Basically one week passed after the first PoV. I'm not really technical. XD

Some realizations, some light.

Disclaimer: Naruto characters belongs to Masashi Kishimoto Sensei.

CHAPTER 14

It was such a mystery. Sasuke thought.

Everything.

How he ended up this way, how he ended up feeling this way. One day everything was there, the next day it was gone. One day he hated his brother, the next day he loved him more. One day he was alone, and the next thing he knew he wasn't anymore.

Hinata slept in her crisp bed, the hospital was quiet and dark that night. He inhaled the smell of the sterile surrounding and recalled the words she said when she tried to remember what happened to her, of why she passed out.

"You couldn't sense him?" He asked about his snake summon.

Across him, Hinata pursed her lips. "Hai. Sasuke is he?.." She could not finish her question as she looked at him in both hope and sorrow.

Sasuke looked down and shook his head. "He's dead, it's the reason why i went rushing home."

He saw the sadness engulfing her features.

Hinata has always been gentle in nature. It did not surprise him at all that she will get attached to a reptile feared by most, in such a short period of time. Although he expected this reaction from her, it did not mean that he liked seeing it. He was just not used at seeing people care about things related to him. "D-Did he have a name?" She asked, her voice shaking.

An urge to comfort her made Sasuke's muscle flinch as if to move but he was quick to disagree with his own body and stayed glued in his place. "Rojo." He answered.

"Rojo.." She mumbled as she tasted the name along her lips, her eyes glassy.

"Why did you faint? Do you remember anything?" The question seemed to avert her mind from wandering to his dead summon, rojo. Hinata touched the ends of her dark hair, as she told him of what she was doing that day until she couldn't sense Rojo.

"I looked for him everywhere but I think.. I thought I heard you.." These words piqued his interest. They lured her, he thought.

Sasuke stood straight and locked his eyes with her. "Me?" He asked.

Her eyes moved around in a quiet panic. "Yes. At the garden, I heard your voice calling me. I was at the kitchen taking some food to lure R-Rojo but then I heard your voice. After that I don't really remember anything." Her voice trembled in her worry.

Interesting. "You didn't eat anything suspicious? Smelled anything?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary." He expected her answer. The Inuzuka did say that he couldn't smell a thing, but the Aburame - he said he sensed someone. A jutsu was done to her instead of poison. Team 8, one if not the best tracking team of the Fire Nation got tricked by this individual.

"You did not feel any pain until i.." Until he kissed her..

She blushed and gripped the sheets around her and nodded.

After that conversation he allowed Hinata the rest she deserved. But Sasuke could not do the same. In a few days Hinata will be discharged already as her body was quick to heal compared to a normal civilian. Soon his nephew will be out as well, exposed to the outside world, where someone clearly wants to kill him. But who? Who would dare? He watched as Hinata sighed in her sleep, she still smelled like rare floras as he once again flared his chakra to feel the whole building and his brother's child.

Sakura walked along the pavement, it's unevenness making her feet click and her hands clutch her bag closer to her chest. It was windy that day, but the sun shone and it made her skin go pink. It had been a week since it all happened. She sighed in sadness and confussion. Naruto still talked to her but it was all small talk, not the usual thing she recieved from him. As much as she hated to admit it, it hurt her.

Eyebags shared her face, as the result of the sleepless nights. Her mind going circles, her heart breaking apart. There was an ache inside her, and it's eating her from within.

Somehow even when she was lost in her thought, the word "Child" made her flinch and craned her neck to hear better.

"The child is not his!" A middle aged woman spoke loudly to the much younger woman across her. The market was busy and the streets were filled with goods and she guessed that gossip came with it.

The younger woman scoffed and covered her mouth. "How scandalous! I don't know if I should admire her or be disgusted."

The older woman could only laugh. "It's true! His own teammate and former lover spewed it last week! You should've seen her shouting at the top of her lungs."

Nani?

Sakura stopped dead in her tracks. Her muscles shaking, her eyebrows dipped in panic and confusion. She knew at that moment that they were talking about her. Gaining her composure, she quickly hid herself from the view of the two women, as she knew her pink hair would stand out soon enough. Once hidden, she wiped her face from the sweat that had gathered itself along her skin and listened some more.

"There are rumors saying that the baby will be taken away from the Uchiha."

Tears floated along her eyes as she heard his name. Why would they do that? It's just a rumor right?

