Author's Note:

I hope you all are doing well. Remember that you all have the power to change the world for the better. Never give up and keep your mind on the things that are good. You can make a difference. I hope this makes someone's day.

Chapter 32: Always and Forever, Mrs Uchiha

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

― William Congreve

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"Is there no way that we can get in touch with Naruto? All we'll need is a minute," Madara said into his phone as he paced the floors of the Uchiha Manor.

They'd been up since last night. It was currently 4 am, and everyone was tired.

Several employees from the technological department of Uchiha Corp. littered the floor of Fugaku's living room, some seated on the floor with paperwork scattered around them, and some up and about on their phones, worried expressions on their tired faces. The tension was high and so was the stress. Namikaze Tech had pulled away from Uchiha Corporation, dismantling all technological mergers and advancements that they had in the future as well as the complete server of the company. Their business was down. Files couldn't be accessed. Accounts couldn't be logged into.

Millions were being lost by the hour. It was like trying to put a hand over a heavily bleeding wound.

Fugaku and Itachi were arguing immensely in their father's office. About him.

Sasuke stood in the middle of the chaos, still not unable to comprehend what had just happened. Naruto had done it. He'd torn apart what they had together. He'd left him.

"Sasuke-Kun! My father has offered to help with the servers! He'll be sending the contract soon," Karin said happily as she skipped into the living room and sat down beside him. "We can fix this - together!"

For Hinata.

Shikamaru walked past him, his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, a stack of papers in one of his hands and a phone in the other.

"When I agreed to invest in MGC, it was under the pretense of Namikaze-san being apart of the collaboration. His absence raises many concerns of mine and my commitment to this company," the man on the end of the line spat on the speaker, causing Sasuke to throw an irritated look at the phone.

Shikamaru took a moment as he looked over the papers. "I wish I could answer your questions on the reason behind his departure, but we have not been able to get a hold of Namikaze-san since the news broke. I'll provide you with answers once we get this ordeal sorted out - "

"I'm having doubts about this, Nara-san. Fix it, or I may just have to withdraw my investment."

The phone abruptly hung up, causing the Nara to sigh as he threw the papers on the table nearby.

Madara let out a breath in frustration on his end. "Yes, I see. I'll give Minato a call." After he ended the call, he threw a dark look towards the younger Uchiha. "You have some explaining to do."

The malice in his uncle's voice was justifiable. Madara had been apart of this business since he was born - it was in his blood, something that he knew like the back of his hand. His first love. And in a matter of minutes, he was watching it fall apart.

"Of all my years of knowing the Namikaze's, I've never known them to just pull the rug from under someone without a reason," Madara yelled, dark eyes now a pool of red. "So it has to be something that you did!"

The employees in the room grew quiet, but continued their work earnestly, trying to fix the damage. Sasuke remained quiet as he turned on his heel and headed to another office in the manor, Madara not too far behind him.

Once the two got into the office, Madara shut the door, continuing to glare at the young man.

"Explain."

Sasuke took a breath, looking away from his uncle. "There isn't much to explain, uncle. Minato-san is no longer the CEO of Namikaze Tech. Naruto is and he can make whatever decision benefits his company." He went to sit behind the desk, picking up the phone at his side and dialing some number. "I'll fix it. You don't have to yell at me."

Madara's anger subsided at that comment. He saw a young Sasuke sitting in a chair in front of him and couldn't find his anger. He ran a hand down his face, sighing. "I won't yell at you. Fugaku's done enough of that for tonight - he's going to bust a gasket if he keeps going at this rate." He sat down in front of the desk. "Just tell me what happened between you and Naruto."

Hinata came to his mind, and as much as his hair stood on end and his blood began to boil, he didn't say her name. He didn't trust that his Uncle wouldn't tell his father, and strangely to him, the last thing he wanted was for his family to see Hinata as a threat. When it came to business, there was a multitude of things they would do to ensure that the company stood standing. It was the bread of their family, their clan. Everyone depended on it. Who knows how they would react if they thought it to be her.

Hinata was playing a very dangerous game.

Sasuke shook his head as he put the phone to his ear. "Naruto and I disagreed about how MGC should be ran. He didn't agree with the cut he was getting and before we could negotiate it, he bailed," he lied smoothly, pressing another button on the phone. "He wears his emotions on his sleeve, uncle. He isn't fit to be a partner to anyone."

His uncle took the bait. Madara opened his mouth to say something, but paused, leaning back in his seat and folding his arms. "That sounds like something Naruto would do," He sighed. "Honestly, I thought it had something to do with Hinata."

