Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. NARUTO is Masashi Kishimoto's. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed real. Any resemblance to any stories is entirely coincidental.

Author's Notes:

I would like to thank everyone who read and reviewed chapter 1 of Danketsu and those who reviewed chapter 2 of Kinjirareta Ai. I am also glad to see the constructive criticisms of some reviewers as they made me check and think of ways to improve my writing skills and bad grammar.

As for those who have questions on the story, unfortunately you have to wait for the answers of your questions to unfold (unless you want to be spoiled). Still, I will welcome more questions because maybe your questions are the plot holes which I may have missed. That's why, keep 'em coming, dear readers!

If you want to know more details on the status of the stories, you may read it on my profile here in fanfiction. Do remember that this is Alternate Universe. Though there is chakra here and other abilities found in the Naruto World, Danketsu belongs to an entirely different universe.

So, without further ado, welcome to chapter 2!

If you see any grammar and sentence structure mistakes, please do tell me. Thanks a lot!

wapulos'

Danketsu

Chapter 2:

The Plan

¸.·ˆ¯)(¯ˆ·.¸

Along the edge of the Fire Forest located near the eastern borders of the Leaf country lies the majestic and grand Uchiha manor. It was hailed as one of the grandest manor in the entire country of Leaf. As a rival clan of the Hyuuga, belonging among the top 5 noble and influential clans in Leaf country, the Uchiha clan never held back in spending money for their reputation and glory. True to its reputation, the Uchiha clan which was one of the clans in the country with a strong militant force had its manor protected with elite soldiers.

Fortunately, the prodigy of the main house of the Hyuuga clan, Hanabi Hyuuga, found a loophole in the security an hour ago.

Standing by a tree meters away from the edge of the forest, Hanabi observed the manor and its surroundings with her keen all seeing white eyes - a bloodline trait belonging to the Hyuuga clan. At the age of 13, three years after awakening her bloodline trait, Hanabi Hyuuga's Byakugan could see 50 meters away. Accomplishing such feat was a mark of a genius. Yet, this feat was still still lacking for today's mission.

Hanabi clicked her tongue in frustration as she clenched her left fist resting upon the bark of the tree.

If only she had practiced more, if only she could see kilometers away, she could have seen how her sister was faring right now. She wouldn't have felt this helpless right now. It had been an hour already since Hinata entered the Uchiha manor with her help. She couldn't help but to worry. Was her sister successful? Or did she fail?

Hanabi felt a lump in her throat at the idea of her sister failing. What would happen if she did fail? Will she be able to escape? Or will she be captured?

Hanabi shook her head, her attempt to shake her thoughts off of her mind.

"No. Nee-chan cannot fail. She will definitely succeed." She said, trying to convince herself. She just couldn't bring herself to think of the possibility of Hinata failing. The idea that her eldest sister will be taken captive would definitely make her faint. What would she do if that ever had happened? She will die in shame as a Hyuuga and as Hinata's only sibling.

Suddenly, a sound different from the ambient sound pressure of the forest reached her ears. The sound was located meters away from where she was standing. It came from the edge of the forest near the manor, indicating that someone had entered the forest.

Alert, Hanabi crouched low and hid herself behind the tree. With sweat trickling down her forehead, Hanabi made herself as silent as the air around her. She could've prepared to attack instead of hiding. However, her sister needed her. If her sister failed, how else will Hinata be able to escape if her position here was compromised. Hence, Hanabi had no choice but to give it her all to remain hidden regardless of her ability to fight.

Hanabi focused her attention to any sound in the surroundings. Aside from the chirps of the birds above and the sound of the leaves dancing along with the wind, Hanabi heard footsteps nearby. With some trepidation, Hanabi's heart jumped at the sound of the footsteps stopping near the tree where she had been hiding. She gritted her teeth as she steeled herself of what was to come.

A minute seemed an hour. To her relief, the person decided to walk away.

To her surprise, however, just when she was about to relax, the person stopped a few meters away before saying, "Come out. I know you're there."

Her heart pounding, Hanabi remained silent and ignorant. She persisted her charade of hiding as if she never heard what the person had just said.

'Go away. Just go away,' Hanabi prayed.

Unfortunately, the heavens didn't hear her prayers for the person never moved amidst the silence of his opponent. Hanabi planned on continuing her charade when the person suddenly said, "Your heiress fainted."

With bulging eyes and with a heart-throbbing cry, Hanabi impulsively jumped out from her hiding place and formed her fighting stance before the person, growling out, "What did you do to her, you bastard!?"

Before her stood a young man with his back facing her. Trying to find out who the person was, Hanabi observed his outfit and his demeanor. On the back of his collared long sleeve shirt can be found the well known symbol of the Uchiha clan. By his waist at the side, a sheathed sword hanged. The young man stood rather confidently, bearing a noble aura.

Seeing the familiarity, Hanabi tried to recall who among the Uchiha clan dressed so. Though she could guess, the agitated Hanabi Hyuuga didn't say anything about it as she waited for the bastard to respond.

The man raised his hands as if surrendering from a fight.

"You're Hanabi Hyuuga, aren't you?"

"Answer me, teme!" Hanabi snapped at the question as her eyes squinted.

She was dying to attack this bastard now. How dare this person act so calmly before her. If he had already known who she was, he would have known of her reputation as a reckless and impulsive young lady. He should've definitely thought of never crossing with her. Yet, this bastard treated her as if she was just a child with temper.

"Nothing. She fainted on her own."

At his words, Hanabi's eyes widened in disbelief.

What? Her sister fainted on her own? Why? Why did she choose to faint now? What caused her to faint? Who caused her to faint? Was it the Uchiha bastard head? Or was it someone else? What the bloody hell happened?

Her mind was filled with questions. Her eyebrows folded when the man before her had said, "Now, what are you going to do, Hyuuga gaki*?" (brat)

The young man turned around.

Eyes widened in surprise, Hanabi Hyuuga was perplexed at the sight of the Uchiha clan head before her. She had her guess of who he was, but it was after all only a guess. She was doubtful, thinking that there was no way the Uchiha clan head would move by himself to confront her. She had thought he would have sent someone in his stead. To her amazement, the one standing confidently and rather relaxed before her was the one and only Sasuke Uchiha, with an indifferent face no less as if there was no fight-frenzy Hanabi Hyuuga in front of him.

Speechless and mind blank, Hanabi couln't help but to gawk at Sasuke.

Indeed, what was she to do now that Hinata fainted? Her mind had stopped working for a moment. Thankfully, the person in front of her got her attention with his words.

