"Shut up Hyuga. You have me and the dobe. That's all you need."
Hinata walked along a thin stream of water that led to a lake in the forest just on the outskirts of the village. She thought about Uchiha's words as she enjoyed the cool moving water on her feet.
He wasn't lying. It was a shocker, and she was flabbergasted that Naruto was able to hold some power to his name already at a young age and as a newly established ninja. To see that people were starting to show Naruto the respect he deserved made a smile appear on her face. Naruto was able to convince Lady Tsunade to get Hinata an apartment near him.
It was hard for Hinata to trust people aside from Naruto at the moment, but the female Hokage seemed to have this passionate support for Hinata and went at the bat for her when it came to her gaining her freedom.
The Hyuga clan were strong people and gave resistance to the idea, stating that Hinata should be with them. Oddly enough the Hyuga elders gave more of a fight then her father. He seemed fine with the idea of Hinata living without the Hyuga's.
Besides, Hinata believed that everyone knew what was going to happen the moment she returned to the Hyuga compound.
Half of her felt ashamed, and like a coward for leaving the Hyuga clan and not going back to fight for her position and rights. She was entitled to the title of clan heir. She was strong enough for the position. In all retrospect she had EARNED the position. She felt they were trying to suppress her because of the changes she wanted to make within the clan and because she was female.
…Maybe that last part was a stretch. Hanabi was female as well, she was strong, and she was feisty. Hinata wouldn't take that away from her.
So honestly Hinata had no CLUE why they didn't want her. Did Hanabi give the appearance of the perfect heir more than her? She just couldn't understand and that was something that was starting to eat her up.
She voiced these thoughts to Lady Tsunade when ROOT was officially disbanded, and she was placed back in the ranks of Konoha ninjas. She voiced how she overall felt about the Hyuga clan, Tsunade listened and Hinata was taken back that someone of an older generation actually listened to her.
Tsunade told her what she was feeling made sense, it brought a lot of things full circle. Hinata was confused and wanted to be in on the supposed obvious information.
'It's pretty obvious Hinata. You hate your family.'
Hinata looked shocked and outraged by the accusation from Lady Tsunade. Hinata didn't hate anyone, she tried to 'hate' Naruto and look where that got her.
She didn't 'hate' her family. Especially her immediate family. Hinata didn't hate them, she didn't love them, she didn't feel anything when it came to the Hyuga clan. She couldn't think of a real reason to hate them for her childhood. She was the weak one, she was the one holding back. It wasn't like she could say she was abused. They didn't starve her or anything.
'There is a difference between physical abuse, child neglect and mental abuse Hinata. Just because you grew up in a nice big house and a prestigious clan, doesn't mean that they weren't mentally hurting you. Calling you names, making you feel and act a certain way that wasn't normal for someone your age to act. When I met you when you were 13 there was a clear difference between how Sakura's family treated her and how your family treated you. Thus a big difference in personalities. Trust me when I say I know how childhood and adolescent trauma can fuck up your mind.'
This information caused Hinata to think long and hard some days on herself. Did she have it in her to hate the people that raised her? Did they really raise her? Or was it more so just her and her mother and when she died they abused her. Abused her until she was completely useless and cast her to her sensei to raise her. The word abuse often felt too extreme to her. Felt too much like she was saying someone beat her horribly.
'Many people especially from high clans like the Hyuga clan can easily mask abuse for training Hinata. Do you really think it was proper training?'
Her father loved her, he didn't show it, but she knew he TRIED. He had apologized for how he treated her in the past. Did that mean the training sessions weren't really training? She refused to believe her father out right abused her, but she wouldn't be surprised if the other 'training partners' the Hyuga elders pushed on her were a form of punishment.
That raised the question. How did she really feel about her father?
'Does that mean you forgave your father? He apologized because he knew he was wrong. He knew what he was doing was WRONG Hinata. Granted his last-minute attempt to save you from getting sealed was coming from his heart, but it wouldn't have resulted to that if he didn't outcast you from the clan. That being said, things grew out of his hands and he had to remove you from the clan to save you. Do not walk away from this thinking your father doesn't love you, he did, and he still does. He also made mistakes Hinata. It's up to you to be forgiving of that.'
