Sweet Dispositions

-Chapter 33-
Betrayed People

September 27th. Afternoon.

Yesterday was Taiyo's birthday. It was fun and he got many gifts.

Trying to start an old tradition, she wore flowers in her hair. She started with gardenias since they were what Sasuke's preferred. He carried around a portrait of his mother, Mikoto. There was a small shrine that Hinata decorated with gardenias since his mother liked them the most.

Hinata watched C a little skeptical, in his office. "Why are you being so nice to me? I'm basically a criminal,"

"It's nice to be nice to you," C shrugged, careful not to look at her. "It's when I see your teeth more often than not. Your happiness is just as welcome as your smile," he cleared his throat.

"C-san... you mustn't say things like that," Hinata whispered.

"I probably won't," C shrugged. "Probably will, I don't know,"

"Well... you can't," Hinata protested.

"But..."

"None of those... now can we get onto the booklet, please?"

C's eyes became downcast as he agreed. "I got answers," C said from behind his desk. He regarded the leather book with distaste like it was a disease that kills.

"Thank you. It must have taken A-sama's cryptoanalysis team ages," Hinata cried, feeling the excitement and nervous. C scoffed, looking affronted. Hinata tilted her head in question. "What?"

"Instead of the Kumo Angō Kaidoku Han with all their computers and fancy skills, I was the one who did all the work- just me, on a mission facing radical Kirigakure separatists," C stated bitterly.

"Oh," She grinned and bowed deeply. "Thank you, C-san. I don't know what I would've done without you,"

C looked smug and appreciative of her compliment. "Why yes. Credit should be placed where credit is due," C beamed.

She reached up and removed a flower from her hair. It was a crisp and pale white gardenia. She walked to his desk. "May I?" Hinata asked, gesturing to the stuff on the table. C nodded.

There was an empty plate and a two-thirds finished clear curved glass cup with water. She dumped the water onto the plate and put the elegant flower to float on the shallow puddle. She bit her thumb and a drop of blood fell into the water. She infused her chakra into the water with a seal. She encased the flower in the glass cup.

"Why'd you do that?" C asked.

She geztured to her art work. "This flower will stay fresh until I die as will my thanks," Hinata whispered.

C looked at the flower in the exhibit. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

"Tsunade-sama," Hinata smiled.

He nodded, unable to form words. "Thanks," C finally said.

He got serious and he cleared his throat. "This highly sensitive information can be trusted with nobody except for the Raikage so I did all of it. I am one hundred percent certain that she killed all of those in the leatherette book. Some, for as much as sixty thousand yen,"

Hinata was shocked, staring, open-mouthed. "She killed all these people... like a mercenary?"

C nodded. "Most of them were Uchiha under different pseudonyms. Those who left Konoha before the massacre with the help of the Third Hokage went all over the world. She found them and killed them. She most likely did accept the money with a partner- Shigeko,"

That woman. Kaiya will feel her wrath. Shigeko will die.

Hinata sputtered. She must have had so much money. All of her resources went elsewhere. Everywhere other than Taiyo, her son. She adores him so much. She remembers spending, on average, about three hours away from the twins from ages zero to two. Benjiro was no different during the pregnancy and beyond. She nourished all of the kids so that she could understand them wholly.

She bathed with them, co-slept with them and did whatever she could to bond. They normally didn't sleep in their beds because they enjoyed her bed so much.

Hinata felt repulsed. How... could she? What?

She killed Uchiha when she was an Uchiha? Taiyo still loves Kaiya madly. How could she take that smile off of Taiyo's face? And Sasuke- wasn't wrong. There were other Uchiha... they are dead because of Kaiya. She felt cold and heavy. She was a friend. An ally.

C looked at the flower and stroked the glass as it wilted. "Are you dying? Do you require medical attention?"

Hinata shook her head. "How will I tell them? Oh... Sasuke,"

That night, she was in the greenhouse when she told him. He didn't want to associate himself with Taiyo. But the kids should not be blamed for the parent's mistakes. So, he slowly let Taiyo back in his life.

Everything was good. Very good. But bad. Somewhat bad.

Then days turned into months and Hinata forgot to write letters to Hanabi.

To be brief, Shigeko did visit again. Hinata kicked her butt! The woman's eyes were a black color instead of a pale snake yellow. She was clumsy and wasted her chakra. Sasuke said there was something off with her chakra.

Taichirou Hychu did visit once but only talked to Sasuke. The talk was about bombs and raining debris. Sasuke's arm was broken in a match of taijutsu. Apparently, Taichirou used nothing but a tobacco pipe and mockery. It was... unsettling, to say the least.

Mitsuyo... returned. The moment Mitsuyo set her bags down and laid in bed, Hinata joined Mitsuyo without protest. They dismally shared two full boxes of almond cookies while wordlessly watching their favorite geisha soap opera.

Mitsuyo said, "I'm so-"

Hinata interrupted. "Already... said. Already known. Already understood,"

Mitsuyo said she spoke to her children. Kaito refused to converse with Mitsuyo but her daughter, Kokoro... was more open to discussion. It landed in Kokoro moving to Konoha because of Mitsuyo's confession of what happened. They are understandably estranged.

Sasuke ignored Mitsuyo for weeks until he broke and had a squabble with her. He said keeping angry was annoying and slowly began tolerating her again.

The kids were happy at her return. Hiromitsu smiled so widely.

Karin had a baby boy- named Tsugetsu born in March, looking like a thousand ryo. He had red hair and purple eyes, which was a strange combination until she saw him open his grin. He was loud and boisterous like Karin but playful and charming like Suigetsu. The baby shower was just Karin, Hinata and Someina dancing around in Karin's thin wedding dress, shopping and drinking iced tea.

Taiyo and Benjiro know that they have sharingan eyes. When Sasuke announced it to them, they were on top of the world. They thought they had superpowers and wore capes for half a day, stole cookies from the local grocery store and passed out due to a sugar rush. Shinobi superheroes who used walkie-talkies and proceeded in thinking they were the best...

They probably were the best but self-esteem-wise.. she did her job right. They seemed to be happy.

