Sweet Dispositions

-Chapter 27-
History

August 2nd. Noon.

Hiromitsu wasn't meant to accompany her on errand runs. He threw a tantrum until she dressed him for going on a trip into the city.

They visited the park. He liked playing on the seesaw with Amarante (who wasn't there) but busied himself with butterflies under the shade of cherry blossom trees with Hinata.

The butterflies were summons of a shinobi, so the zest-colored monarch butterflies were friendly. She taught him to be gentle, not crush them.

He's shining his magma-black eyes in a sweet way that Benjiro does, watching him.

"Mama?" he asked Hinata. Hiromitsu smiled; a butterfly gave him a kiss. "I want some O-nigiri? And... cina buns."

He sneezed. The butterflies hovered away then flounced back to him.

"Do you want kakigōri?" Hinata asked. He nodded. "Its a date, my dear."

"Can uncle Rai come, too? Ama wants some, too!"

She was visiting the Raikage anyway so she nodded. Hiromitsu grinned as the butterflies formed a crown on him. She thanked the shinobi and went off to meet the Raikage after getting some kakigōri and o-nigiri with her Hiromitsu.

¤¤¤

Afternoon. 3 p.m.

The sleek Raikage tower, the tallest tower in the village. Its chiefly blue glass had yellow accents and kanji of lightning on it. Finding slivers of glass on the floor was common for the Raikage had a notorious habit of bursting through windows instead of doors.

Hiromitsu's always excited to see the Raikage tower. Maybe it was something about the heights, the frenzy that came to life.

Giving Hinata a sweet hello, shinobi and administrative workers bowed. Some respected her due to her friendship with the Raikage. Others were silent.

She stopped at the front desk. Hinata frowned at the entire floor holding their breath. Hiromitsu tugged on her dress and she carried him.

"That's the demonic child," someone hissed.

Hinata sent a glare to the worker's way. Before Hinata could respond, the female Raikage's assistant said, "The Raikage is on his way, he will be here shortly to meet you." the assistant noticed the people glaring and explained. "They still think Sasuke was behind the recent Hellion Fire Attack."

"Mama! That's you," Hiromitsu pointed a small hand at a flyer with Hinata's photo.

The flyer came closer, along with the person who held a stack of them.

"You're the one who plays house with Uchiha Sasuke?" The pretty lady asked her. She had dark skin, blonde hair, and forestry eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"You're the spouse of Uchiha Sasuke?"

Hinata held her kid closer. "Yes, why do you know that or have this?"

"A source under the name of Taichirou gave me big yen to pass these out. You got less time to give him what he wants."

"What do the flyers say? Who is Taichirou?"

"Who cares? Besides, it's for a good cause," the blonde crabbed. She held the flyer up, pointing at it. "I've to spread the word. You stole Uchiha Benjiro from another family. You're a child stealer."

Hinata looked at the flyer having her identity photo and the bolded insults.

"This is defamation and wrong," Hinata fumed. She was within legal bounds when she adopted Benjiro!

The woman rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I've got flyers to give out."

"Not anymore," Hinata snatched the flyers, sealing them away. She walked away and Hiromitsu stuck his tongue out at the lady. Hiromitsu patted her shoulder and Hinata offered a shaky smile.

¤¤¤

20 minutes later.

After a little wait, A's oval-shaped office was empty. Clean. Filled with paintings of strength, tall bamboo plants Hinata gifted him, and a spectacular window replaced the wall. Hiromitsu loved watching Kumogakure through each pane.

The topaz blue floor had no desk but there was a silver table and a maroon couch the Raikage lounged on.

Even sitting down, the Raikage looked muscular and intimidating. A traditional Kage straw hat cast a shadow over his eyes. Tear troughs under his eyes didn't make him seem jaded; just stressed.

"A-sama? Is this a bad time? We can come back," Hinata said.

He looked up, stern eyes softened, and stroked his goatee. "No. You are free to enter. You eased my day."

Hiromitsu ran to A, laughing as he jumped onto A's knee.

A was kind with her children. He let them run around Kumo, pulling shenanigans. A went to the roof with the kids and studied jutsus.

"Hiromitsu. You've grown. Has the Uchiha been feeding you well?" A asked the grinning Hiromitsu.

"Hiro'll be as big as you, someday. Stronger!"

"One can only wish to be as powerful as your paramount Raikage."

"Hiro'll be Raikage, watch!"

A laughed richly.

Hinata bowed deeply before entering A orbit. "Yondaime... it is a pleasure to share your time. Hiromitsu wanted to see his favorite uncle. We brought o-nigiri and dango as a treat. Surprise."

Hinata released a seal and presented a table, chopsticks, soy sauce, teacups, and steaming tea. A meal.

"Here are the treats. Hiromitsu's gift to you, A-sama," Hinata smiled.

Hiromitsu settled the Raikage's couch with him. She sat on a tatami mat she summoned.

At the enticing food, Hiromitsu elbowed the Raikage. "You like? Hiro picked 'em out for you."

The Raikage nodded. "Better than any meal I've eaten," he said, scanning his office. "My office isn't a forest with wildebeest children. Benjiro wanted to practice the jutsu I taught him."

She told him the story of why they weren't there; Taiyo and Benjiro thought it was a good idea to deepen their understanding of the animal world (Taiyo chose to be a turtle, eating gardenias, bugs, and algae in their backyard, throwing up when Someina found him).

Benjiro and Taiyo got into an argument about if Benjiro was a bird. Benjiro climbed their peach tree and jumped off, convinced he'd fly. He didn't.

Taiyo has an upset stomach and Benjiro has a sprained ankle.

The Raikage laughed at her stories while Hiromitsu switched over to Hinata...

She noticed she was close to an influential figure, which was strange. She spoke to Kakashi a couple of times and was shy around Tsunade.