At the mention of her name, he felt his heart quicken and hung up the phone despite having a representative on the other end. Madara had information. "What makes you think that?"

Madara rolled up his sleeves. "It's a crazy story, but Kushina's mind is impaired to where she's attached to Hinata in some weird way. The doctor said its best if she stays close to her until she gets her memory back...if that'll ever happen," he said, looking off to the side. Sasuke saw a glimpse of sadness in his expression. "I'm sure Naruto and Hinata have been in contact with each other. He didn't tell you?"

Sasuke furrowed his brow. "He didn't." She was taking care of his mother? This was something deeper than what he'd originally thought. Hinata was looking after Kushina. Naruto was a mama's boy.

She had him wrapped around her fingers.

"He probably didn't want you to know seeing as how you flip out over every little everything," Madara said, rolling his eyes. "Just like your father. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You should treat your friends better."

He didn't need friends at this point. "I don't need a lecture, uncle."

"All I'm saying is that you don't see other companies getting into fights with their CTOs." He leaned in closer, glaring down at the brooding Uchiha. "And, unfortunately for you, this isn't something that your big brother can save you from."

Sasuke stayed quiet, peering holes into Madara.

The older Uchiha shook his head, standing up. "I'll never understand how families entrust young people with companies - it never works. Unless you're Itachi." At Sasuke's growl, Madara looked away. "You've got to admit he's amazing when it comes to business - and he cares about you a lot despite how much you dislike him. Not many men would go toe-to-toe with their father for their little brother.

"I know that today you're going to court and that afterward you have to deal with this mess - not to mention all the shit that went down in Paris - "

Here they were with this again..."I'm fine, Uncle."

"Saying it a hundred times won't make a difference," Madara said. "There's nothing wrong with talking to someone about your problems - hell, I've been to therapy a few times myself. You got a lot going on that you need to figure out before you start on anything with Uchiha Corporation," he sighed. "Which is why I'm taking over temporarily."

He couldn't mask it any longer. Everything tilted over all at once. "Are you fucking serious?! Uncle!" Sasuke said. If Madara took over now, he wouldn't have access to Uchiha Corp and its resources without asking Madara first. And judging by how it looked today, he wouldn't be giving Sasuke much of anything. Shit.

Madara slammed his hands on the desk. "Motherfucking serious! Now get the hell out of my chair!" He stood, and reluctantly Sasuke got up. The older Uchiha plopped down in the seat, checking its bounce. "I'm the captain of this ship until you get your act together! Now go fix this!"

Sasuke snorted at his uncle's antics. "Since you're the fucking captain, how about you fix this?!" he yelled, annoyed.

Madara scoffed. "Bitch, I said I was the captain - I drive the fucking boat. You clean it!"

The door to the office opened, revealing a tired Nara. "I didn't think it was possible, but you two are as loud as Fugaku-san and Itachi," he said, running a hand down his face. "We gotta go."

Sasuke grabbed his coat and was beginning to leave, but Madara grabbed his wrist.

"Fix this. Or it's your ass," the older Uchiha said. The younger Uchiha tugged his wrist away before following the Nara out of the room.

Fucking Uncle.

The courthouse was swarming with flashing cameras and the cries of people. Usually, Sasuke wouldn't be fazed by this as he received this attention as he was merely a young boy. But today, he couldn't help the jitters and cold shivers he got now. It could have been from his lack of sleep or the stress of last night. It could have been a combination of things. He didn't know what to feel or how to act.

And it terrified him.

Shikamaru tilted the iPad in his lap, tilting it so that he and Sasuke could be seen on the screen. Neji stared back at them. "Still no answer?"

The Hyuuga shook his head, a slight frown on his face. "He hasn't picked up any of my calls. I have been in contact with Minato, but he isn't giving out any relevant information."

Naruto had ghosted them. Both Shikamaru and Neji knew better than to say his name aloud. It was too soon, too fresh.

Sasuke felt something tight forming in his chest, so much that he slipped a hand through the top of his dress shirt to massage the area. The more he stared at the huge crowd outside, the more he felt it grow stronger.

The Nara simply nodded, letting out a typical sigh. "Try to stop by his apartment before you head to the meeting. We'll talk later."

Neji nodded as well. "Good luck to you two."

As soon as he hung up, Shikamaru tossed the Ipad and rubbed a hand down his face. "Shit…" He muttered as he straightened out his suit. "Today, we leave her for good. She'll mean nothing after this hearing," Shikamaru stated. "It's over."

