“I heard you refused an escort,” Neji said at her shoulder.

Taryn looked up from her bag. “I’m not concerned about Sasuke trying to kill me.”

“I know,” he answered, “but what about others wanting to kill him? They couldn’t go against the Kages, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try to take matters into their own hands.”

Her hands stilled for a moment. She hadn’t even considered that. She sighed and continued packing. “That’s a risk I’ll have to take.”

Neji shook his head. “Why are you doing this for him anyway? I thought you couldn’t stand him. Especially after what he did to Itachi.”

Taryn looked down at her hands. “Do you remember when you asked me why I hated him so much?”

Neji frowned, but nodded.

“That’s why,” Taryn said, “and he hates me just the same.”

Her cousin sat down on the cot and sighed. “I’m beginning to wonder if you’re insane.”

“Probably,” Taryn said and sat down next to him, “I heard Hiashi-sama is dead,” she said.

Neji nodded.

“I’m sorry,” Taryn said. She sighed. “Hinata must really hate me now.”

“She’ll come around,” Neji said, “it wasn’t Sasuke that killed him. She’s angry now, but that’s because she’s grieving.”

‘”So why aren’t you angry?” Taryn asked.

Neji was silent for a moment. “I don’t know,” he said, “I was  angry, but I remembered something else you said that day. You said I blamed Hinata-sama for my father’s death. That I hated her because I was branded with the Caged Bird and she was not. You were right. And it wasn’t her fault. This was not your fault either. What Sasuke did wasn’t your fault. I may not understand why you’re doing this, but I know there is a reason. I won’t make the same mistake again.” He stood up. “Be careful, Taryn. Sasuke made a lot of enemies. And by sticking up for him, so did you.”

Taryn nodded. “I’ll be careful.”

Neji inclined his head and walked away.

Taryn sighed as she watched him go. She was glad that at least one of her cousins had forgiven her.

Her thoughts returned to Kakashi and it hurt. She wished she could go with him, but she really did need time.

Her siblings had already left. So had her students. It was time she departed as well.

“Taryn-sama,” a young shinobi with a Mist hitai-ate appeared in the entrance of her tent. She eyed him a moment to try and remember his name. Tai, Daro’s new friend.

“Yes?” she asked.

“He’s ready,” Tai said, “it’s time to go.”

Taryn took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll be right there.”

Tai lingered for a moment longer, but retreated and left her to herself. Taryn sighed. Tai was right. It was time. The sooner they were on their way the better. Neji was right. Some of the shinobi wouldn’t be too happy about the council’s decision.

She picked up her bag and exited the tent.

Sasuke was being guarded by two shinobi. When she walked up to them they narrowed their eyes at her.

“Here’s the traitor,” one of them said while thrusting Sasuke in her direction.

Sasuke stumbled and glared at the man before scoffing at Taryn.

“Heh,” Taryn said while turning and walking towards the forest.

The Jounin guards pushed Sasuke in her direction. “Move Uchiha.”

“I’m not going anywhere with her,” Sasuke spat, “you hear that?!” he called after Taryn, “I’m not going with you!”

“Whatever,” Taryn said without turning around.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and stomped after her, his wrists still cuffed, despite the chakra seals.

***

“So tell me,” Kakashi said to Gai, “why are you so concerned with me and Taryn all of a sudden?”

Gai looked the other way and kept quiet.

“Gai,” Kakashi pressed.

Gai sighed. “Just so you know, I still don’t like her.” He looked at Kakashi. “Lee talked to me,” he admitted, “and your student, Sakura.” He paused. “I know you like her, Kakashi, I even know why. And it seems to me that she does care about you too. So yeah. That’s it.” He glanced at his friend. “Just don’t think it means I won’t challenge you anymore. You’re still my rival!” He grinned. “I’ll race you to Konoha.” He spurted away.

Kakashi shook his head. “Gai,” he sighed, “you’ll never change. You’re still not making sense whatsoever.” But he smiled.

***

Temari kept glancing at her younger brother with concern. His eyes were unfocused and he seemed in deep thought. “Hey,” she said, “Taryn will be fine.”

“I should have forced an escort on her,” Gaara answered, “I should never have let her leave on her own with Uchiha.”

“You know just as well as I do that she would have shaken them off in not time. She goes her own way.” Temari paused. “It used to make me so angry. I resented her for it. I thought she was being selfish, but I’ve realized that she was trying to protect us. She didn’t want to involve anyone else in her mess.” She bit her lip. “She’ll be fine.”

But Gaara wasn’t sure if she was trying to comfort him or herself.

They still had a long way to go until they’d reach Suna and they were moving slow due to the injured. Taryn would take a detour, but at this rate she’d make it home before they would. “Hiro,” Gaara called at the young boy who was walking not far behind.

The boy made his way towards him with the support of one of his friends. “Gaara-sama.”

“Is one of your hawks still able to fly?”

Hiro nodded. “I think so, yes.”

“Good,” Gaara said, “I need to send a message.”

***

Taryn ignored the scowling boy that followed behind her. She carefully picked her way through the forest, keeping her eye in her surroundings. It was still a long way to Suna, even longer now that she wasn’t moving in a straight line.

