#I will always love genin sasuhina best

[curryplss]

Day 1: 合縁奇縁

“A mysterious attraction that unites two people.”

Happy SasuHina Month! ^-^

[oneyanderegirl]

Parenthood

Genre: One-shot, Fluff, Romance Rating: T+ Sasuhina Month 2020 Theme: Day 10 (Parenthood) 

A/N: I am super behind lol. Didn’t really like the way I ended this one, but oh wells. Anyways, this is part of my one-shot series for Sasuhina Month 2020. Hope you all enjoy! 

@sasuhinamonth (in case this doesn’t show up in the tags) 

Hinata stared at the ceiling.

The ceiling was blank of course, but still, she had decided it would have been better to look at one particular spot rather than let her mind run all over the place trying to look at the whole ceiling. There was nothing to look at though. It had always been plain and white, save for the black lamplight that hung down in the middle of the room. She could hear the wind rustling outside her window. The cool breeze felt nice on her skin, though it didn’t seem to help keep the heat away from it. She felt sweaty despite the night being cold. Perhaps she should have dressed a bit cooler, even if she was already wearing a t-shirt and light pants.

“ You’re not breathing again.”

His voice, though calm and a bit stoic, held a teasing hint that was directed at her.  

“ S-sorry.”

He was too close to her.

His breath smelled of mint, though that shouldn’t have been a surprise to her, he had just brushed his teeth after all. She could feel his hair tickle just the edge of her neck. Perhaps she should have offered to give him a trim earlier that day. But perhaps the most daunting thing of all was his scent. Because he was so close to her, she could smell the hints of ash and thunder that seemed to overpower everything else in the room.

And that made Hinata extremely nervous.

“ Hinata,”

She was always surprised when he would call her by name. It felt smooth like silk hearing the way he would say her name. It made her heart flutter loudly, perhaps too loudly. She wondered if he could hear it right now.

“ Y-yes?”

Hinata wanted to hide.

She wanted to hide under the bedsheets away from the world. Of course that wouldn’t have helped. Her cheeks were bright red. It would probably shine through the bedsheets even if she covered herself in a hundred blankets. Even if she could, he would have been able to dig through all of them easily.

She felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment.

He was lying next to her after all.

“ How long have we been together now?”

“ Almost two years,”

The bed creaked as she could feel his movements through the sheets.

“ We’ve been together for almost two years now, so why are you still so nervous?”

Dark eyes met her pale ones.

Black hair, black eyes, and pale skin. That was how she would describe Sasuke Uchiha. There was no question why he was the most sought after boy during their genin days. Though she had been much too busy crushing on Naruto at the time, Hinata wondered how she had never noticed him before.  

They had been in a relationship for two years now. Though their relationship was by no means normal compared to others, it was perfect in her eyes. He was the only one who understood her in a way that her family and friends could not. The world in which he saw was different from hers. His thoughts, viewpoints, and opinions were different from most people due to the experience and trauma he had gone through. He was strong. He was stronger than anyone she knew. In her eyes, he was stronger than even Naruto. Despite everything that he had gone through, he had survived. Not only had he survived, he had grown and matured into someone completely different from the boy he was four years ago.

Sometimes, she wondered if he really was human.

But now, they were staring into each other’s eyes while sharing the same bed. The same dark eyes that held apathy long ago now looked at her with a gentle warmth. It was subtle, but she knew it was there. He only ever showed this side towards her.

And that was why she felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

He was too handsome.

He was too gentle.

He was too close.

“ Nervous,” was all Hinata had managed to mutter out before turning her head away from his. She couldn’t look him in the eye right now.

It was their first time spending the night together.

It wasn’t as if they hadn’t before, but the reason had always been because of their missions. Though they never shared a bed, they slept next to each other several times during missions.

But this wasn’t a mission.

This was their first time spending the night together as lovers.

Not only that, this was also their first night living together.

It still surprised her that her father had approved of this. She may not have been the heiress anymore, but she was still a member of the Hyuga. She was still the firstborn to the Clan Head. Hinata could never tell what her father was thinking.

She remembered when their relationship was first discovered. There had been disapproval from all sides of her life. The most coming from the clan itself. They had called him the Devil, saying it would bring omen to the clan if their relationship was not severed. Being with a member of the Uchiha was seen as a sin by them. They were the Hyuga’s biggest rivals, a rivalry that still lasted to this day despite there only being one member alive. Though she didn’t care for their approval, Hinata still held some respect for her father. He may have been strict and harsh with her, but he was still her father. Thus, she wanted at least for him to approve of their relationship.

He did not to no surprise.

But he did not try to force Hinata to break up with him. He had allowed her to pursue him despite the disapproval from the clan. Or rather, he did not interfere with them.

Until they had brought up moving in together.

“ Look at me.”

She looked at him once more.

His fingers ran through her hair. She could feel the heat that lingered on even after he had stopped. Afterwards, Sasuke laid his head next to hers.

“ I’m nervous too you know,”

This caused Hinata to laugh.

“ You’re the one who asked father to marry me!”  

Now it was Sasuke’s turn to blush.  

Marriage.

Her father had been against the idea of her moving out with Sasuke. An unmarried woman living alone with a man was not something the Hyuga would have normally approved of. It was seen as a scandal by the elders. It was only until Sasuke had brought up marriage did they finally approve of it.

However, in truth, Hinata had never thought about getting married. It wasn’t that she did not want to, rather it just had never crossed her mind. After all, their relationship was a strange one.

“ Do you really want to marry me?”  She suddenly asked.

Sasuke looked at her with a serious expression.

“ Yes, I do. I was serious when I proposed this to your father. I never thought of being with anyone else. I want to be with you and start a family with you. Maybe not now, but once we’re ready, I would like to. ”

She looked at him, letting their eyes meet. It surprised her that he had even thought about furthering along their relationship. From the time she had met him until now, Hinata had never expected anything from him. She had been the one to seek him out for reasons of her own. Yet, now it seemed that he was the one pursuing her.

Hinata couldn’t help but smile.

“ I do too.” She finally said.

She stretched her hand out onto the bed, indicating that she wanted him to hold it. The warmth of his hand felt nice on hers. It made her feel calm and at peace. Without needing any words, they both knew this was the best way for them to sleep tonight. After all, it was their first night together. They had plenty of time to get more intimate with each other.

“ Do you think I would be a good father?”

Hinata looked at him in surprise. It seemed that they both had heads full of random thoughts tonight.

“ I do.”

There was no hesitation in her voice. She didn’t need to question it. Sasuke was a unique person. He had experienced a lot for a person his age, more so than any others their age, and he had survived. He had grown over time into someone who was admirable, despite the rumors that the villagers still whispered when he passed by. He was strong, intelligent, and held a subtle kindness that most people did not see. It was why she had fallen in love with him.  

She could hear him sigh in relief.

“ Let’s sleep now.” He said.

She nodded in response. Though she was still nervous, Hinata felt a lot more relaxed after that conversation. Perhaps she would be able to sleep tonight after all. But as she felt her breathing slow down and her eyelids droop, she couldn’t help but ask him one more question.

“ By the way, Sasuke-kun?”

“ Yes?”

“ How many children would you want to have? If we did...start a family?”  She timidly asked.

Sasuke smirked at her.

“ About eight or nine,”

Hinata’s eyes widened as the blush on her cheeks returned in full red.

“ Eight or nine?! I-I’m n-not a pig you know!”

“ I know.”

Sasuke gave her a teasing look. She knew he was teasing her, but that didn’t stop her embarrassment.

“ H-how would we even t-take care of that many c-children?”

She could see the smirk on his face grow wider. Suddenly, he scooted closer to her until she could feel his lips gently kiss her forehead before bending his head to face hers. They were only a few inches apart now. His scent completely took over her senses. His dark eyes felt seductive as they stared into her innocent pale ones. It felt as if she couldn’t breathe again.

He really was much too handsome for his own good.

“ You’re not denying me. So you’re okay if we do make that many children?”

She felt her whole body turn red. Sasuke let out a chuckle.

“ Good night, Hinata.” He whispered before he finally fell asleep.

Hinata was left wide awake in embarrassment as her mind started to imagine many things. After quite some time, she let out a prolonged sigh. Really, he enjoyed teasing her a bit too much sometimes. If only she hadn’t asked him that question. Still, she couldn’t help but smile at the thought of starting a family with him.

After all, she couldn’t think of anyone else she would rather be with either.

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Three Hundred Forty-Nine: He Walked Past ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

Every day, without fail, Uchiha Sasuke walks to the training grounds on the outskirts of Konoha to practice the shinobi arts. He’s done so since his release from the hospital, and even before the massacre, his habitual training was intense for one his age. But as the years have passed, and his graduation date grows ever nearer, his hours at the dusty, well-worn swathes of ground have been growing.

...but he’s not the only one.

Since the loss of her title, Hinata has also called the training fields home more often than not. Her clan, of course, has several of the nicest dojos in the village, thanks entirely to their rather hefty coffers. The Hyūga want for very little, and their pride means investing in having the grandest of any comparable object.

But there’s a few reasons why Hinata prefers the training grounds of the village itself. Mostly is the privacy. No risk of being walked in on, and no feeling of being constantly watched: hard to avoid within the Hyūga compound...especially given that judgemental gazes have only increased upon her over the years since her defeat by Hanabi.

Partially, however, it’s a feeling of being...unremarkable. She’s hardly actually here alone, after all - plenty of shinobi come and go through the multitudes of training spaces day by day. But here, she isn’t just the disgraced Hyūga ex-heiress. No...she’s just another Academy student here to practice her taijutsu, maybe some bukijutsu if she feels up to it. No one’s eyes linger on her, judging and sneering. Here, she’s unnoticed. Just how she wants it.

Sasuke, on the other hand...doesn’t have that respite. Instead, it’s here, among the rest of the village’s population, that he’s the most recognized.

The last of the Uchiha.