"She's been taking care of Kushina," Sasuke said, continuing to look outside the window.

Shikamaru raised a brow at the strange statement. "Is that so?"

"Yes," the Uchiha said. "Since Paris."

"You think Hinata convinced Naruto to break off on his own?" the lawyer asked, unconvinced. "I'm not saying it isn't possible but...it's Hinata."

Sasuke stayed silent, although Shikamaru could see that he was tensed.

Hinata going rogue? Becoming unpredictable?

Unpredictability could result in things that Shikamaru didn't want to think about legally. It would be bad. Maybe Sasuke was exaggerating; he obviously still had feelings for her.

Shikamaru rubbed his temple, trying to ease his headache. "I'm sure I won't have to say this since you're a smart man, but don't say anything once we get out of this car. Not until the judge asks you."

Sasuke shifted towards the door, giving a hard knock on the door before it was opened. As soon as he stepped out of the car, the sounds increased, the lights became overpowering. He was in the eye of the storm. Shikamaru came beside him, grabbing his upper arm.

"Don't react to them. Keep your head down," he whispered.

"Sasuke, what happened between you and Naruto?!"

"What happened with MGC and Naruto?! Are you still close with the Namikazes?"

He clenched his jaw. Shikamaru gripped his arm harder. "Go."

The doors to the courthouse were quickly opened, and Shikamaru took no time in ushering the Uchiha into the courtroom. The noise outside the courthouse seemed to get louder, more chaotic. Shikamaru furrowed his brow in confusion, looking to the officer at his side.

The burly man nodded before turning and talking into his earpiece. After a minute, he turned back to the Nara. "Mrs Uchiha has arrived."

With this much commotion? He didn't mean to berate her, but she wasn't popular like Sakura. In the beginning, many had forgotten that Sasuke had been married and often left her out of tabloids and anything related to Uchiha.

Now people were screaming? For her?

The front doors opened once again, and Shikamaru felt his heart skip a beat. Hinata?

The young woman glided smoothly through the door, her short indigo locks blowing from the wind from the doors. This wasn't the meek housewife Shikamaru knew for years. Her thin frame was thicker, her small hips rounder and chest much fuller than the last time he'd seen her. All of these changes were noticeable to him more so because of how the white suit clung to her curves. His eyes traveled from her white Louboutins to her slim waist to her cherub-like face. Those soft lavender eyes were not present, replaced with a cold gaze reminiscent to her cousin's hard stare. That meekness was gone.

He saw her personal assistant-turned-agent Konan come beside her to talk to her, the usual expression of indifference on her features. It was eerie how the bluette had come to develop that same presence. They'd been so different - Konan's blunt indifference and Hinata's shy disposition. Now, at least today, he couldn't tell the difference between the two. And that was off-putting on its own. Because if he couldn't find a flaw or weakness, then he couldn't formulate a plan to stop whatever else she might plan. But before he could even find solutions he had to answer this -

Did Hinata have a hand in Naruto's decision?

Briefly, for a moment, he saw Sasori come out of one of the doors behind the group. His presence caused them to look at him and engage in conversation. Shikamaru noticed the way Hinata's eyes softened and how her pink lips curved slightly upward when she and the redhead made contact. Bingo. Konan and Sasori soon retreated from the group to go down a hall, leaving the bluette with Ino. The blonde stood near her in her grey pencil skirt and a white blouse, her long tresses running down her back today. He didn't know where their heads were. So he decided to test the water.

Sighing, Shikamaru reluctantly went towards the pair, and instantly caught Yamanaka's blue eyes. Immediately upon sight, she bowed to him, causing Hinata to turn her blank stare to him.

"Yamanaka-san," he greeted, bowing to her.

Ino turned toward him fully, her head up high. "Good-morning, Nara-san." That response was normal, nothing seemed to be hiding behind it. Good for him.

He slid his gaze to the quiet bluette, looking her in her eyes. "Hyuuga-san," he greeted, bowing to her. Analyzing her.

Instantly, the heavyweight of tension settled in the air, and Shikamaru stiffened. Ino shifted slightly.

For the first time in months, Shikamaru and Hinata stared at each other, face to face. As he peered into her eyes, he couldn't stop the memories he'd had with her. The meek smiles she'd give him whenever he came to visit Sasuke. Her meals, her holiday gifts. Her small 'thank yous'. The way her eyes would brighten when Shikamaru would praise her for getting something right in her work at Uchiha. Their late-night shifts at the corporation, when she'd confide in him over her marital issues and her low-self esteem. That warmth and brightness she'd radiate no matter what she was going through. She'd trusted him. He led her to believe she could trust him.

