SASUKE: The Beginning Of The Journey.

Chapter 7: Hide and Seek.

As the sun rose into the sky, Neji, still under Natsu's bedroom covers, woke up from the sunrise as he was being hit with the light of the sun. He sat up in bed, still wearing his kimono from the night before. He sat there for a moment and then tried to stretch his muscles as a warm-up.

Neji noticed that Natsu was no longer in bed. He thought maybe she was already doing her work. He still remembered what happened last night, a smile spreading across his face as he thought about it. Then, finally, he stood up and walked toward the sliding door, opening it and going outside.

As he walked down the long hallway of the Hyuuga household, he heard voices – three of them to be precise. Two were familiar, but the one voice was only slightly recognizable. He tried to find the three voices that he heard. As he finally reached them, he turned at the end of the hallway and saw Lady Hinata and Lady Hanabi playing with Sasuke in the sand playground – all three of them together. The three of them were having fun and laughing together. Neji couldn't help but smile at the scene he saw.

“Well, they’ve become even closer than before,” Neji thought to himself with a smile.

The three kids noticed Neji in the hallway, looking at them. Hanabi shouted his name.

“Neji-san, good morning!” Hanabi said as she ran towards him.

Neji smiled and patted Hanabi's head. “Good morning to you too, Lady Hanabi,” he said with a smile.

Both Hinata and Sasuke looked at Neji. Then Hinata also smiled and walked towards them. Sasuke followed them as well.

"Neji-san, good morning!" Hinata greeted him warmly, her smile as bright as the morning sun.

"Good morning, Lady Hinata," Neji replied, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Good morning to you too, Neji-san," Sasuke said.

Neji nodded and spoke. "To you as well, Uchiha," he said with a smile, which Sasuke returned.

Neji nodded, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. "It's good to see that you three are having fun together..."

Sasuke, Hinata, and Hanabi looked at each other. They both blushed and looked away, but Hanabi was the one who spoke first.

"Yeah, we’ve been getting closer every day," Hanabi said with a smile, to which Hinata nodded in response. Sasuke didn't respond; he only remained silent.

Neji turned his attention back to the sisters and spoke. "By the way, what are you three doing in the sand ground...?"

"We were just about to make sandcastles. Would you like to join us?" Hinata said to him.

Neji couldn't help but chuckle at Hinata's playful invitation. "I'm afraid my skills lie more in the realm of taijutsu than sandcastle construction," he replied, though his tone was lighthearted. "But I'd be happy to watch and offer some… constructive criticism."

Hanabi giggled at Neji's response, her bright eyes twinkling with mischief. "Neji-san, you're no fun!"

Sasuke, however, remained silent, watching the interaction with an air of detached curiosity. He hadn't interacted much with Neji since his arrival at the Hyuga household, and he found the older Hyuga's quiet demeanour intriguing. It remained him of his older brother.

Hanabi, ever the energetic one, bounced on the balls of her feet, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Neji-san, are you going to play with us?" she asked, her voice filled with childish enthusiasm.

"Perhaps later, Hanabi," Neji replied, gently placing a hand on her head. "I have some things to do first." He flicked Hanabi's forehead.

Sasuke's eyes widened at Neji flicking Hanabi's forehead; it reminded him of his big brother Itachi, who always did that to him.

Hanabi pouted, but she quickly bounced back, her spirits seemingly unfazed. "Okay!" she exclaimed, turning back to her sisters. "Let's build a bigger castle this time!"

Hinata chuckled softly at her sister's enthusiasm, then turned back to Neji. "We'll be here if you want to join us."

Neji nodded and turned his attention to the hallway, continuing to walk. Hanabi, Hinata, and Sasuke watched as Neji walked away. Then Hanabi turned to her sister and Sasuke and spoke.

"Hey guys, how about we play a new game..." Hanabi said with a big smile.

Sasuke and Hinata were surprised by her declaration and spoke.

