36. Perusal

Sorrow and hate had made Sasuke who he was today. Nothing could really faze him. He had come back to Konoha because his ancestors had lived and died to call this place home. But more importantly, this is where Hinata was. Not much else mattered.

The impending war was worrisome. He would have to kill Madara before it started. For now it suited his purpose to be in Konoha. He would carve out a place for himself.

Tsunade's sanctions were but minor inconveniences. A wielder of the perfect Mangekyou Sharingan could not be so easily contained.

''Off to the prison you go.''

Before Tsunade could finish her sentence he had already moved to face Hinata. He was well aware that everyone in the room was watching him. But only she mattered.

Sasuke was not one for public displays of affection. He hoped she could see the things he could not say.

''Hinata.'', he said softly. He looked at her and he knew she loved him.

A small frown marred her forehead. She was concerned for him. Her white eyes showed longing. Her lips parted to whisper his name.

He gave in to the urge to take her hand in his. Her hug came unexpected. Her lips briefly touched his neck. She quickly broke the embrace.

''Be safe, Sasuke.''

He nodded.

The ANBU led him out of the office, through dark Konoha streets and down an underground tunnel that led to the deepest dungeon.

-X-X-X-

Naruto was giving Hinatacurious looks. Sakura appeared confused.

''Hyuuga, you may go.'', Tsunade dismissed them. ''Team 7, you'll stay back. I have something to discuss with you.''

The streets were abandoned as the Hyuuga siblings made their way home. They were all in deep thought.

''So…'', Hanabi broke the pensive silence. ''That was Uchiha.'', she poked Hinata's side. ''you two are close.''

''We are.'', Hinata said, blushing slightly.

Hanabi bit her lip and glanced at Neji. He appeared unperturbed, but you could never quite tell with him.

''Why, neesama?'' You know this will cause controversy.

Hinata poked her little sister in the side, making the girl jump and stifle a giggle. Hanabi was more ticklish than Hinata was.

''What is your impression of him, Hanabi?'', Hinata asked.

Hinata was dead serious. Hanabi knew that her sister would take her answer to heart. She thought well before she replied.

"Sasuke is not a good person.", Hanabi shrugged. "All shinobi are evil for the things we do. Sasuke has done worse than most. But it seems to me that he has pride and honour."

-X-X-X-

Sasuke had sheltered in many caves. His cell was not much different. It was a space carved into a rock wall. It looked like a small cave with the entrance blocked by metal bars. Even after the ANBU left him he could feel their eyes on him.

Tsunade had been serious when she said he would be watched at all times.

It mattered not. His eyes were stronger. He would not be seen if he did not want to be. Temperatures in the dungeon were warm. He wondered just how deep below ground he was.

-X-X-X-

The Hyuuga guards bowed down when they arrived at the compound. People stopped in their tracks when they walked through the gates.

"We're home", Hinata sighed. Then she glanced at Neji.

"At last.", he muttered. "I'm glad.", he said. And as if to say that all was well , he briefly grasped her hand and gave it a squeeze.

A heaviness she did not realise she carried was lifted and she felt a great relief as she walked to their dwellings. Neji was her brother again.

Kikyou was hovering at her room entrance. She bowed. "Ohime-sama, Prince, Hanabi-sama."

"Kikyou.", hinata greeted her.

"I'm at your service, ohime-sama.", there was an uncomfortable intensity in the sensor's eyes. What do you long for Kikyou? Hinata pitied her.

"It has been a long day, Kikyou. Tomorrow my siblings and I shall brief the council. But for now we shall rest. You are dismissed."

Before she opened the door to her living quarters, Hinata remembered to ask.

"How is Takeda, your son?"

Kikyou's face blanched, her mouth tightened. "My…my son is fine." She quickly bowed and left.

Neji bade them good night and continued to his own rooms.

The sisters would share Hinata's room tonight. Hanabi stripped to her underwear, dumped her clothes in the laundry basket and started running the bath water.

"That girl is too fragile, you better be careful nee-sama."

"Hmm.", Hinata agreed. She piled her hair on top of her head.

"So how was the capital?", she asked.

"Court is annoying. The daimyo was nice enough after the compulsion broke."

"Did you run into any trouble?"

Hanabi's face fell. "Hanatarou came to court. I killed him."

Hinata's shock momentarily left her lost for words.

"It was necessary.", Hanabi added flatly.