"We need to discuss what has occurred. My sources say the consecutive attacks and rock slides are from a terrorist organization searching for one of their own," A said, sipping tea. "Benjiro, who is adopted. C and many others recommend that we give Benjiro the next time the organization strikes. We will not."

Hinata sighed. A was on her side.

He continued, having a bitter look. "Once after the war, many anticipated an equilibrium, thinking man and shinobi would banish hate for one another. If anything, the attacks against shinobi became iniquitous."

Hinata smiled sadly. "If Benjiro goes, I go. What should I do, Raikage-sama?"

A set his cup down. "This village's more than mountains, endless cloudy days and lightning. We are a family. Everyone like drops of rain- nurturing and protecting the very life of the storm. We allow you to play part in our community. Our lightning. We agreed to you remaining in Kumogakure, my house. Now those hellions infiltrate, track mud- soiling the decorations and home. We need to find them, crush them underneath our strength. We're preparing for most nefarious acts and immoral shinobi." he paused, cross. "War; I sense one coming."

"Over... Benjiro?" Hinata choked out.

He shrugged. "Perhaps more than that. Perhaps less than that. Our history is one of violence."

"I'm not ready," she protested. They can't have a war!

Anger flashed in him. "When will you truly start seeing?" The Raikage grumbled like she upset him. "Shinobi don't bend over backward nor do they sell themselves short. They do not recount their victories in shame..."

"I... apologize," Hinata sighed.

"Nor do shinobi apologize," he said, narrowing his dark eyes at her. "You have been on countless A-rank and S-rank missions. You possess the byakugan and many a-level jutsus. You've led the weak and confused in harsh battles. The academy has tried to make you a genin team leader for months. A teacher. The hospital is thinking of honoring you as head of surgery. In addition to that, you beat Darui at sword fighting."

"Oh. Raikage-sama... you flatter me too much," Hinata blushed.

"It's true, Hinata, you should be promoted to Jonin. Citizens and the elders noted how valuable you are. It is customary for your Hokage to upgrade you but may I?" he asked, shy.

She sat up straighter, happy. Jonin! "You are my dear Raikage. I serve you where ever I am. I serve my Hokage as well."

"Good. However, one requirement for Kumogakure shinobi to become Jonin is to create their own jutsu. If I met you a few years prior, I would have groomed you into one of my right-hand men. Perhaps I should have a D by my side," he said, looking soft.

"How will I... be promoted?" she asked.

"You have to create a new jutsu and go through a series of tests administered by me and other jonin. Then we will see how worthy you are."

Hinata smiled. Hiromitsu smiled at her happiness. She bowed to him. "I'm thankful to you, my Raikage," she said.

¤¤¤

August 3rd. Morning.

Hinata sighed at Sasuke, who spared with her. She used her katana while he used a simple blade. He barely broke a sweat while she was drenched with effort.

He's a great shinobi but he's a man with primal weaknesses. She wore a white sarashi across her chest with black hakama pants. Her breasts were nuisances but also amazing distractions.

They did identical sword-practicing routines on Saturdays and Thursdays. There seemed to always be more ANBU in the trees, which made Sasuke vexed and aimed kunai into trees.

After a while of gentle sparing and lectures, she noticed Sasuke staring at her breasts. This leering was... embarrassing.

"Sasuke! Eyes up here," she blushed, crossing her katanas over her chest.

"I'm wondering if they'll ever be as big as they were during the pregnancy," he said, looking down. Staring.

"Stop wondering!" Hinata pushed him playfully.

He looked at the trees, grinding his teeth. "Why did you wear that?"

"Strategic advantage."

He summoned kunai from his wristbands and shot various weapons at the tree.

"I'm meeting Benjiro's aunt and uncle. I would've invited you but C said 'no'. They'll punish us both if I do..." Hinata informed him.

"Che. If I saw them, I'd probably kill them. C doesn't know that you'd do the same thing."

Hinata wouldn't. "I owe some thanks, they gave us Benjiro," she shrugged.

Sasuke's eyes hardened. "They are still shit people."

She preened herself and put down her swords. "Anata... I'm going to be promoted to jonin," she said. "The Raikage recommended me.

"Nice," Sasuke caught Hinata in his arms. He twirled her around, put her down and said, "Congratulations!"

She kissed him. "Get the wine, we'll toast to this."

He smiled against her lips. "Nice. I'll get it," he said, walking away. "The Raikage treats you like a daughter. He acts like I'm going to start a brawl. He's hated me more since I got my prosthetic."

"What do you expect? Anata, you treat him like he's senile in law at a wedding party," she called to him.

"Weddings are awful," Sasuke mumbled.

She gasped, face falling. "You don't like weddings and marriage?" Hinata asked, heartbroken.

He turned around at her tone, spine straighter. He approached her carefully. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She batted his hand away, cold and tried to walk away.

He grabbed her hand and she let him. "Change my mind on them," he said quietly.

"It's difficult, very hard... to convince you for things. You're stubborn," she looked at her toes.

He tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "You make it easy to want one," Sasuke whispered in a quieter voice, his never-ending orchid and starless sky-night eyes boring into hers.

"You too," Hinata squeezed his hand, clearing her throat. "He says that I should've been in his life earlier. He's willing to train me."

"Che," Sasuke said. "Why ask him if you could come to me? I'm an excellent teacher."

She pulled on his cheek. "Is my Sasuke-kun jealous?"

"No," he scoffed, jealous.

"Good, you're in charge of teaching me," Hinata told him. He smirked. "Be honored, I was going to seek your aid whether or not the Raikage offered."

"I carry you anyway," he mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," he said, raising his arms in surrender.

She laughed. "To become jonin... I've to create my own jutsu. Maybe adding electricity to the jutsu I have... I want to know how to do the Chidori and the Fireball Jutsu..."