"Okay, what kind of game are we going to play then Hanabi...?" Sasuke said, curious about what type of game Hanabi planned on playing.

"What type of game are we playing then...?" Sasuke said to Hanabi.

"Ahh…" How about we play hide and seek then…" Hanabi said with a smile.

But Sasuke and Hinata glanced at each other. Then Sasuke spoke first.

"Okay, but no using your Byakugan okay…?" Sasuke said to Hanabi and Hinata.

"Yeah, sure..." Hanabi said to Sasuke.

Hinata nodded in agreement, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. “Okay, no Byakugan,” she said, her voice laced with a playful challenge.  “But, you can’t use your Sharingan either, Sasuke.”

Sasuke let out a low chuckle. “Fair enough. Let’s make this interesting.”

Hanabi clapped her hands excitedly.  “Alright, you two go hide first!  I’ll count to ten.”

Sasuke and Hinata exchanged a quick glance, then darted off in opposite directions.  Sasuke chose to hide behind a large, ancient oak tree that stood near the edge of the sand playground. The gnarled branches provided excellent cover, and he felt confident that he would be difficult to spot.

Hinata, on the other hand, decided to take advantage of the labyrinthine nature of the Hyuga household.  She found a small, forgotten room tucked away in a forgotten wing of the manor. The room was filled with dusty furniture and forgotten trinkets, and Hinata felt confident that she would be safe from discovery.

Hanabi, meanwhile, stood near the base of the oak tree, counting loudly.

“One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight… nine… ten!  I’m coming to find you!”  Hanabi yelled, then sprinted off in pursuit of her siblings.

Sasuke watched her go, a slight smirk playing on his lips.  He knew she was a formidable opponent, but he was confident in his ability to outsmart her.  He had a feeling that this game of hide and seek would be a lot more exciting than it first appeared.

Hanabi, with her boundless energy, zipped around the sand playground first, her eyes scanning every nook and cranny.  She even climbed up a small, rocky hill, hoping to get a better vantage point.  But Sasuke, hidden behind the sturdy trunk of the ancient oak, was nowhere to be found.

"Where could he be?" she wondered aloud, a slight frown furrowing her brow.

Meanwhile, Hinata had taken a different approach.  She moved quietly and stealthily through the Hyuga household, her footsteps barely making a sound on the polished wooden floors.  She had a knack for blending into the background, her presence almost invisible.

Hanabi, frustrated that she couldn’t find Sasuke, decided to try a different tactic. She sat down on the edge of the sand playground, her chin resting on her hand. “Sasuke-kun, you’re terrible at hiding!  Come out, come out, wherever you are!” she called out playfully.

Sasuke, who had been carefully listening to her search, decided to take a chance. He carefully emerged from his hiding spot, keeping a low profile, and cautiously made his way towards the sand playground. He had been enjoying the thrill of the chase, but he also wanted to see if he could catch Hanabi off guard.

Suddenly, he felt a small, warm hand on his shoulder. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest.  “Got you!” Hanabi exclaimed, her face beaming with triumph.

Sasuke turned around, a surprised expression on his face.  “You caught me?” he asked, a faint hint of disbelief in his voice.

“Yep!  I’m the best at hide and seek,” Hanabi said proudly, her chest puffing out with pride.

"Well, since I got you, you’re going to help me catch sis, okay?” Hanabi said with a smile.

Sasuke pouted and spoke. “Fine,” he said, in a grumpy face.

Hanabi giggled and spoke. “Come on, let’s better find sis before she catches us both,” she said as she started to find Hinata.

Sasuke nodded in agreement as he also started to find Hinata alongside Hanabi. They quickly rushed over to Hinata’s hiding place, eager to find Hinata and declare their victory.

But Hinata, with her sharp senses, heard Hanabi’s approach and quickly slipped out of the forgotten room.  She found a secluded spot under a grand, ornate staircase, blending in perfectly with the shadows.