And he'd stabbed her, and was planning on twisting the knife today. He'd been apart of the breakdown of Hinata Hyuuga.

Slowly, she glanced over him, from the top of his head to his shoes. She then traveled upward to stare at him once more before pushing past him.

Shikamaru turned around and stared after, watching her swaying hips as she disappeared inside the courtroom. He clenched his jaw, his ego bruised. He turned to Ino, who stood to wait. "I was surprised to hear that you decided not to go through with the mediation instead of court, especially after our conversation, Yamanaka-san."

Ino brushed some hair behind her ear. "We had a change of heart."

And what the hell does that mean? Shikamaru sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "You're a bright girl, Yamanaka-san. I would hate for it to come down to this."

The blonde smiled, although he could see from her tight smile that she was becoming irritated. "That's just how it goes I suppose."

He didn't know what that was. And he wasn't willing to sit it out. Shikamaru let out another breath, looking away. "I hope you enjoy your last day in this profession," Shikamaru said as he bowed to her again. "It was a pleasure speaking with you."

Ino bowed to him again as well. "Good luck, Nara-san."

Together, they both walked into the courtroom.

Tenten groaned, kicking a stone with her sandal. "I forgot how boring this was," she groaned as she walked through the gardens, clad in her colorful, traditional kimono and intricate hairstyle. She grudgingly pulled one of the golden clips from her hair, sighing in relief when it no longer poked her head.

The little girls giggled at her, covering their grin in their hands. "Lady Tenten, you're silly!"

She rolled her eyes, bending down to pull one of their pigtails and grinning at them. "The last one in the pond is a rotten egg!"

The girls screamed as they dived for the low pond, hiking up their skirts and carefully going into the water. Tenten smiled, watching as their careful faces became joyful as they played in the pond. She loved how free they looked despite being in such a restricted family. It was beautiful.

"Mom!" Tenten turned to see Tenji running from the manor, a look of concern on his face. He latched onto her side, gripping at her kimono. "Shi told me to come to get you! I don't know what's going on, but Elder Iroho is here and he's asking about Kin-chan."

She'd wondered when the rumors would get around about Kin being there. There were traitors in the household. And the fact that an Elder was here meant that they'd come to clear something.

Tenten patted his head, smoothing down his long hair. "I'm sure it's fine. Stay here and look out for the girls." She picked up the end of her Kimono and started towards the manor, her steps quick.

Shit shit shit! This was not good. As soon as she stepped into the manor, she saw that the household servants were against the wall, their heads bowed. They'd been ordered to the kitchen. An important conversation was taking place. She glanced over them, and one of them met her gaze before looking down.

Guilty. That was the traitor.

She turned the corner and met with Shi, who put a finger over her lips before gesturing to the tea room. Both of the women stood by the door, listening.

"..illegitimate. Is that true?" Elder Iroho.

From their view, they could see Neji seated on the loveseat, head bowed before the Elder. He stayed silent, prompting the older man to sigh in frustration.

"Do you think I wanted to be here, Neji-sama? Especially after having the collaboration between Hyuuga, Uchiha, and Namikaze fall through? It is embarrassing. And hearing of this child is concerning to us. So, is it true, because if it is you know what must be done."

A forced abortion. Of course. The Hyuuga name wasn't above it. Shi covered her mouth to stop her gasp, her eyes wide.

Neji looked up, white eyes hard. "I refuse"

"An illegitimate child will bring dishonor to the name of this family. You created the problem, and you will get rid of it. It's simple."

"Are you threatening me?"

The Elder sighed. "As if you have a choice once Hiashi-sama finds out"

Shi looked over at Tenten, a desperate look on her face. Do something! Tenten gave her an incredulous look. What the hell am I supposed to do? The older woman turned away, throwing her face into her hands.

The brunette sighed. She would have to pull something out of her ass and quick. She stepped away from the wall and tapped on the door before opening it.

Upon Tenten entering the tea room, Elder Iroho immediately stood, surprised at her appearance. "Milady," he greeted as he bowed to her.

"Elder Iroho, it is so nice to have you visit us," she greeted back stiffly as she bowed to him as well. She went to the love-seat and sat down next to her husband, making sure to stick to his side to make their love look convincing to the eye. "One of our servants told me of your presence, and I wanted to get to you before you left."