"You can't wait for her to wake up. Your clan will be searching for you too."

At the implications of his words, Hanabi's eyes narrowed as she threateningly growled with clenched teeth,"Teme.. Are you telling me to leave?"

To her annoyance, the bastard easily nodded his head in response, and further irritated her with his nonchalant words. "That would be the wise thing to do, yes."

Immediately, Hanabi responded angrily. "No! You're going to capture her as a prisoner. I can never let that happen!"

What a nerve! There was no way she would leave her sister to be captured. That would be detrimental to the clan. The Uchiha would once again gain the upper hand. With her cousin held captive in the Uchiha dungeon, now her sister will be added to the list of hostages? Hanabi could never allow that to happen.

"Whether you like it or not, she penetrated the Uchiha manor filled with soldiers alone and is now lying on a bed unconscious as we speak." Sasuke Uchiha shrugged his shoulders. "She is pretty much a prisoner already, don't you think?"

"You dare?" Hanabi snarled with fiery eyes glaring at the Uchiha head, wishing to strike him dead.

At her threatening stance, Sasuke smirked. It seemed that his future sister-in-law was indeed feisty as her reputation stated. Her stubborn stance showed that she had a backbone. Even though she was standing before the Uchiha clan head who was older than her and more powerful than her in terms of fighting abilities, she did not cower in fear nor did she plan on compromising. Such a promising sister-in-law indeed.

Not bad.

However, he had his own agenda, and Hanabi Hyuuga fit in just well. He could use her along with his plans. He had to tame her and win her cooperation first.

With such thoughts running in his mind, Sasuke smirked as he discouraged her, "There is nothing you can do here unless you would choose to risk facing a battalion of Uchiha warriors alone."

He spread his arms and loosely said without any tone of challenge, "You are free to try."

Hanabi's eye twitched, clearly irked. Though Sasuke's stance was lax, Hanabi's guard remained on. She didn't relax but was tense all throughout their conversation, as if she was expecting that everything was a ruse made by the Uchiha for her to let her guard down. Remembering the Uchiha clan head's infamous reputation as a cunning and shrewd leader, Hanabi narrowed her eyes as she wondered what his actions really meant.

"Or maybe you're thinking of bringing with you a battalion of Hyuuga warriors to save your sister?"

The side of Hanabi's mouth twitched this time. Indeed, that plan came to her mind, though it was but for a moment.

"But wouldn't that expose the capture of your sister instead? It would be a shame to tarnish her reputation." Sasuke exaggeratedly sighed as he shook his head. "The Hyuuga Heiress.. venturing alone in the Uchiha manor. What would the people think?"

"What are you proposing, you scum?" Hanabi asked with gnashed teeth, knowing that the Uchiha had a point. This was the reason why that plan was entertained in her thoughts fleetingly. She had indeed thought of the consequences which would be most disadvantageous to her sister.

She was in a pinch. Going to attack to retrieve her sister was impossible. Asking for help from her clan was all the more disadvantageous for Hinata and for herself. She had no idea what to do anymore. She felt angry at her own helplessness and weakness. If only she was more powerful, she could've saved her sister right away. Now, she had no choice but to hear her enemy out.

To her surprise, Sasuke's indifferent and easygoing face became serious at her question, as if he was waiting for her to say those words of compromise to show her that he wasn't playing with her at all.

"I'm telling you to leave, brat."

Hanabi was about to retort only to be interrupted by Sasuke who had no intention to let her speak impulsively.

"Think of an excuse for your sister's disappearance and cover for her for a few days. You have my word that she will be back safe and sound," Sasuke gravely said.

With his word of promise, Hanabi sneered at the Uchiha head.

"Why should I trust the word of an Uchiha?" She asked emphasizing the last word as if it was a curse.

With all of what happened between the two clans, Hanabi knew that the enmity between the two was nearly irreconcilable. It would be foolishness for a Hyuuga to trust an Uchiha. And here he was asking to be trusted? How naive. There was no way Hanabi could trust an Uchiha, and a clan head no less.

"You have no other choice." Amidst the sneer and the mocking tone of Hanabi's voice, Sasuke's face remained solemn, without any hint of offense.

At his words, Hanabi was silent. Her eyes bore on the facial expression of Sasuke. She was trying to see any sign of deceit. She was careful as she was dealing with an Uchiha, and one who was reputed for his slyness and ruthlessness at that. Hanabi knew that she was treading on fragile ground if she was to go along with his words. There was great risk involved.

However, she also admitted that Sasuke's words made sense, and that his words were indeed correct: She had no choice.

She clicked her tongue in frustration before she released her fighting stance. She closed her eyes tight as if struggling one last time inwardly with her decision before saying with a sigh, "Fine."

She completely missed the triumphant smirk on the Uchiha's face before it disappeared. She was busy with her own musings, saying, "But you better treat her well, you bastard.. and for Neji-nii-"

She never finished her sentence, however, as she was distracted by Sasuke's actions. She gawked at Sasuke's form when he suddenly bit his thumb and pressed his hands on the ground. With her all seeing white eyes, she could see an amount of chakra gathering in the hand of the Uchiha head, before a smoke arose and a 'poof' was heard. Hanabi's mouth was wide open and her eyes sparkled when she saw a hawk appeared.

How could she not be amazed? This was the legendary summoning technique! This technique was supposedly only a legend. No one in the entire world should be able to do it. But now, Hanabi had just witnessed it! How could this be possible?

'W-what is he?' Hanabi thought as she continued to stare wonderingly at the Uchiha clan head.

This was bad news for the Hyuuga clan. Not only was the Uchiha clan head devious, he was powerful beyond words! Furthermore, he was only 19 years old, and he had just started his term as the clan leader a year ago. Wasn't this a given that the Uchiha clan was already steps ahead of the Hyuuga clan?

Hanabi gulped at the thought. However, Hanabi clearly understood one thing.

This was Sasuke Uchiha's way to show her that he could be trusted. Since he carelessly and easily exposed this technique which could have been one of his trump cards to her, he was actually telling her with his actions that he trusted her.

There was a saying that if you want to be trusted, you need to trust first.

Knowing and appreciating fully well the actions of Sasuke, Hanabi's heart was finally settled.

Yes. She will trust him this time. She will believe in his words. Her sister will come back safe and sound.

Without any reason to remain on guard, Hanabi deactivated her eye technique. Seeing her actions, Sasuke faintly smiled. It seemed that he had won her cooperation. This was good news.

