The thin line betwee love and hate

Chapter six

Remembering old times: Sasuke
Last chapter…

“HINATA-CHAN!” screamed a loud blonde ninja, from the bushes, entering along with his teammates and sensei.
“Are you ok guys!” asked Sakura concerned.

“Of course we are ok! Why we shouldn’t be?” asked Kiba annoyed, especially when nothing was actually happening. But Shino noticed how tense the environment went when Naruto and the others appeared. “Hello Uzumaki, coming to spar?” asked Hinata with sarcasm, and now he noticed something was wrong in the picture. He suddenly decided to get into the scenario.

“I guess even that stuttering and the blush around Naruto was also false, right? You saw Naruto-kun and you didn’t stutter even a second, you even talked to him with sarcasm. I don’t know why Team Seven is here, so explain yourself.” he ended looking now at his other teammate, the one who he considered a great friend and teammate. Hinata only nodded and motioned at Team seven.

“You haven’t answered me yet, Uzumaki…” “My name is Naruto and stop that ANBU shit already!” screamed back provoking the other three ANBU members to move. “Don’t,” Hinata ordered, “you are already done with your training, so leave this to me. You just rest and watch.” Her teammates nodded and rested back, now she addressed now to the blonde nin.

“If you want me to stop the ANBU formality towards you low class, just get the permission from Hokage-sama.” Naruto looked at her more annoyed than before. “What does Tsunade-sama have to do with this!”

“According to the rules on Konoha,” interrupted Kakashi, “says that a high class nin can’t fight a low class unless that low-class requests it.” then he steps in front Hinata. “So means that even I can’t challenge her, as much as I want to.”

“SINCE WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN HERE!” screamed aloud Sakura and Naruto, pointing at him directly, “He has been following us since you screamed about looking for Kiba and Shino.” Responded Sasuke, leaning against a tree. Both still looked impressed at their sensei, but they leave it go. “(cough) Anyway…so it seems that nothing happened here. so maybe we can just leave and…”

“…I’m not leaving…” responded Naruto, getting a loud sight from Hinata. “Why are you suddenly interested in me Uzumaki? You never saw me as someone who can be a great challenge for you. or you are still mad that I could do all that without a sweat?” asked in sarcasm, making him clench his fists harder. “You think yourself big and mighty for because you did that…but let me tell you something. I’m going to get Tsunade’s permission and when that happens, you’ll regret being so damn proud.” He ended and turning around, he got the answer of his life.

“At least I have the bloodline and the talent to be so proud. And not a being a freak with a demon inside me, and cheating in my fights using its chakra.” Then he stood on his tracks, turning around with his body flaming with red chakra. “Naruto is enough!” screamed Kiba, getting between the blond chounin and the raven ANBU officer.

Naruto calmed down and looked at her again. “Wait and see Hinata, I’ll proof you that I didn’t needed your help out there.” And leaves, having Sakura and Kakashi following him. Sasuke was the last to leave, only after he looked at Hinata for the longest time. he had to follow the others, so he won’t have problems with his punishment.

Sasuke continued his path through Konoha’s streets, not seeing yet any sign of his team. That was until he turned a corner and faced the Academy.

There was a welcome act for the newcomers. He looked at the kids lined perfectly, Tsunade giving them the welcome speech and their parents on the other side, looking at them proudly. He sighted and sits in a rock close to the activity. “This reminds me of that time…”
Flashback

(Sasuke’s POV)

It was the day of the welcome activity of the Academy. I was on the middle line, listening to the Third’s speech. Suddenly, I needed to look back and saw this girl. She had her head down, like avoiding the others. She looked interested due her too pale skin. She was ill or something I looked at the front again, seeing my dad there with the other parents. Don’t worry dad, I’ll make you proud as Itachi does.

Weeks later, somehow I became late for class, and I was running like hell. I was in so much hurry that I didn’t look when I entered the classroom. Then I stepped in someone and then fallen back, the sound of something falling into the ground echoed the whole room. I immediately stood up to see what happened to see the scene.

It was that white-pale girl again, she was still looking down to what I spilled, and I looked over her shoulder to see it. I messed her bento lunch, and then I realized what was happening around us. When I came into my senses, I see that the rest of the class was laughing at the scene. Inuzuka-sensei was telling them to shut up, but it was no use. Then the girl returned to her seat, while I was ordered to clean up the mess that I caused. Since I was one of the best in the class, he didn’t punish me like he usually does.

After I ended to clean it, I saw that the girl in question had an empty seat beside her. I decided to be polite and seat there. When I did it, she was all the time listening and taking notes form the class, not noticing my presence. Is kind of new, since everyone is always after me, and she didn’t care about it.

“Uh…Mmm…I-I’m sorry for what I made.” I was quite impressed by myself, why I was stuttering so suddenly, but it was more incredible that she didn’t even looked at me; her eyes were still on the class. “My name is Uchiha Sasuke, what’s yours?” I asked again, trying to make a conversation. Seeing that the class was important than me, I stood quiet for the rest of the class, decided to forget to say sorry for her. She was being mean and I didn’t deserve it.

As soon as the class ended, I was picking up my stuff to recess, when her voice came back. “Y-you don’t h-have to be s-sorry for w-what y-you did.” And stepped to get outside, I was still impressed by her comment, when she said something else. “I-I’m Hyuuga H-Hinata, nice t-to m-meet you U-Uchiha-san.” And leaves the room, now the silence fills the classroom, and I’m on it…

I remember that day running on the noon towards home, it normally took me like 15 minutes to get there, but today I was in seven. Mom and dad greeted me surprised by me being so early at home, but nothing else was commented. Later at dinner, “Mother, can you make me an extra bento lunch for tomorrow?” then mom and dad looks up at me, but only mom answers, “Why did you want the extra bento, Sasuke?”

