.**********.

Pride and Prejudice

- A Naruto Adaptation -

by cacrulz

.**********.

.:Chapter 3:.

Of Walks and Muddy Petticoats

"HINATA! ASS! HERE! NOW!"

"C-coming, mother…"

Hinata hurried into to the sitting room – not wanting risk being the focus of her mother's infamous wrath – only to fumble with the opened letter that her mother threw to her.

"It's from that rich brat's sister, Uzumaki Ino."

From further observation, Hinata noticed the opened letter was addressed to her. "M-mother…?"

"It's an invitation from her and Nara Temari for you to dine with them. It's too fucking bad that rich Uzumaki brat himself won't be there. But you're going to go and get on their good side so you better not fucking screw this up!"

"Ye-Yes, Mother!"

"And you're going by horseback!" Anko said as she took a glance out the window. "It looks like it's going to rain, so you'll have to insist for them to let you stay the night."

"M-mother!" Hinata gasped, horrified.

"Well how the fuck else do you expect to see the Uzumaki brat!?"

Hinata stammered out her objection. But being the ever obedient daughter, it was only a matter of time before she eventually resigned herself to following her mother's orders despite how inappropriate they might be.

"WHAT!? YOU SENT HINATA OUT? ON HORSEBACK!? IN THAT RAIN?!" It wouldn't be an understatement to describe Sakura to be absolutely livid at that point.

Anko, with a malicious smile, merely said, "Yes, and it's all going exactly as I planned."

Sakura gave a disbelieving glance over at the greedy, conniving woman that was – unfortunately – her mother, and looked out the window worriedly at the incoming storm.

In the impressively furnished dining room of the Uzumaki Netherfield mansion, Hinata sat unsteadily throughout the many dinner courses – all the while wondering how many more was left to go! – as the throbbing in her head continued to intensify relentlessly. It appears that she must have caught a bad cold from her foolish horseback ride to Netherfield.

"Now… let me see if I got this right, Hinata?"

Hinata was finding it increasingly difficult to answer the Miss Ino's well-meaning questioning over her connections. How ill-mannered she must appear to be towards the Uzumaki sisters who have been nothing but kindness to her! She gave a slight nod for Miss Ino to continue, but even the slightest movement set of another bout off severe pounding.

"Your mother has a brother – a Mr Sarutobi Asuma – who lives in London?"

Hinata gave a soft cough, to clear her throat. "Y-Y-Yes… In G-Gracechurch Street." Her eyes stung despite the dim candles and her vision began to swim.

"And in which part of London is Gracechurch street, Hinata?"

"I…" Hinata felt the fork slip her sweaty grip, and clatter onto her plate. "F-Forgive me, I…" She finally surrendered to the nauseousness that was overwhelming her and slumped from the rigid posture she had been maintaining, and falling exhaustedly into her chair. The last thought Hinata had in her mind before her vision turned black, was to apologise to Miss Ino and Mrs Nara for her unbelievably rude behaviour at the earliest opportunity.

"Well, my dear, if Hinata should die of this fever, it will be comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr Uzumaki, and under your orders."

"Oh, shut the fuck up, Kakashi! She'll get over it!"

As per convention, Mr Hatake Kakashi and Mrs Hatake Anko was displaying their usual – lack of – respect towards each other.

"Mother, Father… I think I must go to Netherfield." Since the arrival of Miss Ino's letter that morning detailing Hinata's worsening condition, the Hatake household was in strife. Sakura resolved herself to be the only practical one and was already planning a visit to her poor sister who was presently stuck in Netherfield with those two horrid sisters.

"Fuck no! Hinata is exactly where she should be, sweet, vulnerable and accessible! Right under Uzumaki's fucking nose! There's nothing for you there. Go to Meryton with your younger sisters and flirt with the officers instead!"

"Yes, come with us Sakura! There's more than plenty to go around!" Moegi was upset when she heard of her sister's condition… But like her mother said, she'll get over it eventually, and how can one continue to be upset when the officers were in town!

