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Sasuke leaned agaisnt the tree, choosing to stand up once again, out of pure boredom.
He got past his initial uneasiness over the fact he had to share his time with someone, an almost stranger at that, after two years of not seeing a familiar face.
Now, he was just eager to get going already, and mildly stressed over her being late. Admittedly, he knew Kakashi liked to give him the wrong time since genin days, just to guarantee the team would arrive on time — which was never a problem for him, he just suffered by extension.
In his journey, Sasuke has been doing favors for the Hokage, or more accurately, doing his job as a Leaf Ninja. This was all supposed to amount to something. To be a self discovery journey, a redemption of his sins, a washing of his soul.
Nonetheless, he felt tamed, confounded. He felt he was going in circles, saving people to please people he didn't care about. The rage never left. The shame didn't either. But above all, he felt desperate over not knowing where he was going.
Did Naruto truly saved me? Was what went through his mind most days. The bile tasted like his shame building up. He was not ungrateful. He did not reject the friendship of someone who tried so hard for him.
But what did it amount to? What did he gain? He thought he was being reformed over things that were done to him. When was everyone else going to pay? When was it all going to make sense?
"Sasuke-kun. Good morning."
He focused his eyes on the face in front of him — a little lower — and tried to mask his surprise.
He knew Hinata like he knew most people in the village. Which meant, not at all. He remembered her as a meek character. He never took much interest in observing her like he did others.
She seemed...annoying. She passed out often. She had those blushing cheeks and overly sweet tone of voice. Trying to get approval without getting attention.
Not fit to be a ninja, was what most people whispered. What he thought too.
He didn't know her though.
And as she was standing in front of him, she was not at all what he remembered. She stood taller, her gaze never left his. She held both hands together which betrayed some of her shyness but she held herself properly. Her hair was much longer but it didn't hide her face like before. Her arms were exposed for what he thought was the first time; in his presence, at least.
The sun shone on her face but she didn't lower her eyes.
"Good morning." He pulled himself away from the tree, but remained still.
"Sorry if I kept you waiting. I calculated the travel based on the time Kakashi-sensei informed me." He fought the urge to raise his eyebrows at her assertiveness. He expected some stutter. Her voice was loud enough.
"It's fine." He looked over behind him, thinking about the time and journey ahead.
Four weeks beside this girl. At least, even now, she was quiet and seemed like the best option out of all the people he knew back from the academy. When he thought about it, she was the only girl who never cared to follow him around.
"Should we get going then?" She offered a small smile, adjusting her backpack.
He nodded, turning away and walking onwards without looking back. She followed and catched up with him soon enough, suppressing a yawn.
He didn't react but she whispered a soft 'sorry' anyway.
She was not so different, after all.
[...]
They were headed to Land of Redaku. Maybe the most peaceful piece of land known to man. No borders, no army, barely any international conflicts and even less external ones.
They cultivated a great relationship with the Land of Fire, thanks to Kakashi. And now, they had a threat that had no precedent in any other land. Some bandits, seemingly harmless in the way they made no victims, but that were stealing a great amount of houses.
They had the local police that were usually enough. They never had conflicts that involved violence and this wasn't the case now either. But they had access to a gas that blinded temporarily. The effect lasted for some hours, for some people it were a day or two at maximum.
Nevertheless, it was something they had no way of fighting by themselves. It was not a difficult mission by Sasuke's standards, but those were the things Kakashi usually sent his way. To keep him busy, to build his image back 'home' and abroad.
They needed a Hyuga for obvious reasons. She could wear a band over her eyes and use her byakugan to catch them quicker. Not that Sasuke couldn't figure something out by himself, but Kakashi seemed decisive in his letter.
He wondered about that as they walked side by side in silence. Maybe there was something in it for her, too. Kakashi was a Hokage, but in a way, still a teacher. Albeit not a very good one.
"Have you been there before, Sasuke-kun?" Her voice brought him back to the present.
