To the guest reviewer 'Lola' - Yes, in this timeline, The Last exists, however, in previous chapters I have mentioned that NaruHina problems didn't start until that kiss from Sakura; it was during that time period when Naruto began spending time with Sakura as Sasuke's absence and dealing with 3 year old Sarada was getting daunting for Sakura so she relied on Naruto and Naruto gave Sakura his utmost attention. That was the starting spark. Hinata has mentioned in her narration various times that first four years of her marriage were amazing. And yes, SasuSaku marriage has a reason too. When Sasuke and Sakura clashed about the Naruto/Sakura kiss, that argument have many subtle hints of their marriage's reason.
LET'S BEGIN THE CHAPTER!
Chapter 11: Siren's Call Fall
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Hinata's eyes fluttered open, she blinked slowly to come out of the lulling slumber. The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the curtains casting a pale sheen over the room. But the unnerving silence stirred her insides and her chest tightened. With an abrupt jerk and a sharp gasp, she pushed herself upright, her gaze darting around the room, hazy and unfocused; the absence of Sasuke and Himawari set her pulse racing.
Fumbling, she clutched the edge of the blanket draped over her and threw it aside, her legs swinging over the bed in one hurried motion. The cold floor beneath her feet sent a shiver up her spine. She rubbed her eyes to banish the haze of sleep while taking shallow breaths.
Her low voice called out a command, "Byakugan."
The rush of Chakra pounded at the back of her head, and her eyes pierced through walls and shadows until she saw the faint Chakra of her daughter, calm and serene. Sasuke was lying on the grass, along with her daughter but his Chakra was masterfully muted, however, nothing unsettled her. The stillness that was pressing down on her, eased and she took a deep breath. Her shoulders slumped in relief.
Her steps were slow and deliberate, as she slipped out of the room. The dim light of the lounge greeted her, the dying embers of the fireplace casting flickering shadows over abandoned cups and half-empty bowls on the table. She scanned the space, her pale eyes noting the stillness. Everyone is asleep. She deduced.
Her gaze lingered on the front door, debating whether to wait for Sasuke and Himawari to return. But the gnawing pull in her heart betrayed her reasoning. Before she could stop herself, her feet carried her outside, where the chill of the night greeted her with icy precision.
She wrapped her hand around herself, rubbing her bare arms and berating herself for not taking a shawl as the wind tugged at her.
Her grip on her arms tightened as she moved forward, her bare feet were cool against the cobblestone, damp with dew. Her toes curled and low hisses escaped her mouth at the biting cold of midnight. She pushed the iron gate and it groaned with the pressure, she quickened her pace to reach the open field.
A decent field before her; lush green, darkened under the night's sky, illuminated with the shower of moonlight—where her daughter was resting on top of Sasuke, draped in his cloak.
As she drew closer, the scene before her came into focus. Hinata stopped in her tracks, her shoulders sagging with relief. She crouched on the damp grass, her hand pressed against her chest as she exhaled shakily, the tension that had held her in its grip dissipating.
Beneath the protective boughs of an ancient tree, her friend and her daughter were in deep slumber, Himawari's tiny hands clutched Sasuke's shirt, her drool staining the fabric as she let out low snores while being curled atop Sasuke's chest.
The gleaming moon was dappled by the clouds shifting over the sky, the moonlight peaked through the haze and a silver streak shadowed Sasuke's face, brightening his pale face and accentuating his sharp features. His dark hair, dampened by the night's dew, clung to his forehead in soft wisps.
Hinata scooted closer to him and her dress rustled, the blades of grass grazing her knees as she leaned forward to pick Himawari off him. But before she could, a voice, cool and measured, broke the quiet.
"Don't."
Hinata flinched, her hand retreating as she jerked upright, startled by his sudden words. She clenched her fists to still the tremor in her fingers.
She peered around, avoiding the mismatched eyes staring up at her. Her voice was uneven, "Ah, Uchiha-san… you are awake."
"Hn."
His grunt was almost dismissive, but his actions betrayed his words. Sasuke shifted slightly, his hand moving from behind his head to press gently against Himawari's back, shielding her from the cold breeze. The child stirred briefly, nuzzling closer to him, her tiny frame settling back into slumber.
Hinata bit her lip, "Let me take her—"
He denied, "It is fine." His words left her no choice but to give in.
She drew her knees closer to her, putting her chin atop them as she stared at Sasuke. His focus was pinned to the heavens above, his expressions impassive but calm, bathed under the muted light of the moon cascading on him.
"How did you end up here?"
"We were playing…" he responded, his hand trailing absently over Himawari's back as she lay nestled against him.
"What was she making you play, Guard?" she suppressed a giggle, biting her lip. His dark eyes darted to her, matching her pale ones, she gulped and averted her eyes.
He heaved a sigh, a small smirk budding on the corner of his lips, "Ironically…hide and seek. And then she wanted to pick flowers."
"Did you win?" she asked and then swivelled; her back was facing him.
She sighed, stretching her legs forward and laying on the damp grass. Her thin tunic felt the rough edges of the grass and the twigs, but she embraced the contrast of the warmth of his presence and the cold of the night. She folded her arm beneath her head for support, her gaze following the fractured moonlight spilling through the canopy above. "Did you pick flowers with her?"
There was a few inches of space between them, and the air became heavier. She turned her head to the side and peeked through her eyelashes at him.
Sasuke's jaw twitched, and his hand fisted on top of Himawari's back, "Your daughter has Byakugan, she cheated and won." His voice was devoid of apparent humour, but Hinata had known the sides of Sasuke that she herself wasn't sure belonged to him, which made her attuned to the nuances of his layers enough to know that he buried the jest beneath his sharp tone.
Hinata's shoulder shook as she laughed, the air around them was charged but a flicker of lightheartedness conquered her senses. "You blindfolded a Byakugan user. Your fault, Uchiha-san."
Sasuke shifted his eyes, focusing on the dark expanse above with an unreadable expression spread across his face. "I felt like a fool…putting the blindfold on a Hyuga blood."
Hinata's hand fiddled with the hem of her cardigan, as her eyes roamed over the serene face of her daughter, Himawari's cheek pressed against Sasuke's chest, her lips parted open and low whispers escaping her mouth. "I hope she didn't bother you. She is an active child, also…affectionate."
