Epilogue

He had taken the news . . exceptionally well.

When Itachi told Sasuke about the incident with the eyes, his brother was numb. Or maybe it didn't faze him. Itachi could never tell what Sasuke's true emotions on the matter were. It was possible Sasuke was hopeful since her body had never been found, but he went on about his days like he had always done. His time spent outside the village had him away for a few weeks at a time every couple months, but he was becoming quite the skilled shinobi.

Still . . . Even though Sasuke had become stoic by design, Itachi wished to see more emotion on his part.

Hinata Hyuuga . . . had meant something to his brother. Itachi saw it by how Sasuke worked to revive her. Itachi saw it by how much chakra Sasuke used to restart her heart. Itachi saw it when Sasuke came to him asking if he could get him into the Hyuuga compound. This wasn't something Sasuke could just brush off, and Itachi hoped he wasn't handling it in a negative way.

Sasuke was away on a mission again, and Itachi took to shifting through the mail. As of late, he himself had been getting a lot of letters from the Hyuuga residence. Most were either from Kō, a man whom he had come to know watched over the female Hyuuga as a child, and the Hyuuga head himself. With the former, Itachi acknowledged a bond made. Kō cared for Hinata much as Itachi cared for Sasuke.

With Hiashi . . . it was hard to say where they stood.

The man never wrote letters, but he sent invitations to events held at the compound, and for a lack of better comparisons, he got the same veiled appreciation from Hiashi Hyuuga as his own father.

If that turned out to be the case, he didn't know how he felt about it.

Itachi separated the mail into piles; he saw that Sasuke had something addressed to him from the Sound Village.

Again.

He had gone there for an emergency eye inspection during one of his missions months ago. His Mangekyou Sharingan had activated, and Itachi suspected he was using it too much. That was the biggest indication that the Hyuuga had managed to impact him, but it never made complete sense. She wasn't dead, and he hadn't know her long . . . It was best not to make him talk about it, he figured. The true point was that he still received mail from the Sound Village, and Itachi hoped his brother hadn't run himself into irrevocable debt at the age of seventeen.

"I'm home," Sasuke called dully as he entered the house.

Itachi waited for him in the kitchen. "Welcome home," he replied once he saw him. "How are your eyes?"

"What?" Sasuke turned to the refrigerator, not wanting to converse after a mission. "They're fine."

"Are they? The Sound Village continues to send you mail. Is there nothing about your condition you wish to tell me?"

Sasuke turned to him, looking down at the envelope on the counter and snatched it up. "Discounts, I guess," he said as he exited.

"Sasuke," Itachi called.

Sasuke stopped in the doorway, back turned to him.

"Is there anything I should know?"

". . . Yeah." Sasuke faced him. "I agreed to a month long mission in the Land of Water."

When it came time for Sasuke to leave, Itachi didn't know what to say. He did not question his intentions or why he agreed to it; he was just worried. Sasuke was still young, so a month long mission was rather . . . out of his element. Itachi knew he himself was being a tad hypocritical seeing how he went on solo missions long before Sasuke's current age, but that was different.

Sasuke wasn't him.

But, he knew, voicing his concerns would only sound like insults in his brother's ears, so he settled with seeing him off. A jonin that Itachi couldn't easily identify would be with Sasuke, and Kō stood with Itachi as they said their final goodbyes.

"Do not wander off," Itachi advised. "It is good to mingle with Kiri citizens and the citizens of the surrounding islands, if you get the chance, but frivolous fraternizing could jeopardize the mission."

"I'm well aware," Sasuke said, a few notches away from groaning. "Is that all?"

Itachi suppressed a smile, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "You will do well. I will await your return."

The youngest frowned, looking away briefly. He was embarrassing him in front of two other (highly skilled) shinobi. ". . .Thanks."

Sasuke and the jonin departed, leaving Itachi to linger on any worries he wished he could express—just so Sasuke would know he cared. He was sure Sasuke did know, but that was the thing about being a younger sibling who believed he was living the lesser life. There was nothing Itachi could say or do that could convince him otherwise, but he wished he could.

"He reminds me much of Hinata," Kō said after a while.

Itachi turned to him. "Oh? How so?"

