Sweet Dispositions

-Chapter 25-
Hellion Fire

July 20th. Late evening.

The glittering crescent-shaped moon was exposed. The deck's warm from the earlier sunbath it got, the grass as soft as ever. Feather sounds of trees swaying, stars blinking and koi fish lurking played with a gentle hum.

Hinata brought tea as a peace offering to the deck, where Someina was. They needed to talk.

"What do you want?" Someina hissed, standing up.

"A conversation. You've been avoiding me at work. They know my protégé hates me."

"Good, let 'em know. I don't like you. Just let me be."

"Can you just hear me out?"

"No!" Someina got up to pass Hinata.

"I would've had to abort them..." Hinata blurted, panicked.

Someina turned around, haunted. "What?"

Hinata shifted in place. "I... would've had to abort them if I hadn't met Mitsuyo and changed my name."

"Why?" Someina asked.

"Before my friend's marriage, where I met Sasuke, my father gave me hints about being married. I feigned getting over Naruto since he got serious to my best friend. Marriage seemed right to Hiashi..."

"You weren't over Naruto," Someina speculated.

"No. I originally made the scarf for him.."

Someina frowned. "That's quite cute."

"Right... When Naruto and my best friend got married, I got drunk... I slept with Sasuke, got pregnant. Hiashi set me up with multiple suitors. I never met them. Didn't want to."

"Why didn't you just say no?"

Hinata smiled but it was a sad smile full of regret and years of trauma. "My traditional, conservative family, don't take 'no' as an answer. They never listened to me, believing in my obedience without consulting me. I couldn't, and my pregnancy wasn't a thought."

"How did you not know?" Someina grimaced.

Denial is stronger than ignorance. Hinata smiled lightly, "Denial... I grew up like a princess. I had a bodyguard for life, trained in the art of fan folding. I ate the greatest cake but no one celebrated my birthday. A clan head daughter, cast out because of my weakness at perfecting the Hyuuga jutsu. Growing up was lonely."

"You had a whole clan," Someina pointed out.

"My birth mother died when I was five. My father disowned me at twelve. My sister was pitched against me and didn't associate with me for years. I was a nobody."

"You aren't a nobody!"

"Konoha says I'm weak for a Hyuuga, second tier. The branch family had seals, to serve the main branch in our rigid hierarchical family. If I married a branch family suitor, my child and I would've been given a seal, to make us a slave."

"So what are you saying?" Someina asked.

"I was in an arranged marriage while being pregnant. A Hyuuga having an outsider's baby, not following traditional interclan marriage hasn't been done before. Sasuke was a mystery, gone. I hadn't told anyone I was pregnant."

"Why not?"

"I'm the Hyuuga clan head's daughter, responsible for representing the clan. Our public image would've been shattered but I couldn't lose my wings before I learned to fly." Hinata told her.

"How did you escape?"

"Sasuke left with me. I wanted a new life. A restart. The Hyuuga would've made me abort my baby... now, I know it's babies. The twins wouldn't have been. Benjiro wouldn't be with me. Sasuke wouldn't have been with me."

"So you lied to get away from your friends, your family, your job just for the babies?" Someina concluded.

"We were meant to return to Konoha after a year, revealing the baby, having a simple life with Sasuke... Here I am, four years without Konoha. I don't remember what my sister's laugh sounds like," Hinata sighed. "I came to Kumo for safety. I don't have a seal. My kids live in peace. I have you and Mitsuyo."

Someina stayed quiet, quietly pondering. Hinata bared her soul in the midnight hours. Someina should forgive her. Should she not, Hinata would be confused.

"You mean you had me. You don't trust me," Someina finally said.

"What? I trust you with my life. We all do," Hinata promised.

Someina glared at Hinata, venom in her tone. "But you don't trust me with the truth. Lying to me about something so fundamental with such ease and no guilt's... unbelievable!"

"At least take the drink," Hinata jutted out the tea on the tray.

"Fine," Someina gritted out. She grabbed the cup, dumping its liquid peace-offering contents out with a hiss.

"Don't follow me!" Someina snapped and stalked away, inside.

In anger, Hinata cursed and set the tray down.

"Ka-chan? You alright?" A child asked.

Hinata whirled around, covering her mouth. Oh crap! At the entrance to the porch, stood Benjiro, worry in the blue of his hair and redness of his eyes.

Benjiro's lip trembled. "Are you and Tousan fighting? A divorce? I don't want you both to divorce. Junpei's parents are divorcing and it made him sad. I won't let you. I don't wanna be sad and I want us living together!"