He groaned under his breath, his brows drawn together with a tick in his jaw, annoyed at Hinata, he replied with his curt tone, "Not at all. She is a child, doing childlike things. Why would it bother me?"
She giggled softly, catching his attention as his head turned to her, his eyes softening at her, rid of all the annoyance. "I am just being considerate, Uchiha-san."
Hinata shifted towards him, while he was still lying on his back, holding her daughter with gentle care, she mindlessly scooted closer, her frame bumped his stump, and she felt the tremble course through his body, "Uh…I am—"
He cut her off, "Sarada isn't like this. She doesn't like piggyback rides or terms of endearments or clinginess…"
Hinata's voice almost caught in her throat. She gasped, "It is not your fault. She is an early teen; this is how these children behave at this age. Her piggyback rides age is gone, Uchiha-san."
Hinata noticed the instantly fallen expression twisting on his face. His breath hitched for a moment as the reality Hinata threw at him struck a nerve. She attempted to salvage: "I mean, Boruto is like that too. He is rebellious and thinks that his parents don't know much, but he will come around. So will Sarada. She is an amazing child."
He whispered, his voice weaved with a hint of pride, "She is perfect."
"You are learning to do this fatherly thing…really well." Her voice tinged with quiet reassurance.
Hinata shuffled in her spot, the chilling cold crawling up her skin, the warmth emanating from his body became her source of relief as she continued to be drawn by the heat. Her mind buzzed, puzzled and thrilled at the unfolded scene under the star-dotted sky—The Uchiha Patriarch beside the Hokage's wife, cradling her daughter.
A yelp threatened to tumble out of her mouth, but she swallowed, her mind reeled and the haze of sleepiness began to take over her.
"I've been around kids a lot lately," Sasuke said, breaking the quiet. He let out a huff, his tone edged with dry amusement. "That's probably why."
Her thoughts began to blur, she hummed, "Hmm."
Sasuke warned, "It will rain in a bit, Hyuga."
Her voice lowered, the sleepiness creeping up and making her words a slurry mess, but she shook her head and attempted to keep herself awake, "Boruto is a handful as a student, I believe."
Sasuke mentioned, his eyes trailing on the map that the stars had created over the sky, "He is. But he has potential."
She chuckled, closing her eyes, inhaling the scent of grass, pine and familiar smoke, "Naruto told me that Boruto reminded him of you…in some ways." She heard his grunt, the rustle of the leaves and the skittering of a cat around them which added a melody in the silence. She finished, "Because you and Boruto are ragingly emotional…as per Naruto."
The warmth seeped into her skin, as she scooted closer, her head pressing on his shoulder while her eyelids were drooping with the sleep pulling her under. She felt the tremble in his muscles, his shoulders stiffening.
Sasuke snorted, "If I am ragingly emotional, then what the hell is he?" She heard Sasuke snort and let out a dry mocking snicker.
She whispered into his shoulder, her words came out as muffled, "Blindly emotional." Seeking the embrace of pine and smoke, her lavenders and jasmine mingled and hummed in the air.
Sasuke acknowledged, "Hm, he tends to lose his sight…often."
Her words slurred, her lips ran on the fabric draped over his shoulder, "Very…much."
The depth of darkness bit by bit engulfed her, and the remnants of the sleep induced by his Sharingan sparked and pulsed again, her mind had begun to clarify, her memories and thoughts dissolving into nothing and as promised, she felt herself sinking into a deep slumber, darkness and silence cradled her and lulled her into an empty and peaceful slumber.
Her senses were rendered unaware, the last thing she could catch was a velvety tone calling for her, "Hyuga?" But then she dipped into the peace she desperately needed, she clung to the thread of quietude offered to her. The depth of the abyss approached her, she basked in the darkness and surrendered.
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Hinata's head rested against his arm—his arm, the handless one he preferred to keep untouched. She snuggled closer, and her soft breathing was beginning to turn into ragged gasps under the chilling night. He stirred as her hand lifted and wrapped over him, resting atop Himawari's back.
When her fingers lightly brushed his, an unbidden tension coiled within him, sharp and visceral.
He sucked in a breath. "Hyuga?"
"Hmm," she let out a groggy noise instead of a coherent response.
He cocked his head to the left to see her, her eyes were shut with a slight crease on her forehead, her mouth was pressed into a thin line, and her cheeks puffed and red. Strands of midnight-blue hair clung to her damp face, framing her expression in disarray.
Instinct betrayed him. His hand rose, momentarily abandoning Himawari to sweep the errant locks away. His fingers lingered a moment too long, brushing against the soft curve of her cheek as he tucked the strands behind her ear. The simple touch sent a tremor through her, and she instinctively nuzzled closer to his side.
Sasuke! His sanity chided him, pulling him back. He shook his head, the dizziness hypnotizing his brain was sneaking its way through his brain, numbing it. His control wavered, a fraying thread in the storm.
He needed to get out of this! He mused. He pulled his hand back, putting it on the back of Himawari again.
As per his prediction, the murky sky began to cry, and the drops of rain landed cool and light on his face, jolting him and shaking him to see the reality, and washing away his straying acts which he himself couldn't fathom in the truest sense. The drizzle turned to a steady shower, the sound of rain kissing leaves filling the stillness.
The cold seeped into his bones as the breeze carried a shower, startling the figure lying comfortably over him and beside him.
He lowered his gaze to check that Himawari was covered by his cloak, however, his peripheral vision caught the shiver running through the frame of Hinata. The screeching thunder rolling through the clouds announced the impending heavy shower.
The blue dress began to stick to her body, her hair was drenched and whipping her face, the continuous droplets on her cheeks made her stir and her lips turned downwards while her forehead was marred with a deep frown.
Sasuke swung the cloak off himself and ensured to keep Himawari shielded by it, and he dragged the other flap of the fabric over Hinata, making sure to cover the upper part of her body. Hinata's quivering eased into light trembles. Her arm curled around his torso as though she needed to anchor herself to something solid, someone steady.
He had to practically snap his head away from her, and squeeze his eyes shut, taking in the bliss and peace that overcame him with the selfish desires of stopping time and relishing in the warmth and bewitchment forever, knotting at the back of his mind.