“Is just that I accidentally messed someone’s lunch and I want to give it as a sorry.” Then she looks at me suspiciously. “So…is she that cute?” “Well, she has quite pale skin but…wait…mother!” I never had been so embarrassed in my whole life. “Oh, come on woman,” defended me father, “he is six years old, he doesn’t understand that kind of stuff…and I bet that he didn’t even knows her name.” I blush harder as I respond. “Her name is Hyuuga Hinata, at least is what she told me…”

He sighs and returns to dinner, “you’re right…he likes the girl.” He states while I feel myself betrayed by my own father, I couldn’t take too longer. “Look, I just wanted to apologize in a gentleman way, like you always told me to be father. But you think things that are not there…”

Itachi, who has been eating his dinner in silence the whole time, finally speaks up, “then why you just give your bento today and that was it. but you wanted instead to bring her a new one tomorrow as an apology. Whoever the girl is, she must be quite impressive for you. I’m done” and he leaves the table normally. I never felt my jaw fall so hard on the floor in my life…

The next day, mom give me the two bento lunches, telling me that the one colored pink was for Hinata. At lunch time I get directly to the pale girl, damn is she really sick?

“Umm…Hinata-chan…” then she looks back at me, “Oh, h-hi U-Uchiha-san, w-what c-can I do for y-you?” I look down at the green grass, the color green makes everything so relaxing…”Can I give you something, but not here?” she looks at me confused, but I insist with my eyes. “S-sure.”

I lead her on one corner of the backyard, right under some trees. “As an apology for what I did yesterday, I brought you a bento lunch. I hope you can forgive me.” she looks at me then at the bento, then from the bento at me. finally, she accepts it and we sit down to eat it. but when she opens her bento, my inner peace was lost again.

Every vegetable on it were heart shaped, even the rice has a pink heart colored on it! Mom can be sometimes too troublesome. “SORRY FOR THAT!” I suddenly screamed, “MY MOM DID IT, I DIDN’T MEANT TO…” but she ignores my loud apologies and starts eating it, like a way to shut me up…and it worked. We eat our lunches quietly, but the redness on my cheeks were still there. When she was done, she was about to leave. “T-Thank you U-Uchiha-san, that was g-good.” I have to stop blushing; she is just a girl after all, right? “Um…you don’t have to be so…formal. You can call me Sasuke-kun, or at least call me Sasuke, ok?” she nods not turning around, but I needed to have her with me more time. “Can I ask you something?”

Hinata turns around, now I got her attention…but the question was...what the heck am I going to ask! All kinds of questions were running on my mind, but sadly the worst one came out from my lips before I knew it happened. “Why don’t show your truly self? I bet that you can get more friends being yourself…” and before I could end my sentence, she leaved alone, under that comfortable shadow.

Since then, she had been like avoiding me, not that I was pursuing her or something. But I wanted to apologize for how stupid I was, I declined to talk about it at home, and father took it like I got my heart broken for the first time. I didn’t understand that.

But one day…the last day that I saw her like I wanted…

It was noon and everyone was heading back to their homes, since it was a little earlier than normally, I though that taking a nice walk alone through Konoha wouldn’t hurt me at all. Then I remembered the place where it was craved the dead heroes of the village, and decided t get there and give my solemn respects.

When I got there, I felt like someone else was there, I didn’t know how, but I knew it. I went looking carefully through the woods…when I saw her. Hinata was smelling flowers…the clearing was a huge garden, with lots of the most beautiful flowers ever existed. I was still as watching Hinata…smiling. She wasn’t smiling like a timid or polite girl could give you…it was a smile pf freedom. I don’t know how or why I described it like that…but that’s what I felt when I saw it.

Then she took a white rose, which was at its full bloom and smell it. then I saw what I think is the cutest thing ever, she passed the white petals over her lips, and her eyes were closed. She looked like she was concentrating on the feeling and somehow it gave good chills on my spine. The chills make me feel good, I didn’t knew why.

Then she looked like she lost concentration and looked around. “W-Who’s there? W-Who’s been s-stalking me?” I jumped back, my heart beating like bee; the only thing that I knew was that I must run, so I did that. Again I got home earlier than usual, but never mentioned anything to my parents, I decided to leave it for myself.

Weeks later, the Uchiha tragedy strike on my home…

End of flashback
Sasuke was still deep in hi thoughts when something hat hit him on the back of his head. “OUCH!” and immediately looked back, only to see Kakashi with a good guy look. “Sorry, but I called you a few times, but you seemed out of this world.” “Whatever.” I muttered, and then he felt his sensei’s eyes on him. “Tsunade-sama asked for you since you weren’t with us, she is thinking that you separated on purpose…” “What are you talking about! You and the others left me behind to search for the hag! Is not my fault…” “I know I know…” reassures the white haired one. “But come with me, since even Tsunade’s may interest you too.” And then both walked side by side to the Hokage’s tower.

“And why should I be into that?” asked Sasuke, now looking up at him with interest. “Because my boy…,” mentioned the experimented ninja, “I know how an Uchiha craves for battle, and you don’t want to miss this one.”