Sasuke, with the summoned hawk on his arm, grabbed a small feather at the back of the hawk and plucked it out. This earned him a flinch from his summoned animal though it continued to remain docile on his arm. Sasuke then turned to Hanabi and walked closer to her before extending his hand with the feather to the young lady who was staring at him in awe.

"Carry this with you all of the time." Sasuke said. Hanabi accepted the feather and held it with both of her hands. To Sasuke's amusement, the young Hyuuga looked like she was holding a treasure in her hands.

She couldn't believe that she was touching a feather of a summoned animal. She blinked many times with her eyes strained on the feather in her hands, as if trying to convince herself that this was real. Sasuke's words awoke her from her daze.

"Yokai will be able to smell it miles away. I will send him to you every time I will send a message. Expect to receive one tomorrow."

Hanabi nodded, mesmerized at the sight of Sasuke fondly petting the hawk on his arm. Does this mean that she will see the summoned animal frequently? Hanabi couldn't help but feel giddy at the idea.

Seeing her enthralled expression, Sasuke chuckled.

His future sister-in-law was too damn cute. He could tell that she was completely amazed by him by now. Now that everything was settled, Sasuke had no reason to stay. After all, an unconscious woman was lying on a bed in the room beside his as of this moment. He wouldn't want to miss her waking up. He would rather be on his way back to the manor to greet his future wife a good morning.

The side of his mouth lifted up. This day was interesting indeed.

Bent on following his heart's desire, he cleared his throat in an attempt to catch Hanabi Hyuuga's attention.

The moment Hanabi lifted her eyes back at him, he nodded at her and said, "Well then," as his farewell before turning around to head back to his abode.

Hearing his words and seeing his retreating form, Hanabi finally got her tongue back and remembered her question which had been plaguing her mind before the Uchiha appeared. Thus, she hurriedly called out to the Uchiha clan head in panic, afraid of missing the chance for her question to be answered.

"Wait!" She called out.

When Sasuke stopped and turned around to look at her with his eyebrow lifted up in response at her call, he asked, "What?"

Now having gained Sasuke's undivided attention, Hanabi fidgeted. She was suddenly shy.

'Like sister like sister, huh,' Sasuke thought. He was curious as to what had caused this feisty young lady to be nervous. What could it be?

Still, Sasuke was patient at Hanabi. She was his future sister-in-law. It wouldn't hurt to start to spoil her a little bit and to be patient towards her. Yes. He would definitely start spoiling her from now on too.

Sasuke actually had fun just by looking at her expressions. She looked adorable with her struggling expression. To Sasuke's astonishment, Hanabi suddenly bent her waist with her straight back before him.

"P-please consider Hinata-neechan's proposal." Hanabi loudly requested.

Though Sasuke couldn't see her face, he knew how flustered she was by the red-tinted ears peeking out of her hair locks. Wanting her to discontinue her bowing to him, Sasuke urged her to stop by saying, "No need to bow. I already agreed to it."

Hanabi's body instantly straightened as she looked wide eyed at Sasuke. Her face said it all. She was totally in disbelief with what she had just heard.

With a bewildered but a thankful expression on her face, she bowed before Sasuke again.

She couldn't help but grin foolishly as she thought, 'Nee-chan, your plan worked!' She was so happy that she couldn't stop her mouth from stretching wide. It was a good thing she was bowing in gratitude. It hid her goofy grin.

Seeing his future sister-in-law's actions, Sasuke's mouth couldn't help but to twitch. He didn't know whether to laugh or to grimace.

There was no need to bow because it was all in accordance to his scheme in the first place. He bet that she will freak out once she found out what the deal between him and Hinata Hyuuga was. That would really be something to look forward to. Not only would he look forward to her reaction. More importantly, he definitely would look forward to the Hyuuga clan's reaction the moment they will know of their plans.

Seeing the Hyuuga clan helpless and frustrated would surely give him satisfaction.

He licked his lips at the thought as he turned around and continued on his way, leaving Hanabi Hyuuga on her own without delay.

It wouldn't be too long now for the fruition of his plans to come. When the time comes that the whole Hyuuga clan would know of this plan, it wouldn't be exaggerated to say that the Hyuuga elders would vomit blood out from their mouths. At that moment, he would surely revel at their helplessness.

This will be his vengeance.

¸.·ˆ¯)(¯ˆ·.¸

The sound of tree crickets frolicking above the ground and the sound of rushing water indicating the stream ahead caused the Hyuuga heiress to sigh in relief. It seemed that she was now standing in a hidden underground below the ancient trees a small distance away from the Hyuuga compound. Darkness surrounded her except for the small light emitted by the burning torch held in her right hand. With her other left hand rested upon the cavern walls, she looked behind her and said with a barely audible voice, "Wait here. I will go check first."

After having heard a grunt behind her in response to her suggestion, she extended her torch towards the person. Once the torch was taken from her, she then proceeded to slowly climb the inclining ground towards the exit.

The exit of the narrow passageway was blocked by a thick amount of Silvergrass. Carefully pushing them away in order to see and observe the surroundings, she finally saw a glimpse of the bark of a tree. She held on a thick root beside her and pushed herself up.

It took awhile for her eyes to grasp the surroundings around her. Right above her stood a magnificent old tree. Its thick and firm branches spread out far and wide, blocking the light of the moon and of the stars. Right before her, bunches of Silvergrass standing tall on the ground swayed along with the nightly wind. There were thick vines of a different plant hanging from the branches of the tree falling right on the grasses which completely sealed off the small radius of the area around the entrance of the tunnel from the outside.

It had surprised her to find a narrow but hidden passageway straight from the Hyuuga dungeons to the entrance of the remote forest bordering the Hyuuga compound, just meters away from her herb garden.

No wonder, though. The hole of the tunnel was deeply hidden. There was little possibility of the Hyuuga guards to find this place since they had focused on the more obvious points around the manor to keep watch for. However, this was good news to her companions right now.

After sighing in relief, the Hyuuga heiress slowly went back down to the underground passageway which could only fit two persons at a time and turned around to face her company.

Right before her stood her two male companions. One of them, with a spiky almond hair, was a middle aged man who had ink jet colored eyes. He had a long scar on his right cheek. This man was a recipient of Hinata's medical care the moment she saw him for the first time in the prison halls of the Hyuuga dungeon. She remembered how his bloodied face looked like along with his attire drenched with dried blood when she first saw him. He was badly wounded that it caused her heart to jump in fear for the man's possible demise. He was one of the prisoners who had the most injuries when he arrived in the dungeon.