His sanity was loud, snapping at him and attempting to feed reality to him— but he was ravished by the calm that had taken him under the spell, even if it was wrong. Yet he remained still, unable to pull away. The rain continued its symphony, a soothing hum against the chaos inside him.
He felt himself disappear as if the sky was closing in on him, sucking him into a swirl of nothingness, yet the sensations of amazement and the need for belongingness called out to him, like a siren.
Like a pale-eyed siren.
Sasuke continued to watch the sky pour, the urge to belong to the sky and the ache to disappear puzzled him. But amidst the falling droplets around him and the cold breeze, his heart leapt and tuned in to the rhythm that played at the back, he couldn't catch the source of the calling, but something or someone was singing a melody to him, that felt like home.
Before he could trail further with the thought, the storm in his brain paused as he heard a light whisper amidst the rain, "Naruto…" He cocked his head to the left again, the trembling lips that were calling for his best friend, let out another mourning, "Naruto…"
Then it dawned upon him, the calling wasn't for him. The siren wasn't singing the songs for him. He let the night take control of his senses and sanity as he succumbed to the haze embracing him.
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Hinata stirred, her lashes fluttering as the morning light nudged her awake. A yawn escaped her lips, and a dull ache pulsed through her body, settling deep in her bones. Her vision swam for a moment before focusing on the sight—her frail frame pressed against Sasuke, who was lying on the damp grass as if he were dead. Her slender arm was draped over him, her fingers clinging as though tethered to something safe. Himawari slept soundly, her head turned to the other side.
The sunbeams filtered through the canopy dappling shadows on his pale face, and his cheeks were flushed with faint pink, softening the usual sharpness. The earthy smell grounded her, settled her and the sizzling sensation swirled within her as she found his face an inch away from hers—his soft breathing and slight pout on his lips, the dark lashes casting shadows against his cheekbones and his drenched hair flopping on his face.
Her eyes, half-lidded, sleep-struck, watched him as if he was something out of the world, out of reach—an otherworldly figure so distant and yet impossibly near.
Her fingers moved of their own accord, brushing the dark strands from his face. The sensation of his hair slipping through her fingers stirred something within her, something unspoken and dangerous.
The chirping of the birds above them added a melody to her surroundings that reminded her of who she was, where she was and who she was with—her eyes widened as the consciousness tugged at her, her fingers carded in his soft locks recoiled as if burned by him and with that, she was snapped back to reality. Her reality.
She gulped and peered around—the field was empty, and no one caught her in her reverie. She noticed the dark cloak pulled over her, under which her clothes were damp. The cloak draped over her shoulders felt heavier now as if imbued with guilt. She clutched its edges and yanked it off herself, retreating with hurried, clumsy movements. The distance between them made her breathe, finally.
She heaved a deep sigh, her mouth felt dry, her body ached and her heart clenched. She experienced as if she was hit by the darts of shame and agony again and again, as if the bright sun above her mocked her, and the sky coloured in the familiar tones of her husband's eyes, stared back at her with contempt for seeking solace from a place which was beyond her reach. Her lips quivered as a pit of anguish opened within her.
After a brief pause, where she raked her hands in her hair, fisting the hair at its roots and grumbling a few incoherent words, she shifted on her spot and sat on her knees, leaning forward, she patted the head of Himawari and moved. "Baby, let's go inside," she tapped the back of Himawari to rouse her, her fluttering eyes looked back at her and Hinata offered a small smile, faltering but strengthened. Himawari with her half-closed eyes, extended her arm to Hinata which she took and got her daughter off Sasuke.
"Hyuga," Sasuke mumbled as he was woken up, he sat up abruptly, locking his eyes with hers. His forehead was marred by a frown and his lips were pressed into a thin line as he shifted on the spot. He pushed his hair back and observed the scene unfolding before him with a scowl deepening his features.
"She was fine," he began, his voice sharper now. "You didn't need to—"
"I apologize, Uchiha-san. I didn't mean to invade your space and—"
"Shut up!" Sasuke gritted his teeth, throwing an annoyed glare at her.
Hinata flinched, her face paling as her head lowered further. She cradled Himawari closer and stood up. Her hand patted away the dust and twigs sticking to her clothes and she nodded, turning around and bolting towards the cottage. Her breathing was heavier, her head was buzzing as she entered her cottage, and she could feel the shadowy presence of Sasuke trailing behind her.
She pushed the wooden door open and the morning sunlight illuminated the lounge, bathing the wide expanse with a post-rainfall warmth. The sweet smell wafted in the air and the clinking of utensils echoed from the kitchen, but Hinata moved towards her room, her soft steps padded on the wooden floor.
She rested Himawari on the bed, tucking her under the comforter, caressing her cheek as she mumbled, "Sleep some more." She leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss on her daughter's forehead, Himawari groggily mumbled a thank you and smiled while drifting back to the slumber.
"Hyuga," a voice rumbled in the emptiness of the room.
Hinata straightened, standing at the edge of the bed. Sasuke leaned against the doorframe, his head tipping sideways, his legs crossed and his hand pushed into his trouser pocket. He adjusted the cloak slung over his shoulder and offered, "I shouldn't have snapped."
"It is fine. I will freshen up and help Mitsuri-san in the kitchen," she forced a smile as she said with a strained voice. She averted her gaze and raced towards the bathroom, however, his voice halted her steps.
"She was just filling up the water jug, she went back to sleep. There is still time to sleep, you do the same," he expressed as if he were ordering her.
She watched as he strode toward the couch by the window, tossing a pillow onto it.
Hinata's eyes followed his movement, the clock looked dirtied and tattered and before she could point it out, she saw him shrugging the cloak off and throwing it to the side. His white shirt was damp, sticking to his body, the bandages she had wrapped around his waist peeked through the fabric.
She took a full glance at his frame, lean and strong, however, dulled by the stiff muscles, she didn't need Byakugan to catch the aches in his muscles as well, just like hers.
"Are your wounds alright? You kept Himawari on your chest the entire night—"
He threw a glare over his shoulder, scowl twisted his face, "I am fine, Hyuga. Go to bed!" he punctuated each of his words. He dropped onto the couch, leaning his head back with a heavy sigh.
Hinata's hesitant steps echoed faintly across the wooden floor. Fiddling with her sleeves, her voice came out as breathy as if her throat closed, "You sleep on the bed, I will rest on the couch—"
"No." Sasuke didn't even open his eyes. His response came sharp and dismissive.