Everything she said made sense. Everyone's input did. Lady Tsunade, Naruto and even Sasuke's input made sense.
'Your father tried to solve this as quiet as possible. That meant he couldn't come to me. He would look weak. He tried and he was desperate, Danzo is the definition of a last resort. Danzo took one look at you that night and saw the sparkle of anger in your eye. Of hate. He took that sparkle and made you into something…dangerous.'
That's right. She was trained to be dangerous. She had skills. She was strong now, her own person. She didn't want to lose that.
'You are a human being first Hinata. You have to understand that. You are not just some weapon. That being said I will still give you missions to your skill level. I will not insult you to anything lower. There could possibly be an upcoming war against this Akatsuki. I believe your skill set will be very useful leading up to it.'
It had been two months since Danzo was killed and three weeks since Hinata grew the courage to have that mind opening conversation with Lady Tsunade. Itachi was pardoned for the Uchiha massacre and while the older Uchiha didn't want word to get out that his clan was planning on a coup, it was something that had to be addressed. Sasuke was pretty much confined in the village. He was to undergo psychological therapy and intel collection. Everyone was surprised that he gave absolutely no resistance.
Most of the time the younger Uchiha would be seen around Team 7, or just Naruto and here and there he would be around his brother. It was hard for Sasuke to be around Itachi without a million and one negative thoughts going through his head. Sasuke ultimately understood why Itachi did what he did, but it was going to take a hell of amount of time to become on positive terms with one another.
Not a lot of people knew of what Naruto, Hinata and Sasuke had going on. Mainly because the three of them were trying to figure it out themselves. You didn't see the three just out and about together. Sasuke and Hinata were private people like that. Plus they both felt like it was best for Naruto not to yet be seen with them as an item yet.
Sasuke wanted Naruto's name to hold more girth and he wanted the Uchiha name to not leave a bad taste in so many people's mouth. Naruto understood that, he never really understood Hinata's purpose of keeping him and her a secret though.
Hinata knew by the way Naruto shoulders would rub against her in public when they were together that he wanted more. Just the slightest intimacy when they were out and about would make Naruto the happiest ninja ever. Hinata was beautiful, and Naruto knew that the rest of the male population knew that as well.
So what if he wanted to publicly mark her as his.
Hinata was there, but it seemed like she wasn't there at the same time. She could be standing near Naruto while he was talking to Sakura or anyone else and she wouldn't say a word. She'd talk of course if someone spoke to her, but for the most part she almost seemed very 'Sai-like' in faking her emotions.
She didn't reach for Naruto's hand in public. She didn't look up at him often and show some type of affection while in public either. If someone said she was Naruto's personal android then he was certain people would believe it. It was odd to Naruto really, sometimes he honestly thought maybe she didn't want this. Him or the relationship he wanted with her.
Then she would surprise him and throw him in for a loop when they were in private quarters. She would tug his jacket and look at him with vulnerable eyes and lean up to kiss him. Sometimes she would make it a quick peck, and other times she would hop in his arms and kiss him with urgency he had no clue she had.
It took some time for Naruto to learn Hinata was still this shy, conservative person. Maybe she was hesitant to admit to the world that she was in a polygamous relationship at the moment due to her family name. He wasn't exactly sure. In private though she gave him all her attention and affection that he could ask for, and he just wanted to give her the world for it.
Hinata smiled to herself, catching herself before her mind wandered anymore. She always got so much excitement seeing Naruto happy. It was even interesting when Sasuke was around them and she would catch the Uchiha openly happy and calm around her.
"You said your elements were fire and lighting Hyuga. Yet all I see every time I see you. You're practicing with water."
Hinata looked up from her wet feet and gave Sasuke an owl like look. He was in the water with her. He took his sandals off and rolled up his pants because the feeling of wet clothing was something he didn't like compared to Hinata, who didn't care.
She would say the first week or so of Sasuke being back it was a little awkward. It was only awkward if Naruto tried to spend time with them at the same time. Which sometimes was fair because it was not like Naruto wasn't busy with life either. Sasuke had more free time than Hinata and Naruto since he was pretty much confined to the village. Hinata had more time than Naruto because she was currently on hiatus for the moment from missions. So Naruto in fact was the busiest of the three.
