Sweet Dispositions

-Chapter 8-
Strength

September 7th. Before midnight.

SASUKE WAS A GENIUS.

A rude one at that. It was consoling to be around such a stoic force during a time of panic, though.

During the next few hours after saying she would leave Konoha, Sasuke explained his plan of how to leave perfectly.

He wasn't heartless because he allowed her to say goodbye. That's all that she could ask for; a nice goodbye.

¤¤¤

September 8th. Morning. Near 6 o'clock.

Hanabi was what Hinata couldn't be without but had to say goodbye to.

Hinata crept into Hanabi's chamber, past eleven. Hinata snuggled with her sister and bombarded Hanabi with kisses. They had a full conversation until Hinata asked, "Would you miss me?"

Hanabi said yes.

Hanabi seemed inquisitive as she peered at Hinata. "I don't have to miss you though, Hinata. You're always there. You're going on a mission, right?" Hanabi calculated.

Yes, Hinata will just go with that. Hinata could lie. She really resents it but she will. "And this one may be very long and I won't be coming back for a while."

"How long?" Hanabi asked, unwinding a bit. "Missions are like three days at a minimum and at least a month-"

"Five months," Hinata lied easily.

If it weren't a real mission, she didn't have to say the real length.

"I'll be gone for five months, it's the longest mission that I'll ever be on." Hinata smiled.

"That's nothing compared to other missions, Hinata... but oh. That's long but not too long... So that's why you keep saying the 'I love you's' and all the 'I'll miss you's' and now the maybe, 'goodbyes'?" Hanabi asked.

"Yes. I may not come back. I can't leave without saying those words each and every time."

"You know you're always coming back, so why say the words in the first place?"

"Relationships feel unfinished if you don't say goodbye," Hinata said and she studied Hanabi.

Hanabi didn't appear to understand Hinata. "Relationships, as Neji said, never end if you still love them. Even if you don't say goodbye."

"So, Hanabi-love, goodbye. Right?" Hinata requested.

"No, it's 'see you later', Hinata. I want to see you again, without the air of finality," Hanabi insisted. Hanabi shook her head fiercely. "Shinobi don't say goodbye because that gives others the illusion to death or hints of self-sacrifice for comrades. It's such a cold word!"

"I'm not a comrade, Hanabi. I'm your sister, so I get to say, 'Goodbye' without it meaning my death in the near future," Hinata said benevolently.

"Why does it feel like you're saying goodbye?" Hanabi demanded, in a rotten mood. She seemed a little bit dreadful as well. Her eyebrows were drawn together and she was grimacing. "It's just five months."

"Five months without you is a lot. I admit that I work too much and too long to really be in your life. Hanabi... even with that being said... Goodbye, I'll miss you, and I adore you."

"You do work so much," Hanabi gave a lopsided smile before laying down again. "Okay, whatever, it's fine."

"Just know that I love you. Okay?" Hinata said, not being able to say it enough times.

"Won't you do this in the morning? Why now?" Hanabi asked, getting suspicious.

"Because there isn't enough time, I promise," Hinata said confidently and she leaned down and kissed Hanabi's forehead. "I have a feeling I won't be able to do it for a while..."

"Fine. Okay, I love you as well," Hanabi rolled her eyes. "Let's say the rest of the morning because it's too heavy for tonight? It's better that way."

They hadn't said it in the mornings. Hinata was gone before Hanabi woke up.

¤¤¤

Hinata hadn't said goodbye to anyone else that she loved. She also hadn't said goodbye to Hiashi. She forgave him a long time ago for... everything. Even now, she appreciated him.

Hiashi was merciless with his words although there were few. He was unemotional and aloof. Volatile. He was querulous. Considering that she messed up clan/council plans... all the stress he felt was emphasized because of Hinata.

She missed the established appointment with whoever Hiashi decided as a suitor. In the end, she hadn't repented it one bit. She looked to the future of her own family; her child... Not the Hyuuga clan. Her priorities rearranged and became different. Last night, when she expected Sasuke, she prioritized herself over the clan. The guilt went away after she speculated how liberating it was.

It was liberating. Oh Kami, so, so librating.

Hiashi was prepared to put a cursed seal on her child because he had his own motives. Any cursed seal allowed the main family to control the branch family. With Sasuke's DNA in Hinata's child, she was certain that Hiashi wouldn't count the child a Hyuuga, much less hesitate to give the child a cursed seal. She wouldn't tolerate it. Even if she told him about the happenings surrounding her pregnancy, Hiashi wouldn't understand.

She should have faith...

He was her father... as loosely you could use the term. They were in each other's life for nineteen years, that must have counted for something. She knew that there would always be a small part of her wanting to be appreciated by him. Every little girl's dream was to be accepted by their fathers. She perhaps didn't deserve it right now but... it would be nice for her child to know... her family. Hanabi, Kiba, Shino, Ino, and Sakura... would be good aunts and uncles. Neji would watch over the child from above. Her family would love the child... if from Hiashi if he's not bitter about Hinata's misdemeanors.

Hinata concluded that she wouldn't tell him about the child. A lot of elements contributed to that decision. Hiashi spewed insults at her and neglected her most of the time... He wasn't a very good father. He hasn't been a father to her. He was a passing authority figure waiting to cut her down. What would he do to her child? She couldn't imagine him being a good grandfather.