She was startled by his uncaring response, her face paled as she folded her arms across her chest, "Uchiha-san." Her tone was gentle but firm.
"You needed the Sharingan to sleep peacefully, Hyuga," he muttered. His eyes shot open as he leaned forward, his elbow resting on his thigh, "You need to not argue with me—"
She took a defiant step closer, tilting her chin just enough to angle her gaze into his.
Her futile attempt to tower over her was slightly successful as he lifted his face, angling up to meet her calculated and stern gaze, "You slept on the grass, under the rain, with your unhealed bruises…your muscles are strained right now, you need the bed more than I do."
"No." He rolled his eyes.
Exasperation frayed her patience. "Don't act like Boruto!" she chided, her forehead furrowed.
His dark eye was almost on the verge of turning red, a fleeting warning of his mounting irritation. He snarled, "Don't think of me as a child to order me around—"
Hinata winced. Her knees threatened to buckle, but she steadied herself, masking her inner tremors with an unwavering expression. "Then don't act like one, go to bed!"
Sasuke scoffed, "You are insane, I am telling you I don't need it but—"
She uncrossed her arms, and she put a hand on her hip as she raised her voice, asserting her position, "As a medic, I am telling you that you need it. So, don't argue with me."
Sasuke's jaw tightened, his frustration palpable as he stood abruptly. He yanked the pillow off the couch and muttered under his breath, "Fine. But you're coming to bed too."
Hinata lost the voice, lost the confidence as his suggestion alarmed her. "Ah, but…"
He circled to the bed, throwing his pillow and then lowered himself on it with a scoff. "I am on my mission, it is fine. We are mission partners so we can share our resources."
Shock shone naked on her face, but she gulped the embarrassment. A stiffness took over her shoulders. His nonchalance threw her off balance. For a moment, she stood there, arms slack at her sides, grappling with the propriety of his suggestion.
"Oh…Uchiha-san," she hovered around the edge of the bed and lowered her head, "I apologize for all the inconvenience—"
"Hyuga, you make me lose my temper with these endless apologies!" Sasuke cut her off, whipping his head up from the pillow with a jerk and a twisted expression on his face. His patience snapped like a taut string.
Hinata took a step back, she was at the receiving end of his gravelly tone. Her shoulders sagged under the weight of his rebuke Her heart sunk deeper in her chest, the weight within her rattled her, she never liked it when Sasuke sounded rough with her, it was as if she revelled in the bubble of being friends with him to a point where a slight change in his tone bothered her.
Hinata dipped her head, biting her lips, her fingers fiddling with the gold bracelet on her wrist.
Sasuke groaned, the bed creaked as he shifted and straightened up, "Hyuga," he called for her.
Her head still bowed. The stillness in the air bit her, clawed at the insides of her head, attempting to make sense of her behaviour and her hurt at his raised tone. He was Sasuke, he was rude to everyone. She pushed herself to come to terms with it. His frigid tone shouldn't have surprised her, shouldn't have stung.
His voice softened, "Hinata." His edged mood vanished with the way her name rolled out of his tongue—tenderly.
She raised her head, and Sasuke tilted his head. "Look…I am here…willingly," he explained, his voice low and softer, kinder and something stirred beneath his gaze, that made her feel comforted. "There is no inconvenience."
"Promise?" she muttered, she didn't know when her words tumbled out like that, as if she and Sasuke shared a familiarity deeper than expected. She shook her head, another apology was ready on her tongue, but she bit back her words because he beat her to it.
"I promise." He blinked, looking away to the space behind her, as if he intended to ignore the apparent shift in the air as much as she wanted, "Also…Our Hokage will compensate me with Ryos." His lips curled into a smirk, his eyes met hers after the brief avoidance.
Hinata appreciated the pinch of humour, responding in the same manner, "Will you take all the Uchiha wealth to your grave, Uchiha-san?"
He let out a snort, his finger tapping his chin as he acted amused and deep in thought, "Hm, perhaps." He continued, "My wealth belongs to Sarada, then Sakura and Naruto. Even some part of it is dedicated to Kakashi too if that old man outlives me," he shrugged, the smirk twisted into a full smile.
The corner of his eyes wrinkled and the flush she had seen on him under the blaring morning sky emerged on his paleness again, lighting up his face.
Her heartbeats quickened, and the fluttering in her chest grew, she mused with a smile budding on her lips like a blooming flower. She exclaimed, her voice tinged with humour, "Team 7 is rich."
He quipped, "The fruits of our trauma." Pulling the blanket over himself, he lay back on the bed, the mattress dipped under his weight.
Hinata let out a light giggle, which earned a quirked eyebrow from Sasuke. "You are seriously not funny, Uchiha-san," she said.
He nodded, "I know, Hyuga." He closed his eyes, letting the sleep take over him again as Hinata watched him, with the humming in her mind holding her hostage. The slanted sunlight through the window illuminated the room with a kind of warmth which Hinata always desired.
But the warmth she was seeking, was in the wrong place. In a dark little corner, forbidden for her, out of reach for her. Despite that, she lingered in its orbit…just a little longer.
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Another day dissolved into the folds of time, the evening painting its descent in golden hues and stretching shadows. Sasuke lingered near the edge of the Sato family's modest field. Strangers often grated against his solitary nature, but the Sato couple was tolerable—Mitsuri, with her gentle chatter, and Umemiya, whose glances shifted between indifference and suspicion, never imposed too much.
Hinata wasn't sulking and rejoicing every moment with the Sato couple; baking a cake for Mitsuri for her birthday, going to the nearby market to pick up groceries for another two weeks or giving massage to Umemiya and healing the years-old scars for him—she was in her element, Sasuke could only observe, quietly from the side.
Her soft, calmer and serene energy had breathed new life into the modest cottage and added a few more years to Mitsuri's Umemiya's life span through her kindness.
Now, he was sitting in the field, under the dimming sun, relishing the freedom as in just hours, they'd leave for the village. Himawari skipped before him, from one end to another, catching butterflies while Umemiya attempted to match the zealous Himawari's pace.