Sasuke was a manly man, just like Naruto and the major difference Hinata learned compared to Naruto was that Sasuke was quiet and ruthless. If Sasuke wanted to touch Naruto in public, he would. If Sasuke wanted to call someone out even under the current situation he was under, he would. Sasuke still spoke little to Hinata, but he still gave his input here and there when it came to her if he was listening long enough or was around her.
Hinata started to notice recently, maybe the last month or so, that she would catch Sasuke 'randomly' when he wasn't with Naruto. If she was in the market, so was he, so he would shop with her and walk her home. If she was training in the night, he just so happened to be training too, so he'd wait for her and walk her home.
Exercising, leisurely walking, seeing Lady Tsunade, ANYWHERE she went she would 'randomly' see that Sasuke just so happened to be there and he would find that time to have short conversations with her and walk her home.
Hinata wasn't the mindless soldier that Sasuke believed. She knew when someone was trying to spend time with her. In Sasuke's case, he was trying to understand her.
He found out she wasn't the Hyuga heir and hadn't been for some time. He found out about her leaving the Hyuga clan and while it took some time and him guessing, he found out that her family was actually utter shit. He found out she loved sweets, to his dismay, but he also found out she was a tea drinker and invested a lot of her time in the finer foods.
Sasuke found out she was human.
Back to their current situation, Hinata turned around and was not surprised to see Naruto grinning at her. "Hinata, you think too hard. Every time you come out here I know you're thinking too hard." He didn't point out that she came out here frequently.
Naruto was in the water as well with rolled up pants and shoe-less, he stepped closer to Hinata and smiled at how calm she looked. She still wasn't a happy-go-lucky chipper person. She never really was, but she was doing better at enjoying life.
Some days weren't easy for Naruto, Sasuke or her. In regard to their own personal demons. They were all finding ways to cope, and oddly enough Naruto felt his best way to get over things was to either train, learn a new Jutsu, learn a new fighting technique or be around Hinata and Sasuke.
He hoped he had the same effect of them.
Naruto ran his fingers through Hinata's hair and watched her close her eyes relaxed and lean into his touch. The two leaned into one another for a kiss, it was quick, but soft and warm. It was one of those kisses that depending on the mood could lead to more or it could be just enough. When Naruto separated from her he smiled while looking at her lavender pools.
"Hinata."
Hinata didn't blush when she turned and looked at Sasuke after he called her name. Naruto often kissed her in front of Sasuke. While in the beginning Sasuke showed slight agitation from the affection, he soon grew comfortable with it. Besides she said nothing when Naruto wanted to show affection to Sasuke and plant his lips on Sasuke.
Who by the way accepted the kisses and affection with no resistance.
They only did things like this when they were absolutely alone. Probably why Naruto felt so therapeutic, calm and happy when it was just them.
"Give me permission to kiss you."
Hinata's eyebrows raised slightly at what Sasuke said. For the past two months it had been basically her and Sasuke sharing Naruto. They never indulged with one another. Has the thought ever crossed her mind? She would be lying if she said no. It would seem the temptation crossed Sasuke's mind a bit more.
Hinata frowned slightly at the demand he was making on her. She wasn't a person of words it was hard for her to express when someone had offended her. She frowned at him and her eyes were guarded.
The trust between her and Sasuke wasn't established yet, so it was still hard for her to accept his rude demeanor. Sasuke looked at her with his typical straight arrow face like what he said wasn't close to rude and she should accept it.
"Sasuke's been crushing on ya Hinata. As you know he is socially inept and struggles with saying what emotionally is really on his mind."
Sasuke shot Naruto a heated angry look. Did he really have the nerve to call someone else socially inept? The blonde simply shook the glare off and continued to smile at Hinata, his hands coming up beside her to rub her arms soothingly. Said person was still frowning before she looked off to the side with slightly puffed cheeks.
"I may not be the Hyuga heir anymore. I may not be anything special. Still…please speak to me how you would properly speak to a lady you want to have relations with."
The two males actually looked shocked at her words. Naruto for the most part has treated Hinata like a princess. She would always be a princess to him. Someone that was too good for him. His angel. Even though in the past he thought she was spit that came out from Satan's throat. He cringed now at how messed up the two behaved towards one another.
