Chapter 8: Out of time

Hinata kneeled outside the door with her head bowed. The sound of coughing and haggard breathing echoed throughout the empty manor.

Even without using her byuakugan, she knew what was wrong.

Her husband was dying and this time there was nothing anyone could do. From June to August She and Lady Koharu did everything they could to try and heal her husband. But it was too late. The disease had spread and was taking its toll.

It wouldn't be long now.

Had it already been four months? Was the reality she signed for already coming to pass? Hinata held back her tears as she held her head high.

She was a Uchiha, and she would act like it. Her husband was dying but he wasn't dead yet.

She would allow her last moments with him to be held with dignity.

The door slid open to reveal Lady Koharu.

She didn't say a word as she looked at Hinata with sad eyes.

Hinata stood, bowing to her mentor as she entered the bedroom she shared with her husband.

He had been bedridden for the past few weeks, the microscopic polyangiitis killing him with every breath.

She remained silent as she kneeled at his bedside.

With labored breaths, he sat up. His onyx eyes looked into her lavender ones.

"You are the Uchiha's last hope." He told her. "I am …honored to have been able to spend my last days with you, to see our children grow inside you. You made falling in love with you …easy."

Hinata's eyes widened at his confession. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.

"There is somewhere I want to show you… it's a few hours away. I may not look like it, but I have been saving my energy. I want you to come with me. Lady Koharu will cover for you."

"Itachi…" was the only thing Hinata could finally say.

She reached for him crashing her lips to his.

"Please..." she pleaded her resolve breaking.

"Be strong my flower. If not for me, then for our children. Come with me, darling."

…..

The journey led them to a giant fortress built into a mountain.

"This …is the Uchiha hideout. If something were to ever go wrong or you need to hide, I want you to come here. This… Is also the place where I will die." Itachi revealed.

After he showed her around, Itachi wearily sat on a throne, a sigh releasing from his lips.

"It's time for you to leave my flower. This is where our path will end."

"no." Hinata argued. "if this is where you die then I will stay. I will stay until your dying breath."

Itachi chuckled and closed his eyes. A small smile on his face.

"I expected nothing less. So stubborn. Very well, but stay out of sight and no matter what happens. Do not intervene. "

….

"DIE" Sasuke shouted as he tried to land a hit on Itachi.

Itachi however dived and managed to land an uppercut right under Sasuke's chin.

Itachi's breathing was becoming ragged as he landed blow after blow on his brother.

He could feel his life-giving out. For a second itachi directed his attention to where he knew Hinata was watching.

Hinata… if we had met at some other point in time… maybe our lives could have been different. Maybe I would have been a different man. Thank you for loving me. I know you never said it back I could tell by your actions. You were more than just a dutiful wife fulfilling her obligations, you were my friend. Please help Sasuke forgive me for all I put him through, I just wanted to protect him. Even now, I have to protect him.

"SUSANOO!"

…

"Koharu! Think about what you're doing!"Homura yelled as he ran beside his long-time friend and former teammate.

"I know what I am doing Homura! I owe him this much! If I can do this one thing! The guilt of the Uchiha clan will be off my shoulders. I just need you to follow through with the deal!" she yelled back.

Homura shook his head.

"This better be worth it."

….

Itachi couldn't help but smile as Orochimaru fell for the plan. As soon he showed his slimy face Itachi, made his move making sure Orochimaru had released Sasuke completely.

As soon as the snake was gone, Itachi backed Sasuke into a corner, coughing as blood poured from his mouth.

Even when Sasuke tried to use his last-ditch effort to defeat him, Itachi pushed on, Susanoo only getting stronger as it sucked the life out of him.

"Sasuke …"

Itachi coughed again, blood pouring out. With an outstretched hand, two fingers aimed towards his brother.

"Forgive me Sasuke…..this is the last time…"

With that said, Itachi poked his little brother one last time.

….

Hinata fell to her knees as she watched her husband collapse.

His heart was no longer beating.