"They really should! Two Uchiha's living in Konoha, it gives me the chills i tell you." The woman shuddered as she organized the red tomatoes that seemed to be overflowing in the market that day as the supply was too much.

There was pity when they mentioned Hinata but there was only hate towards the older Uchiha. "I know, this kid is the son of Itachi. That murderer probably raped the heiress and they're trying to cover this up by marrying her to the younger one." The woman shook her head as if in grief.

As Sakura heard the rest of the conversation, she immediately felt the guilt inside her for she knew that she was the one who caused this situation.

All those sleepless nights wasted on her asking herself if she really did hear Hinata say that her child was Itachi's and not Sasuke's. She was slowly doubting herself, but shaking her head - she knew for a fact that she did heard them talk about Itachi. But slowly Naruto's words were sinking its way in her consciousness. Wether the child was Sasuke's or not, it was his only keen left and he will do everything to keep him.

And she may have very well fucked up his chances to be there for his nephew just because she didn't think before acting, before opening her mouth.

"But isn't Sasuke a bit of a traitor as well?" The other woman asked in disbelief. Sakura could only swallow what was left of her dignity.

This time they talked in hushed tones as they mentioned one of the most influential clans in Konoha. "Well he is! I bet the Hyuuga's will keep the child to themselves, maybe they'll even brand the bastard."

Somehow, the civilians calling a nameless Uchiha a bastard made her feel worse. She could not take it anymore and took another step away from the crowd. There was only one way to make her feel better.

Hinata combed her hair and patted off the non-existent dust from her skirt. She had been nervous and anxious and everything else she could think of. She was not able to sleep that night, as well as all the nights after she has recovered her strength.

She looked at Sasuke as he sheated his Chokuto. "I'm nervous." She spoke, her palms sweating.

He sighed, the light of the morning sun gave his palid skin some orange tones as he stood outside her door. "Don't be."

Hinata quickly washed her hands in the kitchen and let them air dry, wanting her hands to be clean and walked outside, squinting to take a good look at Sasuke's face. "What if he can't come home with us?"

He only blinked. "He will."

The events that took place that week had its consequences, the man who tricked her and killed Rojo forced her to have an early delivery. Her early delivery had placed her son in a very delicate situation where he could not go home unless it was deem fitted by the former Hokage herself. But deep down inside, Hinata believed that her son was strong, strong enough to go home and finally be with her.

And Sakura's outburst.

Sasuke locked her apartments door and started walking beside her.

She could feel it in the air, there was tension inside the walls of the village. A new Uchiha was born and no one was prepared for it.

Her cousin Neji had been kind enough to tell her what was going on while she was recovering. Apparently, a lot of people heard Sakura and because of it, a lot rumours had been stirring around the village hidden in the leaves.

It was the truth of course, her son was indeed not Sasuke's child but it's still making her uneasy. Sasuke was not talking about it, he seemed fine with the idea of keeping the lies going and the truth to themselves. But Hinata, she wasn't sure, at this point she only wants to see her son. To cradle him in her arms and sing him lullaby's.

"I don't think I can wait any longer." She spoke and smiled lightly at Sasuke. His eyes seemed tired and he looked like he had aged. The thought initiated a sense of pain in her stomach as they both entered the grounds of the Konoha Hospital.

Sasuke nodded. "Me too."

People dispersed at the sight of the two. At the far end of the hall, Hinata was sure she heard someone gasping in fear. She had been aware of how mean people can be towards Sasuke, but she asked herself if the village would fear her as well for giving birth to another Uchiha. The thought made her clench her fist. Her son is not some demon to be feared, he's not some plague to despise. The more she took her footsteps, the more her heartbeat felt like it was getting louder. Someone was calling her and it was making her nervous.

"Hinata." She heard his voice.

She turned and saw Sasuke touching her elbows, his fingers digging into her flesh, stopping her from her tracks as she almost walked straight into a wall.

"Hinata-sama." Hearing Ko's voice told her that they have arrived at their destination. She released the breath she was holding and unclenched her fists as she saw how she didn't notice where she was going. Her palm flattened against the cold wall as she tried to gather herself, she felt like she was becoming a mess. She cannot face the former Hokage like this. "G-Gomen." She croaked.

Hinata felt warmth across her lower back hearing Sasuke greet the people they were looking for. "Tsunade-sama, Shizune-san, good afternoon." Hinata smiled genuinely, she was still not used at seeing Sasuke being so respectful, it made her feel proud to hear him speak that way,gl he almost sounded like her father.

