Chapter Text
One and a Half Years Later (Present)
The Inuzuka mansion was known for being an estate steeped in centuries of history and cultural heritage. Despite the fact that its patriarch and his wife were currently living in China due to work-related matters, the mansion still exuded a grace that honored its historical legacy.
A few days earlier, his parents had returned to visit him. His graduation was approaching, and despite his demanding schedule, Hayame Inuzuka wished to be present for the most important day in his only son’s life.
He was well aware that their relationship was a complicated one. Hayame had always been extremely strict when it came to academic performance, and raising an only child without a firm hand was something he had never truly managed to accomplish. His own upbringing, marked by traditional practices and the weight of centuries of wealth and family expectations, had shaped him too deeply.
“And tell me, Kiba,” his father asked while they were having lunch, “haven’t you found anyone who’s caught your attention yet?”
“Darling, don’t bother the boy,” his wife replied gently, though with a hint of reproach. “If our son had found a girl, he would’ve told us, wouldn’t you, sweetheart?”
“Huh? Oh… yeah, of course, Mom. Definitely,” Kiba replied in a flat tone, as if the conversation had nothing to do with him. “I’m… already full, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to retire to my room,” he added, directing his gaze toward his father.
“I’ve told you many times that leaving the table before your elders is rude, Kib—”
“Darling, enough,” the matriarch cut in more firmly. “It’s fine. You may go.”
Without sparing his father another glance, Kiba stood up carefully, nudged his chair back, and offered a small bow. He leaned down to kiss his mother on the cheek before finally leaving his parents alone at the family table.
Kiba could feel his protector and loyal tutor following him up to his room.
Once he reached his bedroom, far removed from the dining area, he slammed the door shut, nearly closing it in Shino’s face.
The violent gesture didn’t surprise him; he was used to Kiba’s outbursts.
“You shouldn’t take it too personally,” Shino said calmly once he entered the room. “Your father has always been like that. Unfortunately, he’s not going to change.”
His gaze, hidden behind the ever-present sunglasses on his face, was barely visible. He had never been particularly expressive, anyway.
Kiba slumped into the chair at his desk, letting out a deep breath filled with resignation and exhaustion.
“I can’t stand him, Shino. Nothing I ever do is good enough for him. If he wants his disgusting money, he can keep it, I never asked for it. I didn’t ask to be his son, or his heir, either. He can go back to China and leave me alone. If it weren’t for my mother, I swear I’d—” He exhaled sharply again, biting his tongue before saying something he might regret later, though, when it came to his father, he doubted that very much.
“You don’t need to worry, Kiba. Once your graduation is over, he’ll go back to China and probably put you in charge of one of his branches here in Japan. Unfortunately, your father comes from a family deeply rooted in overly traditional values, values that aren’t always effective, but he simply can’t see things any other way,” Shino added, trying to calm him down.
Shino was something of a tutor and mentor to Kiba, though it felt more like he was an older brother, one he didn’t always appreciate as he should, due to his own flaws.
He was ten years older than Kiba and had been by his side ever since Kiba was seven years old.
It wasn’t until Kiba started university that Shino gave him more space, but even then, he was never truly far away. He advised him, guided him, and supported him whenever he could. Dealing with Kiba’s temperament, which could be impulsive and irrational at times, was no easy task, yet Shino could never bring himself to turn his back on him. He saw a reflection of himself in Kiba: a child desperate to be accepted. The only difference was that Shino hadn’t been born into wealth.
“To be honest, I don’t care anymore. I gave up trying to meet his expectations a long time ago. I just want this damn graduation to be over with,” Kiba said, spinning absently in his chair.
He eventually stopped the chair and leaned toward his desk, opening the top drawer and rummaging through its contents until he found what he was looking for. He pulled out a photograph, Hinata was in it. It had been taken the first time they went out together, during a visit to the zoo.
“Do you think she’ll ever leave him and realize that Sasuke isn’t right for her?” he murmured distractedly, his voice barely above a whisper, heavy with restrained longing.