During the time she spent in taking care of him, she learned of his name. He called himself Haruma. He was taken captive as a prisoner who was interrogated and tortured by the Hyuuga warriors. Haruma was found to have trespassed in one of the business buildings of the Hyuuga clan located in one of the neighboring towns at the outskirts of the Leaf country. As he was perceived to be a spy, he was pursued relentlessly. He was taken to the Hyuuga compound interrogation room once he was successfully captured.

Unfortunately, for a month, the Hyuuga clan never found out anything substantial from his mouth regardless of the torture he had received. Thus, they left him half-dead in a deeply guarded cell at the eastern corner of the Hyuuga dungeons, a place where the walls had been enchanted with spells to neutralize and to seal the abilities of someone who can use chakra.

Fortunately, Hinata found him when she was making her way to his cell out of curiosity.

Ever since she was a mere 10 year old girl, she had been visiting the dungeons. Since the guards were quite fond of her kind demeanor and of her thoughtfulness towards them, frequently bringing them food to share with and spending time in knowing who and how they were, they had allowed her since then to venture in the dungeons without informing those in the higher ups. The Hyuuga dungeons was in fact left without any care by the elders and by those who were in authority in the clan. It was known as a place where those prisoner who were deemed useless were left to wither and die. Therefore, the guards never thought of bringing such insignificant information to their superior. It was useless. The Hyuuga heiress was also completely harmless. There was no way her visits would become troublesome to them. Hence, they complacently allowed her access to the dungeons.

They also completely turned a blind eye to the fact that the heiress would usually bring over a box of herbs after her first few visits to the dungeon. This frequently happened until they became completely used to it as years passed by.

Five years later, Hinata came upon Haruma who was badly wounded. Out of the compassion from her heart, she tended to his wounds often in a week until he was fully healed three months later.

Hinata nodded at him and said, "Haruma-san, it is safe to go up."

Haruma nodded in response before handing the burning torch to the person behind him. Once his hand was free from the torch, he faced the heiress once again and said, "Thank you for everything, Hinata-san. I owe you a lot."

Hinata shook her head as she mumbled out, "No. It was nothing, Haruma-san. I am glad to be of help. May you have a safe journey back to your homeland and family." She gave him a faint smile.

At the sight of her smile, Haruma hesitated. However, it was only a fleeting expression on his face, which caused Hinata to blink her eyes in confusion. Finally, Haruma smiled and said, "Farewell, Hinata-san."

Hinata moved to the side with her back pressed hard against the stone wall of the tunnel, giving way for Haruma to pass her by. Once he was out of her view, she turned around to look at the last person in her company who was currently holding on to the burning torch.

A lump suddenly threatened to hinder her throat as her eyes rested upon the visage of a young man before her. She just realized how she had been ignoring the throttle in her throat since the time they had begun to execute the escape plan. Now as he stood before her only feet and moments apart from disappearing from her life from now on, her eyes couldn't help but sting. Her gaze turned soft as she took the opportunity to caress his facial features with her eyes for one last time.

His mid length burgundy hair was neatly rested on his back. It was a wonder how his hair remained neat regardless of how they had hunched over here and there in this narrow but long passageway to reach this place. His bristly dark eyebrows which sloped downwards in a solemn expression, paired with his black tinted eyes made his face manly. Now that his face was clean from his previously bushy beard, and healed from his battered wounds, Hinata felt her heart throb. He wasn't one whom the women in her generation would call as handsome and attractive. However, to Hinata, he was causing her heart to palpitate.

This young man who stood in front of her was Touma. He arrived a week after Haruma was sent to the dungeons. He was captured by the Hyuuga clan for trying to steal from the travelling merchants who were working for the Hyuuga clan. He was a bandit. Unfortunately for him, their plan to steal the expensive merchandise of the Hyuuga clan failed. Instead, most of them died while only a few of them got to live and were thrown to the dungeon. When Hinata saw him at the other side of the dungeon, she tended to his wounds. He was badly beaten up. His group of bandits was notorious in their area, thus earning him this savage treatment from the Hyuuga soldiers. When she saw him for the first time, she saw a rugged looking dirty and wounded man. But now, he looked restored to health, which gave her a sense of achievement.

The first time she reached out to help him, he was rather cold towards her. He had rejected her help many times with his eyes filled with contempt and loathing. It made her wonder as to what happened to him as to elicit such a hate-filled reaction from him every time she would offer her assistance. Fortunately, after a few weeks, he began to warm up to her and slowly gave her the opportunity to help him. She was sure that it was her persistent nature that won him over.

Yet, unknowingly, her heart slowly grew fond of him. She didn't realize it until the last moments of their time together whilst she was helping him and Haruma to escape.

Hence the reason of the feeling of melancholy in her heart.

However, with a flash of determination in her eyes, she swallowed her unshed tears and the lump in her throat before saying with a smile, "The torch, Touma-kun." She extended her hand to the man before her, waiting for him to hand over the torch to her.

Yes. More than feeling sad of their separation, she was wholeheartedly glad. She knew that he would rot his life away if he had stayed in the dungeon until his deathbed. She was actually happy for his freedom.

Touma's hard gaze upon her face caused her to feel a little bit flustered. It was as if he was trying to catch something on her face. Her smile nearly went crooked.

"Hinata," Touma's deep voice said.

She knew he was about to thank her. However, she didn't want to break down in front of him. That would be embarrassing. She wanted him to remember her happy face for she truly was happy for him regardless of the sadness at his departure. Therefore, she cut him short and interrupted him by stepping forward closer to him to reach out to the torch held in his hand. After having grabbed the burning stick which had served as their light to guide their path, she stepped back to her previous position, and softly said, "This is goodbye then, Touma-kun."

Touma's eyes glazed as he continually stared at her. Then when she thought he had moved forward to pass her by, she was caught unaware as she felt warmth encircling around the wrist of her free hand. Startled at the contact, Hinata's eyes instantly followed only to see Touma's hand tightly wrapped around her wrist. The warmth from his hand penetrated her cold skin, causing her heart to feel warm.

"Come with me, Hinata."

At his urging, Hinata's gasped in surprise, lifting her head up to look at him with her widened eyes. The sight of his earnest and solemn eyes which were slightly covered with a lock of his burgundy hair which had moved from his sudden movement caused her heart to jump.