"No." He answered simply. She hummed.
They remained quiet for another long while. He wasn't thinking of anything in particular. Suddenly she stopped, holding her arm out to stop him too. At the contact of her hand with his midsection, he looked down and then up to her face. She had her byakugan activated and was looking ahead.
"What is it?" He couldn't see anything ahead, just trees.
She relaxed, deactivating her byakugan, cheeks heating up. She stayed quiet for a while, pressing her hands together. He fought the urge to scream out of irritation.
"I'm sorry." She turned to him with big apologetic eyes. It annoyed him to no end. "It was just a rabbit. I guess it's been a while since I've been on a mission."
He bit the inside of his cheek, holding her gaze with no emotion on his face. He cursed Kakashi in his head but decided to only nod to the girl in front of him.
He kept walking, not worrying about her following him.
He could hear her footsteps behind, and for a while he thought she would keep a distance but she crept up on him once again, standing by his side. He sighed when the little rabbit went past them and she opened a smile.
[...]
It would take them two weeks to reach the Land of Redaku. He tried to rationalize the best ways to deal with her. He almost never were in a mission without team 7, and for all the hell they gave him, they were quite easy to deal with. Kakashi would just sit around and give him smart remarks and riddles. Naruto would provoke him until he was mean enough to result in a fight — too often physical. Sakura would try to get closer until he said something that really upset her and he had to make it up later with a half assed apology, even though he truly felt bad most times.
But Hinata, out of all people, was a mystery to him. He just couldn't figure out a single thing about her, especially the version that stood beside him.
She annoyed him. The way she moved and spoke seemed fake. Her limbs were weak and she was always ready to apologize, even for actions not her own. She was polite, but too polite, with no sense of pride.
At the same time, it surprised him and bothered him that she seemed comfortable enough around him. It was easy to deal with the distance he was able to create when people were scared or cautious.
He had to give credit for how attentive she was. She was alert at all times and would only say something once or twice, probably to break the silence. The conversation would go nowhere with him. But she never pressured or showed frustration. For that, she wasn't as bad as he imagined.
"I think we should rest for the night." She made a sudden stop.
He looked up to the starry sky, then looked around them. It was a good spot. Seemed safe enough with the tall trees and the growing darkness around them.
"I could walk more." He said instead.
"I couldn't." She threw her backpack to the ground, sitting down right after and taking out her sleeping bag.
He remained silent, standing up above her. He could only stare as she made her bed and took her water canteen from her bag.
"Can you keep guard first?" She looked up to him, blinking her sleep away.
He frowned, a little taken aback by her sudden assured posture.
"I can do it, if..."
"I will do it. Go to sleep." He cut her off, sliding to the ground.
He felt her eyes on him and for some reason felt self-conscious and awkward.
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun."
He didn't look over to her until she was fast asleep.
He noticed the was holding on to her kunai, the blade almost tearing her skin. Her breathing was uneven, her mouth twitching from time to time.
He kept his eyes on her until it was time to wake her up.
[...]
They've been traveling for five days and it was calm enough. He would rather keep his solitude above all, but Hinata wasn't someone who would disturb his peace over nothing. At least not often.
It was a hot weather, so they made a stop at a lake. It was Hinata's idea, he didn't oppose her. Especially because it was tiring walking around with the heat, particularly for someone wearing all black clothes.
She took off her sandals and had her feet in the water. They were sitting in different stones, her gaze up while his stayed onwards.
"It would be a nice weather to go for a swim, if we weren't on a mission." She said suddenly.
He didn't respond because he didn't know what to say. She just let out those thoughts once in a while, almost like she was talking to herself. Because he was usually silent and unresponsive.
"Have you ever went swimming, Sasuke-kun?"
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He had a hard time ignoring the questions directed at him because he wanted to avoid creating conflict between the two, considering the amount of time they had to spend together.
He was also well raised and there was nothing particularly offensive about her question. Even if the memories that came to him brought a bittersweet taste.