They flew kites, raced up temples, went on ferry boat rides, ate cakes. Oh, the fun they had. They sat on a hammock in her garden under the stars and told ghost stories or they had a movie night and threw popcorn at the screen without dire consequences. It was like the world was at her fingertips with the kids.

Sasuke's starting to teach them certain techniques to amplify the power of the sharingan, so he would start training them. Taiyo was obviously better at jutsu than Benjiro but that didn't bother the Aoi.

Hinata's already been teaching them taijutsu, practicing her techniques despite the boys hating them and preferring to learn basic seals. None have yet to express a dominant interest in medical-ninjutsu.

The kids were ultimately decided to be homeschooled after thoughts of Benjiro's senjutsu chakra acting up.

Hiromitsu and Amarante's left eyes hurt and became more cloudy as months passed. It worried Hinata. It was painful and miserable. She hated it.

Hinata instantly became a jonin on a mission with the Raikage. Instead of taking Darui and C, he took Hinata and Darui to keep him safe while meeting the pervert Tsuchikage.

The Tsuchikage loved to comment on her lovely form and unintentionally shamelessly flirted with her.

Hinata suspects Darui was the Raikage's favorite and will become the next Raikage. The Raikage asked of her opinion on his left-hand man. Hinata said her honest opinion. The comment brimmed with positive compliments. The Raikage took her words to heart.

Darui mostly drank foreign shochu and spared with Hinata. He was the epitome of relaxed and humble despite Hinata beating him.

Everything went well.

Unfortunately, in the center of the dense forests, the Raikage was attacked by three hundred shinobi. Hinata faced them all- herself! After mastering the Chidori about a month after Taiyo's birthday, she took on everyone.

The real kicker was the jutsu she created. About eleven months ago, she created Jikishi Dangan no jutsu. Magnetic Death bullets Jutsu.

She wrote tiny, tiny, tiny explosive seals with her byakugan eye magnification and wrapped it around pieces of silver. She practiced, for about four months, to apply what the nightblood savior did.

The advanced techniques never worked until the Raikage was in danger. With saving the leader on her mind, she summoned about sixty small bullets with tiny explosive seals at their core. She hit many of their enemies.

She... created an A-level jutsu and could use it anytime. He named her as jonin and it was good.

All good. She finally made a stand! She was jonin. There weren't many jonin ever to be promoted singly by the Raikage himself. She was a phenomenon, an infinite phenomenon as Sasuke told her.

Personally, with Sasuke- it had gotten better.

She still remembers every kiss, every smile, and laugh. Late midnight moved furniture dances, setting up the table and giving each other tips on the daily crossword puzzle. She loved when her head was quiet on the curve of his lap or when her fingers were in his sleeping hair. He found a home in the wrinkles when she smiled and in the blush she had when she got embarrassed.

Oh how... she missed Hanabi and Neji. She felt his spirit flowing through her everytime she perfected a kick or threw a kunai knife at the target. She felt his warm embrace of determination wrap around her like a hug.

In addition to painting and photographs, she diligently wrote notes and letters to Konoha.

-x-

Nearly 1 year later.

July 24th. Noon.

Aches are erotic. He wasn't mindlessly violent, nor was he brutal. He did want everyone to be under his control, bend to his every will.

Hychu Taichirou stood atop the roof. It was a neat house. He spotted the children playing around the greenhouse with blue stained glass windows. The koi pond blue that reflected the copious sunshine that illuminated the vast, elaborate garden that surrounded many acres. There were many peach trees scattered about the terrain but concentrated around the ponds. He saw a brick well in the works. Was that a hammock?

All these dear birds, singing an angels's song. The animals are comfortable in the sanctuary. It's peaceful and light. Perfection.

It's still beautiful. It's beautiful enough to wreck. Nothing deserves to stay perfect- that's not what life is.

He looked over his shoulder, to a henchman. "Are the explosives in place?" Hychu Taichirou asked.

The henchman nodded. At the greenhouse, the koi pond, near the peach tree clump, the brick well all be blown to bits. There's something romantic about destruction and sadness.

His men just finished killing thirty ANBU. "Pile the bodies over there," Taichirou ordered.

They nodded to him and he smiled. His lips were often given to a smile that no one could see. He genuinely enjoyed life.

"I thought you said we weren't gonna kill anyone," the big, strong underling said. He looked at the pile of ANBU they managed to kill. "Except for 'em,"

Taichirou scoffed. "An honorable shinobi's priority is to accomplish the mission without killing but there are exceptions every now and then. Besides my words were, "Do not kill the inhabitants of the house at any cost," Wasn't that clear?"

The man sighed. "Spineless pawns don't kill. It's a living for us to kill," his underling grumbled.

Daytime is when the competent shinobi showcase their power and influence. Does his underling have any skill? If not, return to the womb.

If one has the subtlety of a brick, one can accomplish nothing.

The day tests a true warrior's skill.

Only a shinobi can kill a true shinobi. Shinobi do not make splashes. Shinobi do not run nor do they leave traces of presence or blood. Shinobi do not need night.

The underling scratched his head. "Why couldn't we tune them up a bit, though? Their screams are better than sex. If I don't see blood, I get a headache, boss man,"

Taichirou ignored his dull words and hissed. "You like killing at night. Umbrage is for cowards and milksops alike,"

"Can I kill one now?" The underling said.

"No. If you do not cooperate and follow my direct orders, your world will be black. Just like the inside of your coffin on that same starless night,"

"Why'd we set up these explosive tags up anyway?" His underling asked. Taichirou looked immensely pleased but did not say a word. The underling just grinned. "We take orders from Akuma-oo-sama. He said to take the woman again,"

"Yes. Yes he did," Taichirou agreed. "Now, my dear, we wait,"

"For what?"

"Something terrible,"

The bombs will leave everyone aching. Hurt. That thought gave him instant gratification. He was sanely violent.

-x-

August 1st.

The now four-year-old Amarante liked it whenever Hinata stroked her hair one hundred times. It makes her hair all 'shiny'. For a while, Amarante hated brushing her bird's nest hair. She expertly ran away when the comb came out. Hinata didn't always have to go up to a high number of strokes since Amarante didn't know what one hundred was. Now she does and it's a drag.