He ran into her arms, crying softly. Hinata crouched down, wiping away his tears.

"Aoi, you, me, the twins and your father will always live together. No matter what, no matter when. We're going to live in a house with everything you want, okay? I love you to the moon."

"I love you to the moon and back, Ka-chan," he said, briskly wiping his nose.

Hinata sat beside him on the deck. "We're not getting a divorce, we aren't married but we love each other."

"Oh. You gonna stay together forever?" he asked, still snotty-faced.

"Lifetimes upon lifetimes, my dear. Never be scared. It's with Aunt Meina that I have a problem," Hinata revealed, miffed.

"Aunt Meina gets annoying! Always takes my waffles and pancakes. Why are you fighting?" Benjiro asked, sitting on her lap.

Hinata stroked his hair. "I forgot to tell her something about my past. She's pretty mad, you know? But that's not for you to worry about, ne, Ben?"

"How can I make it better?" he asked eagerly.

"Well, darling, you can soothe your mother and go to bed. Not without two kisses," she laughed.

"Taiyo and everybody's asleep! Ka-chan, it's boring. I wanna spend time with you," he said, holding onto her.

"Then baby, what do you wanna do?" Hinata asked, amused.

"Just... quiet, okay?" Benjiro came back with a tub of ice cream and settled beside her. "With ice cream of course."

∆∆∆

July 22nd. Afternoon.

When Hinata and the kids returned home from their weekly picnic, Hinata noticed they forgot the blanket.

Hinata went back to get it but she saw her stupid face, stupid nose, and a stupid sword. "Karui," Hinata sighed.

"Momo. It's been a while," Karui sighed.

I'm thankful for that. Why not go back to hell instead of bothering my clan? Hinata thought.

Karui shifted, rolling her eyes. "I'm not here to fight."

A couple months ago, an ANBU hit Taiyo in "self-defense".

The older boys made it a game to steal the ANBU's sword and confidential files. Instead of reacting like a Raikage-trained shinobi, the ANBU struck Taiyo.

The black eye faded and the mild concussion did too but the memory did not.

Darling Karui watched the situation happen d Hinata going insane. Hinata attacked the ANBU but Karui defended her men and fought Hinata-

"You have to listen to me when I speak," Karui protested, snapping to get Hinata's attention.

"No," Hinata said. "No, I do not. Your words will be noise until your ANBU apologizes for striking a child."

Karui and Hinata stared at one another, at an irreconcilable impasse.

"Again, I didn't come here to fight. The Raikage requests you and Sasuke for a meeting, to do a mission." Karui said firmly.

To protect the village, the Raikage uses Hinata and Sasuke as personal guard dogs. They are called to the front lines of every battle. Sasuke's the perfect soldier and Hinata heals at an extraordinary rate.

A millisecond later, forty ANBU stood in their yard, in her flowers. Hinata frowned.

At the increase of chakra signatures in the area, Sasuke came to the porch.

Karui opened her mouth to explain but Sasuke held up a hand.

"Spare me the details. What does the Rai-freak want?" Sasuke sighed.

"Do not disrespect your Raikage," Karui squawked, pointing her sword at Sasuke's neck.

Sasuke folded his arms, scowling. "He isn't my Raikage."

"He's your Raikage, as long as you're in his streets. Don't mistake his kindness for kindness. Don't be a fool."

I thought that was your job, Hinata thought.

Sasuke squeezed Hinata's arm, reminding her to focus, asking, "What is the mission about?"

"You'll find out when we get there," Karui said dismissively.

Sasuke's eye twitched. "We're going in blind. Let's go, get this over with."

Sasuke moved towards the mountains, and Hinata grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

They haven't said goodbye.

Arriving on the deck, the kids and Someina were there, Hiromitsu perched on her hip. Amarante clutched Someina's black pencil skirt, already upset.

"Going somewhere? Without telling us? Not the first time that happened, isn't it?" Someina said coldly.

Hinata sighed. "Let's not do this now. Not... in front of visitors."

"What? Have you more to hide?" Someina hissed.

Sasuke sighed. "Later. Do that later. Someina, dry your self-pity tears because we have to leave."

The twins were confused but the older boys didn't hide their obvious disappointment; they knew.

Hinata questioned everything when the boys release her from hugs when seeing her off on missions.

It's always so hard for them to leave... Hinata just wanted to ditch being shinobi and live in peace, without missions, without the unnecessary danger... without the goodbyes.

"Kids, your pa, and ma are going. Hurry it up and say goodbye," Karui said, tapping her imaginary watch.

Hinata glared at her.

"What? This is inconveniencing. We have a schedule to maintain."