Sasuke…was Sasuke. He talked to any person, male or female like this. That being said. Him and Hinata did grow up in conservative clans. He knew how to properly talk to a female. He just didn't do it. Still, Sasuke took some time over the past two months to understand Hinata more so he knew better on how to talk to her about sharing a kiss.
He knew Naruto, he understood Naruto. That wasn't the problem. He had to understand Hinata for she came with the package deal of Naruto…and Sasuke wanted Naruto.
Still, memories from how Sasuke felt when he was recovering from the first encounter with Hinata would often flood parts of his mind. He really did want to know if she absolutely hated him that much.
Part of his time in the village he was able to reflect on a lot when it came to his past and what he had done to make people dislike him. He was able to fully understand that really, he did not hate the Hyuga girl, but he could see why she disliked him.
If anything Sasuke had this odd interest in her. It just seemed like his feelings towards her might be one way, he didn't know how she felt with him or around him. Naruto told him that Hinata was like that in public in general, but Sasuke wasn't fully convinced. He wanted to know how she genuinely felt about him. If she even remotely found him attractive or could even care for him on the same level she cared for Naruto.
That was the only way this all was going to work. Right? By him and her caring for one another on the same level they cared for Naruto. This couldn't work based off of him and her taking turns with Naruto and growing jealous of one another.
So Sasuke spent time when he could with Hinata. He watched her. She was interesting to watch so that was a plus. Learning about her life, her problems with her father and her clan, who he thought were Class A douche bags. How he could relate to that, it was interesting to see how perfectly flawed she was. Just watching how Hinata held so many things in, it made him look in the mirror at himself a couple of times.
Naruto held her in such high regards, like an angel. Sasuke though, he could see her flaws, her clipped wings. He liked her more this way.
The thing that he thought was so interesting about the three of them was the fact that they all wanted to be free.
So Sasuke acknowledged that Hinata got the raw end of the deal with her family. That her dignity was stripped, and she currently felt worthless, probably more worthless then she did before joining ROOT. He told her once that she had Naruto and himself, so he understood that hecouldgo the extra yard for her and not be totally out of sync between the three of them.
"Stop talking so pitiful. You may not have that dumb title of heir anymore, but you are still a Hyuga and ninja. They cannot take your bloodline from you. Why do you let people that are weaker than you make your life so complicated? You're still a woman, you still have grace and class. I can see that, and I've known you the fraction of time that the dobe has. That's what makes me interested in you and attracted to you. You're different and cultivating."
Hinata's puffed cheeks deflated and she looked at Sasuke with a growing blush. She never blushed at him before and something about seeing her blush for him made him understand Naruto's infatuation with her more and more.
He arched a brow at her and held back a smirk, "Your permission."
Her blush intensified and he couldn't hold back his smirk anymore. At seeing Sasuke's amused, light hearted face, Hinata finally gave in. "Yes. You can kiss me."
Naruto and Sasuke both were not hesitant men. So of course the young Uchiha wouldn't take too much time to walk over and close the distance between him and Hinata. He was gentle contrary to popular belief of him being constantly rough around the edges. He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her.
Sasuke thought about doing this for some time. He's told Naruto of these thoughts and was relieved to get no jealousy or negativity from his other counterpart. Naruto seemed relieved, happy even that Sasuke was having such thoughts of the woman that in the past continuously tried to kill him and came very close to indeed doing that.
So in reality Naruto was glad Sasuke was just as crazy as him.
Sasuke noted how his whole body easily relaxed into Hinata's. She was not as rough as she portrayed while in mission mode. She was actually very feminine and soft. She smelled of vanilla and lavender and it was oh so relaxing. Her chubby soft cheeks were something he thought about recently and wanted to touch. He was not disappointed. How could she be so soft and yet be so dangerous?
When he separated a genuine smile came on his face and when Hinata opened her eyes and finally noticed his smile it brought a smile to her face as well. Sasuke was the first to compose himself and clear his throat, "Thank you."
Hinata gave an airy laugh at his comment, "Yes, it was nice."
Sasuke didn't comment back and made a 'hmph' sound before backing away from her, "Why are you always alone anyways? You do not communicate with anyone. Aside from you finding me and Naruto when we are alone. You yourself are always alone. Even more than what I'd like to be."