"Yes." Was all he offered in return.
She hummed back, acknowledging his answer. She was usually satisfied with the short and cold answers he gave, never taking offense in his detachment.
"I wish I knew you when we were kids."
He said nothing, but his hand grabbed his pants frabic until his knuckles turned red.
[...]
At the end of the first week, he started the conversation for the first time.
"Why did you take this mission?"
They were camping near the ruins of what seemed to have been once a small village.
"Kakashi-sensei asked me to." She looked over her rice cake, eyebrows raised.
"You could've declined."
"Why would I?" She looked confused but her tone was light. Not judging his sentences, not expecting it to have a mean undertone to it.
"It's a long mission." He responded, at once disconcerted. Quite pointless too, he wanted to add. But he measured his words carefully, always. Never gave too much.
"I have the time." She put it simply.
He knew he came off a little nonsensical. His question was out of the blue. But he couldn't help but wonder the whole time.
He spent two years alone, only encountering unfamiliar faces. Kakashi's letter was an unpleasant surprise but at the time he figured any Hyuga would say no to it. The village didn't forgive him, the Hyugas were going through a hierarchical change and the mission wasn't critical or important in the grand scheme of things.
He never expected someone to actually come, nevertheless her.
"I could do it by myself."
He knew it was rude of him. He didn't care.
"I'm sure you could." She didn't sound offended. She kept chewing her cake, unbothered. He felt his face heat up from exasperation.
"Were you scared?"
"Of what?" She had stopped eating, and was gathering her things to make her bed.
His gaze followed her.
"Of me."
"No? You never gave me reason to fear you." She sounded truly lost.
"I was a terrorist."
"You were angry." She corrected. "You had reason to be. It reminded me of Neji."
He didn't have a answer for that. His gaze was now fixed on the soil, wishing he never asked her anything.
"I was sad for you." She stated and he kept himself frozen, eyes locked to the ground, holding his breath. "I just wanted you to stop hurting."
"Naruto?" He let out, something between a question and a statement.
"Yourself."
He turned to her, and she was hugging her legs close to her body, her head resting on her knees. She seemed on the verge of falling asleep while sitting up.
"Why would you care?" He questioned. They were not friends. They never even spoke directly to each other.
She shrugged, eyes closing.
"I don't want to see people hurting. Especially good people." She crawled to her sleeping bag, not being able to even open her eyes properly. "Good night, Sasuke-kun."
He didn't respond because he was sure she was fast asleep before the words were out of her mouth.
He stayed awake to keep guard, but he was sure he would not be able to sleep either way. He could only think of whatever made him good.
[...]
They arrived at the Nagare Village, which was a small settlement near Redaku's border. For them to reach the capital of Redaku it would take four or five days walking. They chose to identify themselves as travelers so to not alarm the possible culprits.
They walked around the village noticing the eyes on them. The people were too closed off from the rest of the continent and visits often were political events.
Hinata was better at masking than him, she kept waving at people and making dumb questions as a tourist would. She even took some time to entertain some kids with some tales. He stood guard, but really, he was just uncomfortable with children.
They decided to stay at a hotel for once, because now everyone knew there were foreigners there and camping could be a lot of exposure or gain some unwanted attention.
They got two bedrooms, of course, and Sasuke was glad to be alone for the first time in a while. He didn't need to avoid her eyes or dread her unwanted questions.
But he couldn't help but feel worry as he couldn't see her. He thought about all the ways someone could come up at night and attack her.
He knew she was decently capable of defending herself and standing her ground. Especially with this seemingly non violent threat. But he couldn't push away the apprehension.
He laid down eventually and he wasn't tormented by his usual nightmares. Though he kept waking up from a light sleep, terrified of the noise, expecting a body dropping in the next room at any time.
When he finally got into a deep sleep, he dreamt of sunrays and lilac flowers.