Sasuke pursed his lips. "You want to take on the Chidori?"

"Yes. How hard can it be?" she asked Sasuke, tying up her hair.

Pause. "You think it is easy?"

Hinata tilted her head. "Ano, is it not? What exactly is the Chidori?"

Sasuke crossed his arms. "It is lightning that I carry. If I touch someone with it, they can't die. They can be shocked. If I press down, I will pierce someone."

Hinata nodded. "Why is it called Chidori?"

Sasuke seemed pleased that she was interested. "When the lightning gathers in my hand, the high concentration of electricity makes a sound of a thousand birds chirping."

She looked at his hand. "This has medical faults. Peeling of the skin, burns, and smoking..." She grabbed his hand and healed it. He tried to brush her off and she shrugged off.

"Can you show me it?" Hinata asked Sauske.

¤¤¤

Chidori current. Chidori sharp sphere. Chidori senbon. Chidori Katana. All of them, like magic. He always said how powerful it was, never how beautiful it was to watch. The space was charged with electrical energy, threads of light jutting out in every direction with the acrid smell of copper.

Hinata clapped after he showed all his variations of the Chidori. He bowed, all bravado.

"A light show," Hinata gushed, running over to him, ignoring their blackened, smoking backyard and hole-filled trees she'll replant later.

"You big dope," he poked her forehead.

"Dope?"

"It's not a light show," he scoffed, amused. "Every beam has the potential to pierce, blind and shock the enemy, more than once."

"Well. You looked very shocking out there," she said.

"You're glad I like you, I hate puns."

"What? Don't you mean you're glad you light me?"

He poked her forehead again. "You're a cute dope, I'll give you that."

She smiled, noticing his smoking flesh and healed them. She gave him some cream and a hand massage. "So, when do I learn them?" Hinata asked.

Sasuke sighed. "Starting soon."

¤¤¤

August 3rd. Evening.

"I'm home," Sasuke announced. He discarded his shoes, hearing the familiar tumbling of toddler's feet on hardwood floor.

"Tousan!" Toddlers cried out.

He took a knee and they crashed into his arms while they recounted their discoveries. He carried them to the kitchen and noted Hinata's displeased expression, Taiyo shoveling food into his mouth and Benjiro scowling at his food.

They sat at a low table with many small plates of his preferred foods. Rice, o-nigiri with bonita filling, fish, tomatoes, and strips of beef tataki. He felt good that she made all this.

Hinata got Sasuke a plate and he sat down. The matching bib twins ate with their hands while he mopped up their small messes with napkins. Sasuke let Amarante play with his bandaged hand.

Hinata's nostrils flared and she sat. "Benjiro, what do you have to say to your father? Taiyo, what do you also have to say?" She crossed her arms, staring down at the boys.

"Hn, I'm not sorry!" Benjiro huffed, crossing his arms roughly, mirroring her.

"This rice is good, Nata," Taiyo said, offering rice with chopsticks. "Try it."

Hinata frowned, tried it and swallowed. "Benjiro... Taiyo, that was bad behavior. We didn't raise you both to behave like that. Especially when you know you're advanced," Hinata said coolly.

"What happened?" Sasuke asked.

"Our son and Taiyo have encountered their first bully," Hinata said, every word brittle and tight.

Sasuke winced. "And they're getting punished? What did the bullies do?"

"Instead of telling us or their sensei, they took it upon themselves to use our jutsu!"

Sasuke frowned. "Oh," he focused on the two. "What did you boys do?"

Both boys looked away, still boiling.

Hinata answered instead. "They used kunai and fuinjutsu. Taiyo used the bullies as kunai practice- without injuring them. Our boys used chakra to make the bullies dizzy, for water balloon practice. Then fireball jutsu. To "dry" them. One kid's hair was seared. His backpack caught on fire."

Sasuke flexed his eyebrow at Taiyo. "Taiyo, you have fire affinity chakra?"

"Yeah..." Taiyo avoided Sasuke's gaze. "They were being rude. We had to do something!"

"I'm disappointed. That was wrong," Sasuke said quietly.

Benjiro glowered at Hinata, angry. "Hypocrites! I defend the clan and I get punished? You're always saying defend the Uchiha name! The sharingan," Benjiro said. "Tousan! He said that the Uchiha were losers and that we should leave Kumogakure to be cavemen."

"The teachers didn't tell me that part," Hinata murmured.

Benjiro sat back, glaring at the yakitori sauce. "Danuja-sensei doesn't like us anyway. Danuja-sensei's son bullies me and gets away with it. Everyone says the Uchiha are bad! So we did something about the bullies!"

Taiyo nodded. "They stopped teasing us at school. Win..."

"The supply of idiots never end in school or on the streets," Sasuke said, eyeing both boys. "Despite that, we never use our jutsu as revenge. We are dangerous. You both have competencies and skills above your age group."

"Tousan! Be on my side," Benjiro pleaded.

"Benjiro... What you did was wrong. Do you want Ka-chan to send you to school with chakra reducers?"

"No," he huffed.

Hinata sighed. "Upon the requests from civilians and teachers, they want Benjiro and Taiyo out of school. We have meetings with the principal to discuss their future at the school. They were suspended for a week. On top of that, it took a visit from the Raikage to calm everyone down. Once I showed up, the outrage got worse. They were demanding for the Raikage to punish us."

"Uncle Rai yelled at me and Taiyo for causing trouble," Benjiro wilted. "He's never done that before."

"Benjiro... Taiyo... as Uchiha, we are judged more harshly by everyone. They want a fight to start, discriminating openly. They've tried to expend the Uchiha bloodline out of Kumo for years. That's why we don't give them reasons," Hinata said, reasoning with her sons. "That's why pulling stunts like these do not help our situation."