She knew that he knew that she clearly understood what he had asked of her. She bit her lower lip to stop the turmoil in her heart. She was struggling inwardly. She was happy to hear of what he had just said because it clearly portrayed that she must have meant something to him. However, at the same time, she was torn for she knew that she couldn't leave her family irresponsibly. She was the heiress. Though her bloodline trait had not activated yet, she was trained since she was young to be the clan leader of her people. She just couldn't leave everything behind no matter how much her heart had been beating wildly for this man.

With a strong conviction, she shook her head in response. With her eyes slowly brimming with tears, and with a lopsided smile, she reasoned. "I can't. I can't leave my family, Touma-kun."

She slowly set her wrist free from his hold. She turned her back on him to hide her tear-filled eyes, and firmly said, "Besides, I am needed here."

Yes. She may had been useless to the Hyuuga clan because of her inability to awaken the all seeing white eyes, but she can still do something for others. She can still help out those who needed it without any biases, and without hesitations, just like her mother when she was still alive. She would rather stay for the sake of others than run away for her own happiness. That was what her mother had taught her.

"Go now, Touma-kun, whilst you still have the darkness to cover you as you journey outside the perimeters of the Hyuuga compound."

When she heard a scuffle of feet behind her, she steeled her heart ready to see his departing form. Only, she thought wrong. She stood stiff when she had felt a pair of slender but firm arms surround her petite body. The sound of breath permeated from her right ear, making her ear tingle at the close proximity.

Time seemed to stop as she held her breath when Touma's soft and low voice resounded in her ear.

"I will definitely see you again. Wait for me, Hinata."

Hearing his vow, a tear escaped from its fences of eye lashes and trickled down past on her cheek to her chin. Then just as fast as he had embraced her from behind, he let her go, walked passed her side and climbed towards the exit. All the while leaving Hinata to stare at his burgundy colored hair until he disappeared.

He didn't look back. If he did, he would've seen her tear-stricken face.

Hinata's eyes fluttered opened. Her eyes dazed as she had just woken from her dream.

A dream?

A tear fell from her eye as she continued to stare at the ceiling above her. She touched her cheek with her hand only to discover that it was moist. She realized that she had silently cried in her sleep.

No. It wasn't a dream. It was a memory.

"Touma-kun.." She whispered with a broken voice.

She knew why that memory appeared in her dreams.

It was nearly three years since he had told her to wait for him. Yet, here she was, just recently proposed to another man for marriage.

Her quick decision from earlier suddenly sank in her mind. At that heated and panicked moment, she proposed to the Uchiha clan head completely forgetting about a man who left her with a promise in the past.

What was she thinking? Proposing out of panic. Out of impulse.

Yet, she couldn't help but to feel quite torn at the situation. If only she had a choice, she would have continued on waiting for the one her heart longed for. Unfortunately, she had no choice. Her dearly beloved cousin was now a prisoner of the Uchiha clan. Her father would not do anything, always thinking of what would benefit the clan. If she didn't move, if she had not proposed, there wouldn't be hope for her cousin to be set free. She just couldn't take it.

Neji Hyuuga was her closest relative left. With her mother dead, and with her uncle deceased, she and Hanabi were left with a cousin. He was her bodyguard and also her closest friend. He supported her convictions, and helped her do things in the dark, such as to help those who were in the prison walls in the Hyuuga dungeons. He was also her sparring partner in taijutsu, helping her body become stronger to make up for what she had lacked.

She just could't lose him.

Not only that, but when Sasuke Uchiha agreed to her proposal, a hope for a greater purpose awakened in her heart at that moment. The hope of being able to stop the blood feud of these two clashing clans gave her a sense of greater purpose.

Since she was young, she had been focusing on the little things she could do to stand for her convictions. But that was it - little things. Her actions had never made big changes. It did help alleviate her bitter feelings towards the blood feud, and it did gave her a sense satisfaction. However, hidden deep within her heart lingered the desire to do more, and to make a difference in the world she was living in. Sasuke Uchiha's answer to her proposal awakened that ambition.

Therefore, at this moment, the Hyuuga heiress was greatly torn.

She pressed her palms on her eyes, trying to block the tears falling down, as she bit her lower lips and silently cried.

'Touma-kun. What should I do?' She bitterly and helplessly thought in her indecision.

A sudden knock at the door caused her emotions to burst asunder.

She hurriedly wiped her tears away using the blanket covering her body, and abruptly sat on the bed while waiting for the door to open. When the door opened, the Uchiha clan head smoothly went inside, looked at her form on the bed and said, "Awake already?"

"Uchiha.." Hinata dazedly muttered in her breath as she saw him walk closer to where she was.

Realizing how inappropriate the situation was, Hinata suddenly decided to leave the comforts of the bed, and stood before Sasuke could reach her side. Her actions caused Sasuke to pause and to discontinue on moving forward. Instead, he greeted her with a small smirk, and said, "Good morning," clearly amused at the sight of the panicking Hyuuga heiress.

After which, clear memories of what had transpired between them flashed through her mind.

"I-I-I... I'm sorry for fainting earlier, Uchiha-san." Hinata apologized. It had been a long time since she last fainted. Yet now, just a few months left before her coming-of-age ceremony, she had fainted once again. It was embarrassing, thus she apologized. She didn't like it when she became a burden to others. It had always been her trying to find ways on how to help other people instead.

Now truly awake, and remembering his acceptance of their deal, it wouldn't be appropriate to address him without the proper honorifics. Now that they were to become partners with a mission, Hinata instantly let go of her previous treatment and prejudices towards him. Though she couldn't just trust him easily, the fact that they made a deal was a fact that she couldn't take lightly. Hence, her treatment towards the Uchiha clan head became different now that they had become allies.

"How long have I slept?" Hinata asked, suddenly curious how much time she had spent on sleeping.

After a moment of which the Uchiha clan head was just staring at her face, he moved forward to the direction of the small round table in the room near the window and said, "Only an hour."

Grabbing the pitcher on the table, Sasuke took a cup and filled it with liquid. Then, he turned around and moved closer to where Hinata was standing by the bed.

"Water?" He offered the cup of water to Hinata.

Realizing that her throat and mouth was dry, she accepted his offer, gently took the cup from his hand and said, "Thank you, Uchiha-san."

Sasuke nodded at her before heading towards the round table again and sat on one of the chairs available. He was rather relaxed even at the fact that there was only the two of them inside a closed room while Hinata was inwardly agitated enough at the situation. Seeing him lax and easygoing made her frown disapprovingly. However, she never commented on it. In fact, she immediately went to business.

"About earlier.." Hinata started carefully.

"Oh, yes. Your offer."