Shino didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked slowly toward the window, gazing out at the vastness of the Inuzuka estate and its masterful blend of traditional and modern Japanese architecture.
“…Don’t you think enough time has passed for you to let her go?” he finally said. “You’ll both be graduating in a few weeks, and chances are you won’t see each other again. She studies music, and your program is focused on business management and—”
“If you came here to lecture me, you should leave,” Kiba cut him off. His tone was different this time. Cooler, distant, almost as if he were someone else entirely.
“Kiba, listen. I’m only trying to protect you. That girl has been with that Uchiha for over a year now, as you yourself said. You already had a confrontation with him, he warned you to stay away, and I don’t want you to—”
“Get out of my room,” Kiba interrupted again, his voice firm and unyielding. “I didn’t leave the family table just to be lectured now. If I wanted that, I would’ve stayed and listened to that bastard of a father.”
Shino barely reacted, as if this were an everyday occurrence. Without another word, he adjusted his glasses, offered a small bow in Kiba’s direction, and left him alone with his demons.
Kiba turned his attention back to the photograph in his hands.
“Hinata… how could you do this to me? I was the one who approached you as a friend. I was the one who valued you. I never made you cry, and yet you chose that damn Uchiha…”
A chilling smile crept across his face. “But I know better. Sooner or later, you’ll realize that I’m the man you need. Life will prove me right, sweetheart. You’ll see.”
He brought the photograph closer, placed a chaste kiss upon it, and slipped it back into the drawer. It had become a ritual over the past year and a half, something he did whenever he felt overwhelmed or missed her too deeply. As if the habit were an addiction, and Hinata’s image his drug.
Despite the fight they’d had after he learned she was dating the Uchiha, Kiba had made sure to regain, if not her affection, at least her acceptance. Not being rejected was the only way he could continue enjoying the privilege of hearing her voice, even if it was no longer the same as before.
He still remembered that day vividly, as if it had been yesterday. The Monday when Hinata came to him with news that continued to hammer relentlessly at his heart to this day.
---
He knew that day would be decisive.
He hadn’t been able to sleep the night before, anxiety keeping him awake as he wondered what the next day would bring.
He had made up his mind, he was going to confess to Hinata.
He had never felt this way about anyone before. But Hinata was different: kind, gentle, thoughtful. They shared several interests, laughed easily together.
The night before, Hinata had sent him a message saying she had big news and wanted to tell him in person. He couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, she was going to confess too, or that it had something to do with them.
As he looked at the photo they’d taken together at the zoo, he couldn’t help but smile, imagining all the memories they would soon create together.
Finally, the time came. He was waiting for her at one of the cafeteria tables. Just moments earlier, Hinata had messaged him saying she was at the entrance.
Seconds later, he spotted her walking in, and the sight hit him like a slap to the face.
‘Why was Hinata holding hands with the Uchiha?’ he thought.
Something inside him ignited, as if burning embers had lodged themselves throughout his body.
He began to hyperventilate. To hide his state, he took deep breaths, clenching his hands into fists as he struggled to keep himself under control.
‘This has to be a mistake,’ he reassured himself.
Finally, he made eye contact with Hinata.
She offered him a brief smile in greeting before turning to speak with Sasuke for a moment. Then she started walking toward him.
‘Calm down. This has to be a misunderstanding,’ he kept telling himself as he watched her approach. He needed to stay composed if he wanted answers and not alarm her.
“Hi, Kiba. How are you?” she said as she took a seat across from him.
“Fine…” His voice came out sharper than he intended, but he couldn’t help it. “You came with the Uchiha. Why?” he asked bluntly, his tone catching Hinata off guard.
Sasuke was watching them from a distance.
He wanted to give them space, but he had no intention of leaving them alone. Hinata was naïve in certain ways, one of them being that she hadn’t realized how clearly Kiba liked her. That was why, when she told him she planned to tell Kiba that they were dating, Sasuke insisted on accompanying her. Hinata hadn’t taken it too seriously and simply agreed.