"My apologies for not calling for you, Milady, but there was a rather urgent matter I needed to speak with Neji-sama about," the Elder said, bowing again.

My ass. The brunette raised a brow. "And that is?" she asked, smiling at him.

The older man looked taken aback and looked pointedly towards Neji. Tenten looked towards her husband and grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers. Neji looked down at their hands, his stoic facade fading.

And the tearoom door opened, revealing a very flustered Kin beside a servant, her belly looking big as ever in her kimono. Tenten felt the intense urge to roll her eyes. The timing in this situation ridiculous. She took a glance at the Elder to see his face change to one of distaste.

Kin bowed, visibly shaking. "G-Good evening! I was called?"

Neji started to stand, but Tenten put a hand on his knee. He gave her a hard look, but she shook her head.

Tenten gasped. "Kin, what are you doing up? You should be resting!" She stood and poured some tea from the teapot into a cup before going over to the pregnant woman and giving it to her. "Here, it's ginger! Good for your nausea! Please, just tell the servants if you need anything!"

Kin clutched the cup in her hands, a shocked expression on her face. "Y-Yes! I will! Thank you...Tenten-san," she muttered before leaving, the servant behind her.

Tenten closed the door after her before going back to sit by Neji. She didn't bother to look at either of them as she gripped her kimono and stared down at her lap.

"I heard what you were saying in the hallway, Elder Iroho, and I am offended," she said, making her voice shake. Neji came closer to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. "How dare you threaten my children?"

She heard Elder Iroho suck in a breath.

Tenten wiped a tear from her eye. "Neji and I have experienced...many losses these past few years after Tenji," she sniffed, looking down at her lap. "I thought all hope was lost until we found Kin. She offered to be our surrogate out of the kindness of her heart and you dare to come into your home and say such things to my husband," she said, looking up at him with angry tears in her eyes.

Elder Iroho shook his head and bowed. "Lady Tenten, please forgive me for misunderstanding the situation. I did not know of the trials that you went through, and I sincerely apologize for assuming the worst of you, Neji-sama," he said, looking towards Neji. "I would rather Hiashi-sama not know about this…"

Tenten snorted, wiping her eyes. "Shi, escort Elder Iroho out. He's caused enough trouble."

The older man quickly stood, once again bowing towards the pair. "I hope that you all can find it in your hearts to forgive me. I will take my leave now." With that, he left out the room, Shi close behind him. Once the door closed, Tenten stood, brushing off her kimono nonchalantly.

Neji stood immediately. "You didn't have to do that."

"A thank you would be nice, asshole," Tenten rolled her eyes, turning to fix him with a glare. "I just saved your ass."

"Why? After what I did, why would you do that?"

"I'm a mother," Tenten stated. "I have a soft spot for kids. It had nothing to do with you."

"...thank you, Tenten," he said then, catching her off guard slightly, but she recovered with an awkward cough.

She looked at him in suspicion at his soft tone before coughing awkwardly. "Yeah...whatever," she coughed again. Silence enveloped the room, and they stood staring at each other. When their eyes met, Tenten looked off to the side, feeling anxious for the first time in a long time. Suddenly Neji came forward, but Tenten stepped back, causing him to stop. Her defenses were up. Everything that had happened came back to her, reigniting the fire in her veins.

"We need to talk," he said finally.

"No. We don't," Tenten retorted. "You know, it's funny. This is the second time I haven't done anything violent in your presence since I found out how awful you were. Although I must admit that while I'm speaking, I am also thinking of a place where I could hide your body. Very odd, huh?"

That didn't bother the Hyuuga much as he still seemed obligated to continue. "I understand that you're angry - ."

"Pissed actually," Tenten clarified. "This is really difficult for me. I have to cooperate with the person who betrayed me."I've said what I've had to say. I'll take my leave now." She didn't want to fight. She wanted to get on with her life. Deal with something else like the coffee pot in the kitchen or the little snitch in the kitchen -

"If we're going to be cordial with each other, shouldn't we also be fair?"

That set her off. Before she knew it, she was in front of him, pointing her index finger deep in his chest."Do you want to talk about being fair? You have your pregnant mistress living in the same house as you, parading around our son. As far as that's concerned, I'm being fucking fair - even lenient - towards you."

Neji simply stared at the raging woman, taking in her flushed face and menacing glare. It was a face he'd known all too well; she would always give him that face when she would reprimand him. Those brown eyes held a fire that burned with every emotion she'd felt; he could read those eyes, way more than anyone could.