In front of the mirror, Hinata used a pink timber paddle brush. Amarante sat on a stool while Hinata stood, counting and running her fingers through Amarante's silky hair.

Oh, how Hinata missed her original deep navy shade. She considered dying it back. She adored being Miss Natsukawa Momo but it was nothing compared to being Hyuuga Hinata. The charade was fun but left her upset. Everyone seemed to like Natsukawa Momo more. Momo was respected, resourceful and strong. No one doubted her.

What does Hinata get? Pushed around and overlooked. What does her father think? What will her father think of her?

Sometimes it's fine. Sometime's it's not. She's willing to admit that she's nostalgic. She's hurt enough to romanticize the relationship but she's also vulnerable and mature enough to admit that they failed.

It goes back to the question of free will. Hiashi didn't respect her. No one did, not even Sasuke at the time. She wouldn't respect the old Hinata either. Would they like her now? She's not afraid to fight for her opinion. She's not afraid of anything- except for large bodies of water.

She's near tears when she thinks of her father. The majority of their relationship wasn't good. He was going to brand her and her child. Send her off to be married like cattle. He thought of her as snow in the summer.

He wasn't kind and she'll never witness the moment they grow and blossom into what Sasuke and Amarante is. She sees them, she's sad and wistful. They went on beach walks, catching up in the sand and collecting seashells Amarante proudly displays. He signed them up for a dance class since she liked music so much. She loves him so much, they have a language. It's their thing to go stargazing and go bike riding together.

With the boys, he wasn't as tender.

She will never have that... closeness with her father.

She got out of those thoughts and smiled. "Come on, uncle Rai got you these expensive, beautiful sunflower kanzashi so you would start wearing pants instead of skirts during your training sessions," Hinata said, showing her ebony-black haired daughter the bargain.

She's used to the Raikage spoiling Hiromitsu and Amarante. He recently began teaching Benjiro and Taiyo with the twins. Amarante hates pants. To train with dresses made the byakugan girl have less motor function. Skirts are heavier than pants.

He got Amarante a hairclip with small yellow garnet gems dotting the petals, which she hoped weren't real garnet gems. The middle of the flower's seeds, which were brown was a thumbnail-sized peach imperial topaz gemstone. Amarante loved the needle-shaped kanzashi but would not give in.

It was nice that both Killer Bee and the Raikage gave the kids free daily training sessions. Both Taiyo and Benjiro learned a lot since they couldn't attend school. After many arguments with Sasuke, they chose to keep the kids homeschooled.

Hinata kept Benjiro at home for obvious reasons but Taiyo didn't want to attend school because of Benjiro's condition. Taiyo didn't want to be alone with the bullies either. Hiromitsu and Amarante were taught by the Raikage so they could get an early start. Sasuke and Hinata knew, as adults, that A-sama liked the twins most.

He spoils them all. Other mothers hate that Benjiro and Taiyo get personal lessons. Hinata personally doesn't care.

These lessons were supposed to be done with pants. Amarante- didn't get that.

"It is not practical for kunoichi to wear dresses. Besides, pants are nice," Hinata said.

Amarante scowled, watching her mother through the huge mirror. "Mama. Pants don't like me. That's why I was naked in your tummy," she said, convinced.

"Ano, that's why you refuse to wear anything other than kimonos and skirts? Because you don't like pants?"

Amarante smiled. "Yeah, mama. An' veggies. An' when you're not lookin', Ben gives the evil stuff to the koi. Chuhei likes 'em most when Hiro and me do it,"

"Really, Amarante. Veggies are so important! He cannot skip out on that!"

Amarante froze and flicked her byakugan eyes away. "I didn't say that. It was a dream. You're asleep. I sleep. We're all sleep," Amarante said loudly.

Why do kids hate veggies? "Hime, vegetables are good for your body,"

"Socks are good for our feet but we wear sandals," Amarante said.

Hinata pursed her lips. All her kids were smart. Too smart, perhaps.

"Tell you what... if you wear this, to honor Kumo and your Raikage on the Samidare festival, we'll find a compromise," Hinata said.

"What's that? Compomize?" Amarante sounded it out.

"Like a deal. Remember, uh, you all kept your rooms tidy, we went horseriding. We got less chaos and you got to meet Mori, the horse,"

"Oooh,"

"We'll find one, okay, baby?"

Amarante nodded, playing with a toothbrush. With that, Hinata picked up the delicate kanzashi and secured flowers in Amarante's hair with the hair ornament. Hinata doesn't remember her mother doing this for her. Her mother probably didn't. "You look really wonderful," Hinata said honestly.

"Papa says you got my beauty from me," Amarante commented. "But you're prettiest of them,"

"Thank you," Hinata said.

Amarante pressed her lips together then sighed. "When we gon' meet grabpa and grabma? And our uncles and aunties. I like Meina and Mitsu but I wanna know more people,"

Hinata's worry spiked. "Why... do you want to meet them... all of them?" Hinata stammered.

"I want a big family so we could fill Uchihagakure. There aren't too many Uchiha. We can't fill up a village, like us kids. Ama, Tai-Tai, Ben and Hiro and mama, papa and Mitsu and Meina are cool but I wan' Uchihagakure an' a police fort,"

Fort? She means police force. The Uchiha used to control the police force... Hinata opened her eyes, wider. Sasuke wants an Uchihagakure? He seemed adamant about not meeting any Uchiha. It should seem like a dream come true but he avoids it all contact with Uchiha. She isn't even sure about his past.

"Uchihagakure, huh," Hinata repeated.

Later that day, Karin and Kameya with Hinata and Amarante, went to the local seamstress. It was good. She found out she was the third highest paid doctor in the healthcare system.

-x-

August 2nd.

The day after shopping, afternoon chores were completed.

With a plastic bin and Someina on her heel, they cruised through the halls, humming. It was a Thursday morning. Someina dusted while Hinata washed the floors.

She passed by Benjiro's room, finding a jungle full of clothes and scrolls and sports equipment. "I thought we told you and Taiyo to clean this room," Hinata reminded the relaxed boy on the also disheveled blue bed.