Even with the discomfort she was still feeling in her lower midsection, Hinata still bowed low in front of the only wiman who became a Hokage.

Senju Tsunade stood tall and smiled. "I will not make you wait any longer, his vitals has improved in just a week. Just make sure to drop by in another week." She gestured for Shizune to bring out the release papers and guided them towards the table inside the nursery room.

The room smelled like, babies. Hinata smiled and immediately relaxed at the sight of innocence in front of her. Three newborn babies slept peacefully in their crib, but unlike the first time she visited, her son was not one of them. Another door came into view and outside, her trusted bodyguard Ko stood in guard for her child.

Her son was isolated after the incident, her father and Sasuke did not trust anyone in the hospital. But the thought of it all made Hinata afraid of what's to come. Will he be isolated as well as he grows up?

"Here, sign these." Shizuna handed the documents and she smiled at how fast Hinata signed the papers, Hinata wanted to feel embarrassed for showing no patience but she waited too long, it had been a week. She really could not wait.

Sasuke followed and signed as well. "And Sasuke, keep your eyes open." Tsunade genuinely advised.

Sasuke nodded. "I will."

Hinata heard more shuffling of papers but she went ahead with Shizune, where she gestured towards her son's tiny little hospital bed.

Hinata felt the tears coming as she saw his shiny black hair, she smiled as she saw how much he grew in just a week. He's stronger now.

Some force told her to go, to touch him, to take him into her arms and give him her warmth. And Hinata gave in, she slowly, carefully carried her son. Her fingers shook when she made contact with him, and soon Hinata was alone in her world. Nothing else mattered, as long as her child was with her, she would spend the rest of her days smiling.

Her son was asleep but was slowly showing signs of waking up from the sudden movement.

She heard Tsunade caughed and she turned to smile fully towards her and Sasuke, who was not showing any emotion at all. "Here sign these as well you two, it's his birth certificate." The blonde spoke.

Taking some footsteps to close the gap between the two Uchiha's, Hinata watched as Sasuke signed the documents and turned to look at her.

Slowly but surely Hinata stepped closer and spoke. "Hold him."

Sasuke stood still, not knowing what to do as he blinked a few times to hear what exactly she was suggesting. "I don't know how to hold a baby."

"You won't hurt him Sasuke, he's your son." Hinata spoke in finality as she taught him how to hold his nephew correctly. Sasuke looked pale and nervous when she finally stepped back and left all the weight onto him.

Hinata smiled. "See?"

Hinata did not know what happened but slowly, Sasuke smiled, and then he grinned. "Hello.." He spoke to the child.

When Hinata saw the confidence dance around Sasuke's body, she turned to Tsunade and signed her sons certificate of birth and immediately turned back to Sasuke.

Hinata almost gasped when she watched her son open his eyes for the first time. A dark pool of black and a clear glass of Lavender blinked as he yawned in the wake of his slumber. "Sasuke look, his eyes.." Never has Hinata seen those kinds of eyes attached to one body, and seeing the former Hokage's reaction, she could bet no one including the former Hokage ever has. A Sharingan and a Byakugan, together.

Sasuke did not seemed like he was surprised, he only cuddled him closer to his chest. "What should we name him?" He asked not looking at anyone.

Hinata stepped closer and felt like her whole world was complete. "Eko.." She spoke and Sasuke finally glanced at her, his eyes peaceful. "..Uchiha Eko."

He glanced back down to her son and poked his pink chubby cheek with his other hand. "Hello.. Eko.."

The sun had alreay set when they got back home only to be surprised by Hinata's clansmen and their academy batchmates.

Apparently Hinata's father, her team and her sister had organized a welcoming gathering for her son, of course Naruto was there but Sasuke doubted that he did any participation on the preparation at all. Decent food was served inside the house while grilled meat was smoking at the backyard.

Naruto sat beside him, his blue eyes gleaming at the sight of Neji carrying Eko. "I have this strange feeling that Eko-chan is going to be strong."

Sasuke nodded in agreement with his self proclaimed best friend. An Uchiha and a Hyuuga, what did they expect?

"And his eyes.." He glanced towards Sasuke with a worried look upon his mostly jovial face. "..Eko-chan will get attention Sasuke."

Sasuke could only close his eyes and clench his fists along the porch, he could at least appreciate Naruto's genuine concern for his son. "I know.. Being an Uchiha guaranteed that already."

