The first year of their marriage is quiet. It's as if Tsunade is assigning missions on purpose so both are rarely home at the same time. Perhaps she's trying to ease them slowly into the idea of living together. Though Tsunade doesn't owe any favors to the Uchiha and Hyuuga clans.

True, the whole thing was done out of convenience. For Sasuke, marriage had been to remove Tsunade's Damocles Sword. Something to bind him enough to the village to sate her worries. Something to prove that he would not be a flight risk or go rogue…again. Plus by marrying one of the Hyuuga clan, he could start rebuilding the Uchiha reputation.

For Hinata, the reasons were different.

Hinata had been tired. Tired of the toxic realization that she would never be enough for her father. Even if her relationship with Neji had vastly improved, he had been the only one to make the household bareable…and now he was gone.

She was tired of Hanabi drawing her into a competition neither will win. The prize is an illusion, and familial love should be given, not earned. Hinata refuses to be the dog that fights over scraps of Father's pride. He's pitting them together to 'refine' Hanabi. Sharpening her until she is as vicious and ruthless as he.

And Hinata is done.

She has had enough and accepts when Sasuke presents his proposal. It's the last thing she can do for herself. Maybe by taking herself out of this poisonous equation… Hanabi's animosity will wane. Maybe in years to come they can mend, not tear. It's thoughts like these that keep her composed when spotting victory on Father's face.

Kiba has some choice words about the man. Hinata's favorite is worthless streak-of-cat-piss.

It's at the Ramen shop that Naruto asks Sasuke why he married Hinata.

His only response is, "She wasn't annoying."

To which Naruto launches into a thousand rants why that is nota reason to get married.

Sasuke finds it unfortunate that over the years Naruto has only gotten louder. Besides to Sasuke that is a valid reason. For when Tsunade had given the ultimatum, marry or die, he had narrowed down his female peers very quickly.

Sakura? No. Never.

And luckily Sakura would now strongly agree with that sentiment. Though Team 7 was finally put back together, getting stabbed does kill a crush. Plus none had quite achieved Naruto's level of Buddha-like forgiveness when it comes to Sasuke. To be fair…Sasuke doesn't help.

Besides, Sasuke thinks as he eyes the way Sakura and Sai's shoulders press together. He wouldn't want to…intrude.

Ino? No. If he wanted Blonde, Loud and Annoying he would've married Naruto.

Karin? Gods may she never find him. She's everything he hated about fangirls. Times five.

Tenten had been a mild possibility, but Sasuke would gladly die than face Guy and Guy 2.0.

Hinata had been unique.

Sasuke could highlight her lineage. The perks of being allied to a strong clan. Could have noted her quiet strength that lacked boasting. A true ninja keeps his talents hidden. How her team had been the most cooperative and stable under her gentle prodding. How silent she was. No doubt the two could respect one another's privacy. Instead what prompted Sasuke decided to marry Hinata was none of these.

It had been a single rash moment.

Sasuke was heading towards the marketplace when he saw her. She had been crouched over something in the alleyway and her expression made him freeze.

Hinata was smiling.

Smiling over a single flower that had made its way through the concrete. Her peaceful, calm expression wreaked Sasuke with a vision of his mother. Who had made the same face, once in her own garden, so long ago.

It was then that Sasuke made his decision. And he was never going to tell Naruto that.

Yet perhaps one day… he'll tell Hinata if she asks.

Author's Notes:

The problem with Naruto is I can be sold to any pairing as long as it's written well. That's why I had such a hard time with the 'canon' pairings they ended with. If there had been more of a buildup naruhina would've been fine, if sasuke had done his share of grovelling sasusaku could've been fine. But there wasn't. The last couple chapters were very very sloppy.

So in my fic I wanted to explore Sasuhina because of their quiet natures and the best thing about it not being canon is canon can't mess it up. Plus Sai and Sakura are balanced in 'Who can take each others crap and give it back.' Maybe I'll pair Naruto and Ino into the loud blonde duo (Sasuke is very alarmed to find the wedding invite in the mail).