Even Hinata can’t help timid glances when he walks by, pausing in her routine to subtly follow him with her eyes. Unlike most of the girls in their class, she isn’t as charmed by his appearance or cold exterior. She’s never really understood why they seem to romanticise it. After all, she can still remember when they first met, when the Academy began that April several years ago. He’d been a bright, if not slightly shy boy eager to learn, and full of hope for a future as a shinobi like his brother and father.

...but now, his only drive is vengeance born of a loss so monumental, Hinata doesn’t even dare pretend to comprehend it.

...why the other girls suddenly found him so alluring once he’d suffered so much...she just can’t understand.

Of course, she has her own fallacies in logic: like trailing after a boy who wants nothing to do with her. But she can’t help but find Naruto’s resistance inspiring. While she only knows bits and pieces of why he’s so alone...she also knows that - in spite of it all - he keeps his head up. And with her own challenges to face, and her own insecurities to overcome...she can’t help but idolize him.

Him. Not his losses. It’s about his perseverance, his tenacity, his refusal to let what ails him drag him down into their depths...as she’s so often felt tempted to do.

But that’s not how the girls see Sasuke. They don’t offer sympathy, or empathy. They all want something from him. Attention, affection...neither of which he seems in any way wanting to give. Their shallow vying for his time grates on her...but she’s never had the courage to say anything. Sakura, Ino...they’re popular. Loud. Assured. If they were to turn on her...well, it wouldn’t be pretty. And Hinata already has the weight of her clan’s disappointment resting on her shoulders. She’s not sure she can bear much more.

All of this goes through her head as he goes by, her stance losing its rigidity and instead just...wilting loosely, somberly. It’s all so unfair, isn’t it…?

...but what can she do? What can any of them do? Children with burdens beyond their means tied to their ankles as they try to stay afloat. Those like Ino...those like Sakura...they don’t know that weight. And though Hinata finds herself frustrated with them...she could never wish that knowing upon them.

It would be cruel.

“Oi.”

Startled from her thoughts, Hinata actually staggers back half a step, heart leaping up her throat with a gasp. Wide, pearly eyes stare openly at her addresser.

It’s...Sasuke?

“S...Sasuke-kun…?”

“You have the Byakugan, right?”

“Um...y-yes…?” Why does her reply sound more like a question? He’s never really spoken to her directly before.

“I need your help.”

Blinking, she watches him turn around and start walking, not even giving her a chance to acquiesce. Not...that she has any reason not to, but he seems to just assume she’ll help.

After a brief pause...she follows.

He leads her to a training ground several over from her own. Like her typical spot, it’s partially nestled in the treeline, hidden from most angles (and other training nin). It’s a spot with several targets set into the trees for kunai and shuriken training. “I was trying a new technique that got out of hand. Several of my knives went off-course, and I’m having trouble finding them in the underbrush. Can you see them?”

There’s a moment to take in his words. They’re so...blunt and to the point. It reminds her of her father’s speech, wasting no time and inflected with little to no emotion. “...um...I-I should be able to…” Taking a steadying breath, she lets chakra build, rushing to the pathways leading to her eyes, which swell with energy as her dōjutsu activates.

Immediately, the world is shifted into an inverted black and white, images and energies outlined and layered. Without moving her eyes in her sockets, Hinata scans the area.

There’s...actually a lot of random gear out here. Kunai, shuriken, senbon...even a sai blade lost and abandoned in the overgrowth. Hinata can’t help but blink in surprise.

“...well?”

“Um...there’s q-quite a few. I...I’m not sure which are yours? There’s...weapons everywhere…”

That gets him to frown. “...really?”

“Yes, a-all sorts. Um...I guess I’ll just...s-show you the kunai…”

“Wait.”

She pauses.

“...we can pick it all up. Someone might get hurt.”

Shock holds her in place for a long moment. He...he wants to…? But it’ll take much longer than just finding what he’s lost.

Understanding then gets her to soften.

...maybe parts of him are still the same.

“...all right.”

With Hinata’s eyes and both of their hands, they scavenge up every piece of equipment in the area, ending up with a rather impressive pile. Some has been here so long, it’s all rusted over. The pair bend over their hoard curiously before glancing to each other.

“...w-what should we do with all of this…?”

Sasuke seems to mull it over. “...dunno.” He reaches in, taking up a few senbon, having already claimed the kunai he recognized. “Is there someone we can tell about all this? People might be looking for their gear...or at least someone might be able to use most of this if no one claims it.”

“T-that’s true. Um…” Reaching into her leg pouch, Hinata withdraws a scroll gifted by one of Neji’s teammates. “We could seal it in here, and t-take it to the administration building.”

“You know about seals?”

“Just...just a little bit.” Tenten hasn’t exactly given her private lessons, given the strained relationship between the cousins. “It’ll be easier than carrying it all by hand.”

After a short while sealing up all the blades, needles, and stars, Hinata stands awkwardly for a moment. Is she...supposed to take it by herself? Or is he going to invite himself along? There isn’t much left to do but turn it in, and...surely he wants to get back to training.

“I don’t know what department to take it to…”

“M-me neither. Is there...a lost and found?”

“No idea...guess we can ask.”

‘We’. Not ‘you’, implying she won’t be going alone. Well...all right then. Scroll in hand, Hinata just...makes her way back toward the village and into the administration building. An obliging chūnin listens to their story, and he points them to a desk for missing items.

“So, this is all unsorted weaponry?”

“Y-yes. We, um...we found it all in the training grounds. Some might not be...worth anything. But we didn’t want it to injure anyone unaware.”

The attendant tucks it away after giving the scroll a label. “Good thinking, you two. We try to do sweeps for lost or forgotten supplies, but things always get missed. Guess we might have to start relying on some Hyūga to help!”

At that, Hinata goes a bit pink, bowing sheepishly as they retreat, deed done.

“Thanks for the help.”

“Y...you’re welcome. I’m glad we found them, and...all that other stuff.”

“Least the lady seemed happy about it. And no students will fall and hurt themselves on a dropped blade.”

“That, um…” Hinata pauses, seeing him glance to her. “...that was a g-good idea.”

“Just trying to think ahead.”

...an awkward silence blooms.

“W...well, you probably want to get back to training, so…”

“Not heading back?”

“It, um...it’s getting a little late. I don’t want to get in trouble.” She avoids directly mentioning her father, conscious of how it might make Sasuke feel. “I can always go back tomorrow.”

“Mm…” He hums in response before adding, “...I’ll probably see you there.”

“Y...yeah.”

“Maybe one of these days we could spar.”

“...eh?”

“Never gone up against someone who can use Jūken,” he replies, a hint of a grin on his face. “Might be...interesting.”

At that, Hinata can’t help but go a little pink. “I...I’m not the b-best at it…”

“Then consider it practice. If you want.”

She hesitates...but then nods. “...a-all right.”

“Cool. See you then, Hyūga.”

“Y...you can call me Hinata!” she calls after him, earning nothing but a wave over his shoulder.

...well, that wasn’t how she expected today to go.

                                                     .oOo.

     I keep telling myself to make these a little shorter to make it a little easier...and yet I keep overshooting my word count goal xD      Anyway, some canon verse stuff! Genin era (or...right before it) cuz I love writing them as kiddos. This'd probably be in my team seven!Hinata AU. I just...I'm thirsty for Sasuke and Hinata interacting in canon. Like at all. YOU LEFT ME HANGING, KISHI.      ...*sighs*      Anywho, I gotta get to bed, so...that's all for now - thanks for reading!

[kusunogatari-a]

[ SasuHinaMonth Day Twenty-Two: ANBU ] [ @sasuhinamonth ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Uchiha Itachi ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ]

He’d considered the position, once upon a time. After his return to Konoha, what with his brother rejoining the corps, Sasuke thought that ANBU may have been a proper outlet. Dangerous missions, masked faces, and a direct hand in stopping the greatest threats to the village he’s determined to reshape.

...but in the end, he’s glad he didn’t.

In truth, he wouldn’t have minded the role. But his current path - reforming and revamping the police force - is closer to his most critical goal. That being ensuring that the village soaked in his clan’s blood stays on a better path that he and Itachi started. While his brother and the rest of the ANBU black ops confront the hidden threats, he and the rest of the police tackle that in plain sight. He interacts directly with the villagers, regaining the trust he’s lost...and rekindling his love of the village proper. Not its dark politics or string-pullers...but the people. Those who make the heart and soul of Konoha.

Besides...if he didn’t...he wouldn’t have met her.

Well...re-met her. They weren’t the best of friends, but he knew Hinata from a young age. Hard not to as main family members of major clans, especially with their similar roots and abilities. And as the same age, they’d attended the Academy together. But there’d never been that push or pull toward each other then.

And in all honesty, he hasn’t really intended it now, either.

Despite her prior position as heiress, Hinata is now mostly a regular Hyūga clan member. Advisor to her sister alongside her cousin, she’s mostly your typical shinobi. But when Sasuke brings forth the idea of their alliance extending into his plans to rebuild the police force, she takes the plan to heart...and signs up herself.

“You sure this is what you want?”

“What do you mean?”

Sasuke nods his head toward the other gathered Hyūga currently speaking with his cousin. “...this. It’s a far cry from shinobi work, honestly.”

“Well, what about you? What makes you want to do this?”

A dark eye blinks, his Rinnegan hidden under his slanted hitai-ate. “...it’s what my family did. And I think it’s a good idea - help give the village more internal structure for law enforcement.”

“Oh…” Apparently she wasn’t expecting that answer. “...I guess I...saw you as more of an ANBU sort.”

“You’re not the first person to make that suggestion. And I doubt you’ll be the last.”

“Are you...against it?”

“No. I just think this will get me closer to what I want.”

“Which is…?”

...didn’t he just tell her?

Hinata’s head tilts, looking to him with those pale eyes of hers. “...are those really the only reasons…?”

“What does it matter to you?”

