Chapter Text
It was a quiet night in the Hidden Leaf Village. A gentle breeze carried with it the scent of azalea blossoms, a symbol marking the farewell of spring and the arrival of summer.
That night, those once recognized as heroes of the Five Great Nations were enjoying a peaceful gathering, allowing themselves a rare moment of rest away from the rush of everyday life.
After countless missions in distant lands and long days split between the village’s offices and hospitals, the Konoha Eleven had come together again to reconnect with the children they once were. Because after the Fourth Ninja War, nothing was ever the same again.
That battlefield had forced the members of Teams 7, 8, 9, and 10 to grow up far too quickly. And being together once more allowed them to rediscover parts of themselves in a way only they could truly understand.
But that night, nostalgia was not the main presence. No… something far deeper lingered instead, especially because of one particular individual, someone who had never been fond of social spaces or the noise that came with them.
If Sasuke had agreed to be there that night, it was for one reason alone: Naruto, the closest thing the last Uchiha had ever had to family.
Naruto was getting married.
Yes, the loud, unpredictable, often far too noisy blue-eyed ninja was going to marry none other than Hinata, the Hyuga heiress who had admired and supported him from the shadows for years.
Their relationship had begun shortly after the war.
During Konoha’s reconstruction, members of the different teams found comfort in each other’s company in Sasuke’s absence. After serving a few months of his sentence, he had set out on a solitary journey to atone for his sins, leaving behind those who had once been his comrades.
And it was during those years that one relationship in particular began to change into something more.
Bound by the shared pain of Neji’s death and the purity of their hearts, Naruto and Hinata began to grow closer than ever before.
They found comfort in each other’s presence.
Naruto, always lively and loud, learned to appreciate silence. Hinata, gentle and reserved, learned to laugh without fear of being judged.
As time passed, they began sharing small, ordinary moments, quiet lunches in village restaurants, long evenings at the local library, supporting each other’s dreams and future ambitions.
Naruto was preparing himself politically to one day succeed Kakashi as Hokage, while Hinata remained steadfast in her determination to one day break the curse that still bound the Hyuga clan.
It didn’t take long for that relationship, built on respect and sincere affection, to blossom into something deeper.
Love.
A feeling that made them long to see each other every moment of the day, as if every second together could be sealed into eternity.
Once they crossed that line, the proposal of marriage soon followed.
Naruto might still be somewhat absent-minded, but he had matured enough to understand one thing clearly: if he wanted Hinata by his side, then he wanted her there properly.
As his wife.
The Hyuga were one of the oldest and most prestigious clans in the village… and the weight of tradition still lay heavily upon them.
As soon as it became official, Naruto didn’t hesitate to contact him. Since his departure four years earlier, Sasuke had not set foot in Konoha again, remaining committed to his mission of redemption and protecting the village from the shadows, honoring the legacy of his late brother.
The only people he stayed in contact with were Naruto and Kakashi, though the latter was mostly for political and strategic reasons: alerts about high-level criminal movements or explorations of ruins in lands only someone with his ocular and combat abilities could access.
He was never the same again. He didn’t even resemble the Sasuke of the academy days, who, despite his thirst for revenge, still retained the ability to smile, even if only faintly. That was something that continued to weigh on both of his former teammates, especially Sakura, who only heard from him through the letters Sasuke exchanged with the Uzumaki.
At first, she was patient. She clung to the farewell they had shared, convincing herself it was an invitation, hope that a future between them might still exist.
She began with small notes, simple phrases filled with the most sincere form of love, but she never received a single reply. Frustrated, one afternoon she swallowed her pride and, after a shift at the hospital, approached Naruto. She knew he and Sasuke were still in contact, she didn’t know how often, but enough to guarantee a response.
Embarrassed by her own actions, she asked Naruto to send her letter under his name, believing it might finally reach Sasuke that way. Naruto understood immediately and, sympathizing with his friend’s feelings, agreed. But even that method failed.