His fingers raked through tufts of grass, the dampness seeping into his skin as the earthy scent mingled with the distant aroma of woodsmoke. Mitsuri was sat beside him, on a chair he dragged for her. Sasuke's keen eyes followed each skip and each step of Himawari, her stumble over the rocks almost made him rush to her but she picked herself up with a light giggle, that resembled her mother's fluttering and silvery laugh.
Mitsuri asked, holding his strong shoulders with her feeble hands, "Do you have children?"
He answered, looking ahead, "One daughter." The horizon was bathed orange, crows cawing and travelling to their spots before the dark could befall upon them.
She whispered, almost as if scared to pick up a conversation of that nature with him, "Are you a good father?"
Sasuke's voice croaked, his eyes blazed with the unsaid and ineffable emotions, "I wasn't for years, now…I try to be." He revealed the truthful picture of his inadequacies.
"That is good! You are trying," she chipped in, glee laced her tone. "Do you know her husband closely?"
"We are best friends. I am sure I know him better than she does," he let out a snort, snapping his head towards her. Her weary eyes were on him, with a small smile.
"I wish to advise him, but he never visited us," her mouth twisted into a grimace as she said. Her gaze averted from him and moved to experience the varicoloured horizon unfolding. Mitsuri's expression grew wistful, her gaze tracing the fading horizon.
Sasuke shrugged, his voice gruff as he added, "He is missing a few screws—"
Mitsuri's voice was serious, her eyes were narrowed at the wide expanse before her, and her trembling hand squeezed his shoulder. "He is a lucky man, but he is losing her, he should hold on to her now or it would be too late."
Her words were heavy, tough and something he could never tell Naruto about Hinata, it wasn't his part. Their relationship was theirs, and as per Sasuke's last fight with Naruto and their dinner at Ichiraku, Sasuke deduced that Naruto was sensitive about his marriage, a failing marriage, Sasuke mentally snickered at the irony. "I can't simply relay your message to him, he'd misunderstand—"
Mitsuri's gaze shifted, she gawked at Sasuke, her eyes welling up, "But should we hold on to something that is bound to crash and burn?"
"You should tell all this to her—" Sasuke began to suggest but then the air thickened, charged and the scent of blood lingered in the air, something dark and hollow suffocated him. He abruptly stood up, and Mitsuri's tear-struck eyes turned questioning, following every trace of Sasuke's face. The tension pulsed in his veins, he turned around, and his eyes darted towards the cottage where she was.
Sasuke's dark eye awakened the crimson wrath as he peered around, the field was desolate except for the Sato couple, Himawari and Sasuke. His Rinnegan throbbed, nagging at him, the sudden stuffiness in the air collapsed upon him like a boulder, he physically felt as if his shoulders were thwarted.
"Be with Himawari," he ordered to Mitsuri and with lightning streaks fueling his feet, he dashed towards the cottage, the dust and ash were remnants behind his steps.
He almost crashed the doors until he reached her room, the pressing weight continued to crackle around him and twisting inside of him with each step. He pushed the door to her room and the shock of the view before him nipped at his senses, wrenched the breath from his lungs.
Hinata lay slumped against the bed, her white dress stained deep red. Shards of glass glinted in the fading light, one embedded in her thigh, her trembling hands twisting it further into her flesh. Her face was a canvas of agony—bruised, streaked with tears, her lips moving in frantic murmurs.
His attention shifted to the figure at the window, clad in a white robe, a freaking saint, unfurling a scroll in the air, the masked tall figure had his hands absorbed in a dark energy coiling around the wrists and piercing through their palms, the blood trickled down his palm and dropped into the scroll hanging in the air—before the saint could achieve his agenda with his filthy ritual, Sasuke's feet bolted and his hand masterfully swung his sword, digging it into his chest, the saint tumbled out of the window as Sasuke further seared his guts with his crackling Chidori.
His figure disintegrated into the black strings, Sasuke had better things to worry about other than to see how a grown human turned to fraying threads in the air. He caught the scroll in the air and tucked it under his cloak, unable to focus on anything amidst the horrifying wailing from Hinata, who was twisting the glass shard in her thigh with force.
Sasuke rushed to her, crouching down in front of her. "Hinata," he shouted, attempting to make her listen to him. His voice failed to dent her.
She continued her assault on her thigh with the shard of glass, mumbling, "Kai! Kai! Kai!" Her face was bruised, marred with cuts deep and shallow. Her eyes were unable to open, her tears kept on staining her bloodied cheeks. Sasuke hand grabbed Hinata's wrist, in an attempt to halt her abuse of herself. Her weeping became loud, her lips quivering and her shoulders shaking.
Her chakra spiralled around her wrist and fingers, pushing at him. "Hinata! Listen to me, open your eyes." The blood oozed out of her gaping wound, trickling down her pale skin. Sasuke lowered his gaze, wincing at the brutal wound she gave to herself. "Hinata!" he yelled, but her struggle continued, she attempted to yank him back by pushing on his shoulders, "It is me, Sasuke!" he assured, his hold firm on her wrist.
The shard of glass slipped from her trembling fingers, clattering to the blood-soaked floor. His onyx eye darkened into a crimson pool, hoping for him to find an opening within her mind to release her from the Genjutsu.
The floor was muddled with blood, the metallic tang of blood lingered in the air, making him squirm in disgust. Her face was pinched, pale and twisted into an anguish. "Kai! Kai!" she mumbled, her hand that was pushing on his shoulder, grabbed onto the collar of his cloak.
"I can help you with the Genjutsu, open your damn eyes, Hyuga!"
She wailed, her screeching voice imprinted on him, and his blood rushed. Her loud snarls and gasps were making a slave of him, because his mind paused all of his thoughts. Seeing her squirming in front of him, agony biting her insides and the sight of blood cloaking her, panicked him for the first time in a long time.
"Kai! Kai!" she cried out loud, the trepidation loud in the way her voice gave up with a croaky breath.
A minute of panic and terror had passed and Sasuke's senses kicked in, readied him to be on his feet and take action.
He leaned forward, his hand pressed on her wound, whatever medical Jutsu he had ever copied in his life, he induced in his force and let his harsh Chakra sew the skin and heal the seared veins. "Hinata, I am here. I won't let anything happen to you!" His heart thundered in his chest.
"No…Not real," she whimpered, her limp hand raised and dug into her hair as she attempted to rip her hair out, "Not real, leave me."