Nowadays, their relationship got better... However, in subtle ways, he throws her down. How he treated her would reveal on how he would treat her child. She couldn't have that. Hinata... She deserved better than being loved and insulted by Hiashi.

So, yes, she was only going to be gone for a year. He wasn't one she felt she wanted to miss. So, she hadn't said goodbye. He didn't merit one and she didn't want or need to explain herself to him. She said good morning to him, instead. He deserves a good morning, not a goodbye.

Hiashi had gotten disconcerted with her for skipping the meeting with her life partner. Hinata lessened his wrath by unveiling her new mission Sasuke created solely to trick Hiashi with. She explained the details flawlessly. It seemed to be an actual mission the Rokudaime would assign to her, so Hiashi was convinced. She told him the mission would take at least five months but she would be in Konoha at the end of the day.

Hiashi was satisfied. That's all she wants for him; sheer happiness at the end of the day.

Sasuke... knew her skills. He also knew her capabilities. This was at least a B rank mission. Why did he still think that she was rusty? Did Sasuke know that she would be leaving Konoha?

That- that made her blood run cold.

Anyhow, she hadn't kissed anyone goodbye. She knew if she did, she wouldn't ever leave. At all.

¤¤¤

Morning. Near 8 o'clock.

Why were the Hokage monuments so pretty when the sun was out? When had she begun loving the sight of Konohagakure leaves dancing in the wind? Had the streets always been so busy with smiles?

She wasn't gone and she missed every single thing about the place. Why did she have to leave to miss the place? She ached all over. As she was packing, she hurt. As she left the Hyuuga district, she wanted to hug and kiss Hanabi so badly but she hadn't. She had been extra nice to the maids and guards.

She couldn't keep a constant grip on her packed bags either. It was truly tough to carry all of her stuff. She wasn't used to the weight so it took a while. She belatedly delivered them up the stairs.

Everything was set in place. Sasuke wasn't in the izakaya, so she left to say one ultimate goodbye. She walked around the empty streets of Konoha, stepping lightly and looking at everything.

She unquestionably had to revisit Neji's grave. She couldn't get the nerve to visit her mother's grave. She couldn't leave without saying goodbye to him. It was hard to get flowers once all the shops were closed but she got white, tall, fragrant lilies. She picked up at least a dozen. She wanted to get one for each month that she would be gone.

Sasuke warned that saying goodbye to everyone, individually, would be suspicious. She hadn't. She posted all of her wishes, her prayers, and love to them. She coveted to say goodbye. She couldn't. Hinata hadn't told anyone except for Shiho that she was pregnant. She wouldn't tell anyone about her pregnancy because it was a danger. She wanted her baby to be alive and well. Nothing will happen.

Hinata settled over their apartment buildings. She was so lost in her longing that she hadn't noticed that time passed. All of this would come to an end. She will never see this place again. It was so hard to look away.

"Do you make a habit of being late, Hyuuga girl?"

Hinata swirled around and jumped back, startled by Sasuke's sudden appearance.

"No," snapped Hinata.

Hinata held her heart and felt how fast it was. She looked was startled and she stepped backward. He shielded his chakra. Why? Does he like terrifying her?

"You-" scared me, she wanted to say but he cut her off.

"I scared you? Hadn't you sensed my chakra?" Sasuke asked.

"No."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," he said as he sighed. "He was right... You're... Rusty."

Hinata turned away. Oh Kami, his comments didn't matter. She was homesick, already.

"Do you know... how strange it is to be leaving Konoha?" Hinata asked.

"No, Konoha's not my favorite. Unlike you, I have no one to stay for."

"You... haven't found someone to stay for," Hinata said mildly. The breeze let Sasuke's poncho flutter in the wind.

"I did. They just don't want me around. However, you're a reason to leave. Safety trumps feelings." Sasuke shrugged, indifferent towards his situation.

"I love them... a lot. Maybe more than they'll ever know," Hinata said, knowing she should have said it more. "More than I'll ever say."

"Love is a dangerous thing... it's also the most powerful feeling. Let go of all that and you'll be fine. We're late."

"I am... not ready to go," Hinata admitted in a low, soft voice. "I'm going to be gone from Konoha, my home..."

Hinata turned around and faced Konoha. She hasn't seen such beauty since laying eyes on Hanabi's face for the first time. Someone had to tell her that this was real. She had been chained to this place. She was leaving. She looked to the future but wow, stepping from the past hurts.

"Sever your bonds in times of desperation. It is the best way to subdue the pain of loss..."

"I can't. I'm... not like you," Hinata said in a small voice.

"Not like me- in what way?" he asked.

Hinata blinked at him. "I don't want to lose bonds- much less sever them."

He looked at her as if she were problematic. She looked at him the same way.

"Hn. Abandon all your feelings. We have to go," Sasuke ordered.

Sasuke saw Hinata the way Hinata saw Sasuke. Different.

He narrowed his eyes at her once she hadn't responded. "We're on the run and go, we don't have time for lateness or your sentiments," he said softly like he was being... nice? "This isn't a time to slack off, the Bara Festival already started. We have to be out of plain sight and this isn't the place to do it."

"I need more time!"

"Konoha isn't going anywhere, we are."

"Can I have extra time? I'm allowed to miss things and Konoha... Bonds can be severed but not forgotten!"

"Che," he said and stalked off, muttering to himself.

He was letting her reminisce!

That was easier than she thought. Why? Maybe he's being nicer. That was nice, even for him.