Benjiro's lip trembled. "Why do I have to not be myself for them to like me? I don't want them to like me. I don't care if they don't like the Uchiha!"

"Ano, you have to care," Hinata smiled sadly.

"What's the big idea? We're being hunted. I saw the newspapers! They hate us. I hate being an Uchiha sometimes," he yelled.

"Benjiro..." Hinata said waningly.

Benjiro got up and ran away, out the house. Hinata's lip trembled as Sasuke got up. "I'll talk to him," he whispered.

¤¤¤

Sasuke sighed and wandered toward Benjiro outside in the dark backyard. Benjiro had some kunai that he threw at a target. The kunai stuck. Benjiro ignored him while he practiced jutsu.

"I train when I'm mad too," Sasuke chuckled.

"So?" Benjiro snapped.

"So nothing, kid. I also say things I don't mean too..." Sasuke shrugged. Benjiro looked away. "You have to respect your mother. Without her, we're angry men without kind people."

"I know. It's just..." Benjiro sighed. "Everyone's just picking on me and Taiyo. All the time just 'cause we're friends," Benjiro threw down the kunai, pacing and huffing. "And me 'cause I'm an Uchiha. What's so bad? Why does everyone hate me?!"

Sasuke was startled. Benjiro's a mirror image of what Sasuke was at that age, dealing with turmoil and hate. Sasuke looked at the nature surrounding them and patted Benjiro's head.

"Hey, let's go on a walk," he suggested.

They did for a while, twisting and turning on familiar trails. They spotted deer and stopped by a lake they fished at.

Sasuke looked at the evening sunset-colored water.

"As a kid, everyone hated me too. I isolated myself, even from your mother," Sasuke admitted, finding a smooth rock and skipping it.

Benjiro copied his father and skipped a pebble. "You kiss always. You love her. Girls have cooties. All the girls in class follow me and Taiyo around."

"You too?"

Benjiro jumped. "They did that to you?"

Sasuke nodded. "Yeah. The boys hated me, though."

"'Cause you were so cool?" Benjiro smirked.

Sasuke chuckled. "I had stellar grades, teachers liked me. Excellent skills in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. The best of the best."

"You're like me," Benjiro said quietly.

Sasuke found another pebble. "Yeah. They also hate me now. I didn't live a charmed life with a blood family. Lots of bad decisions. I hurt a lot of people in my quest for vengeance including the village's heroes, Killer Bee," Sasuke told him.

Benjiro paled, the color of a blank canvas. "Uncle Bee? You tried to kill him? Not cool!"

Sasuke nodded. "Books can be written on why people have amassed hate for me. They... hurt you... and ka-san because you're nearest. The pain comes with the name."

"Pain comes with the name? Why do I have to deal with that?" Benjiro demanded.

"I understand if you resent that they make fun of you. Don't take revenge, it amounts to lost time. More hate. Don't continue the cycle of hate. You can't hate being an Uchiha. We are so unique and strong."

"How?" Benjiro asked.

Sasuke hummed. "There're about, what, five Uchiha left? You, Amarante, Hiromitsu, and Ka-chan are the only Uchiha by name. Hiromitsu and I are the only Uchiha with sharingan."

"What happened to the rest of us?" Benjiro got small and sad.

Sasuke sighed. "Heaven and Konoha happened. It's only us against the rest. We have the most formidable, feared jutsu in the world; the sharingan. Never be ashamed. We're respected by name-"

"Where?" Benjiro asked, excited.

"Mainly, in our house," Sasuke winced. Benjiro wilted. "Some places in Konoha. We could create our own village named Uchihagakure. Where Uchiha are loved. An utopic village. Until then, we have to respect ourselves and our name before we defend ourselves to the rest."

Benjiro scowled again. Emotional. "Why am I good at jutsu? We aren't even let into class because we know the answers. All of 'em."

Sasuke shrugged. "I don't know... You both are advanced. But you can't skip class, and go mountain sliding."

"School's boring!" he whined, "you and Ka-san already taught us everything."

"Don't you like learning about jutsu?" Sasuke questioned.

"Yeah. I wanna learn what you do. I don't wanna go back to school."

"You have a long way to go, kid," Sasuke said. Benjiro scowled. "Don't make that face, these memories'll last you a lifetime. Your class mate's presences will sustain you. When you think of someone, you're connected. Bonds are formed in the academy, ones that you'll never sever. Fighting fire with fire doesn't add to anything but burnt worlds and severed bonds."

"How can I defend our clan? The right way..."

"You must stay strong and prove them wrong with peace."

Benjiro nodded then got upset. "I should... tell Ka-san I'm kinda sorry."

"Kinda sorry?"

"Very sorry."

Sasuke nodded and they walked back to their backyard. He looked at the board filled with kunai. All of them were on or near the bull's eye.

¤¤¤

August 4th. Nighttime.

Sasuke drank the stale gin he poured. Gin often has herbal notes which drunk Sasuke doesn't mind playing.

Suigetsu sat down, sighing. "This better be good," he said, across from Sasuke at a bar table.

Suigetsu didn't do anything other than missions and teaching sword fighting in a dojo. He had nothing better to do.

Suigetsu looked at the bottom of his glass after a sip. "Gin is shit. Why do you always serve me this shit? It tastes like evergreen conifers and winter."

"It's an acquired taste. Just take vodka if you don't like it," Sasuke scowled.

Suigetsu grimaced but took a long swig. "Nah. Karin smells like juniper berries and unintentionally, gin. It's her perfume."

Sasuke could've gone without knowing that.

"We have to leave Kumo," Sasuke announced.

"I think we should move, too," Suigetsu grinned darkly, triangular teeth in full view. "Why? Kameya got her first crush. At the water park, we saw 'em flirting. She won't date until thirty-five," Suigetsu said angrily.

Sasuke imagined how he'll terrorize the guy who'll take Amarante out.