Hinata bit her lip, drank the water from the cup in one big gulp, and patted her chest a few times.

Yep. It was embarrassing to hear those words from his mouth, alright. Hinata had to pat herself up to bravery.

She approached the Uchiha head and gracefully took the seat across him with a bearing of an heiress, completely aware of his obsidian eyes boring holes on her form. Gripping the cup in her hands, she mustered up more courage, and meekly asked, "Did-did you really mean it? Your response, I mean."

He nodded.

"Seriously? You... you would seriously accept it?" She asked with care.

As she had never dealt with a person like Sasuke Uchiha before, she was doing her best to tread on carefully in their conversations. She hoped to not disappoint him, which may lead him to take back his words of agreement. Thus, Hinata knew that she had to treat this situation and opportunity delicately.

To her relief but at the same time to her agony, he replied, "I wouldn't have agreed otherwise."

After failing to gouge out a hint of lie from his expression, Hinata sighed in submission and defeat, and said with her head bowed low, "Then.. please take care of me, Uchiha-san."

There was no backing out now. She was the one who proposed and he accepted it. She was the one who initiated. Therefore, she had to see it through. As she was a person who would take her responsibilities and her words seriously, she was now tied to her decision not only because of her cousin but also because of her own words. Though she was obviously torn, she can only swallow her wavering emotions in surrender to the situation.

Hinata heard Sasuke sigh afterwards. She saw him ruffle his hair as if in exasperation.

"About that," he asked with his eyes solemnly staring at hers. "What is your plan?" Hinata blinked at his words.

"I believe you know what I speak of." Hinata squinted her eyes as she continued to listen to Sasuke.

"Our parents and our clans will never agree to our deal. They will do everything to oppose it." Hinata nodded, completely agreeing with what he said.

With finality, Sasuke concluded, "Since you were the one who offered it, I would like to know what plan you had in mind."

Hinata bit her lips again.

This was it. This was the most difficult part in this conversation. Yet, Hinata knew that she couldn't avoid it. This conversation was a must for their alliance to work and to be fruitful. That was why she ignored the heat that rising from her heart up to her throat, and which ended up to her head.

Her face was undeniably red. Good thing that the Uchiha clan head didn't comment about it.

She boldly took the pitcher on the table without asking for permission, filled her empty cup with water, and gulped the liquid down her throat at once. Trying to diminish the heat she felt that was rising from her body, she had breathed in deeply and said "I understand."

Sasuke lifted up his eyebrow. He remained silent nevertheless, egging her to continue.

"My clan has a weakness." Without further ado, Hinata admitted. "As you have already known - just like everyone else in the country - of the structure within the Hyuuga clan, the main house rules over the branch house. The main house overpowers and controls those who belong to the branch house. That is how powerful a Hyuuga belonging to the main house is."

Hinata saw Sasuke nod at her words. He was after all the Uchiha clan head. He must had been taught of this information on the Hyuuga clan since he was young.

"However, unknown to the public eye, the main house has a weakness." After saying these words, she saw that Sasuke's eyes were narrowed, completely focused on her explanation. After some hesitation, Hinata continued. "We could only reproduce sparingly. A Hyuuga woman can only give birth to a few children, with a maximum number of 2 children. Therefore, a new life birthed out from us is considered to be very important and must be preserved."

Hinata paused. Her fingers are now fidgeting around the cup. She had become more nervous than before.

"Hence, even if I am indeed counted as useless to the Hyuuga clan without the all seeing white eyes, I am still vital as a woman and as an offspring of the main house. My father and the Hyuuga elders will surely think carefully of what to do if I will become pregnant." Hinata ceased once again. Her throat suddenly felt dry when she thought she saw a flash passed through Sasuke's eyes.

Why was her throat dry all of a sudden? She had already drank two cups of water.

After clearing her throat, she explained albeit courageously, "My child will ought to be overseen by the clan even if I were to marry out of the clan. This is usually the reason why my clan opt to allow the young generation to marry their cousins, so that there wouldn't be any complications on who could oversee the offspring."

Oh, who could save her from this situation? Where was her sister who could confidently explain such laws?

On the second thought, it was actually better that her sister was not present. She couldn't imagine the look on Hanabi's face when she would hear what Hinata had just placed herself into.

Shaking off her musings, she persisted on explaining to the listening Uchiha head. "However, our country has a law concerning fatherless children. The illegitimate children will solely be taken cared of by the Bureau of Social Welfare. Because such law exists, my clan established a house rule."

Hinata faltered, dreading the next words that would come out of her mouth. She gulped down her saliva as she anxiously said, "If a woman of the main house was impregnated either voluntarily or even involuntarily by a man, they are to wed regardless of the engagement status of the woman and of the social and economic status of the man. If the man will not agree to the marriage or was seen unfit and unavailable to marry, the clan will find a man from the branch house to marry the woman as a concubine instead. This certainly is disadvantageous to the woman, but it would be beneficial to the clan. This is to make sure that the government will not intervene in the jurisdiction and care of the Hyuuga offspring. This will also result to the woman's white eyes to be sealed."

Sasuke's well defined eyebrows folded at her words. He looked troubled at the information he just heard.

Seeing his full attention and without any questions, Hinata continued, "This is the reason why unmarried women from the main house are heavily guarded and mostly hidden from the public. This is to prevent such a disaster from happening."

At her words, Sasuke's eyebrows and the side of his mouth quirked. His face was clearly asking her, 'Then how come you're here in my manor right now?'

When Hinata intelligibly understood his expression, she coughed. Her eyes settled anywhere other than Sasuke's face. A little bit annoyed, she tried to avoid seeing his amused and teasing expression.

"Fortunately, my guards have been complacent lately. Maybe it was due to the fact that I never strayed nor disobeyed before." She sighed.

"Also, since I have not inherited the white eyes, I cannot be sealed by the mark of the branch house. Therefore, I believe that the Hyuuga clan will not easily abandon me. They will wish to make sure that my offspring will have to be sealed with a mark if ever he or she will inherit and awaken the bloodline trait."

It was ironic that her status as a waste because of her inability to awaken her bloodline trait was now to her advantage.

The Hyuuga heiress' eyes suddenly dimmed at the thought.

"With this, they will be forced to concede to our marriage once I... once I.."

Realizing where her words was headed, the lonely thought that plagued her mind recently was now completely gone. Hinata's face became as red as a tomato as she horribly stammered.

"...once I will be i-i-impregnated by y-y-you..." Her eyes desperately avoided his hard and heated gaze, before meekly saying, "..even if they despise the Uchiha so much."