“Well, if you’re going to do this...you should take it seriously. Which I can see you are. It just seems like an undertaking that would take more...motivation than that, is all. You don’t owe me any answers, Sasuke-kun. But...if my clan and I are going to be working with you, shouldn’t we know what we’re getting into, and why?”

He heaves a soft breath. “...it’s true, ANBU do a lot of good in keeping the village safe from the outside...but I want to do something more...internal. At first I thought that meant being Hokage, but...I don’t think I’m a leader. Not on that scale, at least. What I want…” He trails off, gathering his thoughts. “...when we dissolved the old council - took away their power - we made a huge internal change. It’s now up to Kakashi and his administration to build on that. I guess...I want to start small. Work from the inside out. It’s true, there will always be shadowy places and people in the hidden villages. And my brother is managing them. I could join him, true…”

Sasuke looks to the other Hyūga. “...I guess I just want something more...real. More...tangible. Observable. Konoha is more than its most powerful, influential people. I could be one of them...but I want to take that and use it to work on the rest.”

Waiting to be sure he’s done talking, Hinata smiles. “...I think that’s an admirable goal. You have a point...there’s not a lot done on a basic level in the village. Sure, genin do bits and pieces...but most shinobi handle affairs outside Konoha. Maybe it’s time we have some dedicated to what happens inside.”

He nods...and then asks, “What about you? Why give up normal missions for something like this?”

“Hm…” Considering that for a long moment, she replies, “...I think, for reasons similar to yours. I have diplomacy training - even if I’m not heiress anymore, it was still required of me. I know how to talk with people - ensure things go smoothly. And...civilians need that when face to face with those who uphold the law, right…?” Her lips lift. “I’m used to dealing with my clan. I think that, and my abilities, would make me a decent officer, don’t you think? I can stop what happens...but also address the other details, too.

“As for a why...I just think that will be more useful in the long run. It’s true, we lost many shinobi in the war...but so too has the demand for us declined since the war’s end. The world is changing. Maybe roles like this are more suitable. More...important. Those like ANBU are still necessary, but...maybe someday, they won’t be.”

Sasuke gives a soft snort. “Job security it is, then?”

Hinata replies with a look.

“Not cut out for ANBU yourself, are you?”

“...no. I don’t think I could do missions like that. I understand that what they do needs to be done, but...it just all feels a little beyond me. I prefer what’s out in the open. You know?”

“...yeah.”

Silence falls for a time.

“...well, I guess it’s good we’ve got our alternative, huh?”

She smiles. “It is. I’m excited to get started! But also a little nervous...strange, isn’t it? You’d think after a war like the last, nothing could really phase us. But...I don’t know. It’s still a little daunting.”

“Hn...our scale of normal might be a little skewed after all that, but we’re still human. Still have our own doubts and fears. But you’ll do fine - you’re a capable shinobi. This work might have a slightly different tone to it, but something tells me it’s right up your alley.”

“Oh...well, thank you. I guess there’s only one way to find out, huh?”

His only reply is a nod.

While the work they garner in the months that follow is nothing as prestigious or respected as others, the pair find themselves immersed in just what they wanted. It’s not long before the new police force builds a shining reputation, the combined clans’ efforts rewarded as civilians and officers foster a mutual respect and camaraderie. Konoha’s streets have scarcely been safer, nor its people as content.

“It looks like the UHPF is doing fine work.”

Turning to his brother, Sasuke lifts a brow. “Heard that, did you?”

“I did indeed.”

“Funny, never hear much about yours.”

Itachi chuckles, ruffling Sasuke’s already-untameable locks. “...I think that’s as it should be, don’t you think?”

“...guess you’re right.”

     Word count: 1222      Cumulative: 28,198      Blugh, this prompt gave me trouble. While I do like the idea of Sasuke in ANBU, I don’t really have a verse for it, nor Hinata. So I struggled with how to incorporate this prompt. Tbh I’m...not too fond of this piece, but it had to get done. I’m already behind OTL So, apologies if that sort of came through in the writing, but I don’t think I could have done much better with this particular prompt =/      Probably won’t get today’s piece done today - too much to do otherwise, on top of a headache. But I’ll do my best to catch up when I can~

[bouncyirwin]

Recent Great Naruto Fics I’ve Read List

Seeing as the actual series now suck... here’s a list of the fics/one shots I’ve recently read (past year) that you might enjoy, have fun xx

Warning: List contains all kinds of pairings. Some stories have no pairings at all (those are labelled as General). 

Directions: story name - author - summary - status - pairing/gen - rating

Pulling My Weight by Invisible Shadow - During the mission to Wave, Sakura realises that she has to become a better ninja for her teammates' sake and be someone they can depend on. She vows to take her training seriously, and receives help from the most unlikely of sources; Genma Shiranui. The two form an unlikely bond and stick together through thick and thin, while Sakura improves and meets other people along the way. Ongoing | General so far | T | This story is fucking amazing

A Wrinkle in Time by rightforlife - The Fourth Shinobi War ended in disaster. They won, but at a price too great to bear. Given a second chance, what exactly can Konoha's three most powerful men do? Time travel, old enemies, and old friends that all leads to a new future. Ongoing | General | T

The Colder Water by Quillslinger - The devil is in the details. Shisui. Itachi. A sorta love story. Novella. Complete (52,784) | ShiIta | T 

Uneasy Coexistence by DeGlace - One grinning shark–man. One pink–haired medic. Ankles. Teeth. Kisame x Sakura. Yes, you read that right. Complete (70,111) | KisaSaku | M

Blind Stars of Fortune by 100demons - Thirty year old Kakashi was supposed to have been killed by Pein during the Invasion. Instead, he wakes up in the body of his twenty year old self. (It gets a lot more complicated.) Time travel. Complete (78,591) | General | T

To Promise Forever by Hellsig Otoupeim - The war's over, Kaguya has been defeated and the five great Shinobi Nations have gone back to their homelands to nurse the wounds left behind. In an attempt to preserve peace, the five Kage have agreed to implement in a new measure; war veterans between villages are encouraged to take part in the Five Nation Letter Exchange Program. Or how a girl from Kiri ends up in Konoha. Sly AU. Complete (14,442) | ShikakuOC | M

Heart Under a Blade by fineillsignup - Sitting on a bench after being told by Sasuke-kun that she's annoying, Sakura thinks that it's the worst day of her life. Lying in the hospital wanting to hurl from heat suppressants later that day and grappling with the revelation that she's an omega, Sakura knows that it's the worst day of her life. (ABO, extremely slow build). Ongoing | KakaSaku | M

Phantom Pains by mapplepie - There is something going on with Kakashi, but Minato can't figure out what. All he has are distressing deductions, each one progressively worse than the last. It's no wonder Minato can't help but fear and fear and fear. (To be fair though, it really wasn't his fault he never considered the possibility of time-travel). Complete (22,153) | General | T

A Twist in Time by Wolf08 - With Konoha on the verge of destruction, Sakura is sent on a last-resort mission to save her world by travelling to the past. Join her in coping with her old body's shortcomings, testing the natural laws of time, falling in love all over again, exploring the depths of her mind and rediscovering who she is. Time-travel.  Ongoing | SasuSaku | T | I don’t even like SS anymore (I almost hate them) but this is my favourite fic ever.

Deadly Decisions by Alrissa - Haruno Sakura that actually caught a glimpse of the real world and woke up to smell the blood. Basically a 'what if' preview of what could have happened if Sakura didn't revert after the Chuunin exams. No princess to be rescued here. Complete (17,819) | General | M

Contagious by rabid behemoth - Konoha's citizens are being controlled by a virus, and it falls on Sakura's shoulders to save them. A double agent among the most hostile, unrepentant criminals in the world, she finds herself navigating between competing loyalties in a sea of moral uncertainty. But that's impossible for a faithful Leaf nin like Sakura. Loyalties aren't contagious...right? Complete (119,552) | ItaSaku | T

The Lives Worth Saving by cywsaphyre - Naruto, at 26, has lived through 10 years of war. At the end, with nothing left to call home, he sends himself back to the beginning, to the day of his younger self's graduation, in an attempt to change it all. Time travel AU. Discontinued | General | T | best time travel fic I’ve ever read

Kill Your Heroes by Evil Is A Relative Term - Because, sometimes, we are what our adversaries make of us. Because Gatō only needed Zabuza to neutralize Kakashi. He isn't afraid of one little pink-haired genin. But even mice will bite when cornered. A story of where fear drives the most vulnerable member of Team Seven, from Wave and beyond. Ongoing | General | T

I Found You Missing by Wolfy Tales - 'They're asking us because these soldiers have absolutely no one left to write home to,' Sakura thought with a frown. So she signs up for the Shinobi Letter Exchange, not realizing how large the consequences would be. Complete (18,586) | KakaSaku | T

Teach Your Children Well by AvocadoLove - After Madara final attack on the village, Rokudaime Kakashi uncovers a time-travel scroll. Now he's Team Seven's sensei again. And this time, he's going to do things differently. A time travel fic. Complete (37,849) | KakaIru | K+

The Arrangement by Yuugiri - "We're already getting along bad enough. Why don't we just get married?" Complete (111,453) | GaaIno | T

Sabotage by therealesther - When her fifth date got food poisoning, and her sixth date cancelled in over the phone in a tone bordering on hysteria, Sakura decided things were getting out of hand. Complete (1,637) | KakaSaku | K+

To Love and to Love Again by animequeen100 - Love blooms even in the strangest of places, and darkest of hours. Sasuke has a daughter who needs a mother. Sakura has a son, who needs a father. When the shadows that follow her threaten to take her away from him, his dark secrets resurface to keep her in his arms. They were fated to love and destined to love again. Complete (401,061) | SasuSaku | M

The Good Wife by ReiraKurenai - Sixteen-year-old Ino is stuck in the body of her older self. Now she must embark on the journey of an adult, a wife and a mother while deep down she's still just a child herself. What does the future have in store for her? NarutoxIno and various pairings. Ongoing | NaruIno | T