"That's harsh. Forty is a better number," Sasuke nodded.

"It is," Suigetsu killed his chuckles. "So, the DCA wants Benjiro? What the hell would they want with a seven-year-old with front teeth?"

"We'll investigate... She wants to keep us in Kumogakure. She doesn't want to return to Konoha."

"Do you want to return to Konoha?" Suigetsu asked.

"Hn. No," Sasuke said. Their elders hate me less. Kakashi lets me travel where ever I want... But I get arrested a lot here and there, Sasuke thought.

"Kumo won't let us leave, as tools. I can't go till Jugo is found, hence why I settled here... Didn't know Karin would propose to me here," Suigetsu said thoughtfully, looking at Sasuke. "When are you getting married? Karin wants to see a wedding."

Sasuke got stiff. "Focus," Sasuke snapped. "Momo doesn't want to return. She could convince the Raikage to let us all free."

Suigetsu clutched his glass tightly. "Why won't she do that? That was the point of being chummy with him. It's in our best interests to go back," Suigetsu said. "We can get killed at any time. She has an express luxury cruise ticket and she won't cash it in?"

"Che, she hates change."

"Attachment issues?"

"Probably," Sasuke shrugged. Or just avoidance of conflicts in general. "Our kids like this place. We still haven't found Miyana. We can't leave Taiyo alone and we're tools."

Suigetsu scowled. "Above that, Karin would still respect my wishes enough to consider them. Be a man, Sasuke."

I can't make her do what she doesn't want to do. That's when she is a prisoner, not a partner, Sasuke thought.

Suigetsu didn't understand and Sasuke wanted to talk about a different thing, so he changed the subject;"Shigeko is alive," Sasuke admitted.

Suigetsu almost fell out of his chair. "Come again?"

"She's alive. I saw her, healthy. She has a curse seal and she used Orochimaru's jutsu. She has traces of Orochimaru's chakra in her body. They had a child together. She's working for the DCA. They brainwashed her beyond recognition. Afterward, you killed her, either, the DCA used the rebirth jutsu on Shigeko and or the Edo Tensei jutsu on her. Perhaps they even got a host for Shigeko 2.0. She must have a tattoo of the jutsu on her back. I'm pretty sure that she ran off to the DCA with the missing scrolls of Orochimaru."

Suigetsu looked like weights have been taken off of his shoulders. "She would never betray Orochimaru. Why would she live with the DCA with a child? This DCA they burnt villages, took people as prisoners and sent them to get experimented on!"

"Orochimaru probably knew about the DCA kidnapping Shigeko," Sasuke concluded.

Perhaps that's why he sent Suigetsu to kill the potential DCA members. Suigetsu found real DCA members and Suigetsu had to kill them as a form of vengeance. Shigeko switched over to the DCA, not voluntarily. They kidnapped her. Just why?

"They have at least five thousand soldiers and eight bases for operations. The seventh one is where Akuma-oo-sama resides. We have to find the base of operations to find Akuma-oo-sama," Sasuke informed Suigetsu. "Here is a key to a door in one of the bases of operation."

He held out the key which Suigetsu inspected. "This is a prison key," Suigetsu nodded.

"How do you know that?" Sasuke frowned.

"I've been in many jails, Sasuke. Doors that have the average weight of three hundred pounds and the thickness of three inches have that key."

"So this one was a jailkeeper?" Sasuke asked.

Suigetsu nodded.

Sasuke shouldn't have killed the prisoner... Fuck. "We can save, not kill with this key," Sasuke said lowly.

Suigetsu choked on his gin. "That's what we're doing?"

"Isn't that what you were going to say? We can free the innocent men and women who were taken prisoner."

Suigetsu scowled. "That's way better than what I was going to say. You've turned into that idiot Naruto, all things good."

No thanks.

After a full swig, Suigetsu sighed. "Losing Shigeko must've been rough on Orochimaru..."

"Orochimaru knows that he's wronged that group. He should be prepared for the consequences! Why do you feel sympathy for Orochimaru?" Sasuke demanded.

"Imagine losing Hinata. Then I imagine losing Karin."

"It's not the same, Suigetsu. He'll get over it."

"You're telling me that type of love comes around twice? That understanding and connection? After your choosing mechanisms pointed you to Hinata, there's gonna be another like her? She's the one you measure all others by, even if you try not to. It doesn't come around again," Suigetsu hissed.

"That doesn't excuse all of his wrongdoings," Sasuke snapped.

Suigetsu shrugged. "Losing Shigeko and not getting to know his child must've been worse than losing his jutsu. Even after that punishment of jail and whatever the ANBU did... I've never thought of divorce. Never. Murder, frequently. Men like us, men like Orochimaru don't deserve that."

They were quiet. Sasuke is Orochimaru in a sense, as the snake's student but... Orochimaru should be punished. Sasuke did feel bad but he dismissed it.

"I've to speak to Kakashi. He wants us in Konoha," Sasuke admitted, looking sour.

"Isn't that what you want?" Suigetsu asked, confused.

"Yeah. He wants us there for the wrong reasons. He believes my kids will be used as potential weapons in Kumo's system. The twins have the sharingan and powerful bloodlines. Together, worlds may collapse. Kakashi wants to harness that dojutsu and use it for Konoha, upon request..."

"He's using you as a Jinchūriki?" Suigetsu asked.

"That's all we are to these kindergarten countries; military power and chakra reserves," Sasuke sighed. "The kids will be disrespected and burnt out, that's all. There is little regard to jinchūriki and us, Uchiha as people."

Suigetsu was sympathetic and poured Sasuke some more gin. "I think you're people. A good man, Uchiha."

Only Hinata's ever said that... He's thankful to Suigetsu but Sasuke offered a small nod. What a shit world they live in. All that's left to do is drink.

Yes, they got drunk. Very drunk.