With the last bit of courage that she could muster, she concluded, "This is the plan that I came up with, Uchiha-san."

There was a deafening silence. She knew that he had completely understood her idea. This was indeed a cringeworthy idea. However, she had to be honest. This was what came to her mind when Sasuke had threatened her to leave earlier. It was certainly shameful, but she knew that it was a solid plan.

Hinata now realized how naive she was when she had brought the scroll of negotiation to the Uchiha head for reconciliation of the two clans. She thought that the scroll was a solid plan. That was the reason why she was confident that Sasuke Uchiha would certainly agree to the terms. However, it seemed that she had taken the blood feud between the clans rather lightly. Fortunately, Sasuke's rejection to her previous proposal made her reflect. When the idea popped in her mind as she was panicking from being rejected by the Uchiha, Hinata felt that everything suddenly made sense.

However, would Sasuke agree with her idea?

Sasuke's words brought her back from her thoughts.

"Are you okay with it?" Hinata's eyes blinked, confused as to what Sasuke had meant with his question. She had nothing to worry about, however, as Sasuke who clearly understood her expression added, "Being impregnated by me before a proper wedding ceremony?"

"I.." Hinata's eyes lowered and said in a soft voice, "I have no other choice. I am powerless and I had no influence. I don't have the gift of the eyes. My sister does. She will become the heiress three months from now after my coming-of-age ceremony. Furthermore, I can only think of this plan to force our parents and clans to agree to our m-marriage."

Sasuke nodded his head in understanding. Hinata, on the other hand, slightly fidgeted. She thought that Sasuke must had been doubting her resolve to see the proposal to go through. That being the case, Hinata wanted to assure him of her firm decision.

"If you are worrying that I will hesitate, don't worry. I know that I have to do this, Uchiha-san. For my cousin and to end this war." Hinata solemnly said.

Yes, she had to do this. There was no other way around this. It had already come to this point.

In fact, Sasuke's question touched her heart. Ever since she had begun her explanation, Sasuke's first question was about her. It made her think that the Uchiha clan head actually cared for her. Since they had agreed to form a partnership, Hinata thought that Sasuke only cared of what would benefit him in this alliance. Yet, his first question was about her feelings towards the plan instead. It made her feel odd at this situation. He didn't even comment on the absurdity of the plan. It was as if he had already known about it and accepted it. However, there was no confirmation from him yet.

Speaking of which, what benefit will Sasuke receive from this partnership? Now that she thought about it, she couldn't come up on how Sasuke would benefit from this alliance. However, her contemplation was interrupted by the very subject of her thoughts.

"Sasuke." Hinata's eyes blinked as she looked straight at Sasuke's pair of sharp obsidian eyes.

What?

"Call me by my name."

Hinata's eyes widened in shock at his statement. Why was he asking her to call him by his name? In less than half a day, she had already changed her address to him from one without honorifics to one with honorifics, and now he suddenly asked her to call him by his name? Wasn't he expecting too much from her?

Sasuke shrugged nonchalantly at Hinata's expression before slightly smirking at her.

"Since we will be intimate soon, don't you think we need to get used to calling each other by our names, Hinata?"

Hinata morbidly gasped, totally shaken at Sasuke's words of confirmation. She was caught unprepared. Her feet tingled, her resolve slipping and she suddenly felt like running away at this very moment. At the sound of her name from his very own lips, though, a sense of warmth rushed forth from her chest to her neck and finally landing upon her face. Her face was so red that anytime Sasuke thought her head would burst from the steam. So Sasuke had no choice but to let out a series of coughs, attempting to hide his laugh at her predicament.

Had he overdone it? She wouldn't run away now, would she?

Striving to save the Hyuuga heiress from reddening further, Sasuke decided to change the topic, cleared his throat and asked with a serious face, "So, when shall we execute the plan?"

His words didn't help at all. How was it possible that she became redder than she previously had become?

Sasuke was surprised when the struggling Hyuuga heiress suddenly raised her hand, as if to tell him to hold his horses, and asked, "Where's the restroom?" Sasuke speechlessly pointed towards a door near the bed, and soundlessly gaped at the retreating figure of his future wife before she disappeared behind closed doors.

"Come on, Hinata. You started this. You can't run. Face it courageously!" Inside the restroom, Hinata talked to her reflection on the wide mirror in front of her.

The moment she stepped into the restroom, she didn't pay heed to her surroundings. Her focus was on the mirror by the sink. Immediately, she approached the mirror to berate herself.

That was not good. She nearly said some words earlier out of impulse which would have given away her small desire to run away and to turn against her word. That was a close call. She had to set herself right. She had to be bold and courageous. She had been so bold as to penetrate the Uchiha manor and to propose marriage to the Uchiha clan leader regardless of his response. Yet she was going to chicken out now that the Uchiha had agreed to the plan?

Kami, no.

With a helpless groan, she opened the faucet, collected water using her hands before splashing them to her face.

"Stop-" Splash "-turning-" Splash "-red-" Splash "-Hinata-" Splash "-Hyuuga!"

She had to take control of herself. For crying out loud, she would become an adult three months from now on. She had to stop acting like a child when topics such as marriage and being impregnated arise. If such words could cause her to be ruffled, how much more would the actual action ruffle her so?

She started this. She initiated it. She proposed it. She planned it. She had thought of it. Therefore, she had to steel her heart and embrace it.

"Yes, Hinata Hyuuga," Hinata said to herself as she looked up once again to the mirror where her vanilla colored eyes reflected back at her. "Stop being a silly, immature girl. You have to grow up and accept such a fate."

If this plan was to be successful, she would become the Uchiha clan matriarch. Thus, she had to grow up in her responses and reactions. Besides, she had no feelings for the Uchiha clan head. There was nothing to be flustered about. She would be embarrassed because it would be her first time to be intimate with another person, but that was just it. She can do this.

With a nod towards herself, she straightened her back, breathed in and out, and grabbed the towel hanging by the mirror. She wiped the excess liquid off her face, and with a straight and cool face, she went out of the door.

Approaching the Uchiha young leader, she casually asked, "What was your question again?" It was as if her episode from earlier never happened at all.

Sasuke observed her as she sat down on her chair, before asking rather articulately, "When should we execute the plan?"

As soon as Sasuke finished his words, Hinata immediately answered with a straight face, "As soon as possible." Her clenched fists on her lap gave her away though.