"We picked up some stuff. I cleaned, like you said," Benjiro said languidly, continuing to read.

"Your entire room, Benjiro," Hinata hissed.

"Oh,"

"Don't 'Oh,' me, Ben. You knew that. You are messy. Messy boys," Hinata said, gathering laundry for laundry day.

Benjiro shrugged it off. "It's not that messy. You can see a square inch of floor,"

"Along with the local temple, we'll clean your room. How do you leave it this way? You know, there's a hamper for a reason. To put your dirty socks in it," Hinata reminded him.

"Do all Ka-sans nag?" Benjiro asked.

"Do all little boys make messes?" Hinata said and sighed. "I don't even know what is clean or dirty,"

She looked at an old shirt Benjiro absolutely detested. He almost fed it to Chuhei until Hinata stopped him. "Benjiro, do you want this shirt?"

"Pfft. No," he laughed.

"Okay," she said, folding it. "I'll give it to Taiyo,"

He scrambled off of the bed and snatched it from her hands. "No. No. Yeah, I want it badly," he said loudly, hugging it.

"Why?"

"Taiyo can't have it if I can have it," Benjiro stroked the shirt.

Hinata laughed and he cracked a grin while she ruffled his teal hair. "Sibling selfishness," Hinata scanned the room. "I want this entire room spotless before dinner or no surfing with Tousan. I'll find Taiyo,"

"Uuuughhhh, fine," Benjiro resigned himself to it. She walked away and was crushed by a warm hug from behind.

She grinned and hugged him back. "You know I adore you, yes?"

Benjiro nodded. "I just wanted to get my daily hug in,"

Hinata smiled and left his room, in search of Taiyo. "Taiyo, you can't hide from cleaning up your room," Hinata called out.

She turned left and found Hiromitsu and Taiyo laying on the ground around the corner. Hinata gasped. The basket with mountains of neatly folded clothing went in all directions. Laundry flew everywhere.

She rushed over and checked their pulses. "Oh dear, are you both alright? What's happening? Someina- get the defibrillator I thin-"

Taiyo sat up as Hiromitsu did, looking moderately pissed off. "No. Nata. We're fine. We're fine," Taiyo said.

Hinata gathered the jokers into a tight hug. She thought they died! Why would they- what happened? "You boys scared me," Hinata said, near tears.

"Squeezing too hard," Taiyo choked out. Hiromitsu groaned and she eased up. She pulled back, reluctant and slow like attached velcro pulling apart. She loves them to death.

They settled against the hall wall with laundry everywhere. The doors in the house were replaced with rice paper slider doors.

Hiromitsu shook his head. "We're good but we both lost,"

"Lost what?" Hinata narrowed her eyes.

Taiyo shrugged, crossing his skinny legs on the sun-warmed floor planks. "A bet. I said I could play a better stick than him and now we see who can't be a better stick, me or him,"

Hinata pulled them closer, with a separate arm around each boy. "Don't scare me like that. I thought something bad happened," she murmured into Hiromitsu's hair.

Hiromitsu rolled his eyes. "Hn. Nothing happened. We fine,"

She kissed the top of their heads. "Sick joke. Now help your Ka-san clean. Taiyo- clean your room,"

-x-

August 4th.

In the hot sun, Hinata and Sasuke spared and practiced bow and arrow shooting.

Hinata enjoyed hunting with the boys but it was a thing the men of the family did together. She didn't want to intrude, despite the fact that she was the only one who could spot the 'prey,' from miles and miles away. The ambiguity added more fun, Sasuke said. It was only about skill and stealth. The boys liked that aspect very much.

As Hinata hit the target again, she smiled. "Bull's eye," Hinata whispered.

Hinata smiled at the variety of weapons surrounding them. Kama, hachiwari, kusarigama, chigiriki, the fukiya and its bamboo flute. She knew how to use all of these shinobi weapons without a doubt. She wanted to compete with Tenten... which... who (if she's honest ) she already beat.

Sasuke peered at her with a lifted brow. "You're kind of a weapon's specialist, huh?"

Hinata nodded. "Suigetsu lets me teach at his dojo sometimes. The eleven-year-old boys hang off of my every word. They listen and enjoy my classes,"

"They probably like your assets,"

She pushed him. Her chest?! That's all they like? "No. What do you mean? I am an excellent teacher!"

He shrugged. "They do like the class but they like you more,"

"How do you know?"

"I was a boy and eleven. You are distracting," Sasuke said.

She looked at her chest. "Perhaps. I am still an excellent weapon's user,"

With a questioning expression on his face, he looked at the pile of bronze, silver, and wood.

Sasuke nodded then looked at his wrists. Sasuke's arm bracers had a specially made transportation mark on them... so he could summon any weapon that he wants. Hinata placed one of the transportation marks on the inside of her knee. The supply of shuriken that seal had was unlimited.

He looked at her then smirked a bit, a tad complacent. "Well. Ocha, I got... you these,"

"Got what?" Hinata asked, she placed the bow and arrow on the ground.

"A gift..." he said slowly, purposely for anticipation. Her anticipation.

Her eyes widened when he summoned identical arm bracers to his. They were a muted shade of violet and smaller, obviously.

"Ah. Sasuke, you shouldn't have," Hinata jumped into his arms, eager to wear her new arm bracers.

Sasuke caught her and laughed. "I shouldn't have. But I did," he drawled. His rinnegan eye looked to be the same color- and she swooned. He set her down.

She pushed him away and punched his muscled shoulder lightly. "Oh you," she said, kissing him sweetly. "Thank... you... I mean it, thank you,"

"You're welcome," Sasuke said, an undeniable twinkle in his generally mischevious countenance.

They were so soft and slinky. She didn't expect that... She thinks they look wonderfully cool. All the things she could summon! She always had to catch her katana blades mid-air during battles. Now she could just summon her swords directly into her hands and slice and dice. It was so- so thoughtful and kind.

She kissed his cheek and he said, "Try them on, ocha. What are you waiting for?"

Hinata tried them on. This was awesome! They felt weightless- like an extension of her skin. She used the arm bracers with joy. She transferred all of the weapons she used from the void to the arm bracers. Sasuke watched as she sealed away random things.