¤¤¤

August 8th. 7 a.m.

Grease popped, the turkey bacon and eggs got cooked. The spirit of breakfast smelled good. Despite being angry, Someina continued helping Hinata during meals.

Hinata dropped the bowl of blue-colored pancake flour earlier which Someina was now tidying.

Hinata clutched a spatula tightly. "Oh my Kami, Sasuke! We forgot your birthday," Hinata shrieked, darting from the stove and before Sasuke at the table.

Sasuke lifted a brow, unaffected. "And?" Sasuke asked the behind Kumogakure Weekly newspaper.

"You knew and didn't say anything? Why don't you like celebrating your birthdate?"

Sasuke sighed. "Birthdays are meaningless just as time was. Just something that prolonged my misery. From ages twelve to fifteen, I took as many shots as my age. Accumulative drunkenness drowned out the annoyance of those around me. They had the depth of the shot glasses I used..."

"When you were with Orochimaru... did he give you presents?"

Sasuke hummed, thinking a moment. "Orochimaru gave me a chokutō. I'd cut through anything. The Sword of Kusanagi was prized."

"In Konoha? Did anyone give you gifts?" Hinata asked, getting more upset.

"Yes," Sasuke said casually. "I threw them out. Collectively."

"Anata!" Hinata groaned.

"What? Those who gifted me anything all had the depth of water droplets," Sasuke defended himself, scowling. "Most fan-girls gave me useless gifts. Swimming through my apartment while getting papercuts and stalked isn't ideal..."

"You had fan-girls? People liked you?" Someina snorted.

Hinata laughed at Sasuke's acidic expression. "Everyone everywhere knew his name and the color of his eyes. Top of our class, Uchiha Sasuke was. A swarm of girls, including my best friends, followed him around, swooning," she said. "You handsome Uchiha."

"Hn," Sasuke huffed, focusing on his newspaper again. "They wouldn't swoon. I wouldn't take them to a dance, let alone a garage sale. Obsessive company made life unpleasant."

"Do you have any good birthdays? Aside from the ones we did the last three years?" Hinata asked.

"Hinata, they were lame and no one we invited showed up," Someina commented, flipping the bacon.

"They were amazing, Someina," Hinata protested, wiping her hands off on her "Don't Kiss the Cook" apron and going to the stove.

Before she could get far, Sasuke pulled Hinata onto his lap. "Don't be a Dai Downer. My birthdays were fulfilling," Sasuke mumbled into her hair.

Thank Kami! "Anata- you can't kiss the cook," she said, laughing.

"I can kiss Hinata, though, right?"

"Hey! I'm a cook."

"If you say so," he shrugged.

"I'm making breakfast," she protested, still laughing.

"You're my breakfast, though. I'll save you for lunch," he rasped in her ear.

She turned red and jumped from his lap. "Later. Tell me about your birthdays, alright?"

"On my fourteenth birthday, Kabuto got me a dead pig's head. It was a present. So, I burnt his books. His life's work was in smithereens," Sasuke said, proud.

"That's not nice," Hinata frowned.

"I got bored. Who sends a pig's head to a kid?"

"I once met Kabuto. An air of insanity surrounds him," Someina said with a shiver.

"He's insane. All Uchiha boys were arsonists, including me. You weren't considered a man until you could perform the Great Fireball Jutsu," Sasuke shrugged.

"When did you become a 'man'?" Someina asked Sasuke.

"At seven years old."

"That's nothing!"

"It is something. One-third of the adults couldn't perform the jutsu. Many never got to utilizing the sharingan or most of the jutsu I could do by age fifteen."

"You aren't that impressive," Someina admitted.

"Impressive? Not impressive?" Sasuke asked, lowering his newspaper to scowl at Someina.

"He really is," Hinata added.

"I've fought Kaguya, the mother of all shinobi, and sent her to another dimension. Helped kill Uchiha Madara. I beat the Kages without a scratch. I possess the magekyo sharingan, the rinnegan, and Susanoo. I'm considered the best swordsman on the planet. Matched in strength with the strongest shinobi to have ever been in history; Naruto," Sasuke protested.

"No one is that strong," Someina pursed her lips.

Sasuke scoffed. "I am. Believe it."

"You sounded like Naruto just then," Hinata quipped. He scowled. She looked at Someina. "His taijutsu succeeds mine. It was- is what I spent almost twenty years of my life on."

"Jealous?" Sasuke asked Hinata teasingly.

"You know it," Hinata laughed.

"Believe me yet?" Sasuke asked Someina.

Someina nodded, smiling. "That's why I serve you both."

"I'm jealous of how he has three thousand shuriken... in a seal on his wrist," Hinata murmured to Someina. "I'm close to eight hundred. That's my limit..."

Sasuke perked up, looking at Hinata. "You want a wrist bracer?"

Hinata shrugged. "It would be nice."

Sasuke sunk in his spot, contemplative. "Hn. I'm still great."

"He isn't very humble," Someina whispered to Hinata.

"I call it Uchiha pride," Hinata shrugged, tasting the bacon.

Sasuke sighed. "Anyway, Kabuto's books happened to be beside his poison's concoctions. They mixed, created a toxic atmosphere. Many perished. Some became deformed... Orochimaru laughed at the purple fumes. Kabuto plotted revenge. Since then, I burned his stuff when he made me angry. He stopped making me mad," he explained.

"I heard about that... The huge fire at one of the hideouts? That was you? Akuma-oo-sama went crazy; half of his people died," Someina said.

"Hn. Good," Sasuke smirked.

Mitsuyo sighed when the twin's laugh sounded. They watched a loud, dumb cartoon Sasuke hated.

"They're all sweet kids... Benjiro and Taiyo, especially." Someina said. "All their unbiased teachers say they're prodigies."