"I am real. I am here." He leaned forward, snaking his arm behind her and picking up, tossing her over his shoulder, she continued to whisper pleas to leave her.
Her hands were punching the back of Sasuke. "Leave me, go away, go…go…" She snivelled, her sobs were tugging at his chest but he continued to run out of the cottage.
Bursting from the cottage, he was met with a wave of alarm. Mitsuri gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, while Umemiya's face twisted in shock. Himawari rushed toward them, tears spilling as she cried, "Mommy! What happened to Mommy?"
"What happened to Hinata?" Umemiya appeared before him, brows drawn together. The terror visible in every lineament of his face, Mitsuri limply rose from her chair and held onto her husband's arm, her eyes roaming over the fallen state of Hinata in his arm, shrieking and writhing.
"Mommy will be fine, we are leaving…come." He directed his words to Himawari who displayed a behaviour worthy of notice as she grabbed onto Sasuke's cloak. Hinata's quiet sobs were the only sound he could hear, reverberating through him like a distant, mournful echo.
"She will let you know I am sure, I need to leave right away, I will send any ninja to deal with the mess and guard your cottage for a few days—" he explained to the anxious and expectant eyes of the elders.
Umemiya spoke up, nodding, "Please keep her safe."
"Always," Sasuke whispered under his breath, as he summoned his Rinnegan to pulse back into life.
The air crackled with an imperceptible shift, his Rinnegan glimmered and the low and vibrating pain ached in his eyes, a storm of chakra jumbled up within him and throbbed. The space before him was tearing, rippling and distorting like the surface of water being disturbed by a single drop. The ripple grew, spiralling into an opening, inky black swirled with deep purple and violet light sparked at the edges, the void was the portal where Sasuke stepped in carrying the unconscious Hinata and the sniffling child.
His portal sucked them in, and a second of dark strokes flashed through his eyes before he found himself in the busy corridor of the Konoha Hospital. The people passing through at his sides almost yelped and caused an uproar to see him emerge in the middle.
Grateful for what little luck still clung to him, Sasuke caught sight of Sakura exiting a patient's room. Relief flickered in his eyes as he called out, "Sakura!"
"Sasuke—" she began to smile but her smile dropped as she took the view of his shattered state, "What happened to her?" she came rushing to him, shouting at the top of her lungs, her eyes lowered to Himawari who was clutching the back of his cloak as if her life depended on it.
Before Sasuke could answer, Himawari's tiny voice broke the moment. "Mommy…" she sniffled.
"Stretcher!" Sakura barked, her authority slicing through the chaos. The nurse pushing an empty wheelchair didn't hesitate, darting off to retrieve a stretcher. Sasuke carefully laid Hinata's fragile form onto it when it arrived, his jaw clenched to keep from trembling as two medics whisked her away into a room.
"Sasuke—"
Behind Sakura, someone's raspy voice called out to the child, "Himawari?"
"Aunt Hanabi!" Himawari left his side and rushed to the figure emerging with curious and frightened eyes, "Mommy is hurt!" The child was taken into an embrace by a woman with brown hair and pale eyes, her sister. Her sister glared at him, questions bubbling in her conflicted gaze.
Hiashi emerged out of the room, holding his arm and keeping his head bowed. "Grandfather!" Himawari's wail caught his attention, his wary eyes darted on the weeping child in his daughter's arms and the unusual presence of Sasuke amidst this.
He asked sternly, "What is happening here?"
Sakura turned to Sasuke, her light touch on his arm shook him, "Sasuke, I need to know before I go in—"
"I am not sure, Hinata was attacked by one of the saints in the cottage and she is in some type of Genjutsu but unable to break it," he confessed, his breathing was shallow, and there was a lump in his throat, unable to make him speak. He failed to protect her. The mere thought feasted on him.
"What did you do to my sister?" Hanabi lurched towards him, pointing a finger at him, "Aren't you supposed to be the master of Genjutsu? Uchiha?" Accusation burned in her stare, though it mingled with fear and confusion.
"Hanabi, I understand your concern but kindly refrain from blaming him when he is the one who brought her here!" Sakura's hand pressed onto Hanabi's as she pushed her back.
Hiashi grabbed Hanabi by the shoulder and pulled her back, "Hanabi, calm down. I will deal with this, you should take Himawari away and pick up Boruto."
"I won't leave Mommy!" Himawari protested, attempting to hop off her aunt's embrace.
Sasuke stepped in, his bloodied hand patting the head of Himawari as she assured him, "Himawari, I will take care of your Mom, you go take care of your brother…alright?"
"But—"
"I am sure your Mom would love to see you with your Boruto while she is being treated."
Her blue eyes sparkled with hot tears as she pleaded, "Promise that s-she'll be okay?"
Sasuke nodded, stepping away, "Of course, I will make sure of it."
"Daddy—"
Sasuke promised as Himawari snuggled into her aunt's embrace, sobbing and hiccupping, "He will come to you once he looks after your Mom."
Hanabi fumed, her glare directed at everyone, including her father. "I will drop Himawari with Boruto, he is with Shino-san, and I am coming here to be with my sister!" She turned on her heels and stormed off.
"Kindly explain, Uchiha-san." Hiashi folded his arms across his chest, the fatherly worry etched on his face despite the stoic mask.
"As I have explained," he gritted his teeth, worrying about the ticking time, each passing minute was flaring her afflictions, "She is in Genjutsu, unable to differentiate between reality and vision. She wounded her thigh with glass to get out of it…so I believe that she managed to possess some sort of consciousness—"
"She has tremendous Chakra control, she should be able to do the release—"
Sasuke snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. "She tried. But she was failing!"
Hiashi negated, shaking his head, "Her Byakugan gives her an advantage in detecting a Genjutsu—"
Sasuke heaved a deep sigh, controlling the anger pulsing through him, "Hiashi…Hiashi-sama, don't you think I know this—"
Hiashi opened his mouth to retort, but Sakura interjected, her tone sharp and commanding. "That's enough! Sasuke, Hiashi-sama—this isn't helping her. I've heard what I need to know." She turned and hurried into the room where Hinata lay.
"I am going to bring Naruto," he muttered, earning a nod from Hiashi, whose Byakugan veins mapped his face as he peered inside the room where Hinata was kept. "Is she…" Sasuke began to ask.