The kids looked at each other in panic, except the unimpressed Benjiro.

"Hn. Where you going?" Benjiro asked, looking like he wanted her to stay.

Sasuke ruffled a teary Hiromitsu's hair. Sasuke crouched in front of the sad boy and bounce two fingers of Benjiro's forehead. They all patiently waited for Sasuke to tap their foreheads.

He stood at his full height. "We'll be back," he said quietly. Sternly. A promise.

After Sasuke did that, Hinata kissed their cheeks and held them. "You're all individual stars in my universe. I love you. I'll come back to you."

Hinata walked away with the ANBU, not looking back.

Suddenly, Taiyo grabbed her hand. "Come back like mama didn't. Nata, bring back mama from where you go. I want her here. Promise? Ben says you always keep a promise. Bring mama back. I miss her."

Hinata stopped in her tracks, turning around. Someina looked away, emotional while Sasuke's eyes hardened.

Hinata looked at Taiyo, words lost. He obviously missed his mother and Hinata obviously cared. She didn't know what to do but she couldn't promise.

Hinata nodded. "I'll try my best."

Satisfied, Taiyo nodded, walked back to Benjiro's side. Benjiro waved when Hiromitsu and Amarante did.

"Take care of your siblings, kay, Benjiro? Be a hero," Hinata reminded them and blew so many kisses.

¤¤¤

Crowded street. Tall mountains. Suspended glass buildings. Sometimes, the glory of Kumo overwhelmed her. She was accustomed to walking hundreds of feet in the air and being at a high altitude. They were literally hidden in the clouds.

This was commonplace, them being escorted by a fortress of ANBU to visit the Raikage with chakra reducers. Being arrested wasn't a rarity. The ANBU and civilians found the strangest reasons to complain about them.

Has anyone else been arrested for talking about milk?

Sasuke, having no shame, couldn't be bothered by hate. He's always in control, how he did it? She didn't know.

ANBU, Hinata, and Sasuke crossed a forest that was partially empty. The trees, although were sparse, provided a lot of shade. She wanted more sunlight. Every minute, it seemed to get darker.

It was hot. She wore a tunic from her pregnancy era, the Uchiha insignia displayed on her back. It was small but okay.

She absolutely loved wearing the insignia, feeling like she's apart of something greater than herself.

The silent, unimpressed, Sasuke scowled, worried. She looked around, meeting emptiness. No one was there and had alerted the ANBU.

"What's wrong?" she asked, nudging him.

"The air... do you feel it? The air is heavy... with... chakra," Sasuke explained, looking over his shoulders every few moments.

"No," Hinata said.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "How did that get past... you?"

The handcuffs; it's making her notice things slowly or if not at all.

Hinata made the powerful handcuffed chakra seals for the Raikage when he fought Sasuke. It took two-thirds of the Raikage's chakra in seconds, devastating the Hokage.

One-third of any shinobi's chakra was enough to live and enough to immobilize them. No jutsu can be performed unless one wants death.

Then, the government mass produced the handcuff seals and almost always used it on Hinata and Sasuke.

"You know, my seals aren't supposed to be used against me," she grumbled.

"Great job on that, by the way. If you hadn't created those chakra sealed cuffs, then we wouldn't be in this mess."

"It saved you! And the ANBU modified it so that my chakra can't deactivate the seal that I spent two minutes drawing..."

"You've created a puzzle you cannot solve?"

No... But, first the oyster than the pearl. She needed to get through this to protect the kids... She has to.

Hinata got her first job interview weeks after the twins were born and cried all the way there and back, feeling like a terrible mother when she's at work.

Hinata wants to work but that sacrifices time with her kids. She wants to be a great shinobi but she's susceptible to any danger. She wants to be a stay at home mother but her medical career, everything she did would be forgotten. She wanted a name for herself but leaving her kids hurt.

How much does it hurt Miyana? Miyana ran away for a vacation. She's irresponsibly ditching her maternal duties! Hinata picks up the slack with Sasuke, whom Taiyo sees as a father figure...

"Always... it gets harder to say goodbye. Every single day..." Hinata winced.

"Hn... It does... doesn't it?" Sasuke said, turning to look at her.

As a mother, Hinata's meant to give love, not goodbyes. Why does she feel so guilty when going to work?

His goodbyes show some love, though. Hinata giggled lightly. "Your goodbyes are strange but endearing. Why a finger tap? What does that mean?"

"Everything," he sighed.

Then, he was so far away.

Ninety-eight percent of the time, Hinata could read his thoughts without thinking. His facial expressions gave away the smallest things. But now, in that two percent, Hinata had no idea.