"No, I will not be flirting with the officers. I know that Hinata would wish me to be with her." As if Sakura could bring herself to do anything – let alone flirting!– when her sister was unwell!

Kakashi gave a sigh and put down his book. "I suppose that's a hint for me to send for the carriage."

"No, father, I'd much rather walk. It's barely three miles to Netherfield and I'll be back for dinner."

"Barely three miles? And in all that fucking dirt!? You'll look like a fucking hobo by the time you get there!"

Sakura bit down on the expletive that was threatening to come out. The thought of her mother – of all people – was criticizing her on impropriety was almost too much. However, she took a deep breath and calmed herself down before speaking. "I shall be fit to see Hinata, which is all I want. And there's nothing you can say to stop me!"

With a huff, Sakura stormed up to her and Hinata's room to pack some clothes for her elder sister, all the while thinking that she would much sooner be thought as a hobo rather than the vulgar, shallow scheming woman that her mother turned out to be!

Sakura was sure that she would be a sweaty mess by the time she arrived to Netherfield. But she didn't care. There was no one she wanted to impress, and she was able to spend her morning doing her favourite pastime – walking.

Granted, it wasn't the most pleasant of walks – with the muddy fields from yesterday's storm, and her inability to fully appreciate the scenery with her hurried pace – but she was content with the air on her face, and the glow from the sun.

Plus she'll be able to rescue poor Hinata from that wretched Miss Ino and that insufferable man!

And with this thought, Sakura picked up her pace, and determinedly braved along dusty roads and through muddy puddles, severely staining her stockings and dress hem in the process.

It was when Sasuke was taking a short break from the indoors – and from the vexatious Miss Ino who constantly feels the need to linger around him! – that he saw the most peculiar sight from one of the outer gardens of the Netherfield property.

"Miss Hatake?"

"Mr Uchiha. Good morning." Sakura gave a small curtsy. "I have come to enquire of my sister."

Sasuke was surprised when she answered – for surely he must have imagined her! – but alas, she was there in his gardens – face glowing from recent exercise, hair so loose it could have been unbound, and her bright, emerald eyes staring straight at him.

"Mr Uchiha?"

"…On foot?"

"Well… yes. It was only three miles, and I was eager to see her. Would you be so kind as to take me to her?"

Sasuke gave a sharp nod, before heading back to the house, with Sakura closely trailing behind him.

"It's absolutely ridiculous! How she walked all the way here! Especially in that appearance!"

And next to her Sasuke-kun, no less! Ugh. Ino was so livid that she could break something. But she couldn't because Sasuke-kun was there. So she had to resort to seething about that unrefined, pink-haired upstart!

"Barging her way in here just because her sister has a cold! Her hair! Did you see that hair!? And I thought she couldn't look any worse with that giant forehead of hers! And her petticoat! I swear it was at least six inches deep in mud! Brother! You saw it didn't you?"

Naruto scrunched up his face before replying. "Err… Sorry Ino-chan, I didn't notice. But I thought she looked alright."

Ino made an exasperated sound before turning to Sasuke who was standing a ways away, facing out the window. "I'm sure you saw it, Sasuke-kun."

"Hn."

"You certainly wouldn't want your sister make such a display!"

But Ino was denied of a response when her brother exclaimed, "But she did it 'cause she was worried for Hinata-chan!"

Ino gritted her teeth. All she hears nowadays is Hinata-chan this, Hinata-chan that. God, she getting sick of these Hatake girls. She had only invited the eldest one for dinner yesterday, because her brother wouldn't stop nagging her otherwise! But had she known that that stupid girl had gotten herself sick – and that her 'fine-eyed' sister would come scampering here afterwards – than she would have turned Hinata back out into the rain, and back to whatever hole the Hatakes lived in.

"…sick at another house, I would have definitely ran over to Hinata-chan's bedside in two seconds! BELIEVE IT!"

Ino expertly tuned out her brother's chatter and turned back to Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, I'm sure this event has cleared up this… appreciation of fine eyes?"

"No." He countered, "In fact, they were brightened by the exercise."