"Still unconscious," Hiashi informed, Sasuke nodded and let his Rinnegan tear through the space again, the pounding at the back of his eye was unbearable at the continuous use of Rinnegan in short intervals. The tear in the space, glinting with purple and black invited Sasuke and he stepped inside.
As he stepped out, with a dizziness jolting his mind, he was in Hokage's room where ANBU were gathered and Naruto was on his Hokage chair, in the middle of his address. His blue eyes widened, taking in the surprise appearance of a dizzy and drained Sasuke. Shikamaru beside him huffed.
Naruto chipped in, "Teme….I mean, Sasuke, what are you doing?"
"You," he pointed at Naruto, then he shifted to Shikamaru, "And you!" The portal pulsed in the space, and the swirling energy seemed to crackle at the edges, "Now!" He pointed to the opening in the space for them.
The ANBU were unmasked, their emotions of befuddlement bare on their faces.
Naruto rose from his chair, the wood scraping on the floor with a screeching noise, he said, "Sasuke…"
Sasuke seethed, almost yelling at Naruto for being thick-headed and slow, "Hinata is in the hospital, just come with me…both of you! It is an emergency."
Naruto's face fell; his expression turned tormented, and his stare became stony. "What!" he almost howled, Shikamaru dismissed the gathered audience and pushed Naruto towards the portal, "Sasuke, what happened to her? Tell me—"
"Naruto, we can discuss this in the hospital!" Shikamaru squeezed Naruto's shoulder, Naruto was about to retort but then Sasuke leaned forward and yanked Naruto towards the opening with a firm tug. All three of them landed on the corridor of the hospital, Sasuke's head buzzed and spun, his Chakra weakening within him as his Rinnegan fed off on most of its energy already.
"Now, tell me!" Naruto hollered, snagging Sasuke's arm, but his eyes were fixated on the room. Sasuke's eyes could detect the familiar chakra of Hiashi, flickering blue and white inside the room. He pulled himself off Naruto's grasp and rushed ahead, crashing inside the room.
Sakura stood beside the bed where Hinata's frail body lay unconscious, Shizune from the other end was poking needles into her veins. When they entered, the sight of Hinata's fragile form on the hospital bed silenced even Naruto's questions.
Naruto lunged forward, his body thwarting Sasuke's, Naruto sat on the edge of the bed and leaned forward to press a kiss on Hinata's forehead, Sasuke snapped his head away and glanced towards Sakura was checking the charts while nodding to whatever Hiashi was discussing with her.
Shikamaru asked Sasuke, leaning at the doorway, "Who were the assailants?"
Sasuke responded, his voice brittle, "The saints…first they attacked us on our way then they found her at the cottage—"
"Where were you, Sasuke? I sent you to protect her!" Naruto turned away from the bed and hurled forward towards him, almost grabbing the flap of the collar but Shikamaru came in between, pushing Naruto two steps away. "You should have brought her back to me when you were attacked!" Naruto's soft eyes turned grim and unforgiving. His words blazed with fury and anger.
His mind reeled with flashes of memory from the cave where Hinata had healed him and pushed him to go back to Konoha, but he prided himself as a responsible guard to protect her, to let nothing happen to her but he forced her to continue.
Sasuke had nothing to justify himself with against Naruto's fair retort. His eyes darted to his pale-eyed friend, blood-stained and gaunt on the thin mattress, hooked with multiple needles. For the first time in a long time, his missing arm sizzled with the phantom pain, that snaked into his bones and slithered up his neck. The severed ends of his arm ached.
His face contorted with fear of the consequences of his one rash decision, Sakura approached him and patted his arm, her chakra seeping into him, "Sasuke-kun, Naruto is just worried and both of you should take this out of the room—"
"What is her condition?" he tilted his head, meeting her green eyes. She gulped and nodded, taking a step back and flipped through the pages on her chart board, "Her chakra is depleted, there is hardly any chakra left in her. And as you deduced, she is in a Genjutsu, which is causing an erratic reaction in her oxygen levels. The chakra points in her body are being blocked with each passing minute. Her chakra pathways around her eyes are severely inflamed while her optical nerves are weakened severely—she could go blind—"
"Someone attempted to steal her Byakugan by rendering her useless," Hiashi cut in, presenting his opinion which irked Sasuke. Why does he care about the damn Byakugan at the moment?
Sasuke fetched the scrolls from his pocket, handing them over to Shikamaru, his fingers carried a subtle tremor. His voice was clipped but steady, "The opponent was performing a blood Jutsu with this scroll—"
"Where is that bastard?" Naruto shouted with his grimace still on his face. His shoulders squared and the Hokage robes tightened around the muscles.
Sasuke answered, his eyes still on Shikamaru, unable to meet Naruto's accusing gaze, "I killed him." His voice was hollow, devoid of triumph.
Shikamaru stepped in, his keen mind already dissecting the information. "Let me see these," he muttered, his calculating gaze shifting between the scrolls and Sasuke.
Hiashi walked up to Sakura, his eyes almost pleading, "What can you do for my daughter, Haruno-san?"
Sakura frowned, her sharp green eyes scanning Hinata's frail, battered form. "We're doing everything we can to stabilize her," she said, her tone clipped with focus. "Her chakra reserves are completely depleted. If we can get her to wake up, we'll address the Genjutsu and internal injuries... and the damage to her Byakugan—"
Hiashi interrupted, his voice faltering but resolute. "Just keep her alive. Byakugan or no Byakugan." His words struck the room like a hammer, the finality of his plea silencing all other noise.
"I will put in my best, Hyuga-sama." Sakura nodded, offering a faltering smile. The battered state of Hinata was a dreadful sight for everyone, Sasuke felt himself crippled under the pressing guilt. Every injury, every anguished breath from Hinata, felt like a blade carving through him.
Hiashi turned to Sasuke, "I believe those scrolls are of forbidden Jutsu which were sealed by the second and the third. As per our meetings with the Hokage," Hiashi looked at Naruto who stuck by Hinata's side, holding her skeletal hand. "The saints, these rogues have been stealing scrolls and valuable items from the allied nations."
"What is the Jutsu?" Sasuke queried. Disdain encroached on his features.