"Itachi was probably the smartest man I knew. A genius among geniuses. Despite him being dead during the war... I always think he could've destroyed Madara with little to no effort," Sasuke said.

Hinata ruffled his hair, pouring some coffee for him.

"Shikamaru was for me. He's the laziest man I've ever met but he's a rare intellectual. After Asuma died, he'd smoke and play long games of go, by himself while Kurenai-sensei and I would take care of Mirai. Then suddenly, he'd ask me to join him for the games. Then I knew, we were friends," Hinata shrugged. "Sasuke, you both would get along if you let yourself."

"Shikamaru hates me and we've had many chances to make amends. His mother threw a shoe at my head when the man went on a mission with me."

She kissed his head. "Aside from that, we have to meet up with the principal of Benjiro's school," Hinata said. "They can't get kicked out of a shinobi academy."

"They don't need one. They have you both," Someina said.

"We don't only learn how to become better shinobi in the academy," Hinata crossed her arms.

"That's what they teach," Someina argued.

"The academy gives them a slice of normality, developing their social skills. We learn how to love the village and hope for peace. How to be healthy in mind and body. We learned trust, companionship, and strength. I met my best friends from that Academy. That's why they should go to school,"

Someina blinked, at a loss for words. "You sound like their brochure," Sasuke chuckled.

Hinata smacked his head lightly. "I'm serious. They can't not go because they're Uchiha, too. They're staying in school and I'm making sure of it."

¤¤¤

Someina said that she'd go and wake Taiyo up and left. It was only them. She huffed at Sasuke, dodging his gaze.

Hinata stood at the stove, tending to another batch of pancakes. She was frustrated with herself. Just by looking at her, he knew.

He came behind her. He grinned at her, nipping her ear. "What? Why are you mad at me?" Sasuke asked, chuckling. "Is this about my birthday?"

"You lied, anata," she sighed.

He smiled at her and kissed her neck. "You're a gift enough, Hinata. Every day feels like a birthday when I am with you."

"Why did you let me celebrate your birthday all those times? You hate them... but said nothing of the sort. Your birthday cannot be about my feelings. It's selfish. You'll have a lower opinion on me since I did the coercion."

"Even when you do dumb things, my opinion stays strong," Sasuke told her.

She sighed. "I just wanted to make you happy."

"You are. Anything that makes you happy... is probably something that I'm doing right. The kids liked the birthday and Mitsuyo fell into the pool and chipped a tooth. It was a good time."

"Tell me everything, so I'd know not to. We could do a little celebration of ourselves, with o-nigiri and tomatoes and fish."

"That'd be nice."

¤¤¤

August 12th. Noon.

"Himarayasugi Bar," C said slowly.

Shaking slightly, she wore a quarter-sleeved black tunic dress that nearly dragged on the floor. It hid her trembling and sighed.

C found them. Tadashi and Yoki... were here. The exterior of Himarayasugi Bar was pretty, it attracted customers with its chic look.

"This is where they are at?" Hinata asked C.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"You're sure?"

"Why would I be wrong?"

"They gave away Benjiro because they believed that they didn't have enough money..."

"Things change," C noted simply.

Some people don't...

They entered the lively, drunken atmosphere.

A woman with a tray of drinks smiled at her. "Welcome to Himarayasugi Bar and Izakaya. What can I do for you both? We have a couple's deal on the menu today. What can I do for you?"

C shook his head. "We are not dating or a couple... We are here to arrest Himarayasugi Tadashi and Yoki,"

"Under whose authority?" The servant asked, getting nervous.

"The Raikage's and the ANBU's," C said.

"Oh... I'll get my boss..."

¤¤¤

Hinata glared at Yoki and Tadashi wearing nice clothing. They were put together, without the dirt tracks, messy hair and ripped clothes. Tadashi was tall with broze locks. Yoki was petite, having curled teal hair, blue eyes, and a hooked nose.

They all sat in a modern izakaya suite, at an expensive table. "Why are we under arrest?" designer clothed Yoki asked, near her husband.

"Depends. If you can answer my questions, then all is well," C said.

Tadashi stared at Hinata. "You're with the kid."

"Che. You still don't remember his name?" Hinata said coldly.

"We weren't in a good place," Tadashi said, placing a comforting hand on Yoki's arm.

Yoki's eyes became glassy. "We were either high. Drunk. We searched for him, a week until we realized we gave him up. We've been sober since then and began working. We became better people."

"I'm glad that your burden of taking care of him was lifted," Hinata sighed.

"He wasn't a burden..."

Hinata narrowed her eyes. "He broke your wallet then your heart. You tried to kill him! You set him -naked- down a raging river!"

"I know you're upset but you have to understand us," Yoki pleaded.

"I wasn't upset. I was furious, left with a child I knew of. In tragedy and horror comes family and harmony but he'll never heal in ways that I want him to."

"We made a mistake and hope you forgive us," Tadashi said quietly.

Hinata sighed. "As much as I hate you for abandoning such a boy, I love you for giving me a blessing, a gift. Like his name... he enjoys peace far away from you."

"He won't be far for long... What have you named him?" Yoki asked, rubbing her stomach.

"Benjiro...." Hinata said when they frowned.

"We thought we could name him... Benjiro is a strange name," Tadashi winced.

C looked at Hinata then at the two. "Can we move on to more important affairs like who Benjiro's parents are?" C asked.

Yoki had a photo and slid it towards them. "My sister.... so kind, she was always the better of us," Yoki whispered.

Benjiro's mother had dusty teal hair and his wide smile. Benjiro's facial structure belonged to his dad. "Who's the father?" Hinata asked.

Yoki shuddered. "Mysterious. They met for the first time, made eye-contact and a second later, she loved him. How they've known each other for years, trying for a baby, all in a snap. Pregnant a week after meeting him."