He woke up in a startle, hearing a knock on his door. It was sunny, still early but late for his standards. He rubbed his eyes and opened the door to greet a very awake Hinata, smiling up at him.
He thought about his state; he had just woken up, his hair was certainly a mess, strands pointing everywhere. His face must've been swollen and red. His amputated arm wasn't bandaged.
She didn't seem to notice or mind.
"They offered us breakfast. I just came to warn you, I will be downstairs." She gave him a small smile before turning away.
He closed the door right after, feeling a pressure at his chest.
He told himself he didn't care. Didn't care about being seem so vulnerable because he was strong, terrifying once. He was the most powerful person in the village, apart from Naruto. He had nothing to be scared of.
He didn't know why his hand was trembling.
[...]
When he did join her, she had already ate quite a lot of sweets. He twisted his face, being someone who despised desserts. He felt it right back when she squinted her eyes at him for eating a tomato like one would eat an apple. It was the first time she ever gave him a truly judgmental stare. It was quite comical for him.
They ate in silence, aware they would have to leave soon and walk over a valley to reach the capital.
He felt her gaze burning the side of his face. He waited a while but she never spoke.
"What?" He gave in.
"When do you plan on coming back to the village?" She whispered, her words pronounced very carefully. As if they would knock him down otherwise.
He avoided her eyes and kept his mouth a straight line. He thought about it, and he simply didn't know. He just kept going, accepting Kakashi's requests, because it was something. Something to do or be. He was trying to figure something out but he was not even sure of what.
Her words could truly knock him down. He felt his body weight like never before.
She seemed to notice his discomfort.
"Sakura-chan and Naruto-kun really miss you." She said gently.
He got angry. With no real reason. Maybe it was the fact he caught him off guard earlier. And every day before and now, too. He never wanted her here. She didn't know him. How could she get under his skin, so easily, with such good intentions?
"How would you know? You're not friends with them." His tone was harsh.
He saw her flinch from the corner of his eyes.
"Not like you, no." She played with the ends of her hair. "But we are friends, now."
"And you're good with that?" He looked at her now, intending to be cruel. Knowing it wasn't fair. Accepting this is who he was, regardless. "Being friends with the girl the boy you love is in love with? Do you think that will change? Naruto never noticed you. It's quite patethic."
She lowered her eyes. He relished in his victory. He felt his stomach turn from it.
"I don't care." He looked up to him again, eyes less kind than he was used to. It burned through him. It made his body still. "I don't love Naruto like that anymore. And even if I did, I don't do things expecting something in return. I'm nice because that's who I am. Not always, but I'm as nice as I can be."
He didn't look away from her now. His face never betrayed anything. Her face was an open book.
"They're my friends because I care about them and they care about me." She got up from her chair. Kids passed the varanda, laughing out loud. It gave him chills for some reason. "Like they care about you, either you like it or not. Stop trying to be a monster."
She left him sitting there, plate still full of food he couldn't stomach.
[...]
They were almost hiking now. The land was full of mountains and they had to go uphill or downhill at times.
It was tiring, more than the rest of their traveling. It was colder too, and Hinata had put on a jacket but she seemed pale. More than normal, at least.
He didn't really want to ask even if he wanted to know. They were not speaking more than necessary. It was better, he thought. But his body protested the lie, with the way his heart would beat faster when she addressed him.
"Can we stop for a while?" She was already sitting down when she said the words.
He didn't follow her, just took in her appearance.
Her eyes were unfocused and her lips purple. She was sweating too, head lowered.
He kneeled down in front of her.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." He shook her head at him.
He glared.
"I just...Get a little lightheaded sometimes." She said it as if it was normal.
"You're going to pass out?" He asked, truly expecting it. Even though they barely interacted back in the day, he remembered her fainting more times than he saw his own teammates collapse.
"No." She waved him off, not looking any better. "I'm on medication."
He raised his eyebrows at her.