"You're right," he stated autonomously.

Tenten sneered. "Nice to know that. Really."

"I was wrong, I'm sorry, " he said, pausing to look down at the ground, conflicted. "If we're being honest, I don't know how to fix this…"

Had he just apologized? Tenten was taken aback by that but shook her head. "Don't. You'd be fighting a losing battle," she held her hands together. "This is beyond repair."

"Beyond repair..." Neji said. "Because you want to be with Lee, right?"

Tenten froze, her eyes wide on the ground. She could feel her heart beating in her ears.

Lee. She didn't know what to say, and that frightened her. His words were honest and blunt. She didn't think she could compete with that. So she did the only thing she could do.

She picked up her silk skirts and left, leaving Neji staring after her.

The courtroom was empty, save for Uchiha's entourage that sat on his side of the courtroom. Ino spotted a few members of the Uchiha family, but none that she recognized personally. On Hinata's side of the court sat Konan and Sasori, who were whispering to each other as they threw looks to the people on the other side.

The tension was unbearable.

Ino took a deep breath and made her way to the front of the courtroom where Hinata sat. The bluette sat in the chair behind their table, legs crossed as she stared forward at the empty judge stand.

Ino came to sit by her and pulled up her seat. "Did I miss anything?"

Hinata nudged her head to the left of the court. Ino glanced over and visibly jumped when she met a death stare from their favorite Uchiha. It didn't look like he would be stopping anytime soon, and judging by the way some of his entourage sat near him, whispering to him, she could tell that they were also aware of how threatening his behavior may be in court.

"This is going to be very interesting," she whispered, a bit startled.

The light chatter in the courtroom ceased for a second as the doors at the back of the room opened. On Uchiha's side of the court, Shikamaru looked back and stilled, visibly taken aback before he moved to whisper into Sasuke's ear, placing a hand on his shoulder. Ino watched Sasuke's hands on the table ball into fists as his flawless face became contorted took on a deadly countenance.

Rage. Shikamaru's hand balling into Sasuke's suit jacket, forcing him down into his seat. She couldn't hear the words, but she could feel them - by the way, the Uchiha spat them into Nara's face. Those red eyes like a wild animal.

Ino was perplexed. What's going on?

So she looked back and couldn't stop her shocked reaction. "Is that Naruto?", she whispered to the bluette by her side.

The new CEO of Namikaze Tech came through the doors and slid into one of the rows at the back of the courtroom. A clear, bold, yet confusing statement for Ino. Coming here would be messy for him in the media, especially after having split from Uchiha and MGC just last night. Why was he here, and what was he trying to prove?

"Why is he here?"

Hinata pulled some hair behind her ear. Unfazed. "Moral support."

Oh really.

Before Ino could question her about what was going on, the bailiff came to the front of the stands.

"Silence! The court is now in session! Judge Kizashi presiding."

An older man emerged from the door beside the podium, and Ino almost groaned when she saw that familiar rosy hair. The judge went up the steps and sat down in his seat, grabbing the file from the officer. He licked his thumb before opening the file and going through it.

Ino leaned towards the bluette. "That's Sakura's father." Instantly Hinata paled, and for a split second Ino could see the fear in her eyes. She placed a hand on her thigh under the table.

"T-This is awkward" the Hyuuga whispered, looking down at the table with wide eyes.

"At least you won,'' Ino whispered trying to cheer the girl up but saw that that made her even more nervous. "Okay, bad joke. In my defense, I'm a lawyer, not a comedian."

The blonde took a moment to glance over at the other side and saw that Shikamaru shared her surprise and that Sasuke was glaring at the judge. Bad call.

Judge Kizashi glanced over the four of them before his eyes stopped on Sasuke. "Don't flash those eyes at me, Uchiha. I'm not in the mood to tolerate your outrageous behavior," he said, his deep, baritone voice shaking everyone throughout the room.

Ino felt chills. Who would have known that she would be before the toughest judge in Japan on her last day of work (according to Nara)?

After a moment of glaring down the Uchiha, the judge set his gaze to Shikamaru. "Who represents Sasuke Uchiha?"

"I do, your honor," Shikamaru said, standing and adjusting his jacket.

"Speak. Make it quick," the judge spat, slapping the podium with his large hand, making everyone in the court jump. "My lunch is waiting for me."

Ino could see some sweat forming on Nara's brow. "My client has offered to provide alimony to and provide her with whatever property she may want."