Sasuke knew the Inuzuka was a spoiled kid, notorious for his impulsive temper, arguably worse than his own. From what he had observed, Kiba believed his name carried more weight than anything else, and whenever things didn’t go his way, he used that privilege as an escape.
He still remembered the minor scandal Kiba had been involved in during his first year, a plagiarism accusation. Everyone knew that in institutions like universities, such offenses usually led to permanent suspension. And yet, a few days later, the whole thing had been quietly forgotten. Sasuke knew it wasn’t because Kiba was innocent.
“Well, um… what I wanted to tell you is that—” Hinata said, offering a small, nervous smile. “Last night, Sasuke-kun and I made our relationship official. I… I’m his girlfriend.”
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
“What?”
Hinata noticed Kiba’s expression harden, his face turning pale.
“Well, I was saying that Sasuke-kun and I—”
“I heard that already,” he cut her off harshly. “What I want is for you to explain how you even started dating him when you barely know each other.”
Hinata shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She didn’t understand Kiba’s attitude, it felt like he was accusing her of something. The way he was looking at her unsettled her, as if she had done something unforgivable.
“W-well, we didn’t get along at first, but then we realized we were more compatible than we thought…” Kiba’s cold stare was starting to frighten her. “Why are you acting like this, Kiba? I thought you’d be happy for me,” she said, genuinely confused.
“Happy?” he scoffed. “Are you really that stupid?”
The insult froze her in place, as if a knife had been driven straight through her heart.
“K-Kiba… how can you say that to me?” Her voice cracked as a tear slipped free.
“How can I say it? Don’t make me laugh, Hinata.” A twisted smile spread across his face. “I like you. I was going to ask you out, and instead you tell me you’re into that damn Uchiha and that you’re already in a relationship.”
Hinata didn’t know what to say. She reached out, trying to take Kiba’s hand to calm him down, but before she could, he moved first. In a motion she didn’t see coming, he grabbed her wrist roughly, tightening his grip until Hinata let out a soft cry of pain.
“Kib—”
“If you don’t let her go right now, I swear it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”
Sasuke’s voice cut through the moment, sharp and lethal.
Kiba immediately loosened his grip.
Hinata pulled her wrist away, tears spilling freely now, and stood up, seeking refuge in Sasuke’s arms. He wrapped one arm around her instinctively, his gaze never leaving Kiba’s.
“I’m warning you, Inuzuka. If you ever go near her again, not even all the money in the world will save you.”
Without waiting for a response, Sasuke led a shattered Hinata away.
---
That day marked a turning point.
Hinata stopped speaking to him.
When they crossed paths in the halls, she would avert her gaze, or pretend not to see him at all. Sasuke was almost always with her, like a shadow, making it impossible for Kiba to even approach her.
Kiba didn’t know what hurt more: her refusal to acknowledge him, or the fear reflected in her eyes on the rare occasions she dared to meet his gaze.
It destroyed him.
Yet despite his jealousy and sense of betrayal, he decided to earn her forgiveness in his own way. He was tired of being avoided, of being looked at with fear.
From a distance, he watched their relationship. They were always holding hands. Sasuke would always touch her in ways Kiba believed he had no right to.
Even in the one class they shared, it was impossible. Hinata always arrived just before the lecture began, sat as far from him as possible, and left immediately afterward, never giving him even a moment.
Over time, he realized that no matter how angry he was, she just needed time. Sooner or later, she would realize Sasuke wasn’t the right man for her.
And even if it took years, he would wait.
He began approaching her slowly.
To avoid alarming her or causing trouble with Sasuke, he deliberately arrived last to one of their seminars. When he saw her from behind, he approached. When she recognized him and their eyes met, he saw the flash of panic in her expression.
He didn’t give her time to react.
He quickly handed her a small note and walked away.