They fought again, just hand to hand combat. Taijutsu. He was concentrated and they looked like a fast-moving blur to the rest of the world. They usually made each other laugh or said distracting things to throw the other off. She didn't know how to bring up Uchihagakure- so she just let the word fall out of her mouth.

"Uchihagakure, huh," Hinata said. "Amarante said you wanted one,"

"What?" he breathed. He looked disturbed.

Sasuke paused momentarily, unable to dodge her next kick. She was unable to stop her attack. He went flying into a nearby thick pine tree trunk and two others. The sheer impact of his landing made the two first trees snap in half as he broke through them. The last one stopped his flight.

Heaps of flying leaves rained down for ten seconds while she stood in shock. His groan was loud and painful.

That was her! She's so dangerous! Sasuke- is Sasuke alright?

Hinata rushed over to him, worried and apologetic. "Sasuke! Are you hurt?" Hinata asked loudly, putting her glowing hands on Sasuke's shoulders, healing him quickly. "I'm so sorry. I should have held back,"

He was holding back how much it actually hurt. "Nonsense. Never hold back your true strength," Sasuke ordered.

"I'm sorry,"

He reached up, caressed her cheek and shook his head. "Don't be. If I were just an average shinobi, then that would have killed me. Never be apologetic about your strength,"

Hinata hesitated. "But- I... am sorry, anata," she whispered. "I never, ever mean to hurt you,"

He coughed and said, "Uchihagakure? Why ask that?"

"Yeah... It was wrong of me to... bring it up like that. I should've waited," Hinata sighed. "Amarante.... said you wanted one. And a police force,"

Sasuke laughed drily but that seemed to hurt. "That was my childhood fantasy- taking over the police force from my dad and be nothing but ordinary since my brother was so extraordinary,"

Oh... that was sweet. She was surprised that he actually told her. His memories about his past-self never came up, until lately. She really wanted to break the walls that surrounded him.

"You are amazing, Sasuke... Don't let anyone ever demean you," Hinata laughed softly. "I wanted to be sweet like my mother and strong like my father, when I was a kid,"

He chuckled, feeling her healing chakra stream through him. "You are those two things, ocha. Your childhood dreams came true," he said, oddly optimistic in tone.

She smiled. "What were your childhood wishes and dreams?"

Sasuke seemed to smirk with a glint in his eye. "You. At least a woman who would take care of me and make me riceballs and dried fish for long missions,"

She laughed. "You dreamed of me?" she blushed.

Sasuke just relaxed. She placed his head on her lap in the middle of the forestry area. "Yeah," he said. It was mollifying... to be there.

He looked like he was in the proper, half-lidded state to reveal something about his tragic past. He'd been sharing little things with her lately and it felt good.

"I always wanted one Uchihagakure. With just... me and some other Uchiha, taking over the world with a paper sword and a cardboard hat and some biscuit we'd steal from our mother's cookie jar. Even if I stole, my mother would still kiss me and adore me and tuck me into bed. As you could tell... I miss her the most, along with Itachi,"

Hinata knows. "You were a very happy child... before the massacre. That much I know," Hinata said, running her hands through his hair, leveling out the unruly spikes.

"Yeah. I had the best life ever," Sasuke said. "I had a lot of zen habits,"

Hinata couldn't help but giggle. "You are the most high-strung person I know. You're very paranoid. You check the locks, you sleep with a sword under the pillow and you never, ever want to relax,"

He just seemed proud of himself. "It used to be worse. I'm a shinobi and not as trusting as all the ochas in the world. I'm at my best with you, right now,"

She smiled and traced the start of his hairline. "I can see that," she said. "but I meditate alone for at least thirty minutes every day. Can't you be zen with me?"

Sasuke nodded. "I'm already peaceful," he said and he had a very faraway look to him. "Believe me, when I was six, I'd lay around with cats all day. I'd play in the forests for hours and I actually liked reading, not me doing the reading- just my mom's nice voice playing out in the sun-dyed hallways... She'd read to me. Even when the dango melted. I'd spend time with my mother, above all," Sasuke said and closed his eyes. He relived the memories.

Hinata looked at the bark of the pine trees and the shrub of purple raspberries nearby. She felt her throat close up. "I loved my mother so... I don't even blame Hanabi for being born... After a few weeks, Hyuuga Hisana was dead because of a pregnancy complication," Hinata admitted.

He just grinned up at her. "If we did start an Uchihagakure, would you have more kids? I made a new jutsu- restore our clan no jutsu,"

She slapped his head gently. "I mean... we already have a lot of Uchiha in the world.... no thanks to Kaiya,"

Sasuke stiffened. "Even though she's Taiyo's mother, I will kill her the first chance I get,"

"I won't say a word. I'm angry too," Hinata whispered, rubbing the sides of his head, to get all the kinks out of his expression. "Relax, you're safe,"

He loosened up his body and closed his eyes again. "I'm safe," he released a sigh. He believed it.

She spoke softly, her tone was feather light. "If we see Mitsuyo's children... the first thing we need to do is... talk. Not avoid. Forgive and not fight," Hinata said. "You have to teach them our ways... They will never, ever have a teacher as good as you if you don't do the lesson,"

Sasuke thought about it and let his walls down. "I'm willing... to teach but no bonds,"

"No bonds have to be made... alright?" Hinata whispered. He nodded. She felt the warmness of the summer and looked down at her partner. "We can probably make a full clan in about three generations. Intertwined with both the godlike dojutsus... Byakugan and sharingan alike... We'll have one, just not now,"

"Our clan is pretty neat, right?" Sasuke said. "I'm glad that we both left Konoha... and got away from the curse of the bloodlines. Mostly, I'm more glad I found you. It was a privilege,"

She nodded and they spent the rest of the day like that, relaxed and satisfied.

-x-

August 5th. Morning.

A day later, it was calm. After breakfast at seven, the kids were hungry again. It was nearing noon but the sky was turmoiled and angry.

