Chapter Text
Chapter 1
At age thirty, Hinata thought that she would be married already, with at least one or two kids. That's what she expected from herself. But now she's thirty, with no kids and no husband. She doesn't even have a boyfriend to begin with. But she's fine with it. She already made peace with the reality of being alone, and to be honest, she's quite content with the current status that she has. However, of course, there are times that she wishes she also had someone just like her friends. She sometimes feels a twinge of envy for her friends' married life. But overall, she's happy for them.
And thank Kami, because this was the last marriage of their circle (excluding hers because it's not gonna happen anymore). It took years for Sakura and Sasuke to tie the knot. This is understandable, specially Sakura being the most workaholic and Sasuke always being away from the village. She's glad that they already decided to settle down.
Sakura commissioned her the wedding cake, and her shop was the main provider of the other pastries.
So here she was, attending Sakura's nuptial with Sasuke. Not only as a business owner who wanted to make sure that everything would be fine but also as one of the closest friends to the bride. The Konoha 12 was complete. The wedding ceremony and all the formalities were already done. The older guests went home already an hour ago but those who want to continue enjoying the rest of the night remain. Including of course the couple and their circle of friends.
“Cheers to the newlywed! Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Uchiha!”
The crowd cheered followed by the noise of glass clinking and clapping. Someone from a different table shouted “Kiss, kiss, kiss!” In which the couple obliged.
The crowd once again cheered and went wild. Ino and Sai went to the dance floor and started dancing in a very uninhibited way and their friends including her groaned at the scene.
"Ino, you pig!" Sakura chided her, but not mad at her best friend. Hinata laughed as she watched Ino dance lewdly in front of her husband. Sai blushed, obviously embarrassed but also intoxicated enough to go with the flow with his wife's playfulness. Everyone's already seemed drunk including her, she felt dizzy and her head was slightly throbbing. And so she decided to go out to get some air.
The outside venue of the reception has two decorated swings. It was adorned with both pink peonies and white roses on its rope while there was a cushion on its seat. The garden lights were all over the place. The view was overall calming and enticing. A perfect place to calm her pulsing head due to alcohol. Hinata sat down on one of the swings and she let herself relax as the cold wind brushed against her cheeks. It's early spring now in Konoha, the weather is beginning to get cold. She's also wearing a sleeveless dress so she started shivering after a couple of minutes. Hinata decided to light a cig that she found inside her sling bag.
She was so into it, even puffing a couple of smoke tricks that she learned over the years.
The cold she felt a while ago slowly perished. She was on her second stick when someone from her behind spoke.
"You're smoking."
Her back stiffened upon hearing the familiar voice. 'Of all people, really.'
As fast as he was known, for a damn second, he was already in front of her. She attempted to rise and bow as a sign of her greetings, after all, he is the Nanadaime Hokage. But before she could even lift her butt, he already stopped her with just his hand. His gaze went to the lone cigarette wrapped between her fingers. She could see how his brows furrowed, probably questioning how come the ever-demure Hyuuga Hinata had this kind of vice. After a while, he directed his gaze to her face. And she did not make an effort to hide or throw her precious cig. She even puffed once again.
"How long has it been?" he asked, probably referring to her smoking.
Does he need to ask that? She hates explaining to people about her vices and how she comes up with them. Even her father did not ask when he found out. It's not even a secret. Most of their friends know so she wondered why he acted like he didn't know it-
Yeah right, why does he bother? But why is he interrogating her now? Hinata unconsciously runs her fingers to brush her hair, careful not to show annoyance through her face.
But still, she answered, "Just a couple of years back."
She saw him nod but did not dare to speak again or ask further questions for that matter. And she was glad. Though she thought that he would leave her alone, only for him to stay standing in front of her. Silently observing her as she finished her cig.
'What else do you want?' She wanted to voice out but she decided not to. After she finished her smoke, she addressed him formally. "If you excuse me, Hokage-sama, I'll be off." She said slightly bowing. She did not wait for his response, so she went back inside.
It was already the third hour in the morning when Hinata went home to her apartment. Tired. She quickly cleaned herself and threw herself in the bed after making sure that she was free from the sweat and greasiness she had all day. Just when she thought that sleep would immediately take over her whole being, she was proven wrong. Her mind drifted to her encounter with Naruto.
