Pivotal (Sasuke and Hinata)

Desperate

Next day after the meeting, Hinata, Ino, and Sakura headed for the village which Lady Tsunade mention before. With a burdened heart, Hinata forced herself to forget what happen yesterday. 

It takes around 4 hours to arrive at the village by running. 

"What's wrong, Hinata? You don't look well," asked Sakura.

"Ah, no. It's nothing. I'm fine," said Hinata as she flashed an awkward smile.

Not long after that, they arrived at the village. Without wasting  any time, they quickly help the villagers who were injured. As they heal the wounded patients inside a big tent, the head village explained what happened in the village. 

"We were quite shocked when bandits suddenly running through the village and we tried to stopped them but, they were much stronger," explained the head village.

"Why did they attack this village?" asked Ino.

"About that, I'm not so sure," said the head village.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Hinata.

"Well actually, they don't steal anything or kidnap anyone. They just attacked the people of this village for about one hour. But one thing that really disturbed me was the majority of the bandits..." The head village looked around and said, "...got the same face."

The three of them were shocked by the statement but then realize that the bandits were not ordinary people.

"I do believe that shinobi is behind all this," said Sakura. 

"Yeah, I think so too. A very high-skilled shinobi. There is no way that simple shadow clones can last until one hour. It's just unbelievable," said Ino.

They continued discussing with the head village until Hinata sense something. Sakura and Ino don't seem to notice it. She excused herself and went outside the tent. Looking around the village, she only saw people doing chores. Hinata activated her Byakugan and scanned throughout the forest area around the village. 

Then she saw someone with a familiar chakra flow. It was Sasuke. Without a second thought, she quickly ran into the forest towards Sasuke.  As she skipped from branch to branch, she noticed Sasuke was walking slowly dragging his injured body.

"Sasuke!!" shouted Hinata as she landed behind Sasuke.

Sasuke turned his head and saw Hinata before his body suddenly gave up. He falls on the ground and breath heavily. Hinata went closer and support Sasuke's head. 

"W-What happened? Why are you seriously wounded like this?" asked Hinata.

"I w-won't make i-it...argh," grunted Sasuke.

"NO NO NO!! Don't say that! I'll heal you," said Hinata as she slowly put down Sasuke's head.

When she was ready to heal Sasuke, he slapped Hinata's hands and said, "Stop w-wasting your chakra and go a-away." 

"THERE IS NO WAY I WILL LEAVE YOU LIKE THIS!! You can't die this way," shouted Hinata. 

Then suddenly Sasuke collapsed. The shocked Hinata was on the verge of crying and she noticed Sasuke's chakra were depleting. She immediately used her healing power but then she realized that Sasuke's heart was stopped. 

"NO! Sasuke, y-you can't die like this!!" shouted Hinata.

She forced herself to used healing power and medical ninjutsu at the same time. With all her chakra, she pushed herself to the limit and finally Sasuke's heart beats again. She felt relieved but she has to continue to heal his injuries and restored his chakra even though she was at the edge of collapse. 

Even though Hinata started to breathe heavily and felt dizzy, she still forcing herself to heal Sasuke. But it's not long before her body give away and laid down beside Sasuke. She was conscious but she can't move her body. The chakra inside her was at a danger level. 

Hinata stared at the sky as she said, "What am I doing?"

Then she remembered what happened yesterday and tears started to form in her eyes. 

"I suppose to strengthen myself not draining myself. Why am I doing this? All this time I train and train...but, why can't I feel stronger? Even Hanabi is stronger than me. Ahhhh...I'm so weak," said Hinata as she tried to wipe her tears but it kept falling. 

She rested her arm on  her forehead, covering her eyes and said "Why me? Why am I the one who have to burden all of this? Neko-chi, I'm tired already. Having this responsibility are beyond my limit. I'm too weak. I can't even believe in myself anymore."

Hinata didn't realize that Sasuke was listening to her all the time. He opened his eyes and turn his head to look at Hinata. 

"Then don't do it," said Sasuke. Hinata was quite shocked by the sudden statement. She turned her head and face Sasuke, showing her puffed eyes. "From the beginning, I never once asked you to be the next Neko-chi. You're the one who decide to do it. So now you regret it, I won't stop you from leaving."

"Not even once I ever felt regret doint it. What I'm feeling right now is not regret but, dissapointment. Dissapointment towards myself who can't even make people believe in my strength. Not even my father," said Hinata with tears falling down from her eyes. 

Sasuke didn't said anything and he looked at Hinata with sympathy. Somehow he let his guard down around her.

"Sasuke, I... I want to be stronger," said Hinata as she tried to hold her tears. "I want to be much stronger than before and prove to others espeacially my father that I'm not weak. I want to show that I am suitable to be next leader and I would do anything to be stronger." She closed her eyes making tears to roll down again. Then she said "So please... please Sasuke, help me. I want to be strong like you. I don't want people to look down on me anymore. Please Sasuke... I'm begging you," and covered her face with both of her hand while crying heavily.