After a few more minutes, she dropped her bag and sat down on the ground against a tree.

Sasuke kept standing a few feet away from her, his back against a tree.

Taryn closed her eyes and kept ignoring him. She wouldn’t admit it to him, but she was tired. She knew she needed to rest.

“Are you not concerned that I’ll run away?” Sasuke’s voice mocked her.

Taryn kept her eyes closed when she answered him. “Go ahead. I don’t care what you do.”

Sasuke snorted. “I heard the conditions the council set. Whatever I do, you’re going to pay for it. No one’s going to speak up for you now.”

Taryn let out a soft laugh. “You really don’t’ have a clue, do you? After everything you’ve done, all your plans about revenge, and you still don’t know a thing about politics.”

“What are you talking about?” Sasuke demanded.

She opened her eyes and looked at him, an amused glint in her eyes. “Gaara is Kazekage. An as Kazekage he can’t support my decision, but as my brother  he will always have my back. So will my other siblings. And my students. And my friends. Even some from Konoha. So no. I don’t care what you do, as long as you do it quietly so I can get some rest.” She spread out on the forest floor and close her eyes again.

“Then why are  you doing this?” Sasuke said.

Taryn opened one eye. “Do I need a reason?” She closed her eyes again. “I can get those cuffs off for you if you like.”

His reply was a snort.

“Suit yourself,” Taryn shrugged and she turned her back on him.

Sasuke stared at her form. She was really going to turn her back and sleep? “Tch,” he scoffed. He leaned back against a tree log and tried to cross his arms, but the chains were in the way. He growled annoyed and rested his arms uncomfortably on his knees.

He glared at Taryn who had folded her bag underneath her head and seemed quite comfortable.

His eyes slid to her stomach. ‘Itachi’s child…’ He gritted his teeth and looked away. He didn’t want to think about his brother. And there was no way he was just going along with this like some obedient dog.

He glared at the markings on his skin. It brought back memories of Orochimaru’s curse mark and he didn’t like it one bit. He looked at Taryn again. He just couldn’t figure her out. Why was she doing this? He knew she didn’t like him, she had every reason to hate him, and the feeling was mutual.

So why?

She had always been there.

His eyes narrowed and watched as her breath became more regular, an indication that she was asleep.

Carefully he stood up and with a dark smirk he walked away.

***

Naruto was grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s wrong with you?” Sakura asked while throwing her hands in the air, “you’ve been like this ever since the trial.”

Sai walked in between them with an expressionless face, though inside he felt like smiling. He had no idea why he would feel that way, but it was a pleasant experience.

“Nothing,” Naruto said, “I’m just glad with the way things worked out.”

Sakura shook her head. She knew he was happy that Sasuke was still alive. Not long ago, she would have felt the same, but now she wasn’t sure. So much had happened. He had done such terrible things and yet…

“You still love him, don’t you?”

Sakura sighed. Perhaps she did, but she didn’t think she could ever forgive him.

Maybe it was for the best that Taryn had taken him to Suna. At least she wouldn’t have to face him again.

Her eyes slid to Kakashi who was walking in front of them. She wondered how he was holding up. He and Taryn were on different sides again. And Hinata…

Sakura bit her lip. She knew the Hyuuga girl was angry with her older cousin for protecting Sasuke, who she blamed for her father’s death. 

She shook her head. No matter how long it would take to rebuild Konoha, things would never be the same.

***

The dark haired boy glared out over the water of the river down below.

She hadn’t come after him.

Somehow he had expected her to. He had even waited here at this exact spot for three hours so he could sneer at her when she showed up, but nothing had happened.

And now he wasn’t sure who he was more angry with. Her, for not following, or himself, for being such a fool.

He had managed to get rid of the cuffs around his wrists, but the seals were still in place. There was no getting rid of those.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes even more. There was really no one left now that would care what happened to him. He had gotten exactly what he wanted, so why did he feel so miserable?

He stared at the sky. A dull grey predicted a heavy rainfall.

Images of Itachi filled his mind and his thoughts drifted to the child Taryn was carrying.

The last Uchiha.

“You want your clan?”

“Tch,” Sasuke scoffed. A stubborn expression marked his face.

A second later he disappeared between the trees where he had come from.

***

Taryn was building a small fire, but she didn’t look up when he materialized back into the clearing. “Did you find breakfast?” she asked while adding another twig to the fire.

He stared at her annoyed. She had known he would return? Then his eyes narrowed in suspicion. ‘Byakugan.’ Had she been watching him the whole time? How far was Byakugan’s reach anyway? A few miles?

He scowled and sat down across from her. He stared into the fire.

Taryn sighed. “Well it’s a good thing then that I packed before leaving.” She opened her bag and took out a few slices of bread and dried meat. Two containers with ramen followed and two pairs of chopsticks.

“Help yourself,” she said and heated some water over the fire.

Sasuke’s face turned stubborn, but his hunger won out and he helped himself to the bread while waiting for the water to boil. He wondered if she would make a comment about his missing cuffs, but she didn’t say a word.

He glanced at her and saw her wince every now and then. Was the baby giving her trouble?

