Chapter 3

                                    

                                          



                 ~~Sasuke's point of view~~
On the way back to the village, it seemed to be silent but not the comfortable kind. It started to feel more tense as I would notice stares being directed toward Hinata and they weren't ones of concern. As I would glance at her, she seemed to be unfazed and kept the same emotionless expression while looking forward. The stares she was receiving couldn't be just from her and Naruto splitting up, right? There had to be more to this story.
 Once we stepped into the village, me and Hinata immediately followed after Shikamaru to the hokages office. Before leaving Naruto and Sakura invited me to dinner later on at Ichiraku Ramen. They want to catch up and share some news so I decided to go, since I want to catch up with both of my closest friends. My family.
 Naruto was like a brother to me, always wanting the best for me even if I couldn't see it. It reminded me slightly of Itachi. And Sakura, the woman who I promised to come back for and make my wife. When thinking of building my clan and restoring it, I think of Sakura and the loyalty she has shown me ever since we were young. When reconnecting with a place I call home, I instantly think of these two people instead waiting for me here. 
During this thought process on the way to the hokage's office, I think of the dual woman next to me. Under the stern look that seems like it can't ever be tampered with, I see someone who is so hurt they don't know any other feeling but that. Someone so closed about themselves and what they are feeling, because they know if they reveal the slightest bit of their true feelings their facade will crumble. I look over at the woman next to me and wonder. Hinata, what made you this way? I continue to ponder on that question until a knock on the hokages door brings me back from my thoughts.
                                         *v*
"Come in!" the hokage says from the other side of the door. Shikumaru opens the door and head in first, and Hinata follows right after him. Once we are gathered in the office, I look up at the hokage and my eyes soften a bit. 
The man in front of me, my sensei had became hokage after the previous one retired and passed the torch on to him. You could tell he was getting older by the wrinkles on his face, as they seem like they are just starting to appear. "While on our mission, Hinata and Sasuke found writing and drawings that seem to be connected in a way." Shikumaru says sounding more assertive than before. He passed the drawings and the piece of paper that had the words on them. 
"Hmm..." The hokage said going deep into thought. "This message seems to be tailing that there are more sources of production for chakra than the god tree." He says as his expression turns serious. I'm surprised by what the hokage just suggested could be the meaning of this message. If it's true then it could change the history we have been told about where chakra originally came from. If there was another source to gaining chakra then it would be life changing.
 "Hinata and Sasuke, since you two found the message I believe that it would be best to keep you engaged in this mission." The hokage suddenly says staring at us. "I will be extending the mission since it seems to be more serious than we thought." He continues on, sighing as he sits back in his chair. "I'll be keeping you both on this mission because of your eyes, and how they can see what we can't." He says looking at both of us in a serious manner. "Can I depend on both of you for this mission?" He says connecting his hands together as he sits back up from his chair. 
I stare at him with a look of agreement, though others would say I looked as if I didn't want to do it people who knew me understood my look of agreement. My eyes instantly travel to the woman next to me wondering what her response would be. "Yes hokage, you can count on me for this mission." She says as her lips tug up into an almost smirk. I felt anger come back into my body from this woman's actions, she really loved to get under my skin.
                                      *v*
Once outside of the hokages office I step in front of Hinata blocking her way. "You really like to mess with me don't you." I say as my frown that I usually would put up is replaced with a smirk. "It makes my day." She says sounding amused for the first time. 
I look down at her and see an expression I haven't seen from her in a while. A look of being carefree and untroubled, this entire time she has had a look of uncertainty and has kept her guard up. This is the first time in a while I'm seeing her look a bit like her old self, it was refreshing to see a part of her I recognize. "Would you like to chat over some tea, about the missions of course!" She says sounding more excited, and with more shine in those lavender tinted eyes.
Without thinking I was going to agree, and accompany her to get some tea but I remembered the promise I made to go with Naruto and Sakura to get ramen. "I-I can't this time, I'm meeting up with Naruto and Sakura." I say looking down in embarrassment from stuttering but when I look back up I notice a change in Hinata. 
Her expression is completely different from seconds ago and she is now looking down. "It's fine, actually it's better if we just only speak when on our mission anyway." She says in a monotone voice, looking how she did before. Uncertain and had a guard up, but why? Was it because I mentioned Naruto? As soon as I was going to speak, Hinata did before I could. 
"Have a good time Sasuke." She says with a forced smile and a look of pity, then she bowed. As she walked away, I hesitated to go after her but I then wondered why I cared so much. I stopped myself from doing anymore interfering into her life, me and her were not friends before so what's changed now? The main question I was so focused on though was, why did she look at me with pity?
                                     *v*
I arrived at Ichiraku Ramen and seen Sakura with Naruto already here. I pushed back the conversation I just had with Hinata and completely focused on this evening. Once I walk in Naruto and Sakura noticed me and wave towards me. 
As I approached the table I notice Naruto and Sakura sitting next to each other on the other side of the table. We ordered Ramen and once we chose what we wanted Sakura turns and ask me how I've been. I told them about the missions I've been on and how I've missed being home. "How have you guys been?" I say as my hand holds Sakura's hand that's on top of the table.
 "Well, we have been good." Sakura says moving her hand from mines slowly. "We actually have something really important to tell you." Naruto says with a nervous laugh as he reaches out to hold Sakura's hand. In the moment all of this happens, I am confused and my senses are more heightened. 
Questions keep forming in my brain, why is he holding her hand? What do they need to tell me? Does it have anything to do with why they are so close? "We-were getting married soon!" Sakura says excitedly, showing off her other hand that has a ring on it. Usually other people would be angry or upset with this information in my situation. But all I could think about was the ring, it looked familiar. 
It's the ring I've seen on someone else's finger, Hinata's. Now I know this story ran deeper than what she told me, I looked at Naruto and asked something unexpected. "What happened with you and Hinata?" I say with urgency. That question seemed to be a sensitive one, because Naruto and Sakura froze then became quiet. 
The mood changed from peaceful to tense in seconds. I didn't care if I was getting into a personal affair, after the news I just heard I felt like I should at least know what happened to the last marriage. A minute passed by and still no one has said anything, it left time for me to think about the events that just occurred. My best friend and the woman I loved told me they were getting married. 
I felt anger rise in me, wondering why this was the way they decided to tell me. "I will find out the story one way or another." I say standing up, getting ready to leave. Sakura was going to stop me, but Naruto stopped her and she sat back down. I left Ichiraku Ramen thinking of only one person I would want to talk to about what happened.