Ripples by Yellow Mask - AU from 309 onwards. Following a botched mission, Sakura is made a slave by Sound, a position that could very well alter the future…especially concerning a certain familiar missing-nin. Complete (143,883) | SasuSaku | T

Set in Ink by TappityTap - "From then on, it became their own private ritual: She'd arrive at his place, they'd talk, she'd undress, he'd draw her, she'd look at his work and compliment it, he'd touch her until she quivered and cried out his name in a sweet burst of release. This ritual was always the same but somehow different and exciting every time. " Pure SaiIno smut. Some canon pairings mentioned. Complete (7,422) | SaiIno | M

The Cursed Geisha by wingedmercury - He's beautiful, in the same way that predatory animals are beautiful—dark, mysterious. Dangerous. Only this time, instead of being the predator, Sasuke will learn what it means to be prey. AU. Complete (43,612) | SasuHina | M

Will of Fire by Cynchick - Forced to flee their village and the new regime, the loyal shinobi of Konoha must find a way to preserve their way of life and take back their home. As they fight for their future, Team Seven struggles to overcome the past. Complete (223,234) | KakaSaku | M

The Secret Life of Teachers by tabine - Romance is a bit difficult to do when you spend a majority of your time within fifty feet of the object of your affections and somehow still don't quite understand that you're falling in love with them, if only because being a full-time high school teacher while taking graduate school courses takes precedence over everything else. A Nejiten high school teachers AU. Ongoing | NejiTen | T

The Line by livezinshadowz - When a young Ino tries to use the Shintenshin for the first time on Naruto, something goes wrong and the two find themselves temporarily stuck in the other's body. A series of moments depicting the evolution of their relationship, from acquaintances to friends to something more, all by crossing that metaphorical line created when a boy and a girl forge a bond. Complete (46,692) | NaruIno | T

In Another Life by CelestialCircumference - Kakashi never believed in soul mates until that fateful day. Written for HatakeFran for the KakaSaku Secret Santa 2016 on tumblr. Complete (18,350) | KakaSaku | T

House of Crows by SilverShine -  War is coming to Konoha and Sakura is far from home, uncertain of her future. But one thing is for sure, Sakura will protect her unborn child at all costs, whether it be from Konoha's enemies... or from its own father. Complete (400,508) | KakaSaku | M

Better Off Dead by wingedmercury - When Hinata leaves Konoha, heartbroken but resolute, the last person she expects to see over the rim of her tea cup is him. "You look like you've just seen a ghost," he smirks, and Hinata thinks that some people are just better off dead. Complete (68,768) | SasuHina | T

The Song Of Kakashi by ZatannaZatara06 -��If you want forever, you are going to have to suffer for it. For the KakaSaku Week 2016 Day 2 Theme: Fairy tales / Legends Myth: The story of Achilles and Patroclus. Complete (2,472) | KakaSaku | T

Kunoichi's Burden: Village First by lilac haze - She was dying. She should have died. She was supposed to die but the Gods had other plans. Sakura is thrown back in the past, where a dangerously attractive blonde and a loud mouthed redhead have taken it upon themselves to make her life even more difficult. If Naruto's parents didn't get together, kami, she would be in a lot of trouble. MinatoXSakura. Time travel-fic. Complete (378,854) | MinaSaku | T

On a Leash by thekatthatbarks - Kakashi's new puppy ends up being his best wingman. Complete (1,082) | KakaSaku | T

House Calls by Spoiled Sweet - Always the Team Mom, Sakura opens up her home as a clinic for the hospital-phobic ninja of Konoha. At the same time, her relationship with Kakashi begins to evolve in a way she never expected. Complete (262,803) | KakaSaku | M

Things You Just Don’t Talk About by Enodia - "Do you enjoy sex?" Shikamaru asked bluntly. I just can't believe I'm talking about this, and with Shikamaru, of all people, Sakura thought." Sakura is in for a surprise. Or, rather, a series of surprises. Complete (118,175) | ShikaSaku | M

Players by Kukaburraxxii - Ino joins the league of players. Discontinued | GenIno | M

Heatwave by Yahboobeh - When she found her breath again it was ragged. Only one thought tore through her mind: Consume me. The Suna sun wasn't the only reason their faces burned. Ongoing | NejiTen | M

The Art of War by leafygirl - Entry for the LJ Kakasaku AU contest. Sakura gets stuck following her teacher after a bet with her friends. But his mysterious life is nothing she ever expected. Complete (20,591) | KakaSaku | T

The Shinobi Princess by Winged Lady Colette - At the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Sakura takes an unexpected trip into the time of Konoha's Founding. Ongoing | HashiSaku | M

Dawning by deleria - After years of silence the Akatsuki are active again. Her allies uncertain, the Godaime sends two teams - one for a potential offensive strike and another for covert surveillance. Who would have guessed that Shikamaru and Sakura could fake it as newlyweds so well? ShikaSaku with early (one-sided) hints of SasuSaku. Complete (101,994) | ShikaSaku | M

Genius Sensei by AlexDnD - What if Kakashi had recovered from his deep depression? What if he turned out to be a true genius as a sensei? Watch as team 7 develops into a truly capable shinobi team! Complete | NaruSaku-ish | T | A fun read

We Are Never (ever getting back together) by natanije - In which Sakura waited, got tired of waiting, and decided to never wait ever again. (Or, in which Sakura never chased after Sasuke when she got pregnant). Complete (2,592) | General | T

A Poor Imitation by leafygirl - Sakura is injured on a mission, forgetting everything she knew of life in Konoha. Complete (88,913) | KakaSaku | M

The Girl From Whirlpool by SilverShine - When Naruto's father met his mother, his only impression was that a village out there must have been missing its idiot. Complete (248,299) | MinaKushi | T

The Way of the Wind by just enough - ANBU Captain Uchiha Itachi had things well planned out, until a medic-nin with ridiculous hair went and made herself interesting. Sakura insisted she was just doing her job, but Itachi didn't quite see it that way. Non-massacre. Complete (158,542) | ItaSaku | M

Cause for Conversation by firefly - Hinata has always been intimidated by Sasuke, but when she serves as a substitute for Sakura on a mission, she comes to learn that the stoic Uchiha is not so bad after all. Complete (4,858) | SasuHina | K+

The Price by Nenagh24 - This would have almost been hilarious, the renowned copy ANBU almost petrified of a small unarmed girl, had it not been happening to him. The price of this tiny bride was going to break him. Hello, fiery flames of eternal doom. Complete (19,067) | KakaSaku | T

Better Having Met You by KakashiSauce - Tenzou is wide-eyed, bright faced and unprepared for the ANBU life ahead of him. MOSTLY because of the unorthodox team he's placed into. However, it was done in his best interest, and Hiruzen is smart enough to know what is best for most young shinobi. Kakashi disagrees, but he is one of those young shinobi who doesn't know whats best for him. Ongoing | KakaYama | M

Icha Icha Gambit by TheSilverScarecrow - It was a risk; one that could potentially ruin their team, however, who was Hatake Kakashi to argue with the Hokage? But when a never to be finished Icha Icha draft falls into his possesion things start getting wildly out of hand as Sakura does whatever it takes to protect their village from a devastating weapon. Ongoing | KakaSaku | M

Nutrire by Wolfy Tales - As Ino traverses the world with Yamato after the war to neutralize potential threats, she finds out that they share more in common than just an interest in plants. Complete (32,251) | YamaIno | T

Let's Get Married by luvtoshi - It was supposed to be a simple solution to their immediate problems. But maybe they took more than they can chew? Complete (59,760) | NaruSaku | M

Hot Medicine by Saphri - Kakasaku one-shot. AU. Fighting fires was a tough job by all accounts. But when the job requires getting treated by beautiful pink haired paramedics it was worth the hardship. Complete (26,05) | KakaSaku | M

A Noble in Secret by WhiteMint - Side story to the Imperial Princess. C originally hated the people of Konoha, often referring to them as "Konoha dogs". But as he got to know the small pink haired girl who followed him around like a puppy, he no longer considered the term as maliciously as before. After all, he found his own little Konoha dog, and he planned on keeping her. Ancient Chinese AU. Complete (4,420) | CSaku | K+

Cherry Blossom Flames by Winged Lady Colette - A seven year old amnesiac awoke in a stream, being rescued by two brothers.  Ongoing | MadaSaku | M

Adaline by Nikki1212 - I would choose you in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I would find you and I would choose you. AU. Ongoing | KakaSaku | T

Tempest by cywsaphyre - Back in time and armed with years of future knowledge, Sakura is ready to take the world by storm. Except... she's four again, not twelve. Ah well, nobody said she couldn't start a little early. Gen, time travel, AU, Sakuracentric. Discontinued | General | T

All This Time by thekatthatbarks - "I may not have fell like you did. I didn't fall gradually and slow over the span of twenty years. It was fast and sudden. It had me stumbling looking around trying to figure out where I was. I didn't even know it had happened." Complete (2,472) | ShikaSaku | K+

Team 8 by S’TarKan - What if Naruto had been selected for a different team? What if he'd had a different mentor? Who would guess the consequences would be so large? Ongoing | NaruHina | T | I don’t even like NaruHina anymore but this story is amazing (plot-oriented)

Better Man by Kakashisgf - Sakura and Sasuke have been married for over a decade, but things are far from perfect, and Sakura's beginning to realize that maybe she deserves better. Complete (179,759) | KakaSaku | M

Dirty Laundry by Slinkymilinky - Sakura had never been a fan of airing her dirty laundry in public…but Kakashi was often the exception to the rule. Lemony Oneshot. Complete (6,593) | KakaSaku | M

Time and Again by KyLewin - Time Travel fic. In a war torn future, in the burning ruins of Konohagakure, Naruto fights Orochimaru and loses as the world collapses around him. From that ending comes a new beginning and a new chance to set things right, if only he can figure out how.. Complete (456,787) | General | T

The Samurai and the Oni Girl by Silberias - AU KakaSaku set in Edo-period Japan. Sakura is the descendant of a red-haired foreigner as well as a merchant's daughter. Kakashi is a local samurai who has fallen on hard times, a man whose pride has been broken down to this point. Love comes after. Complete (131,644) | KakaSaku | T

Chippendales by Voyna - [AU] Sometimes, a girl needs a lap-dance to put life into perspective. Complete (15,645) | SasuHina | M

Once More, With Feeling by JinnySkeans - Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. Complete (127,462) | SasuSaku | M

In Case of Blue Scroll by Leola Majora - In Case of Blue Scroll the Hokage must lock himself in his office and pull his hair out as what he thought were memories of a long lost love turn out to be the memories of a mission he was about to assign his former student, Sakura Haruno. Complete (48,635) | KakaSaku | M

[I’ll update this again soon!]