Once he was gone, she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding in. She was so incredibly nervous and scattered.

The one thought that calmed her was that she was coming back in a year.

She began to actively memorize the landscape of her perfect village. She brought her observation notepad with her and sketched everything out in a messy way. She spent an extra fifteen minutes, just standing on the apartment building's roof.

She wasn't mentally ready for this.

She hopes this baby is worth it.

The embryo doesn't know that Konoha has the best dango and cinnamon buns ever. Konoha was where she was born, where Neji was born, where she found Naruto and became a medical-nin. It's also the place where the embryo was conceived. It is also the place where Sasuke forgot her name and argued with her. The place where the embryo's parents eventually left.

She loves the place. In every window, every building and house, there was a story waiting to be told. She would never forget the place. She has to forget the past and move on before she could have the child.

She has to be ready for the child. She reached for her stomach and smiled.

We will see you in a while, little miracle. We will show you Konoha, my dear and we'll be happy. Okay? Very happy, Hinata thought, wanting to talk to her baby. Your papa... is eager? Is he scared of leaving Konoha? Probably not but I have to be brave now, eh, little miracle?

Hinata turned away from Konoha's scenery after removing her hands. "Uchiha-san, I'm ready."

Sasuke smirked and she watched his face, a bit fascinated. "Do you want an extra fifteen minutes to just watch the monuments?" he asked.

"Can that be arranged?"

"No," he said, looking displeased. "It was sarcasm."

"I know... I would... like a trip there, though," she whispered honestly.

He looked irritated. "We can't. Maybe when we come back, we'll see it. For now, we're visiting the Hokage..."

Sasuke didn't talk to her for the rest of the walk.

He probably knew that just twenty yards away, Naruto was making scrambled eggs for his wife while whistling a tune she hadn't recognized. She watched him, silent in her farewell to Uzumaki Naruto.

She was saying goodbye.

That, Hinata supposed, was a good reason to be late.

¤¤¤

The well-lit sky hung over everyone. The sun was high and round while there wasn't a cloud in sight. It was a perfect September day. The weather was mild and humid, a little too sunny for her taste but it was pleasant.

Sasuke wasn't mistaken when he said there were physiques flooding the streets of Konoha, striving to get ready for the Bara Festival. The roads were packed with shinobi and civilians who arrived from all over the five nations.

She deemed it brilliant.

Sasuke hadn't enjoyed it one bit.

Some scents were tantalizing and alluring while some made her feel sick. Buildings were decorated and it wasn't rare to find a smile on someone's face. There was chatter, laughter, food, games, and fun. Adults and children were celebrating. This was how she wanted to remember Konoha; hustling, welcoming and busy. Home.

Why would they go to the Hokage?

Hinata hiked a little ways away from Sasuke. She walked behind him. She queried about him. He had a calm, neutral expression as he surveyed the area for threats. She didn't think that much could happen but he was Uchiha Sasuke; he would reasonably get attacked...

She had to stop and bathe in Konoha's essence. Once he discerned that she lagged dilatorily, he went behind her. Sometimes, she stopped too suddenly and they bumped into each other. He eventually walked at her side, expecting her to keep up with him. She obliged this time. She didn't like being by his side but it gave her a sense of security.

Eventually, they made it through the streets and to the Hokage tower. Sasuke hadn't offered any explanation of why they were there. Hinata knew he noticed her confusion but he did nothing to stop it nor change it. She couldn't open her eyes to what was already there and find the reason.

The last time Hinata was in the Hokage's office, she was recounting the events of her missions. This time, she walked through the Hokage tower beside a man who didn't like her one bit. Time does this thing when it changes, huh?

Sounds of their strides pervaded the air. Inside of this building, the happy sounds of the festival were away. The only things Hinata overheard were her shinobi sandal heels and Sasuke's shoes against the floor. There were a lot of people in these hallways. Just why was it so quiet?

Hinata inched closer to Sasuke, nervous about the quiet. This place was constantly busy, there was bound to be some noise.

There was tension in the air. Killing intent. It made Hinata want to pause and survey the area for enemies. She looked around and activated her byakugan. Men and women alike weren't angry at her; they were glaring at Sasuke. Since Sasuke was beside her, they glared at her as well.

Some of the people they passed, except for the ones who hadn't noticed them, shot daggers and death glares. Repugnant feelings clung on to her and weighed her down. They muttered bitter things like, "Any Uchiha in Konoha is a terrorist," and "Any Uchiha deserves the same treatment as their clan; to be dead and gone," and "Why hadn't he just died along with his clan?" and "Konoha doesn't welcome the Uchiha."...

She was exposed to this for around five minutes... Sasuke was exposed his entire life. She heard conversations die down, their snarls and clenching fists. They gathered chakra, prepared for a fight. They assumed battle stances and others had been looks of being restrained.

Unlike Sasuke, Hinata wasn't used to such hostility. At least not anymore. There was antagonism between the main house and the branch family but that ardent animosity has died down into nothing more than ashes.

None of the hostility she felt was directed at her but it hit home. She remembers being looked at like by the branch family and her father... and Neji.

This was too much.

Around her, adults and teens alike were quiet and staring at them, the two of them. Sasuke didn't notice. If he did, he showed zero hints of acknowledgment or concern. He walked at the same steady pace, not bothering to look at any of them. Hinata looked and looked. She went crazy.

Once they were out of sight, and in an empty hallway, she stopped in front of him and said, "Uchiha-san? Those people hate you. They were ready to fight and hurt you..."

