing a hand over her daughter's hair. The red marks that had once marred Himawari's neck were gone, leaving Hinata's heart still racing from the earlier panic. Her chakra had seeped into her daughter's small body to heal the damage, but the fear of losing her had sent her pulse into overdrive. Dipping her head, she pressed a soft kiss to Himawari's forehead, her heart still pounding with the remnants of adrenaline.
Her palpitating heart still sped and surged, seeking the adrenaline, to do something, to win something.
It had been years since she had been at the forefront of a fight; once she had retired after Boruto and chose to advance her career in medicine alongside being a homemaker, Hinata had cut off her connection with the world of Kunai and swords. It was a distant memory.
But when faced with the attack, something inside her had stirred—a fierce, long-buried instinct to fight instead of flee. The familiar rush of power coursing through her veins had been undeniable.
Now, at the entrance of the cave, her eyes lingered in the dark distance to seek Sasuke's arrival. The gnawing worry for his safety gnawed at her, her teeth digging into her bottom lip until the taste of blood filled her mouth. The adrenaline from the fight was wearing off, her body growing heavier with each passing minute, and dizziness threatened to pull her under as her face continued to pale.
But instinctively, she shook her head and jolted herself awake; Sasuke hadn't returned, she couldn't be a liability to him when he was the one taking the fight alone, keeping her and her daughter safe.
The rustling sound of a scuffle in the bushes echoed, and a hurriedly moving shadow was caught in her drowsy eyes as she sat at the edge of the cave. Hinata's senses snapped to attention, her Byakugan only moments from activating. The figure moved impossibly fast, closing the distance between them. That made her scurry back from her spot, pressing her back harshly against the cold, jagged stone of the cave wall.
She scrambled backwards digging herself in the wall; her eyes shut, her breath hitched, while her heart hammered with her fingers gripping the hilt of her kunai.
"It is me," A familiar whisper made her eyes flicker open, the blurring view sharpened into a clear picture of red and black. Known onyx eye bored in her red-rimmed eyes, his pale skin tainted by blood and crisscrossed cuts, blood-soaked matted hair hiding the flickering purple eye.
Sasuke was dishevelled; crouched in front of her, his knees buckling on the ground and his posture hunched and drooping towards her. His head fell on her shoulder, his hot ragged breath on her skin, his weight pushing on her.
Hinata's hands shot up to steady him, fingers trembling as they gripped his bloodstained shoulders. "Uchiha-san…?" she called out to him, as his eyes were beginning to shut; half-lidded.
"Chest…" his voice cracked.
With a surge of strength, Hinata dragged him beside her, settling him against the cave wall. His legs splayed limply in front of him, his body slumped. Sweat dripped from his hairline, mixing with the blood streaked across his face, soaking through his shirt.
Hinata unhooked the tattered cloak with one flick, shedding it to the side, she was met with his shirt soaking wet with the metallic-smelling crimson. Her Byakugan pulsed into life, able to see the damaged and burst nerves and veins in his chest with creeping poison burning him and surrounding his heart along with the cracks on his ribcage.
She winced as she unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his taut pale chest marred by nothing but red fluid oozing out of a deep gash and his blood painted her fingers as she inspected the wound.
"Uchiha-san—"
He said it like a broken whisper, "The dagger was poisoned…"
"I can see, I will send a summon to Naruto for you—"
Sasuke's mouth twitched, and his pride flared within him, "No need. Poisons hardly work on me…this is a surprise…Orochimaru made sure…he made—"
"Uchiha-san…"
"You do it, just heal this. I am fine, it is just this…wound that is making it hard for me to breathe…" he gulped, attempting to steady his breathing and keep his eyes open.
"It is going to take some time," she said, eyes trained on his chest, her hands trembling at the sight of his uneven gasps and the impending shut down of his body. With a steadying breath, Hinata pressed her palms against his bloodied skin, her fingers splayed wide over the wound. Sasuke winced, his teeth gritting in pain, but he didn't push her away. Instead, his body shuddered beneath her touch, as though his life clung to the fleeting moments her healing chakra granted him.
Sasuke's voice almost faltered, barely above the wind, "Just heal me…heal me enough to take you to your destination, then you can heal me fully there…don't exhaust your Chakra—"
The poison was thick, fighting against her attempts to purify it. Hinata could feel it, dark and sinister, weaving through his bloodstream. She closed her eyes, focusing entirely on her chakra flow, pushing deeper into his body, past the surface wound, and into the poisoned arteries.
Sweat gathered on her brow. "Just… hold on," she whispered, not sure if she was speaking to herself or to Sasuke.