He's avoiding her gaze, she knows. "Anata, where's your mind right now? Come back to me?" Hinata asked, maudlin.

He focused on the sky.

She looked up, squinting. Under the trees, it got darker. Again? The trees groaned and moaned with weight.

Sasuke paused, scanning the forest. "We're in trouble."

"No kidding," Hinata mumbled.

Karui wasn't having any of it. "Stop talking. Just shut up!"

"Why don't you try that for once?" Hinata retorted.

"Will you guys only bicker on the way there?" An ANBU asked.

Sasuke halted again, sniffed the air. "Do you smell that? Gasoline and burnt... Flesh."

"Sasuke- the chakra density in the air. The air is crowded with people. It smells like blood," Hinata whispered.

Sasuke cursed. "We're being attacked. There are hundreds of foreign chakra signatures and most of them have weapons. They are coming in this direction."

"Or... they're already here," Hinata said. "They're here,"

"Bullshit!" An ANBU said.

Suddenly, an ANBU got a radio call.

He preemptively looked at Sasuke and Hinata, distrust clear as mountain stream water.

"Karui- the village is getting attacked by that gang again," he told them.

"Them? Who's them?" Hinata queried.

Karui lifted her sword, hands in fists. "Sasuke's groupie! The attacks are getting more and more frequent from them! First the rock slide and now this? It makes no sense!"

The ANBU already got another radio call. "Karui, the runaway gang turned on civilians. So far, there are twenty casualties. Twenty-three."

She has to heal them. And the kids! Are they safe?

Sasuke's jaw tightened. Her chakra was virtually gone. She couldn't use her medical ninjutsu or taijutsu. No weapons. No seals. No byakugan!

Karui shoved Hinata. "Are any of Sasuke's friends orchestrating this? Tell them to stop!"

"We've nothing to do with this! Now uncuff us so we could help!" Hinata held out her conjoined hands.

"No! I cannot let your people ruin Kumo or fight to get you free."

"Karui! There'll be casualties and my children might be attacked!"

"I'm not falling for that one," Karui yelled. She looked at all of her subordinates. "No one uncuffs them! Make sure they don't escape,"

"Karui, we are not escaping- let us free!" Hinata said, hitting Karui's arm for her to pay attention.

Karui lunged at Hinata, ready to retaliate. Hinata acted fast, doing a reverse roundhouse kick to Karui's face.

"I'm- sorry, it's... It's instinct. Instincts," Hinata stumbled backward, apologetic.

"Karui, we're telling the truth. If you do not uncuff us, the corpses you collect in the aftermath of this will be too high," Sasuke hissed, trying to level with her. "Let us at least lower the chances of anyone getting hurt. Trust us, you need us."

Karui reached up to her bloodied nose. "Sasuke- why would I ever trust your word? I've got this handled." She flicked the blood away, looking at her crew. "Stay with them," she ordered, leaping away.

The ANBU all split up and a small amount of them remained behind, making a fence around the two hostiles.

"How did we not notice them before?" Hinata grumbled to Sasuke.

Sasuke shrugged. "The chakra we harbor's in our every cell. We need it to function. Without our normal amounts, we are subpar to what we need to be in situations like this."

"If most of the gang is in the village... where are the rest hiding?" Hinata whispered.

Sasuke chuckled darkly, mood black. "Complete coverage. Perfect height to observe. Excellent for a hiding place. Even better for a surprise attack."

"What are you implying?" An ANBU asked.

"The last place to look... is up," Hinata gulped, looking up.

Hinata was frozen, jaw dropped and eyes widened.

The light reflecting off of them blinded her. Their kunai glittered like diamonds.

Dozens and dozens of shinobi from different stages of life, looking down at her with sunken, dead, rheumatic eyes. Bloodshot and cloudy. Murderous and unforgiving.

They looked treacherous like Kami hadn't finished putting their faces together. Their skin was ghastly colored, demonic snarls sounding demonic.

Ringing ear high pitched screams were released. Who the hell are they?

Sasuke turned around and swung at two shocked ANBU. Their masks fell off and Sasuke handed one to Hinata. They put masks on, blended in, wearing dark colors, like the ANBU.

Then, the monsters hurled themselves off of the branches and onto them. All around them, someone was engaged in battle, facing at least three rogue shinobi to one ANBU.

There were just too many.

Hinata and Sasuke were back to back, watching their surroundings.

The air was thick with grayness. A cloaked show of shadows and electric sparks danced around them. Bodies fell to the mossy ground and it smelt like blood.