"I have a condition." She put her hair behind her ears, looking directly at him. They were at the same eye level for once. "The nerve that sends blood to my heart doesn't respond to certain situations quiet well...Like stress or exhaustion. It's been a while since I was on a mission. But don't worry, I will not pass out."
He didn't feel confident because her face didn't regain color and she wasn't standing up.
"I know how it sounds." She attested. "Not a good look for a ninja."
"We all have our shortcomings." He offered. She seemed surprised.
"You're one of the most powerful shinobi I know." She chuckled.
"And I don't have an arm."
"That doesn't matter."
"Exactly." He got up and offered her his hand. When she looked up, her cheeks were gaining color again.
He was glad she was feeling better.
She hesitated to take his hand and he only realized he wasn't breathing when she finally held on to him.
She didn't let go of his hand until it was time to rest for the night.
[...]
When they finally arrived at Redaku, it was late afternoon and they were both so tired they could barely exchange words. Not that they'te the most talkative pair but they spent the last three days in a more pleasant mood.
Once they arrived, the citizens seemed to be aware of their purpose, seeing a handful of them directed them to the house of the Prime Minister of Redaku. The house was like any other, contrasting the Hokage's tower back home.
The whole village had small to medium habitations, all in vibrant bright colors. Most of them seemed to be into gardening seeing there were so many, some bigger than the homes themselves.
It was a beautiful place. Calm, good weather, peaceful. In another life, Sasuke would've loved to live somewhere like this.
"Oh! I'm so glad you're finally here!" A big, tall man got up from his wooden chair, once the lady accompanying them opened the door.
"Nice to meet you, Prime Minister." Hinata voiced her greeting before he could even think, gently bumping him once she bent her body in reverence. He only nodded towards the man, who seemed pleased.
"Oh, please, come inside." He waved for them to enter, and the lady closed the door on her way out, shushing the legion of people behind her.
He directed them towards the mismatched chairs on the other side of the table, keeping a huge smile on his face, like it was a visit from family friends. Like there was no threat.
Hinata looked over to him, unsure of what to say. Sasuke took the lead.
"I understand you're having problems with some robbers." He started.
The man's face fell, as if he was just remembering.
"Oh, yes! Those bastards!" Hinata jumped a little over his angered scream. He seemed so relaxed before.
"They are threatening our peace. We never had problems like this. Our jails are empty. Everyone has what they need. Those greedy low-life insects."
He held his head on his hands, defeated.
"Please, sir, do you have any information that could be useful for us? To help us get to them?" Hinata questioned, cautiously. Sasuke was glad she was the one talking because he was getting frustrated over the theatrics. Something about this old man unnerved him.
"Yes, dear. Yes." He shook his head, as if to come back to reality. "They come at night. Not every night, at most three times a week. It's a Wednesday and they haven't done anything yet."
He got himself a whiskey bottle from under the desk. Hinata scrunched her nose. Sasuke chuckled at her.
"They have this gas...It blinds people. So they can see their faces. They can't react when they come to their houses." He took a sip. "You know we're not shinobi. We don't need to be. Our science is not advanced in the way yours is, because it attends to our needs. And we never needed to understand this...We never had a threat like this one. Or at all. We're afraid the gas can have everlasting reactions too."
"Do you think it's someone from here?" Hinata asked.
"No!" He quickly retorted. "Everyone here has what they need. Everyone is satisfied. No one here would do such a thing."
Hinata nodded, but by the way she was biting her bottom lip Sasuke knew she had a bad feeling, too. It was weird how quickly he learned to read her over the last days.
"We'll do what we can." She promised.
Once they were out, she surprised him by grabbing his hand and dragging him behind one of the houses, under a big olive tree. His hand was twitching once she let go.
"What do you think?" She whispered.
"I don't trust him."
"Me neither." She seemed content that he agreed. "Do you think he has anything to do with this?"
"I don't know." He truly didn't. "Maybe not directly."
She nodded, bitting her lips again. Her nails were also digging into her palms. He got nervous at her anxious endeavors.