"I see." Hinata said. "Then all is well."

"Yeah", Hanabi said with a gruff voice. She averted her face and busied herself with making bubbles. When she turned to Hinata again, she was herself once more.

They stepped in the tub and enjoyed the water in companionable silence. Hinata's thoughts went to Sasuke. They had bathed in the river yesterday. How was he doing in his cell? She was suddenly overcome with worry. Sasuke is the Avenger. He will be fine, she assured herself. Sasuke is fine. Very fine. She blushed.

"You're thinking of Sasuke.", Hanabi observed.

Her sister's observation was correct. So Hinata chose to remain silent.

"I didn't think I would feel this sorry for aniki.", Hanabi murmured.

It was obvious to everyone but me, Hinata thought.

"So why Sasuke?", Hanabi asked. "Why not aniki? Things would be so much easier."

Hanabi was right. Such a union would cement the changes in the Hyuuga clan.

Neji was a genius. Strong and handsome. He was Hyuuga's prince. But thinking of Sasuke made her heart beat faster. She was his. He was hers.

"There is no reason to love. I just do.", Hinata said.

"Hmn…", Hanabi murmured. "Love freaks me out. I don't think I will ever have interest in such things."

"I was different at your age. I wanted to marry Naruto."Hinata chuckled

"Exactly!", Hanabi stressed. " Who is to say your feelings for Uchiha will be the same in a few years."

"I don't know, Hanabi.", Hinata looked pensive. "I do know that what I feel can't be compared to my crush on Naruto."

"I can see that. Uzumaki is just too…bright. Too yellow."

"I suppose that could be an apt description..."

"I'm just saying.", Hanabi smirked. Her smirk turned into a light scowl. "There will be plenty of females crushing on Sasuke. Especially the pinkette."

-X-X-X-

He had slept a deep and exhausted sleep. After freshening up in the tiny bathroom in the back of his cell he sat down to meditate. Soon he felt the presence of ANBU watching him. They must have thought they could catch him by surprise. He opened red eyes.

"Good morning.", he said. Because that is what you say when you see people in the morning. The ANBU must have thought him incapable of common courtesy, because they blanched.

"U-Uchiha." A female with a pig's mask greeted. "We are to escort you to the Intelligence Department."

Ah…the mind perusal. On an empty stomach. Cruel Tsunade.

"Sure.", he said. He stood gracefully and waited for her to open his cell. He followed her as she led the way, his red eyes committing the route to memory. When they reached the surface he was greeted by a bleak sun.

His eyes shifted to black. The Intelligence Department was a stone's throw away from the prisons, which made perfect sense.

Ibiki and Inoichi were waiting for him. They wore grim expressions and seemed eager to carry out their task. Sasuke could taste ill will in the air. He would accept it. He was the monster they thought he was. He wanted to get it over with.

The room was sparse safe for one stone chair.

"Sit down." Ibiki ordered.

As soon as Sasuke sat stone cuffs closed around his ankles. They were slowly extracting chakra. Slightly faster than his body could replenish on an empty stomach. Fantastic.

"I will ask questions. You answer. Simple.", Ibiki began.

"Don't lie, because we'll know. If you don't co-operate, best believe we will flip through every memory and thought you ever had." Ibiki smiled a cold smile. "Best believe I hope you don't co-operate."

This bastard was challenging him.

"I'll co-operate.", Sasuke said. "In fact, skip the questions. Just go through my mind. Find what you are looking for." He did not fear them.

"Then you don't mind me looking in.", Ibiki said.

He removed what looked like headphones from his inner coat pocket and placed them on Sasuke's head. "These are receptors. Whatever Yamanaka sees, I see." Both Inoichi and Ibiki placed similar receptors on their heads.

The mind invasion began immediately.

-X-X-X-

The Hyuuga Council was a lot bigger now. It not only included the jounin and ANBU from the former Main House, but also the ones from the former Branch Houses. Four-hundred-and-twenty-six pairs of eyes were staring at them. The last time she stood in this council hall was the night of her defection. Now here she was as the Hyuuga Hime. She glanced sideways at Neji with his long brown hair and confident posture, looking like the prince he was. She was glad he was by her side.

"This meeting is opened.", she said. The silence was deafening. Everyone was eager to hear how they had fared.