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ @sasuhinamonth || SasuHina Month 2019 || Day Twenty-Two: Invisible ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina, NaruSaku ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

She’s never been one to stand in the foreground. All her life, Hinata has been the classic wallflower. Quiet, reclusive, introverted...never trying to take up space. While she had her own goals and ambitions, they were mostly kept to herself, quietly striving to be like those who inspired her. Those far braver, far more heroic, more destined to be in the spotlight.

And even as she grew, Hinata didn’t mind fading to the background. It was quiet and free of the drama that so often seemed to follow her more popular friends around. Those like Ino and Sakura always had something going on. Something to complain about. And while Hinata had her share of problems, they were her own: not really anything to gossip or gripe about. While they got more attention overall, Hinata - at the time - only wanted it from one person.

...too bad she never got it.

Even after the war, after Pein...Hinata never grew from her background position. Naruto followed the classic trope so many teams fell into: the ratio of couples forming from teams was rather high. Neji and Tenten, Naruto and Sakura. Exceptions were those like Ino and herself. While Hinata adored her teammates...they were always more like brothers. Protective, motivating, and someone to confide in, seek reassurance from. But none ever gave her that spark Naruto had. But he, like so many others, never saw her.

It was like...she was invisible. At least...to those she thought mattered.

Over time, she questioned what she’d felt for the village hero. Had it just been reverence she mistook for affection? Had the line blurred into something she’d assumed was love? It was honestly hard to tell...and had her second guessing herself as the war passed.

And then, well...Naruto made his choice. And she was happy for them! Really, truly, she was. A pang still crept into her heart when she saw them, but...both were her friends. And in her mind, the best gift one could ask for was happiness for one’s friends.

...but it left her in a rather awkward place. Everyone knew of her prior reverence for the jinchūriki. While the pair did their best to invite her along as a friend when they could, it was also clear they censored themselves for her sake. And she didn’t want them to have to walk on eggshells as her acceptance of the situation helped fade the ache.

...but she wasn’t the only one.

True, Sasuke held no scorned feelings for either of his teammates, but...he was still left awkwardly behind them. The rift that grew between him and the rest of his team after all that had happened left him, too, in a rather...delicate position.

It became one of the things they growingly had in common.

It also meant a natural gravitation. Whenever the other pair had them along, Sasuke and Hinata were left to mostly entertain themselves, Naruto and Sakura a bit too busy with each other to notice much of anything else. And yet, as time went on...that suited them just fine. The more time the pair spent together - at first in an awkward, yet companionable silence - the more they realized the parallels between them. In their pasts, their families, their very natures. Like two long separated puzzle pieces, they just...fit. And becoming friends was practically natural.

Which meant little went unnoticed.

“...why do you still do that?”

“Hm?” Heeding the question, Hinata glances from her idle watching of their friends to Sasuke. “Do what?”

“Look at him like that?”

That earns a small jolt. “Like...l-like what?”

“Like that. Like…” Sasuke gestures vaguely. “...like you’re still pining. I thought you were long over that knucklehead.”

“I-I am! I don’t...I don’t feel that way about him anymore.” By now, the subject is one the pair have gone over before. “...I guess maybe a small shred of me might always feel that way, but...consciously, no. I don’t love Naruto-kun. Not...that way. I’ll always care about him. But...I know he’s happy. And I’m happy for him. For them both. That’s what matters.”

A small, curt sigh blows through the Uchiha’s nose. “...you shouldn’t stare off at someone that won’t ever see you.”

“I told you, I -”

“Because you deserve to be seen.”

His addendum cuts her off mid-retort, startling a bit. Deserve...to be seen? The notion actually brings her to silence. No one’s ever said something like that to her before. Sure, her teammates, her cousin, her sister...they all do their best to bolster her. And she’s grown much since her genin days when she and Sasuke last really knew each other. But something about the phrase feels...different.

...heavier.

Doe eyes look up to him in a mixture of curiosity and contemplation. He, in turn, watches her from the corner of his uncovered eye.

...seen...deserve to be...seen…

...is he…?

“Come on, they’re leaving.”

Again she jolts, watching as he steps up. The other pair have given up their window shopping, moving to another store. And Sasuke makes to follow, pausing to glance back to her inquiringly.

“...coming?”

Mind abuzz as she contemplates his meaning, she eventually eases into following, working up to a jog to keep up.

Maybe...she needs to realize what eyes just pass over her, and which ones truly see.

                                                             .oOo.

     Phew, first post back from my trip! Ngl it's a lil hard to get back in the habit, but hopefully I wasn't too rusty with this one xD      Poor Hinata, never catching the eye of the one she wanted. But it seems she's caught the one of someone who might be more what she needs ;3      Anywho, I'm still recooping from a v tiring trip, so I'll leave it there. Thanks so much for reading!

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Two Hundred Twenty-Six: On a Mission ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

Once he formed the police force, Sasuke knew he would rarely - if ever - go back to shinobi work. The force was exactly what he wanted. A steady schedule, working in the village he was determined to better. He got to work with the people that had come to shun him, rebuilding his reputation on his own, with honest labor...forging connections and earning the villagers’ trust. Especially the civilians.

But...his power is undeniable. Naruto may also be on his tier...but as he trains to take on the Hokage mantle, he’s not always as available as he once was to take charge and be the village hero.

So...every so often, Sasuke finds himself receiving a notice from the administration building regarding a mission they need him for. In truth...they make him weary. He’d much rather say no and keep to his work, but...well, there’s little refusing these kinds of pleads for help.

In the middle of a case file writeup one afternoon, he looks over his shoulder at a pecking against his office window. A messenger hawk with the typical Hokage seal on the message.

Kakashi.

Sighing and bringing the bird in, Sasuke unravels the message, absentmindedly stroking the avian’s feathers. Another mission...and his brow furrows at the second half.

Hyūga Hinata is to accompany him.

...well that’s interesting.

While Hinata is, admittedly, becoming a powerhouse among her peers...comparing her to himself or Naruto isn’t exactly fair. What could she be needed for in a mission of Sasuke’s apparent caliber…?

As a knock sounds, he gives an acquiescing grunt, glancing up to see none other than the Hyūga in question with a notation of her own. “...so, they sent you one too?” he mutters, lifting his letter.

“I guess they wanted to be sure they caught us.”

“A bit late in the day for a mission, but...well, guess we’ll see what’s going on.”

“We might be being briefed early so we can have time to prepare before leaning in the morning.”

Sasuke blinks. In truth...he knows little of Konoha mission protocol. It wasn’t like he went on many before...leaving. “...makes sense.”

Clocking out and giving the rest of the on-duty staff a heads up, the pair head towards the Hokage’s tower. “Any guesses what this will be?”

“No idea, really,” Hinata admits. “It could be anything, given the combination they’re going with. I’m built for tracking and recon...and you’re a powerhouse.”

They don’t have long to muse before reaching Kakashi���s office. On one side of the room, as per usual, is Shisui on his guard post. Shikamaru stands beside the desk, the pair talking and looking up as the two officers make their way in. “Ah, good timing,” the Rokudaime chirps, steepling his hands atop his desk. “We just got some more information regarding the mission you two have been assigned.”

Arms folding, Sasuke just asks, “Which is?”

“Always straight to the point, hm? All right, here’s our intel so far…” Kakashi’s aura loses its light and airy mood, sobering as he leans forward. “With Orochimaru confined to one of the hideouts, the rest were cleared out not long after the war. However...one has begun to show signs of activity. Orochimaru has assured us they have nothing to do with it, but...well, we need to tread carefully. While Konoha did work with the sannin to ensure all data and projects were taken care of, we can’t be sure Orochimaru was totally honest with us. It might just be raiders looking for trouble, or...it might be something more serious. Either way, we’re coordinating with the ANBU to monitor the situation.”

There’s a perked brow. So...Itachi and his officers will be there. That should be interesting. “...so why are we being dragged into it?” Sasuke asks. Surely the ANBU could handle a few rogues on their own.

“Hinata has the best ranged Byakugan in her clan, according to most sources. We want her to get close enough to examine the entire underground facility from the surface, and see what exactly is going on before we send anyone in. Your primary purpose is to protect her while she investigates from a distance. Then, if there’s something average going on, the ANBU will move in to clear things out. If it’s something beyond them…”

“...I’ll get to do the heavy lifting.”

“Precisely,” Kakashi replies, eyes closing with a smile.

“...seems pretty straightforward.”

“Fantastic. You have the rest of today to prepare, and you’ll be expected out at first light tomorrow.”

“You know more about Orochimaru than just about anyone,” Shisui cuts in, finally speaking. “One theory is that there might be some of his old experiments involved. After you killed them, reports said many of the places went dark, and the people held in the hideouts got loose, including those the snake sannin worked on. There’s no telling who might be coming back to either steal research, or exact revenge for all Orochimaru did to them. If there’s someone there with unknown abilities, best you handle it.”

“True enough,” Sasuke replies dryly.

“This is the map we were given of the facility,” Kakashi offers, holding out a scroll that Hinata accepts. “But there may very well be rooms unmarked or hidden. Keep your eyes peeled.”