Sasuke stopped to look at her. "If you're worried; they won't hurt you. I'll make sure of it."

"I'm not worried about that," Hinata admitted.

"I am," he said stoically.

"Uchiha-san..." she looked away, not blushing for once. "That isn't necessary."

"Some people wouldn't mind getting through you to get to me, the betrayer of an Uchiha."

"I will be fine. But... the hate they had radiated off of them..." She shook her head, shivering a bit. "How... do you deal with it?"

"How did you?" he asked smoothly, referencing to the Hyuuga's way of treating her.

"I didn't..." Hinata looked away. "But I am not important enough for that. That hostility went away ages ago... Uchiha-san... just like your case... they should... be a little less hostile."

"They acted perfectly," he said.

"What?" Hinata gasped.

Sasuke nodded softly, eyes roaming her face. "If you knew my history, you wouldn't be able to look me in the eye."

"Uchiha-san... that's-"

"Forgiveness shouldn't extend easily in my direction, Hyuuga girl," he said, his eyes sincere and... dark. "Any hate that comes in my way is mandatory for achieving the punishment that was meant for me. My sins aren't meant to be forgiven."

Hinata looked at Sasuke, eyes wide. "That's where you're wrong. Everyone deserves forgiveness and peace. Second chances... It's why we live on like this... freely. It's an evolution of character for those who forgive and those who are forgiven."

Sasuke stepped around her after checking her expression once or twice. "To experience a hatred of my kind... To grasp that... You must believe that no one deserves second chances. I practice what I preach, Hyuuga. Despite that, I will work towards my second goal."

"What is your goal?" Hinata asked curiously as he turned to look back at her.

He looked surprised that she asked but pleased by it. "That's a discussion for another day," he turned back to her after taking a few steps. "We have to go now."

It was strange. To hear him talk so lowly about himself. If it's all marble smooth and neutral on the outside, just what goes on inside of him? She did want to hear about his.. inner thoughts. It was sort of like seeing with the fires in storms within himself. Somehow, just looking at him with the things he said echoing around, she knew that they probably had the same demons. His were darker and scarier than hers ever were.

It begs the question, just what's hurting Uchiha Sasuke?

"Rightly so, Uchiha-san..." Hinata smiled.

¤¤¤

Hinata walked by his side when they went up another level. There were red carpets, everywhere.

A woman with a round face, brown hair and glasses introduced herself as Ohta after apologizing for bumping into Sasuke.

Sasuke hadn't noticed Ohta and scoffed, muddling ahead of both Hinata and the plain-looking woman with papers.

Ohta smiled at Hinata. "No wonder master and Uchiha Sasuke chose you. You are lovely. I've heard a lot about you from Naruto-kun."

Hinata jumped on that. "Na-Naruto-kun? Does he work with you?"

"Yep," Ohta smiled. "We both work for Kakashi."

"Ah." Hinata blushed.. Hinata never considered working for the government to get closer to Naruto. That would have been smart. Really smart. Curse your brains, Ohta. Even Ohta had a master- wait.

Master?

"Wha- what? Who is your master?" Hinata asked.

"Kakashi. I call him master instead of sensei. However, my master is supreme and a king." Ohta had a shine of admiration in her dull brown eyes.

Hinata frowned. This is weird. Master? Who called Kakashi a master? And why does Ohta think Sasuke chose Hinata?

What?

"Hyuuga girl!" Sasuke called out to Hinata. "Don't make us even more late."

Ohta snapped, as if she were disappointed. "Aw, shoot. I wanted to spend more time with the chosen one. You look like a dark queen with your hair."

Huh? Hinata's body shuddered. What? Hinata backed away, slow. Ohta was weird... So weird. Chosen one?

"Ah. Eto, good- uh. Bye," Hinata bowed, eager to escape.

Ohta bowed. "Until we meet, again, queen."

What? Dark queen? How is it the longer they spoke, the more Ohta creeped Hinata out.

Hinata caught up to Sasuke. He gave her a dirty look and she shrunk. Hinata had a feeling that Ohta was watching her as she went by.

They saw a gaunt-looking woman with tied sandy hair, feminine curves and a black kimono tied by a maroon colored sash.

She, for the most part, was smiling. The smile hadn't faded when she saw Hinata and Sasuke. There was only one woman in the entire building who hadn't spared a second glance towards her. Finally, Hinata let out a sigh of relief. There was at least one person out of one hundred and forty that didn't give them the mildest glare.

There was some good in the world. Some forgiveness.

Until one or two kodachi whizzed towards her face or past it, she didn't know.

She hadn't seen it any of it happen. She was slammed against the wall. The hate she felt was as young as the minute was but it grew into something undeniable and ugly.

Hinata stood up and she wasn't damaged. Nothing had been damaged. The embryo was fine. She wasn't hurt, just a bit surprised.

Her second priority at the moment was Sasuke, she activated her byakugan and watched as her gaze focused on his arm.

"Uchiha-san!" Hinata yelled.

"Hn," he said. By saying 'Hn,' to everyone, he just created an art form telling people how little he cared.

The blade sliced through his arm. Two large kodachi were embedded in his arm. She saw the hilt of the weapon protrude. The tip of the silver kodachi could be seen through his skin. The bicep branchii muscles have been torn. Blood spread through his poncho.

Sasuke just looked at the woman with a death glare and back at Hinata's stomach... the child.