Neji began to tell them about the events that transpired at the Summit and later the Inn in Snow Country. Hinata took over the story at the point where she and Sasuke left in search of Danzou.

When she explained Danzou's true nature frowns appeared. Even the most stoic Hyuuga could not hide their shock. She told them the course of the battle, how Sasuke had saved her and killed Danzou. She told them of the promise she made to Madara and how she helped implant Sasuke's new eyes. When she finished the silence was deeper than it had been.

"Hyuuga has risked much for Uchiha.", Akane was the first of the Elders to speak. "Our debt is paid and so is his. Now we can move on."

"Good.", another Elder said. "There is another issue that I wish our esteemed leaders to resolve. It is great and all that the Branch Houses are abolished. But unclear it is now how the housework is to be organised. The compound is a mess and the Branch Houses refuse to take the responsibility… "

As the Elder rattled on, Hinata and Neji exchanged fatigued looks. This was going to be a long morning.

-X-X-X-

Inoichi walked through halls walled by blazing hot fires. Uchiha were the only shinobi with souls of fire. This was like nothing he had seen before.

"Show me your time with Orochimaru."

A door opened in front of him. He walked through and was presented with Sasuke's first memory of Orochimaru. The young Sasuke was confused, frightened and wary. When Sasuke was marked he was lost. He hated the snake.

Orochimaru manipulated emotionally scarred teens.

The Uchiha fucked some girls. He did not think twice of killing them when they turned against him. He killed plenty of people. But all were shinobi who knew they could fall in battle if they engaged him.

Sasuke defied Orochimaru often. He would not kill or abduct innocents. Orochimaru grudgingly accepted. He would have Sasuke's body soon. Sasuke did not think much of himself. Hate sustained him. He did what was necessary. In the end, Sasuke killed Orochimaru.

The intensity of Sasuke's memories made Inoichi stagger. The Uchiha held nothing back. Here was a young man who owned the choices he made. Was this boy really the same age as his own Ino?

"Tell me…show me Itachi."

The fire blazed brighter and another door opened. Sasuke was a young boy who envied and admired his brother. There was fierce love. Love turned into hate when Itachi left Sasuke amidst a sea of corpses. But then there was love again, after Madara's revelations. And a desire to destroy Konoha as an act of ultimate revenge. After his near fatal fight with the Hachibi, Sasuke went in search of the Konoha scrolls.

That's when Inoichi felt Sasuke's reluctance to share.

"Show me.", Inoichi demanded.

He pushed himself through the flames and discovered a face with haunting eyes.

The Hyuuga heir. He loves her.

Inoichi would not watch their intimate moments. He was surprised to realise he had developed a respect for Sasuke.

"Show me what transpired with Danzou."

Sasuke showed him. Inoichi saw the confrontation with Madara after the battle. He saw how the Hyuuga heir implanted Itachi's eyes. He saw the might of Sasuke's Susano'o in his face off with Neji. He saw them travelling to Konoha.

Inoichi retreated.

-X-X-X-

When the mind invasion was over. Sasuke opened his eyes. He looked into the thoughtful gaze of the Hokage. Inoichi looked exhausted. He seemed to be thinking deeply as he watched Sasuke. Ibiki too appeared to be pondering.

"What now?", Tsunade asked him.

Sasuke could easily avoid the question or feign ignorance. He chose not to.

"I will carve out a place for myself and shall be at peace."

Tsunade nodded.

The stone chains dissolved from his ankles. He stood up and exited the room.

-X-X-X-

"Your assessment, Ibiki?"

"He accepts his past with no regrets."

"Is he a danger to Konoha?", Tsunade asked.

"No, he is at peace."

-X-X-X-

Of course it had been too much to ask to be left in peace. Sasuke knew that, but he had still foolishly hoped. They were all there waiting for him. The Konoha Twelve minus the Hyuuga siblings. And himself of course.

"Sasuke!", Ino gasped.

"Bastard.", Naruto greeted him.

Sakura seemed to be too choked with emotion to say anything. Sasuke took particular note of Shikamaru's hate and became wary of the shadows the small crowd casted.

Both the Inuzuka and his pet were growling. Rock Lee's eyes shone with youthful joy. Tenten and Chouji just stared at him with a mixture of hostility and curiosity.

"Good afternoon.", Sasuke said. Because that's what you're supposed to say when you meet acquaintances in the afternoon. He was oddly pleased with his own civility in this annoying situation.