She just nods curtly.

“With that, I give you leave to prepare. Rendezvous with the ANBU captain on site, and confer from there. He’ll be keeping us updated here - consider him your commanding officer.”

That earns a short snort from Sasuke. Taking orders from Itachi...lovely.

With nothing left to say, the pair are given their leave, discussing preparations as they go. Unraveling the map, Hinata lets Sasuke hover over her shoulder. “Huh...the eastern hideout.”

“You know it well?”

“Enough. That’s where Suigetsu was kept. A lot of experiments were handled there. I can see why it might be a target. They all had their uses and potential for raiding, but a lot of genetic work was done there specifically.”

Hinata considers that quietly, looking over the map. “...this seems rather...intricate.”

“They all were. It was meant to keep anyone wandering in from finding anything useful.”

Once home, the pair pack their supplies, keeping packs by the door. Easier to get up and going come morning. Otherwise, they spend the evening studying the mission details, and resting up before the trek to the hideout.

As they prepare to leave the next morning, Sasuke can’t help but reminisce a bit about the old missions he and his team took. Nothing like this of course, given they were still genin when the team disbanded...but most of his assignments since returning to Konoha have been solo. Having a partner will be a nice change of pace. Especially one he knows, trusts, and works with as well as Hinata.

Heading through the gate, they quickly set a decent pace, taking to the trees and leaping toward the mark on the map. For some reason, something nags at the back of Sasuke’s mind...but he shoves the thought aside. It’s going to be fine. There’s nothing he can’t handle...especially if his brother will be there as a backup with his own officers.

Hinata, a few miles out, activates her Byakugan and scouts out the ANBU captain’s location, leading them right to him. Eyes on the hideout entrance about fifty meters away, Itachi gives a glance as they arrive. “You made good time.”

“We always aim to please,” is the younger brother’s reply. “Any activity?”

“Nothing yet, but a sensor has been able to identify at least two dozen signatures inside. Hinata-san...if you would.”

Nodding, she turns to the base, letting her kekkei genkai activate once more. Without moving, she scans over the entire underground structure, occasionally bringing her gaze back to check against the map.

...then her brow furrows.

“...something wrong?” Sasuke asks, catching the change immediately.

“...I think…” Hesitating a moment, she points to a place blank on the scroll. “...there’s a room here.”

“Are you sure?”

“There’s...something. It’s odd, it’s like it’s resisting my kekkei genkai, but...something isn't right. It’s like...a strange static.”

The brother’s glance to one another. “...sounds like reason enough to head in,” Sasuke offers. “If Orochimaru withheld that information...there might be something there.”

“Especially if it’s hidden to a kekkei genkai like the Byakugan,” Itachi agrees. “...you go in first, start clearing a path. My officers and I will follow.”

“And Hinata?”

“Is likely safest with you. Besides, you need her to guide you to that room. Beyond clearing the base of the invaders, this is our new secondary objective.”

“Got it. Ready Hinata?”

“Ready.”

“...then let’s go”

                                                          .oOo.

     I'm sorry this ended on a cliffhanger, BUT it's getting very late, and I didn't want to go way overboard word count-wise. Sorry guys! I'll try to have a sequel soon.      This is actually a canon-ish scene from the fic that I'll likely never write, lol - aka A Light Amongst Shadows, what I call this verse. I've only written it once back in the original RP that inspired the story, but it's changed a good bit...and will likely change again if I ever DO write the fic. What could be lurking in the hideout...? We'll have to seeeee! :3c      Anywho, on that evil note, I need to head to bed lol - thanks for reading!

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day One Hundred Ninety: Who Took It? ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Uchiha Tenkai, Uchiha Chikyū ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

When Hinata wakes this particular morning, something just feels like it’s...missing. Opening pearly eyes, they blink blearily as she realizes it’s a rare day off for both herself, and her husband...hence the lack of the alarm waking them up for a day on the force.

And also why Sasuke’s arm is still slung over the dip of her waist.

For a moment her eyes scrunch back closed with a smile, indulging in the feeling of him so near...and the house so quiet. They’ve got two little ones, after all...which means there’s rarely a peaceful morning in the Uchiha-Hyūga household. She has to take what she can get, when she gets it.

But the day is going to get away from her if she’s not careful, so eventually she wriggles to her other side and gives Sasuke’s chin a nuzzle. “I think it’s about time we got up, ne?”

Eyes still closed, he gives a quiet grumble.

“As much as I love lying here with you...we’ve got things to do.”

Mismatched irises peek out from under Sasuke’s lids, peering at her flatly. “...guess you’re right.” But first, he gives her a squeeze, pulling her flush to him and grinning against her throat as she giggles warmly. “All right...I think I’m ready to get up now.”

Amused, Hinata disentangles herself, slipping out of bed and dressing as her husband does the same.

A quick glance with the Byakugan shows her their daughter is already up, playing quietly in her room as her brother snores on.

“So, going to take Tenkai sparring like you promised?” she asks Sasuke as her kekkei genkai relaxes.

“Maybe for a bit. Naruto wanted to meet up this afternoon, sounded important.”

There’s a small flicker of interest, but she knows he’ll explain afterward, once he has all the details. “...I think Chikyū and I might do some baking this morning.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve got the itch,” she replies with a smile. After all, she knows now what’s missing this morning: the smell of something sweet and freshly baked. “It’ll give her something to do while you guys are out.”

“Good point.”

Sasuke goes to rouse the kids as Hinata gets a start on breakfast, yawning a bit to herself in the groggy quiet of the house. Surely by now the other two houses in the Uchiha compound are waking, and it probably won’t be long before someone stops by. The extended family is rather tight-knit, after all: hard not to be after all the three surviving Uchiha have gone through. More often than not, Shisui steals breakfast from one of his cousins, and it’s not uncommon for any of Itachi’s children to swing through. After all, the elder pair are new genin, and always have stories to tell about their training with Mirai and sensei Shisui. The youngest, Tenkai’s age, always shows up to drag the pair of her cousins out to see their agemates whenever they’re not stuck in the Academy.

Overall, the Uchiha compound is fairly lively for only having the three homes and less than a dozen residents. Add in their visitors, and it seems there’s always something going on.

Soon enough the four gather at the table, offering, “Itadakimasu” before digging into their meal.

“So Tenkai, ready for some shuriken practice?” Sasuke asks, glancing to his son.

The boy perks up. “...yeah!”

“Can I go?” Chikyū asks.

“You can go with us once you start in the Academy next year,” her father assures her, smiling at her pout. “For now, you can stay here with your mother and get some things done around the house.”

“I thought we could bake something together!” Hinata offers with a smile.

After a moment to think, the girl nods.

“We won’t be long,” Sasuke assures them, helping to clean up before leading his son toward the village training grounds.

The feminine pair watch them go before exchanging a glance. “So...what should we make?” Hinata asks, loosely folding her arms.

Chikyū considers that. “...cinnamon buns…?”

Her mother gives a soft laugh: seems her favorite food is a family favorite. “Perfect! Come on, let’s get started.”

Together the pair prepare the dough, rolling it out and forming little buns to be placed into the oven. Always happy to spend time with her children, Hinata does her best to engage the quieter child. Chikyū has always been the sort to keep her thoughts to herself, and though Hinata finds that fine, she does her best to help her youngest feel included.

After all...she knows what it is to be the quiet, forgotten daughter.

Once the treats are in to bake, they clean up, and Hinata giggles at the flour in Chikyū’s hair. “Maybe we should clean up ourselves too, ne?”

Mother and daughter shower and bathe, damp hair left to dry as they hear the boys return home. “How did it go?” Hinata asks, smiling as she fetches the buns from the oven to cool.

“Good,” Sasuke affirms. “He’s improving steadily.”

Beside his father, Tenkai gives a pink-cheeked grin.

Pride glows through Hinata’s expression. “All right...I’ll go water the garden while these rest. You two better go take your baths now, hm?”

“Hai,” Tenkai agrees, covered in dust from the well-worn training grounds.

Heading out into the backyard, Hinata hums to herself, tending to the plants in their garden space. It won’t be long until they have fresh vegetables and a few fruits to add to their table. Next are her collections of flowers, and soon everything is glistening with fresh water.

She retreats back inside, washing her hands and preparing to make the glaze for the buns. But Hinata pauses as she stares at the pan.

...one is missing!

Blinking, she gives the kitchen a glance, finding nothing else out of place. So...someone decided to indulge in a treat a little early, did they? A hint of a cool look overcomes the mother’s face. “...Tenkai! Chikyū!”

Her son scampers in quickly, his sister not too far behind. “Yeah?”

Arms folding, Hinata looks them over. Well...there’s no telltale crumbs on their faces… “Did someone take one of the buns?”

Confusion tilts Tenkai’s head, and Chikyū frowns. “...one is gone?” she asks softly.

“Yes, one is gone. Are you sure neither of you took it?”

Both heads shake. “Nuh uh! There isn’t even any icing on it yet!” her son observes.

“Yeah...it’s better with icing.”

Hinata’s brow furrows a hair. “...were any of your cousins here? Or aunt, or uncles?”

More shaking heads. “Nope, no one was here. It’s been super quiet!”

Well that’s strange… Considering her pan again, Hinata can only think of one other possible culprit...but…

“What’s the fuss?”

The trio look up to the doorway into the kitchen to spy Sasuke. “...someone took a cinnamon bun without asking first,” Hinata offers, perking a brow at her husband.

He just blinks.

She stares.

Everyone knows Sasuke isn’t a fan of sweet things. Sure, he’ll have something every once in a while, but…

Pale eyes squint. “...was it you?”

Both kids give little gasps, looking to their father with affronted expressions.

Slowly, a small smile grows on his face. “...if it’s any consolation, I wanted to skip the icing. Makes them too sweet.”

Rolling her eyes, Hinata gives a weary sigh, Tenkai and Chikyū latching onto Sasuke with accusations of stealing.