‘I’m sorry.’
It became a habit.
Then one day, he approached her again, this time with a rose.
Brief. Simple.
‘I’m sorry for what I did that day. I hope you can forgive me someday. And I hope you’re happy.’
For the first time in a long while, Hinata gave him a genuine smile.
He didn’t push after that.
From time to time, he approached her again, but always kept his distance, careful not to draw attention.
A year and a half had passed since her relationship began. And although they appeared happy to everyone else, Kiba was convinced Hinata could only experience true happiness with someone like him.
She would realize her mistake.
Leaving his thoughts behind, Kiba turned to the window. It was a beautiful day. Not perfect, but he knew that would change soon.
“Someday, my love… someday.”
---
“What do you think of this one, Sasuke-kun?” Hinata asked as she stepped out of the fitting room wearing a red silk dress.
Sasuke looked up and studied her for a moment.
“Come here, baby. Let me take a closer look,” he said, lifting a hand to beckon her.
Blushing slightly, she walked over. As he examined the dress, he suddenly gave her a playful swat, making her yelp in surprise at the sting.
“Sasuke-kun!”
“Yes, my love?” His tone was anything but serious.
“That hurt! And someone could have seen,” she protested, crossing her arms.
“Hm… you’re probably right. But it doesn’t matter,” he said, pulling her onto his lap. “We’re getting the dress.”
“Are you sure? I thought you liked the black one better.”
“I did. But black makes you way too sexy, and at your recitals I’ve had to put up with men of all sorts staring at you. That privilege belongs to me. I’m your man,” he said before pressing a brief kiss to her exposed shoulder.
“Sasuke-kun, stop saying things like that,” she whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby. “Alright then… this one it is.”
She stood up.
“I’ll be right back.”
She headed back to the fitting room while Sasuke waited for her in the seating area.
They were in a boutique, searching for the perfect dress for Hinata’s final university project before graduation. There was still a week to go, yet Hinata’s nerves were already stretched thin.
The assignment consisted of presenting a musical piece composed entirely by her in Tokyo’s main auditorium. The markers would include both prestigious professionals from the music industry and professors. Those who managed to impress them could potentially secure job offers from several highly respected record labels.
Hinata hadn’t even granted Sasuke the privilege of listening to the piece, insisting it was a surprise and that he would have to wait, just like everyone else.
Despite arguing that, as her boyfriend, he should be the exception to the rule, Sasuke eventually gave in when he saw how excited she was about the project. He was her number one supporter, alongside her father, and Hinata cherished him deeply for it.
“Shall we go?,” she said once she had changed, the dress folded over her arm.
“Sure.”
They were on their way to Sasuke’s parents’ house. Going there for lunch at least three times a month had long since become a habit, and that day was one of those occasions.
“I’m so excited, Sasuke-kun. And soon we’ll be going to Nagasaki for a few days with my father, I’ll be able to show you the city where I grew up,” she said dreamily.
Sasuke kept his eyes on the road, though he listened closely to her words.
“Hmm… I wish I could say the same.”
“Sasuke-kun, don’t say that. My father likes you… that’s the important part. You surprised him at first, but he knows you love me and take care of me, and that’s what matters most to him.”
In response, he clicked his tongue.
“You only say that because he’s your father. You’re not the one being constantly stared at like you he wants you to be six feet under.”
That response made Hinata let out a soft laugh, earning her a reproachful look from Sasuke.
“It’s not funny,” he grumbled, just as the front gate opened and he parked in the driveway.
Once he got out and secured the vehicle, he waited for Hinata. She naturally took his hand, and together they headed toward the entrance.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Kushina greeted them with a warm smile as they stepped into the dining room, where she and Minato were having tea.
There was still some time before lunch, so they took the opportunity to enjoy something warm and relaxing.
“Hi Kushina,” Sasuke said, leaning in to place a light kiss on her cheek.
“Hello to you too, Hinata,” Kushina replied, hugging her enthusiastically.