Sasuke was desperate to use his Chidori but cerulean sparks lit up and fell.

"Come on. Come on. Damn," he cursed.

"Use the sharingan. Convince them to stop," Hinata called out, kicking three or two of the jerks who tried to claw at her.

"I can't! They tapped into my chakra reserves. I don't have enough."

"Me neither. Why the masks?" Hinata cried.

"They're going to look for us. Using the masks in this crowd will buy us more time to escape."

"Or it puts a bigger target on our back. Do you know who they are?! Why are they attacking?"

The monsters... didn't want to kill the ANBU, they're looking for Sasuke and Hinata. Sasuke moved forward, stumbling but she noticed how he was so, so tired.

The amount of chakra that the seal takes depends on how much chakra one has. He has incredibly large chakra reserves. He must be... suffering.

She pressed a finger to the tenketsu near his spine and gave him chakra. It burned but he needed it more.

He shook his head, reaching for her.

"Don't you dare give it back," Hinata snapped.

She jumped out of his proximity and he observed the chaos unhappily, half-lidded but more awake. "We have to leave."

He turned around and knocked out an ANBU, taking their sword. Hinata looked at a fallen ANBU and took a knife.

The ANBU were busy fighting and they had to escape. The odds were not good.

Through the crazy, she ran with him.

She ignored the smoke in her lungs and how chakra-induced fatigue slowed her down.

While weaving between trees and bushes, the plan was to head east, near to Amagumori grove, where Mitsuyo's house was. They pushed and knocked out the ones who tried to stop them.

Suddenly, they were surrounded by the rogue shinobi. All those kunai they held were still on their persons.

Oh dear.

Sasuke stared at the woman who appeared to be the leader.

She had blue hair, beady yellow eyes, and a black dress. Clad in fishnet stockings and a white sling... it was folded in a particular way as if to support a child. Two snakes curled around her neck and they seemed to like her affection.

"Stop the fires!" the woman said.

The crackling of fires stopped.

She looked at the ground and commanded, "Clear the airs!"

Then, supposed wind-users blew away all the smoke and the air smelled charred but clear. It didn't make her cough anymore.

Sasuke panted but moved closer to Hinata. His movement forced Hinata's back to be pressed against the bark of a pine tree. He totally shielded her body and she glared at the back of his neck.

Her heart was in her throat. They wanted to kill her. Sasuke stood strong, like always, but she couldn't be brave.

What did they want?

"Their chakra... signatures. What happened to all of the other ANBU?!" Hinata asked quietly, worried.

Sasuke's gaze never left their enemies. "Dead. Killed People like them never leave survivors."

The woman spoke with a slithering, spindly voice, like Orochimaru's. "They weren't killed. They were murdered because of you. Along with many other people. We looked for you both. Not so many people can outrun us."

"What's this? Why kill all of these innocent civilians? They've done nothing," Sasuke growled.

She laughed, shaking her tousled white-blue hair. "We've all sinned. One sin's no more wrong than others. Akuma-oo-sama says sin comes to all but never leaves. It's the most consistent presence. The more evil one does, the more company he has."

"What about Hychu Taichirou's promise?! What about that?" Sasuke roared.

They all burst out laughing. Like a knife grating a glass bottle, they were ugly, unattractive sounds.

"Sasuke. This's the one time I answer your questions. After that, your blood will be dropped. Evil men don't keep promises. Hychu Taichirou doesn't protect. He awakens the evil in men, keeping it awake till one dies from demons of sleeplessness," she said, cooly. "He doesn't love. He destroys where one would bind. He built an empire on bones of the ones who crossed him."

"Akuma-oo-sama's sick," Hinata yelled.

"Akuma-oo-sama allows the earth to turn, the sun to shine, the water to run and all living souls to breathe. He's all-seeing and he graces humanity with knowledge and wisdom," the woman protested.

"So what has Hychu been doing instead of honoring his... said promise?" Sasuke spat, words like poison in his mouth.

She tapped a manicured finger on her chin, pseudo-deep, reflecting on the question. "Working with Akuma-oo-sama. Plotting the demise of all but her. Sasuke, don't address me again or your tongue'll be cut out and fed to my snakes. I'll not have Orochimaru-sama's killer disrespect me or my master!"

Hinata glared at the woman. "You're sick!"

"Perhaps. We don't show mercy," she shrugged, owning up to it. "My purpose's to serve Akuma-oo-sama. His desires are my desires. His needs are my duty to fulfill. You have something that Akuma-oo-sama wants. Someone that he treasures more than you, girl."

Hinata grew cold. "I've never met Akuma-oo-sama or whatever. He doesn't treasure me!"