Hinata watched the woman. She was supposed to be good.

The women noticed how the two were looking at her. She paled. She was frozen and the soft smile vanished. She trembled as she shifted in place. She then threw herself to the ground and begged for her dear life.

Hinata blocked out her high pitch voice and felt everything stop in place. She looked at the woman then at Sasuke, feeling more crazy.

This woman tried to kill me and my little miracle, Hinata thought. She also tried to kill Sasuke. Kill us, actually.

Hinata withdrew two senbon she had in her mesh bag and threw them at two vital spots on the girl's shoulders. Two other senbon were thrown into her kneecaps as well. The tiny needle-like swords would enable the sobbing woman from using her arms and knees. Prevent her from hurting them temporarily.

Now, Sasuke is important.

Hinata lunged forward, running to get to that woman.

"No," Sasuke held his injured arm up and said, "Stay over there!"

Hinata defied that order. She won't be on the sidelines. Not anymore. He already moved fast enough to get away from her. Sasuke teleported to the sobbing woman. Hinata was afraid that he would just kill her but he touched the middle of her sternum. The woman, after twenty-three seconds, passed out as a heaving mess on the floor.

Sasuke stood over the woman and his mouth was set in a hard line. "She shouldn't have tried. That was way too easy. I was supposed to have fun, he promised."

Was Sasuke talking about the Hokage? She probably didn't hear him properly, she was still in an adrenaline rush. Plus, she needed to heal him. It didn't matter. He was hurt and she could help.

Hinata trembled as she went up to Sasuke and examined his arm. He moved to let her see his wound. He gazed at her with an odd look. He didn't even flinch as she grimaced at his hurt arm. The sleeve was covered in dark blood. "Take off your poncho, Uchiha-san," she ordered.

He gave her an amused smirk then shook his head as if saying 'no'. "Hyuuga, I don't need to be healed," he grumbled as he gave her a sour look. "I am-"

Hinata interrupted him because she didn't want to hear the words 'I am fine,' come out of his mouth."

"Uchiha-san, it is in your best interest that I heal you. I do not want you to have an infection," Hinata said sternly. "Or to go in shock. Those kodachi could have been slathered in poison!"

She couldn't believe him.

They almost got killed - her less than him- and he wanted to act stoic.

He could get an infection and the pain in his arm would be incredibly painful.

Besides, it was his only arm- why wasn't he more worried? She needed to heal him before he lost even more blood.

His sleeve under the poncho was already drenched. He wasn't panicked. He was calm and bored and colored red.

"You're not supposed to care about me," Sasuke said.

"Uchiha-san... Please, I'll care if you let me," she promised. "Just let me heal you..."

Instead of saying something slightly insulting, he asked, "Will it give you closure?"

"Yes," she said, finally getting exasperated.

His first reaction was to take the kodachi out of his arm. The two bloodied kodachi fell to the ground. She flinched at the metallic sound and pushed the bloodied knife behind her.

She would have to close the wound so he wouldn't lose any more blood. Would he need a transfusion? The hospital is far from here and she probably wasn't his blood type. She pressed her hands to his bicep and her medical ninjutsu was aglow. She was so angry at this situation!

Sasuke chuckled at her concerned expression. "You should know that..." He then watched her face and said, "Lord Uchiha-sama... will be here soon."

Hinata stopped healing. Soon? She paused and the green chakra extinguished. Before he could answer, she did a back walkover while successfully grabbing one of his bloodied kodachi from the floor. She held up the kodachi in her defense.

"Aren't you Uchiha Sasuke?" Hinata asked, her byakugan activated.

Sasuke stood up and winced at the pain his arm. "In a sense, Hinata-"

Who is this? Whoever it was, it wasn't Sasuke. Well, the Sasuke she knew.

"Tell me who you are now!" Hinata said as she held the bloodied kodachi in her hand. "Whoever you are! Now!" she yelled, feeling stressed out.

Hinata was so scared of being deceived. The woman who seemed to not hate Sasuke tried to kill him and Hinata. Now Sasuke, who had protected her, wasn't Sasuke and everything was so confusing. She wasn't willing to get hurt again.

This Sasuke 2.0 was the same height, with the somewhat distant and cool attitude, same ninjutsu, genjutsu and stupid, stupid hair. His chakra was the same and- and he has the same skills as him, the ningendo, but that didn't mean a thing. He could be an enemy out to kill her just like that woman had.

"Hinata-" Sasuke 2.0 said, raising up his arms.

Hinata flinched. She held the kodachi up higher and narrowed her eyes. "Just tell me! Or else I will-"

"Hyuuga girl?"

Sasuke?! Another one? Hinata freaked out and looked towards the other one. This one was clad in the same outfit. The same strong black eye, patterned rinnegan and face and hair and-

"Who are you?!" Hinata cried and she looked between the two of them.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Sasuke said calmly.

She looked back at the other one then at the new Sasuke, the distrust evident.

"I do-don't believe you," she gritted out, on guard, looking at both of them with her Byakugan. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"No," both Sasukes said in the same, monotone, flat voice.

"Never," one of them echoed.

Then Sasuke 2.0, the one without Sasuke's usual poncho, nodded at Sasuke then said, "Until next time, Lord Uchiha-sssama," The 's' s' in his sentence got elongated and they resembled a snake's hiss.