After cleaning the stray bits of leftover newspaper on the ground, she noticed something new about the Uchiha. Sasuke actually cut out articles and small advertisements for all of the kids, seeing as he'd think they'd find it interesting. These cuttings were annoying but the kids seem to cherish them. Someina hated the stacks of black and white.

In the kitchen window, Hinata watched as it rained outside, like usual in the August heat. It was a comforting rain that made vapor swell in the forest and roll out onto the grass, like seafret. The rain was hesitant and polite, seeing as there weren't as many leaks this time coming through the roof. She told Taiyo to stop licking the puddles and catching drops from the ceiling in his mouth.

He does that and it's bad but Benjiro used to eat glue when he was five, so... she's overlooked her fair-share of details about the child.

The kids usually went rain-walking with Mitsuyo during this kind rain because she showed them a lot about nature. She even saw Hiromitsu grin and play mahjong with a smile. This time, they stayed inside.

Someina and Hinata were in the kitchen, smiling a bit. Hinata was just about finished knitting a red sweater, for Taiyo. Someina hummed lightly while cooking. There were: idle conversations, comfort, laughs. Peace.

Someina chatted on while stirring the tomato soup she wanted to impress Sasuke with. Hinata half-listened to her spirited way of speaking. Her green hair was getting quite long and she tied it up with chopsticks, which happened to be Hiromitsu's special flat silver ones.

"Still. It's freaky," Someina argued, gesturing to Hinata with a pasty wooden ladle.

"No, it's not," Hinata laughed.

Someina clicked her tongue. "The kids can't invite people over when there's a skeleton on the wall,"

"It's fine. Skeletons are helpful. Benjiro and Taiyo both know where the greater trochanter is. I'm a proud doctor," Hinata said firmly.

"Sasuke used the skeleton to scare me one day,"

Hinata laughed. "He does things to mildly terrify you,"

Someina grumbled, stirring the soup aggressively. Soon after that, Mitsuyo came walking inside of the kitchen, looking for a small snack.

Someina's eyes lit up. "Mitsuyo- join the party. My soup has made an appearance and it stole the show," Someina said. "I hope you like it,"

Hinata stared. Someina was always looking for Mitsuyo's approval, which was strange. She wondered if she looked that way with her father, which was a little pathetic. She didn't need her father's approval. However, it would be nice.

Mitsuyo immediately sniffed the air. "Why does it smell like that?" she asked.

"Greatness?" Someina suggested, cracking an insecure smile.

"No. Whatever meal you screwed up," Mitsuyo said.

Someina sizzled and her happiness burnt out too. She tensed and stood over the huge soup pot. "You haven't even tasted it yet, Mitsuyo. You're very judgemental,"

Mitsuyo tasted the soup and rose her brow. "What do you have against salt?" Mitsuyo asked Someina, sighing lightly.

"Nothing. It's fine as it is," Someina said, with a little waver in between words. It was like she didn't believe her own words.

"You should add salt," Mitsuyo advised.

"It's fine," Someina said quietly.

"Depends on your tolerance," Mitsuyo murmured.

Someina narrowed her eyes. "You like an ocean's worth of salt. Plus, the Raikage likes it,"

"The Raikage likes anything from natto to Umi budo to mentaiko. He inhales his food," Mitsuyo countered.

"My cooking doesn't taste bad. You have bad taste," Someina said.

Mitsuyo shrugged, feeling extra catty that morning. "You have no taste but hey, to each her own,"

Hinata giggled slightly, knitting on a chair she found. Mitsuyo tugged on Hinata's wrist. "Come on... what do you think?"

Hinata got up and dreaded tasting the soup. She looked over and got a spoon, feeling as though she's the tie-breaker, which wasn't a fun place to be in. Shino and Kiba usually put her there.

The flavor seemed to be sleeping and the tomato paste sat on her tongue.

"It tastes bland," Hinata said neutrally. She noticed Someina's face falling and quickly covered her opinion with a smile. "It still looks good. Sasuke destroyed his taste buds when he had turtle soup... he won't mind,"

"That's not as much as a compliment as you think," Someina frowned.

"Ha. Ha... I tried," Hinata said, laughing awkwardly. She set the dirtied spoon in the sink and looked at the angry green-headed girl. "What?"

Someina pursed her lips and seemed younger than her twenty-three years of age. She eyed Hinata, looking afflicted with sorrow. "You're always, always agreeing with her, even when she's in the wrong,"

"I'm wrong?" Mitsuyo asked, a dour expression on her face. "The way you made that soup was wrong,"

"Sometimes you're my enemy, Mitsuyo. Sometimes," Someina said.

"What's so important about this soup?" Hinata asked, wanting to be a mediator for this tension. Over soup. Soup!

"It's just about Sasuke. I'm making it for Sasuke. Don't you get it?" Someina asked.

Hinata shook her head.

Mitsuyo scowled in disapproval, watching Someina with a stink eye. "Careful now, Someina," Mitsuyo said teasingly but the message was anything but. Every word was as sharp as a knife. "Remember what I said?"

She ducked her head, looking ashamed. "That's not the way friends behave," Someina recounted slowly and irritated. "Seasons change and rain dries up. It's not like that anymore,"

"Like what anymore?" Hinata asked, confused out of her mind.

"Nothing," Someina stomped away. "Just finish off the soup by yourselves,"

"The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach," Mitsuyo muttered so quietly. Hinata caught only three or two words.

Mitsuyo sighed, tying up her black hair and rolling up her white yukata sleeves. "Let's fix this trainwreck before the conductor returns,"

Hinata snickered. It was nice, standing together like this at the counter, cooking in a steady silence.

Mitsuyo looked at Hinata in the corner of her eyes. Hinata mixed the pot of steamed sticky rice and broke. "What?"

Mitsuyo averted her gaze and picked at her cuticles. "I'm one to delve deep into the relationships of others,"

"Like a nosy person? A gossip?" Hinata supplied.

"Bah! Curious is more descriptive," Mitsuyo shrugged. "I'm just curious- do you believe that Someina stayed for all the wrong reasons?"

"What do you mean?"