“You gotta wait ‘til they’re done!” the boy insists, clinging to a leg.

“Who doesn’t like icing…?” is their daughter’s question.

Sasuke just chuckles. “I’m so very sorry...do you forgive me?”

“You gotta ask next time, okay?”

“Okay. I will.”

Shaking her head with a smile, Hinata asks, “All right...who wants to help with the icing so the rest of us can have a treat?”

“Meee!”

                                                                .oOo.

     I'm SO SORRY this is so late: as I updated here on Tumblr, I had a VERY long day yesterday, combined with a headache, and just...had to wait until now to work on yesterday's prompt OTL I was hoping to avoid any entries that are THIS late through the challenge, but...well, sometimes life gets in the way.      ANYWAY!      Some Hyuuchiha family fluff! Featuring my lil kidlings from the ALAS verse. In all honesty I haven't fleshed them out TOO much, since I never got that far in the first (and v old and outdated) version of the story. So it's good to write pieces with them to help round them out a bit more! Scandalous Sasuke, swiping sweets! He'll never live it down, I'm sure x3      But yeah, that's all for this piece! Gotta get some stuff done so today's likely won't be done until later today, but...hopefully not as relatively late as this one, haha - thanks for reading!

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day One Hundred Eighty-Two: A Flaw ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Yūhi Kurenai ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

Since the beginning, her father called it a flaw.

Hinata was timid. Weak. Recoiled from fights rather than use her full power and potential. Potential Hiashi thought wasted alongside his own time and effort, attempting to mold his daughter into a fitting successor and future clan head. So long as she held back, until she learned to give her all against an opponent...he found no use in continuing her Hyūga clan training.

When she lost the decisive sparring match against her younger sister Hanabi, Hiashi declared her title as heiress forfeit. From that day forward, no matter the age difference of the sisters, it was Hanabi who would - when the time came - lead the Hyūga.

And that wasn’t all that changed.

The adoring little sister, realizing the weight of her duties, felt almost betrayed by her elder. While Hanabi welcomed the title and its responsibilities, her admiration now felt misplaced...and she instead put her efforts into her training rather than into her sister and their bond.

With Hanabi taken by Hiashi and Neji lost to his hatred of the main family...Hinata had no one left to vouch for her within her clan. Left feeling as an outsider, she instead turned to those beyond her blood. At first, she found inspiration in one Uzumaki Naruto. His bright energy, refusal to give up, and drive to be recognized reverberated with her. She wanted to feel like that...she wanted to be like that! To no longer fear what others thought of her, and continue striding forward, even when the world turned its back on her. Naruto’s confidence - even if it was mostly bravado - sparked in Hinata a drive to improve. Not for her sister, her father, her clan...but for herself. 

The title of heiress didn’t matter to her...not anymore. If she was unfit, then so be it. But that wasn’t going to stop her from becoming the best Hyūga Hinata she could be. One day...maybe she could stand beside someone like Naruto, and truly be his equal.

Her genin team wasn’t...what she expected. An Inuzuka, loud, boisterous, and cocky. And an Aburame, quiet, introspective, and thoughtful. While Hinata had never been looked down upon by anyone in her class, her wallflower nature meant not knowing many of them well. But Iruka and the other Academy faculty knew what they were doing when they formed Team Eight. Three sensory-based shinobi that would make for one of the best tracking teams Konoha had seen in quite some time. 

But of course, no team starts off great. Kiba’s stubbornness, Shino’s reclusiveness, and Hinata’s lack of confidence made finding their stride...difficult at first.

After a rough few first weeks, however...something started to change. Hinata and Kiba did their best to pull Shino up with them. He and Hinata worked to guide Kiba’s ambition toward a common goal. And he and Shino offered genuine praise to Hinata for her hard work.

That...hadn’t happened in so long. In all honesty, it took her aback, freezing the first time it happened...much to the boys’ confusion.

But Kurenai understood.

While they each had their flaws...so too did they have strengths to help overcome them. And for the first time, Hinata’s greatest flaw was recognized as a strength.

“Your kindness is the glue that holds this team together,” Kurenai told her one afternoon, the squad breaking up after training for the day. 

“My...my kindness…?”

“In a world like ours, many mistake that for a weakness...empathy, kindness, charity. But in truth, those are things that help us understand one another, and let positive things grow. You three help bring each other up, rather than tear one another down. And that’s important!” Ruddy eyes glanced over, giving her a smile. “...the boys appreciate your attention and help. You’ve come a long way learning your poultices, and helping to make sure they have what they need to be at full strength. We all do our best when we care for each other. And caring for each other - wanting to protect those who are important to us - helps us fight when we must. I know harming others isn’t always easy...but keeping your friends and teammates safe? Surely that will help you overcome your hesitation, Hinata.”

She felt...enlightened after that conversation. Her kindness...was a good thing? It helped her team? True, she wanted to grow, and help support her teammates...and Hinata knew that would mean doing what she must against any foes they may encounter.

But...she’d promised herself she would get stronger. First to stand by Naruto, then to protect her team.

And then...came another reason.

With her proximity to Itachi’s beloved, Hinata was entrusted with pieces of the truth he’d told her. With them, Hinata was granted a unique perspective into not only the atrocities committed against the Uchiha...but the reasoning behind Sasuke’s actions. Their parallels - which had escaped her before, what with their diverging goals - suddenly made so much more sense...and gave her a better understanding.

More than almost anyone...she could sympathize with him. She too was the neglected child of the clan head...with a brother figure that seemingly hated her. She got him back...only to lose him. If it had been the Hyūga to face annihilation at the village’s behest...if she had been the one in Sasuke’s shoes...could she have done all he’d done? Striven for justice despite the sacrifices? 

She couldn’t answer that question.

So, when Sasuke returned, and everyone else treated him like an explosive tag one spark from going off...she instead did what her teacher and her teammates had taught her:

She was kind.

It was Hinata who ensured he was invited to any gathering of their classmates. It was her who engaged him in conversation whenever they passed. It was she who - when the rest of Team Seven oddly danced around their teammate and each other - simply treated him like a human being.

Was it any wonder, then, that it was her - and her kindness - that he ended up falling in love with?

Her empathy had not been the death of her, nor her career. She strove to get stronger: to protect her important people, her village, herself. Her will to fight was born out of love of many forms. A childish crush, a platonic team, a motherly teacher, a doting friend...and a man who had had the entire world against him. A man she offered a welcoming hand.

Whereas everyone else sought to own him in some way or another - his teammates, his village council, his allies in Akatsuki - she just wanted to help him feel at home in the place that housed his clan...and their aggressors. Konoha, she knew, had its flaws...but so too did it have potential to be great. 

So, when he approached her about revitalizing the police force with the Hyūga clan’s help...she was the first to support him, and the first to volunteer. She’d began to feel purposeless after the war. With no desire to lead her clan as Hanabi proved a grand future leader, and the role of shinobi beginning to change, she instead took her will to protect and used it within their village. To, like Sasuke, help guide and better it from the inside.

What had started as a supposed flaw became Hinata’s greatest asset. It gained her strength, respect...and a love she never expected to find. Never would she call it a weakness again.

                                                          .oOo.

     Not gonna lie, this prompt gave me a little trouble! Add in a long day with a headache and heat fatigue, and I was NOT ready for this, lol - but! Got it done.      More of a narrative piece, but I think it suits the overall theme. Hinata's kindness is vastly underrated, both in canon, and by her critics. But we love and appreciate it here!      Anyway, I'm...very tired, so best to call it there, lol - thanks for reading!

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day One Hundred Forty-Four: Bearing Fruit ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

For so long, he had so little to show for his actions.

His growth while training in Konoha felt...stagnate. From age seven when the massacre occurred to thirteen when the chūnin exams concluded, it was like he crawled along at a snail’s pace while time raced forward. Time, time, he never had enough time…!

Training under Orochimaru was...better, but still felt...lacking. Not in the sense that the snake sannin was keeping things from him, or...coddling him. More like he didn’t take Sasuke entirely seriously. Their views...differed. Whenever Sasuke spared those Orochimaru demanded he kill, he was called soft. It didn’t matter that he argued no one else had to die but Itachi. He could still see the derision in his teacher’s eyes.

A look that clearly said weak.

Then, finally, nearly a decade of work paid off. He confronted his brother, had a long and bloody battle...but emerged the victor. At last, his clan would have peace. Revenge.

But...no.

It was all a lie.

Madara - or Obito, as Sasuke later learned he was truly called - pulled the rug out from under him. Granted...as furious and confused as he was, Sasuke had to be grateful. If not for Obito and his scheming...he’d likely have never known about the truth of the Uchiha incident. Behind the slaughter of his family, his clan, his people.

But what irked him most wasn’t that he’d been lied to...it was that, once again, all his efforts were in vain. He mourned his brother, of course...but it felt like he’d been knocked all the way back to square one. Seeking revenge against those who wronged him.

Once again he was a little boy staring up angrily at the people who had truly taken everything from him.

But this time...he wouldn’t fail.

Danzō was simple enough. The fool’s martyrdom didn’t bother Sasuke in the slightest. It wasn’t like he’d have lasted much longer anyway. Next on his list was Konoha.

But before that could happen, Obito went and started a war. And during that war, Sasuke confronted even more truths. Learned even more about the futility of his previous plans, as he spoke to both his brother, and the prior Hokage.

Could nothing be simple?

Even his ultimate plan - to clean the slates of the old ways, and bring the shadows of the shinobi world to light - was stopped in its tracks.

By none other than Naruto.

How nauseatingly typical.

Of course, by now, he’s come to terms with that...interruption. But at the time, his rage, his disappointment, his fervor to do something, anything, about a world that had led to so many wars, so many deaths, so many massacres, pushed him to the most radical of solutions.

But at least he’d tried to do something…!