There was still no response. In fact, four months passed before Naruto received any news from Sasuke at all, and when he did, the note contained nothing but information about one of his expeditions in the desert lands, as if Sakura’s letters had never been received, as if they had never existed.
Disappointment was too small a word for what Naruto felt then. He understood that Sasuke was not the best at communication, nor someone emotionally expressive, but even a simple “hello” would have been enough. He also knew Sasuke owed nothing to anyone. He had never asked for anyone’s friendship or loyalty. And yet, it still hurt to see his teammate in that state, because the heart could not be controlled.
Sakura didn’t take long to learn that a message from Sasuke had arrived, and when she approached Naruto with her heart in her throat, whatever remaining hope she had shattered at the sight of disappointment on the blond’s face. Naruto tried to comfort her, making excuses for Sasuke, perhaps the letter had been lost, or he had forgotten to reply due to the urgency of his mission, but Sakura had already had enough. That was the final straw.
Sasuke didn’t love her, not in the way she wanted. So, with a final tear, Sakura buried those unrequited feelings deep within her heart.
For the following year, she convinced herself she had moved on. Until a week ago, when she saw him again: tall, calm, and shrouded in that familiar mystery. And in that instant, she realized her feelings were still alive, stronger than ever.
When he noticed her, Sasuke only gave a slight nod, acknowledging her presence. That simple gesture angered her. She had written him countless letters, pouring her entire heart into them, and he hadn’t responded to a single one. Yet now, after suddenly reappearing without warning, that was all the acknowledgment she received.
Still, she restrained herself. If she wanted to avoid pushing him away and use his time in the village to get closer to him, she had to be careful. Sasuke wouldn’t stay in Konoha for long, and she intended to make sure he understood she was the only one who truly comprehended him, someone who could complement him, someone who could become his family.
She began with brief greetings whenever she saw him at Kakashi’s office, a place she had started visiting more frequently since his return. Then she moved on to bringing him small lunches. Nothing extravagant, just simple meals meant to show care and attention.
At first, Sasuke refused them. Never rudely, but quickly enough to make it clear he managed perfectly well on his own. Over time, however, he began accepting them, not out of pity or resignation, but as a quiet form of repayment for having ignored all of Sakura’s attempts to reach him during his travels.
He had read every single one of her letters. His decision not to respond had never come from cruelty or rejection, but from what he believed was the greater good. He did not see himself as someone who needed romantic ties with anyone. It was true that, once, he had spoken of restoring his clan, but that was something left in the past.
He knew Sakura had loved him for years, and although deep down he felt it as a weight he had never asked her to carry, he never expressed it outwardly. Instead, he felt indebted to her unwavering trust. For that reason, he decided silence was best, he would not give life to something he knew could never exist.
He would be leaving soon. The only reason he had returned at all was because his closest friend was getting married, and this seemed like the appropriate moment to briefly return to the village. It was nothing more than a stop along the way. The gathering being held was simply a celebration of the engagement, a small meeting among “friends,” though for Sasuke, that word applied only to Naruto.
During his stay, he had mostly remained with his former teammates, exchanging only brief words with the others. Some had looked at him in surprise, like Ino and Chōji; others had greeted him with respectful nods, like Shikamaru; and some, like Hinata, had exchanged the first quiet words they had ever spoken.
Their reserved natures had never allowed for much interaction, and with his lifelong focus on revenge, Sasuke had never been inclined toward friendship. Now, they all sat together around a large oval table in a private area reserved for them, celebrating Naruto and Hinata’s engagement, a ceremony that would take place in a little over a month time.
Sasuke did not intend to stay long. He planned to leave in two days, finish pending missions, and return only shortly before the wedding.
“Let’s toast to the power of love that has brought Naruto and Hinata together!”
Rock Lee’s enthusiastic shout broke through the room, drawing everyone’s attention. Dinner had ended some time ago, and the group had shifted into casual conversation while enjoying drinks to end the night.