"Do you think it's going to be more dangerous than we thought?"
Little petals of differents trees were falling all around them and even though at that moment she was tense and her face was wrapped in worry, she took his breath away for a moment. And it terrified him most of all.
"Nothing we can't handle." He promised.
At this, she nodded. As if to convince herself. He took pride in being able to provide her a little confidence.
[...]
It was late at night and they were hiding between the trees, two shadows in a town with very little illumination, which worked in their favor.
They were up and on guard for at least five hours and he could see Hinata yawning from time to time. He was starting to feel tired as well when they heard heavy steps coming from the left side of were they stood.
They exchanged a glance and moved without needing words. They were fast but careful enough to not make much sound. It was hard because the ground was covered with leaves and petals, as well as colorful paper from a festives.
They were chasing sound instead of sights. He sensed when Hinata activated her byakugan and directed himself right behind her. His hand was ready on the base of his sword.
The sounds came to a stop. It was, before, the sound of footsteps of more than one person, so it was more chilling when it all stopped at the same time. He turned around to stand back to back with Hinata.
He had the urge to talk when he finally noticed dark purple smoke coming from a house some meters from were they stood.
He turned Hinata around by her waist and pointed the direction with his head. She nodded and they followed different directions to get to the same point.
When he got close enough to jump the fence, Hinata was already there with her glowing Byakugan eyes.
She noticed him instantly without needing to look directly at him. He moved behind her again, getting the band from his pocket. He put it over her eyes, gently pulling her hair up. She jumped a little when his hand made contact with her neck. She tied the band into a knot.
He was just going to avoid the smoke and take the risk anyway. He had fought with injured eyes or closed eyes agaisnt worse enemies. He trusted Hinata to be his eyes instead.
They heard a sound of glass breaking and jumped the window to get inside the house. It seemed empty or maybe the residents were hiding, aware of their mission. The smoke was starting to spread, not high enough to get to their faces.
"Do you see anything?" He whispered in her ear.
She shook her head, unsure. But then she gave a step back, quickly shouting his name: "Sasuke!"
His body collapsed with hers as his sword ran in front of her, hitting the body in front of them, which fell to the ground with an unexpected crash.
"What..." Before she could finish the sentence, a loud mechanic sound took over the house and dozens of bodies were throw at them, the smoke getting higher.
Sasuke closed his eyes, sword swinging at the noise.
"They're puppets!" Hinata screamed behind him. "They're made of wood!"
He let out a grunt, charging towards the noises, knocking down some mobile as he did. He could hear Hinata behind him and the tried to focus on both things.
Once he held his sword up on one particular puppet, Hinata screamed at him.
"Sasuke, no!"
He was confused but he stopped. The puppet charged into him, almost making him lose his balance, but he kicked it back and heard it crash agaisnt a wall.
"Oh my God." He felt as Hinata went past him. "Are you okay?"
"Yes?" He answered, annoyed that he couldn't see.
"Sasuke, help me." He immediately got closer to her, touching the ground to sense her.
"What's wrong?" He felt his heart beating faster.
"He's hurt."
"What? Who?" He was never more confused.
"He's just a child." She cried.
He extended his arm, getting in contact with her own, trying to make sense of the situation. There was a child who was hurt, that much he could understand.
With his hand on her freezing skin, he said: "Let's get out so I can see, okay?"
"Okay." It came out as a sob. "I will carry him."
He followed behind her again, eyes closed, hearing only the noise of their feet crushing the dry leaves. Once she made a stop, he opened his eyes slowly.
They were outside and there were a few people peaking behind their windows, some even on the street taking in the scene.
Hinata was kneeling down with a boy at her feet. He couldn't be more than twelve. He was breathing, Sasuke could see his chest moving, but there was dried blood on his nose. He had curly black hair and freckles. His body was really tiny, enveloped by a wood armor.