Sasuke let out a series of coughs again, only this time more audibly than the previous ones, with his hand covering his mouth. After a minute when Sasuke's series of coughs finally diminished, he let go of his mouth and said with a straight face, "Not that I don't agree with you, but I am curious as to why so soon."

Hinata nodded in understanding at his curiosity. Steeling herself, she thus explained, "My clan will have me wed at the start of the new year. We only have two months at most to.." At the last word though, Hinata's face paled. Dear Kami, can't she have a breather? "...t-t-try."

"Right." Sasuke said with a nod, still keeping a straight face on.

Hinata's right eye twitched. She swore that she just saw his lips quirking for a quick moment. He must be enjoying this..

She didn't focus much on his amusements, however. Since she had just overcome the hardest part of the discussion, she had to end it with all of the clarifications.

Now with a solemn expression, Hinata said, "But there is a problem, Uchi-S-S-Sasuke." She instantly changed her wording the moment she saw Sasuke disapprovingly fold his eyebrows. "My clan is cunning as well as prideful. Once I am pregnant and once they know of the truth, they will definitely choose not to expose who the father is and will decide to force me to marry as a concubine to a man in the branch house instead in order to hide the illegitimate child with the consent of the partner they will have chosen for me. Unless.." She trailed off.

"Unless they cannot hide the facts of your pregnancy from the public, and unless the father of the child will decide to bring it to the court," Sasuke continued for her, completely having grasped of the plan.

"Yes. I'm afraid they will do everything to hurriedly marry me off to someone else." Hinata nodded in confirmation.

Sasuke smirked and confidently said, "That won't happen."

"Since I am the only remaining heir of my parents," Hinata winced at his words. Sasuke didn't miss her reaction though. "..they will do everything to secure their own grandchild. And since I am the only one with the right to rule as the clan head, the Uchiha council will certainly fight for their future heir."

"You have nothing to worry about Hinata. When that time comes, leave everything to me." Sasuke assured her. He sounded quite confident and capable.

Hearing the confidence in his words, Hinata could certainly feel that Sasuke was reliable. Yet, she also remembered the words he had said which caused her to grimace.

Thinking of those words, Hinata said rather melancholy and helplessly, "Your parents.. they will surely abhor me, Sasuke." She gave him a faint lopsided smile.

Understanding her concerns, Sasuke denied her statement. "They won't." Yet, he honestly admitted, "Yes, they will be reluctant to accept you wholeheartedly. They will also be hard on you."

Hinata understood and agreed with a bob of her head.

"But, they will not spurn the mother of the next heir of the clan, even if the mother was from their enemy."

Hinata was shocked by his words and by his serious but firm expression. His words suddenly made her feel confident too.

He was just as she had heard. He was bold, cunning, confident, and influential. Such a young, handsome, and outstanding man would become her husband.

Somehow, Hinata felt a little bit better at the idea. When she proposed, she felt as if she was tortured and taken against her own will. When she was torn with indecision, she felt that she was being forced to jump over a cliff. But now, after seeing a glimpse of the character of the man she would soon be intimate with, she was comforted at the sense of security she felt from the young Uchiha clan leader. Hence, with confidence, she said, "It is to be expected."

She genuinely smiled at Sasuke, before saying, "I can take it. I may not be strong without the white eyes, but I do have a strong backbone." She wanted to assure him that she wasn't weak.

He totally agreed with her statement. She did in fact just propose to the leader of the clan which her clan had a blood feud with. She certainly had a strong backbone, that is for sure.

"This is my decision. I will face whatever trials I have to face." Hinata said with a solemn visage.

Yes. For her cousin, and for her ambition to end the blood feud, she could face any trial she had to face. But what about him? What about the trials he would be facing from holding hands with her in alliance?

Such thoughts reminded her of her previous contemplation.

Seeking to find the answer, she asked, "But, what about you, Sasuke? Your parents cannot disown you but you will surely receive their anger." She was starting to be comfortable with calling the Uchiha clan head by his name.

"You don't have to think of such matters. I am not weak, Hinata." Sasuke replied at her inquiry with a faint smile.

Seeing him smile at her for the first time, Hinata was distracted. She had seen him with his smirks, but never with a genuine smile. When his faint smile disappeared, however, Hinata went back to the topic.

"But why?" Hinata finally asked the question which had plagued her. "Why are you willing to do this? What is in it for you?"

What Hinata truly wanted to ask were the questions, 'What are you planning? Why did you agree so easily? What are your motives?'

'Could I really trust you, Sasuke?'

Hinata's bright eyes dimmed at the last question in her mind, as she stared at his face, trying to keenly observe for any hint of deceit or lie. It seemed like a long time had passed by for the both of them as they had remained gazing at each others' eyes.

Hinata knew that among all of the questions in her mind, what really bothered her was the doubt whether she could trust Sasuke or not. Although she was the one who proposed, she felt like she was at the losing end of the bargaining chip. With this plan, her future would be set. Her husband, the father of her children, her family, her clan, her future, everything would depend on him. In this partnership, she would have to sacrifice her first love, her noble reputation, her family's trust, and most of all, her body. In this alliance, her risks were greater than Sasuke's. She was at risk of being caught, being disowned, of being married off to as a concubine, of being mocked, and of being killed.

She needed a little bit of assurance to settle her fears. She craved to drill holes on Sasuke's head just to know what was in his head.

As they continued their staring contest, Hinata thought that her future husband would not answer at all. To her surprise, Sasuke ambiguously replied, "Because it is what you wished for."

Unbelief marred Hinata's delicate face.

Before Hinata could ask further, Sasuke stood up and went towards the door saying, "My room is right next door. You know where to find me if you are ready for our plan to be executed. Though I know this wasn't your initial plan, but I believe you know that time waits for no one. You certainly know an opportunity when you see one, don't you?"

Still left speechless from his previous response, Hinata didn't know what to think. She could only continue to listen as she gaped at him.

Once Sasuke arrived at the door of the room, he turned his head around to take a look at her one last time, and said "You may want to prepare yourself first, whatever preparation you may need to do. Ask Karin for anything you need for your preparation. She will be right outside the room waiting for your requests. Though you better hurry with your preparation, Hinata. I don't think you have a lot of time to spend away from home, and we still have a lot of work to do."

Hinata blinked a lot, trying to process all the information Sasuke had just given her . Her mind was slow to catch on to the point that she even failed to blush at his final words.

"I will be expecting you, Hinata."

With a final click, the door of the room was closed, leaving the Hyuuga heiress flabbergasted on her seat.

Just what had she gotten herself into?

End of Chapter 2

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