A/N: Yet another SasukexHinata fiction. n . n This'll have Naruto in it, so it'll be a SasuHinaNaru fiction! ; 3 If you might don't like something, please tell me so that I can amend it or get better next time. o . o If this story lives, I'll update it. If not, then... bye-bye SasuHinaNaru fic. v . v' This is my first Naruto story ever! So reviews would be greatly appreciated, my fellow readers and writers! Xie-xie ni!

He was superior, both in power and mind. I'm stronger than Naruto will ever be. The haughty thought running across his mind spread a smirk of contentment on his lips as he hovered his the sharp-tip of his steel blade above his old comrade's heavily wounded body. Now, Naruto's life was in his hands and it would be no more in just a matter of seconds.

"No! S-stay away from Naruto-kun!"

Sasuke furrowed his brows, head turning in the direction of the feminine voice. Not given the chance to realize of what was to occur, he felt the impact of a forceful tackle, one that caused him to tumble down, sword still in hand. He grunted in more annoyance than pain, shaking his head out of disorientation. Before him were glossy locks of navy-ebon, obscuring the eyes of a rather-familiar girl. Her moist lips were parted as she strove to retrieve some air for her lungs. When she raised her head, Sasuke saw the anger in her light lavender orbs.

"You?" He whispered. There was almost a tone of disbelief in his voice. How the girl had changed. Sasuke rose slowly, his upper body propped by an elbow. His countenance returned to its stoic state, completely unfazed by the person of the opposite gender sprawled atop of him in a comprising position. But beneath that superficiality, Uchiha Sasuke was touched with wonder.

Steadily she withdrew from him, her lips inhaling and expelling each breath as the fire in her eyes remained unfaltering. She was desperate, and willing to do anything to save Naruto. "I- I don't understand, Uchiha-san! You've returned... but to kill Naruto-kun? Why?" There was a sense of pride in her when she spoke without stammering. When it came to Naruto's life, her lack of courage lessened.

A soft wind blew, invisible fingers raking through the silken-strands of her waist-long hair. Sasuke noticed the gentle scent of flowers, entering his nostrils and nearly giving an intoxicating effect. His eyes narrowed as he recalled her appearance four years ago. Her corporal-self from then had changed, matured; however... he was able to tell, this was the same Hinata who had eyes for Naruto, and only Naruto. And it looks like she still does, Sasuke thought, in a strangely bitter way.

Since then, certain thoughts never ceased to occupy his mind. Such as why the Hyuuga heiress was the only girl in Konoha who had no interest in him, why she was very sane, the only sane girl in Konoha and why that fact alone had interested him so much. There was something appealing about her, but he couldn't quite grasp it. It wasn't her appearance, Sasuke mused, for there were other girls who were equally as attractive, if not a bit more or perhaps less.

His reverie shattered within seconds when Hinata's obscured words reached his ears. Sasuke remained silent, easily rising to sit as Hinata stood before him with defiance in her determined, pupil-less eyes.

"I- I'll fight you. If I win, you leave Naruto-kun alone- -" Her hands were tightly clenched into fists.

"And if I win?" Sasuke interrupted, clearly engaged in her little challenge. Who was she kidding? She hasn't got a chance against him.

"If you win... then, I- I'll exchange my life for Naruto-kun's."

Sasuke glared with unfaltering obsidian eyes. He was taken aback, yes; however, his face remained as impassive as ever. Is she for real? Naruto was worth losing her life over? "Are you stupid, Hyuuga?" It was really a rhetorical question. Slowly, menacingly, Sasuke rose - towering over her with his superior height. "You mean nothing to me, alive or dead. Naruto, on the other hand, often gets in my way, which is why I need him dead and out of existence."

She shirked back slightly as he inched closer.

"I don't understand why you even give a damn about him. Naruto doesn't care about you, he's obsessed with Sakura- -"

"Shizuka ni (1)!" And Sasuke did indeed shut up at her sudden outburst; not because she had made it imperative, but because he'd noticed tears well up in the corners of her eyes. "I... I-I don't care if he's in love with Haruno-san! Naruto-kun has supported me, I look to him when I feel ...unconfident; he's encouraged me so much, even if he might not think so. I... I've learned that... if it wasn't for Naruto-kun, I wouldn't be what I am today." Hinata strove for breath, "I-I'll always be there for Naruto-kun! No- no matter what!"

"Tch, girls are so annoying." Sasuke rolled his eyes, but secretly, he was admiring Hinata.

The girl suddenly dropped onto her knees, moaning almost inaudibly with one hand clenching her side, earning a surprised look from the avenger. Without warning, Hinata collapsed, appearing to have gone unconscious.

It was then Sasuke realized the patch of crimson red heavily staining the fabric of her clothing.

1. Shut up!

Tsuzuku - To Be Continued