That just made her all the more jumpy. Sasuke, with the displeased expression, nodded respectfully and focused his gaze on Hinata. Hinata was incredibly lost. Her knees shook. What is bloody real?!

Sasuke 2.0 fell apart into slithering bone-white snakes. Hinata looked away from Sasuke 2.0, aghast. Sasuke was on the pads of his feet and looked at the knocked out woman. She felt like she knew nothing at all.

He looked at the senbon Hinata embedded in the woman's arms.

"Nice," he said as he tapped on them slightly.

Was that a compliment?

He pushed the senbon deeper into her arms. If he continued like that then there would be permanent damage.

Hinata said, "Don't do that!"

"This woman tried to kill you. Have no mercy or compassion. I don't, " Sasuke responded, his fingers were somewhere inside of her kimono.

He slipped something into his pocket. For some reason, Sasuke reached for the woman's throat.

"Don't touch her!" Hinata screeched. She thought Sasuke would kill her.

Sasuke just rolled his eyes and scowled even more. "Hyuuga girl, calm yourself a bit. It's alright."

He gave her an odd look then reached down to check the woman's pulse. He seemed satisfied. She didn't know if the woman was alive or not. It didn't matter. What mattered was Sasuke or the enemy.

"Who are you?" Hinata asked once again.

"Uchiha Sasuke," he said and stood up.

He took a step forward and she flinched.

"Don't take one step forward!" Hinata said, intercepting him.

"It's me, okay? The other Sasuke that accompanied you was a clone. He's gone now. From what I can see, the clone hadn't told you about being a clone?" Sasuke said dryly.

He was talking slowly and without an edge as if trying to calm her down. When Hinata nodded at him, still trembling, he looked even more pissed.

"Che. Typical. No wonder the kage-bunshin end up being idiots," Sasuke rolled his eyes.

She narrowed her eyes. The only other person who made Kage- bunshin that much was Naruto and he wasn't an idiot.

He let out a low sigh and looked straight in her eyes. "I was at my meeting with the Hokage. The woman who just attacked you was named Okayama Tatsue. She wasn't a shinobi- she is a cryptographer for the Hokage. She does have some practice with weapons, though. Somehow, she had an idea of your pregnancy..."

"That's hypocrisy... Did you tell people?!" Hinata shook her head. "I mean- not you. Did my Sasuke tell people?"

"Your Sasuke?" Sasuke winced. A little bit of colour on his cheeks.

"No- not my Sasuke. Phrasing. Bad phrasing. I mean the Uchiha Sasuke that I know. You're not Uchiha-san? We're not like that, I don't think we'll ever be- ugh! Why am I telling you this? You're not Uchiha I'm looking for!"

"I am, Uchiha Sasuke," Sasuke scowled as he explained. "Okayama hasn't interacted with you but she heard the news. She overheard my meeting with the Hokage and found out about it. She pulled up your file and found you. The garbage opportunist saw a window of when she could kill you and found two kodachi knives... and the rest is obvious."

He pulled out a little piece of paper from his back pocket.

Hinata was on high alert, so she asked, "What is that?"

Sasuke held it up for Hinata to see. "This is how Okayama Tatsue recognized her target," he said.

It was a photograph of Hinata's smiling face.

Hinata paused and lowered her kodachi a little bit. "This was found... through the clone?"

Sasuke nodded. "And through ningendo. The clone was supposed to escort you directly here but this ended up happening," Sasuke looked down, vaguely referring to the woman laying on the floor.

Hinata felt her heartbeat calm just a little bit.

"Are you alright?" he asked seriously.

He gazed down at her stomach as if he could check up on the embryo's progress. Surprised that this, Hinata sighed... maybe Sasuke cared.

Hinata nodded warily.

"You could lower the weapon, Hyuuga girl..." Sasuke intoned.

Hinata shook her head, still skeptical. "How do I know it's you, the original, right now?"

Sasuke frowned. "Is that necessary?"

Hinata nodded frantically, not lowering the weapon one bit.

"Give... me something only the original Uchiha would know or have," Hinata elaborated.

Sasuke paused then said, "The first thing you've said to me, Hyuuga girl. Would that be enough?"

She shook her head.

"I was... drunk," Hinata admitted, blushing.

"How about this?" Sasuke put the photograph of her in his pocket and dug something out else out of it.

As soon as she saw what he gave her, she needed to get it.

The amount of relaxation she felt by just seeing the other kunai was tremendous.

It was the kunai she threw at him when he told her she was pregnant. It had a distinctive handle. The clone he made would have just fell apart as snakes, along with this kunai. Only Sasuke would have the original kunai.

She dropped the kodachi and moved to get the item. Hinata felt relief surge through her system as she approached Sasuke. She stopped in front of him, all tense and hesitant.

Was it safe? Was he telling the truth? What else did she have to believe?

"I believe you," Hinata whispered clutching the item closely.

She looked at him for an extra second. Why was he being so weird? He wouldn't meet her gaze and he seemed... Bashful? She made things so awkward. Oh yeah. She said her- he wasn't.

Arrghhhhh.

She was shy and self-conscious. She needed to apologize or clarify herself. Uh. Yeah. "And... uh, Uchiha-san... you're not... erm, mine? I... yeah."

"Hn. Vice versa," Sasuke coughed.

She nodded then turned away.

That was sooo awkward! Why is she like that? She could sink into the floor as a puddle. That would be fine! Super fine.