"Harvesting Byakugan or any bloodline limit…even Sharingan, but compared to a Sharingan user, someone with Byakugan can fall prey to a blood-involved Genjutsu easily," Hiashi explained. "The involvement of multiple forbidden Jutsu is in the play here; the blood Jutsu cast with the forbidden Genjutsu drains the victim of his Chakra, rendering them useless for an attempt of release."
Sasuke shook his head, wincing at the possibility, his sanity was barely tethered. His mind raced, piecing together the implications. "How could a Genjutsu this powerful exist without Sharingan influence?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his entirety was suddenly petrified.
Hiashi let out a bitter chuckle. "There is a reason this was sealed. A Jutsu that causes a Genjutsu more powerful than a Sharingan's ability to harvest Byakugan by blocking Chakra points—this was a danger to the Uchihas as well as the Hyugas." Sasuke was appalled by the possibilities of forbidden Jutsus, "But how were they stolen—"
Naruto interfered, cutting off Hiashi's question that could point out his incompetency. With distress spreading across his features, Naruto retorted, "We had a critical setback with our Jutsus being stolen, just as Suna and Ame…I am actively working!" Hiashi shrugged, his eyes moving away from Naruto, as if he carried enough contempt and was tired, "But will my…will Kurama's Chakra help?"
Sakura quipped, her green glow emanating from her palms pressed at the temples of Hinata, "No! We can not take any risk. Blood Jutsus are sensitive to handle. All she needs right now is control over her mind, her body will be able to recover her Chakra—"
Shikamaru let out a growl, and the flick of his lighter echoed in the room, what he revealed stunned the room, "One of the scrolls is about concealment. This is probably why you and Hinata couldn't sense the saints. This is the one that has been causing havoc for other countries too." Shikamaru huffed, his eyelids drooped, "The other one is exactly about what Hiashi-sama proclaims; related to Genjutsu and ocular bloodline limits."
Before he could pause on the pieces of information being shared and the dots connecting to a bigger and a horrifying picture, a faint shriek caught their attention, turning their heads towards the thin and feeble figure lying on the bed. The sharp cries pierce through Sasuke as if the poisoned gaping wound she healed, reopened, burning him and cutting through him like a blade.
He stood at the edge of the bed, while Naruto and Sakura bolted forward, Naruto's strong grasp on her arms while Sakura's whirling Chakra seeped into the sides of her forehead but Hinata thrashed on the bed, jerking her hand off Naruto's, her screams were raw and anguished.
Her eyes flickered open with Byakugan pulsing, her hands clutched the sides of her head with her half-lidded eyes wildly darting around the room, seeing red as if she was a cornered animal. Sasuke's feet remained frozen on the ground, as if the forces beneath the ground shackled him, pulling him back from her.
Naruto attempted to engulf her in an embrace but her chakra-laced hands pushed him into the middle of the chest, and her cries grew more desperate. Two nurses entered the room, rushing to restrain her and assist Shizune and Sakura. Shikamaru checked upon Naruto's sagged figure on the wall.
Sasuke remained where he was, his eyes boring into her frame, observing like a handicap as she was dissolving into her fear that clawed at her insides and mirrored her agony within him.
His jaw tightened but his eyes softened at the sight of sweat drenching her, something inside him continued to snap. The tension roiling inside him nipped at him, shattering the control he possessed.
Her voice turned from a scream to a plea, "Boruto! Himawari!" she kept on repeating her children's names as if they were a prayer.
With the way her afflictions were tearing her apart, making her breath ragged and chakra erratic—the weight of her state punched his gut, harder than any blow he had ever endured. Hinata was huddled into herself, backing away from the approaching touch of nurses and Sakura or her husband, drawing her knees to her chest, burying her tear-stained face into it.
He gripped the edge of the bed, the iron rod was branded with his harsh chakra pouring from his palm. The thick air rumbled, as the taste of ash began to linger. Her sobs were jagged, her body trembled violently at the shift of energy in the room.
She lifted her head from her knees and for a split second, her red-rimmed, tear-filled eyes met his and hesitation flitted between them, a faint sense of recognition sparked.
A strangled sob escaped her quivering lips, "No…this is not real!" she protested while her voice cracked, "You are not real!" Her disorientation anchored him, the intensity between them drew him in.
He mustered enough courage to begin moving towards her, closer to her. His fingers twitched at his side, urging him to hold her but he didn't intend to impose, so he stood beside Naruto and sighed, "Hinata…"
"No." She shook her head, fists clenching and stuck to her chest. The mere word gutted him.
He leaned forward, extending his hand towards her, "Hyuga…" his voice trailed.
She whimpered, "Uchiha-san?" She looked up, tears clinging to her eyelashes. Her breathing was shallow, but the moment she recognized him, her eyes widened but then the haze washed over her and her body gave in under the pressure of restraints coiled around her frame by the staff. The paranoia of witnessing disappointment, blame and anger in her eyes flared within him.
But before he could read the recognition in her gaze, her eyes rolled back as she fell back on the bed as unconsciousness reclaimed her, his hand remained hovering in the air, extended towards her. Her lips remain parted—as if she fell with another plea for him on her tongue and as if she couldn't fight the ache caging her, alone.
Hinata…she was a silent hum, a melodious rhythm and an addicting tune—a siren. She sang his name in a breathy tone as if he was her last chance, her only chance…before she wilted.
And with that realization, he flinched. The sanity he had reclaimed years ago began to slip away, tucking itself in the darkest corners of his being.
.
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A/N: FAVS AND REVIEWS ARE APPRECIATED AND NEEDED TOO HEHE
- One of the reasons I wanted to add this side-plot was to show that Konoha is dealing with shit, that Naruto is attempting to resolve which is the cause of his busy schedule. But...If he finds time for other things besides his family amidst this, that is his issue but overall, our Hokage is actually occupied with Rogues called Saints, who are stealing forbidden Jutsus.
- Also, it has always made me wonder which Jutsus were sealed, and why are they forbidden— hence, many creative liberties have been taken here as per my headcanons. Those Jutsus and Scrolls were sealed for sure because they threatened the powers of the influential parties.
- What do you think is her Genjutsu?
- SasuHina is ...moving, I guess hehe.
-Idk if you have noticed that I am writing SasuHina scenes and introspection/narration in parallel manner. It is exciting for me.
- Yall can talk to me through tumblr too ( purpleskiesupwardsxx )
- See you in next Chapter guys! Make sure to leave reviews!
Ella!