"I should kill you for doubting the supreme king. Yes, you have met him. Marriage was his offer. Death is his gift. Destruction is his thanks. Besides, he's been looking for someone to rule along with him. A queen like you. You already have his son, why not marry him?" she asked, curious.

"I don't have his son! Lady, I will never be his queen," Hinata snapped.

She shook her head. "He gets what he wants. His success is my success. This battle; a warning from Akuma-oo-sama. Surrender the child. Which of the two. Doesn't matter."

"Never. They're mine, mine to me," Hinata said. "They're my kids!"

The woman's thin eyebrows pulled together. "You adopted the boy and the other is just as much not yours. What do you know about his power-laced genetics? What do you know about his father?!"

"He abandoned them. He's a coward and he will never lay a hand on my son again," Sasuke growled.

The woman shot magma venom in Sasuke's direction, aiming for his eyes. Hinata and Sasuke both instinctively dodged it. The venom left a deep indent on the tree. The foul smell wafted through the air.

"Don't address me. You both know nothing. Foolish girl. There'll be a revolution and that child is needed. Akuma-oo-sama wants nothing less than that child."

Hinata yelled, "I refuse until to the sun stops setting!"

"Akuma-oo-sama has ways of stopping the sun at everyone else's expense. He's asking nicely. If the child is not returned to him in three months, trained and unharmed, there'll be consequences of unparalleled proportions."

"Why should we? You are simply battling for a lost cause," Hinata asked.

"He'll be sucessful and happy with his kin," she said sweetly.

Hinata trembled; he really brainwashed her. Just like Shimu with Mitsuyo.

An aura of black mist surrounded her. Her corn-colored eyes became glassy with unfallen, raging tears. She focused her death glare on Sasuke, fist closed and body trembling with restraint.

"Uchiha Sasuke, if you ever touch Orochimaru again, I will not leave Akuma-oo-sama to kill you. I'll hunt down any sharingan users, anyone you've ever loved and cherished and kill them. Are we clear?"

Sasuke didn't answer, just dumbfounded. "There are other sharingan users?" Sasuke said, to himself.

"You'll meet them. You already have. Maybe I'll get to that village. Some are closer to home than you know. Don't fret, I will kill them," she shifted and saw a kunai on the ground.

She looked at the growling idiots surrounding her. They were all under her control. She clicked her tongue like they made a mistake.

"Did one of you morons leave this on the ground? We had a plan!" she yelled.

A plan? They want Benjiro or Taiyo in Akuma-oo-sama's possession. They killed everyone to accomplish that! Nobody deserved death.

"I heard the ANBU weakened you. You're barely awake, big boy. Orochimaru-sama would laugh at your current state," she whispered.

The surrounding crowd laughed. "Whoever has their kunai gets to fight the new shipments of pawns for Akuma-oo-sama," she ordered.

Shipments? Sasuke tensed in his battle stance.

She continued, "When the famous arrives, like the most notorious dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan, the contemptible and unheard of Uchiha clan jutsu comes as well... Which are shurikenjutsu and bukijutsu? Why can't I use your weakness against you?"

"Kunai are not my weakness," Sasuke growled.

The woman laughed. "One isn't. A drop of water is not enough to drown a man. A whole ocean can and that's why we look for waves!"

She then chuckled and suddenly, aimed the kunai at Sasuke. Sasuke turned around and had the kunai get lodged in his back.

Hinata and Sasuke locked eyes. Internal black met opaline lilac white. He just let out a breath and she couldn't do anything.

She tried getting to his wound. He didn't let her move.

He donned a usual half-smirk and that familiar curl on the side of his face like everything was alright.

"Release the waves of the kunai! Don't kill him or her. That's too kind!" The woman added.

A sea of black and gray kunai hit Sasuke.

Once that was done, he looked like a porcupine with all these kunai and shuriken sticking out on him. Bleeding.

Her eyes filled with tears. "Wha- why, Sasuke... Why didn't you let me get hit?! You- you idiot!" she yelled.

She pressed her hands to his chest, squeezing out some green light, some medical ninjutsu to save him.

He rested his head on her shoulder, chuckling, lips against her neck. It sounded plain with happiness and accomplishment.

"It's affection. I'm... it's the apocalypse, babe, isn't it? When it comes to pain, I'd rather it hit, hurt me, affect me..." he panted labored breaths.

"Sasuke, you have to come through. You joined. You promised!"

Using chakra hurt like dancing on the sun. She had nothing to lose except for him.

Her eyes blurred with tears like working through a blizzard. He's starting to nod off.