Sasuke's breath hitched, his fingers curling into the ground beside him. "Don't waste your chakra… on me," he breathed, his voice strained but still carrying that stubborn resolve.
Hinata ignored him, the pulse of her chakra intensifying. She could feel the poison finally breaking apart under the force of her energy, but it was draining—every second stretched, making her head spin slightly. She bit her lip, focusing harder. The poison was resisting her healing, as stubborn as Sasuke himself.
"I said… stop," Sasuke rasped.
"Be quiet," Hinata whispered fiercely, her gaze snapping to his face, her Byakugan activated, searching the deeper layers of his veins and heart. "I can't leave you in pain!"
Her words struck a chord with him, she could feel the instant step back from him. His expression softened, his body finally relaxing as he stopped trying to speak and Hinata was thankful for that. His dark eyes stayed on her, studying her face as she worked— unnerving her as well though but she pushed the anxiety back into the depths of her mind. The world around them blurred—there was only the sound of her breathing, the rush of her chakra, and his chest rising and falling with an occasional wince.
Minutes stretched on, and the poisoned black veins around the wound started to fade. His breathing became more even. Hinata felt her chakra wavering, her vision blurring slightly, but she couldn't stop until she was certain. Her Byakugan throbbed, pulling on her optical nerves, and a scalding pain shot through her head, hinting at exhaustion.
After what felt like an eternity, she pulled her hands away, her body swaying slightly from the exhaustion that settled in her bones.
She placed one hand on the rocky ground to steady herself.
Sasuke's hand reached out, weak but deliberate, catching her wrist before she collapsed. She pulled her hand off his grasp once her strength, whatever was remaining, fueled her again. "The wound…it needs more—"
His breathing had steadied, the worst of the poison cleansed from his body, though he still looked pale and worn. "It is enough, you can take Himawari, and we can begin moving…" Her eyes wide, mouth hung open with protests lining up, but he offered no chance for an argument, "If you want to rest, we can rest. But l suggest—"
"Uchiha-san!" she shook her head, "We need to go back to Konoha—"
"Why?" he pushed on the ground with his one hand, and pulled his frame off the ground, towering over her as she was a collapsed figure on the floor. Her face angled up, he offered his hand to her and her eyes darted between his face and his hand, confusion boggled her. Is he mad? She wondered. "I am almost healed. You can do the rest of the job at your…relative's place."
"But—" she was unable to comprehend that man, her heart thumped at the way his eyes, still weary but stern peered down at her, the intense force pulling her.
"Come on," he snapped his fingers then offered his palm with dried blood again, she slipped her hand with wet blood of his in his hand and their fingers interlaced, a tug from him and she was on her feet, facing him. "Thank you, Hyuga," he whispered, his voice sounded better, unbroken but still coarse.
Her daughter's voice echoed in the cave as she came running towards the entrance, "Uncle Sasuke!" Himawari wrapped her hands around his waist, "Thank you for saving me!" Hinata smiled at the soft sob that escaped her compassionate daughter. Sasuke threw a look at her, his eyes drowned in confusion, the emotions caged behind them.
The stoicism masked him again as he cleared his throat, pulling his hand away from hers and patting the head of a child who was latched onto him. "Your mother helped me."
Himawari pulled herself back and glanced up at Hinata, a wide smile stretched on her tear-streaked face, "Mommy, you are the coolest!" Hinata's pale face burned, her eyes lowered to the ground, and her palms clenched as she took in the compliment. Her heart was full.
Content.
She felt content in a dark cave, with her hands bloodied, her hair a mess and her chakra exhausted. She felt alive. Alive.
"Go grab your bag, Hima!" Hinata lifted her face, pointing to the bag at the corner, Himawari followed and rushed to grab it. Hinata turned to Sasuke, she grabbed his arm and slung it around her shoulder, allowing him to lean on her, to push his weight on her so he didn't have to exert too much force into his steps.
"What—"
She cut him off, "You can rely on me."
Sasuke stared. One beat later, a smirk crept on his lips as she frowned deeper, hinting at the inquiry bubbling in her at his silent stare, "I am your guard, princess. Not the other way around."
Oh, Oh.
He was…insufferable, even when he was agonized and poisoned a few minutes ago. Hinata's softened look was shadowed by the annoyance only he could bring out of her. Insufferable.
.
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A/N:FAVS, REVIEWS AND FOLLOWS ARE LOVEDDDD!
I CAN'T BELIEVE I WROTE ACTION!
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED!
MY HINATA DESPITE BEING MARRIED AND A HOMEMAKER, KNOWS HER SHINOBI PAST AND IS VERY MUCH CAPABLE! ;)
SASUHINAAAA! Next chapters have some...things ...hehe!