How many others simply laid down and accepted such a world? A world where genin watched young and grown men throw their lives away as tools? Where children were burdened with beasts of unimaginable power...and treated like pariahs when they’d had no choice in such matters? Where an entire clan could be wiped off the map simply for demanding equal treatment beneath a rigged and biased system?

It, quite frankly, sickened him.

But, for a time...Sasuke grew tired. So, so tired. Finally he had the power to make such a change reality. Ten years after the loss of his clan, he was practically a god among shinobi. But his only equal dogged his every step. Tempered him, maybe...but also refused to see any path, any method, but his own.

So, Sasuke intended to leave. Clear his head. Try to figure out the true path to peace.

But, Life had other plans. Itachi was revived. Shisui revealed himself to be alive. His niece and nephew were sparks of potential for a new generation of Uchiha, half-blood or not.

Something new finally bloomed in him.

Hope.

He wasn’t alone…! He had not one, but two of his kin at his side. Suddenly the bleak future of solitude he’d accepted was no more.

...but what to do with that hope?

They started at the top. Oust the prior council. Unite the clans against the imbalance of power between the administration and their populations. Homura and Koharu were forced to step down, stripped of their powers. Never again would they incite violence against their own people. Itachi was pardoned to match his brother.

At last, the Uchiha were free…!

Of course...it wasn’t so simple. Legally they’d been reinstated. Socially? They were still outcasts. But Sasuke cared little about that. He had his family. He needed nothing else.

...well...almost nothing else.

Idling was, for him, an impossibility. Sit too long without an occupation, and he’d surely go mad. So, he started scavenging for something to do. At first he considered rejoining the shinobi ranks - his brother had done so, taking over the ANBU branch. Shisui took a job as a Hokage bodyguard. But what could he do…? Simply doing grunt shinobi work seemed...pointless. He was too strong to be wasted on petty missions. ANBU work was challenging, sure, but...not his style.

And then...it hit him.

He’d return to his roots. A job he’d daydreamed of holding when he was just a boy.

Sasuke decided to rebuild the police force.

Of course, he knew he couldn’t do so alone. Strong as he was, he was just one man. To patrol an entire village - meet all of its citizens’ needs - he’d never manage.

So, he turned to their allies.

Having offered a hand to the Uchiha early on in their return, the Hyūga were like a looming shadow behind them, daring anyone to bring trouble to their distant cousins. Sasuke, Itachi, and Shisui were mighty - among the mightiest. But they lacked numbers. And that was where the Hyūga came in.

Among them, Sasuke had been getting to know Hinata best. No longer heiress (and no longer seeking to be), she instead had been serving as a kind of diplomat between their clans. With a returned Neji acting as Hanabi’s advisor, she in turn was the bridge between the families.

Which was wise. She wasn’t stuffy or overbearing like Sasuke quickly learned the rest of the Hyūga were. She he could get along with.

Rather well, actually.

Which is why he brought his idea first to her.

Something had sparked in her eyes. An eagerness. Quickly agreeing, she helped organize and bring the idea before her father, sister, and cousin.

After brief deliberation, it was agreed. The Uchiha and Hyūga would unite to create a new police force. The eyes to watch over Konoha from within.

Just as Itachi watched beyond their wall.

To Sasuke’s honest surprise, Hinata was among the first to join. She admitted to a similar sensation: one of idleness and feeling useless. Diplomacy, yes, she was well-versed in...but it felt unsatisfying. Shinobi missions, too, were just not the same. Not enough. She agreed perfectly that helping Konoha from within would help strengthen it. Clear out bad will, keep order, help those that needed help when a shinobi wasn’t able.

Was it any wonder, then, that they became partners, soon leading the force together?

It was then, some time after their founding, that Sasuke felt...complete. Like he’d finally found his role. All of his efforts - all the years, the work, the pain - were finally bearing fruit. No longer did he feel like a failure, always one step behind.

No...now, he’d taken the reins of his own destiny. He would protect and shape Konoha from within to something bigger, better, than it was before. The shadows would be cleared under his watchful eyes.

And he wouldn’t do it alone.

In fact...he’d never have to do anything else alone ever again. He’d found and gathered his family...rebuilt the bonds with his friends...and found a quiet love in the last place he expected to find it.

The fruits of his labors were sweet, indeed.

     I'm...slightly early for once! Woohoo!      Another of my more...introspective pieces. Sometimes when a prompt feels a bit too...vague, I do pieces like this. Not based on a scene, or dialogue, but more on a recap of how that prompt overarches for a character. And...most of the time it's Sasuke, lol - I don't know why! In all honesty I relate to Hinata very closely, so...I don't know why I default to writing from Sasuke's POV more often. He's just easier for me to write. *shrugs*      ANYWHO, this is - obviously - about how Sasuke finally finds a place and a purpose post-war. ALAS has a LOT of canon divergence post-699 (as my regulars will know), and this sums up a few ways it's different. There's...a LOT more to it, like the main conflict of arc three (aka everything post-699), but...that's not the focus for tonight.      But, before I blabber on, I'll call it a night - I can finally get to bed early for once xD And as always, thank you for reading!

[kusunogatari-a]

[ SasuHinaMonth Day One: Home ] [ @sasuhinamonth ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ]

It’s so quiet.

The compound was leveled after Pein’s invasion. The rubble was removed, the area left as little more than a flat expanse of dirt and withered grass. No houses, no senbei shop, not even streets. Just a patch of land as dead as the people who once lived there.

But it’s home.

After his return, only a few months into his pilgrimage, Sasuke uses part of what was still set aside as the clan’s funds (a miracle they still existed - Konoha had taken everything else) to build a small, traditionally-styled home. Not much, but something to live in - something to spend his downtime when not on missions...of which he had many. Mostly as a distraction and a way to keep out of the village. The money didn’t hurt, either.

He’s encouraged, however, to get back into his year’s social circle. Reconnect with his old classmates. Try to reintegrate.

...it’s not easy.

They all look at him funny. Even Sakura, even Naruto. As though they all fear one wrong move will send him back over the edge. It’s annoying, uncomfortable, and only makes him want to be all the more reclusive.

...but there’s one who doesn’t.

Her clan is as mighty and renowned as his own was, once upon a time. She, like him, has had difficulties with her father. Drama within her kinsmen. Lost the person within her family most precious to her...and regained him, as he has. So when Hinata looks at Sasuke...there’s none of that suspicion. Of that animosity. Though it might not be complete...it’s a look of understanding.

It...unsettles him. He doesn’t know her personally. They were both solitary in the Academy - both outcasts in their own way. He avoided everyone, and everyone avoided her. Even as genin they interacted little, on separate teams and rarely having a reason to speak to one another. He knows her best for her infatuation with his teammate, which appears to have yet gone unaddressed.

But she’s the only one who smiles at him and doesn’t look forced. Invites him to sit with the rest of them without seeming patronizing. She wants him to fit back in, even if he might not know why. Is it because he’s Naruto’s best friend? Or is it because what she knows means seeing their parallels and trying to build on them?

Either way...he appreciates her quietude. She’s not loud like his teammates, nor nosy, nor overbearing. No walking on eggshells, no regarding him like a bomb. She just...treats him like a person.

...it’s nice.

He doesn’t seek her out. Not consciously. But her company is the most enjoyable of his agemates, so running into her seems less like a chore and more like a pleasant surprise. Sasuke finds himself falling into step with her without realizing it. And she doesn’t seem to mind - welcoming, as always.

Unfortunately, the others take notice.

Naruto pesters him, alluding to a crush. Sakura seems to try and redirect his attention...but eventually gives up. Hinata’s teammates give him squint-eyed looks, as though searching for some angle he’s playing, like he wants something from her.

But he’s not playing at anything. He was told to make friends, and he’s doing so. What’s wrong with that?

Noting the observations to her once, Sasuke gives her a glance as she laughs softly into a hand. Her reply is simple: they’ve all got reasons to wonder. And people thrive on gossip. He growls it’s invasive - he wishes they’d leave him alone. She advises he ignore them - it’ll be old news soon enough.

But then it hits him out of nowhere.

He’s taking a stroll in the rain, a habit he’s come to enjoy. The weather clears the streets, and he can go unmolested. On a run for a few home supplies, he’s on his way back when he sees her.

The Yamanaka’s display is in full bloom, leaves bounces with each impact of rainfall. Under a lilac umbrella, her other hand tucks hair behind an ear, leaning in to sample the scent of a blossom. Eyes close, lips lift. He once saw his mother do the same thing.

...she’s beautiful.

Like he’s slugged in the gut, Sasuke stumbles back half a step. Since when?! He’s never -! She’s not -! But like a film set in fast motion, his mind takes him on a journey through everything he remembers about her. Everything he’s learned. And just like that, he blinks, and sees her in a new light.

He loves her...doesn’t he?

...he never thought he’d do that.

Unfortunately, his existential crisis lasts a moment too long, and she catches him standing still in the downpour, bag of groceries starting to soak. There’s a perk, mouth an o, and a dash to help shield him from the weather.

He asks if she’d like some tea.

She’s never been to his house before. And he’s not had many guests beyond teammates and the few scraps of family he’s got left. To his surprise, she shoos him off to rid himself of wet clothes, insisting she knows well enough how to make tea. There’s a pause, and then he does as she orders. As though there’s no saying no.

She’s done by the time he reemerges, handing him a cup without a word. They sit at his table, and she offers quiet conversation about the few things they care about: family, mostly. Friends. Futures. So they talk. And they drink. And every long, rain-muffled pause feels...normal.

It’s so quiet.

But that’s how he likes it.

     Word count: 929      Cumulative: 929      (Gonna try to track my word count, just out of curiosity!)      This is several hours late, but today was busy! And my first draft (something in modern verse) didn’t pan out, so...I had to try again. Just a little rambly-style piece about Sasuke’s idea of home...and how Hinata seems to fit right into it ;3      Hopefully from here I’ll have better scheduling for these, and less trouble thinking of plots. But here’s day number one, check!