This was not the response that Ino wanted, and the silence between them stretched out awkwardly with only Naruto's continuous compliments to his Hinata-chan as background noise. It took Ino a few moments to compose herself before she tried another tactic.

"But Miss Hinata is a sweet girl. It's too bad that she has such a family, with such unsavoury connections."

But Ino was once again disappointed when Sasuke didn't respond but merely stared out the windows and into the gardens. But she continued nonetheless.

"Their uncle, she told us, works in trade, and lives in Cheapside!"

"Hey! Hinata-chan would still be awesome, even if she had 10 million uncles in Cheapside!"

This time, Sasuke chose to deign them with an answer.

"Tch. If that was so, unless an idiot falls for her, she'll have little chances of marrying well, Dobe."

Yet, instead of spurting more compliments for his 'sweet Hinata-chan', Ino was surprised to see her brother becoming strangely quiet, an odd pensive look on his face. But she didn't pay too much heed to it. She was sure it was just another childish phase of infatuation.

"Sakura-chan!"

Sakura gave a jolt of surprise at the sound of someone calling out to her the second she stepped out of the room where her sister was resting. She turned to see Uzumaki-san standing across the hall. She briefly wondered if he had been waiting there since morning.

"Uzumaki-san. Was there something you wanted?"

The blonde man took a step forward and Sakura noted that he was fidgeting with his fingers, not unlike Hinata. "Is Hinata-chan… no, wait… I mean Miss Hatake. Your sister? Is she alright?"

"I'm afraid that she's quite unwell."

"Ah! I'll get the doctor right away! You guys should stay here until Hina… until Miss Hatake gets better! I insist!"

And with that he ran down the hall, not once giving Sakura a chance to decline nor thank him for his kindness.

"There, how do I look?"

Sakura was pleased to note that their host had made good on his promise and promptly sent for changes of clothes for her and Hinata. It showed that he was sincere in his invitation for them to stay at his house, and she was grateful for it, for Hinata's sake at least. Unfortunately, whilst it was perfectly acceptable for Hinata to stay in bed for the duration of her stay, she would be expected to spend her meals and evenings with her inhospitable hosts – with the exception of Naruto, of course!

"Y-you look pretty, Sakura. You a-always look pretty."

"Oh, Hinata. You look twice as pretty as me even while you're sick in bed! Oh, you know how I'd much rather stay here with you. With the 'perfect' Miss Ino wishing me miles away, Miss Temari and her husband has yet to say a word to me, and with my presence being a risk to Mr Uchiha's not-so-tolerant eyes, it's going to be hell when I am down there! Only your Uzumaki-san is welcoming."

"M-my!? Oh no, Sakura! H-he's not m-m-my Uzumaki-san."

"Oh, I think he is. Or he very soon will be."

And with a wink, Sakura slipped out of the room. But not before sighting a vividly red blush surfacing upon her sister's cheeks.

It was later on that evening, after dinner, where Sakura found herself reading on one of the couches in the lounge, while the rest of the party surrounded a games table, with the exception of Sasuke who had left them shortly after dinner. Unsurprisingly, it was Miss Ino who was the first one to notice him the second he entered the lounge room that evening.

"Oh! Sasuke-kun! Come and help me with this game. Mr Nara is relentless at this."

Nara Shikamaru merely yawned in her face, before moving his shogi piece and capturing yet another of Ino's piece. Ino let a groan slip out of her mouth, before remembering that her Sasuke-kun was in the room. Temari stood observing from behind her husband, and Naruto stared at the board with a confused look at his face before muttering a quiet "I don't get it."

However, instead of joining them for the game, Sakura was surprised when the raven-haired gentleman stood intimidatingly in front of her. But being one never to back down, she stared back up to him with a polite smile, deciding to wait for him to take the first step.

"May I enquire after your sister, Miss Hatake?"

"I thank you for your concern. I believe she is a little better."

"I'm glad to hear it."

He then abruptly walked off over to a desk, where he sat down and began to write. Sakura, slightly puzzled with the sudden end to the conversation, watched him for a bit. When it became obvious that he had no intention to further the conversation, she turned back to her book.