"C'mon you have to admit she only likes Sasuke between the two of us. I've known her since she was 15 and she likes me less than before,"

"You can be mean," Hinata said honestly. "I still love you,"

"Yes. I'm aware. However, she constantly threatened to go, leave my security. She never does that,"

"What are you getting at?" Hinata tilted her head.

Mitsuyo smiled, a serene smile that softened her eyes. "We all have an anchor- someone who you could trust and love no matter what. A raft in the river when we drown. They kept us grounded when the water becomes too much, too high. Mine is still Danzo and I visit where Danzo left me last in Kumogakure. Yours is obviously Sasuke,"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Someina just wants someone who will jump in the waves and be her anchor. A raft in her waves. You may not like who her sailor savior is," Mitsuyo concluded.

Hinata tried not to think about it. You might not like who her sailor is? What? She just focused on cooking, careful not to speak. It was nice- but less comfortable.

She wondered if this is what it felt like to have a mother who did this with their daughters.

She made sure to cook with Amarante a lot since she never got the chance to with her mother. Hinata does dress up, tea time dates, she plays with dolls and they go on mother-daughter dates all the time. She wants to give Amarante to live out the childhood fantasies Hinata had with her mother.

Mitsuyo soon left and Hinata was alone. Mitsuyo said she was off to the market. She turned on the news, the old television that she sometimes had to smack to get working.

It happened to be on a news channel again and she watched it for a bit, chopping up some wild green onions and ramps, just to give the soup a kick.

She hummed along, smiling. Soon, the soup was done.

Then, she changed the channel and heard, "It has been five years since the murder of Hyuuga Hinata and the clan chief speaks out on the loss of his daughter,"

What?

The?

Fork?

Hinata accidentally broke the cutting board while the metallic knife liquified in her hand. It has been five years since the murder of Hyuuga Hinata. The loss of-of his daughter.

Oh. My Kami.

She turned around and went to the living room. This cannot be happening. Sasuke read a newspaper while Someina was busy dusting the paintings they had. She smiled at Hinata, completely overlooking the recent outburst she had.

The kids were on the floor, around a coffee table littered with playing cards and shogi pieces. "Have a better poker face, Taiyo," Benjiro said.

"I have a better face than you, Benjiro," Taiyo shot back.

"Be nice," Someina said and the kids rolled their eyes.

Benjiro saw Hinata and quickly said, "Goldfish. That's what we were playing. Goldfish,"

Taiyo turned around and saw the pressed expression on Hinata's face. "Nata! Uh, we swear we weren't playing poker,"

"It was silverfish?" Amarante stated quietly.

"Goldfish, Amara, goldfish," Benjiro hissed.

"No. Poker. We were playing poker," Hiromitsu reminded them. "Remember?"

They all collectively sighed.

Smiling tightly, Hinata said; "Kids. Please, will you go to your rooms? I need to have a talk with-"

"It was Taiyo. He did everything," Amarante said.

"Ka-chan, it was Taiyo," Hiromitsu protested, pointing at the silver-haired child.

Taiyo's jaw dropped to the ground. "You losers, it was Benjiro," Taiyo said.

"No. Why place the blame on me? It was Hiro," Benjiro asked.

"Who did what?" Hinata asked, crossing her arms. These mischevious kids! Always causing trouble and playing pranks.

Benjiro was skeptical as he grinned. "You mean you don't know?" Benjiro said. "Oh... you don't know,"

"Know what?" Hinata asked.

All four of them exchanged looks and said, "Nothing," they all confessed simultaneously.

"I'll deal with that later," Sasuke said.

"Nice going, duck butt," Taiyo said.

"I didn't do anything, sleepy eyes," Benjiro crabbed back.

"Hey. No name calling," Sasuke scolded from behind his newspaper.

"He does have duck hair like you, Sasu," Taiyo said, laughing.

The rest of the kids laughed as well. "Ha. Ha. Very funny," Sasuke deadpanned. "Pick on your old man, clever,"

They all jumped onto Sasuke and tickled him. Amarante smiled. "You're handsome like Meina and Mama said,"

"Thanks, hime," he said ruffling her hair.

"Kids! I need you to go upstairs... now," Hinata ordered.

Taiyo just stared. "Celery sticks... on a cracker, she's mad," Taiyo murmured.

"At us? What did we do?" Benjiro asked.

Taiyo stroked his pointed chin. "It's the I'm-mad-at-Tousan kind of voice. Not us,"

Benjiro gulped, looked at Sasuke and patted his hand. "See ya, pops. Nice knowing you,"

"It's your funeral," Taiyo said hugging the Uchiha as well. "Can you please be there for my birthday? September 26th. Don't die before then,"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Sasuke smirked. Amarante and Hiromitsu looked at each other and kissed Sasuke's cheeks quickly.

They all went upstairs and Hinata huffed at the two adults. She grabbed the plastic remote and changed the channel. Before she could rewind the footage of the big reveal, Hinata clicked the TV off.

"Have you heard what they've been saying on the news?" Hinata asked through gritted teeth.

Someina shook her head. Sasuke rolled his eyes. "No. It's government propaganda, why would I watch?" Sasuke grumbled. Upon seeing Hinata's aggressive expression, he cleared his throat, now interested. "What did it say?" Sasuke asked, less apathetic.

She played the clip. The reporter's exacting voice rang out. "It has been five years since the murder of Hyuuga Hinata and the clan chief speaks out on the loss of his daughter,"

She cracked the remote in her hands and ground her teeth. "Why does everyone think I am dead?" she asked quietly. Shreds of hard plastic poked her feet.

Sasuke looked at the TV screen and said, "You must have had a funeral. Probably one with sunflowers and all that jazz," he cleared his throat and gave a lopsided smile. "Hinata... it's a long story," Sasuke said.

Hinata shook her head, scowling. "I didn't ask how. I asked why. Why is the story long? Why does everyone think I am dead?!"

Someina grinned. "Sasuke. You're the boss, you know? Why don't you deal with this problem?"

Sasuke glared at Someina. The later saw Hinata fuming and said, "Hinata... before you panic, let's remember why we're all here, friends and such,"

Sasuke scratched the back of his neck. "Hell yeah, it is a long story,"

"It is a very important subject," Hinata mid-shouted.