“Hello, Mrs. Kushina,” Hinata smiled. “And hello to you as well, Mr. Namikaze,” she added, turning toward Minato, who was greeting Sasuke.
“Mr. Namikaze? Oh, please, Hinata, you can’t still be calling me that at this point,” he laughed. “Besides, you’re like a daughter to us. In fact, Kushina and I were just talking about what we could buy as a wedding gift.”
“W-wedding? W-what wedding?” Hinata stammered helplessly, her face beginning to resemble a pressure cooker.
“What do you mean, ‘what wedding’?” Minato said with a laugh. “Obviously yours and Sasuke’s.” He slung an arm around Sasuke’s shoulders and gave him a teasing shake.
Sasuke merely grimaced. He was used to that kind of behavior from Minato and Kushina. He knew Hinata was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but there was no rush, they were still young.
He turned his gaze towards Hinata, who was redder than the tomatoes he loved so much, he couldn’t help but smile.
“Minato, don’t be like that! You’re embarrassing the poor girl!”
“I-it’s alright, Mrs. Mikoto, I’m fine,” Hinata replied trying to calm herself.
Her eyes met Sasuke’s, and she caught a mischievous smile playing across his face. ‘What a jerk,’ she scolded him silently.
“Hmm… come with me.” Without waiting for her response, Sasuke took her by her hand and led her toward the stairs. “Let us know when Naruto gets here.”
“Of course, sweetheart. Enjoy yourselves,” Kushina added with a teasing lilt to her voice.
Hinata ended up pressed against Sasuke’s back, silently praying for the ground to swallow her whole. Once they reached the first step, just far enough that they were out of sight, Sasuke turned and placed her in front of him. Hinata clung to him like glue, so embarrassed she refused to even look at him. Clicking his tongue, amused by her reaction, he grabbed her by the legs and then her arms, almost instinctively, Hinata wrapped her legs around his waist, leaving them face to face.
With a faint smile, Sasuke placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.
“There, baby. We’re alone now,” he murmured, his voice tinged with gentle teasing.
Hinata lightly smacked his chest as Sasuke began to climb the stairs.
“Why are you taking it out on me?” he said, playfully nipping at her shoulder.
“Sasuke-kun!” she gasped, startled by the sudden gesture.
“You know I’m right. Minato’s the one who started it, not me,” he said flirtatiously as he set her back on her feet as they stepped into his bedroom. “Though… do you know what I can’t stop thinking about?” he added, flopping down onto the bed patting the mattress, inviting her over.
“About what, Sasuke-kun?” she asked, settling onto his lap.
“About what our wedding night will be like.”
Within seconds, a pillow collided with his face.
“Y-you’re impossible! H-how can you even say that?!” she protested, far more embarrassed than angry.
“It was a joke, baby. Come on, let’s take a nap.” He wrapped an arm around her and began to stroke her gently, his touches subtle and comforting.
“Sasuke-kun…”
“Mhmm…” he replied with his eyes closed. He was already drifting toward sleep, though Hinata seemed eager to chatter a little longer.
“I’d like it to be a simple wedding, with purple and white flowers… and there should be pastries too, both sweet and savory, so you’ll have some as well…”
“Mhmm…”
“Sasuke-kun…” She couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh as she began to place chaste kisses across his face, prompting a half-asleep Sasuke to curve his lips into a faint smile.
“If we were ever torn apart… what would you do?”
“Hmm… I’d come find you.”
“And if we forgot who we once were?”
“Then I’d remind us again and again, this lifetime, and every one that follows..”
“Do you promise?” She gently pinched his cheek, absentmindedly.
“I swear… hmm… sleep, Hinata.”
“Okay… just a little…”
Sleep was beginning to claim her as well, so she pressed a brief kiss to Sasuke’s lips and settled more comfortably against his chest.
She let herself be enveloped by his arms, which held her with a tenderness and affection only he knew how to give.