Amid the noise and laughter, Sasuke remained at the edge of the table, showing little interest in the surrounding chaos. Ignoring the loud celebration, he calmly raised his cup of coffee to his lips. It wasn’t the typical drink for such an occasion, but he had never cared much for expectations.
“Cheers!”
The rest of the group echoed the toast, clinking their glasses in the center of the table.
Several of them were already quite affected by the alcohol, especially Naruto, who had never handled drinking well and was already far beyond his limit after just a couple of rounds.
“Naruto-kun, I think that’s enough,” Hinata said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder as he reached for yet another drink.
It was already late, and if Naruto, Kiba, and soon Rock Lee continued like this, none of them would be able to stand properly. Beside them, Shikamaru watched lazily, though with a faint, knowing smile, quietly observing how far they had all come, and the reason that had brought them together that night.
Meanwhile, Ino, Sakura, and Tenten were talking among themselves as if they were plotting something, though they quickly shifted the topic and began discussing who would be the next to get married. The pink-haired kunoichi kept throwing occasional sideways glances at the former avenger.
Sasuke pretended not to notice what was happening around him. There was no point in feeding into it. He knew that perhaps accepting Sakura’s company during those days might have sent the wrong message to his former teammate, but he didn’t see the need to address it. He would be leaving in a few days anyway.
An hour later, goodbyes began, and one by one, they all started to leave.
Shikamaru and Shino took care of Kiba and Rock Lee with Tenten’s help.
Ino left with her loyal friend Chōji, until only Team Seven remained along with Hinata.
“Damn dobe… why drink if you can’t handle it?”
Sasuke’s complaint made Sakura let out a soft laugh, while Hinata blushed slightly, embarrassed by the scene.
Resigned, Sasuke slung Naruto’s arm over his shoulder and began walking him toward his home.
A few steps behind, Hinata and Sakura followed, caught in a conversation that had Hinata on the verge of panic.
“So… are you telling me you and Naruto don’t…?”
“S-Sakura-san!” Hinata whispered urgently, completely red. “O-of course not… I… p-please, l-let’s stop this conversation here, okay?”
Letting out a small laugh, Sakura relented. She couldn’t believe how innocent Hinata still was, but that was exactly why she liked her. She only hoped she would like the gift she and the others had prepared for her.
Soon after, they arrived at Naruto’s apartment, where Sasuke unceremoniously dropped him onto the couch, still irritated by the blond’s behavior. Though, perhaps he was exaggerating, after all, Naruto was simply celebrating his engagement in his own way.
“T-thank you very much, Uchiha-san… I appreciate it,” Hinata said softly, breaking the silence.
Sasuke barely acknowledged her. It was clear she still felt slightly uncomfortable around him, not because of hostility, but because of his distant personality, which still made it difficult for him to form new relationships, something he didn’t particularly care about.
“Hm… well, I’m leaving.”
Without waiting for a response, he headed toward the door, a gesture that slightly confused Hinata, who still didn’t fully understand her partner’s friend.
“Don’t mind him too much, Hinata,” Sakura said with a calm smile. “Sasuke-kun still struggles with being friendly. Give him time.”
Hinata smiled gently, grateful for her friend’s reassurance.
“Well, I’m off then. Have a good night,” Sakura added with a playful grin as she headed for the exit, clearly intending to catch up with Sasuke.
Understanding exactly what her friend was implying, Hinata quickly spoke up.
“S-Sakura-chan! I’m just going to make sure he gets settled properly… then I’ll leave.”
Sakura turned back and winked at her friend.
“Haha, whatever you say, Hinata.”
Before she could respond, Sakura slipped out through the door, leaving Hinata blushing on her own. She understood that her friends made those kinds of adult jokes because she was soon going to become a married woman, but she couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed whenever those conversations came up.