"Can we please get a doctor?" Hinata screamed at the people around them. Sasuke could not look away from the boy and the blood.
[...]
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart." Prime Minister Sataro had both Hinata's hands between his own and it bothered Sasuke immensely. She didn't seem comfortable either. "Please give my greetings to the Hokage, as well."
"What will happen to Yuno?"
That seemed to make the old man harden, his whole face going cold.
"He will go to prison, of course."
"You said your jails were empty." Sasuke referenced.
"Because there were no criminals. Now there is." The man sit back at his chair, his big eyebrows frowning, making his whole demeanor change.
"He's a child!" Hinata protested. He never saw her so furious in his life. But again, he barely coexisted with her before.
"A child criminal!" The man's voice was harsh.
"How can you call yourself a leader?!"
"Excuse me, young lady-"
"Enough." Sasuke finally spoke, breaking Minister Sataro's sentence. That won him a ugly look. He couldn't care less. "Watch your tone. We did you a favor."
"And now you think you can insult me?"
"She's pointing out a contraction with your land laws." He came in her defense.
"This is not your land!"
"Yet you needed our help!" She screamed back.
Sasuke thought of intervening but honestly, not only was he on her side, he was surprisingly entertained.
"And now you don't listen. You said your land was perfect, you said people were satisfied with your rule, and now thst you were proven wrong, you intend to send a child to prison."
"I wasn't proven wrong!" He grunted.
"He said he was stealing to buy water!" He got closer to his table and Sasuke got out of her way, getting closer to the wall and crossing his arms, trying to hide his smirk. "You said everyone had enough. Obviously not."
"This never happened before. He's an anomaly. A greedy little bastard." He shook his head in evident disgust.
"You were just made prime minister six months ago. This never happened before you." Hinata pointed out. Sasuke didn't know that. He was surprised at her knowledge. "So it's your fault. You're not providing enough. That baby is an orphan."
"Oh, spare me. 'Baby'. That's a grown boy, lady."
At that, Hinata took a step back and regained her composure. He looked at Sasuke with fire in her eyes and he only nodded in support of her.
She directed her attention back at Sataro.
"You need the Leaf." She stated, cold. "We don't need you. There is nothing your country can offer."
The man grinded his teeth.
"Actually." She made a dramatic pause. "There is, of course, your land. Endless supply of water. An extrategic fortress."
"Get to the point."
"Give Yuno his freedom." Her hands rested on the table, getting to his eye level. Sasuke had his eyes on her only. "Get him a house and a family to take care of him. A good family. I will write him often. I will visit."
Sataro had his fists clenched and his jaw locked. It was almost like he could get up and kill her with the power of his hatred alone. But Hinata was more powerful than him in every way.
It was an humiliating display. Sasuke has never been more amused.
"Anything else?" He asked in mockery. But they both knew he would comply.
"Divide the resources properly like before. If you don't want problems with the Hokage. I'm very close to him." That was a lie. Not that Sataro had any way of knowing. "And get Yuno to a nice school. He's too smart. Let him develop his puppets."
"Oh, so they can steal?" The man was angered once again.
"You would know about it." She spit back. "These are the conditions. Otherwise you make an enemy out of us."
The man looked over to Sasuke who kept the same apathetic expression. His gaze seemed to take in his eyes, as if he was noticing them for the first time. He saw as the man's face twitched, turning back to Hinata with dread.
"Deal."
[...]
Once they were out of the gates, with Hinata visiting Yuno for a last time — at least before she came to visit again, which she promised —, she rested her back agaisnt a rock, letting her feet slide in exhaustion.
He made a stop too, waiting for her to pull herself together.
She's not used to anger, he thought.
"I will get him extradited." She said suddenly.
He stared at her.
"I mean it. I will convince Kakashi to do something." She persisted.
"I believe you." And he did.
They stayed there for a while and he remained standing up, looking back to the village. He thought peace didn't mean things were right. Peace sometimes came with a price that most people payed for. When he looked at Yuno's eyes back when the boy had woken up, he felt a feeling similar to deja vu. It had been eaten at him, like Hinata's anger was eating at her.