The room became silent once more, with only the sounds of the Sasuke's pen upon paper, and the occasional clacking from board pieces. But it was short lived as it became apparent that one player was superior to another.

"Ugh. I give up." Ino said, appearing nonchalant in her loss.

Shikamaru gave a grunt of acknowledgement before resetting the pieces. Naruto continued to stare at the board in confusion.

Temari, being silent in her observation of the game, finally looked up and addressed Sakura for the first time.

"Miss Hatake, would you care to join us?"

Sakura looked up from her book and gave a polite smile. "Thank you for the offer, but no, I am fine."

"You prefer reading to this?"

Ino took this chance to chime in. "Miss Hatake despises games. She is a great reader, and finds no enjoyment in anything else."

Temari arched a brow at her sister.

Sakura closed her book with a snap, and focused her attention at Ino. "Thank you for your remark Miss Ino, but I assure you that it is quite untrue. I am not a great reader, and I happen to enjoy many things."

No responses were made to Sakura, so she returned back to her book. Once the shogi pieces were reset, Ino vacated her seat to her sister to play. Quickly becoming bored with the game, she wondered over to the other side of the room to the desk, where Sasuke continued to write.

"And what are you doing so secretly, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke turned back to see that Miss Ino was indeed talking to him, and there was an almost awkward pause before he responded.

"It is no secret. I am writing to my sister."

"Oh! Dear Haku! She's such a sweet girl. I miss her so much! Has she grown taller? Is she as tall as me?"

There was yet another pause before Sasuke responded. "She is about Miss Sakura Hatake's height."

Ino continued to gush out compliments – in such a way that strongly reminded Sasuke of Naruto's behaviour towards Miss Hinata – "And so accomplished! Her playing on the piano is absolutely gorgeous." At that point, another malicious idea formed, and she turned towards Sakura. "Do you play, Miss Sakura?"

Sakura contained her sigh at being interrupted – yet again – from her reading and answered. "Yes, but very poorly."

"But I'm sure you're very accomplished Sakura-chan!" Naruto joined in. "All girls are!"

"Hn."

Sakura turned to the writing table towards where the sound came from, but that appeared to be all that the occupant was willing to contribute.

"Ha! That's where you're wrong, brother. No woman can be really deemed accomplished if she does not possess a certain air – in her walking, in her tone of her voice, her address and expressions." During her speech, Ino had stood up, and Sakura was amused to note that with each new requirement she listed, she personally demonstrated her walking, and gestured to her throat and face.

This time, Sasuke – while still being occupied with his task of writing – added, "And yet in addition to all this, she must improve her mind through extensive reading."

Sakura laughed. "With such requirements, I really wonder at you knowing any accomplished women."

Sasuke fully turned around to regard Sakura. Sakura, not to be deterred, smiled politely back.

"You are very harsh in your judgement of women, Miss Hatake." Temari stated from across the room.

Sakura gave a small shrug. "I simply speak from my observations."

"Then it is merely because you have not had the chance to observe any in your society, Miss Hatake." Ino voiced. "There are many accomplished women amongst our acquaintance."

Sakura gave a smile to Ino. "I'm sure there are."

Ino, as a hostess in her brother's house, has always been determined to perform her duties to perfection, despite how much she may despise her house guests. However, when she discovers that the Hatake mother – the shockingly crude woman – was coming to Netherfield that very morning, she desperately wanted to scream bloody murder and throw them all out onto the streets.

"And now the mother! Are we to be invaded by every Hatake in the country! Oh god, this is preposterous!" She shrieked, but it fell on deaf ears of the rest of the occupants of the room.

Naruto paced back and forth in the room. He was feeling unexpectedly nervous at the thought of meeting 'awesome, pretty Hinata-chan's mother' and felt that he had to make a good impression.

Sasuke stood at his usual position at the window, and Temari and Shikamaru appeared to be in a world of their own on one of the couches against the far side of the room, with her berating him in his ear, and him staring boredly at the ceiling.