Letting out a tired sigh, Hinata walked over to Naruto, who was completely out of it, so much so that the room was soon filled with his snores.
“Oh, Naruto-kun…”
With a small, soft smile, Hinata went into the back room, grabbed some blankets, and returned to carefully cover him.
As she stood back up, a sudden wave of heat rushed through her body. It was so intense she nearly lost her balance, and to steady herself she sat down on the nearby sofa.
“W-what… is happening to me?” she whispered, pressing a hand to her head.
After a few minutes, the sensation only grew worse. Trying not to make any noise, she made her way to the bathroom. When she turned on the light and looked at herself in the mirror, she froze.
She was covered in sweat, her cheeks completely flushed, and her entire body felt like it was burning. Worse still, she was starting to feel things she knew weren’t right, especially since she wasn’t married yet.
“N-no way…”
She quickly turned on the faucet and splashed cold water onto her face, hoping to calm herself down, but the feeling surged back even stronger.
“I have to get out of here…” she said anxiously. “T-this… this isn’t right.”
Determined to escape the sensation, Hinata grabbed her things and left without looking back, hoping that the wind against her skin might help cool her down.
But she was very far from relief.
///
Meanwhile, Sasuke was enjoying another cup of coffee in a small bar in the city. The moment he had dropped Naruto off at his apartment, he used the opportunity to leave quickly and avoid getting caught by Sakura. He knew that was his only chance to escape her for the night, and as unpleasant as it sounded, it felt like the only effective strategy left.
And it had worked.
He had managed to escape from her and was now enjoying one last warm drink, this time in a calmer, more relaxed atmosphere, just the way he liked it.
Once satisfied, he paid the bill and headed toward the exit. A few minutes into his walk, he came across a very unexpected presence: Hinata.
Despite the dim light illuminating the streets, she was clearly distressed and agitated. Sasuke considered walking past her, but curiosity got the better of him.
“Hyūga,” he said coldly.
Hinata was sitting on a bench in a completely empty park, trembling and breathing in short, uneven gasps. When she lifted her gaze and recognized him, she froze. She had no idea what he was doing there.
“U-Uchiha-san…”
She stood up abruptly out of nervousness, nearly losing her balance again. As always, Sasuke’s ninja instincts reacted faster than thought, and in an instant he was holding her by the waist to steady her.
The moment Sasuke made contact with her, something in Hinata’s mind snapped, clouding her judgment completely and causing what little composure she had left to vanish.
“What the hell…?” he said, confused by the situation.
But before he could finish his sentence, something even more inexplicable interrupted him.
Hinata was kissing him.
In that very instant, something incomprehensible was unleashed in Sasuke’s mind.
His ability to think clearly vanished completely, as if the contact between Hinata’s lips and his own had triggered a storm of repressed emotions that needed to be released.
Time came to a standstill.
And the only thing capable of soothing that sudden need was their closeness.
Sasuke pulled her toward his body, placing both hands on her hips, making the contact even more intense.
Lacking oxygen, they slowly pulled apart.
The silence of the night was filled only with their uneven breathing, but it was clear they were not finished.
“S-Sasuke-kun…”
“I know,” he said, burying his face against her neck. “But not here.”
Before she could respond, they vanished in a faint cloud of smoke.
///
It all happened in an instant.
As soon as they reached Sasuke’s apartment, they picked up right where they had left off in the park. By the time they made it to the bedroom, the built-up tension had completely consumed them.
“S-Sasuke…”
“Hinata…”
Their ragged breaths mingled in the darkness as they clung to each other with desperation. Their kisses grew deeper and more demanding, more urgent, and time seemed to stand still that night between the sheets.
Hinata muffled a soft moan against Sasuke’s shoulder, clinging to him as he held her tightly, deepening their intimacy even further.
That night, they surrendered to an act whose consequences would follow them for the rest of their lives, for though neither had sought it out, life granted them a destiny whose weight would change them forever.