His blonde friend leaned closer and tried to whisper. "I don't know, this is just too different you know? It's not like this has happened before, it's unheard of."

He again could only agree with Naruto. None of these has ever happened before. A child with the blood of two of the most prominent doujutsu clans in history, two of the oldest clans in Konoha. A child born with both the Byakugan and the Sharingan. A child with no mark in his forehead. Sasuke understood why Naruto was worried. He would be lying if he said he wasn't.

Suddenly Naruto's face was engulfed with his wide grin "..and Eko-chan, he's so cute!" He squealed.

And then his face contorted in confusion and disbelief as his eyes grew big. "..how the hell did that happen? For an ugly fucker like you to have a cute son like that? It's all thanks to Hinata's genes i guess." He mocked before jumping far away from him.

At that, Sasuke could not stop the tug upon his lips and chuckled.

Seeing that he wouldn't hurt him, Naruto quickly came close and laughed awkwardly. "Wow i was expecting for you to punch me or somethin', but damn you just laughed! Not that i'm complaining!" He blushed as he mumbled but was fast to recover as he tapped Sasuke on his shoulders.

"Teme, as much I want to stay and watch Eko-chan grow up as handsome as me, I really need to go." Naruto claimed with confidence.

Sasuke could see that the Uzumaki was bound for a travel soon. His bags were already packed beside him.

Sasuke removed his heavy hand from him. "Stop addressing him like that. Where are you going? Is it about him?"

Him. One of the Legendary sannin. Jiraiya. Naruto's beloved master.

At this Naruto became serious. A sad but determined look etched on his face. "Yeah. I really need to get stronger, Kakashi sensei and Baachan said that I will be the next target."

The Akatsuki. Sasuke thought. An image of the back of a frog came to mind and he wondered if it had something to do with this.

"Any progress on the code?" He asked. Curious.

Naruto shifted in his feet as he slowly sat again beside him. "Shikamaru is still at it, i trust him."

"Hn."

His mouth twisted hard. "I just really need to do this for Ero-senin." Sasuke have seen Naruto dejected so many times. Some of those times, he was the one who caused it. But this time Sasuke knew, that the death of his master has done something within him. It broke him. And he was certain that it will make him.

It will make him a better man.

It will make him stronger.

Sasuke flicked Naruto's forehead. "Don't slack off."

Naruto gritted his teeth and slapped his hand away and turned closer as if to whisper again. "Teme I won't! You're the one slacking off! Anyway I need to ask you something, it's been bugging me for so long."

Sasuke looked at Naruto expecting him to speak but when he looked around them as if to make sure that no one was going to hear he knew he was thinking of something he was embarrassed to asked.

Naruto awkwardly coughed in his hands and asked. "Were you a virgin when you did it?"

That took him off guard. Despite spending a lot of time together since he returned, they have not touched that subject. "Nani?"

Naruto sighed and rubbed his pink face in irritation. "You know, when you and Hinata.." He wiggled his brows and he could only shake his head in disbelief.

Sasuke stood and pushed him a little hard. He looked at Hinata who was still unbothered by them. "I wasn't dobe."

A sound resembling a gasp was all he heard. "Hey! I'm just curious! You never really showed interest in girls before you know."Naruto walked beside him and again felt the need to put his sweaty arm around him.

"So who?" Naruto asked sounding so cheeky.

Sasuke played nonchalant. "Who what?"

"Come on Sasuke quit making this hard for me, I'll be gone soon!" He whined in his ear and Sasuke couldn't help but cringed.

"Che. It was a gypsy with blond hair." He said as he put his hands inside his pockets.

Naruto sounded like he was choking. "Wow. Was it any good?"

He tried to shove him with his elbows but this time in a not-so-friendly manner. "Shut up and just go away, perv."

"Okay okay! If you don't stop hurting me I'll tell Hinata you fucked a gypsy with a bleached blond hair!" Sasuke's eyes went wide and in an instant their positions changed, Sasuke now had an arm locked around Naruto's neck and his other hand has plastered itself across his big mouth.

"asdgjk!" Came the muffled protests.

"S-Sasuke..!" He heard her voice behind him and he was quick to let Naruto go.

Naruto was on his knees and was gasping for air. "Itai! Hey what happened to not hurting me huh?"

Sasuke threw his bags across Naruto. Standing beside Hinata. "Here take your bags with you."

"Naruto-kun.. You're leaving?" Hinata asked.

