I keep digging myself down deeper

I won't stop till I get where you are

I know where you go, down on your darkest road

I would've followed all the way

To the graveyard

-Graveyard (Halsey)

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"What do you say?" The woman seated in front of him prompted him. He, who had been standing in front of the desk, staring thoughtfully at the ugly porcelain vase placed on it, looked up.

His tongue felt leaden as he tried to speak. His brain was mush. And it wasn't because the decision was difficult. It was just incomprehensible for his mind to even entertain the idea. Nevertheless, he spoke softly. "I'll think about it".

Tsunade stared at him a beat longer with that unforgiving stare of hers before she sighed and leaned back against the leather chair. "I'm getting too old for this shit." She muttered, pouring a cup of sakè and sipping from it. "Consider the offer."

Sasuke nodded once, looking at the cup of sakè she was holding before scoffing, to himself, as if entertaining himself. Then, he walked out the room, still in a daze.

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He looked out the window, the pitch dark making it difficult to see anything outside. The breeze outside was cool and slow. And Sasuke wanted to go out in it.

Sometimes, he felt like the compounds and the grounds of the Uchiha District were suffocating him slowly. Hell, just being in Konoha made him feel like that.

Everyone here...was so happy and at peace. They felt like they deserved the peace and sound atmosphere they had created since the war, because of everything they'd lost in the war.

But Sasuke never felt like that. Not since he was 7 years old. Maybe for a while when he was genin, and had been naive enough to think he could give up his revenge fantasy and live an easy life.

He hadn't felt peace in his journey of redemption. A slight solace maybe...but nothing real. He knew he lacked a sense of purpose...something to focus his life on. His revenge had been that previously but now-

"What's wrong?" He was startled out of his reverie by the soft voice of Hinata, who was sitting on her knees, kneeling in front of him by his bed, looking up at him in concern. How deep had he been thinking? He hadn't even heard or sensed her coming!

"What?" He managed to get out as he felt her small hand engulf his large one in a supporting manner. He didn't care enough to pull away or squeeze her hand to let her know he appreciated it.

"What's wrong?" She asked, her brows furrowing "You've been distraught ever since you came back from the audience with the Hokage."

Sasuke raised his eyebrows, surprised she had noticed. Giving one worded answers to everything was his default setting so..kudos to her for being able to tell something was up. He felt a corner of his mouth lift despite himself.

"Nothing for you to worry about." He told her, looking down at her in what he hoped was a reassuring look. Hinata did not look pacified. He opted for another approach. He patted the space next to him on the bed. Hinata looked at the spot before she sighed, got up from her crouched position and plopped down on the bed.

"What did she want?" Hinata asked. Sasuke debated not telling her but she always did give good advice.

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"Sasuke, Konoha is a developing village. Our population is increasing fast since the war. People want rehabilitation...they want to celebrate something good instead of the remembering miseries they endured during the war."

Sasuke was not impressed by his preamble. "Get to the damn point." He told her instead.

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "The elders want me to suggest to you..."

"To demand from me." Sasuke corrected. Tsunade glared but did not correct him.

"They suggested we let civilians stay in the Uchiha District." Tsunade evidently decided to get it over with. Sasuke stood there, stunned for a moment.

"What?" He asked, fearing his hearing was starting to fail him.

"Look...the Uchiha District was...rebuilt" Tsunade was searching for the right terms "as compensation for what happened."

"As a 'we're sorry we had your clan massacred' gift." Sasuke said, his voice heating up now. "How nice".

"What happened is past..." Tsunade sighed. "The district is empty save for you and Hinata. You two don't need the space and I don't think you need the trauma. You could sell the lands over to us or we could rent them out...I don't care."

Sasuke stared at her, trying to see if she was serious. His first instinct was to say hell no. And to tell the elders to shove their suggestion up their-

But his rational and more serious thought was...who the fuck would even want to live there? To live where his formerly glorious clan used to live, running around with the ghosts and impressions that place held. He hadn't been able to voice this.

"What do you think?" She'd prompted. And as she'd sipped her sakè, he'd felt the Gods mocking him. As if he could sink no lower.

_____________

Hinata was silent after he'd told her the conversation that had taken place, minus his emotions regarding the suggestion. Then she spoke.

"You're considering it?" She asked. Sasuke shrugged, trying to remain calm.

"It couldn't hurt. We don't need so much space." He told her, trying his best to sound indifferent. "We could get another apartment, somewhere you'd like."

Hinata didn't smile. Her hand found his again. "Sasuke...this is serious. This is your house...your property. Are you sure you're okay with this?"

That pissed him off. "Did i stutter?" he gritted out.

Hinata met his gaze without flinching. Her look contributed in making him feel even more frustrated. And that meant his temper, which had been rising steadily ever since his meeting with the Hokage, was reaching a boiling point.

"Hinata, I know what I'm agreeing to."

"And I'm asking if you're really thinking this through. You're obviously frustrated." Hinata snapped, his harsh tone riling her up as well.

Sasuke was silent as he snatched his hand away from her grip and she realized he was looking away from her. She felt bad instantly for snapping at Sasuke. He was obviously confused and under a lot of pressure from the elders.

She motioned to touch his shoulder in a comforting gesture when he turned to her, grabbing her hand mid-air.

"Sasuke?" she asked in a soft voice, approaching him as one might a scared animal. Sasuke's gaze snapped towards her and she could see something...take over him.

The grip on her hand was growing uncomfortably tight. Hinata winced as her Sasuke clenched his hand tighter around her delicate wrist.

"Hinata, you don't understand." He sounded desperate now, like a man clawing for air.

"Understand what, Sasuke?"

"No one else can survive here." Sasuke snapped. "They can't."

Her confusion must have been evident from her face, because Sasuke struggled for words...trying to tell her.

"The Uchiha District...it's a- a graveyard. I already brought you here." Sasuke paused, and the dark undertones of his eyes were highlighted further as red color seeped into his eye. A heart-breaking, sad smile came over his face.

"And now, you're following me to my grave."

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Author notes: Well, so that was it. Shit got dark, really fast but don't panic, there's more to come. 

I know most people will be confused by Sasuke's behavior. But no, he's not having hot and cold emotions. This is how I perceive his character. I don't think Sasuke is a cold block of ice with no emotions. Nor is he the bad boy. I personally feel like he feels everything too much and tries to shield himself from most things by remaining indifferent.

He is trying to be more affectionate towards Hinata but I'm trying to keep the story real and that means Sasuke is not going to flip change into the perfect husband and a loving partner after a few arguments. 

So, if you guys are ready to see shit go down, proceed to the next chapters but if you aren't prepared for more angst, this is your stop.

Also, I changed the Story's title picture, lemme know what you think of that as well. So, vote, comment and let me know what you thought of the chapter.

Until next time.

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