The Hyuuga laughed, ruffling his brown hair. "Well, nowhere in personality or actions, but . . ." He sighed, trying not to become too depressing. "I look at you and him and wonder how she and I would have been if she were still here."

Itachi nodded, patting him on the back. "I have no words of comfort because there is nothing I can say to make amends for what happened, but if you like, you could get to know Sasuke when he returns."

"Uh . . . N-no, I don't think I could. We . . . The Hyuuga clan has not been kind to him, so . . . And I hear he was acquainted with Lady Hinata . . . He may not . . . react well to my presence."

Itachi shrugged. "Perhaps, but I'm sure being around someone Hinata is close to will help my brother make the right choices."

"What choices are those?"

Itachi shook his head, urging him to walk. "It's nothing."

Land of Water

"I believe that is all we can do for today."

"Hn." Sasuke stood, stretching, and proceeded to leave the hotel room.

"Sasuke," Hamaki called, fatigued. "Not too late, alright? Maybe later in our stay, but we can't wander too freely."

"Right." Sasuke was out the door.

He walked the streets of the damp village, feeling his hair and clothes take on some weight. For a while, he wandered, not caring to look at or converse with the locals. When he got to the country's edge, he walked still, gathering chakra at his feet; the temperature dropped as he ventured further out to sea. He knew he wouldn't like it here, but it was one of many sacrifices he was willing to make.

He soon came upon an island and was relieved to be on land again—though the temperature didn't get any better. Venturing through, he passed plain-looking buildings and establishments. The only thing this place had going for it was the lush vegetation and the friendly people who inhabited it.

"Sasuke!"

He looked to the side, seeing a dark-haired girl with a pixie cut running his way. "Saika," he acknowledged as she fell into step with him. "Shouldn't you be home?"

"Feh." She crossed her arms, whipping her head to the side. "You say that every time you see me on the streets." She peeked at him, her brown eyes shining. "It's been almost two months. I don't think Hidamari will want to see you. No calls, no messenger birds, no nothing."

"I'll make up for it."

They walked to a cottage somewhat hidden beneath trees and other foliage. It was a bit rundown here and there, but he could tell that she had been making improvements while he was away. He had to be sure to finish up as much repairs before he left.

"How is she?" Sasuke asked as they walked towards the door.

"Same, same," Saika nodded. "Not listening to anyone because she's a free spirit. Not taking her medicine because the side-effects make her feel healthy. Not remembering anything because she's probably not all there. Waiting for you because you're the only family she knows. Wishing she had those ninja abilities and chakra magic like you so she could become a kunoichi and be where you are. Yeah, same, same."

"Hn."

"Oh! Oh! Hold on!" Saika exclaimed, stopping him a few feet from the door. "Let's surprise her! I love that look she gets when she sees you." She didn't wait for him to answer and bounded towards the door, knocking on it. A moment later, it opened. "Hidamari!" the dark-haired girl exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

"Hello-"

"Look!" the girl threw her arm around her, moving out of the way.

A girl of sixteen, practically a woman in looks, froze. Her mouth parted by the slightest degree, eyes widening. "Sa . . . ?"

He shifted on his feet. "I got a month this time."

She gasped, a smile spreading across her face, and ran towards him, long dark purple hair trailing behind her. Sasuke opened his arms as she collided into him, hugging tightly.

"Y-you didn't c-c-call me," she accused, happy tears being shed despite her anguish. "You h-haven't even written any letters."

"It's business," he muttered as a form of an apology. He pulled away slightly, urging her to look at him. Gently, he pulled down at the skin below her eyes, inspecting them. "How do you feel?"

"I'm . . . fine," she huffed, calming herself down.

Sasuke wiped a tear from her eye, noticing the liquid had a pink tinge. "Does it still hurt?" He pulled out a handkerchief, blowing and dabbing. "You're not supposed to agitate them."

She laughed, swatting at his hands. "You've asked and said the same things ever since I met you." She looked at him with bright, grey eyes that could almost pass as silver. "I've missed you, Sasuke."

He pocketed the handkerchief, seeing if anything was out of order. "Me too."

She shook her head. "Say it."

"Say what?"

"My name."

"Hidamari?"

"No, the name you always call me. Tell me you've missed me with that name."

He looked over her head, finding Saika gone. "I've missed you," he leaned down, kissing her temple, "Hinata."

Thank you for reading!