Sakura sat waiting patiently for her mother, hoping against all odds that they would not be an absolute embarrassment in front of her hosts.

When the Hatake Anko entered the room, Naruto hurried over to face her – knocking a stack of books on one of the end tables in the process – and gave a clumsy bow.

"Hatake-obaa-san! Welcome to my house! The doctor says that Hinata-cha…"

But Anko – with her eye twitching from how she was addressed by the Uzumaki brat – cut in. "Let's cut to the chase. My daughter – my dear sweet Hinata – has become severely ill, Mr Uzumaki. Too ill to be moved. I have to insist that she stays here in your house… vulnerable… and under your watch."

Sakura felt a strong urge to facepalm herself. She was grateful that Naruto seemed too oblivious to realise what her mother was implying, but she didn't hold much hope for over everyone else in the room.

"Ah, of course obaa-san! You can trust Hinata-chan with me! Believe it!"

Sakura honestly didn't think Naruto completely comprehends what he had just agreed himself to, and if her mother's scary grin was any indication, it appears that his words has been interpreted as a prelude to a marriage proposal. She wouldn't be surprised if her mother was already appraising the value of the furniture in the room.

"Great! I'm glad to hear it." Anko said. She was perfectly capable at playing the courteous guest when she needed to. "I'm glad to see you settling in Netherfield so well. In fact I would think you would never want to leave, now that you're here."

Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! I'll be happy to live in the country forever! Right, teme?"

"Tch. Knowing you dobe, you'll be bored of the countries and its novelties within a month."

Anko scowled at this remark. "And pray tell, Mr Uchiha, why would that be?"

"The society is too confined and unvarying for the taste of someone as… sociable as Naruto." Sasuke replied.

And it was like that that Anko flimsily held façade of politeness fell apart. "Confined and unvarying!? Like fucking hell it is! At least it's not like that fancy schmancy SHITHOLE you came from, you fucking piec-"

"MOTHER! Stop it! Youmistake Mr Uchiha's meaning!" Sakura cut in, before her mother could spurt more obscenities. "He only meant that there is not such a variety of people to be met in the country compared to town. Even you have to admit that to be true!"

When her mother chose not to reply, a tensed silence settled over the occupants. From the horrified looks on the other's faces, she knew that their good opinion of her family would be close to impossible to redeem. She sincerely hoped to god that this would not irrevocably affect Hinata's chances with Mr Uzumaki.

It was several after that – humiliating, mortifying – affair, that Sakura, once again, found herself reading in the lounge after dinner. No one was playing at the games table that night, as Ino – after seeing that her Sasuke-kun had taken up a book instead – declined in playing. As such, Shikamaru had decided to nap instead. Temari occupied herself on the couch next to her napping husband. Naruto was oddly silent by himself as he stands by the fire, seeming to be deep in thought or one thing or another. Sasuke read, positioned on a chair across from Sakura.

Ino also held a book – which she had only chosen as it was the second of Sasuke's volume – as she paced around the room. Though, instead of reading, her attentions were engaged in watching Sasuke reading his book instead. But no matter how many times she paced in Sasuke's line of vision nor her frequent random outbursts – "Oh, how pleasant it is to spend an evening like this. There is simply no enjoyment quite like reading to improve one's mind!" – she could not draw him to conversation.

When no one made any reply, she threw aside her book, and scanned around the room for some other amusement. She turned her attentions to Sakura and said, "Miss Hatake, why don't you a break and pace around the room with me? It's so refreshing."

Sakura was surprised at the offer, but she accepted. And Ino felt triumphant when Sasuke – to whom her efforts were aimed – looked up. Feeling hopeful, she ventured to ask, "Will you also join us, Sasuke-kun?"

"That would defeat the object."

"Whatever do you mean, Sasuke-kun? Miss Hatake, can you guess what he means to say?"

"Not at all," Sakura answered, "but I am sure his cryptic response was to bait us to ask, so the surest way to disappoint him would be to ask nothing about it."

Ino, never one to disappoint her Sasuke-kun, quickly interjected, "No, I insist on knowing your meaning, Sasuke-kun!"