Naruto immediately stood and scratched his neck. "Ah yeah, sorry Hinata. I have some training to do but i'll be back soon. You know for someone who's ugly like Sasuke, you sure make cute babies, maybe you should do more." He winked at both but faltered when he saw Hinata turn crimson and Sasuke's nose flaring.

"N-Naruto.." Hinata stuttered.

Neji who was carrying Eko joined the circle and was aiming to kick Naruto in the shins. "You really don't know when to shut your mouth Naruto." He spoke while he tried to balance his nephew in his arms.

Despite Naruto's lack of etiquette, he cared about him. Sasuke then started to walk passed him and towards the entry of the house. "I'll see you out."

Naruto took the que to escape and just waved dramatically at Hinata, Neji and Eko, who was left at the porch.

Inside the house, the Hyuuga clan and their respective team's Sensei's mingled. Sasuke guessed that the older ninjas enjoyed the warmth of the house instead of the occassional cold winds outside. On the far end talking to the current Hokage was Hyuuga Hiashi, and Sasuke acknowledge the man with a nod.

Naruto turned to him and smiled. "Hey i'm serious! You and Hinata-chan make cute babies, teme!" Now outside the apartment, Sasuke almost felt the need to tell Naruto that he was going to miss his company but refrained when he felt her. Too close.

"..Sakura." He spoke in warning.

Naruto was tensed in a snap, his hand flat in Sasuke's chest, his bags already forgotten on the ground. "Don't do this again Sakura, her whole clan is here."

The last member of team seven slowly made her way out and into the view. "I'm not here to do any of that, i just.. I just want to talk."

He could not say what it was but all of them knew that she was being sincere. Slowly Naruto removed his hand from him and gripped his shoulder instead.

"Sasuke, yah take good care of your family and wait for me alright?!" Dispite the signs of him departing he knew that when Naruto walked away, he will linger. He will linger to listen. He will linger to protect Sakura. To protect the woman he loved. And Sasuke was okay with that.

"I will." He promised and nodded.

Naruto casted a shadow in the narrow street. Slowly he was already gone in sight. But like he thought he would, he lingered somewhere.

He turned to Sakura and could not help but feel tired about everything.

She breathed in deep and started with. "I'm sorry."

Sasuke stayed silent. He wanted to listen. He was a great listener, someone told him long ago. And he was trying to prove that now.

Almost a minute passed and he finally heard her sniffling. "I was blinded by everything, I wanted your love.."

"You don't want my love." He spoke in finality.

She nodded and cried more. "I know.. I understand now."

Her head stooped low, it was only her pink hair he could see. "That's why I will speak to Tsunade-sama as well as Kakashi-sensei, about w-what I heard."

"I will do what i can to protect my family Sakura."

"Even if it means to love her as well?" Her eyes locked with his. Daring him. Challenging him. Reading him. Begging.

Sasuke almost flinched at the mention of the word love, such trivial thing. He knew love when he was younger, when he was nothing but a boy. But now, it was hard for to recognize what love was, what love is, and what love could be. "Love was never part of the plan."

There was calmness when she spoke."..But you do love her.. Don't you?"

Does he?

Before he could think of an answer, a loud crash was heard. There was a commotion in his backyard and Sasuke was quick to get back, only to see Kiba and Shino holding down a man he did not recognize.

Akamaru growled loud enough for Eko to stir in Neji's arms. "You fucker! You won't get away this time!" Kiba gritted his teeth and broke the man's arm behind his back as he tackled him to the ground.

Naruto came rushing back as well. "What's happening?!"

"It's him." Shino adjusted his glasses and gathered his kikaichu in his hands.

It's him? This guy?

No one noticed Sakura beside him, until she rushed towards his replacement in team 7.

"Sai are you okay?" She gripped his cheeks as Sai could only nod. His face was sweating in bullets, slowly he showed the seal inside his mouth. Sasuke's eyes turned into slits, he can't talk.

"What is she doing here?!" Kiba screamed.

Sasuke ignored his question, for some reason, he could not take his eyes off from Sai. He was trying to say something, he wants to say something but couldn't. "I'm guessing from his reaction, this one's an ANBU?"

Author's note:

~ I wanted to stay canon so i made Eko have both Sharingan and Byakugan as stated by Kishimoto himself if a Hyuuga and Uchiha ever had a child.

~ Just a few more chapters and it's over. Thank you for all the Reviews, Faves, Follows and even the Private Messages! They really help a lot, i swear! *wink