Earlier that day, she already exchanged casual talks with him with their other friends. But only that time in the garden he approached her alone. For whatever reason, she doesn't wanna know. Their relationship over the years has indeed changed drastically, but she also doesn't want to do anything to fix it. In her opinion, they don't need to jest around each other to prove to everyone that they are good. She acknowledged that there's a gap between them but that's it. She loved him once, and even though her love had long gone, she wanted to treat him with utmost respect. Not because of hierarchy, but because he was that person to her a long time ago. So as long as she doesn't need to see him often, she thinks she can manage her indifferences towards him, she’s been doing it for years now.
And how long has it been since he last saw him? She’s not sure. Was it nice seeing him again? Of course. As a citizen of Hidden Leaf, she was pleased that their Hokage was in good condition, capable of protecting and leading their village. What else could she ask for if not that? Then her mind went to her last conversation with him years ago.
"Explained," he commanded, not caring about the way he aggressively placed the paper on top of his desk.
Hinata winced internally, she quite expected this reaction from him after she submitted the written request but still! She already stated the reason why she wanted to withdraw from active duty. Is it necessary for her to explain it to him in person?
He kinda looks stressed. Understandable. Imagine two months after taking the reins of the mantle of the Hokage, then you'll get a resignation from one of your active kunoichis. That surely is stressful, and maybe annoying.
"As I've said in my letter, I wish to revoke from active duty, Hokage-sama. I want to focus on my business--"
"No."
"What? Why not!" Too late, she already blurted out her reaction before she could even realize that it was inappropriate. She saw him frown.
"Unless it's about health issues, then I'm not allowing you to withdraw. Go back here the day after tomorrow, I have a mission for your team." She did not allow her to talk anymore, he gestured her the door, silently asking her to leave. To her annoyance, she did not hide her displeasure to him. But she did not protest any more.
The next day, she submitted again her letter. Then the day after. The day after that, until again she was being summoned back to his office after a week of pestering him with her resignation.
"You're being a brat now, Hinata."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, I called you brat."
She can't believe him! First, he rather prefers for her withdrawal to be health-related instead of accepting her simple and valid reason. And now she called her brat? He of all people shouldn't be calling her that! She felt her ears getting hot from anger. Why is he being difficult? It's not as if her service and skill will be a big loss to Konoha. To be honest, they have the most strongest and capable shinobis in all elemental villages so even without her, the village can survive very much on its own. The new generation of chunins are proven skilled. They have enough manpower based on her calculations. So what's the fuss? Why can't he let her?
"And you're being unfair Hokage--"
"Stop calling me that!"
"Fine then, Naruto!" she shouted back, loud enough for him to get startled.
They heard a knock at the door followed by a worried Shikamaru. "Guys, tone it down, please. Your voices are being heard outside!" Then he leaves them alone again after saying that. She can't do this. She felt like crying anytime soon but her annoyance is much more than her urge to cry.
"What do you want to hear from me, really?" she voiced out a minute after she managed to calm her nerves.
He let out a pained groan. "Are you doing this just so you could avoid me? Is that it, Hinata?" he looked at her, demanding for a confirmation. There's a hint of unrecognizable emotion in his eyes. But she's done, she's done paying attention to him. Of understanding his emotions, of prioritizing his feelings, and putting hers aside.
"My world doesn't revolve around you, Hokage-sama."
At least not anymore.
Then after some time, he finally approved her request with a condition that she needed to step up if ever the village faced another source of terror. She agreed of course. Then she needed to defend her decision to her clan, but her father understood and let her. Almost two years after managing and working hard for her business, she was able to get her apartment and open her second shop.
She has enough income and savings. Enough for her father to stop worrying about her if ever she will not get married. Her business is already stable and she's now doing her research to venture into another line of business. Never in her wildest dreams that she would do well in this field. She always thought that she didn't have any skills outside of being a ninja.
It's far different from the world she was raised, but that world was too suffocating for her to continue staying. His accusation is true, what other way she could have to avoid him other than to sink herself into being a regular civilian? That way, she would have little to no interaction with him. Call it cowardice but she did what she thought was right for herself back then.