"I think it's an outportant subject," Sasuke said hopefully.

Sasuke seemed nervous, suddenly. He cleared his throat again and folded his newspaper, putting it aside. "You were pronounced dead after the DCA... per se, faked your death in accordance with the government," Sasuke revealed quietly.

"What?!"

"Hychu A.A Taichirou made a clone of you after he stole Kabuto's rebirth jutsu... That clone was tortured by the DCA for months until she succumbs to her injuries. She died. Meanwhile, an imposter, who was also trained by the DCA- went to three different countries, healing a chakra diseases left and right,"

What? Seriously? People were... what?

"Na no Kuni, and Tori no Kuni and Kagi no Kuni all got visits from your impersonator," Sasuke finished.

All this time, someone was living as Hinata in another country? Quite lavishly, as well. She probably got very rich and famous after healing the chakra diseases. Two other Hyuuga women?! Just being her? Her head hurt. Hinata narrowed her eyes. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"The clone of you was killed around five months of your pregnancy. Konohagakure shinobi found the body and claimed that Orochimaru and all his associates killed and tortured you. He didn't. It was the DCA,

"It was also rumored that Kumogakure had a hand in torturing you... making the conditions just right for a war to spark up. For the next year or so, the people of Kumogakure were ready to attack Konoha. Then it was uncovered that we lived in Kumo,

"People believed that I was sent to Kumo by Kakashi, the Hokage, to destroy Kumo when the first mudslide hit. Then you made nice with the Raikage, uncovering yourself as Hyuuga Hinata and the threat of war... was ready to cease to exist," Sasuke said.

"So a war... was almost started because of me?" Hinata asked.

"Gotta say, that is pretty bad-ass," Someina whistled. Hinata sent a glare Someina's way. She shrugged. "It's still bad-ass,"

"That's why I stay in Kumo- people believe I killed you... Your sister nearly killed me because her people think I got blood on my hands," Sasuke told her.

"Why... you'd never- in that past, even know me," Hinata said.

Sasuke shrugged. "The DCA spread that rumor. Time after time, the DCA helped and hindered us. They almost started an international war but they also kept you safe. Hychu Taichirou said he will watch the kids and keep you safe because he's an Uchiha sympathizer..."

"Why does he want to help?" Hinata asked.

"I dunno. He threatened to tell the Hyuuga about the baby and your pregnancy if I didn't let him watch over you. He also said that there will be a battle between the world and the DCA, an underestimated enemy of all. Which is bloody true. He wanted to help. It was deemed official... that if he helps keeps us alive- then I will have to sacrifice someone that I am close to..."

"Who?"

"I dunno. Hychu Taichirou said there was one person that he wanted to kill but that person is already dead and so he wanted another person... in exchange," Sasuke shrugged.

"We are each other's help and survival. Why would you make a deal like that?"

"We're alive, aren't we?" Sasuke asked.

Hinata closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "So... where does this leave us?"

Sasuke nodded. "They thought you were dead enough and they had a funeral. The whole of Konoha grieved. They do miss you. Fuck Keisuke... he just wanted to make you feel bad by saying you're unmemorable,"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Hinata asked.

Sasuke clutched his fist tightly. "There never seemed to be a good time. We got good at this. Ultimately... I couldn't kill what we had here. This perfection shouldn't have a death,"

"Missing me and cleaning my grave became a habit for them. It's wrong," Hinata yelled.

Someina shifted awkwardly in her spot and gulped. "I knew you were dead but... Sasuke's right... you seem to have been born happy here. Like you never felt pain,"

"How did you know that I was dead?" Hinata asked Someina.

"I was put under a genjutsu... when you met Benjiro- yeah, some guy, in the rain took care of me when I was released. He... no, it was safe. I felt like I knew him. Anyway, he told me, said you were dead. Also, Hychu Taichirou spoke to me and said that I would also have to sacrifice someone that I am close to for me to get my sister back. Miyana was there as well. I thought nothing of it... Since I was apart of the DCA for a while,"

Hinata's jaw fell to the floor. Someina swept the hair away from her right ear. Behind her ear sat the letters, K.P.P.F. "Kingdom, part, place, forever," Someina said aloud. "It burned the first time I got it,"

"What?"

Someina chuckled, a bit saddened. "They brand you with an iron rod that is super hot. Then they wait for the scar to heal and they do it again and again," Someina explained forlornly. "Then it all just stopped hurting, everything became numb until you feel everything at the same time,"

Hinata gasped. "You worked for the DCA?"

"Yeah... Shigeko kidnapped me a while back... She rounded up all of these innocent kids from a nearby village and absolutely left the place a ghost town. When I was taken, I was barely eight..."

"I should have killed her when I had the chance," Hinata said.

"Yeah. Ryouta helped me. He always gave me his scraps of food, finish my fights between pawns and carry me. Despite having killed a lot... Ryouta was the one who did the combating," Someina said. "That's why I barely had any jutsu or combative skills. I never went to any shinobi academy or have formal training,"

Hinata just exploded. "That's of no importance! Either way, everyone thinks I am dead, dead for at least five years and the trauma they must have gone through. The grief- all for no reason but I wasn't dead because I wasn't dead at all and now everyone thinks I am in a casket and there are probably rosebeds there. Perhaps my dead body is put next to Neji-nii-san's and it'll be real and I'm dead and now-"

Sasuke caught her in his arms. "Hinata, ocha, calm down. Breathe," Sasuke ordered. She took a deep breath. He pressed their foreheads together, looking into her eyes. "Relax,"

"But Sasuke-" she said, still hyperventilating.

"Do me a favor and relax, okay?"

"Fine," she said.

"Fine?"

She pushed him away. "They all think... Anata, I am dead to everyone else," she said, nodding. "Well. There's something I must do. We're going to Konoha. Someina get the stuff ready,"

Sasuke looked at her. "Excuse me?"

Hinata nodded. "We're going to Konohagakure. At dawn,"

Someina's jaw dropped to the ground and she waved her arms. "What?! To Konoha?! Konoha is awful. I like the mountains better,"

She made up her mind. Yes, they are returning to Konohagakure.