Kizashi snorted as he set his eyes on Hinata, who looked off to the side. "As if she will need it in the next month," he said, eyebrows raised in amusement. "I'm sure that she will only waste the money on pampering herself, won't you ?"

Hinata smiled at him but didn't reach her eyes.

The judge dropped the document and looked between the two parties. "From what I gather, you all have no kids, no debated property, nothing that from what I see here today that should be up to debate. Uchiha is willing to pay alimony and has offered to give her the property is she so requests it. So why am I here wasting my time?"

Ino raised her hand. "May I, your honor?"

Judge Kizashi leaned back into his chair, gesturing her to go on.

Ino stood, standing straight and staring him right in the eye. "Mrs Uchiha has requested that the marriage be annulled."

The chatter in the courtroom came. Ino saw both Sasuke and Shikamaru turn to stare at her before looking to Hinata for a reaction. The bluette had not one to give but continued to stare ahead. Shikamaru tilted his head, his eyes narrowing.

"This is almost laughable." Kizashi snorted, leaning against his podium. "On what grounds?"

"On the grounds of fraud and consent," she stated, loud and precise.

"I'm sure it can't be as fraudulent as you claim it to be since these two have been married for nearly three years." The judge looked her up and down before sighing. "Miss, it's going to take a lot for me to even consider this."

Ino smiled, looking up at him through her lashes. "I hope I can prove it to you, your honor."

Kizashi silently observed her before grabbing his pen, his guard lessening. "I'm listening," he said. "Let's start with consent and tell me what this has to do with fraud."

The blonde nodded and pulled her files closer to her.

"Article 731 to 737 of the Japanese Civil Code requires the female partner must be 16 years of age or older and that a person who is under 20 years of age cannot get married in Japan without a parent's approval. As Mrs Uchiha sought the approval of her father for this marriage, she was not aware of what she was getting into when she agreed to marry Uchiha-san."

Kizashi laughed. "So are the other million girls who try to grow up too fast. Sounds like a personal problem," he said, uninterested. "Teenagers do stupid things all the time. I would find now that she's learned her lesson for wanting to get married at 17."

Ino felt her fingertips go numb. She hadn't thought she would have to release this information this early on. She looked back and saw that Hinata held no reaction at the judge's comment. The blonde took a breath. She would have to do it.

Ino glanced over at Shikamaru, who stared back at her. Intensely. Daring her.

Independence, Hinata had said. Independence. The freedom to do and be whoever she wanted. The right to happiness and life. An identity that belonged to no one. A freedom that no one could take away. For Hinata, she would do this.

Ino placed her hands on the table. "Mrs Uchiha was married at 15."

"That's incorrect," Shikamaru immediately denied, but to no avail. The statement shook the courtroom.

"What?" Hinata said, grabbing the side of Ino's skirt and looking up at her with those wide, lavender orbs. "Y-You're wrong. I was married at 17." Ino could only stare down at those wide eyes, much like a child. A child. Hinata was only a child, scarred and disgraced by this world. All of that healing and encouragement would disappear. This would be hard to get over.

Judge Kizashi furrowed his brow, looking down at his paperwork. "The marriage license says she was 17 at the time," he said, holding up the marriage license.

"There are two licenses on file in the same Clerk Office. One was submitted when was 15 and the other submitted when she was 18. The previous license was approved, but the one you are holding has not," Ino said, handing the bailiff the file. "The Uchiha family owns the Clerk Office, so I'm sure they drafted you up a fake one for today's court session."

The judge's countenance changed as he grabbed the file and compared it.

"On the day that the previous marriage license was submitted, Uchiha and Hyuuga Corp. jointly submitted a trademark application to Japanese Patent and Trademark Office for Kekkei Genkai. Both of the clients come from traditional families, which means that they have Elders who require that marriage be put in place for anything that deals with the merging of company and monetary assets," Ino lifted the files. "With this knowledge in mind and the events that have happened up until this point, it leads me to believe that this marriage was not only fraudulent but forced."

"How did you get this?," Kizashi asked as he looked over Ino's document.

Ino ran a hand through her hair. "I'm a bright girl, your honor," she said, shooting a look to Nara, who stood speechless. Sasuke looked almost demonic with the dark bags under his eyes as he glared at her. It looked like she would have to move from her comfy home to protect herself from whatever he may plan.

"We will have to take a recess as we look over this. Yamanaka, Nara, in my office," Judge Kizashi said before slamming his gavel and getting up.

This wasn't happening. Hinata looked down at her hands to see them shaking. A soft, pale hand covered them, and she saw that it was Ino's. The bluette grabbed her hands, desperate. "W-What does this mean - " What are you saying?"