Tenten always gave gifts that were shinobi tools to Neji. These were one of the knives from Neji's gift collection so it had Neji's signature. N.J.H. Hinata ran her fingers over the engraved letters, feeling calm. She hadn't meant to give this one away, much less throw it.

Hinata surveyed the area. Clear. Were there others like Tatsue? If there weren't... that would be a lie. She had this kodachi, she was safe. Safe. It was safe with Sasuke and with what he gave her. If Neji held this and felt brave with it, she could too. She muttered prayers to the child.

He gave her an odd look before turning away. He did a summoning jutsu and a hawk appeared on his right arm. He told the hawk to report the situation that just happened. The bird fluffed its feathers, nodded then flew to talk to the Hokage.

Hinata finally stopped trembling and looked at the woman that was laid on the floor, unconscious. She tried to kill Hinata. Hinata and the embryo.

Sasuke waited for Hinata's hitched breathing to go back to normal as he looked at her. "We've wasted too much time. The ANBU are already on their way," he declared. "We don't have much time, it's already half-past eight."

They waited in silence as Hinata moved away from Sasuke to mull over what had just happened. So, why did he keep this? The knife wasn't very sharp, it wasn't very special and Hinata threw it at him. So why would he have it on hand?

"Let's go," he said as the ANBU black ops came and took the woman's body. Okayama Tatsue... She's heard that name before.. but from where?

Hinata turned around and looked out the window, where Konoha was. Sasuke watched her for an extra moment before looking away.

¤¤¤

The trip was fuss-free and quick compared to the first one she had with Sasuke. The walk back to the izakaya was eerily quiet, at least in Hinata's world. She observed the sea of people just enjoying the Bara Festival. Any of these people could kill her. She thought that the woman, Okayama Tatsue, didn't hate her, the Uchiha... or her child.

The air was warm but everything was cold to her. Now, her distrust for everything was blatant and crying out for attention.

She hadn't believed that someone would attempt to kill her minutes after hearing about this Uchiha child. When nothing is wrong, nothing is true. Okayama Tatsue smiled- she smiled at Sasuke and Hinata and threw that horrid kodachi. Why hadn't she sensed the killing intent?

In her moment of rescue, Sasuke 2.0 pushed her away from the kodachi and the wall to protect her. Now that the adrenaline wore off, Hinata felt her side burn. She healed herself idly, hoping that Sasuke wouldn't notice. He did. Then he swore off using clones.

She felt extremely scared. Maybe he was truthful. Konoha housed people who disliked the Uchiha and the Hyuuga. If she combined those two extremities... it resulted in a big ball of hate. If Okayama Tatsue knew of Hinata's pregnancy, she probably aimed those two polished silver kodachi at her stomach. The urge to regurgitate her morning snacks appeared.

Sasuke hadn't spoken once. She wordlessly knew that yes, she couldn't lag behind and she had to hurry up. If she didn't, it would result in some fatal aspect.

Although she was scared of the Okayama woman, she was pulling away from Sasuke as well. If there ever was any contact. They have never been more far apart. She knew it when Okayama Tatsue attacked, she hadn't trusted Sasuke. She had no basis or reason to but that was really bad. He was the parent of her child... She had to.

He was hard to trust. He was unapproachable, hard to talk to and unmistakably rude. Why should she trust him? It was hard enough that they would be together for a while, a year, and she didn't trust him. Compared to the other enemies across the five nations, Okayama wasn't even worth mentioning. She had to trust him more sooner or later.

She was wary of him. He acted impulsively even though he saw the world as a shogi board. He didn't really think of her when he jumped into things and he was just- just Uchiha Sasuke... A flighty man. What was she going to do?

She was tired of thinking of that.

¤¤¤

She really couldn't look at him. She was near to the door, still a bit hesitant of him. If he had noticed, he hadn't cared or he chose not to comment. She thought it was the later. She leaned against the wall, watching him carefully.

Hinata and Sasuke were in the izakaya Sasuke resided at. Hinata's luggage was in a pile on the bed. The two civilian men she was with stacked the suitcases.

"We were supposed to come back here to return the keys, not do this. My summoning animal is too small to fit in here," he said. "If he did, he would be pitiable compared to its real size. Why hadn't you put these in the forest like we agreed to?" he said, inspecting the luggage on her bed.

"I apologize..." she said.

When she was packing, which was at four a.m, it didn't seem like such a bad idea to bring a lot of stuff. She was going to be gone for a year so she included some things like medical kits, two pairs of shoes, a cooking book and some hair products. She had mostly brought clothing and poetry/medical books... She didn't think she had this much stuff. Judging by the fermentation of his looks, he hadn't either.

"Your pack isn't light. We're going to be walking around a whole lot," he said as he looked at her with a hint of inquisition.

"When we walk around... will it be in the forests?"

"Yeah. Also, you can't overexert yourself at a time like this."

He had said he would take care of the amount of luggage but he never elaborated how. She thought that three suitcases were enough. She threw some things in haphazardly, though. Maybe she could have taken some things out...

Eh. She needed them.

He gave a sharp sigh and Hinata hadn't looked up. Suddenly, the floor moaned and some wood creaked. Bam, a huge snake was there. Pitiful size?!

The thing was at huge and menacing.

She gasped and dropped Neji's kunai. It barely missed her foot when it landed. Hinata stumbled back, with her back pressed against the wall, staring at the slippery beast. It had light, emerald-green beady eyes, a long sleek legless body, and a deep, breathy voice.

