Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto

Chapter hints: Every character in this story is actually in the manga. The characters are all related to the same people they were in the manga. Only Hinata’s relationship to a certain character has been slightly changed.

I switched around the quotes from the previous chapter to this one. It fit better.

Good fences make good neighbors

Robert Frost

It had taken half the day to walk Lee out of town. The over-energetic young man had worn out on the baron’s patience. True to his word he had refused to take Sasuke’s horse beyond the village lines where dense forest circled steep hills and rugged roads. He had to suppress his ultimate irritation as the young man good-naturedly taunted Sasuke’s need for a horse as the heavy chest he had tied to his back threatened to squash the bushy browed man. He sighed, the horse still hadn’t forgiven him. The animal had tried to bit his hand off when he tried to sooth it when Lee had left. Apparently, twelve of Lee’s grand handstands and several somersaults unto its back had broken the poor animal’s patience. He circled around the main road wanting to avoid the cluster of people going home to their daily affairs.

Sasuke walked the back road a dusty, stony path that had long gone wild. It led to the old graveyard where white slabs of stone stared out at him solemnly against the frozen dirt. They bore the barest scratches on their faces –names that had been washed away by the pounding winds and rains of years gone by. Scorched pillars lay off near the side marking off where rotten wood and ash had long since settled a bump within the snow. A legend hung about the place, evil spirits and witches curses. They said it a strange fire had engulfed it as the townsfolk had gathered for a christening. The devil himself had seemed to come that day and sweep away the unbaptized souls. Sasuke Uchiha was not afraid of curses; the villagers said it was because the Uchiha family was already cursed.

The Uchiha and the stallion trotted further down the path over a rickety old bridge above a frozen brook. He tugged gently at the reigns guiding the animal the half mile toward the main road. They were now a good distance off from the village. It would mean he would have less people to deal with on the road. Still, his eagle eyes scanned the territory before him wearily searching every rock and bush, one could never be certain when a coquettish young woman would jump out of nowhere to molest his person—This wouldn’t have been to bad, except girls here didn’t know the meaning of the word discretion. They’d open up their big mouths and the next thing he would know his mother would be dragging him down the aisle. He shivered. The female sex had a horrible one-track mind.

As he looked outward a trembling bush caught his attention. Striding forward with a clam he certainly did not feel Sasuke stated loudly. “Who’s there?”

A figure tumbled out small hands raised up in defense familiar dark eyes looked back up at him as again tears stained the youths cheek. “You!” the boy gasped.

“What are you doing out here trying to freeze your eyes shut.” Sasuke gritted his teeth as the boy didn’t answer him, but merely put his head down. He grabbed the boy’s shoulder roughly. “Answer me, what do you think you’re doing by yourself here?”

“You’re a liar!” the boy screamed jerking away from him. Sasuke blinked trying to comprehend the strange response. “You’re a liar! You tricked me! I didn’t know! You’re an adult you should have known! You wanted to kill him!” the boy yelled fiercely anger twisting his features, his lips curled back in a snarl.

Words failed to come to Sasuke’s mind as he stepped back, perplexed by the boy’s reaction.

“Inari!” A voice yelled in the distance. The boy palled and began to back away “Inari!” the voice cried again and another strange yell came into the air, the words harsh and unclear another language completely. Then the voice, a woman’s voice cried out again “Inari!”

Fear shone in the boys eyes and he bolted into the thicket surrounding the path. Sasuke walked away his head turned toward the source of the nearing calls. Suddenly a figure came out of the shadows overhead. Eyes met, the women Tsunami did not even acknowledge seeing him. She walked past him as if he wasn’t there. “Inari!” the woman yelled again turning down the wrong way. Perhaps Sasuke should have told her where the boy had really gone, but Sasuke did not. Instead, he walked ahead just realizing that he would finally come upon the main road where the road wound round the school. He kept his eyes open in the distance where the little building would show. When he reached the clearing, he had a strange urge that something was wrong. A horse was tied to the front gates. Kabuto’s horse.

Without Sasuke realizing it, he was already at her door, the trip from the road to the house a blur. A strange wail filled his ears. The ear splitting sound left Sasuke wondering why he had not heard it while by the brook. The door was unlocked and he came inside.

Kabuto’s voice floated in the air. “What trouble it must be to raise such a sickly child all by yourself.” Sasuke’s feet started moving forward.

“I do what I can,” a soft choked voice answered.

“I wasn’t saying you weren’t Ms. Hinata. Still, accidents happen . . . ” Sasuke peered into a dark room, the curtains drawn a solitary candle flickering in the darkness. Kabuto held unto a small little bundle squirming and screaming in his hands. Kabuto’s hands moved over the bundle exposing red and blistered flesh. “Who would have thought that such little sunlight could have caused such a great burn.”

A choking sound came from the Hyuuga woman who rocked unsteadily on her feet. Kabuto placed the squirming screaming bundle upon his skin. “One has to wonder about the life a child like that. Forever doomed to darkness. Almost like a vampire.” Sasuke’s fists clenched.

“My son is no monster,” the woman said softly sinking into a nearby seat.

Kabuto came to stand behind her his hands resting on her shoulders. “Of course not, Miss Hyuuga, I would never imply that.” He smiled brightly his hands rubbing at her stiff shoulders. “A child cannot help how it was born or whom it’s parents are. Still, there are limits to how fair relationships should go in families. Sasuke could feel blood prick his skin as nails dug into his flesh. A part of his mind wanted to scream out, but his body stood strangely transfixed.

“Isn’t that right Sasuke?” Kabuto cold voice broke him out of his dark reverie.

“Mister Uchiha,” the woman swiveled around to face him. A look of panic crossed her features.

“Really Mister Uchiha, if you’re going to listen to us you might as well answer.”

“Answer what?”

Hinata tried to stand between them as if her presence could stop the argument about to ensue. They did not see her instead looking past her unto the others hated eyes.

“Why the distance needed between family members. The Uchiha are quiet infamous for keeping a distance from its members.”

“Shut up Kabuto!” He snapped.

“I mean it in the best possible way. You’re family has never succumbed to need to live only with your family or to pledge loyalty only to ones family.” Sasuke growled. “You’re family was also saved from the problems of inbreeding the marriage of cousins, for instance none of you feel the need to risk have having six fingered blind babes all to limit the circle of relations. In fact, you want as little to do with your family, outside of your mother of course as possible, but then again it is understandable. You never know how long you may last among each other.”

A hand shot out to grab the crush the silver haired mans throat, but before it could reach a loud thump unsettled both men from their silent argument. The Hyuuga woman had fainted.

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Mrs. Makoto Uchiha stared languidly outside at the darkening afternoon sky. Sasuke should have been home already. He fingers worked deftly at pulling thread and intertwining it into long thin needles that weaved it into a single strand, entangling itself into the growing scarf. She knitted to soothe her mind, but some strange feeling had been settling her as of late. She wished Sir Genma had stayed longer. She blushed at the thought of the younger man; he made her feel so much less old. A knock came from the study room doors.

“Yes?”

“A package has arrived for you.” The twinned bun maid said bowing down respectfully.

“It’s probably that yarn I ordered. I’m almost done with this spool. Bring it here dear, I’ll open it soon enough.” Tenten set the unmarked box by her feet and exited. Makoto sighed as she continued looking down the road for her son.

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a/n: Don’t expect an update for a while I’m going on vacation for a few weeks and I’m leaving the country. To make up for the long time between updates I’m giving you guys the chance to ask me any questions you may have. I won’t give the plot directly away but I will give you hints and let you know if you’re getting warmer.