"Niko hadn't wanted the red-eyed child," Tadashi nodded. "She got cancer a year after Benjiro was born, a chakra disease. We think it was Kabuto... who gave her it. Kabuto visited, gave her a shot since it was mandatory for all the villagers to get. She deteriorated when she got medicine. She said "Tsukuyomi and kill the child as her last dying breath," Tadashi said.

Tsukuyomi. She knew that word from somewhere. Even his mother didn't want him? Kabuto killed Benjiro's mother?

"He knocked her up and left. Checked up on her from month to month but never stayed long, wearing black jackets with red clouds. Benjiro's mother, aunt, and uncle were incapable of tending to him and he would give the child to Kaiya, for a large sum."

Hinata gasped. That's why those goons asked for money the first time she met them. Why Bunya Jimpachi tried to kidnap her. Tadashi and Yoki gave Hinata the baby because they thought Hinata was Kaiya.

"The man's aunt, his family. She worked at the hospital, had a son and that she would take care of the child, Benjiro. Apparently, Kaiya went missing, leaving her son behind. Recently," Yoki said.

Miyana. Miyana. Miyana. "Describe Kaiya for me," Hinata demanded.

"Blue eyes, gray hair and tall. The son looks just like her. We realize that you aren't Kaiya. That's why he's going to live with us," Yoki sniffed.

"What?! You want him back?" Hinata slammed her hand against the table, snapping it in half.

"We don't think that he has the best quality of life with you," Tadashi said, returning.

Hinata lifted her brows, salt in her tone."Says you, the two incompetent drunks who left him to drown in a river. Let's not forget the malnourishment and the cigarette burns,"

"We're not like that anymore. We're shinobi, we're rich and successful. Why wouldn't Benjiro want us?" Yoki said, standing strong. "We've pleaded for legal aid. We're getting help. A lawyer to bring him back to us."

The years of neglect, the abandonment and the attempted murder of a three-year-old. "You'll never win... Why in the world would they give my son back to you?" Hinata asked.

"His father is Uchiha Sasuke and any family is better than yours. Tadashi and I are his real family. Besides, you're not a mother, you could never be."

Hinata threw a seal at the ceiling above Yoki.

In milliseconds, she summoned small snakes that wrapped around Yoki's wrist, venom fangs ready to bite. Hinata jumped over the table, her two unsheathed Katana blades to Yoki's throat.

She threw senbon at his joints and kunai at Tadashi's arms, stopping him momentarily. She sent chakra through the ground and to him. He collapsed due to the chakra overload in his system.

C stood up from drinking his wine saying, "Don't kill her."

Hinata felt electric chakra run through her entire body and the smell of charred iron filled the air. "Why shouldn't I?" Hinata said, blue chakra glowing from her swords. The snake's hiss, tightening their grip.

"Your anger will result in jail time for the death of two people."

"You're pregnant, aren't you?" Hinata said, holding the blade closer to Yoki's neck.

Yoki nodded, tears filling her eyes. "This is his brother. Don't kill his brother."

Hinata pushed Yoki out of the way. From the seal on the ceiling, fell dozens of shuriken and kunai onto the spot where Yoki originally was. The snakes she summoned bowed to her and disappeared.

Hinata fumed. "Never insult the Uchiha or my parenting," she snapped before walking away, towards the exit.

C sighed. "You're difficult, Natsukawa-san," he said, looking at the pile of weapons.

Yoki dashed to C and Tadashi. She glared at the ANBU surrounding C, shielding Tadashi and Yoki.

"You had a dinner rehearsal?" Hinata asked.

"I thought you were more sensible than Uchiha Sasuke. I was just taking precautions. You can't leave," C said.

"I'm getting arrested, aren't I? I am the criminal here?" Hinata asked.

"You are," Tadashi groaned, coming to.

Being fast, she jumped over three ANBU and launched three kunai at Tadashi's face. C blocked all of them with his sword.

C nodded and looked at Yoki and at Tadashi. "I told you not to antagonize her. She's a jonin-level nin."

"She deserved it," Yoki said.

C scowled. "You are lucky she didn't bring Uchiha Sasuke."

¤¤¤

Hinata was escorted to the Raikage's office. She tried to make sense of this.

It was a hazy July day. She was in the house library, looking at a family tree she mapped out. Sasuke found her, wet hair and smelling like salt water. He had taken the kids to the beach. She never goes with them. She sat at the desk, with an ink bottle and filled sheets of paper.

"I should... send letters, you know?" Hinata said. "Hearing our kids laugh and the music on the radio, it simultaneously makes me homesick and just fine with where I am."

"That's the spirit." Sasuke smiled, looking over her shoulder. "A family tree?"

"To sort things out. To put in our family scrapbook," Hinata said. "This has to be perfect."

"Your scrapbooking partner is off and about. M.I.A. Someina's still mad about the whole family tree?" Sasuke concluded.

"Someina usually does the cutting while I finish the calligraphy," Hinata hummed sadly. "Now she won't even talk to me..."

Instead of answering her sorrow, he squinted. "You spelled that wrong."

"You may have read a couple of books but that doesn't mean that I forgot my twenty plus years of writing," Hinata said.

He scowled at the side of her head. "No. Hinata, there's a character missing. I don't remember the ending but it's definitely supposed to be there."

"Excuse me?" Hinata asked.

"There's the last part."

"Really? I mean... it's not wrong-"

He just shrugged. Hinata looked at it. Shimu... What could the ending be?

She got out of her memory.

Shimu... He came from Konoha... was in the ANBU, looked for jutsu... Mitsuyo's jutsu... Oh, she missed a character. It's Danzo. Shimura Danzo... is Shimu.

Mitsuyo is an Uchiha. Miyana is an Uchiha and her real name is Uchiha Kaiya. Miy- Kaiya is kidnapped by the DCA. They've been lying for this entire time.