"How may I ssservice you today, Uchiha-sssama?"

Hinata gasped when she saw the full thing. Sasuke hadn't noticed her cowering. Her heart beat so quickly. Sasuke could summon a reptile like this? This was his personal summon? The snake kept its eyes on Sasuke, ignoring Hinata. She was glad about that.

"Aoda, can you keep this woman's stuff in Ryūchi Cave for a couple of weeks?" Sasuke asked, and he looked at the luggage.

"As you des-s-sire, Uchiha-s-s-sama," The snake hissed, in an albeit affectionate way. The voice was deep and human-like but still made shivers run down her spine.

Hinata flew out the door and peeked into their room. She did it at the wrong time because the snake was just as curious of her as she was of it.

Once she locked eyes with the snake- no, Aoda, she was frozen in place. She was scared for her very life.

"Who'sss that?" Aoda asked.

Aoda leaned forward as if trying to get a better look at Hinata. The snake swayed, his long purple scales gleaming in the early morning light.

Hinata was scared out of her wits, although she was protected by the wall.

"She's important to the Uchiha and to me," Sasuke called out to Aoda. "Don't eat her. Actually, she's off-limits to all my summons."

Eat?!

The snake made something akin to a... a laugh? If snakes could laugh... "I have no tassste for the expecting," Aoda said. The snake seemed to be amused by Hinata's reaction to snakes. "Uchiha-ssssama, are you... by chance having hatchingsss with this one? A full nessst?"

"Yeah, so keep an eye out on all of her things, alright?" Sasuke grunted. "Reminder- because of last time; don't let the vipers eat her stuff..."

"Of courssse, Uchiha-sssama," Aoda promised and she heard distinct shuffling. "Sssafe and sssound for you and the viperessse,"

The way Aoda elongated his words made her neck hairs stand on edge. Hinata's eye twitched as she saw Aoda's forked tongue flick outside of the door. Her lip quivered as it probed around. She gulped, her teeth chattering.

Hinata made a short squeal and almost ran for the other way until she heard, "Hyuuga girl, you have to stay in the hallway. You can't run away," Sasuke called, in the typical Sasuke way.

Hinata made a small sound of fear, paralyzed. She wasn't going to run away! She was going to sprint and go as far away as possible.

"My, isss ssshe afraid of me?" Aoda asked, seemingly interested. Sasuke made a sound like a grunt. That horrible snake-hybrid laugh came back. "Deliciousss."

Then after a few minutes of Hinata trembling in the hallway of the second floor of the izakaya, Sasuke called her back into the room.

"Hyuuga girl," was all he said.

"Is Aoda g-gone?" croaked Hinata. She wasn't fond of asking and her heart hasn't slowed down.

Sasuke made a noncommittal noise. "Come in and see if he's gone," he said, seemingly amused by her fright.

If she could throw something at him, she would.

Hinata stayed out in the hallway for more than five minutes, she finally got the courage and stepped into the room with a shy look on her face. The giant amethyst-purple snake with a black underbelly was gone. She scanned the room carefully and found Sasuke with the hawk, his other summoning animal. The bird said some stuff in a scratchy way and Hinata hadn't been listening.

He turned to look at her and said, "Hn, you're back.'

"Is Aoda... going to eat me?"

Sasuke looked amused by her fear. "He compares the meat of a human shinobi to the taste of vipers; unpalatable and inedible because of ethical reasons."

"He's tasted both of those things?!"

"Hn. Yeah," Sasuke said and he was met by a gasp. "Am I mistaken or you're just afraid of snakes?"

"I am not afraid of snakes... just things that can eat me..."

"So yeah, you're afraid?"

Hinata looked down in shame. "So what?"

Sasuke seemed even more pleasantly amused. "They won't,"

"You promise?"

"Yeah. That... I'd be a lousy protector if I didn't, ne, Hyuuga?"

She nodded, pleased. "Pretty lousy indeed."

She stepped in, ignoring the way he looked at her.

Hinata stood at the doorway, watching him. He knew that she was watching him.

On the bed, where her dark mesh bag was along with Neji's kunai on the bed. She rushed towards it. It had a lot of her things. Her poetry book, a filled canteen, some packed cinnamon buns, a photo of Hanabi (Hinata stole it from Hanabi's vanity mirror), one of Ino's hair ties, folic acid. She threw in prenatal pills, Hinata's favorite scalpel, two hair brushes, medical supplies, her Konoha forehead protector and Neji's kunai knife.

Sasuke noticed how she adjusted her standard mission outfit, her purple kimono shirt, her black shorts (both of which were hard to put on this morning and bothered her a lot; everything's fitting so snugly) and shouldered her bag.

She breathed in deep to compose herself. She was really doing this, leaving Konoha for a year, having a child in a couple of months, being a mother and seeing Uchiha Sasuke for a year. It was a reality. A reality that was coming to be. Something was happening and she was letting it happen.

She found herself opening her mouth and said the words she never thought she would. "I'm ready to go, Uchiha-san."

The window was opened as the hawk disappeared. Sasuke finally turned to her. A faint, almost nonexistent but definitely there, look of happiness was there in his eyes. A little light in his eyes like a flash of honest light in a bottle of ink.

It felt good to see that light. Really good.

"Now, we're off," Under his breath, she heard him say, "Finally."

She whispered the same words secretly to herself... but Sasuke didn't need to know that, now did he?

They really were off.