"I can only imagine two motives for you choosing to walk up and down the room together." Sasuke openly explained, "It's either because you are confiding secrets with each other, or you are displaying your figure which is best exhibited when walking. If it's the former, I would be completely in your way, and if the latter, it is easier to appreciate from here."

Sakura felt herself blush from his explanation – the longest conversation he has heard from him yet! – as the idea of displaying her figure to him seems so audacious and something her mother would suggest, and she sincerely hoped that Mr Uchiha did not think of her so poorly as to believe she endeavoured to entice him. When she noticed his dark eyes watching at her, in what appeared to be an attempt to gauge her reaction, she felt her blush deepen.

"Oh, you're so scandalous, Sasuke-kun!" Ino giggled, "How shall we punish him, Miss Hatake?"

Sakura gave a small smile. "I suppose we can tease him… laugh at him for his remarks."

Ino pulled her arm away from Sakura's. "Laugh at Sasuke-kun? That's impossible. He's perfect, and has no fault."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Is he really? A man without fault?"

"Miss Ino has given me far too much credit." Sasuke responded, "But it has been my study to avoid weaknesses of character."

"Such as… vanity, perhaps? Or maybe pride?" Sakura challenged.

"Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride…where there exists a real superiority, pride will always be justifiable, while under good regulation."

Sakura almost laughed out in amusement. It was typical of him to view his pride as justifiable.

"I admit I have faults, Miss Hatake." Sasuke continued, "My temper is something I cannot guarantee. It might be called resentful. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever."

"That is a failing, indeed! But one I cannot laugh at."

Sasuke gave a pause before answering, "There is, I believe, a tendency of all to have a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."

"And your defect is to hate everyone." Sakura countered, thinking back to his behaviour at the ball.

"While yours," he replied with a slight smile "is to misunderstand them."

At that point, Ino, tired of the conversation in which she had no share, exclaimed, "Shall we have some music?" And even before hearing a response, she goes to the piano and begins playing.

"I'm SOOO glad you're feeling better, Hinata-chan!"

"T-thank-you, sir. You are v-v-very k-kind."

Naruto beamed at Hinata, and she, in turn, flushed red like a tomato. Naruto was glad that Hinata had recovered from her illness, but that also meant that she had to return home. But after many days of comtemplation, he realised that the sooner she returned home, the sooner he could set up his "biggest, bestest ball", and dance with her. So it was with an anticipating heart when he helped her up the carriage that would send her home.

"Goodbye Hinata-chan."

"G-goodbye."

And never once breaking his gaze from her, he stepped back from the carriage. He swore he felt his heart break at the sweet smile she gave him as the carriage began to move.

He watched her go.

In the carriage, Sakura watched her sister longingly gazing back at Netherfield until they could see it no more.

"Thank god they left! It's so much better to have our house to ourselves again." Ino began the second the Hatake sisters left their property, "But I fear that Sasuke-kun is mourning the loss of Miss Sakura's pert opinions and fine eyes." She teased before laughing like she said the most hilarious joke.

"Quite the contrary, I assure you." Sasuke replied, from his position at the window.

To be continued.

Okay, I want you guys to be brutally honest with me. Is it worth my time to be continuing this story? Personally, English is my worst subject in high school as I could never be able to write a proper essay or story in class. However, I do want to be able to write a well-written, entertaining fanfiction that is original and other people would enjoy, and in an attempt to do that, I spend an alarming amount of time on just one chapter. But considering the amount of reviews I get, I'm not sure if I am succeeding… If I am not doing Pride and Prejudice or Naruto any justice, please tell me, as I would rather focus my time on reading other people's stories if that was the case…

And oh my goodness… WHO SHOULD BE SASUKE'S SISTER? D= I've written it to be Haku so far (Lol, yet another gender bender from me!), but I'm not completely happy with it and I am willing to change it, so any suggestions would be welcomed.

And I just realised how inconsistent I am with using Japanese suffixes as well as Mr/Miss… *sigh* I'll fix it later.

This chapter is un-beta-ed.