"You're good with kids." He told her.
At that, she seemed to relax for the first time since she felt Yuno.
"I'm an older sister."
He nodded. He tried not to think of Itachi. But his heart was clenching before he could try to reprimand his brain.
"I want to be a teacher." She announced, making him stare at her once again. He could definitely see it. "I just decided."
"You will be great." And when she gave him a shy smile, her eyes shining with tears, he knew she knew he meant it. He wouldn't have said it otherwise.
"We should get going."
She pulled herself up, breathing heavily, hand on her chest to ground herself. Her face and neck were still red from all she had let out at Sataro's office.
"Don't pass out."
She giggled.
He turned his face around so she couldn't see him smile.
[...]
Their journey back took more than two weeks. They were not in a hurry anymore.
A lot of times, Hinata would ask him to stop to gather seeds. She would want to stop at every river she saw. They bought some things on the way. She gave him a tomato as a joke. He kept teasing her about the tone she used with Sataro.
It was easier, now. And Sasuke had a hard time with it.
He looked over to Hinata and the resentment was gone. He could barely remember why it was there in the first place.
He thought she was something hollow. A porcelain doll. He thought her kindness was condescending, her curiosity just a way to make it all easier for her. He saw intentions behind every gesture and every time he was wrong.
She was something else. Something that was tearing at him.
The feeling was unexpected but it came with force. He felt like he was choking on it. He didn't know how to name it.
It was never before easy as it was with her. It was not about putting up with him or opposing him. They just fit well. They respected each other's silences.
"Sasuke." They were walking side by side, closer to the spot they were almost a month ago than he would've liked. He wanted more time. He was afraid of that want. "Do you think...Do you know if you're going to be able to come back soon?"
"I don't know. It's not only up to me." He was hesitant.
"Is it okay if I send you letters?"
When he turned to her, she was already watching him. He held her gaze, and her eyes were shimmering. Her mouth was slightly open as if she wanted to say more.
"Yes." Was all he could mutter.
She grinned, holding her own waist in a carefree way. Something about her bashful way made him nervous. He tried to avoid her gaze for the rest of their walk.
Once they reached the mountain they stood on on the first day, both of them froze and stayed there for some time, staring down at the path to the village. It was a shared silence, a comfortable place in the sun.
They could stay there forever, if things were different for him.
He thought of Yuno again. Something in his stomach was turning, some realizations blossoming on him, the anger turning into sense. He had to find out more. Find out what he wanted and needed. Find his faults and what was above him. What he could reach.
"You have to write me back." She demanded, coming up in front of him.
He was taller but he didn't feel like it at that moment. She stood so big in his world it was like she was all around him. Like the petals from Redaku.
"I will." It was a promise. It was a want. A need.
She nodded, her face suddenly growing sad. The sky was darkening. There was no way for her to go but foward. There was no path for him but the one behind them.
Their eyes locked again and they remained there for so long he could drown himself in lilac forever. It was imprinted in his eyelids.
She turned in a rush, as if breaking a spell, running down the hill to go home. He couldn't move. He stayed watching. Longing.
"Sasuke-kun!" She made an abrupt stop, tripping on her feet a little. He moved in a reflex but she got her balance before he could reach her. He stilled.
She opened a big smile, bubbling into a laugh, her hair flying everywhere with a wild rush of wind. It was a mesmerizing sight. He clenched his fists, unsure of what the pressure in his stomach meant.
"I hope you come back soon." She said simply, still smiling, eyes wide and beautiful. Her tone hid something.
He tried, but he failed to hold in his own smile. It was smaller than hers, but just as sincere.
Her head tilted a little and her cheeks were red in no time. The sunrays were targeting her just like the day he met her here, in the beginning of their journey.
It didn't feel like an end.
"Goodbye, Hinata."