He closed his eyes, so tired. "Don't you dare close your eyes," she barked.

"They're open, Hinata," he slurred.

"Damn it, Uchiha. I'm not losing you. You die, the kids have no one left to love," she growled.

"No, Hinata, go to... the kids. They need you more. Don't stay with me," he ordered, slipping in and out of consciousness.

"Lifetimes upon lifetimes, I stay with you! I promised! And if you're going, I go. You're not supposed to be a lousy protector," she said, pain radiated through her system. Her chakra's just about gone.

The redness... The venom nicked his ear, poisoning him! His heartbeat sounded congested. Orochimaru didn't prepare Sasuke's resistance against the woman's poison.

His chakra is gone. He might be in progress of organ failure. The kunai left about eighty open wounds and he's protesting, batting her magic hands away.

The green healing light grew dimmer and dimmer. He just smiled into her hair. He's feverish, nodding off. Even when she cut the chakra handcuffs off.

"Sasuke... Please, stay with me. Stay alive. Stay awake... Stay," Hinata begged.

He pressed his forehead against hers, looking at her, eyes so beautiful.

"I'll come back," he sighed. He brushed their lips together and it was chaste and sweet yet deep with longing.

"To me?" Hinata asked.

"To you. My word is good."

He coughed blood, a loud, harsh sound. With a tired pant, he lifted his hand and poked her forehead.

"What does it mean?" Hinata asked.

"Something in between affection and apologizing," Sasuke buckled, falling over.

She watched him collapse. Sasuke. She couldn't do anything but watch and stay frozen. Oh, Kami. He's going to die!

Hinata grabbed a kunai, looking for Karui. She found her.

Hinata slammed into Karui, pushing her against a tree. "Undo the seal! Everyone else, including Sasuke's injured. You need me."

"No, I don't. They'll have to deal with the pain," Karui looked around. "You'll have to deal with the pain before professionals and re-enforcement come to help."

Hinata looked at her wrist. Dislocation... would help get her out.

"You wouldn't," Karui yelped.

"You do not know how much pain I can deal with," Hinata said cooly.

Hinata dislocated her wrist, to escape the seal. Karui gasped. Hinata finally got her chakra back and put her pain on the backburner.

"You're mad or you really love him," Karui scoffed, stalking away, checking on everyone's states.

Firstly, Hinata summoned Aoda's wife; Hoshino. About a year ago, she signed a summoning contract with the snakes of Ryuchi Cave. Her favorites were Hoshino and Hoshika and she summoned them.

Hoshika asked, "How may I ssserve you?"

"Go to the house and verify if the children are alive. Bring medicine and a bowl of clean water."

"Yesss, Uchiha-hime," Hoshika sprung off.

"Hoshino, bring me ANY foreign chakra signatures like the men who attacked the ANBU. Then go to the city and see if they need help," Hinata ordered.

"What about Uchiha-sama?" Hoshino asked, concerned about Sasuke.

"I've got that covered," Hinata lied, feeling worlds away from having this mess covered.

The snake curled herself around Hinata, some of Hoshino's chakra healing Hinata's wounds.

"Ssstay sssafe, hime," Hoshino said.

Hinata caressed Hoshino's scales affectionately. "Don't worry. I will."

The snake slinked away.

Hinata healed her stinging wrist, finding Sasuke, and healing him. He's steady, stable.

Before Hinata could fully diagnose him, Hoshino dropped three men before her feet. "What ssshall I do with them, hime?"

Two were already dead. One of them, however, was awake but concussed, with a head wound...

He laughed at Sasuke's state. "The Uchiha got what he deserved."

Hinata summoned her katana. "Shut up! I'm close to slicing you!" Hinata snapped.

He didn't look fazed, laughing. "Am I supposed to be scared?"

Hinata severed the connection between his limbs with chakra blades. Hinata sealed his chakra, his body, and let Hoshino swallow him. He'll digest in until she interrogates him.

Hoshika returned, with medical supplies and a bowl of water. She drew the poison out of his system, and bottled it, for observation.

"Hoshika- what's the status of my kids and Someina?" Hinata asked.

"The hatchlingsss are alright. Someina said the perpetratorsss stole a majority of the scrolls in the library. They destroyed many Uchiha artifacts, and portraits of Mitsuyo-san's family were taken. Benjiro and Taiyo are safe with Mitsuyo," Hoshika said, nodding.

"What about the civilians?"

"Most of the casualties were tied to robberies. Once the perpetrators infiltrated the house, they demanded the inhabitants' money. Those who refused met their doom. Aside from that, no one was injured," Hoshika informed Hinata.

