日向導 - A Hyūga's Guide

Chapter Nine: Freedom

Naruto arrived in the evening as the sun began to set. Sweat was built on his face and his usually spiky hair fell flat on his head due to the added weight of the salty liquid. He took his mask off and let out a sigh before he opened the door.

To his surprise, he found Sasuke sitting there mashing some herbs in the clay mortar he had seen the woman use. Speaking of the unknown woman, she was busy reading and writing things down as she looked over at Sasuke to make sure he was doing the right thing.

"I never thought I'd see you doing something so...mundane." Naruto set his sword down and sat on the floor beside the bed.

"There's not much for me to do." Sasuke mumbled, feeling Hinata's fingers graze his own as she silently asked him for the concoction.

"Is that what you've been up to all day?"

He shook his head, "I've been sleeping and eating, that's about it. There's not much to do in the middle of the forest. This place is practically unknown to me."

"Thank you so much for watching him." Naruto turned to the woman and smiled. "We never got your name?"

She looked up for just a moment before mumbling a response, "it's Hina." She answered and took a smell of the herbs before tasting it. Her face displayed no reaction but her eye did twitch for just a second at the bitter taste.

"This is the first time I'm hearing your name." Sasuke said.

"You've spent the entire day together and you didn't bother to ask her for her name?"

"I did not think that I needed to, besides, aren't you here to take me somewhere else?" Sasuke grumbled as he hit Naruto's shoulder, feeling embarrassed that the thought to ask his nameless helper her name never crossed his mind.

Naruto laughed nervously and scratched his cheek, "I think it's best that you stay here for the time being. The search is still going on and will continue for the near future. This is the only part of the country where your father won't come looking for you." He whispered so that Hinata wouldn't hear. Clearing his throat, Naruto spoke with a louder voice, forming an answer to Sasuke's question. "I've been looking everywhere for a place for you to stay but no one's willing to sell a room to someone who's blind." He frowned.

"Do you think it's better to take me back there? You can't keep going back and forth for my sake — suspicion will arise and you'll get into trouble." Sasuke frowned and pulled at the silk cloth, successfully untying it even though he didn't mean to.

"Sasuke...You won't be happy there at all, you and I both know this." Naruto sighed and brushed his hair back. "How about we wait a few more days and if you change your mind then we'll go back."

"Would you both like some tea?" Hinata interrupted as she closed her book and got ready to leave.

"Do you have to be somewhere?" Naruto asked, watching her pack her things with grace.

"It's nearly dinner time, I must return to my family. I will be back after then with some food and tea for Sasuke." She lifted the hood of her cloak. "Would you like some as well?"

"No, I'm alright." He shook his head.

"Okay, I'll be back soon." She excused herself and left.

Now that Naruto and Sasuke were alone in the room, the blond guard sighed and sprawled himself out on the floor. His exhaustion from 'searching' for Sasuke all day had finally caught up to him. He turned to his best friend and watched as his eyes were focused on the entrance of the bedroom.

"So...How was staying around a woman that isn't your mother or Shizune?" He was genuinely curious. This must have been the longest time Sasuke has spent in the presence of a woman and he didn't seem like he wanted to rip his head off.