"Justice," Ino said, giving her a small, sad smile. "For you." She squeezed the bluette's hands before following after the judge and Shikamaru.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Konan and Sasori come to her, both bending down in front of her.

Konan's usual facade was broken, a mixture of anger and confusion. "Fraud?" she spat. "All this time. All this suffering that you endured was for nothing? You were never married?"

"The clans doing. Of course," she said. It always came back around to them. It was nothing new.

"It appears as though you weren't the only one deceived," Sasori whispered. Hinata glanced over where Sasuke sat, and several of his team were there, talking to him. He simply stared at them, that childlike confusion present.

He hadn't known. They'd both been burned by their families. The only difference is that the Uchihas' hadn't left him out to dry like her family.

The scent of Konan's perfume filled her senses when the gothic woman hugged her, slightly shocking her. The woman's tight embrace warmed her. "You have us," Konan said. "I know it's not much, and we're crazy and weird, but we're here for you." Don't slip into the darkness.

Hinata stared at Sasori from over Konan's shoulder. He stared back, a knowing look in his eye as he glanced out at the crowd of observers, seeing Naruto with a conflicted expression.

Little did Konan know, she already slipped.

The court was called back and session and the two went back to their seats. Ino came to sit beside the bluette. Shikamaru immediately to Sasuke.

Judge Kizashi sat down, a frown deep on his features. "After reviewing the evidence, I have decided to grant the annulment. Mrs Uchiha - ...Hyuuga will not be awarded any property or monetary items. So ordered. Uchiha will retain ownership of all said properties and no alimony will be ordered. The annulment will be granted upon the signature of both parties effective immediately as there is no legal marriage license. Hyuuga will be permitted her things within the next thirty days..."

The bailiff placed a form before her. ANNULMENT atop the form. Hinata looked over at Ino and saw the woman smiling back at her. And so she signed her name in cursive and for the last time as Hinata Hyuuga-Uchiha.

For today, she'd won. She'd gotten her independence. She was free.

Free.

The bailiff took the form and placed it atop Sasuke's table. He simply looked at the document before he made eye contact with her. There was nothing he could say, nothing he could do. Their life, up in flames, decisions, and contracts drawn up by their families. Something forced would never work. He knew that. And so he picked up the pen off the table and signed it before tossing the pen.

Judge Kizashi grabbed his gavel. "Court is adjourned."

As soon as he hit the gavel, Hinata grabbed Ino into a bear hug, both women hugging each other tightly. From the corner of her eye, she saw Naruto silently get up and leave. Perfect timing.

"I'm sorry," the blonde whispered onto her shoulder. Hinata could feel the woman's tears on her neck. "Your father might be questioned."

Father. His stern white stared burned into her mind. He hadn't been there for her for any of this. She felt nothing for him right now.

"Karma." The bluette rubbed the blonde's hair. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me."

"That's what friends are for." Ino pulled away and wiped her eyes. "You can start over without the Uchiha name dragging you down. It can be as if...as if you two didn't exist together."

They both knew that wasn't true. No matter what, Hyuuga would always be apart of her. Sasuke would always have a piece of her.

Hinata looked across the court, seeing Sasuke staring back at her. He looked like a lost child as he tried to grip this reality. His princely looks still were not dimmed by the obvious tiredness he displayed and his slightly disheveled appearance. She liked this. The bluette winked at him, a devious smile curling upon her lips.

And she'd make sure she'd have a piece of him.

As Ino began to gather her belongings, Hinata watched in amusement as he took on an angry disposition once more. To know that she could get under his skin so easily made her heart sing.

She started to follow behind Ino and immediately felt him whisper near her neck, sending shivers up her spin.

"You're a fool if you think I'm going to let you get away with that little stunt you pulled," the Uchiha spat. "You're playing a very dangerous game, Hinata,"

She couldn't help but let a smile slip as she continued forward. "I'm a Hyuuga," Hinata whispered. "I was born to play." Before he could react, Sabaku's bodyguards cut in front of them, blocking him.

The bluette continued towards the entrance, and Ino, Konan, and Sasori fell in line beside her. The doors at the front were opened, and a sea of flashing lights and noise filled her being.

One by one, she would take back what she'd lost with interest. Starting with her reputation.

Warning: There will be mature content(18+) in some of the upcoming chapters. I will put it in the author's note. If you are not fond of this type of content, I apologize in advance. Thank you for your continued support of this story.