All the meanwhile, some ANBU woke up while she was in the middle of surgery with Sasuke.

Karui ran towards her with a sword drawn. Hinata ignored her, focusing on Sasuke's health.

Karui shook her head. "Momo! There are people dying! Why must you concentrate on the man who caused all of this?! Get your priorities straight and heal my men!"

Sasuke groaned. Hinata froze. "I thought I lost you." Hinata smiled through tears.

Sasuke smirked, the half-one she liked. "I came back, didn't I?"

Hinata nodded, peppering his face with kisses and tears. "You fool, you did."

Karui tapped her imaginary watch and Hinata smiled.

Hinata looked at her personal summons. "Hoshino, go to the medical center and direct all their available hands to this site. Hoshika, direct me men who in a critical state."

Hoshika and Hoshino slithered away. Twenty minutes later, full medical teams arrived. The newspapers dubbed this incident The Hellion Fire Attack.

¤¤¤

Near midnight.

The kids were safe, placed under the observation of Mitsuyo and ANBU.

Sasuke was taken to the hospital. Hinata wasn't allowed to operate on Sasuke, so she did her job, alongside Someina as they healed many patients.

After hours of mechanical work and surgeries, Hinata went to Sasuke's room. The kids hadn't visited yet.

Sasuke was fine, with bandaged sarashi on his midriff, chest, arms, legs. Sasuke was deathly annoyed, ready to draw his sword on anyone.

There were people with Sasuke: Karui, an ANBU, and two other men looked ready to murder Sasuke.

Hinata recognized them!

It was Darui ( the Raikage's secondhand man, rumored to be the Raikage's successor) and C (a skilled, impressive doctor taught classes at the hospital and the Raikage's other bodyguard).

They were consistently present during her and the Raikage's tea dates.

Hinata cleared her throat, asserting herself and standing taller.

C narrowed his dark eyes at her, tossing his blonde hair.

"Who are you? Why are you in here, this is confidential," the ANBU asked.

Karui scowled. "She's Sasuke's spouse, with a lot of clearance."

They all looked at Hinata then back at Sasuke.

"Her?" he asked. "This is an interrogation. Sasuke needs his full attention on answering these questions," the ANBU's dumbfounded at her presence.

"Yes, and what he needs is to rest. To heal, not answer questions many have asked before," Hinata pushed the door open and looked at them pointedly. "Leave."

"We're not leaving," the ANBU snarked.

She stood her ground, waiting.

When they didn't move, she stomped her foot. "Leave. I deem him to be unfit for interrogations," Hinata demanded.

The ANBU glared at her then Sasuke. "Uchiha, you able to continue the interrogation?"

"No. I'm tired, like she said," Sasuke said. "My answers will be affected by acute fatigue, delusion, and trauma therefore not useful for your interrogation."

"You seem fit enough to be a smartass," Karui sighed.

"The mind works in mysterious ways," Sasuke winked.

The ANBU stalked out of the room, scowling at Hinata. Karui, Darui, and C soon followed. C, however, stopped beside her.

"We need to talk later on," C hissed to Hinata.

"The Raikage has any time to book a meeting with me-"

"Not with the Raikage. You need to talk with me." C nodded.

Hinata lifted a brow. "Okay..."

Hinata soon shut the door and looked at Sasuke. Soon enough, her lips crashed onto his. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to do it again.

"Why do you taste like pudding? I'm the one who's hospitalized," Sasuke joked.

She laughed, breaking away. "It's not bad... You're alive."

"For you... You and me evermore. We've gotta find the sharingan users and Akuma-oo-sama. They're coming after us, powerful enemies that I underestimated for too long," Sasuke responded.

Hinata stared uncertainly.

Sauske said, "C'mon, I won't bite."

"What about your wounds? I can't disturb them," Hinata winced.

"You not being beside me disturbs me more than blood ever could. I need to feel your life essence, beside me, Hinata," Sasuke said, surprisingly jovial. "Get your ass in bed."

Hinata smiled sadly. "If you say so."

She climbed beside him and relaxed; he was alive. In bandages and scarred... Still alive. They laid in the quiet, his breath hot against her neck and his arm curled under her.

"Safety. You're safety. This is safety," Hinata whispered. "Thank you..."

"Vice versa..." he whispered back. He cleared his throat. "I think we need to find Benjiro's birth parents," Sasuke said, draping his arm over her.

"Ew," Hinata whimpered, burying herself in his embrace.

"I know. It's very ew. And... I think I know who the sharingan user is. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it." Sasuke said lowly.

Sasuke told her.

Hinata gasped. "No."