Still behind her, Naruto wrapped an arm around Hinata's waist and laid his head on her shoulder, "Hate to admit it, but teme is right. I thought after your talk with granny you'd try to reach out to our friends again. At least your former sensei or Neji."
Hinata took in their words and paused for a minute before speaking, she knew Naruto wasn't going to be a fan of this at all. "I…I requested to go on missions again."
She felt Naruto's arm stiffen and he pulled her tighter to him, "Hinata."
"I am fine. I do my best now when I am busy. When I do what I am good at."
Naruto frowned at this. He didn't like her answer and felt the need to get space between them and when he tried to pull his arm from her she surprised him in a rare moment of affection in front of another by holding him tight to her.
Sasuke was quiet for the most part. He understood why Naruto was upset and then at the same time he felt it was best to give Hinata the benefit of doubt. He himself understood what it felt like to want to just get away and be free.
Naruto sighed and buried his face further into her neck before mumbling, "You're good at a lot of things Hinata. More than what you think you're only good at."
Sasuke frowned at this, "What is it that you're only good at?"
Hinata took a deep breath before one of her hands went to massage Naruto's scalp and she looked at Sasuke with guarded eyes. "I didn't say this was the only thing I am good at."
Sasuke arched a brow, "So what is it?" He watched as Hinata's lips thinned slightly before she spoke, "Information gathering. Spying."
Sasuke gave her a deadpanned look from her trying to sugar coat her words, "So what you were doing before. Assassination."
"It wasn't always assassination."
Sasuke hummed at Hinata's response and looked at Naruto. Clearly their other half wasn't happy about this. Which in result, made him not happy about this.
"What is running from your problems going to do other than create more problems."
As Hinata spoke she gently maneuvered her way from Naruto and made it so him along with Sasuke were facing her. She finally gave a bright smile while looking at the two, "Please do not worry. I am not running from anything. I am simply trying to find my place. Lord Danzo-"
Naruto frowned at this, "Hinata."
Hinata ignored the correction. Old habits. They were hard to kick. Especially the type of connection Hinata had within ROOT and Danzo.
"He wasn't exactly wrong about the ninja world. There are people that have to do the tasks that not everyone wants to do. I am GOOD at what I do. I can do things that not every ninja can do."
Naruto looked off to the side looking at the gentle stream of the water and immediately thought about how it reminded him of Hinata. "Are you sure you are well enough for this? It's only been two months Hinata. You won't even connect with people and now you want to go back out on missions? Those types of missions."
Missions that isolated her and took her out of touch of reality. Missions that took her away from them.
Hinata continued to hold her graceful smile. Naruto had to see her progress and growth. The Hinata from over a year ago, the one that wouldn't even answer to her real name, that Hinata had changed so much over time. She was SMILING again.
She took Naruto's hand and looked at Sasuke holding out her hand waiting for him to accept her gesture. Sasuke surprisingly didn't hesitate and gave her his hand. "Plus you are wrong. I have connected with people. I have connected with Naruto and Sasuke."
Hinata could have sworn both males in front of her held a light blush. She couldn't help but give an airy laugh at their off-guard faces. Naruto's face was way redder than Sasuke's and he looked at her with a rather suffocating look.
"We can talk about this more at your place maybe Hinata? My apartment isn't as spacious and decorative as yours and teme went back staying with his brother."
Hinata looked a little confused. Sasuke stayed with Itachi but their place was still huge compared to her and Naruto's little apartments. Mainly so Sasuke could keep the distance he needed at the moment between him and Itachi.
Her apartment looked a little different compared to Naruto's because she added more of a feminine touch and had an actual bedroom then the loft Naruto had. Still she didn't understand why he'd rather go to her apartment.
Sasuke smirked at this before matching Naruto's face with the same smoldering look. This was the perfect opportunity to get to know a more in depth part of Hinata. He wouldn't admit it to Hinata, ever, but it was a 'pillow talk' conversation he had with Naruto.
That he wanted the Hyuga girl. That he wanted to be with Hinata and make her beg for him this time around. To see her vulnerable like she has seen him. "Naruto talks a lot about how good your cooking and tea is."
Hinata looked innocently confused. They wanted to go to her apartment for her to cook and make tea? She guessed that made sense.