Sasuke gritted his teeth. He would not care. He did not care. But he couldn’t help that his gaze shifted towards her every once in a while.

***

“Kakashi-sama,” the two elders of the council came to greet him as soon as they arrived.

Kakashi gritted his teeth. These people were the cause of all this. Them and Danzou. But he had to stay polite. He was Hokage now. And they were the advisors. But he was going to change that.

“Koharu-sama, Homura-sama,” he answered their greeting.

The reorganization however would have to wait. They had travelled for days, they had just been through a war everyone was exhausted.

“Welcome home,” Koharu said.

“Thank you,” Kakashi nodded, “we are all exhausted. Can we wait until tomorrow to discus matters?”

The two elders did not seem pleased, but Homura nodded. “Of course. I will make sure your quarters will be ready for you.”

“No need,” Kakashi said, “I have a house. I’m not moving into the tower.”

“Kakashi,” Koharu said, “you are Hokage now. You’ll need accommodations that meet that position.”

“It’s not open for discussion,’ Kakashi answered, “we will speak in the morning. I have other things to attend to.” He longed for some peace and quiet. He needed a hot shower and a good rest. He wanted to sleep in his own bed.

“Yes, Hokage-sama,” Homura said, “we will let you rest now.”

Kakashi nodded and watched them leave. He sighed and rubbed his temple.

“You alright, Kakashi?” Shikaku Nara walked up to him concerned.

“I will be,” Kakashi muttered. He looked at Shikaku. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. I’d like you to become one of my new advisors.”

***

Another stop. Sasuke wasn’t sure if she did that to prolong their journey or because she needed so much rest, but he wasn’t gong to protest. He had no desire going to Suna. The longer he could put it off, the better.

He cast a glance at Taryn. She was leaning against a tree with her eyes closed. She did look tired.

Sasuke growled frustrated. He glared at his hands. He still couldn’t perform jutsu. The chakra restricting seals suppressed it all. 

He narrowed his eyes. He’d be better off dead. 

He jumped when suddenly two kunai daggers whisked past his face. He looked around frantically. He hadn’t sensed them with his chakra restricted and he couldn’t perform jutsu.

Three ninja jumped out of hiding and came at him. They weren’t wearing any hitai-ate to identify them.

“Die Uchiha,” one of them growled. He pulled his sword while his comrade send a handful of shuriken at Taryn, who was still against the tree.

Sasuke stumbled backwards to avoid the sword. At the same time, Taryn evaporated.

‘A clone?” Sasuke thought confused. He hadn’t even noticed.

For the first time in his life he was experiencing what it was like to be a regular citizen, normal, without heightened senses and chakra. He did not like it at all.

One of the attackers was thrown aside by a strong wind that almost threw Sasuke off his feet as well.

The shinobi hit a tree with a loud thud and sunk to the ground.

The second one was getting battered by the quick hands of Byakugan’s gentle Fists Technique, but the third managed to land a kick on Taryn’s back.

Taryn stumbled forward and was caught by his comrade. “I have to say, Taryn Desertstorm, you are fast. How did you know?” 

Taryn snorted while trying to break free from her captor. “Whoever you are, your sensei should have taught you to do a better job at shadowing someone. You’ve been following us for the past two days. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?” 

The ninja scowled. “It doesn’t matter. We have what we came for.” He shifted his gaze towards Sasuke who had stood there silently the entire time.

“Leave him alone,” Taryn growled, “you heard the council’s decision.” 

“Yeah, but we don’t care much about that.” 

His friend smirked. “Besides, who is to know? They will just figure the Uchiha killed you in your sleep.”

“Heh,” Taryn scoffed, “you think you can kill me? Better shinobi than you have tried.” The two ninja laughed at that and one of them drew a katana. “What are you gonna do about it?” He lifted his sword.

Taryn gritted her teeth and prepared to dodge it, but before she could, the ninja’s eyes went wide. He gasped and blood appeared on his lips.

“Ozai!” his comrade shouted.

A dark voice sounded from behind Ozai. “Didn’t your mother teach you it’s not nice to hurt a pregnant woman?”

Ozai dropped to the ground, revealing Sasuke with a sword in his hand.

“H-how…” the ninja that was holding Taryn stuttered.

Sasuke snorted. “She was right. You are a pathetic excuse for a shinobi. You should pay more attention to your surroundings.”

“But your chakra is sealed away.”

“You don’t need chakra to wield a sword,” Sasuke answered, “and your friend over there happened to have one.” He motioned towards the first shinobi that was still unconscious underneath a tree.

The remaining shinobi narrowed his eyes. “You’ll pay for that.” 

“Yeah?” Taryn asked, “what are you gonna do about it?” She jerked her head backwards, bashing it against her captor’s nose.

He cried in pain and Taryn used the opportunity to reverse their positions. 

She forced him to the ground and planted her knee in his back. “Now. Where were we?”

-----

I know it's been forever since I updates this story. Sorry! I have a lot of stories going on and not always that much time to write. I try to divide my time equally. I hope you liked this chapter. Let me know what you think :)

Please listen to the song to the side. I thought it was fitting for this chapter.